Google’s Picasa to Linux.
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The biggest news of the week is the port of Google’s Picasa to #Linux.with WINE!
Wine is an open source implementation of the Windows API on top of X and Unix. Think of it as a Windows compatibility layer. Wine does not require Microsoft Windows, as it is a completely alternative implementation consisting of 100% Microsoft-free code, but it can optionally use native system DLLs if they are available. You can find more info at www.winehq.org
Several months ago we reported that CodeWeavers was contracted to port some Google apps to #Linux.
"Picasa incorporates nearly all the features of the current Windows version of Picasa, providing you with the tools you need to easily find, edit, and share the photos on your computer," explained Google’s Open Source Programs Manager Chris DiBona. "And because it runs on a carefully tested version of Wine, Picasa avoids the slowing effects of an OS emulation or a virtual machine."
I am using it, and very satisfied by its speed and ease of use: It looks like and react like the windows Picasa version. Do not wait any longer and give it a try, it is the perfect tool to administer our growing library of pictures.
Google/CodeWeavers have also committed all patches for WIne to make this happen into the main development tree, it may also allow more windows apps to run under linux, and that’s great for the whole community!
You do not have to install WINE, the total size is only 17Mb compressed, not bad for such a software and all its function wrapped to #Linux API.
- Picasa for #Linux
- Picasa for windows
- Picasa for windows in French, German
- Read more details on project milestones
The only functionalities missing would be a neural network to automatically recognize and query pictures by their statistical content…but I am asking too much 🙂
