Didn’t see that one coming
by pixelvetica on 02/5/2010Google just acquired Bumptop. Bumptop is a desktop environment designed to enhance traditional computer desktop functionality by more closely supporting the behavior of a real-world desk.
This makes it more suitable for touchscreens and tablet computers. Or, say, they iPad. But the iPad doesn’t run an OS that supports Bumptop, so how does it figure in? Maybe it’s pretentious to speculate, but: Google entered mobile computing like Apple did, with Android. Google entered webkit browsing like Apple did, with Chrome. Google’s QSB is a paraimitation of Spotlight. No, Google isn’t going to make the next iMac. But who’s to say that Google isn’t interested in a tablet device? Running a Chrome OS, it could be effective (assuming you consider Google’s attempts at computing effective).
Whatever happens, please be aware that Bumptop is only available for one more week from their site, so if you don’t have it, you might want to grab it before Google does.
- EDIT: I’m hosting a copy of Bumptop for Mac here, for history’s sake. http://cl.ly/geY.
