iMac G5 Integrates Form and Function
Apple unveiled the iMac G5, featuring the G5 processor and a new design that integrates the computer into a 2-inch-deep flat panel display (available in two screen sizes). The 17-inch model comes with either a 1.8-GHz PowerPC G5 processor and a SuperDrive for burning DVDs or a 1.6-GHz G5 processor and a DVD and CD combination drive. The 20-inch model has a 1.8-GHz G5 processor and a SuperDrive.
Other product features include a 600-MHz front-side bus, 400-MHz double-data-rate memory (expandable to 2 Gbytes), accelerated graphics port 8X graphics, and 7,200 rpm Serial ATA drives up to 250 Gbytes. The iMac G5 comes standard with Nvidia graphics with dedicated video memory. In addition, the G5 offers five USB ports and two FireWire 400 ports. It also comes with a built-in 10/100Base-T Ethernet and a 56-Kbyte modem. An optional Bluetooth module is available, which includes a built-in antenna and card slot to support an optional AirPort Extreme Card for wireless networking.
Pricing starts at $1,299. For more information visit http://www.apple.com/imac/.
Apple's iMac G5 (Courtesy of Apple) Noncontact 3D Digitizer
Konica Minolta's Vivid 9i is a noncontact 3D digitizer that reportedly provides high-speed and high-accuracy 3D measurement of dies, cast and forged products, and stamped and plastic-molded products. The product can also capture the shape and dimensional data of design models and prototypes in design drawings for reverse engineering purposes.
The digitizer uses a triangulation light block method for measurement and weighs approximately 15 kg with the lens attached. The product can scan 3D data in 2.5 seconds and contains a field calibration system to help negate inaccuracies caused by lens exchange or environmental changes.
For more information visit http://www.minolta3d.com.
Generate Autostereoscopic Prints
Volugraphics released its 3D hard copy lenticular printing and imaging system, which generates high-resolution autostereoscopic 3D and animated prints and transparencies (called Volugrams).
The system can produce Volugrams with images from 3D data sets, stereopairs, or 3D photographic images. According to the company, the first copy can be produced in 7 minutes. Subsequent hardcopies can be produced at a rate of more than 25 per hour.
The Volugraphics system comprises a series of imaging-related products, including automated stereoscopic lenticular printers, a suite of specialized software, and a line of 3D digital and nondigital cameras.
Visit http://www.volugraphics.com/ for more information.
Sample print using Volugraphics' 3D hardcopy lenticular printing and image system 3D Liquid Crystal Display
Sharp's LL-151-3D display is the company's first standalone display that uses 3D LCD technology. Users can switch the 15-inch monitor between 2D and 3D viewing by pressing a button on the monitor.
The monitor doesn't require shutter glasses and uses a parallax barrier to divide light so that different patterns reach the viewer's left and right eyes. When centered in front of the display, each eye receives the correct visual information for the brain to process.
Users can adjust the height and angle of the monitor with its integrated slide system, swiveling the display up to 90 degrees and raising it up to 60 mm. The product features built-in stereo speakers, analog and digital video inputs, a 500:1 contrast ratio, and a color-management function. The display comes with software to support its 3D and multimedia capabilities, including a photo editor and camera calculator.
The Sharp LL-151-3D display costs $1,499. For more information visit http://sharpsystems.com.
Data Gloves and Head-Mounted Displays
Fifth Dimension Technologies (5DT) released its Ultra series of data gloves and head-mounted displays (HMDs). The data gloves contain 14 sensors and reportedly offer comfort, ease of use, a small form factor, and multiple application drivers. The gloves also have high data quality, low cross-correlation, and high data rates making them suited for realistic real-time animation.
The HMDs feature a 40-degree field of view, high resolution, a long cable, and a light design. The series also includes virtual binoculars, laser range finders, night-vision goggles, and monocular displays.
For more information visit http://www.5dt.com.
Fifth Dimension Technologies' Ultra series head-mounted display High Dynamic Range Imaging
Spheron VR has combined its 360-degree digital camera with Art VPS's ray-tracing hardware and software so that artists, animators, and studios can create high dynamic range imaging backgrounds.
Spheron VR's mobile camera and processing software let users generate HDR images for use in digital and print media. The system outputs up to 50 megapixels of full spherical image data and can capture a dynamic range of 26 factor stops in one pass. The camera also provides features such as spherical light maps for direct illumination of computer-generated objects.
Images from the camera can be brought into various 3D applications and integrated into scenes. Art VPS's 3D ray-tracing system reportedly lets users generate images up to 35 times faster than conventional software renderers. The system uses Pure and Renderdrive software for modular ray tracing and improved design communication. It interfaces directly with 3ds max, Maya, Viz, and Catia software, letting users preview full-frame images.
For more information visit http://www.spheron.com.
Ultra-Slim USB Flash Drive
Verbatim released version 2.0 of its Store'n'Go USB flash drives. The drives are designed for content developers, information technology professionals, and digital photo and music enthusiasts.
The devices support up to 23 Mbytes per second read and 14 Mbytes per second write speeds. The drives are available in capacities ranging from 256 Mbytes to 2 Gbytes.
Other features include security and file synchronization software; customization features that let the user personalize the device with a custom-volume name, device icon, or preferred audio sounds; an ultra-slim design; and an individual serial number on the case to make it uniquely identifiable.
Prices for Verbatim's Store'n'Go USB 2.0 range from $74.95 for the 256-Mbyte device to $599.95 for the 2-Gbyte device.
For more information visit http://www.verbatim.com.
Virtual Immersion
Virtools has released Virtools Dev, a real-time 3D integrated development environment. Virtools Dev is comprised of five basic components: the GUI to develop applications by visually assembling objects and behaviors; the behavior engine to run interactive applications; the render engine to render graphics in real time; the Virtools scripting language to create low-level specific functions without any C++ line; and the software development kit to create custom behaviors.
Product features include its use of vertex and pixel shaders, and the ability to separate objects, data, behaviors, and applications created by assembling objects to behaviors. The software uses Web building blocks for dynamic media and data download and user-customized content delivery. Included with the software is an intelligent coloring system, with context-sensitive completion and function arguments display. Another feature is the software's project management capabilities (it has interface compatibility with NxN's alienbrain).
For more information visit http://www.virtools.com.
Geodynamic Engine
AGI announced the release of its Satellite Tool Kit/Geographic Information System (STK/GIS) Extension, which interfaces between GIS software packages (such as ESRI's ArcView GIS) and contains both design and analytical capabilities.
As a design tool, the STK/GIS Extension can create facilities, area targets, and coverage regions in STK whose boundaries are specified according to complex demographic, environmental, and other geographically referenced properties. As an analysis tool, the STK/GIS Extension lets the user analyze and associate geographically referenced data with STK sensor footprints, sensor swaths, area targets, and coverage regions by referencing them against numerous GIS detailed information databases.
Using the STK/GIS Extension between ArcView and STK, the user can define points or regions by any number of demographic, environmental, or other geographically referenced specifications. STK imports these points or regions for conversion to facilities, area targets, or coverage regions. The user can also initiate a GIS analysis by exporting STK sensor swaths and coverage areas into ArcView, then using ArcView to determine various types of information about those areas.
For more information visit http://www.agi.com/geointel.
AGI's geodynamic technology can calculate and display bit-error-rate contours of a mobile phone in a truck leaving Baghdad, for example Plug-ins Aid Data Scanning
Raindrop Geomagic's plug-in for Perceptron processes scan data in real time and displays it as a solid shaded model. A Geomagic plug-in for Faro ScanArm turns the software into the equivalent of a 3D digital paintbrush. When an object is scanned, both plug-ins allow measurement data to be displayed as a solid polygon model.
When not scanning, the software uses the device as a 3D mouse, letting users rotate the scanned object on screen. The entire capture and display process can be conducted without the use of a keyboard or mouse.
The plug-ins include features that filter scan data during capture. A real-time scan-line filter removes data not picked up accurately by the scanner. Noise reduction smoothes the surface of measurement line data in real time. Uniform sampling provides an even distribution of points in 3D space. Raindrop Geomagic provides a standard API that enables any scanner to be integrated with Geomagic software.
The free plug-ins can be downloaded from http://www.geomagic.com/support/downloads/plugin.php3.
Integrate Pixel Shaders
Discreet announced that its 3ds max 7 software—which models, renders, and animates in 3D—has integrated Ashli (ATI's shader technology). The new option is useful for game developers, 3D visual effects artists, and artists creating 3D cinematics in seeing how the final 3D rendered image or animation will look.
The software gives 3ds max 7 software access to a greater number of shader instructions on the visual processing unit. By using Ashli, artists can standardize with High-Level Shading Language and the .FX file format from Microsoft. This lets the artists render complex and shader-rich environments in real time inside the 3ds max viewport.
For more information visit http://wwww.discreet.com or http://www.ati.com.
Alien creature made using 3ds max 7 and ATI Ashli Automates Camera Tracking
Boujou three is 2d3's third generation of its 3D camera match moving software. It's reportedly the most accurate and powerful match moving system available, designed for specialist tracking departments.
The software is based around a feature-tracking engine that picks up more features in each frame of a shot. The tracker can reportedly pick up features obscured by motion blur, variable lighting, a fast-moving camera, or adverse conditions, such as sand, snow, or sky shots. For shots with camera path anomalies introduced by 3:2 pull down or interlacing, Boujou three includes path-smoothing algorithms within the tracking process.
The software also has a new timeline design, with a status display that simplifies working with combinations of tools such as Target Tracks and Gold Tracks. To speed up interactivity, Boujou three uses image proxies, yielding faster replays. The product also supports a wide range of bit depths and file formats, including Maya IFF.
2d3's Boujou three costs $10,000. For more information visit http://2d3.com.
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