Skip to main content

Could Kifi be what Google Spaces needs to step up its game?

google
Ken Wolter /123rf
Google’s foray into social networks hasn’t been the most successful of its venture (let’s be honest, how many of us actively utilize our Google+ accounts?), but with the tech giant’s latest acquisition, the firm may be looking to shake things up. Google has bought Kifi, a content-sharing startup that built extensions to “collect, organize, and share” links found in various social apps. While few details about the deal have been released, Google engineering director Eddie Kessler says that the app’s employees will become part of the Google Spaces team.

Spaces, which made its debut to little fanfare earlier this year, could certainly use a boost, and Kifi may help provide one. In a Medium post about the acqui-hire, Kifi noted, “The mission at Kifi has always been to connect people with knowledge. We created a service that seamlessly enables organizing, sharing, discussing, and finding the content you and your team values, which has resulted in more flexible and intuitive collaboration across the internet. We also spent significant time creating a service that overlays context on your browsing and sharing experiences to increase usefulness and understanding.” And this might be precisely what Spaces needs.

Recommended Videos

In a Google+ post of his own, Kessler wrote, “Delighted the Kifi team, with their great expertise in organizing shared content and conversations, is joining the Spaces team to build features that improve group sharing.”

Kifi added, “We see a lot of alignment to Google’s mission to organize the world’s information and make it universally accessible and useful. Frankly, we’re thrilled they have a bit of ‘space’ for us!”

On the app’s website, the startup notes that it will no longer be accepting new registrations, though the service “will remain fully functional for existing users for a few more weeks.” After that, you’ll just have to check out Spaces if you’re interested in utilizing Kifi.

Lulu Chang
Former Digital Trends Contributor
Fascinated by the effects of technology on human interaction, Lulu believes that if her parents can use your new app…
The Android 16 code name has leaked, and it’s not what we expected
The display on the Google Pixel 9 Pro XL.

We're still waiting for Android 15 to fully release, but we've already found a potential code name for Android 16. Almost every Android version has had a delicious-sounding internal code name (for example, Android 15 is Vanilla Ice Cream, and Android 14 was Upside Down Cake), but Android 16 is named slightly differently, with a nuttier note: Baklava.

Mishaall Rahman from Android Authority received a tip from another developer named teamb58, who took a deep dive into Google's AOSP (Android Open Source Project) and found the name tucked away within the code. While it might seem silly to make guesses about an operating system based on dessert names, Android has a history of changing its naming scheme when a major shift happens. The change from an ice cream-themed name to a pastry indicates changes to Android 16 besides the name.

Read more
The Google Pixel 9a just leaked. Here’s a look at its new design
Pixel 9a 5K render.

Google just released the Pixel 9 line in August, but that doesn’t mean it’s done with the Pixel 9 series. A report from Android Headlines and OnLeaks shows us some high-resolution renders of what the Pixel 9a will look like. It is expected to launch in 2025, around the time of Google I/O. in the spring

However, unlike previous A-series Pixel devices, the Pixel 9a doesn’t follow the design of the main Pixel 9 series. This year, Google significantly redesigned the Pixel 9 line in terms of the camera bar, changing it to a pill-shaped camera island instead of extending into the phone’s frame.

Read more
Google has paused its latest Pixel Watch update. Here’s why
The Google Pixel Watch 2 resting on a stone fireplace.

On Thursday, we discussed the issues that some Google Pixel Watch and Google Pixel Watch 2 owners were experiencing while trying to install the Wear OS 5 update on their devices. Google has now temporarily halted the update and stopped its rollout to users.

After installing the Wear OS 5 update, many users of the first two Pixel watches experienced a blank display. Some users reported that the issue resolved itself after they followed a few steps. Google's decision to pull the update unofficially confirms that the issue with Wear OS 5 is real and likely affecting many Pixel Watch and Pixel Watch 2 users.

Read more