Google Is Shuttering Slide (Photovine, Disco, Pool Party, etc.)

Google owned Slide has announced it will be closing, and the vast majority of it's products will be retired. Most of Slide's 100 person team will be integrated over to other Google products and could certainly bring value to Google+. Max Levchin, founder of Slide, and the product head Jared Fliesler will be leaving Google/Slide.

Photovine, Disco, Pool Party, Slideshow, SuperPoke! Pets, and Video Inbox will all be closed in the coming months. Even though these are closing I am sure their technology will be used elsewhere. It is being reported that Prizes.org will remain open. 

Google bought Slide about a year ago and has allowed them to operate as an independent startup entity. None of their products really took off and with Larry Page continuing his streamlining the choice seems logical. The Google+ Project is really becoming the focus, and future!

Photovine Teaser

Photovine looks to be gearing up for a launch! We learned of the stealthy service from Slide (owned by Google) about a month ago. In the last 24 hours they have put up a spash page that allows you to request an invite and a teaser video (below). Slide has been allowed to operate as an independent startup within Google. This has resulted in releases like Disco and Prizes that may or may not fit within Google's overall plan. They even usually release apps on iOS before Android which is certainly going against the Stream. Disco was launched on iOS and came to Android later; this may be the same for Photovine considering the video shows an iPhone. The Slide/Google model is interesting as it seemingly lets Google test ideas without having their brand on them. (Update July 14, 2011: The Photovine iOS app is now available.) (Update August 26, 2011: Slide, and Photovine, are closing.)