The new java version (build 1.6.0_31-b05)  released as of 2/26/2012, is not supported by 3DXplorer, so please don’t install it.

If you have installed it, please uninstall it, and re-install the latest supported release of Java 6 – 29 here: http://www.3dxplorer.com/java-download.htm

Thank you.

http://www.3d-virtualevents.com/altadyn-ceo-darius-lahoutifard-talks-about-3d-virtual-events/

Make sure you have subscribed to our new blogs:

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Go Virtual for your holiday events!

Enabling Your employees to have fun by getting together in a 3d venue is the best way to develop your human capital while cutting costs.

• All the Altadyn team members and especially to my partner Guillaume, without whom our technology would not be the one we have today and to Jeff who submitted my nomination for this award,
• All our customers who are key contributors to our success especially to Tom from Old Dominion University,  John and Kara from APTIMA Inc,  Bernard from Tennaxia, Lionel from Walraven Law Firm and Laurent from Framlink who took the time to comment their vote,
• Our shareholders without whom our business could not be developed the way it is today,
• and to all my friends and my family for their continued and life-time support.

I would also like to take this opportunity to thank Edita Kaye, the founder of the Association of Virtual Worlds, for running the largest, the most popular and the most successful association in our industry.

Thank you!

Darius Lahoutifard
CEO
Altadyn Corp.

More on this here.

How About Your Own Website?

Are the logos of Facebook and Twitter (and more recently Google’s +1 button) familiar to you as seen on almost any home page? How about links to the blog? Or other community and social initiatives? Everybody wants their company or website to be “social” these days.

But adding a Facebook button on your homepage will not make your web strategy more social. It shows you understand the need for creating a community with a rich level of engagement and interaction with your customers and partners, but have you been able to truly measure the results?

What if your visitors could actually engage and communicate with you ON your own website? What if instead of sending your traffic to Facebook, you actually took your own visitors to the next level of interaction? or to the next step in your sales process?

This is exactly what you can do with an Avatar-based 3D website. You transform anonymous visitors into qualified prospects.

Don’t let your web visitors walk away from your website. Engage with them in 3D to do more business. Let them walk into your virtual office to instantly engage so you can communicate with your website visitors. Within a fully customized 3D Online virtual space with avatars the immersive experience provides a humanized and entertaining first impression that will improve communication channels and increase conversion rates. A link to the 3D space is placed directly on your website and is accessible to all your visitors and is a great way to establish real relationships with your customers!

3DXplorer Meet-in-3D Features include:

• Access to your 3D Virtual Lobby right from your home page
• Bell emails can be turned on to alert your reps when a visitor walks into your site
• Interact with your visitors and talk to them live in an immersive space (VoIP).
• Instant messaging function allows site reps to chat with visitors instantly
• Your space is customized using your logo and other graphic assets
• Video links and embedded slide shows can be displayed on wall-mounted screens
• Embed hyperlinks, taking visitors to purchase pages, contact pages, etc.
• Scalable architecture enables interconnected spaces without limits
• Free personalized avatars for all your visitors
• Analyze statistics and see your space daily traffic
• No software to install, multi-platform, multi-browser, all hosted by Altadyn, included.

Avatars are not just for Hollywood any more! Until June 24, 2011, subscribers to one year 3DXplorer/Meet-in-3D and get free customization. (total costs $990 instead of $1990). That’s 50% off. So hurry up. Stand out of the crowd and go 3D.

See the promotional offer here: http://www.3dxplorer.com/product_comparison_pricing.html

Subscribe here: http://www.3dxplorer.com/subscribe-now.html.

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… Global cosmetics giant Avon Products had a problem. The teenage girls who were the primary salesforce for its “mark” brand of youth-oriented cosmetic products had a hard time sitting through Web conferences composed mostly of PowerPoint presentations. But the need for online meetings was unavoidable – the girls were located all over the country, and needed to participate in training and attend sales meetings.

“When you’re sitting in a Web conference, it’s easy to be distracted, check your email, watch TV,” says Natalie Wood, assistant director for the Center of Consumer Research at Philadelphia’s St. Joseph’s University, which was asked by Avon to help solve this problem.
The Center for Consumer Research had experience working in various environments that were more engaging than watching slides on the Web while on a conference call. The most popular of these was Second Life, but this platform wasn’t appropriate for Avon, chiefly because of its steep learning curve and technical requirements.
The platform the Center for Consumer Research decided on, 3DXplorer from Altadyn, is a Java-based online meeting space where companies can fully customize the virtual environment and hold meetings similar to the ones they would have in Second Life.
“It’s Web-enabled,” Wood says. “You don’t need a fancy computer, and you don’t have many firewall problems. And you do not need to be highly competent to use 3DXplorer. Second Life definitely has a steep learning curve.”
The Center for Consumer Research has already begun holding virtual meetings for Avon’s young sales agents in the 3DXplorer environment, and the feedback has been positive.
“One of the things we’re finding is that the girls no longer feel anonymous,” she says. “Girls are commenting to each other, ‘It’s wonderful to finally meet you!’ – even though they’re not actually meeting, they’re meeting the avatar.”
They also felt that the meetings were more serious and legitimate, she adds.
Avon’s virtual meeting space in 3DXplorer is modeled after its headquarters in New York City, and visitors can actually see the New York skyline when they look out of the virtual windows.
“It gives them the feeling that they’re really in the ‘mark’ offices in New York,” Wood says….

Read more here.
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Intel’s Museum of Me, invites the users to tour their Facebook life in a visually developed virtual museum to explore who you are. The app pulls up photos of friends, nicely placed on a wall, your own photos taken from your uploaded pictures in the next room, your videos in another room (didn’t work for me) , whatever you have liked in another room (another feature not working for me), and finally a room where a few robotic arms catch some flying pictures of your friends to build your own picture (mosaic style) by assembling pictures of your life/friends, and showing your network of friends (once again very visually). I really enjoyed the experience. Seeing flying pictures of some friends being caught by a robotic arm and put into a frame to compose my picture, showing how friends or connections are part of our lives, touched me. So thumbs up Intel, for having used the same type of emotions created by other 3D environments and virtual worlds in a simple video.

However, to avoid being a disposable app, for only a one-time use, this app is missing just a few features (summarized as INTERACTIVITY ) to become a more permanent space for hanging out with friends, chatting, talking (Voice/IP), sharing pictures live and commenting them, sharing souvenirs from the past, or simply sharing some moments from a recent event. To illustrate my point, i spent 15 minutes building my museum in 3DXplorer, and here’s the result of a tour inside my INTERACTIVE 3D space called: The Museum of Me – Interactive. Click on the links below:

If interested in experiencing the simple quickly built “The Museum Of Me” – Interactive in 3DXplorer, built from one of the free templates, enter here.

So let us know how you like it? Interactive or Not ?

–Darius Lahoutifard

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http://polls.linkedin.com/vote/137900/twejk

Firefox 4 was general released last week on all platforms including Mac OS, but several FF4 issues have been reported since. Some of them are fatal for Java applets (and consequently for 3DXplorer users on Mac). See this or this.

Mozilla will soon be releasing a corrective version.

In the meantime, we discourage Mac users to upgrade to FF4.

In case you have already upgraded to FF4, uninstall Firefox and reinstall an older version (3.6.17) from below:

Download Firefox 3.6

Thank you.

Virtual Events are free of charge. Please register here.

Presenting FCVW Conference 2011, Dr. Paulette Robinson, PhD, Associate Dean for Teaching, Learning &Technology at the National Defense University, iCollege wrote: “Federal Consortium for Virtual World Conference (FCVW): Headed for the Future at the National Defense University in Washington DC, May 12-13 with a great lineup of pre-conference workshops, May 11. We have four incredible keynotes and a wonderful lineup of panels on the program. The government poster sessions are even better than last year (if that is possible). In addition, the vendor fair will offer some interesting surprises this year…”

More information about FCVW conference.

Program details here.

ENTER THE EXPO HALL – GOVERNMENT POSTER SESSION

Government Poster Session - FCVW 2011 Virtual - 3DXplorer

Please make sure you have an updated java installation. Mac’s are OK too. If needed, install the latest java from http://www.java.com .
Chat is activated in both halls.
Audio is activated in both halls but talking is disabled in the conference room: In the exhibit hall, for quality audio, please make sure you have a headset with a microphone if you need to talk and engage conversations with other attendees. If no microphone, then chat is the preferred way for networking.

If needed, a 2 minute Quick Guide Video is available here : “How to attend a Virtual conference in 3DXplorer”

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ENTER THE CONFERENCE ROOM

FCVW 2011 Virtual Conference on 3DXplore - National Defense University

Enjoy your 3D experience.

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Valentine’s Day was extra sweet this year ...

Valentine’s Day was extra sweet this year for Opportunity Inc. as the workforce development organization introduced its newest venture to assist area youth: the Virtual Youth Career Center. The new center allows youth to interact with peer mentors and Youth Career Center outreach assistants from any computer where there is Internet access.
“The idea of the Virtual Youth Career Center is wonderful,” says 16-year-old Xavier Debrough, president of the Youth Career Center Peer Council. “The avatar is a good tool in making it less formal.” Plus, he adds, “VYCC will help users find what career(s) best interest them, what college(s) they are interested in and what skills they have.”

The VYCC was developed in collaboration with Old Dominion University and will be jointly managed. Student peer mentors from ODU along with AmeriCorps volunteers from the Youth Career Center will hold virtual “walk-in” hours in the virtual world. They will use avatars to help youth explore career fields and prepare for the job search. The system allows for communication via two-way audio and chat.

“Although the physical Youth Career Center of Hampton Roads is centrally located in Pembroke Mall, not all of our clients can make it to the center,” says Christina Brooks, YCCHR coordinator. “By adding the virtual center, we can serve any youth aged 14-21 in Hampton Roads who has access to the Internet.”

The Virtual Youth Career Center allows youth to access career-related assistance in a venue that is common to the technologically savvy youth today and is in itself a career immersion activity. “The Virtual Youth Career Center is another avenue to continue our mission to entice students to delve into career fields of the future in the disciplines of Science, Technology, Engineering and Math (STEM),” says Andrea Harrell, director of youth initiatives for Opportunity Inc.
To check out the new virtual center, visit www.myyouthcareercenter.org/virtualcareercenter.html

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3D immersive solutions are filling in the gap by offering an in-between solution, where you can save time and money by keeping it virtual, while increasing engagement and interactivity, thanks to 3D immersion, avatar based platforms.

A Virtual Conference on 3DXplorer

Those who have successfully experienced this alternative, report the following benefits:

• 3D immersive spaces create a Sense of Presence,
• They create Feelings closer to face-to-face than to traditional virtual meetings of the Space
• Avatars lead to more “Human” Interactions, more engagement and more networking among attendees
• Avatars and 3D immersive lead to stronger Visual Memory of the Meeting
• Importing 3D objects improves communication and collaboration on 3D virtual products

This is an ideal solution for corporations as they have the best of both worlds; reduced cost/saved time (as the platform is running from the users’ computers), and increased engagement and more human interaction, VoIP, avatars interactions similar to face-to-face meetings.

So, given these huge benefits,  how can this adoption of 3D immersive spaces for meetings get accelerated?

What are the real challenges and obstacles to overcome when adopting 3D immersive platforms in the Enterprise?

We, at Altadyn, have been in business since 2002. We pioneered browser-based and download-free virtual spaces; 3DXplorer multi-user avatar based platform was introduced 2 years ago and VoIP was added last year. Now, the adoption is taking off; with thousands of virtual attendees in our platform each week, and growing, we are seeing a clear acceleration in the adoption. We are getting closer to mainstream adoption every month, but what have been the issues?  Here are some of the most common requests from the corporate users, that we have resolved in the past few years.

1. Software Download or Installation: IT managers in enterprise can’t let users install ANY software without their involvement, tests, approvals or certifications. It doesn’t matter how small is the download. As far as the platform requires IT approval, then it becomes a problem. This has been forever the problem for Second-Life’s adoption in Enterprise until Linden Lab decided last year to refocus on the entertainment markets. Obviously being Browser-based helps, but it’s not enough. If your browser-based system requires a plug-in which is not pre-installed on corporate computers , it’s going to prevent users to attend meetings,  even a tiny active-x installation is an issue.
2. Enterprise Firewalls:  the platform should not require open ports other than port 80, otherwise similar accessibility issues will need to be addressed.
3. Bandwidth: Most 3D immersive platforms require large bandwidth for smooth animation and for VoIP. This not an issue in most corporate offices, but is sometimes a real issue in remote offices, and obviously one of the main reasons for these meetings or for getting remote offices people closer to large branches or to corporate offices.
4. Mac Support / Multi-OS / Multi-browser: Although Windows is the main platform in Enterprise, almost 10% of Enterprise users are not running Windows. As far as the browsers are concerned, users are starting to have their own preferences, so supporting all browsers helps for a faster adoption.
5. User generated content: As soon as the corporate users discovers the 3D immersion, they want to replicate their key strategic places: their Executive Briefing Center, their Show room, their Command Center, etc. Didn’t we mention the sense of presence as a key advantage? Well once they get it, they want it all. The 3D platform should allow easy import of 3D models. Moreover, corporate users are asking for open architecture to embed hyperlinks, documents, videos, audio, and even more recently, twitter feeds and more.
6. Scalability: Meetings become conferences and customer days become global users group meetings.  Corporate users attend meetings from a few participants up to thousands. 3D platforms should be able to handle small meetings as well as large corporate events with thousands of attendees. This means cloud computing support with off-the-shelf pre-configured instances with major cloud computing platforms such as those of AMAZON-EC2 and MICROSOFT.
7. Learning curve: Users won’t spend too much time in learning the environment; chat, VoIP, sitting, laser pointing and desktop sharing should all be one-click features.
8. Simple avatars: Long and complex processes to create an avatar are not welcome for most business users. They want to select an avatar quickly and get in the room.
9. Walking & turning: For most business users who have never played a 3D game, this is not an easy reflex, even though the software only requires pressing on the keyboard’s arrow button to walk. They are not used to walk in Webex! Interestingly, unless they have not gone through this change, they’ll not notice the benefit of 3D immersive, as the immersion will only be felt after walking and turning around.
10. Virtual behavior: Unlike in Webex, your gesture, movements and virtual body language is visible to others.  And of course, walking over a table or into another avatar is not appropriate, just like in the real world. Those situations, which bring some fun and ice-breaking moments, can also appear silly or contribute to the “non-serious” or “game” aspect of the meeting thus becoming fatal for its adoption in the Enterprise. They need to be used responsibly.

3DXplorer has left most of the above challenges behind, especially those which are technology-related. We are still assisting users in their move towards more sophisticated applications for virtual meetings and working with them on better setting their expectations.

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A few consultants who covered this space have done a decent work answering to these questions, including FROST & SULLIVAN (who predicts more “presence” will be required in Virtual Events), and THINKBALM (who has published several reports on this matter).

We see a few reasons why Virtual Events NEED to look like in-person events if they want to become mainstream:

• 3D immersive creates the Sense of Presence, and the Feeling of the Space
• Avatars lead to more « Human » Interactions, more engaging, more networking among attendees
• Avatars and 3D immersive lead to stronger Visual Memory of the Meeting
• Importing 3D objects improves communication and collaboration on 3D virtual products

Virtual Events: 3D avatar based Tradeshow with 3DXplorer

Have you ever questioned why corporations have always spent so much time and money in building well designed and greatly architect-ed headquarters, and reception areas? Do you have the same feeling when you walk in an underground dark railway station hallway, compared to when walking in a bright glass bridge with a green landscape around your meeting room? Are you familiar with the emotions that environments create in you?

The 3D immersive environment and its design by itself creates feelings in each attendee. Now add the fact that you see another avatar in front of you talking and/or chatting. Is it the same sense of communication compared to trying to visualize someone just by their name, in text, in the lower right corner of the screen?

Connecting attendees into a virtual event, so that they can see slides, hear a presenter, watch a video (live streamed or not), or even chat to each other, is a resolved problem since 10-15 years ago ( by Webex and webex like platforms). The same way netflix has done with movie watchers  or Amazon has done with book readers or Facebook has done for friends… a simple easy way to accomplish the needed tasks mentioned above. But why do people still go massively to in-person events?

The demand is now for more HUMAN Interaction, more ENGAGEMENT and for virtual events which are closer to the in-person events. So that the attendee “FEELS” like he/she is “THERE”, and interacts with the exhibitors and with other attendees.

Some book buyers, those who miss the human interaction and the seller’s advice, continue to drive a car and go to Barnes & Noble to buy a book where they spend a lot more time and money than just ordering online. Why do they do that? Because they miss something AMAZON is not offering today.

Now for Virtual Events, the HUMAN aspect is even much more crucial than for AMAZON. The goal of Virtual Events vendors should be to enable attendees participate to more events, get more content, be more engaged, connect more to each other, enjoy the experience and even have fun. All this in less time and at a lower cost than the in-person event. That’s why everyone tries to create that SENSE of PRESENCE. Some do it with background images(full-size 3D generated), and some go further with 3D immersive, avatar based solutions. In a platform like 3DXplorer, you can virtually “walk” on the same floor as other attendees, shake hand with each other, use your laser pointer to point out something on a slide or show an object to someone, see where each person is looking at, etc…you FEEL being in the same place. PRESENCE makes sense this way.

Now, are ALL Virtual Events going to look like in-person events? No. But unlike AMAZON for books, here we have the larger market who has not yet gone virtual, despite solutions being available since 10-15 years. because most virtual event platforms can’t provide that feeling of presence, and they simply don’t facilitate networking and engagement that is effective or fun.

If the Virtual Events market wants to deliver on its growth promises, it needs to develop something fundamentally different than Webex which will capture those in-person events.

Register for one of our upcoming webinars and give it a try, and Feel free to react…

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In general, like for any web development platform, you should keep your image resolutions as lowest as possible; an image should not exceed 512 pixels for the larger dimension. A dimension above 512 is considered as a high resolution and such images will be down scaled unless you specifically refuse it at upload time.

But there is also a rule which can help you optimize drastically: Make sure your JPEG file (or PNG file) has the smallest resolution possible while keeping the larger dimension of the image with a number of pixels which is a power of 2 (ie: 16, 32, 64, 128, 512, 1024 or 2048). This means that a 40 x 64 image is well optimized because the larger side (64) is a power of 2. Similarly, an image with a resolution of 40 x 32 is not optimized because the larger side (40) is not a power of 2.

What will happen if you don’t respect the above rule? Well, the real time rendering and the hardware acceleration algorithms used om most computers will be up to 3 times slower and require up to 300% more memory for providing the same visual quality. Same thing for the loading time of the scene which will be up to 3 or 4 times slower for equal visual quality.

Example: Let’s assume you have reached the resolution of 80 x 42 after having optimized your image. You should know that if you reduce it to a 64 x 34 image you may save up to 300% in performance.

Looking forward to your optimized scenes that your users will appreciate.

During 2010, AVATAR, the movie , 3D TV screens in the shops, controller-free gaming consoles such as Wii and Kinect, and glasses-free 3D TV, all played a key role to massively introduce 3D environments to all generations and not just to the younger generations , as games did in the past 15 years. This created a new dynamic wave for the 3D Internet in general.

As a testimony to this new 3D wave, Altadyn, now in its ninth year of business, accelerated its growth in 2010, with over 117% revenue increase compared to 2009  :

ALTADYN revenue growth 2009 - 2011

In the past 25 years in the 3D technologies and businesses, we have seen years which left their marks more than other years. For instance;

• 1982 was the year of foundation of Silicon Graphics, Sun Microsystems, Adobe and Autodesk, as well as the year TRON was released by Disney,
• 1987 was the year when 3D design and modeling applications became affordable to most 3D animators and engineers when  Sun introduced the first non proprietary OS on affordable workstations ,  and 1988 when PTC introduced the first parametric modeling technology ,
• 1995 when Hollywood started using the first realistic special effects in its productions or just the use of full 3D productions such as Toy Story by Pixar.
• 2010 was the year of Emergence of accessible virtual 3D environments for all, including consumers.

This general trend of emerging accessible 3D virtual environments strongly impacted technology providers, especially those offering 3D immersive software. Let’s have a look at a few lessons learned in 2010:

1) “Virtual Worlds , a la Second Life” are not meant to be for business, but for entertainment.

The Virtual Worlds market leader, Linden Lab, severely downsized it’s team, during 2010, stopped the Enterprise or B-to-B  Business, and focused on its core business which is entertainment and gaming. The company even hired a new CEO with a clear gaming background. Forterra Inc., a pioneer in this space went out of business, as well as it’s “half sister” company THERE, a leading virtual world. We learned that a virtual world needs to have a purpose. If it’s for entertainment, then it needs to follow the rules of a game business model and the consequences. If it is for business, it has to follow business requirements, be enterprise-friendly, available in SaaS mode (hosted, on-demand), compliant with corporate firewalls, with no software download, etc…

2) Virtual Events are taking off but customers need more engaging Virtual Events.

Within 2010, the tough economy and budgetary restrictions, corporations and event firms produced even more events virtually than in the past, using mostly non 3D web-ex type technologies or pseudo-3D applications, while starting to use full 3D immersive platforms as well. Although some cost reduction goals were fully achieved, they didn’t meet their goals in terms of direct customer interaction, lead generation, new business relationships (see the TSNN report, tables 9 and 10).  In another study, ROI of engagement, it apparent that customers need more engaging virtual events which facilitate networking and encourage active participation.

3) Perpetual Virtual Events or Permanent 3D Websites are needed more

Those clients, who experienced virtual events, notice that it’s much easier to setup a virtual event than a real event, and the cost of maintaining a virtual event space is a fraction of the cost of building it. Consequently, they are interested in more frequent virtual events  or even perpetual  trade-shows or show rooms where visitors can interact with company’s representatives, at any time. That’s the reason why 3DXplorer’s Meet-in-3D service is becoming more and more popular. This service saw a fast growth in 2010 and the trend for 2011 is continued. As a reminder, 3DXplorer/Meet-in-3D enables the transformation of anonymous visitors of a website into real prospects.

4) Other 3D Immersive  Applications are emerging, or continue their development

Among other applications of 3D internet which gained a lot of customer attentions, we noticed:

• Replicating strategic corporate facilities and enabling accessible virtual visits
• Simulation and training
• eLearning and virtual classrooms
• On-boarding and other HR applications
• Virtual Showrooms and Art galleries

The trend in 2011 is in the continuity of 2010, with the market getting shaped in a more determined manner as per the above orientations, and we all look forward to it.

Darius Lahoutifard
CEO

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The most important feature is a more robust and higher quality VOIP, which uses a dedicated port if the user’s firewall authorizes it (if not, the standard port 80 is used).

Among other new features:

• “Mute audience” button is replaced by a moderator’s control panel allowing a moderator to control separately voice, Desktop Sharing, lasers, chat moderation and video broadcast
• “Voice” button is replaced by “Mic” and “Speakers” buttons to increase users control on audio settings
• Presentation features (ie: Desktop Sharing, laser, video broadcast), voice and chat moderation can now be activated/blocked individually for each avatar
• Skinning import improved for max 2010 COLLADA exports
• Faster and more reliable network synchronization
• The size of a video overlay/popup can be set in the material editor
• New meeting planner with invitation text supporting 8 different languages for 3DX/Online Meeting and 3DX/Conferencing, and customizable invitation templates.
• And many bugs fixed.

Many of you have set your version to a test release to use VOIP, so please make sure you reset your space to LAST RELEASE status.

Enjoy the new features and please feedback.

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You can download this same tree here, and upload the 3DS file into your own space and get a season’s feeling….virtually.

Enjoy it!

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The website features a network of French-speaking professionals whose mission is to respond quickly and efficiently to questions of many individuals and businesses in different categories, such as expatriation, real estate, legal, employment, health, technology, etc …, over the phone. The provided services have been focused on the USA, so far. Other countries are about to be added.

Since a few weeks, their home page has a new amazing feature: an awesome 3D space to meet and greet visitors.

quidexpat 3D space built with 3DXplorer

Commenting on their use of 3DXplorer, Biba Pedron and Laurent Millour, co-founders of QuidExpat.com said:

“The 3DXplorer room is a great asset to our company. After seeing the whole potential of this new technology during the demo, we decided to acquire our own space to greet our visitors, show our customers the full extent of our services, and organize seminars on different topics related to expatriation.

Here are the reasons why we like our 3D room:

• It allows us to interact with customers all around the world in real time
• It sets us apart from the competition
• It gives us the opportunity to organize virtual seminars with attendees from all over the world
• It creates a buzz in the French-speaking community since QuidExpat is the pioneer in using this technology ”

Biba Pedron and Laurent Millour who successfully ran their first seminar, are now looking forward to even broader use of their 3D space: “No doubt that our 3D room will bring a lot of interest to our company, improve our customer service, and will make it easier to convey our message and services to our customers”.

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Like last year, 3DXplorer is one of the few platforms being studied during this course, in 2010. Last week, I was pleased to speak to this group of very motivated and skillful students, and share with them some elements of our vision, at Altadyn. The evolution of the 3D and especially the web 3D technologies in the past 20 years, different generations of web3D, the corporation requirements for live collaboration technologies based on virtual worlds , other market requirements , as well as the future trends, were among the subjects we covered.

The above are pictures of last week’s virtual classroom in one of the 3DXplorer conference rooms.

I enjoyed the event and look forward to seeing all the 2010 students playing an active role in this market soon, if not already.

Darius Lahoutifard

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If you have a customized list of avatars in your space, please keep in mind that your list will not be updated automatically. You need to go to the settings’ page of your space and decide if you want your visitors to choose the new avatars or not, and allow them in your space.

The new avatars have been created upon suggestions of two of our most recent customers, both interested in younger avatars.

Enjoy using them!

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Although 3DXplorer is download-free and browser-based, it’s still a relatively sophisticated application: a real-time 3D engine including a multi-user environment with chat, VOIP, desktop sharing, remote control, and much more. As a result, it does require some system and network characteristics as presented here.

The new diagnostic tool provides information on:

• Your network speed up to our servers,
• Your Browser and some of it’s key options,
• Your Java configuration
• And more….

After a period of successful test, this tool will be integrated into all standard logins to any 3DXplorer space. Feel free to try it now, and feedback on this post.

Enjoy your diagnostics!

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This release brings the following enhancements:

• Improved VoIP , more reliable and less network sensitive
• Faster and more reliable network synchronization : avatars motion, laser pointer, etc…
• COLLADA Skinning import improved for max 2010
• Resources download improved to fix problems such as missing or white elements in a scene

Enjoy it!

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Managing Guest Avatars per space:

You can now check the list of avatar models that you authorize to be used by your guests. We have increased the library of avatars including more junior and more casual looks than the business looks we used to have. We have also enriched the number of multi-ethnic models for the V300 category, commonly used in many spaces. So now the account owner can decide, depending on the purpose of the space, which models (casual, formal, …) are adapted to the space and authorize them by checking the model in the list.

Some V300 sample avatars

A default set of avatars are activated in any new space, but the account owner can change that list at any time. Once you save your list, then you’ll have to check for new avatars that we may add to the library in the future, as saved lists will not be automatically updated to avoid undesired avatar models in your space.

V3000 pre-configured guest avatars

The Free Platform:

This change is a result of our new packaging and pricing announced earlier this year (Q2/2010), and that’s regarding the free platform. As per our published product features account owners with no paid licenses can use the studio to create as many spaces as they wish and use the player to enter the space and see their creation and show it to other users, but the multi-user features, including avatars, chat, etc… require at least an Online Meeting subscription if not other subscriptions. With all the new features of moderated chat, private chat, VOIP and more, there is a lot of value in the 3D virtual lobby and Meet-in-3D application. The free platform enables free 3D immersive walk-through, as well as a free creation tool (The 3DXplorer Studio).

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In the past few months, the company’s challenge was to increase outreach to international customers, for sales and marketing, without spending millions of dollars in new offices and new hires. –A long time user of standard (2D) web conferencing solutions, Tennaxia looked for an advanced collaborative platform for presenting its solutions to oversea customers, with a higher sense of presence and interaction, in a warmer and closer context than traditional web conferencing tools.

After a 3DXplorer demo to the executive management team, the company’s leadership decided to build a virtual demo room, in an open green environment, designed in line with its corporate culture. The 3D space was used successfully for demonstrations and virtual sales meetings.

In a second phase, after a successful series of demos, the company started expanding the use of 3DXplorer to all its sales force, as well as the support and training team.

Benefits from the use of 3DXplorer are:

• Appearing “close” to those geographically distant customers
• Reducing travel costs
• Increasing efficiency of web presentations
• Increasing sales

Commenting the use of 3DXplorer at Tennaxia, the company’s Chief Executive , Bernard Fort declared: ” In a competitive market like the one we see now, it’s very important to differentiate ourselves and be “close” to our customers. Delivering our software demos in a 3D room is interesting as we can be close to our customers while controlling our costs. Also the fact that we don’t need anything else than JAVA is clearly an advantage.”

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– 1 Meg (1mbps)  for  visitors of a 3D space for walk through
– 2 Meg (2mbps)  for  visitors of a 3D space with less than 20 avatars
– 3 Meg (3mbps)  for  attendees of larger 3D Expo Halls  with no live desktop sharing
– 4 Meg (4mbps)  for  attendees of  a conference with desktop sharing
– 5 Meg (5mbps)  for  presenters of  a conference with desktop sharing

This same page includes also a very useful set of trouble shooting tips & tricks. Check it out now here:

http://www.3dxplorer.com/system_requirements.html

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Two 3DXplorer solutions  have recently been added to the site  (see here):

3DXplorer Meet-in-3D (3DX/Mi3D) : NEW 3D Virtual Office featured added to 3D Expert Lounge on website allowing each expert to have their own virtual space for private business meetings, sales presentations, etc.

3DXplorer Virtual Events Platform: Expert Virtual Events feature added allowing Expert Members to host virtual events in our 3D Conference Hall. Events are designed to attract new clients and providing valuable information to visitors at the same time.

The site is owned and operated by Phase 2 Solutions, whose President, Jason Verdelli states:

“Engaging website visitors on a consistent basis can be a difficult task. Just earlier this year I was looking for a program that would engage my website visitor at http://www.centralpaexperts.com to interact virtually the same way we do in “real life”. Most of the solutions out on the web that I was searching for were too over-priced and were not practical for a small to medium sized company. Then I found 3DXplorer. I was sold the minute I entered their 3D virtual conference room having actually talked, not typed, with staff members and be able to ask questions and collaborate in a way that simply is not out there on the web today. Visitors that attend events in my 3D space tend to buy more because they can interact closer to what I or someone on my staff is presenting. Overall, using their space has resulted in over $15,700 in revenue from new clients resulting from presentations recently. Clients have also mentioned that they prefer using the 3D space because there are no downloads and it is easy to use.”

Enter Jason’s Networking Hall, or attend one of their conferences here.

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* More Networking
* More Engagement
* Closer to Face-to-Face
.
See for yourself. Attend  a Live Full 3D presentation and see if it works for your next Virtual Event !

The best way to see what your attendees will feel is to try it by yourself and attend one of our own virtual conferences in full 3D. If you like it as an attendee, then your virtual event’s attendees will love it.

To participate to a 3DXplorer Virtual Event, register here.

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Rahul Dutta, Trimensions leader says: “…Some things are really well thought out. For one thing, visitors can sign in as ‘guests’ with only a name needed to identify them….”

He continues: “…One thing sets 3DXplorer apart from pretty much all the other virtual and Web3D platforms I’ve used- it allows native import of 3D models into a 3DXplorer scene in 3DS, OBJ and DAE formats”.

Read The full article here.

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Learn more about the project here:

Aptima Inc., a leader in Human Centered Engineering with offices in Washington DC, Boston and Ohio is an early Altadyn customer using 3DXplorer. Learn more about Aptima here.

1. CloudSlam C – Level Lounge: An exclusive virtual space reserved for V.I.P delegates that have been selected to attend this gathering.
2. CloudSlam Virtual Expo: – A communal virtual environment, profiling CloudSlam’10 key solutions partners; each with their own virtual booth

The recorded video below shows how visitors discovered the virtual venues built in 3DXplorer, communicated with the exhibitors and netwroked with each other, in a unique immersive and engaging environment while easily accessible.

Enjoy the video!

We are pleased to host the virtual streaming of the  Federal Consortium for Virtual World (FCVW) annual event, at the National Defense University in Washington D.C., on May 13th and May 14th , 2010.

The FCVW, also a 3DXplorer client, is using both the Meet-in-3D application (note the navigation bar on the home page), and the Online Meeting application for webinars.

Sign up for live webinars from Altadyn CEO Darius Lahoutifard featuring new integrated in-world voice technology.

Click here for the 3DXplorer streaming agenda.

3DXplorer is the most accessible platform hosting the event and the only one which does not require neither installation nor registration. Hundreds of visitors are expected to attend FCVW 2010 conference virtually on 3DXplorer. Want to be one of those? Want to see how the new VOIP works in 3DXplorer?  Sign up now.

The VOIP enabled version is available to all users as of this week, under “Test”. To use it, login to your account, then open your 3D space settings page, under tab “Version” you usually see “LastRelease”. Change it to “Test”. As soon as you do this change, any visitor entering this space will be using the test release, which has Voice enabled.

When a new user walks into your voice-enabled space, he/she will hear whatever is going on in the room, but he/she is not heard, until the “Voice” button is activated. This button appears on the upper left corner of the screen.

A voice icon appears over the head of the avatar who talks, so that everyone can notice who’s talking.

Moderators can cut voice by pressing the  “Mute Audience” button at any time.

Beside the cutting edge VOIP feature, new functionalities have been released:

–          2 weeks free trial for all 3DXplorer products,

–          New meeting planner with invitation text supporting 8 different languages for 3DX/Online Meeting and 3DX/Conferencing

–          Customized invitation templates for 3DX/Online Meeting and 3DX/Conferencing

–          Drastically enhanced features for software developers using 3DX/API

Enjoy the new features, and give feedback to us. Your opinion matters!

High Performance, Reliable, Flexible, Inexpensive, Accessible, Highly Scalable and Easy-to-set-up, … all the criteria are gathered for using AMAZON EC2’s web services for virtual events. Very large Virtual Trade-shows can now be scaled up at a fraction of the cost of alternative solutions, while offering full immersion and interactivity, thanks to the replication of 3DXplorer spaces over the cloud.

Mid-size publishers, conference organizers and trade-show professionals of any size can now develop high-end 3D immersive virtual events solutions, without spending for costly infrastructures. They can use the high-end platform tailored exactly to their needs, with reliable and performing servers in the right geography (East Coast US, West Coast US, Europe, Asia), for just a few days (duration of the event).

AMAZON EC2 servers were used recently during CloudSlam’10, a global conference on Cloud Computing held on 3DXplorer in March 2010, with thousands of participants from around the globe. Commenting on the conference success, CloudSlam’10 Chairman – Khazret Sapenov said “Altadyn’s platform helped our conference to introduce new products this year, 3D virtual exhibition and networking lounge, adding more business value for both exhibitors and attendees.”

1) There are now three different chat possibilities:

• Global chat visible to all attendees
• One to one private chat
• Group chats, private, visible to a selected number of users, but not to all

2)  Direct interaction with other participants or through a names list:

• Attendees can see the list of other participants, and start communicating / interacting with them, either by clicking on their avatars, or through the list.
• Moderators can also interact with participants either graphically or through the list.

3) Improved user interface:

• New buttons have been added to enable the above features. They are all regrouped in the upper left corner of the screen.
• The avatar’s control pop-up (the former chat) has been removed. The chat window can be started by pressing on the chat button and it will pop up automatically on other attendees window.
• Avatars’ animations, when possible (ie: high res avatars) are now accessible under “My Avatar” button.

4) Video broadcast in sync:

• When linking a video to a screen, It’s now possible to either have it “broadcast in-sync” so that  start /stop of the video , by a moderator or a VIP, will happen simultaneously for all users, or keep the former asynchronous mode, having users watch their video “on demand”.

This release is up and running as of today, March 13th , 2010.

And remember, no installation, no update, no download required…Enjoy it.

CloudSlam’10, a virtual conference produced by Cloudcor Inc  March 23 – March 25 2010 developed to promote collaborative analysis of the latest trends and challenges in the world of cloud computing; today announced a “Bespoke” Collaborator Agreement with Altadyn for the CloudSlam’10 initiative.

Cloud Slam ’10   provides industry leaders and professionals insights into leading edge research, analysis and commentary, as well as providing a platform to network with leading experts in the Cloud Computing & IT industry. The CloudSlam’10   event agenda will be published this week and can be viewed online by visiting  www.CloudSlam10.com

Altadyn will provide CloudSlam’10 delegates, with 2 state of the art 3-D walk through environments modeled on;

1. CloudSlam C – Level Lounge: An exclusive virtual space reserved for V.I.P delegates that have been selected to attend this gathering.
2. CloudSlam Virtual Expo: – A communal virtual environment, profiling CloudSlam’10 key solutions partners; each with their own virtual booth

The CloudSlam’10 “Virtual Expo” will be open and available to everyone that is part of the CloudSlam network to enter & will be open 24 hours a day, with free access during selected times over the 3 day proceedings.

Delegates entering the CloudSlam’10 Virtual Expo, will be able to virtually meet – in real-time and interact with, business leaders from organization’s helping to shape the Cloud Computing industry. In this capacity, CloudSlam’10 will enable event delegates and key collaborators, the opportunity to network and collaborate in a way that has not been seen before.

To learn more about CloudSlam and Attend: www.CloudSlam10.com

To read the full Press Release, click here.

•    All 3DX Apps: New attendees/visitors login process, in a “wizard” mode , where even guest avatars have some choices of looks at entrance, without having to use the “avatar configurator” for a more customized avatar. As a result, from now on, when embedding a 3DXplorer space inside a web page, a better approach is to use iframes instead of the applet code insertion. Space owners who have inserted the applet inside their HTML pages, continue to work fine with the old user interface.

•   3DX/Conferencing: Passcodes list: Event administrator can now upload a csv file with the list of the attendees and individual passcodes. This feature is particularly helpful for paid events, as each passcode is individual and can’t be used by more than one active avatar.

•    3DX/Conferencing: “Silent mode” now applies to laser pointer too, as they’ll shut down when this mode is active.

•    3DX/Conferencing: Event administrators can now disable Desktop Sharing feature for attendees in 3DX/Conferencing

•    3DX/API: External login supported. Enables avatar login through 3rd party databases.

•    3DX/Studio: objects scripting improved for automatic setup of the space and dynamic content inside the 3D spaces.

•    3DX/Studio: 3D scene settings page improved: contextual help (tooltips), re-organized fields,…

•    3DX/Studio Bugs fixed: Object editor, handlers table, procedure table in the studio, …

The new release is active since last week-end. All users with “Last release” (which is the default option on all spaces), are automatically going to use it with no action required.

Enjoy it.

The second part of the video shows a high tech trade show with an exhibition hall and some 25 booths which can be visited from outside, when walking in the alleys. They can be visited each by walking inside where the visitor can chat with the company’s representatives, handle products, watch videos, open PDF documents, etc…

Enjoy it:

During this session, 3DXplorer was recognized as the only “3D in a Browser” which is download-free and appeared as the closest platform to the “holy grail” dream of easily accessible while a fully 3D immersive and interactive platform.

A recorded video can be visualized here.

We are offering the easiest way to participate, with no download, no installation, not even any additional registration required for the 3DXplorer platform. Despite all the simplicity, you can still walk in with your avatar, feel the space and the event, meet and network with other participants through chat and take away the best  of networking and conferencing.

Just be there on time, number of seats is limited.

Here’s the precious link to use and to keep

http://www.3dxplorer.com/static-v3/virtual_summit.php

Altadn’s CEO, Darius Lahoutifard is a speaker during the event. He’ll be speaking during the session “3D in a browser” on Feb 23 at 4:15pm. See more details here.

We are also sponsoring the event, and will have our booth at the conference, presenting 3DXplorer. Come visit us there.

“We’re planning to build and test ultra high-speed broadband networks in a small number of trial locations across the United States. We’ll deliver Internet speeds more than 100 times faster than what most Americans have access to today with 1 gigabit per second, fiber-to-the-home connections. We plan to offer service at a competitive price to at least 50,000 and potentially up to 500,000 people.”

But what are the key drivers for this initiative?

According to the same blog article, they expect 3D Live Collaboration becoming as mainstream feature as the video:

“… collaborating with classmates around the world while watching live 3-D video of a university lecture…”

Also read:

“Imagine sitting in a rural health clinic, streaming three-dimensional medical imaging over the web and discussing a unique condition with a specialist in New York. Or downloading a high-definition, full-length feature film in less than five minutes.”

We at Altadyn, developers of 3DXplorer, the first and the only Browser-based plug-in-less 3D Live Collaboration platform for events, conferences, trades shows, meetings, virtual classrooms, are obviously looking forward to seeing faster networks for improved immersive experiences.

We love this type of initiatives.

Today, some of us got together in the lobby and took a picture, that I am glad sharing with you.

On behalf of the team, I would like to wish excellent holidays to all of our friends, users and partners.

Sincerely

-Darius Lahoutifard / CEO

Generation O Marketing is a global full service marketing group with offices in the U.S. and EMEA. The company is comprised of demand generation experts, marketing and sales professionals with the keen ability to leverage the new era of marketing. Service offerings include demand generation infrastructure development, evaluation and overhaul service, consulting, marketing automation, lead nurturing, scoring, lead and database management, and lead generation. For more information about GenerationO and its services including virtual collaboration services, visit www.generationOmarketing.com

This alliance between 3DXplorer and all 3D virtual collaboration related services offered by Generation-O-Marketing, brings a full accessible and cost effective solution to the market.

This partnership will provide customers with a fully managed yet cost effective 3D virtual solution. Customers will have the choice to use the platform alone as well as to select related services when they need it. “GenerationO has always been forward thinking. We are constantly looking for the latest and most accessible tools in marketing and continuously analyzing the market and related information. GenerationO concluded that attendance declining at physical events and virtual events have become the prevailing demand and lead generation techniques. In addition we found that the new generation of executives are not the newspaper reading crowd. This new generation wants to “show themselves” and “interact”. Consequently we looked for a 3D interactive and immersive platform that we could add value to and provide quality at a competitive price.” Said Mercedes Oz, Generation O Marketing’s Chief Marketing Generator. “3DXplorer was an obvious choice since it is the only platform on the market that provides a cloud-based collaboration and quality at a reasonable price.” continued Oz. This partnership will also allow GenerationO to present our offerings to other departments since virtual 3D collaboration is versatile and all departments can benefit from using it. Whether that is HR for employee on boarding, kick off meetings for sales, or product demos for engineering.”- added Oz.

More information on the new service can be obtained here:
http://www.generationomarketing.com/VirtualCollaboration.html

To discover this demo space live, try it here.

Altadyn’s booth at I/ITSEC 2009, Orlando, FL

To claim this spot, you need to prove your passion for interactive simulated environments.

To know more:

http://www.pixelmatterinteractive.com/opps/EdInnovation.html

Best of luck to all the prospective candidates.

For those of you who need a free invitation to I/ITSEC ( Interservice/Industry Training, Simulation and Education Conference) which will be held in Orlando, Florida from November 30 to December 3, 2009, please contact us either by sending an e-mail to Jeff Hewitt , JH(at)3DXplorer(dot)com or  through the form available on the 3DXplorer website:

http://www.3dxplorer.com/static-v3/contact.html

Altadyn

I/ITSEC, the world’s largest modeling and simulation event, promotes cooperation among the armed services, industry, academia and various government agencies in pursuit of improved training and education programs. It has existed in various forms since 1966. This year, the conference features over 18,000 registrants, with about half of the registrants coming from government.

Altadyn will showcase the latest product releases including:

• 3DXplorer Conferencing: allows large capacities with over 100 avatars in a 3D space.
• 3DXplorer Enterprise: can be installed behind a firewall for full security and scalability.
• 3DX/Online Meeting : enable the creation of easily accessible virtual 3D meeting rooms, classrooms, working spaces.
• 3DX/Meet-in-3D: a 3D lobby right on your home page, helps transforming your anonymous visitors into qualifiable prospects

Interactive training is becoming increasingly important as an educational tool. Simulations give participants the opportunity to experience the consequences of decisions they might be called on to make in real world situations. Interactive training simulations develop interest, increase participant attention span, and because they are experiential, leave a lasting impression. Simulations promote active participation, giving the trainees a sense of control over both the content and pace of what they are learning.

3DXplorer’s browser-based download-free solution facilitates the accessibility of interactive training in government applications. Eliminating the need to download client software when deploying 3D virtual conferences, training, and simulations makes 3DXplorer ideal for use in strict IT environments where security is a prime consideration.

Cubic Defense Applications and Aptima, Inc. are among 3DXplorer customers that will be exhibiting at I/ITSEC.

We’ll be at booth 2821. If you’re attending the conference, please stop by and say hello.

The User Guide is divided into three parts:

1. Avatar Guide: This section covers creating and customizing an avatar.
2. Meeting Attendee & Visitor Guide: This section covers basic navigation and chat.
3. Presenter Guide: This section includes presentation techniques such as sharing the desktop with attendees and delivering power-point presentations or demonstrations.

The User Guide also contains troubleshooting tips. This handy resource ensures that both presenters and attendees will participate in successful and productive virtual meetings.

Indiana based FBO Academy, the training institute for the aviation service industry is using 3DXplorer’s cutting-edge 3D technology to power its Virtual Online Aviation Expo. The expo is a permanent virtual hall dedicated to Fixed Base Operator (FBO) professionals in the aviation industry.

The Online Aviation Expo utilizes 3DXplorer to create a virtual 3D space that allows vendors and visitors to interact with each another. Participants can view products and displays from a variety of vendors from the comfort of their home or office computers using standard web browsers—without the use of any plug-ins.

Attendees can move through the virtual expo space using 3D avatars that can communicate with each other with live text chat or with audio via Skype.

Vendors are able to reach thousands of potential customers and clients, eliminating the cost usually associated with trade shows, such as travel, food, and lodging.

Since the Online Aviation Expo is open 24 hours a day, 365 days a year, it isn’t limited by time constraints. Attendees can visit anytime—at their leisure.

Visitors and those interested in exhibiting can view the site while the virtual expo space is being created.

Altadyn's new Irvine location.

In order to better support our rapid growth and commitment to our customers, Altadyn has moved its U.S. corporate office to a new facility. The move comes on the heels of the September 2009 release of 3DXplorer v5.

3DXplorer is the first and only browser-based 3D web platform that works without requiring a plug-in. Our immersive, interactive, cloud-based technology enables users to experience collaborative virtual spaces using customizable avatars for a myriad of applications, including 3D online meetings, training, and education.

Since Altadyn’s inception in 2002, we have focused our efforts on bringing real-time 3D technology to the web. The new office location will enable us to continue development of our internationally acclaimed, award-winning 3D web technology.

Our new office is located at:

ALTADYN
2192 Dupont Drive
Suite 108
Irvine, CA 92612

For the first time, an immersive and interactive web3D platform is offered on a cloud-based architecture. 3DXplorer being browser-based with no download required, enables users to collaborate live, leaning on their set of distributed resources. Primary resources which can each be on a different server on the cloud are:

–          The application: 3DXplorer

–          Static data including the 3D space, and all related 2D/3D content

–          Dynamic synchronized data including the multi-user session service, the streamed data server for presentations, remote access, the chat server.

Cloud-based architectures reduce cost of maintenance, increase scalability, flexibility and reliability. Security is also improved as customers benefit from an easy to maintain SaaS application, while hosting sensitive data internally and inaccessible from outside the firewall. Another benefit of this architecture is increased performance due to the user-defined relay servers. Customers around the world, can now easily setup their own local intranet or web servers relaying their meetings live, faster than global servers. Possible combinations are endless using 3DXplorer cloud-based architecture.

3DXplorer V5 also offers Altadyn’s partners the capacity of building their own branded SaaS applications, using the same platform as Altadyn, and offering value added services to their customers. Initial users of this white label SaaS are Altadyn’s content provider partners and 3D builders.

V5 avatars can now be represented in three levels of resolution: low poly (or low-resolution) avatars, adapted for large conferences, or high poly (or high resolution) avatars adapted for smaller groups.

3DXplorer V5’s new packaging enables customers to start with the 3DX/Platform, free of charge, then upgrade to applications such as 3DX/Online Meeting, 3DX/Meet in 3D or 3DX/Conferencing, depending on their needs.

Finally, 3DXplorer V5 integrates the recently announced new product 3DX/Conferencing under the same user account and the same interface, together with existing products 3DX/Online Meeting and 3DX/Meet-in-3D.

Full release notes of the V5 (details of new features) are available here:

http://www.3dxplorer.com/static-v3/pdf/V5-release-notes-2009_08_Rev2.pdf

Enjoy V5 which is live and in “Last Release” status since last week-end!

Tailored for large virtual 3D conferences, easily accessible to attendees with no download, the new product has been tested successfully with 100 avatars on mainstream infrastructure, with standard office computers. 3DX/Conferencing can be used even far beyond this number, with infrastructures offering higher bandwidth and stronger computers.

Important cost reductions and time savings are now possible when corporations organize meetings and conferences with large numbers of attendees such as New Product Launch Meetings, Seminars, Sales Kick-off meetings, HR On-Boarding, Corporate Trainings, Social Events and more. 3DXplore platform is the most accessible 3D web platform, as it runs on all computers including Macs, with any browser, and unlike other solutions, it does not require any software download, nor any open port, thus enabling participation from attendees behind firewalls and from restricted IT environments.

3DX/Conferencing features include:

• Large Numbers Of Avatars Using Only Standard Office PCs & Bandwidth:
  – Multi-user session with instant messaging and/or integrated VOIP
  – laser pointers to engage & direct attendees
  – seated pose to watch presentations
• Multiple avatar categories:
  –  high resolution VIP avatars, typically used for presenters;
  –  low resolution Guest avatars, typically used for guests attending large conferences
• Manage Your Virtual Conferences Easily:
  – includes set-up tool with preset time-zones, password options, invitation creator, etc.
  – includes meeting tracker that logs meetings and meeting attendees
• Desktop & Application Sharing:
  – share an entire desktop at any resolution, and show slides, an Excel sheet or a web page to the audience, or display any application within 3D spaces
• Bring Your Products & 3D Objects Into The Room:
  -use for product launch, product demos, equipment training, sales kick-off,  etc.
• Multi-Presenter Functionality:
  – share & display multiple screens & applications simultaneously
• Enlarged Presentation View:
  – select any shared screen to view presentations in an enlarged pop-up window
• Create Fully Customized 3D Spaces:
  – replicate training facilities, corporate headquarters, classrooms, conference rooms, etc

To read more about 3DX/Conferencing:

http://www.3dxplorer.com/static-v3/3DX_conferencing.html

Darius Lahoutifard

TCVN, Tech Coast Venture Network, is one of Southern California’s premier technology business networks. Through a wide variety of forums and other networking events, TCVN brings together entrepreneurs and resources from every facet of the technology and startup landscape.

Read more about TCVN here: http://tcvn.org/

Demanding customers with specific requirements in terms of performance of the servers, security of their data, or even due to specific geographic distribution of their users, now have the choice of using their own network infrastructure and use 3DXplorer as a traditional software, installed on their own servers and managed by their own IT team, instead of using it in the standard SaaS mode (Software as a Service).

Tiered product levels allow for efficient customer adoption and implementation. Customers can start with immediately available SaaS plans, and progress smoothly from testing a proof-of concept to integrating a matured solution by leveraging our dual SaaS/Enterprise model (diagram 1).   The Enterprise Edition server software itself is easy to install, requires minimal bandwidth to deliver and only a low-grade computer for end-users to access (no software or plug-ins needed to install on end-user computers). In fact, the deployment is extremely simple as there is no client software to install.  The Enterprise Edition puts full control of development and customization in customers hands.

Practical 3D Applications
•    Enterprise Social Networking – provide an immersive networking and socializing tool that
keeps private communications behind your firewalls
•    Enterprise Conferencing in 3D – import 3D products into your virtual rooms for
collaborative product development meetings, or display confidential strategic presentations
in an immersive 3D environment without sending your data into any public internet network
•    Enterprise Training & Simulations in 3D – develop interactive synchronous training
environments and deploy training sessions to everyone within your organization securely
•    Enterprise eLearning – add powerful interactive 3D to your Learning Management
System and keep all courses and information confidential
•    Enterprise 3D Events – host unlimited number of Webinars and virtual events;

You are welcome to read more about 3DX/Enterprise here:

http://www.3dxplorer.com/static-v3/pdf/3DX_Enterprise.pdf

3DXplorer V5 is a major release bringing unique, first-of-its-kind innovative features to the emerging web3D market. A stronger and more reliable cloud-based network architecture, more choices and categories of avatars, over a 100 avatars simultaneously in a single room, Enterprise edition enabling intranet installations , behind the firewall, with unlimited number of rooms, white label services for sales & marketing partners and more possibilities of customizations are among the new features.

Switching from the existing version (4.4) to V5, we’ll start by a period of general availability of the new release, in parallel with the existing release. So as of tomorrow, you ‘ll be able to use the new release and the new website, if you like.

To try the new website and the new user interface to the products go to this link.

To try the new 3DXplorer applet for your Online Meetings or Meet-in3D projects,  we recommend you enter into your account, create new projects, either by copying existing live projects or by creating brand new projects, then open the project’s setting page, and under “version” change the version from “Last Release” to “test”. Upward compatibility is provided, as usual, but not downward. So to upgrade your live projects to the new release, we recommend you either do it, without modifying and saving the environment in the Studio (just change the release to test), or you wait until V5 changes status from “Test” to “Last Release”. Of course you can copy any live space and try all modifications in the copied space.

We’d love to read from you with your feedbacks on all these new features. Let us know!

Enigma originally formed in Germany and released their first album in 1990.  They have since relocated to Ibiza, Spain and have released a total of seven albums.  Many of Enigma’s songs have been featured in popular television shows and movies.  Their latest album, “Seven Lives, Many Faces” was released in September of 2008 and produced nearly a half million Online listens in just two days.

The French fan Website, French Enigma Forum, has been live for two years and was created by Benjamin Fleurent (popularly known as, “Buzz”).  Buzz decided that 3DXplorer would be the right match for his latest Online project… the creation of an immersive Online 3D space where fans could gather, interact and celebrate the site’s second anniversary.  3DXplorer is browser-based, easy to develop and does not require users to install plug-ins or client downloads.  Buzz was able to create their Online 3D social space in less than a few hours, like most 3DXplorer users.

This is exciting news for Enigma and the French Enigma Forum as they now have an engaging and personal environment for their Online fan community to meet and socialize.  The news is also exciting for 3DXplorer, as exposure to this particular international community moves the technology further forward.

When you visit the French Enigma Forum 3D social space take note of the very special real-time effects and capabilities :

• Video links that launch Enigma clips (click the wall-mounted flat screen)
• Highly reflective textures (especially noticeable on the stools in the bar/lounge area)
• The background musical ambiance

All of this is available for free.  Any Webmaster can create their own lobby or space for Online gatherings and events.  The spaces can be customized to suit any type of business, association or group.

Enjoy it!

1. For 3D spaces which are interconnected with hyper links, when a user teleports from one space to another, a pop-up message provides with the “name” of the destination space and asks for confirmation. This “name” is the same name the owner of the space has given to the project (ie: project name). Previously instead of the name, the user was seeing the encrypted URL, which was not very explicit in most cases.
2. The desktop sharing user interface (screen buttons) have been improved.
3. In the studio, there is no more pop up message when saving a space.
4. Plus some additional  bug fixing and minor improvements.

Example: Enter the new AVW Headquarters, walk into the middle of the space, note the door on your right which leads you to the Auditorium, click on the door to enter the Auditorium and note the pop up message.

This new release has become the “Last Relaese”, meaning that, as usual, all your projects with last-release are using this new release with no action required from the owner nor from the user.

Enjoy it!

• Separated Keyboard/Mouse Control —  Users can now navigate and move throughout 3DXPlorer spaces using either the keyboard or mouse independent of each other.  This makes navigation much easier for everyone, but especially new users and those already familiar with standard PC gaming navigation.
• Help Button Removed From Action Menu —  A “Help” button is located in the upper left corner of all 3DXplorer spaces (and, in all modes), making access easiest.
• Save Scene Pop-Up —  From “Edit” mode, when saving a scene, a pop-up appears to confirm that the scene has been saved (a reminder to publish the scene is also provided).
• 3DS Max 2009’s COLLADA Compatibility —  3DXPlorer is now compatible with all versions of COLLADA, including 3DS Max 2009, which introduced some major changes in the file structure.

And, to use the new release just download… wait, what?  download… noooooo!  To use the new release you don’t need to download or do anything differently… just click on any 3DXPlorer space and the newest version is loaded automatically… remember its the first “plug-in-less” browser-based immersive and interactive 3D Online platform!

The following is a list of the minimum bandwidth requirements for the Online Meeting application:

• When Loading The Scene —  1000 kbps for reasonably fast loading (this bandwidth is only required once during each session, and that is when avatars are entering the scene at load-time—based on 10 avatars)
• Once Scene Has Loaded —  150 kbps (based on 10 avatars walking around and chatting within the scene)
• When Sharing A Desktop, At Peak (Partial-Screen Sharing Mode) —  160 kbps to RECEIVE; add 360 kbps to SEND or EMIT (based on typical 640×480 partial screen sharing resolution)
• When Sharing A Desktop, At Peak (Full-Screen Sharing Mode) —  800 kbps to RECEIVE; add 1800 kbps to SEND or EMIT (based on typical 1600×1000 full screen sharing resolution)

Enjoy sharing your desktop in your favorite 3DXplorer room!

Ellison stated, “I think you’ll see lots and lots of Java devices, some coming from our friends at Google, but I don’t see why some of the devices shouldn’t come from Sun-Oracle,” he said. “There will be computers fundamentally based on Java and JavaFX, devices based on Java and JavaFX, not only from Google but also from Sun.”  Ellison even mentioned he wants to use Sun’s JavaFX Web development tools to beef up OpenOffice, a set of programs developed to rival Microsoft’s Office franchise.

3DXplorer, being Java-based and currently the only immersive and interactive 3D Online development platform which is browser-based and plug-in-less, will have significantly more development applications and an even broader market reach.  As a true enterprise software company, Oracle and its acquisition, is a giant step forward for Java.  3DXplorer developers and users will be in an ideal position to benefit greatly from this push for broader Java use!

Initially Trimensions had restricted its virtual development and research to Second Life.  Since early 2008 however, it has shifted emphasis to browser-based virtual environments, choosing 3DXplorer as its preferred development platform.  Using 3DXplorer, Trimensions has created several virtual environment training and education solutions and is achieving breakthrough results on a regular basis.

GoWeb3D Experiences is a specific Trimensions innovation powered by the 3DXplorer platform and won the “Most Innovative Education Product or Service” award by the Software & Information Industry Association (SIIA) in December of 2008.

Note: NASSCOM® is the premier trade body and the chamber of commerce of the IT-BPO industries in India.  NASSCOM’s membership base constitutes over 95% of the industry revenues in India and employs over 2.24 million professionals.

C3 OfficePodz is composed of a group of customizable 3D spaces that offer the most common activities and features that corporate users have requested for using virtual worlds online. The  initial offer includes a basic showroom/ conference room/ seminar modular space, a more specialized video theater modular space, and an auditorium/stadium outside space for larger group meetings and seminars, all designed and hosted with 3DXplorer.

“Many Virtual Spaces or Worlds online are either very expensive projects in closed platform low corporate usage worlds, or visually designed as “2D cartoon-like games” and are not appropriate for corporate commercial usage in a real business environment.” stated Cube3‘s Larry Rosenthal. “The C3 OfficePodz are designed specifically in a clean professional modern style that once customized with graphics and client specific content, can provide the easiest to access, greatest reach solution, to virtual worlds for business website’s online.”

To read Cube3 full press release, click here.

This group, open to all registered 3DXplorer users, is a forum for sharing your experiences with 3DXplorer, asking technical questions from more experienced users, and receiving news and information from Altadyn and 3DXplorer partners.

Moreover, by signing up for this users’ group you can stay informed of meetings and events.

Join us today and share your experience: http://www.linkedin.com/groups?gid=1870426

We hope you will get involved!

The one day event, a first of its kind, was held at the Hyatt Regency Irvine, and showcased 75 of the regions most innovative companies as we displayed our hottest products and technologies. It attracted several hundreds of visitors.

3DXplorer presentations, were particularly popular. 3DXplorer/Online Meeting was often considered by visitors as a more interactive and more engaging web conferencing solution, compared to traditional tools, thanks to immersion, 3D and interactions.

Meet-in-3D was also noticed by many visitors, who see it as an excellent tool to increase sales leads from their website, by adding live interaction and transforming the anonymous visitors to pre-qualified leads.

Looking forward to continued interaction online with our visitors.

Users’ Manual: It provides task oriented functional help to users in order to execute tasks within 3DXplroer Studio, such as : “How to create an Online Meeting space.” Or “How to animate objects”. Some of these helps were available until now through

blog articles; several new tasks have been added and the whole list is now available under help.

Reference Manual: It provides help for each specifi feature and menu button to help users understand their use case.

Both sections include screen captures and examples helping with an even faster learning curve for 3DXplorer Studio.

To open these HTML manuals, enter your online 3DXplorer account and find the HELP in the menu.

We welcome your feedback on this new set of manuals.

What is O3D ?
It’s an open source API which enables creating 3D web applications using JavaScript, which works with a plug-in the user has to install on top of the browser.
Similar to Canvas 3D JS Library from Mozilla, and many other plug-in-requiring web 3D platforms (Active-X based or client based), O3D is shader-oriented, which means that experimented 3D developers will be able to achieve advanced rendering effects.

Is this a new web 3D platform ? No it’s not a platform at the same level as 3DXplorer, as it’s not offering the full 3D engine, although offering an excellent rendering engine. Moreover, there are no avatars, no multi-user session, nor chat or even a synchronous networking environment.

Which companies or technologies is this announcement aiming at:
Not only Adobe’s Flash and Microsoft’s Silverlight are concerned by this initiative, but even upper layer development  platforms requiring plug-ins are clearly aimed at, including all 3D web platforms with client installations and active-X, especially those targeting developers (Unity, 3Dvia,…)

What are other pros and cons of O3D:
Pros:
•    A great rendering engine.
•    Another initiative supporting the trend towards browser-based web3D
Cons:
•    Still requires a plug-in to be installed for the player. The market will most likely refuse it unless for very motivated users (gamers?)
•    Can’t hide the Javascript code. Most programmers  would like to protect their programs Javascript and publish their code for free.

Google’s intention is a belief that web3D is going to be browser-based, open and thin. Google actually recognizes that it would be even great without a plug-in, hoping that the plug-in will be adopted (3DXplorer is already plug-in-less). In all cases, O3D is only going to accelerate the emergence of the web 3D applications for all computers. Looking forward to seeing it in action.

The FCVW, also a 3DXplorer client, is using both the Meet-in-3D application (note the navigation bar on the home page), and the Online Meeting application for webinars.

On Wednesday April 22, two dedicated presentation sessions, each during one hour, were the occasion to present 3DXplorer platform, the authoring studio, the avatar configurator, as well as the flagship applications of Online Meeting and Meet-in-3D to the participants who were also able to watch the creation of a new space in minutes and to ask questions in regards with 3DXplorer unique features, with a lot of interest and enthusiasm.

On Thursday and Friday, participants could meet company’s CEO, Darius Lahoutifard, and discuss projects and ask questions. In the meantime several conferences and panel discussions were held in different halls at NDU and the main one was streamed live using 7 different virtual worlds platforms, simultaneously. 3DXplorer was the most accessible and the only one which was not requiring neither installation nor registration. Hundreds of visitors, could thus watch the conference program, live, without having to travel to D.C.

The event was a particularly well organized one, with many valuable presentations and show cases of use of virtual worlds within the US government & defense segment, positioning the FCVW as the leading group in this space.

If you use 3DXplorer for work, and have insight into the business value it has delivered to your organization, you have an opportunity to express yourself!

The core question to answer is, “What is the business value of using immersive technologies for work?”

This study has two research components: an anonymous online survey and in-depth interviews conducted via phone or in-world. ThinkBalm representatives will be talking to enterprise Immersive Internet advocates, implementers, and explorers.

This groundbreaking research study is expected to be published in mid-May 2009. The report will be freely available on www.3DXplorer.com

Learn more about the survey here:
http://thinkbalm.com/2009/04/03/let-the-data-collection-begin/

Take the survey, and express yourself here:
http://www.surveymonkey.com/s.aspx?sm=8wgcdyr9SH_2fDTEGSQF8SLg_3d_3d

Is this a new web 3D platform ? No it’s not a platform comparable to 3DXplorer , OpenSim or other platforms, as it’s missing many components of a platform; It’s missing the 3D engine to start with.

What is this initiative promoting ? Before promoting anything, with this initiative, Khronos, Mozilla and to some extent Google, have joined those who believe that 3D on the web will be within a browser, and without any download. To do so, they are promoting several technologies: 1) OpenGL as a graphics library for accelerating animations and rendering on any computer. 2) Javascript, as an open, light, portable, web language for programming. 3) Mozilla’s browser (Firefox) and other products.

What is it exactly ? The proposed spec is a light wrapper on top of OpenGL ES 2.0, with some changes to support some JavaScript pleasantries.

What problem does it solves? It will enable web developers, mainly game developers, to develop browser-based games which will use hardware accelerator boards.

Which companies or technologies is this announcement aiming at ? Microsoft and Adobe are the clear targets. (explains why Google endorsed it). Without a seamless 3D accelerator with Open GL, game developers may be attracted by either DirectX and other Microsoft environments, or the proprietary flash language from Adobe, both becoming less interesting than the universal Javascript and the powerful Open GL

Conclusion: This vision is very similar and close to our vision at Altadyn, the one which is leading 3DXplorer’s road map. As you know, already since early 2008, we have actually delivered a web3D platform which is using OpenGL, programmable in Javascript, and executable within a browser (Mozilla’s browser, but also other competitive browser, actually any browser). So we have a kind of “déjà vu” impression, but still delighted to see that this trend is strengthened and to notice that more organizations are working on more adoptions of browser-based, plug-in-less, web3D platforms.

The virtual arena has links to the web sites of the candidates. Clicking on a red ball over a blue ballot box marked “vote here” opens a new window where voters can cast their vote for their preferred candidate. A news item on the National TV Channel1 “Mabat news program” covered a children’s activity in the virtual arena at an elementary school in the centre of the country.
The 3D virtual arena was built based on the 3DXplorer platform by MetaverSense Ltd and GoWeb3D Network, as a part of their strategic cooperation agreement for promoting virtual worlds and Web3D experiences.

See more photos here: http://www.flickr.com/photos/vrider/sets/72157612706982780/

We are delighted to announce that the Federal Consortium for Virtual Worlds (FCVW), a group sponsored by the National Defense University (NDU)‘s Information Resources Management College (IRMC) who subscribed to 3DXplorer services during Q4/2008, went live with 3DXplorer Meet-in-3D application last Friday. To enter the FCVW’s virtual lobby click here.

The Consortium has also set up a conference room for organizing webinars, using 3DXplorer Online Meeting application.  Participation to conferences is on invitation.
The FCVW’s membership includes government staff (federal, state & local, and international), various 3D vendors and academics interested in the development and use of Virtual Worlds in government.
By using 3DXplorer’s Browser-based plug-in-less technology, FCVW contributes to an increased usage of Virtual Worlds and 3D spaces by the Federal government, thanks to higher accessibility and easier deployment.

To read more about FCVW’s experience with 3DXplorer, go to FCVW’s home page, or here.

1) For 3DXplorer platform (affecting all applications):

• Total load time reduced by half or one third in most situations
• Impression of loading time divided by 4 or 5 thanks to progressive loading technique (visualize the space being built while you wait)
• Customizable loading page for all paid customers
• Your avatar login information is saved for a faster login
• Interconnected 3D spaces, no more require login. This is helpful when you are already logged into a space and click a door to enter another 3DXplorer space.

2) Online Meeting Application

• New “Planning” button enables Online Meeting users to manage each room individually. Users can set up a new meeting, define date, start/end hours, setup the time zone, include voice system information used for the meeting, define a moderator, and a password.

• The result is a URL which will only be valid for the meeting time. This URL is different than the room’s general URL which maybe or not password protected and enables permanent access to the room, if used. Content of a typical invitation e-mail is prepared: the user just needs to copy/paste it into an email and send it out.
• Planned meetings: They can be viewed and modified as necessary.
• Meetings history: Meetings history is recorded in the account including the date/time and the list of the avatars who attended, together with the avatars

3) New features for Meet-in-3D Application

• New Analytics module enables MI3D administrator, analyze the traffic of their 3D web space through avatars . The reporting includes statistics on:

a) numbers of avatars daily,

b) which avatars came more often,

c) how long stayed,

d) how many times visited, and more.

• “Bell emails”: Any 3DXplorer space administrator can enter one or several bell emails for each space. Each time someone (a visitor avatar) enters that space, those e-mails recipients will receive a bell ringing e-mail saying: “ding-dong…someone entered”.

And of course, to use the new release 4.04 you have to download….what ? you said download? Nooooooo!
To use the new release you don’t need to do anything….just click on any world and use it….remember “plug-in-less”? Browser-based? no client software?…. Enjoy it!

Enjoy animated objects!

Create a folder for a more convenient upload, in your online 3DX account: My account/Project Management/Manage Folders/ . This operation is not mandatory but helps you organize your project data better.

Open your scene with 3DX studio and Change any image with the first one slide1.jpg after uploading all the images into your online folder. EDIT MATERIAL / ….

As far as image files are called this way, the system recognizes they are slides and will animate them.

Let us know if you need support for this feature by droping an e-mail at technical-support[AT]3DXplorer[DOT]com

To  learn more about GoWeb3D Experiences, click here: www.goweb3D.com

To read the full press release on the awards, click here.

We are committed and driven to make sure that the projects undertaken with our customers, prospects, partners and suppliers, will be handled in the best way during the new year.

Happy New Year to all of you!

The 2 rooms office has been built based on existing photos and provided floor plan, and the 3D space was up and running  within a few days.

This Meet in 3D approach is a first-of-its kind as the home page entrance is built in 3D, and in order to help visitors with the navigation, the left vertical frame is used for some instructions, information and links to the groups traditional 2D websites.

To learn more about Meet in 3D, visit the presentation page, or regsiter for one of the upcoming 3DXplorer webinars.

• New user interface for desktop sharing enables immediate launching of full desktop sharing and adds control buttons on the main window. This helps first time users. The 3D screen itself goes black to avoid confusions of sending your own 3D space to the room.
• No more limitation of to 1024×1024 screens. You can now share any size of screen.
• Enhanced global performance, with faster refreshing.
• Removed the grey screen for demo purpose. Now the demo version only has a text watermark.
• Bug corrections

This version also brings the following new features for the 3DXplorer platform:

As usual, to use the new release, you don’t need any action (as far as you have kept your project under “Last Release” status, which is the one by default on all accounts).

We welcome your feedback !

Please feedback.

An online meeting set up in minutes with a 3DXplorer template room

Online Meeting contains all the elements of a typical solution, like shared presentations, instant messaging, and live conversation through Skype, but adds a new dimension to the experience of remote conferencing.  Online Meeting places the event into an interactive 3DXplorer virtual space.  Hosts can choose a customized meeting venue that resemble real conference settings, or build their own room.  Each online participant is represented by an avatar, which the user can control within the 3D environment.

3DXplorer Online Meeting offers a great alternative for companies looking for a unique way to capture interest of participants and engage them on a deeper level. When users have more interactive options, the meeting is more entertaining, inclusive, and personal than the standard faire, which participants might approach more passively.  Users pay more attention to the proceedings and feel more present in the animated context.

The new Online Meeting module includes:

• Application sharing: Display your application on to any screen inside the 3D scene, visible by all meeting participants
• Full desktop sharing: Share your desktop up to a 1024 x 1024 resolution
• Multi-presenters meetings: no obligation to stop sharing and changing presenter
• Seated pose: Avatars can sit down and watch a presentation
• Pop-up Zoom: Enables watching a presentation out of the 3D context
• Laser pointer: Any avatar can point on any presentation or any object in the scene, using a laser beam pointer

Learn more and see how it works.

Web meeting software vendors can take advantage of this new technology , as these features can also be fully integrated into any existing online meeting or web conferencing solution through 3DXplorer’s API. 

3DXplorer users can subscribe to premium Online Meeting services starting at $41 monthly. All former free features of the 3DXplorer platform  — for development, authoring, and display for small or mid-size websites — are still available for free.

1) Online Meeting features include:
  a. Application sharing: Display your application on to any screen inside the 3D scene, visible by all 
  b. Full desktop sharing: Share your desktop up to a 1024 x 1024 resolution
  c. Multi-presenters meetings: no obligation to stop sharing and changing presenter 
  d. Seated pose: Avatars can sit down and watch a presentation
  e. Pop-up Zoom: Enables watching a presentation out of the 3D context 
  f.Laser pointer: any avatar can point on any presentation or any object in the scene, using a laser beam pointer

See the full overview of the new online meeting features.

2) Avatars:

  a. Visitors can now enter with a guest avatar, enabling them to avoid registration and customization of their avatars, if they don’t want to do so. 
  b. Entering in avatar mode is now the default mode, although it’s still possible to skip. 
  c. Faster avatars loading: 2 to 3 times faster compared to previous versions. 
  d. Avatars can now sit down.

3) New account management features include:
   a. Direct URL links making 3D spaces even more accessible
   b. Thumbnail pictures facilitate projects management
   c. 3D scene settings accessible from the account management space
   d. New 3D templates enable easy 3D worlds creation
   e. Redesigned user interface for account management dashboard

4) Autorun Slide show feature added: enables any picture , frame or screen in the 3D room to display a list of jpg files as slide show.

5) Auto-animated objects: rotating bots can be set up easily through pre-scripted feature

6) Avatars: Seated pose can be added to enabled animations

7) Pricing:
   a. New premium function pricing: Online Meeting features available from $41 monthly
   b. All previous free features still available for free

Let us know about your experience with this new version.

See you with your avatar online!

Hopefully the reality is not that dark, not only at Altadyn but also for most customers with whom we are dealing. The “Meet in 3D” concept introduced last month has successfully found echo in this tough period. Just during last week, we welcomed three new customers who purchased “Meet in 3D” bundles that we introduced last September during Virtual World Expo in Los Angeles. These customers are from very different fields including a prominent US governmental organization, a mid-size European software vendor and a US based real estate group of companies.

A Meet-in-3D scene

The common point among all is the desire to get in touch with their web visitors, organize spaces for talking and chatting and build their customized accessible world fast (browser-based/plug-in-less) , all at an affordable cost. This is all about 3DXplorer.

Watch our future communications for more on their creations.

Consequently, we decided to extend the time-limited promotional offers for an unlimited period.

Contact us for a custom quote at sales(at)3DXplorer(dot)com.

3DXplorer online meeting screenshot

 The new release includes several other exciting features and enhancements, that you will discover soon.

This allows one to provide a quick path to traditional web pages or other virtual worlds directly from within the 3D environment.

It’s very easy to do.  Just log in to your 3DXplorer account; if you don’t have one, don’t worry it is easy – and free – to create one here.

First, go to the Project Management page to launch the online studio and begin editing.  If you don’t have a project created, just go to the Project Creation page and create one.  Open your project by clicking on the green Edit icon as shown below (note that you can click the image to enlarge it).

3DXplorer Studio Project Management Page

One inside the world, choose an object that you want to hyperlink.  In this case we’ll use the picture on the wall showing a screenshot of the 3DXplorer web site.  Right click on the picture and then select Edit Material from the pop-up menu.

3DXplorer Studio Edit Menu

Next the properties dialog box will appear.  In the field labeled “Linked URL:” just enter the URL of the web page to which you wish to link.  Note you can also set the target.  To open the link in a new window, just leave the default setting “_blank”.

3DXplorer Studio Properties Dialog Box

Then choose apply and your done.  Save your scene, publish at the Project Management page and you are ready to go.  The next time you visit this world when you click on the picture, a new window will open to the linked URL.  It’s that easy.

Note you can link to traditional web pages as shown in the example or to other 3DXplorer worlds.

Give it a try!

Here are two in particular that show the flexibility of 3DXplorer and web 3D in general, but also give some insight into potential applications.

The first is a real place, the Taj Mahal in Agra India, created by one of our partners GoWeb3D. You can visit it by clicking on the image below.

Taj Mahal in 3DXplorer

The second world is an imaginary space created in 3DXplorer by a a Quad ATV enthusiast, Eric Etienne. 

Quad ATV World by Eric Etienne

3D spaces or worlds can represent real places, whether they exist now, existed in the past or will exist in the future.  All you need is a 3D model, and since 3DXplorer supports importing common data formats in COLLADA and 3DS, a variety of popular and easily accessible 3D modeling tools can be used, including SketchUp, Revit, 3ds Max, Maya, etc.  The Taj was modeled in SketchUp by the way.

In industries where 3D modeling is used, for instance, markets that use CAD, such as AEC (Architecture, Engineering and Construction), the idea of discussion and reviewing models online has been around for a while.  This is often referred to as a design review, and typically consists of discussing the object being designed, in this case the 3D model.  In the AEC space this is usually a building or structure.

This sort of traditional design review is one use of 3DXplorer, which, of course, brings along the benefit of being immersed in the 3D space.  In other words, one or more people can enter the 3D space and walk around, visually inspect the space, discuss chat, speak via Skype, etc.

3DXplorer, however, offers another interesting opportunity.  Now the 3D space — the building or structure that has been modeled in 3D — can be the environment for discussion, in addition to being the object of discussion.

This now creates all sorts of new uses for a 3D model, allowing the creator to repurpose and extend the value of their investment in creating the 3D model.  Imagine a home builder who wants to meet with customers or prospects, why not do it within one of the home designs created by the builder?  Or what about a group interested in Indian architecture, why not get together at the Taj?  Check out Google’s 3D Warehouse for literally thousands of buildings, many of which you’ll recognize.  In addition, to the Taj, some other worlds on our Feature Websites page came from the 3D Warehouse, can you figure out which?

And what about imaginary spaces?  All this applies to them as well, but with the added element of the space or world being pretty much whatever you can conceive and model, customized with colors, textures and 3D objects that reinforce a particular theme or interest of visitors.  Eric’s Quad ATV space is a nice example.

So what can you imagine?

Click below for two virtual replications of Lucky Luke’s village, built by Eric Etienne, a passionate 3DXplorer user.

http://www.3dxplorer.com/view.php?k=MTQzMQ==

http://www.3dxplorer.com/view.php?k=MTQ4Nw==

Lucky Luke Village in 3DXplorer

Enjoy them!

No need for scripting inside 3DSMAX or whatever modeling tools you use. You just need to make sure that the object’s pivots are correctly defined inside your modelling tool, in order to have the right rotations. For a door, the pivot needs to be placed on the axis of the hinges, and not in the middle of the door (default pivot placement in most modelling tools).

Also , don’t forget to check the expert mode.

To manage the opening of a door, right click on the door and select “edit element”

Door manipulaton with 3DXplorer

Create an initial state: closed

To add lines under Action Handlers: Add Action

To edit the fields “State” and “If State”, double click in the fields

The filed “required right” should include “look”, so that any visitor can open the door and close it, otherwise “edit” means the door can be opened only when you are in editing mode (3DXplorer Studio).

Of course you can modify the rotation angle, or define your own events for any action handler.

Enjoy scripting with 3DXplorer.

Java 5 support has been available for some time, however, it required publishing your 3D space using a special pre-release version of the 3DXplorer online studio.

Now you simply use the default “LastRelease” in the Version pulldown menu on the Project Management web page as shown in the screen shot below.

3DXplorer Project Management Page - Choosing LastRelease Version

Most Macs and Linux systems require Java 5 support so this should provide a consistent experience on all supported platforms.

In general, there is nothing one should need to do to ensure their worlds support the latest version, unless one was explicitly creating 3D spaces in an older version and now wants to update them to the latest version.  In this case, you will need to update the applet HTML on the page where you have imbedded your 3D space. 

To do this, simply select LastRelease from the Version pulldown menu  on the Project Management page as shown in the image above, and then regenerate the HTML by clicking on the small HTML icon in the column labeled Applet code.  Then just update the old HTML by cutting and pasting the new HTML into the page on which your 3D space is imbedded.

The new release also adds support for keyframe animation imported via COLLADA, as well as providing a new feature in the online studio enabling rotation animation of 3D objects, such as a rotating banner or product in a showroom.

The new release also includes some code optimization and addresses some outstanding defects, so overall stability and performance should be enhanced as well.

Check it out and let us know what you think.

The Altadyn Team

To learn more and register click here.
(http://www.3dxplorer.com/i.php?p=static/3DX_Webinars)

An overview of the technical-focused webinar is provided below:

Using 3DXplorer: A Hands-On Technical Overview

This Webinar will provide a hands-on technical overview of 3DXplorer.

Topics covered include creating 3D scenes using the online studio, adding and importing 3D objects and scenes, enabling avatars, as well as publishing and imbedding your scene in a Web site.

Agenda (Times shown are US Pacific Time):9:00 am Introduction
9:05 am How to create a world using the 3DX library
9:20 am Importing objects and scenes
9:30 am Enabling avatars and other scene attributes
9:40 am Q/A 

To learn more and register click here.
(http://www.3dxplorer.com/i.php?p=static/3DX_Webinars)

Space is limited so please return to reserve your spot.

To learn more and register click here.
(http://www.3dxplorer.com/i.php?p=static/3DX_Webinars)

An overview of the business-focused webinar is provided below:

Leveraging Web 3.0 and 3DXplorer to Increase Your Web Design Business

This business-focused webinar will explore web3D and its relationship to Web 3.0, both what it is and why you should be interested. An exciting new concept, “Meet in 3D,” will also be discussed that envisions 3D web sites becoming a new standard navigation component, on par with the commonly-used links on the main navigation bar of web sites such as Home, Products, Company, Contact Us, etc., allowing businesses to add immersive 3D experiences for interacting with web visitors who until now have largely remained anonymous.

Key target customers and industries that can benefit from web 3D include:
 * Retailers/Malls
 * Home builders
 * Corporate Collaboration
 * Museums
 * Tourism/Chambers of Commerce
 * eLearning,including:
     – Schools
     – Tutoring
     – Libraries
     – Workplace training

Agenda (Times shown are US Pacific Time):

9:00 am Introduction
9:05 am What is “Meet in 3D” and how is it related to Web 3.0
9:10 am Business Opportunities and Target Markets
9:20 am 3DXplorer Promotional Bundles and Partner Opportunities
9:30 am Q/A

To learn more and register click here.
(http://www.3dxplorer.com/i.php?p=static/3DX_Webinars)

A key element of the Meet in 3D is concept is its relationship to web3D which we see as a critical component of Web 3.0.

I think our CEO Darius Lahoutifard summed it up best as follows:

“We believe our Meet in 3D concept is a critical element of Web 3.0,” said Darius Lahoutifard, CEO of Altadyn. “Since the inception of the web, businesses have invested billions to identify and track largely anonymous visitors to their web sites. At first, with Web 1.0, communication was unidirectional, from companies to their web visitors. With Web 2.0 and the widespread acceptance of tools like blogs and social networks, individuals started expressing themselves, but not necessarily to corporations, so businesses still struggle to monetize web 2.0.  With Web 3.0 and technologies like 3DXplorer, individuals are motivated to enter informative and entertaining 3D web spaces with their avatars, enabling corporations to finally bridge this gap. They can now directly engage prospects and customers in a personal and interactive environment, in a manner similar to the way they do in everyday life when exploring a tradeshow, attending a seminar or walking into a store.”

An example of the Meet in 3D button integrated into a corporate website is available at Altadyn’s website at www.altadyn.com.  The Altadyn corporate 3D site is staffed Monday through Friday from 9:00am to 1:00pm US Eastern time, so stop by and check it out.

3DXplorer Promotional Bundles
For a limited time, we’re also offering promotional bundles to allow businesses an easy and fast way to put a custom, branded 3D web page or virtual world on their company web site.  The bundles are designed to facilitate easy access by corporations to Web 3.0 3D technology, allowing them to quickly implement Meet in 3D on their own websites for customer engagement and collaboration, conferencing, eLearning, virtual visits for real estate and architecture, casual games and more. Built jointly with Altadyn’s Content Creation Partners, Avalonn, Cube3, and GoWeb3D, bundles come in three options: Bronze, Silver and Gold, and consist of the 3DXplorer platform deployed with a Software as a Service (SaaS) model, 3D content and customization services.

More details on Meet in 3D and the 3DXplorer promotional bundles are available at the Meet in 3D Overview page.  Here is also more detail on the promotional bundles, and you can check out the various 3D spaces available from our content partners at Avalonn, Cube3 and GoWeb3D at the Gallery page.  Here are a few snapshots to whet your appetite:

GoWeb3D Classroom

Cube3 Officepodz

Avalonn Office

 You can read the entire Meet in 3D press release here.

“Click, enter, and get together” on the web with GoWeb3D’s new and unique line of virtual reality 3D websites. Without any special download or plug-in, users will see and interact with each other, shop, work, and play together in GoWeb3D’s 3D offices, conference rooms, classrooms, exhibit halls, and retail spaces. By enabling “get togethers” inside otherwise ordinary websites at regular web addresses, GoWeb3D will save users money on gas and air travel, help save the environment, and provide more meaningful web experiences for users around the globe.

GoWeb3D is a joint venture founded by virtual worlds and web3D industry experts Dave Elchoness, CEO of VRWorkplace, Inc. of Boulder, Colorado, USA and Rahul Dutta, CEO of Trimensions Metaverse Development, of Gurgaon, India.

“GoWeb3D is committed to offering transformative internet experiences at all price points.” says Dave Elchoness, CEO of VRWorkplace. “Not only will we design and integrate custom web3D interactive experiences into large retailers’ existing websites, but we will open new markets to small businesses now able to reach out globally with realistic storefronts and offices.”

Rahul Dutta, CEO of Trimensions, adds, “GoWeb3D’s approach removes all barriers to entry from a technology perspective. Our products using Altadyn’s 3Dxplorer toolset will be super easy to use and require absolutely no special download or plug-in.”

Some images of the worlds being offered by GoWeb3D are included below, and you can learn more about them at their site at www.GoWeb3D.com.

Conference Room

Auditorium

Lounge

Dave Greenfield who writes for ZDNet also blogged about the announcement.

Founded in 1990 under the leadership of Larry Rosenthal, Cube Productions Inc. was a founding element of what has been known to become “Silicon Alley” in New York City. Now situated in California, Larry continues to design, direct, and consult on digital projects now mainly focused on entertainment and the Internet.

Larry’s work experience has focused on being a producer, designer and director for both television and digital media. He has worked for over 15 years creating the look and ideas of worlds, products, and environments for clients ranging from entertainment companies like SONY, Paramount, AOL, MTV and CBS to more corporate companies like Proctor and Gamble and Sara Lee Corp.

Larry has extensive experience and credits in science fiction, genre design, game development and web3D, including “STARBASE C3.com,” the first 3D FLASH/VRML/E-commerce-immersive science fiction site building a community of Sci-Fi fans online via AOL and the web.

He has written on 3d design and technologies for many trade magazines, has frequent speaking roles at industry trade shows, and the documentation of past projects of his has appeared in magazines such as WIRED, NEWMEDIA, Macweek, MSNBC, and multiple books published by the Coriolis group on 3D design and New Media.

During the last few years, Larry has been working with clients both public and private to deliver the next generation of virtual worlds and web3D game-like immersive content and entertainment. With the popularity of Second Life and the new generation of virtual worlds, Cube3 has been working with technology companies like Verizon and Swisscom, and media agencies such as Mediacom and others to create unique VR world experiences and projects.

Some images of the virtual worlds being offered by Cube3 are provide below. 

Cube3 Officepodz

Cube3 Officepodz

You can visit Cube3 at www.cube3.com.

The Avalonn web site can be visited at www.avalonn.fr and is divided into two sections, a 2D and 3D section.

When you click on the 3D site you enter a surreal 3D globe made up of floating fragments in what appears to be the black vacuum of space. 

Avalonn 3D Web Site

As you approach the world you notice that there is a plane on which you can walk with an ultra-modern bar and chairs in the center.  Around the edges are billboards showing images of various Avalonn 3D worlds that are hyperlinked to the worlds themselves.

Avalonn 3D Web Site

The various worlds offered by Avalon are also very creative and unique.  An image of the surf world is below, you can enter it via the hyperlink in the Avalon 3D site.

Avalonn Surf World

This world just feels cool to me, check it out and let us and Valery and Marie know what you think.

Altadyn Booth at VWE

We met a lot of interesting companies and individuals at the show and came away excited about the opportunities for truly open and widely-accessible web3D. A key theme that kept coming up at the show, and the area that it appears much of the industry is focused on, is browser-based web3D, versus proprietary, client-based technologies or virtual worlds. Numerous times people stopped by our booth after a presentation, panel discussion or visiting another booth and asked about 3d in the browser. For instance, here is a blog post by “Dusan Writer” where the following is noted from one panel discussion: “…plug-ins or downloads mean you’re dead, a science project.”

Altadyn Booth at VWE

3DXplorer is still unique as the only truly plug-in-less, browser-based web3D platform, so we left with an even stronger conviction that we’re on the path that will bring web3D mainstream.

I also took note of a comment by Reuben Steiger of Millions of Us: “[There is] No way to do true 3D with Flash.” That’s why we chose Java. You can see the presentation here and the comment is on slide 13.

Here’s a quick video walkthrough of the show floor; sorry itis a little jerky. You first see our booth at 1:47 in the video and then another brief shot at 1:56.

Also, while at the show we announced Meet in 3D, a new concept that envisions immersive 3D becoming a standard component of web sites.  See the next post for more info.

Virtual Benaroya Hall with Avatars

Visitors are now able to define their “universal avatar” once and enter any virtual world, 3D web site or casual game with the same avatar or personality.

AVW Headquarters with Avatar

An integrated avatar configurator allows visitors to choose their avatar’s sex, face, hair, clothes and accessories such as hats or glasses.

3DXplorer Avatar Configurator

Avatars support a variety of animated actions, moods and interactions with other avatars, including walking, running, head shakes for yes and no, handshakes, hugs, laughing, yawning, dancing and more. Text chat along with integrated Skype calling is also supported.

In addition to choosing to enable avatars, you can limit the number of avatars that may enter a world, as well as protecting worlds with a password. New avatars can be created with a free avatar creation kit that includes guidelines for new avatars, as well as 3ds Max models of standard avatar skeletons.

You can check out the 3DXplorer V4 demonstration video here.

Examples of 3D virtual worlds created in 3DXplorer that are avatar-enabled can be visited at the following links: 

Seattle’s Benaroya Hall

Association of Virtual Worlds

Avalonn Picasso museum

Note that the first is the virtual Benaroya Hall mentioned in a previous blog post, and the second is the virtual Headquarters of the Association of Virtual Worlds whose Executive Director Dave Elchoness had the following to say:

“3DXplorer V4 just took a giant leap forward with its multiuser environment and support for live, custom avatars.  Now any web site can include an interactive 3D world, like a corporate web site staffed by company greeters who can answer questions or show off realistic 3D products, and all you do is click a link. It’s because of this accessibility that the Association of Virtual Worlds selected 3Dxplorer V4 for its virtual headquarters.” 

All you have to do to create your own avatar is to sign up at www.3DXplorer.com  in the upper left “Get a 3D Avatar” section.  Also, if you already have a 3DXplorer world, sign in to the “Build Your Own 3D World” section at the upper right, and edit your world to enable avatars.  And of course, to create a new 3D world, just sign up for free.

This brings up a question I have gotten from time to time.  Why have two logins?  Well, while many businesses or individuals will do both – create avatars and 3D worlds – it won’t always be the case.  In fact, we believe it will be commonplace for many users to simply want to create an avatar to visit existing 3D worlds without having to set up an account to allow them to create their own worlds. It is similar tro the difference between an end user and a developer.  Of course, it’s easy to do both, we just wanted it to be drop dead simple to create an avatar with minimal information required from the user.  To create an avatar, all you need to do is pick a name for your avatar and choose a password.  No other info is required, although there are fields for optional information like an email address so we can send you updates and announcements , Skype ID for integrated Skype calls and so on. 

3DXplorer V4 also extends support for user-generated content using commonly available design and modeling tools by adding the ability to import 3D data in the popular COLLADA format. Modeling tools supporting COLLADA include Maya, 3ds Max, LightWave 3D, Softimage|XSI; Houdini; MeshLab, SketchUp, Blender and others. COLLADA is also Google Earth’s native format, and it’s supported by Google SketchUp and the Google 3D Warehouse providing access to a huge amount of existing 3D models such as buildings, furniture, vehicles, etc.

For instance, here is an example I quickly did myself, and if I can do it anyone can.  I downloaded a model of the Sydney Opera House that was modeled in SketchUp and uploaded to the 3D Warehouse here.

I then was able to import that into 3DXplorer using the online studio:

Sydney Opera House Imported into 3DXplorer with COLLADA

And now here I am in 3DXplorer with the newly imported opera House, checking it out from the front and from the side (note that you can click on the thumbnails to get large views):

Opera House in 3DXplorer

And here I am inside the Opera House looking out at the front:

Opera House From Inside

Now granted for the inside view one needs to model the inside, but you get the idea. Now check this out; here I am in the Opera House with my avatar meeting with another avatar:

Opera House with Avatars

Hey why not visit it yourself. It’s here: 3DXplorer Sydney Opera House Virtual World. (don’t be surprised; I have disabled the collision detection for a quick exploration there.)

Now I did all this in less than an hour.  I found the SketchUp model, imported it into 3DXplorer, imbedded it in our web site and visited it with avatar and interacted with others — and I am not technical whiz.  Imagine that hundreds of thousands of models of buildings, structures, and so on, real, from the past or complete imaginary, modeled in SketchUp, Revit, AutoCAD, 3ds Max, Maya, whatever, with new ones being created every day that are accessible to anyone on the web with a persistent universal avatar by just clicking a link.  And better, they can be visited by multiple people at a time that can interact, chat, talk via Skype and so on.  This is cool.

COLLADA support extends 3DXplorer’s ability to import 3D data in industry standard formats, including the 3DS format supported by Autodesk’s 3ds Max, along with a variety of other applications such as AutoCAD, Revit, Rhino, and many others. An API is also provided enabling custom development of 3D web applications including casual games, collaborative tools, CAD/PLM environments, online meetings, product configurators, eLearning, and many others.

In the words of Nate Randall, Founder of RCE Universe: “This is revolutionary. 3DXplorer lets you create your own world, your own city, your own room, your own items all of which are now easily accessible by everyone who has access to a computer and the Internet. And now with V4 it’s fully multiuser with your own avatars…without a download, and it’s seamless!”

I couldn’t have said it better myself.

You can read the full press release here which includes a number of great quotes from industry analysts and experts.

In July we announced the creation of a 3D virtual version of the Benaroya Hall in Seattle, home of the Seattle symphony. It’s now possible for anyone to simply click a link to visit most spaces of the Hall in full immersive 3D, walking down the corridors, up staircases, and exploring rooms, all in real-time.

Three rooms in the Benaroya Hall can be visited at the following links:

Grand Lobby

Entry Way

Founders’ Room

Benaroya Location in Downtown Seattle

If you haven’t been to the Benaroya, it’s a beautiful concert hall right in the middle of the city at the corner of 3^rd and University, a few minutes’ walk from the historic Pike Place Market opened in 1907 where you can catch fishmongers slinging whole salmon fresh off the boat.

Opened in September 1998, the design of Benaroya Hall houses two performing halls in a complex that is integrated into downtown Seattle. Occupying an entire city block at the center of the city, the development celebrates the role of performance events while maintaining the continuity of commercial life and providing a much-needed public space, in the form of a terraced garden. Including Seattle Symphony events, Benaroya Hall hosts hundreds of public and private events, conferences and shows such as the Casual Games Association’s “Casual Connect Seattle” conference. In fact, the rooms above were created for the Casual Games Association in conjunction with their Casual Connect Seattle 2008 conference held in July.

Benaroya Location in Downtown Seattle

You can also learn more about the Benaroya from their web site here.

The virtual Benaroya Hall is a great example of how web3D can be used to enable people located anywhere in the world to experience an environment in full 3D.  Whether the place actually exists, as in this case, or used to exist such as an ancient monument like the Roman Forum in Rome, or will exist in the future, as in the case of planned construction by an architect or a home builder, or it is completely imaginary, like a social virtual world, a 3D casual game, a company’s web site, it can be visited and explored interactively.

For a concert hall like the Benaroya, it’s easy to see how 3DXplorer can be used to promote upcoming events such as concerts or conferences, creating impressions and emotions that just wouldn’t be possible with a 2D medium like a photo. This is just the beginning of an open and widely accessible 3D virtual universe, populated with both real and imaginary spaces, and to visit all you do is click a link.

The power of the web no longer has to be proven. The web architecture has become one of the strongest standards in the history of technology, together with the underlying IP infrastructure architecture which has been so open and robust that it enabled the integration of  other networks like voice, and now mobile networks. Reasons for the strength of the web standard are its openness, its thinness, its simplicity, and the hyperlink concept enabling navigation.

This is why web3D developers are looking for open, thin, simple 3D spaces that can be hyperlinked to each other and customized with standard web tools such as html, javascript and PHP, and consequently are looking for browser-based technologies to satisfy these criteria.

In the past few months several browser-based technologies have been either newly introduced or repackaged from older technologies. This is good progress, as it standardizes the user interface, but it’s not enough, especially if the technology still requires the user to download and install proprietary software, which can sometimes be 50MB or more. In most cases, for more advanced tools and applications, the installation of an Active-X control is required. Some installation processes are presented particularly well, and for a standalone Windows user with Internet Explorer the installation process can be smooth, however, the reality is that the proprietary software (i.e., plug-in) has been installed on the computer for good! This type of installation is a problem in most business environments where it is common for IT managers in mid-size or large corporations to prevent the installation of software from external sources for obvious reasons (i.e., security, reliability, quality. etc.). Thus, since offices cannot access 3D worlds and applications based on technologies that require the installation of proprietary software, they do not satisfy the need for widespread accessibility that is a requirement for much wider adoption of web3D. Moreover, Active-X plug-ins do not support Mac or Linux machines whose market shares are growing every day.

Browser based technologies are to be considered in two categories:

* Those requiring installation of a plug-in, with the following issues:
    o Difficulty installing in a corporate environment due to IT policies and firewall incompatibilities
    o Rarely cross-platform
    o Need for the end-user’s action for regular update of the application
    o Less market penetration due to the end-user’s lack of trust to unknown plug-ins
* Those thin “plug-in-less” technologies enabling web-native applications that are fully compliant with standard web navigation. These technologies are necessarily based on one of the following underlying web technologies:
    o Flash: not offering any immersive walkthrough possibility
    o Silverlight: seems promising, although likely not ready for prime time for quite a while, as well as not being multi-platform
    o Java: The only viable technology available , enabling plug-in-less web3D

3DXplorer is one of the rare technologies from this last category that is available today, offering immersive 3D worlds, web sites and applications all in a browser-based and plug-in-less environment, enabling web3D in the exact same architecture as the web itself.

A small new version, just before the “big one”

This release comes just before a major release with first-of-their-kinds features, which will, once again, show the direction to the market soon.

While waiting for the big one, 3DXplorer V3.01.02, which can be activated through your project management panel inside your 3DXPlorer account, offers the following new features:

• Ability to activate/deactivate the collision detection with objects or for the whole scene. By default, collision detection is active on all objects.
• Support of both stairs and slopes
• Support of collada format files for importing. The whole google 3DWarehouse library as well as other collada libraries are now supported for use with 3DXplorer. This feature includes both objects and animations import into 3DXplorer, through .dae files
• Hyperlinks on objects or materials can now support options (target)
• Walking speed can now be changed in each scene and becomes the property of a scene
• Bug corrections and other minor improvements

Unlike other new versions, this version is not declared as “last release”. We want to move to the “big one” and avoid additional QA work for you. However if you can’t wait for the “big one” and need the above features, you can just use this version.

Have fun!

Expert in designing Virtual Worlds, within SecondLife since a few years, and now with 3DXplorer, Trimensions has developped highly skilled ressources for designing and building Virtual Worlds with 3DXplorer. The comapny based in New Delhi, India, offers these content creation services to the 3DXplorer users community.

A new version of Trimensions website is available since a few days, including its new virtual offices, built with 3DXPlorer.

Have a tour there now: http://trioff.trimensions.org

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Following our post on April 21st , some of 3DXPlorer users wrote to us to ask how to create their own quality images , to be used with the « open sky » scene.

You can find several methods and even tools to automatically generate spherical or hemispherical images. Some of them are quite complex though. We wanted to share a simple method here , which is sufficient for many of your projects.

You can find easily, a royalty free image, that  you like. But these images are usually of low resolution, and not spherical. Take one of those low resolution images, like the one below:

Resolution: 512 x 256

Crop the image in a way that the bottom line fits with the ground surface of the landscape, perfectly horizontal, and that the sky is as high as possible. Duplicate and mirror this surface, and juxtapose the copy on the same side as the axis of symmetry used for mirroring the original image. You’ll obtain this:

Resolution: 1024 x 256

If you need a higher resolution, you can repeat this operation once again :

Resolution: 2048 x 512

Through this simple method, you can « generate » quality pixels, by using the image’s own pixels ! The result is a cylindrical image (the two extreme lines join smoothly, thanks to the symmetry).

But in some scenes like the « open sky » , they can be used instead of a hemispherical one, if the buildings are not too high, thanks to the big size of the whole scene, the vertical deformation is not perceptible.

Have fun with these simple handmade special effects!

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In order to enhance the realism of a scene, very often, we just need to improve lighting conditions and add shadows and other lighting effects. Obviously, in this fiend, real time engines are not supposed to go as far as most off-line rendering calculations. But sometimes, we may be able to use a pre-rendered scene inside 3DXplorer for a real time visualization.

This type of scenes can simply be generated by using “render to texture” or “texture baking” features in 3DSMax or in Maya.

These features enable 3DXPlorer designers to integrate the lighting and the shadows directly into texture files. By leaving the texture files of such a scene in the same folder than the file to be imported, they will be imported inside 3DXplorer together with the scene.

Once the scene is in 3DXPlorer, the texture materials property has to be set to “self illumination” in order to avoid rendering them twice.

Example: The scene called “Show-room” under “buildings” in the 3DXplorer objects library has some pre-rendered textures.

http://www.apple.com/downloads/macosx/apple/application_updates/javaformacosx105update1.html

To read more about this release:

http://docs.info.apple.com/article.html?artnum=307403

We often need nice landscapes, visible at the horizon, or by the window. In the above example, with an art gallery created inside a pyramid of glass, the user has an impression of total within a green environments, very present, and beyond the primary scene. Creating this type of impressions is possible thanks to cylindrical and spherical images. The above example is obtained in 3DXPlorer, by using the scene called “open sky” in the library, where a hemispherical image , also available in the library, has been applied to the sky.

Some of the newly added hemispherical images, newly offered in 3DXPlorer library, are reprinted below. You can also, upload your own pictures, as usual.

Try them out by “sticking” them on the sky of the “open sky” scene and appreciate the landscape, the cathedral, or simply the city, far at the horizon. To do so, right-click on the sky of this scene, then “change/manage collections”, before choosing in the “Panoramas”, your preferred image.

Enjoy the landscape!

Since last week, a reasonably rich library of textures is available on 3DXplorer, especially for architecture and construction, both for interior design and buildings exteriors. One can find there textures for bricks, carpets, concrete, doors, fabric, metal, nature, roofing, stone, tile, wallpapers and wood.

To use them: right-click on a material, then “change/manage collections”.

With a larger team at Altadyn, now the objects library is starting to grow fast.

This picture shows some of the new “accessories” and “furniture” available now. Glass tables , armchairs, bathroom vanities and high heels are among new objects online, starting point of a long list of objects which will facilitate your creation.

We would love to read from you on your suggestions or requests. Let us know what kind of objects you need more.

Obviously, this is the reason why art gallery owners invest in beautiful halls with attractive furniture to make sure that their paintings, their photographs or other scenes are well emphasized.

The rational in the virtual world is the same as in the real world!

Artists have started using virtual 3D spaces to exhibit their creations on the web, replacing their traditional websites. Their creations are emphasized and valued thanks to a more sophisticated evironment than the old 2D flat webpage of jpg files. Inside a more pleasant space, within a 3D virtual room creating real feelings, the visitor can appreciate the artwork, in an immersive mode, through different angles, renderred as he/she walks.

The new exhibition hall created by avalonn is an excellent example of this concept. To see this 3D virtual exhibition hall of paintings, click here.

To create your own art gallery: www.3DXplorer.com

To learn more about the creator of the above example: www.avalonn.fr

Last Tuesday, the US congress experienced its first  Congressional hearing session held simultaneously in real and in a virtual world. Congressmen represented by avatars, were interested in what can be done within virtual worlds, the importance of the impact on the economy and the possible risks including those on security.

The hearing was conducted by the Subcommittee on Telecommunications and the Internet (a subcommittee of the House Committee on Energy and Commerce).

This was not a typical Capitol Hill hearing. TV monitors carried the session, but one screen showed the virtual session streaming in real time, complete with avatars providing some text-chat play by play, such as: “There’s another softball question.”

Congressmen noticed a range of actions informed by vision and clarity of purpose. One of the most needed actions from the Congress is programs that will spur the technical development of the 3D Internet.

Watch the full video here.

Read the Washington Post article here.

Picture Copyright © Rik Panganiban / Rik Riel

In a recent communication, released by the Association of Virtual Worlds, Dave Elchoness, Executive Director said: “With its unique 3Dxplorer technology, Altadyn is positioned to deliver a virtual world experience to benefit even those who have never before explored virtual worlds. Trimensions Metaverse Development develops imaginative 3D spaces that are also functional – a necessary combination. We believe that this team will create a place and experience that our members will enjoy, regardless of whether they are industry insiders or newcomers to virtual worlds”.

Altadyn is committed to provide AVW and its members with innovative and accessible new features. To read the whole PR, press here.

Founded by Edita Kaye and managed by Dave Elchoness, the association is well positioned to play a key role in the development of accessible, scalable, open, web-native virtual worlds, based on the know-how of its executives and members in one hand , and on technologies such as 3DXplorer in the other hand.

To accompany the association towards this goal, Altadyn’s CEO, Darius Lahoutifard, has joined the association’s advisory board, together with other industry executives from around the world. The cooperation between Altadyn and the association will result in future developments of 3DXplorer in line with this community’s needs.

Read the association’s statement: “Association of Virtual Worlds Advisory Board Goes Global”

You can customize your environment with your own music or use one of the sample titles proposed in the 3DXplorer library to give it a try:

Bring in an object which supports Audio. There is one in the library prepared for that purpose, under the “Electronics” category, when you “add new object”. You can recognize it as its shown in this photo.

To compose your play-list, right-click on the green screen , “Edit Audio” then “PLaylist: Edit”, then “Add track”….

You’ll see your play list on the green screen. To start playing the music press the play button, and to stop it, press the stop button.

If you decide to upload your own files, at this point you have to use only light 24kb/s mp3 files in order to leave room for graphics in your Internet bandwidth.

Developers can also have a look at the scripts to see how to build your own audio devices such as iPods and other mp3 players.

Also, in a few cases when we upgrade to a new release, you may not hear the music. In that case just delete the object and re-add it.

Let us know about your experience, and enjoy the music!

• Faster loading for scenes and objects especially those with textures.
• Increased performance resulting in smoother animation for large scenes (hit-testing improved). This is discernable when manipulating high-poly objects.
• A better 3DS file importer.
• Faster applet download at startup
• Some cosmetic improvements
• Some bug corrections including one for the music player (in some cases, you need to re-add your stereo to be able to listen to your playlist)
• “Lock/Unlock” object feature, to avoid moving “big” objects while moving small objects inside them.

As usual, to use the new release, you don’t need any action (as far as you have kept your project under “Last Release” status, which is the one by default on all accounts).

Enjoy it!

We also prepared and released a video, available on YouTube which presents the technology.

We are pretty much satisfied with the feedback so far, reading the comments from experts and articles from the journalists.

We invite you to follow the above links if you have not already done so.

The launch of V3 beta is also the end of the “private beta” period. We would like to once again thank all our private beta users for their contribution, feedback and time.

Thank you!

• Faster loading for scenes and objects.
• Simplified user interface for object modifications,
• Designer can define the objects which can be manipulated withing the player by the visitors; rotating, moving, scaling.
• Double face materials are now supported when importing 3D models

• Tutorial updated

Enjoy!

Modeling of all kind of objects:

• Use only polygonal geometry.
• Use point light sources (omni). Color and constant attenuation are supported.
• Use Blinn  and Lambert materials.
• Diffuse and specular colors are supported, as well as specular strength and highlight power. 3DXplorer’s material self illumination is binary, it should be 0 or 100.
• Double-sided materials are supported.
• 3DXplorer matches automatically the ground (Z=0), the plane surface on which visitors will move, as being the lowest surface in the scene. As a consequence, you should place your ground in the modeler at Z=0, and have no geometry under the ground.
• 2 different materials or objects should have 2 different “names”.

Modeling of scenes:

On top of the above tips to know for all kind of objects, please consider the following tips for scenes in particular:

• At least one light source should be placed in the scene to be able to see it.
• To make sure your visitors will experience high performance of real time navigation, we recommend all scenes to be optimized and stay with as lowest number of polygons as possible. In order to give you a hint, the featured web sites have each less than 100.000 polygones (including all objects inside).

• The texture files should be placed in the same folder than the 3DS file itself at the time of upload. 3DXplorer will find them.
• It’s recommended that texture files width/height don’t exceed 512 pixels. You can always reduce the size of a texture (with Photoshop, Paintshop…) without altering its visual aspect. Only the resolution will decrease as you decrease the size of a texture.
• To keep good real time performances, it’s recommended to avoid “big” textures in a scene. All featured websites have less than 10 “big” textures.

This new version implements:

• A new tutorial to help new users to start up,
• 2 levels of user interface, one for starters, or those who are not supposed to develop in PHP/Javascript or other languages, and another user interface for experts. The later gives access to advanced functions and enables you to develop dynamic web pages, as well as full online applications, based on 3DXplorer, such as configurators for kitchen, bathroom, or other interior design modeling.
• The term« Building » has been replaced by « Scene ». Other minor modifications are done and some bugs are corrected.

Altadyn wishes you a very happy and successful new year. 

We are glad to inform you that your demands and remarks have been heard and that this new version responds to them positively. Judge by yourself:

• 3DS file format support extension (materials self-illumination)
• Progressive acceleration of the walkthrough function (keyboard “up” arrow)
• Visit’s point of departure setting in the scene
• Inversion of mouse’s wheel behaviour
• “Linked URL” function is now activated for the materials
• Replacement of the word “Stereo” by “Audio” for a better understanding
• Lighting improvement

To benefit from this new version, you just have to… do nothing special! You and your customers just have to visit your 3D pages as usual. No update or installation required.

We look forward to hearing from you to go on making 3DXplorer your ultimate 3D web design solution.

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This will help us resolve your issues in a more timely manner.

Thank You!