07
Dec
2007
Posted by Mihaela Lica as Advertising, Featured
If this will catch – and it’s got my heart – Google is busted. Microsoft is giving a new meaning to the idea of social interaction pushing it over its limits as we know them, proving once again that what it takes to be really brilliant and to change the world is just an idea.
Besides, in the end, it doesn’t matter who wins as long as Google loses. If there is one thing I really hate, that’s hypocrisy.
Microsoft is not a company I like. As a matter of fact it does represent a lot of what we all call „corporate evil.“ But there is one thing about Microsoft that actually makes me vote in its favor if I were to choose between it and Google: Microsoft doesn’t pretend to be something it is not.
Heck, we all know that this company wants our money, that it created the most complicated operating system to make us buy even more of its products. But Microsoft doesn’t pretend to give us free things to get to our souls. Microsoft has close to no advocates and it still manages to survive. I guess one of the reasons is called „innovative thinking.“
I have never seen something more amazing than Photosynt. I am not a techie but I do know my way with the Web, the search, useful tools, the social media and stuff that really matters to make an online business successful.And even if this particular innovation is not really „business related“ the value is still there. The „wow“ is there, and I don’t need too long to understand the implications of such a tool.
„Photosynth itself is a vastly powerful piece of software capable of taking a wide variety of images, analysing them for similarities, and grafting them together into an interactive three-dimensional space.“
Hold that thought: „interactive three-dimensional space?“ Can you even imagine how this works?
You see, words are poor sometimes. So I invite you to watch Blaise Aguera y Arcas’ demo.
Basically what this software tells me is that one day we will be able to create a 3-D representation of any space, building or object we might choose, by combining various images we find on the web: random pictures, no matter their quality, resolution or size, no matter the format.But Photosynth goes even further:
- Walk or fly through a scene to see photos from any angle
- Zoom in or out of a photo
- See where pictures were taken in relation to one another
- Find similar photos to the one you’re currently viewing
- Send pictures
The Wikipedia capabilities listing expresses in rather simple terms the very idea of social interactivity and this is the feature that will eventually put Microsoft on a higher position than Google – or back on its pedestal if you want. The moment Photosynth is live and ready for the users Google can kiss its popularity good bye. It’s probably a matter of public relations, branding and advertising for Photosynth to gain territory, but I actually count on the old and faithful word of mouth in this particular case. The ability to search for similar photos and to send them to friends is nothing else but sharing. The Web 2.0 is all about sharing, networking, creating webs of information. And Microsoft has finally got it.
From all Google apps I’d call Google Maps the most powerful application. But Photosynth will even beat that. If you watched the demo you already know the mapping capabilities of the software.
I know that it will still take a while till someone beats Google at search too, but never say never. It’s just a matter of time, and after you see Photosynth you can safely say: there’s room for more.
11 Responses
Phil Butler
December 7th, 2007 at 3:55 am
1MIG - This is an excellent insight into the way power structures go through shifts because of breaking technology.
Google can buy technology or even copy it, but Microsoft creates some of the best still. I don’t think MS will stand idly by and play with Google much longer.
Excellent post from the most excellent
Always,
Phil
Vagner
December 7th, 2007 at 5:18 pm
2Posts like this actually make me enthusiastic, now I can’t wait to see Photosynth in action. By the way, great article about Performics. I was suppose to post comment on the article itself but I guess here will do too.
Mihaela Lica
December 8th, 2007 at 10:44 pm
3Phil, I can only hope that Microsoft will succeed. Or at least that google will revise its behavior towards the users who made it great.
Thank you, Vagner.
I don’t care where you choose to post your comments as long as you do. And I can promise you one thing: I’ll try to write better and better.
Joel Wideman
December 8th, 2007 at 10:49 pm
4Innovation? You mean using monopolistic tactics to crush the competition and exploiting the innovations said competition made?
Microsoft won’t win because Google is too big to crush.
Mihaela Lica
December 8th, 2007 at 10:54 pm
5Sure. And Microsoft is so tiny. I bet you are not even using a PC with Windows. Did you even look at Photosynth?
I had to delete your link, btw. It led to content I don’t think my readers really need to see.
N/A
December 9th, 2007 at 1:14 am
6If photosynth is freely distributed it could become big, but if Microsoft charges for photosynth what they do for their OS or office suite, then Google and open source communities will still have a chance.
Mihaela Lica
December 9th, 2007 at 11:53 am
7I have the feeling that they will distribute it free. Charging will not be a smart choice where they are now. Vista was a mistake, they lost a lot in terms of PR, no one really uses Live…
Anyway, we just need to wait and see. Right now I am having fun watching the demos…
tom kelly
December 13th, 2007 at 8:37 pm
8agree 100% with the 3rd poster
Mihaela Lica
December 13th, 2007 at 8:39 pm
9Yes, and you are another person who doesn’t use ANY Microsoft product, aren’t you?
claudia
December 19th, 2007 at 1:23 am
10I am so excited about this technology! I’ve already seen a rock video here (Korea) use it and my grad class was buzzing about it even though Han introduced the technology to the world back in February. If this is as easy to use as I see in the video, think how much our children in school will be able to benefit!
Thank you for revisiting my site, got you on blog roll now.
soyunloco
December 23rd, 2007 at 9:26 pm
11I was very impressed with that video and like you said it’s only a matter of time before Microsoft takes over.
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