Google, the OpenSource thief?

[Xaneden]

Yes Yes, I know you can't really 'steal' OpenSource software in the sense I am talking about, but I can't help but feel Google are taking far too many OpenSource programs and rebundling them as their own software. Also, they seem to be doing a Micro$oft, and are buying software from companies left, right and centre.

GoogleEarth, Google Talk, Google Video Viewer (based on the awsome program VLC )... None of which they made. And the rumours of a Google browser based on a Mozilla/Firefox core makes me wonder whether we'll be seeing a whole internet suite from Google in the near future... Maybe even a Google OS?

Your thoughts?

[Skint]

Option 2.

[Scarlet Infidel]

Agreed, couldnt care less.

[shelley bda]

Yes Yes, I know you can't really 'steal' OpenSource software in the sense I am talking about, but I can't help but feel Google are taking far too many OpenSource programs and rebundling them as their own software. Also, they seem to be doing a Micro$oft, and are buying software from companies left, right and centre.

GoogleEarth, Google Talk, Google Video Viewer (based on the awsome program VLC )... None of which they made. And the rumours of a Google browser based on a Mozilla/Firefox core makes me wonder whether we'll be seeing a whole internet suite from Google in the near future... Maybe even a Google OS?

Your thoughts?

Hmm Google OS??? nothing would surprise me tbh,

And i bet Google are paying these companies a fair amount of wonga to develop these programs for them so i bet they aint complaining

[TiG]

Google has got far too much good press to be honest. I persoonally believe, trust and feel quite confident in google, that its products are good quality, well engineered and robust.

Google Earth is one of the best pieces of tech i've seen in a long time. Google talk looks good and the fact it is/will be completely compliant with jabber open source tech to make it possible to have an open IM environment is damn cool.

Its well known that google raised $4billion recently to add to the $3billion they had left in cash. Its good and well understood business practise to buy what you can't build. If anything the fact that you are even comparing it to microsoft is a big compliment to google.

Google have got some damn good developers working for them. I'm not sure how much you can't give google credit for.

But what i am sure about is that everything i've seen about google makes me feel good about the company.

I'm definitely a very pro google person tho...

TiG

[Kezzer]

No, what they're doing is fine. The reason why is because they're a major company trying to standardise certain things without making a terrible mess of them. What they've provided so far is beyond what Microsoft has delivered in terms of the particular software they have just developed.

It's free, it's easy to use and it's of excellent quality. Why complain?

[ikonia]

you can't build and re-package open source software and sell it, and I don't believe thats what google is doing

[shelley bda]

Not bad for two middle class boy's from the "burbs who used to host Google from
a server in their dorm room

[TiG]

http://news.bbc.co.uk/1/hi/technology/4727267.stm

Interesting article that compliments the question quite well.

TiG

[directhex]

you can't build and re-package open source software and sell it, and I don't believe thats what google is doing

technically, that's exactly what RHEL, Novell Linux, etc are - built, repackaged OSS stuff.

in the end, though, if it's in keeping with the licenses of the software, they're well within their rights to do so.

video player based on VLC? why not, as long as they publish their source, that's fine.

google talk using the OSS Jabber protocol? good! it vindicates the OSS geeks who've said for years Jabber si great

[Dougal]

Never had to pay for Google stuff.

And I find that they are enhancing the OSS community by bringing it to people's attention in the mainstream media.

[TiG]

google talk using the OSS Jabber protocol? good! it vindicates the OSS geeks who've said for years Jabber si great

http://www.google.com/talk/developer.html

Read up on it via the developer info on here....

Whole heap of nice info on there...

Nothing about the VOIP client i've found yet tho which is a shame.
TiG

[shiato storm]

to be honest google make things that are often useful, free and optional, you can either have them or don't have them. microsoft on the other hand fail on many levels. various things are not an option - they just come like that, they are sure as hell not free and often are not that useful.
says it all really.

[unreal]

I think what google is doing is cool, they are doing it in a way that much of us would like (nice service, free, no junk, etc)

[Kezzer]

I re-use OSS. There's no point in re-inventing the wheel when the current wheel is perfect.

[scottyman]

I re-use OSS. There's no point in re-inventing the wheel when the current wheel is perfect.

that's what it's there for - completely agree. also if you're operating under the terms of the license - then why wouldn't you?