As you might imagine, Microsoft has lots of smart people doing research in any number of areas, including graphics and imaging. Jim Blinn and Alvy Ray Smith, two of the pioneering innovators in 2D and 3D graphics are, I believe, both at Microsoft.
I just came across a new technology and resulting service that Microsoft is working on–called ‘Seadragon’. You can find out about it here: http://www.microsoft.com/uk/wave/blogs-clayton.aspx.
I tried it out on one of my abstract images and you can see the results embedded below. You should try it out on one of your own large images.
I think it’s pretty cool and it’s free at least for now.
[Editor's Note: For our subscribers reading this in an RSS feed or your email program, it's absolutely worth to click through to our site to experience it there]
Update: If there was any doubt how serious Google is about the mobile space, check out their announcement this morning that they will release ChromeOS to compete against Windows. Google understands and is dead serious about that they need to be able to provide / own the user experience from top-to-bottom. Android is that play in mobile, Chrome OS on the PC.
Even although Nokia outrightly denied that they would abandon Symbian for Android, it certainly got people’s attention. And for good reasons.
Over the history of computing, there has never been a market that was dominated by 5 major players over an extended period of time. Do we have 5 major client operating systems today? No. Enterprise OS’es? No. 5 major databases? No. 5 major browsers? No again. With the users and the developers being the kingmakers, markets always have and continue to consolidate.
So why would we have 5 major smartphone platforms? We won’t. That is why I took the strong stance that the Palm Pre will fail. Of the 5 majors in the smartphone market, two seem to be relatively safe: Apple and RIM, maker of the Blackberry, since they target slightly different subsets of the smartphone market. Of the remaining three, Android will make it, since it is not only going to be in smartphones, but also in MIDs (Mobile Internet Devices, such as tablets, netbooks,…) Besides, Google must win in Mobile and Android is their platform to do so. Which leaves us with Symbian, which is going the open source route, but has not seen that much pickup from developers, and Microsoft, whom I cannot see walking away from this market.
Personally, I doubt that Nokia will go the Android route or that Microsoft is going to take over RIM, but that is not what matters. What matters is that the shakeout is starting and not everyone will be standing when this is over. Until then, be prepared to hear rumors, announcements, speculations and analyses. And you might just get surprised at what the outcome turns out to be.
Even although Nokia outrightly denied that they would abandon Symbian for Android, it certainly got people’s attention. And for good reasons.
Over the history of computing, there has never been a market that was dominated by 5 major players over an extended period of time. Do we have 5 major client operating systems today? No. Enterprise OS’es? No. 5 major databases? No. 5 major browsers? No again. With the users and the developers being the kingmakers, markets always have and continue to consolidate.
So why would we have 5 major smartphone platforms? We won’t. That is why I took the strong stance that the Palm Pre will fail. Of the 5 majors in the smartphone market, two seem to be relatively safe: Apple and RIM, maker of the Blackberry, since they target slightly different subsets of the smartphone market. Of the remaining three, Android will make it, since it is not only going to be in smartphones, but also in MIDs (Mobile Internet Devices, such as tablets, netbooks,…) Besides, Google must win in Mobile and Android is their platform to do so. Which leaves us with Symbian, which is going the open source route, but has not seen that much pickup from developers, and Microsoft, whom I cannot see walking away from this market.
Personally, I doubt that Nokia will go the Android route or that Microsoft is going to take over RIM, but that is not what matters. What matters is that the shakeout is starting and not everyone will be standing when this is over. Until then, be prepared to hear rumors, announcements, speculations and analyses. And you might just get surprised at what the outcome turns out to be.
Phil Schiller wrapped up his WWDC keynote about an hour ago – time to look at some of the winners:
1. Verizon
It’s very apparent now that AT&T has difficulties keeping up with Apple’s pace. 29 carriers will support MMS when the new iPhone launches on June 19, but AT&T won’t be there until late summer. Tethering from AT&T? Silence! Instead, nice jabs by Phil Schiller at AT&T. If there was any doubt that Apple will not extend its exclusivity and release iPhones on Verizon in 2010, that doubt is gone. Esp. with carriers, nothing makes them move as much as having competition. Expect no more exclusives in the U.S. after 2010.
2. MobileMe
MobileMe is a pretty good service – from what I hear. So far I have not had any reason to pay Apple $99 a year for a service that I could basically get for free. Not anymore. Find My iPhone will make me adopt it. Not so much for its finder capability, but for the option to remotely erase all of my data from the phone in case it was stolen. Bundling this service with MobileMe is a stroke of genius that will give Apple an extra $99 per year from many, if not the majority of iPhone users. Great way to generate additional revenue, Apple!
3. MacBook Pro buyers
I’ve long believed that you get more value when buying a Mac vs. a PC, but it has been a source of arguments how much that extra value add is actually worth to a potential buyer. Microsoft’s latest ads obviously exploited this issue, so it’s good to see how Apple reacted. The new MacBook Pro’s look sharp feature-wise (Firewire 800 is back, yay!) and the price drop is impressive. I expect to see many smiling faces of people leaving Apple stores with their new MacBook Pro’s in hand!
4. Snow Leopard buyers
I’ve been exited about Snow Leopard for a long time and today’s update did nothing to upset that enthusiasm. Now I’m even more exited about the price: $29. Wow! Thanks, Apple – I would have been willing to pay much more for it!
5. iPhone photographers
The updates to the iPhone camera are super-exiting, as outlined in my post on the iPhone 3GS camera.
