Surround Video
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Surround Video was a Microsoft technology, announced as a competitor, to Apple's QuickTime VR for creating panoramic 360-degree 3D images. It was evaluated by reviewers as an equal to Quicktime VR. Despite never having shipped as an actual end-user product, Microsoft released a Surround Video ActiveX control. [1]
The Surround Video control was used by websites such as CarPoint and Expedia. [2] It also ships as part of Encarta encyclopedia where it is used for panoramic interactivities.
A somewhat similar modern initiative by Microsoft is Microsoft Live Labs Photosynth.