Google acquires Labpixies, makers of the "Coolest gadgets on the web" | Hacker News Reader

Google acquires Labpixies, makers of the "Coolest gadgets on the web"

googlecode.blogspot.com

36 pointsdmaz10 comments

I wonder if Laxpixies were profitable. I can't read much into their business model.

1. ... 2. get bought by google... 3. profit?

http://www.thewadi.com/google-acquires-widgets-powerhouse-la... -- "Google and Labpixies worked closely together on a variety of projects, including the launch of a number of global OpenSocial based gadgets. Recently, Google decided it could do more if they were part of the same team, and as such, announced the acquisition of Labpixies....The company explained the acquisition: We both felt the time was right to come together."

Thus,

1) Build something users want much better than Google/MS/Apple/etc, or what MGAe haven't foreseen at all.

2) Strike a working relationship with GMAe employees

3) Get acquired by them

Insert somewhere: protect intellectual property, be careful of employee loyalty, and beware of idea/content stealing to ensure 3 actually takes place by GMAe.

They give away their games, in an ad supported mode. I don't know if people actually click on the ads or not--my guess is not, but during my morning and afternoon commute from Brooklyn to 18th Street in Manhattan, I typically see someone playing either Flood-it or Line-up at least once a week. Doesn't seem to ever be the same person either...

As a resident of Tel Aviv let me add few details:

The investments in this company where around 1 million dollars. The company's income so far stands for "several millions dollars".

Given the fact there are only 10 employees in the company, I assume it was a profitable one.

Minusing the already growing snarkey comments, i too am at a loss, probably as i have never heard of them secondly their website forces me to stay in the iPhone version.

What am i missing?

Based on the blog post they mentioned igoogle ahead of games. Could it be linked to creating a more igoogle game marketplace.

Also couldnt help but notice how a game for igoogle would be constrained to small dimensions, just like those of a mobile.

Looks like a talent acquisition, not a complementary product takeover. Kind of like Etherpad. Developers that know the tech which Google is looking to implement in their own line of products.

Someone to make games for Android?

They made Flood-it and included Google Ads. I'm sure they're way ahead of this curve...

Both Line-up and Flood-it are on Android, and are pretty good. The iPhone/iPod versions of these are much more polished and look better though.

I can imagine that if Google is serious about taking on the iPhone with Android, they're going to have to start hitting where the iPhone is killing it--mobile games. Having a company that has created successful games on a multitude of platforms are going to be great advisors for this effort I'd think.

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