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Riya Readying Public Beta Test of Photo Search Engine

Authored by Mark Hefflinger on February 6, 2006 - 5:04am.
Phoenix, Ariz. - Riya, a developer of photo search engine technology, announced on Monday that it plans to launch a public beta test of its service in the first quarter of 2005.
The company said the search engine uses proprietary face recognition technology, text recognition technology and other elements to scan a library of photographs and automatically generate tags based on their contents. Riya also lets users search a public collection of photos, and share photo collections with friends. Based in Redwood Shores, Calif., Riya has so far raised $19.5 million in venture capital from a group led by Bay Partners.
tags: Search | Photo | test | Ready | Riya | Beta | Engine |

Microsoft Releases Beta of Desktop Search Tool

Authored by Mark Hefflinger on December 13, 2004 - 3:07am.
Redmond, Wash. -- Setting the stage for a battle with rivals Google and Yahoo, Microsoft on Monday released a beta version of its new MSN Toolbar Suite, which contains technology that lets users search the contents of their own computers more efficiently. The desktop search tool will find numerous types of documents, media files and email messages, including Outlook Contacts and PowerPoint files. Last week, Yahoo announced plans to release desktop search software in January, while Google's desktop search has been available since October. Microsoft said a full version of its desktop search tool is expected to be released globally next year.
tags: Microsoft | Beta | Desktop Search Tool |

3D Online Community Developer There Raises $11 Million, Launches Beta

Authored by Mark Hefflinger on January 10, 2003 - 7:01am.
Las Vegas -- There, Inc., developer of an immersive 3D online environment for entertainment and communication, announced that it has raised $11 million in new financing and launched a public beta test of its online world. Angel investors included 3DO CEO Trip Hawkins; CNET founders Halsey Minor and Shelby Bonnie; DoubleClick CEO Kevin Ryan; and Wired magazine co-founders Jane Metcalfe and Louis Rosetto. Resembling the idea of the recently released "The Sims Online," There allows users to create their own avatar and build and decorate their virtual houses with virtual currency called Therebucks. In development for four years, There said its target market is adult men and women whose main activity online is "socializing." "There leverages the popularity of online socializing and the growth of massively multi-player games (MMOGs) to deliver compelling experiences and personal connections better than chat rooms or online games can provide on their own," said There, Inc. CEO Tom Melcher.
tags: Internet | VC | 3D | Beta | There |

3D Online Community Developer There Raises $11 Million, Launches Beta

Authored by Mark Hefflinger on January 10, 2003 - 7:01am.
Las Vegas -- There, Inc., developer of an immersive 3D online environment for entertainment and communication, announced that it has raised $11 million in new financing and launched a public beta test of its online world. Angel investors included 3DO CEO Trip Hawkins; CNET founders Halsey Minor and Shelby Bonnie; DoubleClick CEO Kevin Ryan; and Wired magazine co-founders Jane Metcalfe and Louis Rosetto. Resembling the idea of the recently released "The Sims Online," There allows users to create their own avatar and build and decorate their virtual houses with virtual currency called Therebucks. In development for four years, There said its target market is adult men and women whose main activity online is "socializing." "There leverages the popularity of online socializing and the growth of massively multi-player games (MMOGs) to deliver compelling experiences and personal connections better than chat rooms or online games can provide on their own," said There, Inc. CEO Tom Melcher.
tags: Internet | VC | 3D | Beta | There |