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Nov 24, 2008

Oh yeah, I mean slide show, not slide show videos...

Nov 24, 2008

Jeff, You are absolutely right regarding slide show videos. I think the videos we currently use on our site (slide show) are great for the first time visitor, but not for our return visitors...

Nov 24, 2008

I'm confused....when did anyone say Photosynth was better than video and when did anyone say a slideshow was a video?

Nov 23, 2008

Thanks Stew you see what I see.

It's funny to me and still crack up when slide shows are called video. Even better when I hear audio descriptions. I have my speakers off 99% of the time unless I am listening to a live sportscast or radio station.

Hologram, you bet that's cool and did you catch CNN's on election night? It was still about human interaction and selling vehicles will always be that way unless they are under say 20K, only primary colors, no additional options, 5 star safety rating, seats up to 7 and get's 100MPG. I don't even need to see or talk to anybody. Here is my credit card # and ship it to me and keep the key chains.

Nov 21, 2008

Granted, this is cool stuff, but...

I still don't see how Photosynth can be better than a video of the car for a shopper??
Maybe another way to view a car perhaps, but would the extra cost to have Photosynth on our websites be worth it?

Video is a bunch of pictures shot frame after frame. If that luxury isn't available to some dealers, then it might be an alternative, but good video cameras are $300 and some time!? And the automated vehicle videos are a couple hundred bucks a month.

Pete you're right on, this like video gains interest only, now we need to get the sale!

Jerome I gotta disagree here sorry.

"If it were tweaked, packaged, and integrated properly into an existing online marketing tool…."
Now that's the problem. How much time and money will this take for any company accomplish? How would you marry a vehicle audio description to Photosynth? How could PS link to viewing/reporting? How could you bind PS into a format that would allow viewing portability, or searchable (iphone, youtube/google)?

Why would CDM or DSpec want to invest into this tech, versus vehicle videos?

BTW, CDM uses Sister Tech video, and DSpec has their Vevo videos.
Both are automated vehicle video systems that use multiple photos and text to speech software(TTS) and can crank out 1000's of vehicle videos a day.

There's also Ebiz autos, Dealer Impact, and Liquid Motors all the basic same video thing.
UnityWorks isn't quite fully automated because they use real human voice, but similar.

I just don't see how photosynth could rival ANY of these companies that can create vehicle videos in bulk at anytime now or in the future.

Now vehicle holograms could rival all, and I get giddy over it, read one of my posts above.
Problem is tho, we're way too far away from getting there for dealers.
Maybe when we're all retired

Nov 21, 2008

This stuff has tremendous potential...... for vendors such as CDMData/DealerSpecialties/etc.... and take some of the power away from companies that exclusively sell a walk-around product such as UnityWorks or Sister Technologies....

If it were tweaked, packaged, and integrated properly into an existing online marketing tool.... it would rock.

Nov 20, 2008

Could this be a future tool for retailers?
Yes, in part, but it isn't a one stop solution. It better enhances the marketing capabilities but what I have argued many times with some that it is not a selling tool. You gain interest not sales, and I have been studying and preparing for what will be the next evolution of the selling model.

Nov 20, 2008

Stew -

You don't have to have 100's of photos - about 10 to 20 should do it. Yes, you would have to shoot a few more photos than the average. If you figure 10 photos of the exterior and 10 photos of the interior then it isn't that hard.

Video is much more difficult because of the editing process and planning. Taking 20 to 40 photographs is already being done.

You seriously jumped ahead with the holographic video on CNN - now that's cool! I can see a used car being reconstructed for product display like that in quite a few years. Combine Photosynth and Video holograms and you'll have a 3D rendering of a car that can be clicked on to explore various parts. You might even be able to see how the gas door opens before ever seeing the car in person!

I love technology!

Nov 20, 2008

The Bugeye is cool, used for panorama shots, great for real estate and vehicle interiors, but it can't do vehicle 360 exteriors with one shot.

Evox uses a rotating stage and HD digital video: http://www.precisionturntables.com/rotating-stage.html <--- we all need one of these, put this in your budgets @ $50k

Hey Alex, I guess I'm dismissive because shooting a video of the car would be much easier don't you agree?

And what is video?

It's a bunch of multiple photos put to motion, hence the motion picture reference or movies for short.
I think Photosynth is cool, but again how does it rival video for car dealers in function and time alotted?
Should we shoot a car video, then extract 100's of freeze frame photos from the video, then roll it back into Photosynth so we can look at the car??

If you want to talk FUTURE applications, let's crank this up a notch and start a post on holograms: Login to view embedded media View: http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=thOxW19vsTg

You see, I've got an open mind Alex

Nov 20, 2008

I agree with you Alex, on the site they even refer to it as the "Beta" version or 1.0 leading you to beleive they have intentions to improve the software.

The interaction to "virtually" sit in a used car and joystick around to look around at all angles with high quality detail has to be an inovation of the future. We're not quite there yet thow. It has it

I think it would be so much better then even the eVox versions which always seem so sterile and cold. With this type of program you can have a banner (or something) in the background with a little more personality.

Nov 20, 2008

Stew -

I think you’re being a little close-minded and not thinking about how the technology *could* change to be more retail-friendly.

Yes, in its current state, it is too crude for a simple application. It is definitely a WOW tool for photography right now.

Think a little more about future applications (as this article was originally intended) and try not to be so dismissive right off the bat. It is a Microsoft product, so you know they’re going to find a way to make a buck off of it.

Nov 20, 2008

Check out:

http://www.bugeyedigital.com/product_main/036-0360d.html

I don't have one, but I've seen the results, and they look like the example on the webpage. It's a lens attachment for digital cameras that will shoot a 360 view shot in one picture, just like the eVox shots, and comes with a Java Player. While I'm not a fan of the player, a decent programmer should be able to create a new Flash based one in a relative short time period.

It would be better quality, and easier to do than snapping a ton of multiple images and stitching them together, so just the time saving would make up for cost.

Nov 20, 2008

There isn't a future for it for dealerships I think was the point being made.

If you have to take 100+ pics then shoot a video of the car instead.

This is a very useful tool for photographers tho.

Nov 20, 2008

It is in its infancy guys - this article is about what it could be in the future - not how to use it today.

Chip Grueter · Nov 19, 2008

Agree x 2. There's just too many hurdles for this to be viable solution to dealers. From a custom activex control to having to take dozens of photos.

Mitch said it best, pull out the camcorder and start recording.

Chip-

Nov 19, 2008

I'm with Mitch on this one, and already checked it out awhile back. Super cool for vacation stuff, and travel photos, but way too much for car shoppers.

100 photos? LOL, just grab a video camera and have at it.

Nov 19, 2008

I just took a good look at Photosynth and was a little disapointed. I'm always looking for the next thing to make my boss say good job Mitch and I'm not sure Photosynth would. It's a little awkward and the sharp lines/transparancy of the photos not in perspective had my eyes wandering around. I guess you have to take 100+ photos to get solid results.

The technology is really cool and I can see how somthing like this would find it's way into a dealership in a few years once it's refined. For now I'll keep on keepin on without. In my opinion a cheap flip camcorder and a youtube video would have way more impact... just my thoughts.

Alex Snyder · Nov 19, 2008

Props to David at autolahome.com for bringing this to our attention in the "Car Dealers Embrace Video" Article!

On August 20th of 2008 Microsoft Labs launched Photosynth to the world. It is an online image-stitching tool that renders a series of images into an interactive "panoramic" walk-around.

Imagine taking 20 photos of the interior of a car: the steering wheel, the shifter, the radio, the driver's door armrest, the gauges, the sunroof, etc and having them all linked together by technology. No, not like a 2 dimensional slideshow as we have today. A virtual 3D rendering that someone can click through to view various areas of the interior that interest them. Think of something like the eVox interior displays most of us already have, but a little more crude, and not done in a studio with special camera gear. This would be something anyone could do. Maybe some images will help...

Visit http://photosynth.net to see it in action. You will have to install some software and it currently works best in Internet Explorer (of course).

Then think about how you could use a technology like this to do full product displays without having to get fancy with the equipment.

Could this be a future tool for retailers?

Jun 29, 2011

This article is 3 years old that's why.

Jun 29, 2011

the number in the Auto News Auto Trader webinar yesterday was closer to 70%.... What gives?

Nov 19, 2008

"More than half of shoppers surveyed used an independent website to view vehicle listings; of those, 82 percent visited Cars.com and its online partners."

Just curious, were the cars.com surveyors wearing cars.com name badges?

I keed, I keed!!!!

Cargurrl · Nov 17, 2008

This is really what I would love for the online dealers out there to understand. Cars.com and AT.com are really considered research and not advertising by shoppers. Go to any website. Like Target.com. If I find what I am looking for, is that research? Or Advertising? Best way to claim walk up traffic is to put a coupon on the car and ask to be printed. Don't do cash right now because everyone knows you can get a great deal. Some of my dealers are using an I-Pod touch or navigation plus $250 off advertised price ($500 total value). Also, F & I is really a great place to source your traffic. They also use a source sheet that uses logos only, not words. It has really been helpful considereing a lot of dealers are trying to figure out what is working. Cash car buyers typically won't spend $250 on a I-Pod touch especially right now. It will come up in conversation in your showroom. It does work as long as your cars are market competitive (not cheap). Gas cards don't work right now since it's so low per gallon. Hope this helps!

bpulseadmin · Nov 17, 2008

One-third of dealership visitors who used an independent website did not call or send an email before they came to the store, an innovative study by Cars.com and Synovate, a global market research firm, found.

The study explored the connection between online research activity and offline shopping behavior to understand how consumers use the internet for automotive buying decisions. It also identified the specific websites and website features that most encourage walk-in traffic. CHICAGO – Nov. 17, 2008 – Cars.com

“Tracking email and phone leads alone gives dealers an incomplete picture of how their internet initiatives perform. Now, for the first time, they can calculate the full return on their advertising investment and quantify the traffic and sales their online programs generate," said Dennis Galbraith, Cars.com vice president of advertising products and training. "More than any other source, the web connects dealers with in-market shoppers and encourages them to take direct action. Among dealership visitors who used Cars.com, half planned to purchase or lease a vehicle the same day they went to the store."

This summer and fall, Cars.com and Synovate conducted in-dealership interviews with approximately 700 consumers at 16 stores in 11 East Coast, Midwest and Southern states. Each of the dealerships included in the analysis advertised its listings on Cars.com and AutoTrader.com.

According to the study, one-third of car buyers cited independent websites as a significant influencer affecting their decision to visit a dealership. More than half of shoppers surveyed used an independent website to view vehicle listings; of those, 82 percent visited Cars.com and its online partners. Independent websites were cited twice as often as search engine results and three times more than a dealership website. Competitive pricing, multiple pictures, sell copy and free vehicle history reports were among the online features that most influenced car buyers’ choice of dealership.

“As car buyers near the point of purchase, they’re looking to validate the vehicle and the dealer they’re considering,” Galbraith said. “Independent websites can provide the objective reviews and comprehensive tools shoppers rely on to make an informed decision. Dealers who leverage these sites as part of their online strategy and fully merchandise their listings on them position themselves to drive increased traffic and sales among truly ready-to-buy shoppers.”

About Synovate
Synovate, the market research arm of Aegis Group plc, generates consumer insights that drive competitive marketing solutions. The network provides clients with cohesive global support and a comprehensive suite of research solutions. Synovate employs over 6,000 staff in 62 countries. More information on Synovate can be found at www.synovate.com.

About Cars.com
Cars.com is the leading destination for online car shoppers, offering credible, easy-to-understand information from consumers and experts to help buyers formulate opinions on what to buy, where to buy and how much to pay for a car. With comprehensive pricing information, side-by-side comparison tools, photo galleries, videos, unbiased editorial content and a large selection of new- and used-car inventory, Cars.com puts millions of car buyers in control of their shopping process with the information they need to make confident buying decisions.

bpulseadmin · Nov 16, 2008

Car Shoppers on innovative Web2.0 automotive website can see when dealers are available to
answer questions and connect instantly, even from work. ATLANTA, GA – November 17, 2008

ContactAtOnce!, a leading provider of internet marketing tools that move online shoppers into live conversations with car dealers, today announced that Cox AutoTrader, one of the world’s leading providers of online and print automotive consumer information, has deployed the ContactAtOnce! dealer live chat service on CarShopSmart.com, the just-launched “web2.0” sister website of AutoMart.com. Cox AutoTrader/AutoMart online operations combined have more than 1 million new and used vehicles for sale and reach over 2 million car buyers monthly.

“Today’s online car shoppers want new types of content such as consumer-generated reviews and they also want more convenient ways to contact dealerships,” said Melanie Kovach, General Manager of Cox AutoTrader/AutoMart. “Many consumers prefer the handy and instant communication available with live chat when making a phone call isn’t convenient or available.”

ContactAtOnce! powers graphical elements such as "drop-in business cards" that appear if a sales
person at a dealership is available at the moment a site visitor is looking at a car. Site visitors are
offered a variety of ways to contact the dealer, including chat and a phone number. Dealers appreciate
ContactAtOnce! because all chat conversations are tracked and recorded, making it easy to measure
the effectiveness of advertising and to conduct sales training. ContactAtOnce! dealer chat is simple to
use and designed specifically for sales people who are not always at their desks.

“AutoMart.com is a long-time customer that’s done an excellent job of leveraging ContactAtOnce! to connect more of their site visitors with dealers,” said John Hanger, president & CEO of ContactAtOnce!. “We are honored that they have selected ContactAtOnce! for use on CarShopSmart.com.” The ContactAtOnce! dealer live chat service is available on CarShopSmart.com immediately.

About CarShopSmart.com:
CarShopSmart.com features car listings exclusively from dealerships throughout the country, with
inventory content provided by AutoMart.com including vehicle images, VIN, and dealer contact
information. In addition to multiple browsing options to identify and find local cars, CarShopSmart
features industry content including top ten lists and buying tips powered by ForbesAuto.com, credit and
insurance options, and it is among the first industry websites to feature and encourage consumer
generated dealership ratings and vehicle reviews. CarShopSmart.com modernizes online vehicle
searches by offering car buyers ease of use coupled with the social media application of consumer
generated content for a complete car shopping experience.

About Cox AutoTrader:
Cox AutoTrader is among the world's leading providers of online and print automotive information.
Operating subsidiaries include majority-owned AutoTrader.com and Cox AutoTrader/AutoMart.
AutoTrader.com is the Internet's leading auto classifieds marketplace and consumer information web site
with more than 3 million vehicle listings and more than 13 million qualified buyers each month. Cox
AutoTrader/AutoMart is a leading provider of print auto classified publications with 356 titles and 3.9
million magazines distributed weekly. Cox AutoTrader/AutoMart also features online operations, including

Mar 13, 2012

Great thread,According to a study released by the Kelsey Group in Q1 2008, 33% of car dealers surveyed currently take advantage of online video on their own websites. In the same study, 59% of dealers surveyed indicated that they they plan to use video on their own websites within the next 12 months.I appriciate it.Thanks

http://www.cardealerstv.com/

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