Photosynth could spark Virtual Earth comeback
By Joel Burslem, Thursday, May 14, 2009.Bookmarking Sites
From Future of Real Estate Marketing blog
Over the last few years many of the major real estate search sites have moved over to Google Maps from Microsoft’s Virtual Earth as their mapping API of choice (Redfin being the most recent notable defector). HomeGain, Trulia, Homefinder, Estately and others all use Google Maps. But, interestingly, both the #1 and #2 sites; Realtor.com and Zillow, are still Microsoft clients.
Given that, they will likely be interested to hear that Microsoft has announced that they are now rolling in Photosynth technology into the Virtual Earth platform.
Photosynth is a platform that grew out of Microsoft Live Labs (see Next Generation Virtual Tours) and allows for amazing 3D environments (”Synths”) to be stitched together out of 2D photographs.
From the press release:
Photosynth software analyzes digital photographs and generates a 3-D model by “stitching” the photos together. These models, or “synths,” can now be viewed using Silverlight technology across multiple platforms. Virtual Earth brings together features, functionality and content that help consumers, businesses, citizens and governments bring location to life. It helps businesses and governments share location-based information, build better connections with consumers or citizens, and helps organizations make better operational decisions. With the integration of Photosynth into Virtual Earth customers will be able to create detailed 3-D views of anything from places to products and from hotels to homes.
Most recently, it was used to create an immersive view of President Obama’s inauguration on CNN.com called The Moment. (If you haven’t seen it, go check it out - it really is pretty amazing)
Rolling Photosynth in Virtual Earth has some pretty big implications for real estate as one could imagine a developer could take widely available assets (listing photos) and roll them into a pretty nifty 3D representation of a property that’s for sale.
You can see a sample “house Synth” on the Microsoft Virtual Earth site. (Click on the sales sheet for a really slick representation of what’s possible)
Cool factor aside. Whether or not this is a big enough feature to get some of these other sites to switch to VE, that’s another question all together.
Update: Here’s Microsoft’s video on the integration:
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Submitted by Doug Procter on May 15, 2009 - 6:16am.
Good article, enjoyed it very much.
Submitted by Susan Stoegbauer on May 15, 2009 - 3:47pm.
Photosynth is an awesome technology. Everytime I look at the inauguration photo I see something different. It has that potential to do the same for a property. I think clients, especially long-distance ones would love to be able to see that kind of detail in a house. I know I would. Also it would be really great for busy people that don't have a lot of time to get out to look at a new place to live. Or how many people have to take pictures for their spouse to see because they can't come to see the homes with them? The possibilities are endless. I'd definitely feel comfortable renting or maybe even buying a property
Submitted by Luca Adriani on May 16, 2009 - 12:18pm.
This is pretty amazing. Now Google needs to step up and improve theirs. Competition is great!
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Submitted by Jay Groccia on May 17, 2009 - 7:27am.
I don't think google needs to 'step up'. Photosynth may be cool, but it is no substitute for quality photography. Six years ago I was pulled into the real estate industry by a real estate agent that wanted better photos to market a listing. Over the years I've shot hundreds of homes and have seen the good, the bad, and the hideous when it comes to listing photography. Photosynth has the potential to go beyond the hideous. Imagine not just 10 or 20 bad photos, but dozens or scores of bad photos of a home all in a jumbled mess.
In my view the holy grail of real estate photography is true 3D or STEREOSCOPIC photography - remember the GAF Viewmaster? Computer technology is racing toward a ubiquitous system where people can look at their computer screen and see the world as if their own two eyes were taking in the scene.
Have you seen 3D movie lately? Yes, you have to wear special glasses, but these movies aren't your grandparent's 3D moves from the 1950s.
We are already beginning to capture 3D images and as soon as a viable 3D viewing system is available and installed on consumer PCs we will have content for those systems. In the mean time, I maintain that a compelling online presentation that presents the home in a way that allows people to form an emotional bond with the home is the best way to market a home and I don't see Photosynth as that medium. Yes, there is a certain coolness to it, but with its disjointed juxtaposition of photos, I think users will just get frustrated with it and abandon it before they even see the entire house.
So my advise to any homeowner that wants to sell their home as quickly as possible AND get the maximum dollar for it needs to do two things:
1. Ensure that your home is staged by a professional that knows how to stage for sale.
2.Get the very best photography you can. The house needs to look like it came out of a magazine.
Plan on spending about 2/10% of the listing price for both services, so a million dollar house should have a $2,000 budget for staging and photography.
Remember 95% of buyers find their home online so put your marketing dollars in the online presentation and forget the home magazines and classified newspaper ads.
Agents should use traditional media to promote their business and not their listings. Educate your audience how you will use the above methods to sell their homes. The days of the little thumbnail photos in ads have gone the way of the dinosaurs.
Homeowners need to realize that dropping the price of their home by tens of thousands of dollars after a few weeks on the market may not be the most sound decision - spending a fraction of that money on upping the marketing. Think about what even a $5,000 marketing budget could do for a million dollar home. I'm sure it would be far more effective than lowering the price by $50,000.
See these two examples of a multi-million dollar home. Which presentation do you think is more effective:
Before:
http://www.weichert.com/search/realestate/propertyimages.aspx?p=21230865
After:
http://www.onlinepropertyshowcase.com/showcase/10240
Jay Groccia
Principal Photographer, OnSite Studios™
Founder, OnlinePropertyShowcase™
http://www.OnSiteStudios.com
http://www.OnlinePropertyShowcase.com
Submitted by Russell Volk on May 17, 2009 - 5:44pm.
I agree... Google needs to improve their mapping technology. I use Google all the time, but sometimes I find myself looking for tools that are available on Microsoft Maps.
Great article!
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Submitted by Jay Groccia on May 18, 2009 - 4:36am.
This is a bit off-topic, but since Susan mentioned the Photosynth of the inauguration, I thought you all might enjoy seeing this amazing GIGAPIXEL photo of the inauguration - incredible detail:
http://gigapan.org/viewGigapanFullscreen.php?auth=033ef14483ee899496648c...
Jay Groccia
Principal Photographer, OnSite Studios™
Founder, OnlinePropertyShowcase™
http://www.OnSiteStudios.com
http://www.OnlinePropertyShowcase.com
Submitted by Dale Corbett on May 18, 2009 - 6:29am.
Photosynth looks really cool. I do sort of agree with Jay in that it can't really replace good photographs of homes. But it's still provides some really nice wow factor for the viewer.
Dale Corbett
Century 21 Realtor
Frisco Blog
Submitted by Becky Washam on May 18, 2009 - 8:29am.
Great technology.. It will be nice when it is more wide spread.
sca
Flower Mound Real Estate
Frisco Real Estate
Submitted by Jay Groccia on May 18, 2009 - 9:19am.
Becky,
Photosynth is as 'widespread' as you want it to be. Go in a home, take 30 photos of each room and walk around and through the house snapping away then upload all the images to the Photosynth website - it's free. Post the link everywhere.
Jay Groccia
Principal Photographer, OnSite Studios™
Founder, OnlinePropertyShowcase™
http://www.OnSiteStudios.com
http://www.OnlinePropertyShowcase.com
Submitted by Victor Lund on May 18, 2009 - 11:07am.
Since Microsoft made this announcement 2 weeks ago, new information has emerged indicating that the underlying requirement of Silverlight installation into the user's web browser may be a barrier to adoption.
Silverlight is reported to be very buggy and does not play well with all Internet Explorer browsers or Mozilla, Safari, etc. - works just fine on my mac:-)
Victor Lund
Partner
WAV Group
http://waves.wavgroup.com
http://www.wavgroup.com
Submitted by Jay Groccia on May 18, 2009 - 5:22pm.
Thanks Victor - It's been some time since the first time I played with Photosynth. I forgot what I had to do to get it going.
I haven't had any issues with my Firefox installation (v. 3.0.10). I think I actually installed it on an earlier version of Firefox because I just did an update a month or so ago.
There is another 360 technology out there that does the 'slide' transition from scene to scene much like Photosynth does when going from photo to photo. Go to this tour and at the bottom of the screen, click on the link that says COOL NEW FEATURE - EXPLORE THE NEIGHBORHOOD WITH EVERYSCAPE
http://www.OnlinePropertyShowcase.com/showcase/10233
As you will see it's very similar to Google's StreetView, but it is only in a few cities and limited coverage at that.
I think Photosynth's greatest potential will be for some kind of social media website or feature on a website for a tourist destination where everyone can upload a photo or series of photos for a ginormous interactive collage.
Jay Groccia
Principal Photographer, OnSite Studios™
Founder, OnlinePropertyShowcase™
http://www.OnSiteStudios.com
http://www.OnlinePropertyShowcase.com
Submitted by Keith Dobbs on May 22, 2009 - 9:16am.
Photosynth is amazing, hopefully this boosts Microsoft's image altogether. I think it definitely needs a boost after those scathing "I'm a PC, I'm a Mac" commercials.
Dallas Real Estate
Submitted by Laura Kaan on June 24, 2009 - 10:30am.
Google Maps is a solid platform, but it appears they may fall short in the long run if they don't stay ahead of the curve. There are great aspects about Google Maps as well as Microsoft Virtual Earth. I think Google Maps dominates simply because it is easier for the basic operator and programmer to implement. Although the home search tool on my < a href="http://www.LauraKaan.com"> Colorado Springs Real Estate website is great and utilizes Google Maps, I wish it used Micrsoft Virtual Earth.
Submitted by Mark Jacobs on June 29, 2009 - 2:58pm.
I don't think agent will use this tool as it takes to long to complete a project. Agents won't take the time to use the tool.
http://www.markjacobsrealtor.com