Another Big Win for Microsoft , Caligari is now part of Microsoft

by Don Burnett

Well I can't say that this news hasn't got me excited ever since I found out. Microsoft has purchased Caligari, makers of TrueSpace 3D modeling software. Why is this so exciting for me? The first real time 3D modeler I ever touched was Caligari 3D on the Amiga platform years ago (1985-86). At the time it was just a real-time 3D wireframe modeler, but I could see the advantages of creating 3D models in a real 3d environment, not a tri-view..  Now we have full real time and rendered output and a super modeling environment all in real time 3D.

TrueSpace (the current product) has grown an industry around it. I have had the pleasure of meeting Roman Ormandy, in the past, and know what a dynamic developer he is. He is a man of great vision for products now in the 3D space.  TrueSpace is used in industries ranging from broadcast animation to product design.

TrueSpace  and their great 3d Technology will become a product in the Virtual Earth stable of Windows Live. This also should mean some great advances for Web 3D. I could see it integrating well with WPF 3D and Expression Blend as well.

Congratulations to Roman and company, this is also another great win for Microsoft and brings an incredible infusion of talent to Windows Live and the Virtual Earth Community.

Besides Virtual Earth I (for one) would like to see TrueSpace become Microsoft Expression 3D.. Who knows, love to see that announced at Mix 08 (no I haven't heard anything officially).  It does fit in well with WPF 3D though.. We can only hope

Technorati tags: Caligari, TrueSpace, Microsoft, wholely owned subsidiary

Yet Another Too Cool For Words WPF 3D Website

by Don Burnett

Okay, this is the coolest UI I have seen in a long time. if you want to look at an animal that is in the Zoo you just click on their icon in the spinning globe. The interface has really great effect. WOW, you have to see this one for yourself. It really shows the superiority of a multimedia app over the web using WPF 3D.. This is not something you will see today in Flash.

http://www.asahiyamazoo-aict.jp/asahiyamazoo.xbap

When you consider that this is a fully delivered educational multimedia application (just like we used to see in CD-ROM applications) right to your web browser with a real 3D enviroment. Including the forest trees and flowers (in 3D), and it delivers overlayed information about various animals. You don't have to know Japanese to see the quality and realize the kind of future these XBAPs have.

Schools will love this because all you need is the internet and a windows computer with .net 3.0 installed to recieve this level of quality content. This really is the future educational delivery system. I am just blown away by what they have achieved. It's all real-time 3D and the educational content is top notch. It also has that great Japanese design beauty and well thought out interface. This is the kind of thing I learned at Media Station, Inc. while working on projects for Disney and Universal. I haven't seen someone pull this kind of thing all together in a real application in a while. The future of XBAP delivery looks very bright with this. XBAPs are WPF platform applications that run in a browser and install in the browser, no folks this isn't Silverlight yet.. When we get this kinda 3D power in Silverlight, Microsoft will really have the keys to the kingdom and a cross-platform winner.

Technorati Tags: WPF - XBAP - FLASH - WPF3D - 3D Multimedia - Web Browser Delivered Application