Google ends Nik Collection development

**pepperberry farm** · 05-30-2017, 06:06 AM

It was too good to be true for too long - it seems that Google is ending development on the Nik Collection, after buying-out the company and then giving the software away for free:

Google abandons the Nik Collection - Won't develop it beyond CC 2015 - DIY Photography

one note - the story discusses the Nik Collection pretty much from the standpoint of the software is only usable at plug-ins for Ps and Lr, but I have found that the entire Nik Collection works fine as standalone apps, completely independent of any Adobe software...

Markovo · 05-30-2017, 06:44 AM

Damn... it had the best sharpening tool ever.

mee · 05-30-2017, 07:10 AM

Not surprising.. but also very disappointing. That seems to be what Google does.. like most large companies.. they buy a smaller company, extract what they want from them, then throw the remains on the ground to rot.

These are essentially to my processing workflow. They work fine in LR6 on Windows10 though. I don't see a problem coming up too quick...

I've read that some of the developers of the Nik collection, after Google purchased them, left and started MacPhun. So perhaps Luminar is the next 'best' software once/if Nik stops working on an updated platform?

**BigMackCam** · 05-30-2017, 07:31 AM

It's a real shame. That said, the tools run well on Windows 10 and I think we can expect them to run just as well on whatever comes next - and possibly further into the future still with a "compatibility mode" setting. So, for those who are happy with the tools as they are (and I for one am very happy with them), there's no reason why we can't keep using them for a long time to come

stevebrot · 05-30-2017, 07:48 AM

Originally posted by BigMackCam

So, for those who are happy with the tools as they are (and I for one am very happy with them), there's no reason why we can't keep using them for a long time to come

That is the bottom line. As long as one has OS support and one's needs are met, software never becomes truly obsolete.

Steve

ripper2860 · 05-30-2017, 07:55 AM

I believe they purchased the company with the intent to incorporate Nik's technology into a Android mobile app. Seems they are not interested in on-going support in the PC arena. A real shame as it is really an excellent application. While it runs wonderfully under WIN10 and PS for now -- who knows what future PS or MS updates could render it useless. It would be nice if they moved the desktop version into the public domain so development and support could continue.

sunny16 · 05-30-2017, 08:10 AM

It was pretty much inferred last year when it was announced that it would be free that it would no longer be updated (better to not charge people for something that was no longer being developed.) I'm not sure that they really did much of any updates since they bought it in 2012. As others said, still works fine though.

DeadJohn · 05-30-2017, 08:11 AM

Google finally acknowledged what we already knew for several years. It's been 4(?) years since Nik was updated.

Large companies often buy small companies to extract a few key technologies, killing off the original products. Google isn't in the PC software business.

D1N0 · 05-30-2017, 08:12 AM

Google has used nik's technology for all kinds of stuff. For their Pixel phone camera. For sharpening google maps. For adding editing functionality to Google photo's. I am not aware they really did any developing on the Nik collection. They just made it free and it will continue working.

**boriscleto** · 05-30-2017, 08:29 AM

I'm surprised nobody has bought it from Google. Topaz and On1 seem to be drifting away from Adobe and are building their own stand alone apps...

DeadJohn · 05-30-2017, 08:55 AM

Originally posted by D1N0

...it will continue working.

Only until an unlucky Lightroom or Windows update breaks it.

normhead · 05-30-2017, 08:57 AM

Apple and Microsoft have done the same with hundreds of companies. To the point where I'd say 99% of the time, they are interested in proprietary code, not the Consumer product. The fact that they just wanted the software for in house use, means they don't want to sell it. They bought proprietary algorithms.That's what they paid for. Nik clearly wasn't making enough income to pique their interest in it as a product. IN fact you can almost assume, Nik had a great product, that had problems in the market place that were marketing and placement related, not technical issues. A perfect acquisition for another company who may have had more use for the code than Nik itself could generate.

k22 · 05-30-2017, 09:08 AM

FYI, the entire collection is fully accessible in Apple's Photos app using an app called External Editors.

normhead · 05-30-2017, 09:15 AM

Originally posted by k22

FYI, the entire collection is fully accessible in Apple's Photos app using an app called External Editors.

And how does that work?

**boriscleto** · 05-30-2017, 09:52 AM

Originally posted by normhead

And how does that work?

External Editors For Photos on the Mac App Store

$.99 to add functionality Apple removed when they ditched iPhoto...

05-30-2017, 06:06 AM	#1
pepperberry farm amateur dirt farmer Join Date: Dec 2014 Location: probably out in a field somewhere... Photos: Gallery \| Albums Posts: 41,679	Google ends Nik Collection development It was too good to be true for too long - it seems that Google is ending development on the Nik Collection, after buying-out the company and then giving the software away for free: Google abandons the Nik Collection - Won't develop it beyond CC 2015 - DIY Photography one note - the story discusses the Nik Collection pretty much from the standpoint of the software is only usable at plug-ins for Ps and Lr, but I have found that the entire Nik Collection works fine as standalone apps, completely independent of any Adobe software...

05-30-2017, 07:55 AM	#6
ripper2860 Veteran Member Join Date: Mar 2014 Location: Dallas, TX Posts: 890	I believe they purchased the company with the intent to incorporate Nik's technology into a Android mobile app. Seems they are not interested in on-going support in the PC arena. A real shame as it is really an excellent application. While it runs wonderfully under WIN10 and PS for now -- who knows what future PS or MS updates could render it useless. It would be nice if they moved the desktop version into the public domain so development and support could continue. Last edited by ripper2860; 05-30-2017 at 08:58 AM.

05-30-2017, 08:57 AM	#12
normhead Pentaxian Join Date: Jun 2007 Location: Near Algonquin Park Photos: Gallery \| Albums Posts: 40,451	Apple and Microsoft have done the same with hundreds of companies. To the point where I'd say 99% of the time, they are interested in proprietary code, not the Consumer product. The fact that they just wanted the software for in house use, means they don't want to sell it. They bought proprietary algorithms.That's what they paid for. Nik clearly wasn't making enough income to pique their interest in it as a product. IN fact you can almost assume, Nik had a great product, that had problems in the market place that were marketing and placement related, not technical issues. A perfect acquisition for another company who may have had more use for the code than Nik itself could generate. Last edited by normhead; 05-30-2017 at 09:15 AM.

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05-30-2017, 06:44 AM	#2
Markovo Senior Member Join Date: Jul 2014 Location: Bulgaria Posts: 149	Damn... it had the best sharpening tool ever.

05-30-2017, 07:10 AM	#3
mee Veteran Member Join Date: May 2010 Posts: 7,403	Not surprising.. but also very disappointing. That seems to be what Google does.. like most large companies.. they buy a smaller company, extract what they want from them, then throw the remains on the ground to rot. These are essentially to my processing workflow. They work fine in LR6 on Windows10 though. I don't see a problem coming up too quick... I've read that some of the developers of the Nik collection, after Google purchased them, left and started MacPhun. So perhaps Luminar is the next 'best' software once/if Nik stops working on an updated platform?

05-30-2017, 07:31 AM	#4
BigMackCam Digitiser of Film Join Date: Mar 2010 Location: North East of England Posts: 20,674	It's a real shame. That said, the tools run well on Windows 10 and I think we can expect them to run just as well on whatever comes next - and possibly further into the future still with a "compatibility mode" setting. So, for those who are happy with the tools as they are (and I for one am very happy with them), there's no reason why we can't keep using them for a long time to come

05-30-2017, 07:48 AM	#5
stevebrot Otis Memorial Pentaxian Join Date: Mar 2007 Location: Vancouver (USA) Photos: Gallery \| Albums Posts: 42,007	Originally posted by BigMackCam So, for those who are happy with the tools as they are (and I for one am very happy with them), there's no reason why we can't keep using them for a long time to come That is the bottom line. As long as one has OS support and one's needs are met, software never becomes truly obsolete. Steve

05-30-2017, 08:10 AM	#7
sunny16 Veteran Member Join Date: Oct 2010 Location: Maryland, USA Photos: Albums Posts: 309	It was pretty much inferred last year when it was announced that it would be free that it would no longer be updated (better to not charge people for something that was no longer being developed.) I'm not sure that they really did much of any updates since they bought it in 2012. As others said, still works fine though.

05-30-2017, 08:11 AM	#8
DeadJohn Pentaxian Join Date: Jan 2011 Location: New York Posts: 4,834	Google finally acknowledged what we already knew for several years. It's been 4(?) years since Nik was updated. Large companies often buy small companies to extract a few key technologies, killing off the original products. Google isn't in the PC software business.

05-30-2017, 08:12 AM	#9
D1N0 Pentaxian Join Date: May 2012 Location: --- Photos: Gallery Posts: 6,802	Google has used nik's technology for all kinds of stuff. For their Pixel phone camera. For sharpening google maps. For adding editing functionality to Google photo's. I am not aware they really did any developing on the Nik collection. They just made it free and it will continue working.

05-30-2017, 08:29 AM	#10
boriscleto Loyal Site Supporter Join Date: Dec 2009 Location: North Syracuse, NY Photos: Gallery Posts: 16,475	I'm surprised nobody has bought it from Google. Topaz and On1 seem to be drifting away from Adobe and are building their own stand alone apps...

05-30-2017, 08:55 AM	#11
DeadJohn Pentaxian Join Date: Jan 2011 Location: New York Posts: 4,834	Originally posted by D1N0 ...it will continue working. Only until an unlucky Lightroom or Windows update breaks it.

05-30-2017, 09:08 AM	#13
k22 Site Supporter Join Date: Dec 2015 Posts: 153	FYI, the entire collection is fully accessible in Apple's Photos app using an app called External Editors.

05-30-2017, 09:15 AM	#14
normhead Pentaxian Join Date: Jun 2007 Location: Near Algonquin Park Photos: Gallery \| Albums Posts: 40,451	Originally posted by k22 FYI, the entire collection is fully accessible in Apple's Photos app using an app called External Editors. And how does that work?

05-30-2017, 09:52 AM	#15
boriscleto Loyal Site Supporter Join Date: Dec 2009 Location: North Syracuse, NY Photos: Gallery Posts: 16,475	Originally posted by normhead And how does that work? External Editors For Photos on the Mac App Store $.99 to add functionality Apple removed when they ditched iPhoto...