08/21/2008, 12:45am, EDT
Thursday, August 21stMicrosoft Photosynth offers 3D photo compositing
Microsoft on Wednesday unveiled a new technology for viewing and relating photographs called Photosynth, offering users a three-dimensional, 360-degree view of almost any environment. Microsoft claims the software provides users with the ability to share "the places and things [they] love using the cinematic quality of a movie, the control of a video game, and the mind-blowing detail of the real world."
Photosynth can assemble three-dimensional scene compositions of rooms or landscapes by detecting similarities in photographs, adding perspective based on the camera's vantage point.
While Microsoft is excited about the technology, it says that Photosynth is available as a preview release of sorts, adding that there are many features and platforms it has yet to support.
Among the unsupported platforms are both Apple's Mac OS X and Safari web browser. Windows XP (SP2 or SP3) or Windows Vista are required, running Internet Explorer 7, Firefox 2, or Firefox 3.
"Unfortunately, we're not cool enough to run on your OS yet," reads a note on the installation page. "We really wish we had a version of Photosynth that worked cross platform, but for now it only runs on Windows."
"Trust us, as soon as we have a Mac version ready, it will be up and available on our site."
Filed under: software
Other story tags: Microsoft, photograph, Photosynth
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I'm not cool enough for their OS - does that me us even?
More "Me Too" from MS
Only runs on Windows. Typical Microsoft. Not interested. The previews look like an un-stitched version of QuickTime VR.
Not at all "me too"
On the contrary, Photosynth is extremely cool and does tricks that are in a different realm entirely from Quicktime VR. To see it in action, view the demonstration by Blaise Aguera y Arcas of Microsoft in TEDTalks (ted.com). It'll blow your mind. So glad it's coming to the Mac as well.
we're not cool enough
From their website:
Unfortunately, we're not cool enough to run on your OS yet. We really wish we had a version of Photosynth that worked cross platform, but for now it only runs on Windows.
Trust us, as soon as we have a Mac version ready, it will be up and available on our site.