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Google releases Picasa for Linux -- and 100+ Wine patches
NewsForge ^ | Thursday May 25, 2006 (03:00 AM GMT) | By: Robin 'Roblimo' Miller

Posted on 05/26/2006 7:54:42 AM PDT by N3WBI3

Picasa is a photo organizing and editing tool from Google that does most of what most people need to do with their digital pictures. Now Picasa, previously a Windows-only program, has binaries available for most popular GNU/Linux distributions. The Linux version of Picasa is still a beta release, but it's ready to handle photo storage, organizing, and light photo editing on your Linux computer.

Even if you don't want to use Picasa, Google's creation of the Linux version may help make your Linux computer more versatile. The Picasa Linux port is being made with Wine, and in the process more than 100 patches are being contributed back to the community.

Google spokesperson Chris DiBona says, "At the end of this, a lot of people will be able to use Wine who weren't able to before."

Google hired CodeWeavers to do much of the work needed to get Picasa to run on Linux with Wine, but long-time Wine community contributor Dan Kegel also helped; he works for Google.

According to DiBona, the Picasa Linux beta release currently lacks these features:

* CD Burning * TiVo Export * Support for languages other than English * Hello™ instant picture chat

Picasa does not work with SELinux due to problems with camera recognition caused by SELinux's security features.

DiBona cautions all downloaders: "This is a beta version. We're expecting bugs." But he also says that, except for the features specifically noted as not working, this is a fully-functional program, ready for everyday use.

And again, even if you have no interest in Picasa, it looks like even those of us who haven't tried Wine in a while should start keeping an eye on it again. The Google-contributed code may mean a whole new level of functionality for anyone who must use "Windows-only" software but wants to run nothing but GNU/Linux on his or her PC.

Picasa is available here for these GNU/Linux distributions:

* Debian Sid and Etch * Fedora Core 4 and 5 * Mandriva 2005 and 2006 * Red Hat (current versions) * Linspire 5.0 * SUSE 9.3 and 10 * Ubuntu 5.x


TOPICS: Computers/Internet
KEYWORDS: bestofgoldeneagle; foss; gebait; google; linux; opensource; oss; threadjester; worstofiggle
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OSS PING

If you are interested in the OSS ping list please mail me

1 posted on 05/26/2006 7:54:46 AM PDT by N3WBI3
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To: N3WBI3; ShadowAce; Tribune7; frogjerk; Salo; LTCJ; Calvinist_Dark_Lord; amigatec; Fractal Trader; ..


2 posted on 05/26/2006 7:55:07 AM PDT by N3WBI3 ("I can kill you with my brain" - River Tam)
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To: N3WBI3

Dumb ol' me still uses Windows Explorer to manage my photos/media.

< |:(~

< |:)~


3 posted on 05/26/2006 9:23:31 AM PDT by martin_fierro (< |:)~)
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To: martin_fierro

If you know how to work with it, Linspire has the source code for both Lphoto and Lsongs available for download and offers info on how to install Lphoto and Lsongs on other distros.

http://www.lphoto.com
http://www.lsongs.com


4 posted on 05/26/2006 9:51:07 AM PDT by bigdcaldavis (Xandros : In a world without fences, who needs Gates?)
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To: N3WBI3

I'm sure the free software fanatics aren't too happy about this, as Google isn't making a linux-native version, but instead are trying to run the windows version by emulating the existence of windows within linux.


5 posted on 05/26/2006 10:17:41 AM PDT by Golden Eagle (Buy American. While you still can.)
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To: Golden Eagle; N3WBI3; ShadowAce; Tribune7; frogjerk; Salo; LTCJ; Calvinist_Dark_Lord; amigatec; ...
Tell ya what son, lets take a free republic survey,

Those who are upset that Google is helping with the opensource implementation of WINE (Windows API) on Linux raise their hands

6 posted on 05/26/2006 10:31:50 AM PDT by N3WBI3 ("I can kill you with my brain" - River Tam)
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To: N3WBI3
Ya know--he may have a point.

But then, I don't actually know any "free software fanatics" so it's kinda difficult for me to say....

7 posted on 05/26/2006 10:39:08 AM PDT by ShadowAce (Linux -- The Ultimate Windows Service Pack)
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To: N3WBI3
Actually, I don't care either way. Also, this way had the side benefit of improving WINE, so it's a good thing.

Those who are upset that Google is helping with the opensource implementation of WINE (Windows API) on Linux raise their hands.

8 posted on 05/26/2006 10:52:21 AM PDT by Salo
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To: Golden Eagle
BTW what is better for linux one native app from google or a more robust implementation of the windows API?
9 posted on 05/26/2006 10:53:56 AM PDT by N3WBI3 ("I can kill you with my brain" - River Tam)
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To: ShadowAce

You can read some of their comments here, like "Since when do you call an application that runs in wine ported? :-( "

http://trends.newsforge.com/trends/06/05/25/2343255.shtml?tid=138&tid=75&tid=131


10 posted on 05/26/2006 10:54:16 AM PDT by Golden Eagle (Buy American. While you still can.)
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To: N3WBI3

It's better for linux if they can mix in proprietary software, but so far there is huge resistance by "the community" to even including binary drivers, much less commercial software applications via Wine.


11 posted on 05/26/2006 10:56:41 AM PDT by Golden Eagle (Buy American. While you still can.)
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To: Golden Eagle

So lets see how the survey here runs and you can address the people here (as in talk to us not at us)..


12 posted on 05/26/2006 11:05:42 AM PDT by N3WBI3 ("I can kill you with my brain" - River Tam)
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To: N3WBI3

If you're ready to start distinguishing yourself from the fanatical free software "community", then great. So far you've rushed to their defense at every opportunity, even while admitting they're moonbat leftists.


13 posted on 05/26/2006 11:08:24 AM PDT by Golden Eagle (Buy American. While you still can.)
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To: Golden Eagle

Concrete examples?


14 posted on 05/26/2006 11:13:52 AM PDT by N3WBI3 ("I can kill you with my brain" - River Tam)
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To: N3WBI3
Sure, we can make one right now. Tell us the moonbats on newsforge are being absurd for criticizing Google for not doing a full port of picasa, and that they should be happy with the fact it will run on linux via wine. Admit they are philosophical fanatics who only care about making ALL software free, which is a ridiculous and harmful position for them to take.
15 posted on 05/26/2006 11:32:21 AM PDT by Golden Eagle (Buy American. While you still can.)
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To: Golden Eagle
Tell us the moonbats on newsforge are being absurd for criticizing Google for not doing a full port of picasa

They are absurd for demanding google do a full port

I have always said companies should use what license they choose and are under no obligation to opensource anything.. Can you ginve an example where I said otherwise?

Admit they are philosophical fanatics who only care about making ALL software free

Anyone who says google should have to (either legally or morally) opensource any of their products is out of line. Some of them may believe that all software should be free and thats an absurd position. Software should be licensed by the creator in any fashion they choose.

So do you have any examples of me in the past contradicting this?

16 posted on 05/26/2006 11:45:07 AM PDT by N3WBI3 ("I can kill you with my brain" - River Tam)
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To: N3WBI3

Shocking, maybe you're ready to condemn software released under their moonbat GPL license? It was created with the distinct purpose of making all software free, and includes their "viral" clause designed to confiscate the code of others to meet their moonbat goals.


17 posted on 05/26/2006 11:59:48 AM PDT by Golden Eagle (Buy American. While you still can.)
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To: N3WBI3
Those who are upset that Google is helping with the opensource implementation of WINE (Windows API) on Linux raise their hands

I don't have much use for WINE, but anything that makes Linux better for more users is a Good Thing(tm).

18 posted on 05/26/2006 12:08:26 PM PDT by zeugma (Come to the Dark Side... We have cookies!)
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To: Golden Eagle
Shocking, maybe you're ready to condemn software released under their moonbat GPL license?

Wow for a grammar nazi want to be your reading comprehension is really lacking

Software should be licensed by the creator in any fashion they choose.

19 posted on 05/26/2006 12:11:01 PM PDT by N3WBI3 ("I can kill you with my brain" - River Tam)
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To: N3WBI3

Ok, there's your concrete example of what you, just as I said in post 13. You admit they're moonbat leftists, but then defend the use of their license which furthers their moonbat goals. It's no different than calling liberals in the DNC moonbats, but then defending their immoral actions as "choice".


20 posted on 05/26/2006 12:18:41 PM PDT by Golden Eagle (Buy American. While you still can.)
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