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Microsoft Buys Photo Organizer Tool

By BetaNews Staff, BetaNews

June 27, 2006, 5:30 PM

British photo organization software maker iView Multimedia said late Monday it had been acquired by Microsoft. Details were not disclosed, however the company said the acquisition would help to enhance the product, as well as its customer service. iView was originally created for the Macintosh platform and then was ported to Windows.

"In my view, this Microsoft acquisition affords us an unprecedented opportunity to be even more responsive to a thriving market and ensure that iView MediaPro continues to perform to its full potential," company founder Yan Calotychos said in an open letter to customers. Calotychos emphasized that even as Microsoft takes over the product, support for Mac OS X would remain. He also said that the company would provide more details in future announcements.

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By zee7

posted Jun 29, 2006 - 1:37 AM

This one isn't about MS vs Google. MS doesn't give two sh*ts about piddly little Picasa; they're going after the big guys: Adobe (Lightroom, Bridge) and Apple (Aperture). MS desperately needs to gain a foothold in the booming imaging market to stay competitive. They know it and they'll do whatever it takes to bring Adobe and Apple to their knees.

Score: 0

By apexracer

posted Jun 28, 2006 - 10:35 AM

this seems kinda small beans for a company as big as microsoft?

Score: 0

By xyzcb1

posted Jun 28, 2006 - 8:26 AM

The only thing that Google innovate is their search search and then they hired Eric who bring out adword.

Score: 0

By AlexBR1974

posted Jun 28, 2006 - 7:46 AM

The problem is... Google might innovate, but Microsoft follows and makes things a thousand times better! Take a look at Windows Vista and the new Office. Microsoft is no longer making crappy software. Watch out, MS haters!

Score: 0

By Maestr0

posted Jun 28, 2006 - 7:55 AM

Google bought Picasa. They also bought Google Earth. They buy lots of things and slap a google name on them.

Score: 0

By Mark Gillespie

posted Jun 28, 2006 - 10:35 AM

They don't buy any crap thou. Everything google has aquired has been top notch..

Score: 0

By asellus

posted Jun 29, 2006 - 8:51 AM

Picasa is not a top-notch software.

Score: 0

By Mark Gillespie

posted Jun 28, 2006 - 6:28 AM

Microsoft worried about Google's Picasa?

Seems Microsoft are being constantly caught on the back foot by Google these days, Google innovate, Microsoft follow..

Score: 0

By dhjdhj

posted Jun 28, 2006 - 8:36 AM

General principle here - someone innovates, then Microsoft follows....that's been mostly true for years.
---->Google innovate, Microsoft follow..

Score: 0

By IQ70

posted Jun 28, 2006 - 7:09 AM

Buying a company is called innovation?

Score: 0

By titanae

posted Jun 28, 2006 - 6:00 AM

Google has Picasa so they must follow...

Score: 0

By crashoverride

posted Jun 27, 2006 - 9:46 PM

The monopoly accusations may now begin.

Score: 0

By IQ70

edited Jun 28, 2006 - 6:13 AM

Have they really been ever fined for being a monopoly? I can only find a DOJ reference saying MS had monopoly like market share.

Score: 0

By TC17

posted Jun 28, 2006 - 10:52 PM

They have not really been punished because they make secret deals with the Justice Department to include backdoors in their Windows software in exchange for the Justice Dept. looking the other way when they abuse their monopoly powers.

And yes, I honestly believe that.

Score: 0

By Planet.Of.Wounds

posted Jun 29, 2006 - 4:02 AM

Sure thing.

I just saw Elvis in a black helicopter. Honest.

Score: 0

By Planet.Of.Wounds

posted Jun 28, 2006 - 4:02 PM

You course not, simply because they're not a monopoly and never were. All claims related to that situation (and its alleged effects on competition, price, innovation and quality) are simply nonsense.

For those looking to go beyond simplistic "M$ is evil" I suggest a good - and quite definitive - read on that question: "Winners, losers and Microsoft", by Stan J. Liebowitz and Stephen E. Margolis

Score: 0

By crashoverride

posted Jun 28, 2006 - 3:57 PM

I know there have been plenty of accusations. I was just giving the MS haters their cue to start bashing away. It's pretty much a given that they will. Happens everytime MS buys someone out...why couldn't they just make it themselves...why don't they be more innovative....MS is making a monopoly. Same ole bs over and over and over again. The way I see it, they have the money to buy it why waste time trying to replicate it.

Score: 0

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