Google Pushing Its Mac Software? [Archive]

MacRumors

Oct 10, 2006, 09:01 AM

http://www.macrumors.com/images/macrumorsthreadlogo.gif (http://www.macrumors.com)

A Google-sponsored blog (http://googlemac.blogspot.com/) concerning the company's Mac development efforts appeared yesterday. In it, the writers (including Google's Mac project manager) express their mission objectives for creating Google's Mac software:

We're pretty serious about [our] mission, including the "universally accessible" part. It means making products that everyone can use – including Mac users. We want to provide great products and services to the tens of millions of Mac users around the world, because it's the right thing to do, and because Mac users inside and outside Google demand it. That's why we've recruited some of the best, most passionate Mac people out there for a Mac Engineering team.

The post directs readers to a Google download page (http://www.google.com/mac), where users can freely download 5 applications/add-ins or a set of Dashboard widgets.

Google's Mac-centric push comes as news and rumors of Apple collaboration are at an all-time high. Yesterday, Google made headlines when it announced it would be acquiring YouTube.com (http://www.macrumors.com/pages/2006/10/20061009174501.shtml) for $1.65 Billion in stock. Previous to that announcement, there was a rumor that Google was in talks with Apple to supply videos for Apple's upcoming "iTV" device (http://www.macrumors.com/pages/2006/09/20060918051003.shtml).

Furthermore, last week it was discovered by website MacTelChat that iPhoto 6.0.5 had hidden Google Maps integration (http://www.macrumors.com/pages/2006/10/20061004093715.shtml), possibly for future GPS-enabled features.

In late August, Google's CEO Eric Schmidt was named to Apple's board of directors (http://www.macrumors.com/pages/2006/08/20060829173747.shtml), furthering the tie between the two companies.

Digg This (http://www.digg.com/apple/Google_Pushing_Its_Mac_Software)

70355

Oct 10, 2006, 09:03 AM

Call it Goople!

Fredo Viola

Oct 10, 2006, 09:07 AM

Call it Goople!
not Gapple?

Hertog

Oct 10, 2006, 09:18 AM

gauchogolfer

Oct 10, 2006, 09:21 AM

Hmm. Is Google thinking of aquiring Apple? If so, what will it mean? Google/Apple as a strong partnership against Microsoft on the one hand, the risk of the 'unique macness' disappearing on the other?

I don't think that Google has the resources to acquire Apple (IIRC). Closer partnerships may very well be on the horizon, though.

kresh

Oct 10, 2006, 09:23 AM

Hmm. Is Google thinking of aquiring Apple? If so, what will it mean? Google/Apple as a strong partnership against Microsoft on the one hand, the risk of the 'unique macness' disappearing on the other?

hehe I can't see any Apple share holders agreeing to a buyout on stock swapping. "Here you go Mr. Apple Shareholder. You get 1 share of Google for every 6 shares of Apple that you have".

I forgot where I saw it earlier yesterday, or today, but I agree. Web Bubble Burst 2.0 is on the horizon.

twoodcc

Oct 10, 2006, 09:26 AM

this great for Apple. and if Google pushes software for Mac, then maybe others will also

snack

Oct 10, 2006, 09:27 AM

I thought about this today, and came to the same conclusion.

Apple's iTV is going t monetize YouTube, with the help of Google.

Could Steve have helped to purseude Google to purchase YouTube?

PlaceofDis

Oct 10, 2006, 09:31 AM

be interesting to see if a real 'partnership' is on the horizon. sure we can speculate all we want, but as of right now there is nothing. if they do team up it will be a huge force to be reckoned with. at least for Microsoft. only time will tell where this will go.

sunfast

Oct 10, 2006, 09:33 AM

I'm a big fan of google and this is great news for me.

Zadillo

Oct 10, 2006, 09:54 AM

Hmm. Is Google thinking of aquiring Apple? If so, what will it mean? Google/Apple as a strong partnership against Microsoft on the one hand, the risk of the 'unique macness' disappearing on the other?

Even when Apple was at its lowest point, and there were all sorts of rumors about Sun or Sony acquiring them, they were considered to be just too expensive to reasonably acquire. With Apple's stock at its current levels, an acquisition of Apple would require insane amounts of money.

BenRoethig

Oct 10, 2006, 10:04 AM

I could see a merger scenario on the Horizion.

AndyR

Oct 10, 2006, 10:13 AM

Not sure if this is the right place but I just found Google have done a Mac Version of there Video Player. Never found this before.

http://video.google.com/playerdownload_mac.html

Stridder44

Oct 10, 2006, 10:38 AM

Come on Picasa for Mac...

gauchogolfer

Oct 10, 2006, 10:42 AM

Come on Picasa for Mac...

There is an iPhoto plug-in for Picasa uploading already, is this what you mean? I don't use the service, personally.

fabsgwu

Oct 10, 2006, 10:52 AM

Picasa is not only an online photo sharing service (Web Albums), there's also a software component which is a fairly powerful desktop photo editing and storage application (currently windows and Linux only). It would be nice to have another option besides iPhoto, and it could provide some motivation for Apple to improve iPhoto.

speakerwizard

Oct 10, 2006, 10:56 AM

Stridder44

Oct 10, 2006, 11:17 AM

There is an iPhoto plug-in for Picasa uploading already, is this what you mean? I don't use the service, personally.

Picasa is an actual program, much like Google Earth.

i used picasa on pc and to me it seemed just like an iphoto straight copy, other than 1 thing, it finds photos in other folders (which i wouldnt like, i keep my photoshop seperate). so what would be the point.

Simply to have the option. I know alot of people who have Macs now and still prefer it over iPhoto. Hey, if they'll bring over Google Toolbar (does anyone actually use the thing anymore??), why not Picasa too.

running

Oct 10, 2006, 11:36 AM

T-Mobile and Cingular both want to be Apple's "friends". Google allready is Apple's "friend", with Schmidt inside Apple. Google has "friends" in YouTube, MySpace, eBay..

....I think its bad time for Microsoft :)

SiliconAddict

Oct 10, 2006, 11:41 AM

Even when Apple was at its lowest point, and there were all sorts of rumors about Sun or Sony acquiring them, they were considered to be just too expensive to reasonably acquire. With Apple's stock at its current levels, an acquisition of Apple would require insane amounts of money.

Surprisingly enough Google does have an insane amount of money :p

neven

Oct 10, 2006, 11:42 AM

mdntcallr

Oct 10, 2006, 12:08 PM

i dont see a takeover or merger of apple with google.

it is very nice to see apple making excellent strategic alliances. This is a great thing.

Westside guy

Oct 10, 2006, 12:24 PM

I think what's missing is a Mac version of Google Talk. Sure you can interoperate with any Jabber client, but that's text only.

Of course, who knows if 10.5 will add some interoperability features into iChat - that would be nice.

I don't see Google porting Picasa over - it just doesn't make sense for them to spend a lot of time/money when most Mac users will be using iPhoto. They do provide that plugin (already mentioned) to allow iPhoto users to access Picasa web albums.

And to range far and wide... regarding the "Web 2.0 bubble bursting" - you are aware that Google turns a profit, aren't you? I simply don't see any broad parallels with the dot-com bust. There are companies out there that have poorly thought out business plans, and they will certainly fail - but that's been happening since time immemorial. Those sorts of companies don't seem to be the norm, which was the case before that debacle.

gugy

Oct 10, 2006, 12:36 PM

I could see a merger scenario on the Horizion.

I doubt it. Partnership seems way more feasible.

OdduWon

Oct 10, 2006, 12:52 PM

not Gapple?
agootube :D

OdduWon

Oct 10, 2006, 12:53 PM

Agootube will rule the world...... no i don't mean gates :cool:

Peace

Oct 10, 2006, 12:57 PM

Think "community".
Groups
Sharing
Maps
Videos
Tunes
Navigation

2007 holds a lot of surprises imho.

slu

Oct 10, 2006, 01:12 PM

hehe I can't see any Apple share holders agreeing to a buyout on stock swapping. "Here you go Mr. Apple Shareholder. You get 1 share of Google for every 6 shares of Apple that you have".

I forgot where I saw it earlier yesterday, or today, but I agree. Web Bubble Burst 2.0 is on the horizon.

While Google will not buy Apple, you do realize that this is not the reason. Even if you went from 6 Apple shares to 1 Google share, your stock would hold the same value, and it would probably be more, since companies pay a premium over market value when they buy another company.

puckhead193

Oct 10, 2006, 01:21 PM

why can't apple buy google. If they did they would be no need t for a partnership in the iTV thing

GFLPraxis

Oct 10, 2006, 01:35 PM

Google needs to get smart; Microsoft now view them as a threat and are attempting to crush them. Anything they can do that undermines Microsoft's OS monopoly helps; so support Mac users as best as you can.

why can't apple buy google. If they did they would be no need t for a partnership in the iTV thing

I don't think Apple could afford to buy Google.

OdduWon

Oct 10, 2006, 01:36 PM

because google's stock price is above $400 a share and apple is still trying to get back to $80. google is huge, plus we will se much cooler stuff if they don't merge.

running

Oct 10, 2006, 02:02 PM

I don't think Apple could afford to buy Google.

honestly, i cannot imagine Apple's Google ... these two firms has very different policys (compare .mac vs. google pages+gtalk+gmail)

FriarTuck

Oct 10, 2006, 02:23 PM

Almost makes me wonder if Apple could be thinking of doing the right thing, put .Mac out of its underdeveloped, poorly maintained, expensive misery, and integrate the former .Mac functionality into Google products.

Day 1 iTools user
Day 1 .Mac subscriber
Not a hater

Mooganic

Oct 10, 2006, 02:26 PM

Speaking of Picasa, it has its shortcomings, but iPhoto could learn a lot from it too. Why isn't Apple kicking Picasa's butt in the real-time effect department? The smoothly faded effect when you rotate and edit pictures in Picasa is more Apple than Apple.

And at least Picasa stores metadata in the file and understands IPTC comments, which iPhoto amazingly doesn't.

truz

Oct 10, 2006, 02:35 PM

To be honest, I think google is just as bad as microsoft. That google tools crap is the worse thing you could download for a WinPC. That's something microsoft would put out, not something you would think google would do.

I won't install anything google puts out for mac, it will be anything (software wise) you can get yourself without the google software/installer slowing you down. That's just a easy way for google to advertise.

Eraserhead

Oct 10, 2006, 02:46 PM

because google's stock price is above $400 a share and apple is still trying to get back to $80. google is huge, plus we will se much cooler stuff if they don't merge.

Yes but because Google and Apple have different numbers of shares the share price doesn't nessessarily represent how much they are worth. Microsoft's share price is around $27, but the company is worth more than Google and Apple put together.

running

Oct 10, 2006, 02:48 PM

Dark Horse

Oct 10, 2006, 03:07 PM

And to range far and wide... regarding the "Web 2.0 bubble bursting" - you are aware that Google turns a profit, aren't you? I simply don't see any broad parallels with the dot-com bust. There are companies out there that have poorly thought out business plans, and they will certainly fail - but that's been happening since time immemorial. Those sorts of companies don't seem to be the norm, which was the case before that debacle.

But then google did just buy youtube, who don't make a profit.

DotComCTO

Oct 10, 2006, 03:37 PM

Come on Picasa for Mac...

Yes, please. I use Parallels and Win XP on my iMac just so I can have Picasa. I've been trying to make iPhoto work the way I want it to, but I'm not a fan. The organization aspects of iPhoto are substandard. Trying to import nearly 10,000 photos into iPhoto and then having to organize them into albums manually is just BS. The film roll concept doesn't work well for me, and that approach doesn't work well with Front Row.

So...please...Google...do SOMETHING about getting Picasa on the Mac. Please!!!

Getting off the soap box now...

:cool:

--DotComCTO

slu

Oct 10, 2006, 03:50 PM

Yes but because Google and Apple have different numbers of shares the share price doesn't nessessarily represent how much they are worth. Microsoft's share price is around $27, but the company is worth more than Google and Apple put together.

This is correct, in theory, but Google is still worth over twice what Apple is worth. Doing two seconds of research told me:

GOOG - Market Cap (in millions of dollars) = 131,137.51
AAPL - Market Cap (in millions of dollars) = 62,831.10

For those of you who need to retake Finance 101 (not necessarily you Eraserhead), Market Capitalization is the market price of a share times the number of shares outstanding.

For comparisions sake:

MSFT - Market Cap (in millions of dollars) = 271,010.68

So you are correct in that the market values MSFT more than Google and Apple combined.

But this is just a factor in if a company can "afford" to buy another company.

sparks9

Oct 10, 2006, 04:20 PM

I can't believe Google is worth that much. I mean its just a webpage. I smell bubble.

Willis

Oct 10, 2006, 04:33 PM

This is correct, in theory, but Google is still worth over twice what Apple is worth. Doing two seconds of research told me:

GOOG - Market Cap (in millions of dollars) = 131,137.51
AAPL - Market Cap (in millions of dollars) = 62,831.10

For those of you who need to retake Finance 101 (not necessarily you Eraserhead), Market Capitalization is the market price of a share times the number of shares outstanding.

For comparisions sake:

MSFT - Market Cap (in millions of dollars) = 271,010.68

So you are correct in that the market values MSFT more than Google and Apple combined.

But this is just a factor in if a company can "afford" to buy another company.

Wow... didnt know they were all worth that much, but then I hadnt bothered to look it up. thanks though!

bdj21ya

Oct 10, 2006, 04:36 PM

Yes, please. I use Parallels and Win XP on my iMac just so I can have Picasa. I've been trying to make iPhoto work the way I want it to, but I'm not a fan. The organization aspects of iPhoto are substandard. Trying to import nearly 10,000 photos into iPhoto and then having to organize them into albums manually is just BS. The film roll concept doesn't work well for me, and that approach doesn't work well with Front Row.

So...please...Google...do SOMETHING about getting Picasa on the Mac. Please!!!

Getting off the soap box now...

:cool:

--DotComCTO

How should a program automatically organize them for you? (I'm not saying there isn't a better way, I just want to understand your idea so I can be on the lookout for something that implements it better than iPhoto)

iKwick7

Oct 10, 2006, 04:46 PM

I really hope Google pushes their mac software in a big way- SketchUp is, by far, my favorite app and I really, really want a universal binary version. :)

KingYaba

Oct 10, 2006, 04:59 PM

Google will rule the world one day... scary. :eek:

timswim78

Oct 10, 2006, 05:10 PM

i used picasa on pc and to me it seemed just like an iphoto straight copy, other than 1 thing, it finds photos in other folders (which i wouldnt like, i keep my photoshop seperate). so what would be the point.

You can specify what folders you want it to search and monitor.

Picasa is far from being an iPhoto wannabe. For me, it's one of the reasons that I use my Windows computer as much as I do.

count chocula

Oct 10, 2006, 05:10 PM

I think what's missing is a Mac version of Google Talk.
i couldnt agree more, i would love a google made google talk client for mac. i use adium right now, but there isnt voice calls, voice mail, and all that cool stuff.

fixyourthinking

Oct 10, 2006, 05:35 PM

I definitely see this as a positive and a way for the iTV to potentially view YouTube Stuff ... I can't wait to see "MadV" on my TV. (MadV = famous YouTube magician)

bdj21ya

Oct 10, 2006, 05:59 PM

i couldnt agree more, i would love a google made google talk client for mac. i use adium right now, but there isnt voice calls, voice mail, and all that cool stuff.

Why not just use iChat (still no voice, but at least you can use one program for AIM and Google buddies). Now I just wish iChat wouldn't handle the buddy windows so separately (all those windows make me nervous, and you can't see more than one list of buddies at a time from the menu bar icon drop down).

aafuss1

Oct 10, 2006, 07:08 PM

User created video- where users could submit their own movies to a Apple site (with vopyright considerations in place). Or YouTube export in iMovie.

Doctor Q

Oct 10, 2006, 07:11 PM

Speaking of Google's blog, it was hacked (http://googleblog.blogspot.com/2006/10/about-that-fake-post.html) over the weekend.

See also news story (http://www.macworld.com/news/2006/10/10/googleblog/).

gh0sted

Oct 10, 2006, 07:37 PM

I hope Google does with You Tube what they did with google video. Google Video allows you to download the free videos in iPod format. Currently I have to use third party Mozilla extensions to hijack you tube videos for my iPod video.

840quadra

Oct 10, 2006, 08:01 PM

Good!

I would like native support for Google Spreadsheets in Safari as opposed to having to use firefox, and a version of Google talk suited for the Mac.

fall3n

Oct 10, 2006, 08:35 PM

I can't believe Google is worth that much. I mean its just a webpage. I smell bubble.

Google isn't just a webpage, they are a company that develops web based applications or applications that are designed to be integrated with the web and the best part is pretty much all of it is free. Google is just so succesful because they've developed amazing business plans and methods. As you can tell I'm a google fan mainly because their products, much like Apple, are easy to use (user friendly), highly powerful, and highly efficient.

iMikeT

Oct 10, 2006, 09:34 PM

Apple + Google = The destruction of everyone's favorite company, Microsoft :p

AidenShaw

Oct 10, 2006, 09:52 PM

Apple + Google = The destruction of everyone's favorite company, Microsoft :p
Because Google is all about making money, and 95% of their page views (and therefore ad revenue) come from Windows users....

They're just looking to get a bigger piece of the other 5% here, nothing more, nothing less.

Westside guy

Oct 11, 2006, 12:34 AM

I can't believe Google is worth that much. I mean its just a webpage. I smell bubble.

A couple minor problems here:

- Google is turning a significant profit.

- Google is NOT "just a webpage". Google sells software and even hardware. Anyone who's involved with IT as a profession knows about Google's search appliance, which is designed to give large companies the ability to use Google's search technology across their internal network.

MacManX

Oct 11, 2006, 03:44 AM

http://www.macrumors.com/images/macrumorsthreadlogo.gif (http://www.macrumors.com)

The post directs readers to a Google download page (http://www.google.com/mac), where users can freely download 5 applications/add-ins or a set of Dashboard widgets.
enabled features.

Hmmmmm... That link is to a blank Google page. Anyone know the correct link? :confused:

redAPPLE

Oct 11, 2006, 07:03 AM

Hmmmmm... That link is to a blank Google page. Anyone know the correct link? :confused:

it is the correct link...

gh0sted

Oct 11, 2006, 11:24 AM

A couple minor problems here:

- Google is turning a significant profit.

- Google is NOT "just a webpage". Google sells software and even hardware. Anyone who's involved with IT as a profession knows about Google's search appliance, which is designed to give large companies the ability to use Google's search technology across their internal network.

Not to mention they are sitting on a 10 Billion Dollar cash reserve.

MacManX

Oct 11, 2006, 11:30 AM

it is the correct link...

Strange indeed!! Then it must be a localized thing, because when I click the link (or type in http://www.google.com/mac) here in Sweden I'm directed to a page which only contains the ordinary Google search function and absolutely nothing else... :(

EDIT: I changed the Google settings to english language - and *boing* it now works...
So for those of you out there in non english speaking countries... change your settings and off you go to download the goodies...

Doctor Q

Oct 11, 2006, 03:03 PM

Try .html on the end: http://www.google.com/mac.html

Epicurus

Oct 17, 2006, 12:35 AM

Isn't Google a big Ubuntu supporter? Considering the amount of custom code they've probably put into that OS for their servers, I doubt they'll ever move anything significant to OS X Server. When we hear about gMail's massive storage farms running on Xserve RAIDs, however, then I'll start to believe the two companies are best buddies.

Right now I think they're just acting on market pressure. Microsoft is trying to pick itself up and prep the launch of Vista. They're trying to push into Google's market with Live search and all manner of Web2 (used very, very loosely) stuff. The Zune isn't a big threat yet, but then the Xbox wasn't much compared to the PS2 at first. If Apple can get YouTube video into the iPod with as much ease as Podcasts are, then that would be amazing.

But YouTube on a TV (with iTV)? Are any of the videos even available in HD (or even Standard Def)?