Microsoft launches service to create virtual collection of physical objects

On Wednesday, Microsoft showed a service to create virtual collections of physical objects. Users can take pictures of the objects, which the app itself tries to cut out and put in a virtual display case.

Created collections can be shared via a URL, Microsoft writes on the website of the Thinga.me service. Users can place the objects on various backgrounds to give a collection a personal touch.

The cropping is done on the basis of an image analysis and by means of swipe movements, users can crop even more than the software itself has done. It is also possible to manually cut out the object by drawing a line around the object.

According to Microsoft, the app is suitable for people with physical collections that they want to share via a site in an easy way. Thinga.me is linked to an iOS app that is needed to take the photos. That app is not yet available and users can sign up to test an early version through the site. It is unknown if Thinga.me will be released for Android and Windows 10 Mobile at a later stage.

The service stems from Microsoft Garage, a company’s project to experiment with apps and services. Garage previously produced a lockscreen and launcher for Android and for iOS, the company made a cross between a mail client and chat app.