Microsoft is really doing some excellent work these days in web application development. The live.com products are impressive, and thank god for Internet Explorer 7. No matter what you may think of IE, it is such a relief to have anything that is not IE 6/5.5/5. Most of the annoying crap is fixed, some new annoying crap has been introduced, but now you can count on most modern webdev stuff working cross browser. This saves everyone hours and hours of frustration, broken mice, smashed keyboards, explosive spitting of oaths, etc.
They invented ajax, and now they're taking browser-based apps to an entirely new level. Photosynth is an example of what they can do when they choose the innovative and non-derivative path. A true 21st century web application that is amazing to behold.
Granted, Photosynth is currently using an Active X control, and only works in internet explorer; but, I suspect they'll have it working (at least, in a limited fashion) in other popular browsers when it comes straight-outta-beta. Regardless, this is the kind of R&D that propels our online experience to truly new levels. Like ninja's, Photosynth is totally sweet.
Now, let me get you something (pics):
It does look great, of course I can only tell from the pngs you've posted.
I actually don't think ms will get it working on other browsers, as it totally defeats their main goal - they want people to use MS products.
I agree it's great that they are taking a more R&D, innovative approach - I just wish they would really, truly make things web-compatible.
I do like that xbox360 though - see what happens when you take a nice simple approach?
Posted by: Bobby Gaza | November 28, 2006 at 02:56 PM