Developed by Microsoft Research's FUSE labs, Microsoft Xim is an app that simplifies photo sharing on mobile devices—for iOS, Android and Windows phone users.
One of the best things about Xim is that to share a bunch of photos with a group, people on the receiving end are not required to have the Xim app downloaded. Photos can be sent though phone and email contact lists and recipients will get a text message with a link to the "Xim." Rather than having everybody crowded around one tiny mobile device, the idea is that multiple people are able to view a slideshow from whatever screen they're looking at. As a group, people will also be able to swipe and zoom in on photos together. After a group of photos has been shared, taking cues from Snapchat, images on Xim will eventually disappear from the cloud.
What's Driving This Trend
- Group Photo Sharing
- There is an opportunity for a photo sharing application that allows multiple users to share and view photos simultaneously across various platforms without requiring the app download.
- Cross-platform App Development
- Developers can explore opportunities in creating apps that seamlessly work across multiple platforms like iOS, Android, and Windows phone.
- Real-time Photo Collaboration
- There is a chance for creating an app that allows people to simultaneously collaborate on editing and sharing photos in real-time with their friends or family.
Who This Affects Most
- Mobile App Development
- Mobile app developers can explore innovative solutions that allow people to share images across different screen sizes and platforms.
- Cloud Storage
- Cloud storage providers can look into developing a photo sharing feature that automatically removes images after a set period like Xim does.
- Social Media Platforms
- Social media platforms could benefit from integrating real-time photo collaboration features, allowing people to share and edit photos collectively.
