BumpTop, that physics-based 3D desktop thing, has been acquired by Google. “Today, we have a big announcement to make: we’re excited to announce that we’ve been acquired by Google! This means that BumpTop (for both Windows and Mac) will no longer be available for sale. Additionally, no updates to the products are planned.” No word on what Google’s plans are.
more fuel for the Google Tablet rumors
I remember being pretty interested in BumpTop but ultimately decided messing with the native file manager might create too many problems.
But if it becomes the native file manager or similar in some other OS… well then it looks interesting again.
Sounds awfully similar to the infamous Microsoft practices in the 1990s.
Buying potential or real competitors out of the market place, likely to make room for your own product.
Don’t, be evil.
I’m not sure what you are talking about, this is google’s M.O.
They bought Grand Central and immediately closed creation of new accounts until it was properly “Googleized”. This might take a year or more but everything eventually becomes available again.
As they integrate everything into the Google account and preferences system, along with making it fit their way of working, it’s typically only available by invite only.
Agreed. This is alternative to put it.
Ring. Ring. Product bundling.
Yes it’s bundling, but most of Google’s services are free. Bundling is not inherently evil, especially if it’s free
Are you kidding me bumptop is stupid…. Google bought it so it wouldn’t be an embarassment to the entire Internet anymore.
All joking aside I *really* don’t see how bumptop aims to increase desktop productivity the fact that the computer desktop isn’t really a desktop it most of what makes it usefull …Bumptop is little more than bling on the touchscreen
Never heard of BumpTop but I just hope this won’t be another “Sonique-acquired-by-Lycos-and-death-warranted-on-the-spot”. It’s been nearly 10 years and I still can’t forget that, let alone forgive.
“Today, we have a big announcement to make: we’re excited to announce that […] BumpTop (for both Windows and Mac) will no longer be available for sale. Additionally, no updates to the products are planned.”
This way, with just a few words missing, it doesn’t makes sense anymore…
Kochise
Edited 2010-05-03 11:35 UTC
I am a BumpTop pro user (I do not remember why I actually decided to pay for it…) but I soon stopped using it. It is cool but the problem is that was another layer over Windows, and pretty slow on my laptop.
But if it becomes the main UI paradigm for an OS (i.e. for a tablet) I think we can have something really interesting.
In the end somehow somewhere the cost of Google is far from free. The simple notion of doing no evil is just a slogan, a catch phrase, a sales pitch.
It was alright, could have been better. I am guessing they (google) will take it apart and incorporate bits and pieces of it into whatever they have planned.
That’s how much it is worth.
Edited 2010-05-03 16:59 UTC
please stop buying up everything i love…
… better shaped, developed and thought out than DumpTop.