Comments on: RockYou Integrates Like.com Image Search Into Slideshows http://www.techcrunch.com/2007/09/04/rockyou-integrates-likecom-image-search-into-slideshows/ Startup and Technology News Fri, 27 Nov 2009 18:27:38 -0800 hourly 1 By: Sharon http://www.techcrunch.com/2007/09/04/rockyou-integrates-likecom-image-search-into-slideshows/comment-page-1/#comment-1598425 Sharon Thu, 06 Sep 2007 11:43:19 +0000 http://www.techcrunch.com/2007/09/04/rockyou-integrates-likecom-image-search-into-slideshows/#comment-1598425 Is it only me who see that the king is naked?! Have anyone tried to click on the link provided from RockYou? it is opening this pop-up window of Like.com but nothing there is in context of the slide show!!! (unless you count the fact they managed to understand people there wearing clothing and they showed clothing and not something else...). So what is all the fuss is about? Is it only me who see that the king is naked?!
Have anyone tried to click on the link provided from RockYou? it is opening this pop-up window of Like.com but nothing there is in context of the slide show!!! (unless you count the fact they managed to understand people there wearing clothing and they showed clothing and not something else…).

So what is all the fuss is about?

]]> By: Coleman Foley http://www.techcrunch.com/2007/09/04/rockyou-integrates-likecom-image-search-into-slideshows/comment-page-1/#comment-1593312 Coleman Foley Tue, 04 Sep 2007 23:21:52 +0000 http://www.techcrunch.com/2007/09/04/rockyou-integrates-likecom-image-search-into-slideshows/#comment-1593312 that's awesome that’s awesome

]]> By: Stevie http://www.techcrunch.com/2007/09/04/rockyou-integrates-likecom-image-search-into-slideshows/comment-page-1/#comment-1592755 Stevie Tue, 04 Sep 2007 18:43:38 +0000 http://www.techcrunch.com/2007/09/04/rockyou-integrates-likecom-image-search-into-slideshows/#comment-1592755 like.com is very hard to use.. and it's not a wise use of the technology. I am sure the $$$ was the operative term for the tech company like.com is very hard to use.. and it’s not a wise use of the technology. I am sure the $$$ was the operative term for the tech company

]]> By: Techy http://www.techcrunch.com/2007/09/04/rockyou-integrates-likecom-image-search-into-slideshows/comment-page-1/#comment-1592726 Techy Tue, 04 Sep 2007 18:35:01 +0000 http://www.techcrunch.com/2007/09/04/rockyou-integrates-likecom-image-search-into-slideshows/#comment-1592726 just saw their employee profiles ..folks..this is going to be hit...those indian employees from IIT are no less than from stanford or MITs...lately I have seen many indian companies kicking asses coming out as product based companies..zimbra, zoho, riya to name a few.. just saw their employee profiles ..folks..this is going to be hit…those indian employees from IIT are no less than from stanford or MITs…lately I have seen many indian companies kicking asses coming out as product based companies..zimbra, zoho, riya to name a few..

]]> By: Roger http://www.techcrunch.com/2007/09/04/rockyou-integrates-likecom-image-search-into-slideshows/comment-page-1/#comment-1592618 Roger Tue, 04 Sep 2007 17:53:04 +0000 http://www.techcrunch.com/2007/09/04/rockyou-integrates-likecom-image-search-into-slideshows/#comment-1592618 Dude, Riya has 50 employees (see http://www.riya.com/team). Even assuming many are in India, they are burning $3-5m a year in salaries alone. They need a 10x bump in sales to think about being profitable. Dude, Riya has 50 employees (see http://www.riya.com/team). Even assuming many are in India, they are burning $3-5m a year in salaries alone. They need a 10x bump in sales to think about being profitable.

]]> By: ChrisR http://www.techcrunch.com/2007/09/04/rockyou-integrates-likecom-image-search-into-slideshows/comment-page-1/#comment-1592578 ChrisR Tue, 04 Sep 2007 17:33:07 +0000 http://www.techcrunch.com/2007/09/04/rockyou-integrates-likecom-image-search-into-slideshows/#comment-1592578 @David "So Like.com makes 600K/year." That's gross too. Subtract the cost of any employee salaries, the bandwidth, the energy drinks, any free clothes they give employees. The cost of renting offices, the cost of insurance, the cost of the company vehicle, the cost of the insurance for the company vehicle, the cost of gas for the company vehicle, the cost of everything else. I bet they only have a quarter left if that. Most companies' net is about 10-15% of gross. @David

“So Like.com makes 600K/year.”

That’s gross too. Subtract the cost of any employee salaries, the bandwidth, the energy drinks, any free clothes they give employees. The cost of renting offices, the cost of insurance, the cost of the company vehicle, the cost of the insurance for the company vehicle, the cost of gas for the company vehicle, the cost of everything else. I bet they only have a quarter left if that. Most companies’ net is about 10-15% of gross.

]]> By: David http://www.techcrunch.com/2007/09/04/rockyou-integrates-likecom-image-search-into-slideshows/comment-page-1/#comment-1592510 David Tue, 04 Sep 2007 17:04:42 +0000 http://www.techcrunch.com/2007/09/04/rockyou-integrates-likecom-image-search-into-slideshows/#comment-1592510 $12M/year in revenue is misleading. Its the eBay thing where they report value of goods that pass through them. Better metric is profit: affiliate commissions are around 5% (if you're lucky). So Like.com makes 600K/year. $12M/year in revenue is misleading. Its the eBay thing where they report value of goods that pass through them. Better metric is profit: affiliate commissions are around 5% (if you’re lucky). So Like.com makes 600K/year.

]]> By: Rajesh Shakya http://www.techcrunch.com/2007/09/04/rockyou-integrates-likecom-image-search-into-slideshows/comment-page-1/#comment-1592454 Rajesh Shakya Tue, 04 Sep 2007 16:40:55 +0000 http://www.techcrunch.com/2007/09/04/rockyou-integrates-likecom-image-search-into-slideshows/#comment-1592454 Hi Michael, I was using Riya from its very infant stage. Riya itself was a great product with innovative ideas. Munjal Shah's innovative implementation is the Like.com. People are not used to with picture based searches but it will be real search trend soon. Congratulations Munjal. Rajesh Shakya http://www.rajeshshakya.com Helping technopreneurs to excel and lead their life! Hi Michael,
I was using Riya from its very infant stage. Riya itself was a great product with innovative ideas. Munjal Shah’s innovative implementation is the Like.com. People are not used to with picture based searches but it will be real search trend soon.

Congratulations Munjal.

Rajesh Shakya
http://www.rajeshshakya.com
Helping technopreneurs to excel and lead their life!

]]> By: =Jason http://www.techcrunch.com/2007/09/04/rockyou-integrates-likecom-image-search-into-slideshows/comment-page-1/#comment-1592444 =Jason Tue, 04 Sep 2007 16:37:03 +0000 http://www.techcrunch.com/2007/09/04/rockyou-integrates-likecom-image-search-into-slideshows/#comment-1592444 are you kidding me this site is so retarded give me a break i want to kill myself seeing projects like this getting funding and support. are you kidding me this site is so retarded give me a break i want to kill myself seeing projects like this getting funding and support.

]]> By: eradicator http://www.techcrunch.com/2007/09/04/rockyou-integrates-likecom-image-search-into-slideshows/comment-page-1/#comment-1592387 eradicator Tue, 04 Sep 2007 16:09:16 +0000 http://www.techcrunch.com/2007/09/04/rockyou-integrates-likecom-image-search-into-slideshows/#comment-1592387 OK, so Jonas beat me to that joke. Time to go back for more coffee... OK, so Jonas beat me to that joke. Time to go back for more coffee…

]]> By: eradicator http://www.techcrunch.com/2007/09/04/rockyou-integrates-likecom-image-search-into-slideshows/comment-page-1/#comment-1592375 eradicator Tue, 04 Sep 2007 16:04:53 +0000 http://www.techcrunch.com/2007/09/04/rockyou-integrates-likecom-image-search-into-slideshows/#comment-1592375 Now if they can figure out some sort of integration with aHurricane.com, that would be awesome... Now if they can figure out some sort of integration with aHurricane.com, that would be awesome…

]]> By: BigG http://www.techcrunch.com/2007/09/04/rockyou-integrates-likecom-image-search-into-slideshows/comment-page-1/#comment-1592359 BigG Tue, 04 Sep 2007 15:59:23 +0000 http://www.techcrunch.com/2007/09/04/rockyou-integrates-likecom-image-search-into-slideshows/#comment-1592359 Does anyone have Ro Choy's (VP BizDev RockYou)'s email address? Does anyone have Ro Choy’s (VP BizDev RockYou)’s email address?

]]> By: Jessie Anderson http://www.techcrunch.com/2007/09/04/rockyou-integrates-likecom-image-search-into-slideshows/comment-page-1/#comment-1592345 Jessie Anderson Tue, 04 Sep 2007 15:53:09 +0000 http://www.techcrunch.com/2007/09/04/rockyou-integrates-likecom-image-search-into-slideshows/#comment-1592345 So 1 million visits a month = 10 million page views a month probably? Which is probably generating $8000 revenue a month. Hardly time to crack open the champagne eh? So 1 million visits a month = 10 million page views a month probably? Which is probably generating $8000 revenue a month. Hardly time to crack open the champagne eh?

]]> By: Avinash http://www.techcrunch.com/2007/09/04/rockyou-integrates-likecom-image-search-into-slideshows/comment-page-1/#comment-1592334 Avinash Tue, 04 Sep 2007 15:49:33 +0000 http://www.techcrunch.com/2007/09/04/rockyou-integrates-likecom-image-search-into-slideshows/#comment-1592334 Pretty impressive. Hope they just don't restrict themselves to the fashion industry. Pretty impressive. Hope they just don’t restrict themselves to the fashion industry.

]]> By: Chris Jacobson http://www.techcrunch.com/2007/09/04/rockyou-integrates-likecom-image-search-into-slideshows/comment-page-1/#comment-1592282 Chris Jacobson Tue, 04 Sep 2007 15:31:01 +0000 http://www.techcrunch.com/2007/09/04/rockyou-integrates-likecom-image-search-into-slideshows/#comment-1592282 I don't know how fast Like will take off, especially with so much competition. I don’t know how fast Like will take off, especially with so much competition.

]]> By: Samsono http://www.techcrunch.com/2007/09/04/rockyou-integrates-likecom-image-search-into-slideshows/comment-page-1/#comment-1592130 Samsono Tue, 04 Sep 2007 14:32:31 +0000 http://www.techcrunch.com/2007/09/04/rockyou-integrates-likecom-image-search-into-slideshows/#comment-1592130 Shah, I think made the right decision to restructure the company towards a different direction. They could have already developed a facial recognition software that may have been 50-60% accurate, but that may have proved useless so far as user experience is concerned as users would not come away satisfed with a product that found the person they were looking for every one out of two times. This is also similar to a point marissa mayer ( of google) made in a video I saw. She said there were many interesting and reasonably functioning technologies out there that google could invest in but which they passed on. That was because though the technological achievements maybe impressive at an academic level, they concluded the end user experience would still be too poor. I don't know how far Riya's visual recognition technology had come before they had decided to refocus on Like.com, but even 70% accuracy the user experience would still have been to poor for public release. So the decision to focus the technology on visual similarity (keyword being similarity and not accuracy), and developing a revenue generating commerce type site instead of burning through their VC money for a breakthrough technology that may still be a few years away, shows there's not only just smart tech guys working there, but maybe some intelligent management. To me if they've choosen the fashion industry to make their start and which they are generating revenue from, then I see potiential for the company moving forward into other industries as their technology advances. Shah, I think made the right decision to restructure the company towards a different direction. They could have already developed a facial recognition software that may have been 50-60% accurate, but that may have proved useless so far as user experience is concerned as users would not come away satisfed with a product that found the person they were looking for every one out of two times.

This is also similar to a point marissa mayer ( of google) made in a video I saw. She said there were many interesting and reasonably functioning technologies out there that google could invest in but which they passed on. That was because though the technological achievements maybe impressive at an academic level, they concluded the end user experience would still be too poor.

I don’t know how far Riya’s visual recognition technology had come before they had decided to refocus on Like.com, but even 70% accuracy the user experience would still have been to poor for public release.

So the decision to focus the technology on visual similarity (keyword being similarity and not accuracy), and developing a revenue generating commerce type site instead of burning through their VC money for a breakthrough technology that may still be a few years away, shows there’s not only just smart tech guys working there, but maybe some intelligent management.

To me if they’ve choosen the fashion industry to make their start and which they are generating revenue from, then I see potiential for the company moving forward into other industries as their technology advances.

]]> By: ChrisR http://www.techcrunch.com/2007/09/04/rockyou-integrates-likecom-image-search-into-slideshows/comment-page-1/#comment-1592049 ChrisR Tue, 04 Sep 2007 13:54:01 +0000 http://www.techcrunch.com/2007/09/04/rockyou-integrates-likecom-image-search-into-slideshows/#comment-1592049 On a related note, how does like.com deal with sites like ilike.com where the commerce marks are incredibly similar and confusing? I actually went to ilike.com first? On a related note, how does like.com deal with sites like ilike.com where the commerce marks are incredibly similar and confusing? I actually went to ilike.com first?

]]> By: Paul http://www.techcrunch.com/2007/09/04/rockyou-integrates-likecom-image-search-into-slideshows/comment-page-1/#comment-1592047 Paul Tue, 04 Sep 2007 13:53:34 +0000 http://www.techcrunch.com/2007/09/04/rockyou-integrates-likecom-image-search-into-slideshows/#comment-1592047 Am I the last one to jump on the RockYou train? :) I think so - their integration with Like.com sounds very promising assuming the major social networks OK it. Am I the last one to jump on the RockYou train? :) I think so – their integration with Like.com sounds very promising assuming the major social networks OK it.

]]> By: ChrisR http://www.techcrunch.com/2007/09/04/rockyou-integrates-likecom-image-search-into-slideshows/comment-page-1/#comment-1592037 ChrisR Tue, 04 Sep 2007 13:49:18 +0000 http://www.techcrunch.com/2007/09/04/rockyou-integrates-likecom-image-search-into-slideshows/#comment-1592037 @Word Hugger, I see. @Word Hugger, I see.

]]> By: Parag http://www.techcrunch.com/2007/09/04/rockyou-integrates-likecom-image-search-into-slideshows/comment-page-1/#comment-1592032 Parag Tue, 04 Sep 2007 13:47:42 +0000 http://www.techcrunch.com/2007/09/04/rockyou-integrates-likecom-image-search-into-slideshows/#comment-1592032 Hey Michael, Munjal Shaw last name is mis-spelled. It is "Shah" and not Shaw :) Thanks. Hey Michael,

Munjal Shaw last name is mis-spelled. It is “Shah” and not Shaw :)
Thanks.

]]> By: nil burns http://www.techcrunch.com/2007/09/04/rockyou-integrates-likecom-image-search-into-slideshows/comment-page-1/#comment-1591991 nil burns Tue, 04 Sep 2007 13:29:36 +0000 http://www.techcrunch.com/2007/09/04/rockyou-integrates-likecom-image-search-into-slideshows/#comment-1591991 Hi Michael, I see the cloth ads in the right side and I wonder why should an end user click on it, if it is so off the correct picture. (What does shoes have to do with the picture?). It really reminds me "Ad Sense" when there is a very un focused article and stupid words are selected. (But unlike Google picture really burn your eyes when you are looking for something similar). Yes, you can say there is nothing similar to that, but this service is not really giving any added value to user, but only more ads. For that matter, you don't need to analyze the picture, just do statistics and find the most clicked picture. What do you think? Can't Google and other SE just put ads on top of pictures and find the most clicked or viewed ad because this technology doesn't work? (if it is anything like their site, it doesn't work at all - working out of tags is not really something new... whatever they say they don't do any real picture recognition) Hi Michael,

I see the cloth ads in the right side and I wonder why should an end user click on it, if it is so off the correct picture. (What does shoes have to do with the picture?).
It really reminds me “Ad Sense” when there is a very un focused article and stupid words are selected. (But unlike Google picture really burn your eyes when you are looking for something similar). Yes, you can say there is nothing similar to that, but this service is not really giving any added value to user, but only more ads. For that matter, you don’t need to analyze the picture, just do statistics and find the most clicked picture.

What do you think? Can’t Google and other SE just put ads on top of pictures and find the most clicked or viewed ad because this technology doesn’t work? (if it is anything like their site, it doesn’t work at all – working out of tags is not really something new… whatever they say they don’t do any real picture recognition)

]]> By: Ricardo Cabral http://www.techcrunch.com/2007/09/04/rockyou-integrates-likecom-image-search-into-slideshows/comment-page-1/#comment-1591867 Ricardo Cabral Tue, 04 Sep 2007 12:34:11 +0000 http://www.techcrunch.com/2007/09/04/rockyou-integrates-likecom-image-search-into-slideshows/#comment-1591867 Visual search technology like the one employed on Like.com and now RockYou can be evaluated with the opensource project isk-daemon: http://server.imgseek.net/ Visual search technology like the one employed on Like.com and now RockYou can be evaluated with the opensource project isk-daemon: http://server.imgseek.net/

]]> By: ACE Computer Services Blog » Blog Archive » Lots ‘O Links: 9/4/07 http://www.techcrunch.com/2007/09/04/rockyou-integrates-likecom-image-search-into-slideshows/comment-page-1/#comment-1591818 ACE Computer Services Blog » Blog Archive » Lots ‘O Links: 9/4/07 Tue, 04 Sep 2007 12:14:29 +0000 http://www.techcrunch.com/2007/09/04/rockyou-integrates-likecom-image-search-into-slideshows/#comment-1591818 [...] RockYou Integrates Like.com Image Search Into Slideshows - A cool feature with greater potential. [...] [...] RockYou Integrates Like.com Image Search Into Slideshows - A cool feature with greater potential. [...]

]]> By: Word Hugger http://www.techcrunch.com/2007/09/04/rockyou-integrates-likecom-image-search-into-slideshows/comment-page-1/#comment-1591812 Word Hugger Tue, 04 Sep 2007 12:11:21 +0000 http://www.techcrunch.com/2007/09/04/rockyou-integrates-likecom-image-search-into-slideshows/#comment-1591812 @ChrisR I believe it isn't about advantages, rather RockYou is probably looking to scoop up a piece of the pie. If they can keep their $0.80 CPM, they will most likely make a bundle on that deal with Shah. @ChrisR
I believe it isn’t about advantages, rather RockYou is probably looking to scoop up a piece of the pie. If they can keep their $0.80 CPM, they will most likely make a bundle on that deal with Shah.

]]> By: Chris R. http://www.techcrunch.com/2007/09/04/rockyou-integrates-likecom-image-search-into-slideshows/comment-page-1/#comment-1591731 Chris R. Tue, 04 Sep 2007 11:41:15 +0000 http://www.techcrunch.com/2007/09/04/rockyou-integrates-likecom-image-search-into-slideshows/#comment-1591731 This is ok, but I don't see the advantage over bizrate or froogle? This is ok, but I don’t see the advantage over bizrate or froogle?

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