Microsoft adding highlights, geo-tagging and easier browsing to Photosynth

If you don’t know, Photosynth from Microsoft is a photo sharing website and mobile application that can analyze digital photographs to create a panoramic or three-dimensional image (or snyth) of a setting or location. At the start of the year, Microsoft created a 20 gigapixel panorama of Seattle, with Photosynth used as one of the applications to create the final 360 degree image.

Following the initial release in January, the Photosynth team has been working hard to add more features to the application; the latest update to the Technology Preview has arrived.

Synth highlights: You can now create highlights for your synth, including text and links to give you more information on the location in the synth. Think what Microsoft did with the Bing homepage for a while, or what Pop Up Video is on VH1.

Geo-tagging: You can now geo-tag your synths, either at the time of creation, or after the fact. Once geo-tagged, anyone that views your synth can see the location and read your highlights.

Map view of my snyths and geo-browsing synths: With both these features, you can view either your own or other users synths on a map.

The additions above are complimented by changes to browsing the synths, with improved loading, easier navigation from synth to synth and a favorites feed. Have a look at the preview on the Photosynth website to see these features in action.

To finish, here’s a video of the Seattle panoramic mentioned at the start of the article.