Link: Picasa Web

Looks like Google has finally started moving from PC-centric thinking–overtaking the user desktop–to web-based thinking–overtaking the internets. I use Picasa, and I love the program for its astounding ability to keep my thousands of photos on my PC organized. It’s easy to find the pictures I want and edit them, reduce red-eye, crop, add effects, etc. But I just can’t do the one thing that everyone needs to be able to do with photos: share them.

There were two options for Google: integrate Picasa with an established online photo-sharing site such as Flickr, or (the more likely option), create their own.

Introducing Picasa Web. Using the “test” system (is Google sick of using the term “beta” these days?) is by invitation only, you have to sign up on their front page and wait to receive an invite. So, I’ve signed up, but haven’t test-driven just yet, so we’ll have to wait for the verdict a little bit longer.

In order to sway users, Picasa Web cannot simply be a Flickr clone. The integration with the Picasa desktop software will be nice for users who are already using it. But introducing Picasa Web won’t get many users to download and use Picasa. They need to have a fantastic web service that not only rivals Flickr but completely and utterly trounces it. Every feature you’ve ever wanted Flickr to include but hasn’t yet should be available in Picasa Web and heavily Google-branded for those purists that feel that Google can do no wrong. Only then will Google begin to see the true benefits of having this system in place.

As with all other things, I’ll be testing out the new package, and reporting back as to my impressions.