Google bought Picnik in 2010 and now is closing down the online photo editing software service. Subscribers to the service will get a refund. Google says the people from that group will work on other photo functionality across the site, especially on Google+. Yep, it’s all about Google+ at Googs these days. Also shutting down: the pretty cool Sky Map, a Google Maps of space, and Urchin, an acquired company that does web analytics.
Obviously, every company greenlights and redlights projects all the time, but again this is all about Google big bet on Google+.
I (John) actually went to college with Picnik founder Jonathan Sposato. He’s a friend and I like him very much but I also hate him out of jealousy. First, he paid his own way through college doing sound design for video games (in the 80s!). Later, he started one company, got bought by Google, took that spare time and started Picnik, and then that got bought too. Two companies! Never happens. Also he has perfect pitch and is a great athlete. Don’t you hate people like that?