Google Buys Nik Software

Yesterday Google announced it had purchased Nik Software. Some of us at NPN are serious fans of Nik's photo processing tools (and a hat tip here to Sandy R.).

But if you care about owning your photos and intellectual property rights in general, Google has to give you pause. And Google's attitude towards privacy is equally troubling. Google has moved a long ways away from its original corporate slogan, "Don't Be Evil."

So it's pretty troubling for me.

Interesting. I understand your unease with this. Any idea why Google would want this technology or how it fits their business plan? Does this point towards them competing with Adobe for image processing in the Cloud?

Any idea why Google would want this technology or how it fits their business plan?

The rumor is that Google wanted Snapseed, Nik's app for the iPhone and Ipad, for the Android. If true, it carries the risk that Nik's fine Mac-based product line will be neglected or abandoned. I just don't think this is going to end well.

I think this move is unfortunate for most of us serious photographers and as Jim said I don't think it will end well. I certainly would have 2nd thoughts about upgrading any "Nik" software though I really only use Silver Efex for B&W.

Trying to think about the glass half full, MAYBE google will make nik software free (or some versions of it free) as so many of their services are no charge. That would be nice for cheapo's like myself !

I have been in the IT industry for over 40 years, and in my time I have seen hundreds of small companies with brillieant entrepreneurs develop great technology and loyal followers, only to be bought out by mega giants who only want a small sliver of the technology to feed their own agendas and line their own pockets, then throw the baby out with the bathwater because they don't give a damn about the customer. I could create a list as long as my arm of great small companies that were chewed up and spit out like stale gum, yet, I cannot remember one take over in the IT industry that ended up being a winner for both companies AND the customers. I'm sure there was one, somewhere, but I don't remember. I know; I represented a lot of them during my career. I for one, will stop relying on my Nik apps and switch to onOne. This is just the front wheels we're pining over; but oh! oh! wait until the back wheels of the bus catch up.

Garry Revesz
Toronto

The buzz online about this was all about snapseed, which I've used rarely. I had thought it interesting that last week I saw updates to everyone of their programs and now I know why. There was absolutely no mention of Dfine, Sharpner Pro, Viveza, Silverefex Pro, Color Efex Pro or HDR Efex Pro anywhere in any announcement by either company something I find ominious. I'm worried that in the frenzy of Google trying to compete with FB (and instagram) the true backbone of Nik -their desktop software for Mac and Windows will be pushed aside.

My how we so quickly see all the evil, negative and "customer" stomping attributes in anything that has a big business name in it. Could it be possible that many and I mean many of the small business you know today including Nik Software were spawn out of the very thing that is being said to destroy entrepreneurship. It is not only possible it is a fact. There is no need to put a list together of small companies that were bought by large corporations and then dismantled, you bet it happens. What seems to be missing here is the other side. How many entrepreneurs leave big business after that and start another new small business producing even greater products, any guesses? It's simple the circle of business. But hey I know some just need a reason to start building their bunkers and stockpiling the supplies after all the evil big business is going to RULE THE WORLD and we will be left cold and lonely walking the streets of vacant cities in search of crumbs in which to survive. This is were the evil laugh begins.................

Thanks for the more sober (and realistic) perspective, Brad.

I'm with Garry on this one - this will not end well. I'm sure there will be a better mouse trap built, or Adobe will incorporate more of the features Nik brings to the table in their offerings. Oh well...

I'm going to make 14 copies of the CEP and Viveza installer and store them in three different states, plus copy the files to three cloud accounts and send one to Mars on the next Rover. Don't want to lose the last great versions of those software titles.


Nice while it lasted. Nik owner dude is a financially happy camper anyway...

I use Viveza, Dfine and sharpener pro on most photos I put on the Tropical Birding website and now I have four photographic bird fieldguides on the go. If I have to go back to doing things with photoshop alone, I will chew up an extra year of my life in front of this screen.