Let's take a trip down memory lane:
February 2003: Google acquired Pyra Labs, the developers of Blogger but it was only in August 2006 that Google upgraded Blogger to add Categories, RSS feeds, etc. That's like a 3½ year wait.
Doc Searls also wonders why Google has improved Blogger so little in these years. His suggestion is to open-source Blogger's code and bring back "pro" accounts to make Blogger a paid service.
July 2004: Google acquires Picasa and Hello photoblogging software from IdeaLab. While Google has continued the development of Picasa, the Hello plugin for Blogger has not been updated ever since it entered the Google stable. [Latest Version 1.0 released in January 2005]November 2005: Google acquired Urchin web analytics software and renamed it as Google Analytics. While the service has gained enough adoption after Google released it for free, no new features have been added to Urchin even after an year of staying at the Googleplex. No integration with Adsense yet.
February 2006: Google acquired Measure Map, a popular blog statistics package, from Adaptive Path. There were enough speculations that Google will either integrate Measure Map features in Google Analytics or release this as a free tool for bloggers, especially those using blogspot platform. Unfortunately, there has been no news about Measure Map from Google ever since they bought the company.
March 2006: Google acquires Sketchup 3D Software and releases the software for free. With Sketchup, anyone can draw impressive 3D models for Google Earth or publish them to Sketchup Warehouse. However, we haven't seen a single feature added to this amazing 3D software application ever since it became part of the Google empire.
Other Interesting Google buyouts: Writely (Google Docs) and Youtube.
Reader Comments
The statement about SketchUp is wrong. There have been many features added to Sketchup, including: integration features with Google Earth, a free version of Sketchup called Google SketchUp, new tutorials, and early next year there will be more.
Written on 27/11/06 6:12 PM
Frank - thanks for this additional information about Sketchup.
If you look at the sketchup downloads page, the latest version of free or pro version of SketchUp is either 5.0.260 or sketchup 5.0.262 which were released on Feb 28, 2006.
No new features since the acquisition though they did release an updated plugin for Google Earth.
Written on 27/11/06 6:43 PM
Blogger - On May 9, 2004, Blogger introduced a major redesign, adding features including CSS-compliant templates, individual archive pages for posts, comments, and posting by e-mail (via Wikipedia).
Picasa - January 18, 2005 - myriad new features including improved search functions, an automated photo collage maker, massively enhanced photo editing functions and further integration with Picasa's Hello and Google's Blogger services (via Wikipedia). Also Picasa Web Albums.
Urchin - it wasn't an easy task to make Google Analytics scale.
MeasureMap - he he, you'll see.
Sketchup - Mac version and Sketchup Warehouse ( sketchup.google.com/3dwarehouse/ ).
Written on 27/11/06 9:35 PM
I have been waiting for more than year for blogging on own domain to take off but looks like it is still a distant dream.
Written on 27/11/06 11:59 PM
Thanks Ionut for your insight.
Wasn't aware that the Mac version of Sketchup was released after the acquisition.
Looks like you have some insider information about Measure Map :)
Written on 28/11/06 11:05 AM
Whilst Urchin hasn't been upgraded yet, Google Analytics has seen several upgrades form the early days as an invitation only system - mostly focused around tighter integration with and better reporting for AdWords.
Written on 28/11/06 3:36 PM
I'm going to defend SketchUp, as well. Aside from the fact that not much time has passed since the acquisition, SketchUp reports that many of the new features in SU5 and the free release were in the works before the acquisition was announced. And the 3D Warehouse hasn't gotten nearly the attention it deserves, in terms of easily sharing models. I think it'll take some time for this idea to gain traction.
Written on 29/11/06 9:43 PM
hi,
have you read this:-
meebo
I've always thought of interoperability for chatting. Even suggested Google many times.. but in vain. typepad and myspace take a leap ahead of Google.
I don't know why Google does not implements good and logical suggestions.
Written on 10/12/06 12:07 AM
I feel like kicking the butts of the original developers of Sketchup. Why should they allow Google to buy the most wonderful piece of work that has ever existed on the face of this planet. Sketchup will never be what it was originally intended to be in the hands of Google; the number one of 3D softwares. Google had better stick to helping peolpe find their lost dogs and cats and stop acquiring things they can't handle. Google Sketchup, what a joke! Doesn't even sound good to the ears. What are they tyring to prove?
Written on 23/1/07 8:37 PM