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Microsoft acquires VideoSurf to 'enhance video discovery capabilities' for Xbox Live
Though Microsoft's still mysterious Dashboard update is due to arrive in just under two weeks' time, on December 6, Big Redmond isn't resting on its money-covered laurels just yet. The company announced this week the acquisition of "video discovery technology company" VideoSurf. What the what is video discovery technology and how will it "enhance" Xbox Live? "This holiday we will launch voice search across our entertainment partners on Xbox LIVE," Microsoft's Alex Garden said in a press release. "Over time, as we integrate VideoSurf's technology into our system, we are excited about the potential to have content tagged in real time to increase the speed and relevance of the search results." VideoSurf's back-end technology "'sees' frames inside videos," an ability that Microsoft appears to want to couple with the integrated Bing voice search coming to Xbox 360. Just imagine, you can make your own streaming "World Funniest Videos" show with the following command: "Xbox, Bing people getting hit in the genitalia."
Microsoft acquires VideoSurf, promises to bring better video search and discovery to Xbox Live
Terms of the deal aren't being disclosed, but Microsoft announced today that it has acquired the content analytics firm VideoSurf, and it's being crystal clear about where it will be putting it to use: Xbox Live. VideoSurf, for those not familiar, is a company that specializes in computer vision technology, which lets it "tag" individual frames of videos in real time and deliver better search and discovery services. Earlier this year, it released an Android application that basically amounts to Shazam for video. As for its plans for Xbox Live, Microsoft says that it will integrate the technology across the platform "over time," and that it will "augment the Xbox 360 ecosystem and evolve search and discovery of entertainment content on Xbox Live." The official press release is after the break.
VideoSurf brings its recognition virtues to Android, expects iOS to follow shortly (video)
If you haven't heard of VideoSurf before now, you'll be forgiven. The company has existed for a few years as a web service, but it wasn't until CES 2011 when it made waves in the mobile arena by demoing its video recognition software for Android. Now it's ready for prime time in the Android Market, where the free application promises to deliver a Shazam-like experience for movie and television viewers. If you're not wholly familiar with the process, VideoSurf attempts to identify what you're watching and who's on screen after capturing only a few seconds of video. From there, you can follow the rabbit hole and learn more about the actors, find other roles they've played, and receive recommendations based on your interests -- seems to be what everyone is doing these days. Although there's nothing for iOS yet, if you watch the video (after the break), you'll see the company is rather confident about what's on deck.
