Sonic Solutions has acquired photo software developer Simple Star in an effort to expand its web presence. Simple Star is the creator of PhotoShow, desktop and flash-based software that allows users to create ‘movies’ of their photos and video clips (you can see a sample here). The PhotoShow acquisition also includes a large community based around the product.
Sonic Solutions is the owner of the Roxio line of DVD and CD authoring tools, including Toast and Easy Media Creator. The acquisition make sense, as Roxio has recently been trying to expand their offerings to include online functionality. Media authoring isn’t dead by any means, but many of the videos and photos that were once edited and distributed on CDs are now shared via the web.
The transaction price was not disclosed.
Another acquisition! That’s became a daily news now. Big companies acquire small hits and make them a part of their portfolio.
I think web is good way of expansion. Isn’t it?
I think beyond being just a good acquisition, it was necessary for them. Companies that don’t actively pursue and online presence will not prevail long-term.
http://collegemogul.com
Yeah real good, The company sold out to Roxio, 3/4’s of the employees lost their jobs at Simple Star, including me, and all the stock options for long term employees were tossed away, some losing 60,000 shares or roughly 200,000 thousand dollars. I bet the owners didn’t blink when it came to pocket change for them though. A company that professed to value it’s employees dumps them without a blink. Business as Usual for this company. Thanks Chad. (THE OWNER)
NOT EVEN A TWO WEEK NOTICE THERE!
Word is they were not able to do much more than sell their assets. But what about all those great partnerships with Time Warner Cable, etc, etc? Did they plain run out of money? I thought they had great licensing deals going with the cable cos and others.
All the best…Need to keep the standard of Simple Star Alive !!!