Microsoft opens the shutter on Photosynth

The photo sharing application gives businesses and consumers a new medium, which Microsoft calls Synths, to view and share photos or documents.

Photosynth analyses each photo or document for similarities to others and uses that data to estimate where the picture was taken.

This allows users an extended vision of their images, which is not unlike viewing a video in slow motion.

Users can view their photographs or documents in 3D and can zoom in and out by clicking the screen. It is also possible to scroll through images by dragging them across the screen.

The London Eye is currently using Photosynth to document the views visitors will see.

Microsoft is expecting widespread take-up from estate agents and other sales organisations.

The company acknowledged a number of limitations with its product. The 'synther' runs only on Windows XP and Vista, and carries no privacy settings. Photos are visible to everyone on the internet.

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