3dMouse
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3DConnexion announces SpaceMouse Pro for 3D aficionados, galactic rodents
3DConnexion's SpaceMouse Pro won't do much to quench your nostalgia for Hickory, Dickory or Dock, but it could make your three dimensional workflow a bit easier. Announced yesterday, this new peripheral boasts a proprietary "six degrees of freedom sensor" for smoother 3D navigation, along with a quintet of QuickView keys, providing instant access to 12 different viewing angles. Compatible with both PCs and Macs, the mouse also features four "intelligent function keys" to control your most frequently used apps, as well as an onscreen display for instant feedback. Designers, engineers and astronauts can grab the SpaceMouse Pro for $300, at the source link below.
3DxWare 10 lets 3D mice work in 2D apps, leaves your standard mouse feeling a bit flat (video)
Your standard mouse may do it on the table, but 3D mice do it with extra dimension -- some of the time, anyway. Quit 3ds Max and suddenly you have one axis too many on your hands. After all, the vast majority of applications are 2D to match mice that may exist in a 3D reality but are limited to a decidedly dual-dimensional existence. No more. 3Dconnexion, makers of a couple different controllers with depth, has released 3DxWare, a Mac or Windows driver that enables exciting 3D mice to work with boring 2D apps. The first video after the break shows some one-handed zooming and browsing, while the second has you cutting and mixing in Final Cut Pro -- again with nary a keyboard or controller in sight. The software is free if you have a compatible mouse, but if not you'll be paying between $99 and $399 for a suitably compliant critter.
Axsotic 3D mouse takes a spherical stab at an age-old problem
The quixotic quest for the perfect 3D mouse has a long and storied history, but the German-built "Axsotic" 3D-Spheric-Mouse looks like a pretty good attempt. Axsotic tracks a 40mm ball, which can be twisted, pushed, pulled, lifted, and so forth inside its patent pending, sensor-laden cage. Optical tracking watches for rotation in three axis, while magnets track zoom and pan in three axis of their own. The design gives complete camera control in a 3D app to one hand, while your other hand is free to operate a mouse or other pointing device to actually interact with the 3D object in question. Axsotic actually works driver-free on Mac and Windows, and a plugin is available for popular 3D softwares. No word yet on price or availability. Check out some action videos after the break. %Gallery-106991%
Cideko Air Keyboard doubles as 3D mouse / remote control
Looking for something a little more in your HTPC keyboard than just a multitouch trackpad? Then how about a built-in 3D mouse that'll have you waving the keyboard around at some potential peril to your couch-mates? That's just one feature of Cideko's new Air Keyboard, which also packs a pair of gamepad-style shoulder buttons in place of more standard mouse buttons, all the usual; dedicated media control buttons, and a promised range of 50 meters -- not to mention a purported battery life of 50 hours. Still no word on a price or release date just yet, unfortunately but it looks like a fully-functional version was on display at Computex earlier this month, so we're guessing that shouldn't be too far off now.[Via technabob]
3DConnexion's SpacePilot Pro 3D mouse
3DConnexion has always had a place in our heart for their reasonably priced and smartly designed three dimensional controllers. Now the company is back on the scene with the SpacePilot Pro, which ups the ante -- and the price point -- considerably. This bad boy sports an LCD screen and lots (and lots) of buttons, including controls for various isometric views and navigation settings (pan and zoom, rotation, speed). If that weren't enough, there are function keys for various apps and an applet for checking your MS Outlook mail. Ships with drivers for Windows XP and Vista, Solaris 8 and 10, and Linux -- as always seems to be the case with this company, Mac users are stuck without for the time being. Retails for $499, available now.[Via The Inquirer]
3DConnexion SpaceNavigator gets unboxed
We've seen the official images, but those itching for a better look at 3DConnexion's new SpaceNavigator 3D mouse for laptops can now get their fix courtesy of Flickr user zeta.phoenix, who has kindly chronicled the traditional unboxing process for us. As you can see above, the peripheral definitely won't take up too much space in your laptop bag, and the just-long-enough USB cable means it likely won't be doing double duty on your desktop (at least without an extension). If that's whet your appetite, you can find plenty more pics where it came from by hitting up the link below.[Thanks, Jon]
3Dconnexion intros SpaceNavigator 3D mouse for laptops
Logitech subsidiary 3Dconnexion managed to impress with its original SpaceNavigator 3D mouse, and it's now shrunk the 3D environment-navigating tool down to laptop size for those that like to dip into their virtual environs of choice while they're on the go. Apart from the size, however, the only significant change appears to be a new cap design that promises "more immersive and natural interactions within 3D applications," with it otherwise offering you the same pressure sensitive controls and ability to fly through spaces while simultaneously zooming and rotating the view as before. Also likely of interest to a number of folks is that the device is now fully supported by Second Life, although you'll probably still want to hang onto your usual mouse if you want to have any chance in your favorite FPS games. Look for this one to set you back $129 when it's released early next month.
Researchers use cameraphones as 3D mice, foresee interactive ads
For what it's worth, marketing firms have been encouraging folks to interact with billboards and the like with their cellphones for some time now, but prototype software developed by gurus in the UK has enabled a cameraphone to control a desktop computer. As expected, the application enables users to "move and manipulate onscreen items simply by waving a handset around in front of a [display]," but giving mobile owners a second-rate 3D mouse is just the beginning. There is promise for it (or something similar) to one day be used in more public settings, but while it's still locked inside the house, we'll probably just continue using our entirely more comfortable Wiimote for any atypical mousing exercises. Hit up the read link for a video demonstration. [Via NewScientist]
Sandio 3D Game O2 mouse announced at CES
Sandio's Game O' 3D mouse managed to catch our eye back in May of '06, and now the firm is just getting around to unveiling the successor. Still touting that oh-so-catchy 3D moniker, the 3D Game O2 allows Google Earth / Virtual Earth users to "fly through without dealing with keyboard or on-screen navigation tabs." 'Course, it didn't miss the opportunity to inform Second Life residents that they too can enjoy more realistic flying motions with this here device, and users of CAD software could also find a few obvious benefits. Regarding improvements from the previous version, this one reportedly rocks "improved hardware quality and software usability as well as auto-loading of key 3D application drivers and plug-ins." Best of all, there's no waiting involved in acquiring one -- so long as you're parked in the US, Canada, China or Japan, you can grab one at your convenience for $79.99.
WPI students create wireless 3D ring mouse
No doubt we've seen some snazzy takes on mousing instruments, but when Popular Science dubs your twist on the critter we couldn't do without an Invention of the Year, you've accomplished something. A team of WPI undergraduate students were able to win such an honor by crafting the MagicMouse, a "three-dimensional computer mouse" that allows users to "control and manipulate items on a computer screen just by pointing at the monitor." While we've seen similar ideas for helping disabled individuals interface with a computer, this wee iteration actually fits around one's finger and "uses an array of receivers to track the motion of a tiny ultrasonic transmitter." The cursor is moved by waving one's hand back and forth, while moving closer and backing away enables zooming functions to be utilized, which should make handling those CAD drawings a good bit easier. Perhaps most notable, however, is the relatively low cost of assembly, as the entire contraption (rechargeable Li-ion and all) cost just $155, and we're sure you know how far that could fall if a bulk buying manufacturer brought it to commercialization. A few more pictures after the jump.[Via Popular Science and Gizmag]
Cylo's 3style jog wheel / mouse spins it up
While we've seen more than a few folks get a little mod-happy when it comes to crafting their own mousing devices, Cylo Technology is offering up an apparently well thought-out device that should have audio / video editors going wild. If you feel more comfortable spinning a jog wheel than you ever have manually moving a cursor, the "three-dimensional" 3style mouse is right down your alley, as the hybrid input peripheral handles the typical X and Y axes as well as giving users the ability to scroll in any direction with a simple spin. Utilizing a ball bearing pad, the knob can spin freely with just a nudge, and can interpret Z-axis data as well as offering up right-click functionality by squeezing the edges. While some may envision faint similarities to the iMac's hockey puck mouse of days past, this rendition could probably last a bit more than 30 seconds before becoming destined for the trash bin. Nevertheless, the 3style mouse can be used wirelessly as well as in a wired form, and can purportedly work seamlessly with any application that supports a scroll wheel or jog dial, but we'll have to wait until this thing actually hits store shelves before testing out these bold claims ourselves. Click on through for a live demonstration.[Via HackedGadgets]
Sandio's Game O' 3D gaming mouse
Serious gamers are always looking for an edge, so any product that promises to transfer to a mouse the movement commands that were formerly restricted to the keyboard is bound to draw some interest. Sandio Technology is showing off one such mouse, the Game O', at E3 this year, calling it "the first and the only six degrees-of-freedom 3D mouse in the IT industry." From what we can tell, the 2000 dpi laser mouse seems to allow players to move in around in 3D space by translating mouse motions into 3D in-game movement, as opposed to just aiming a weapon's crosshair's, when the button above the scroll wheel is depressed. Sandio will be releasing the Game O' "soon," for the not-unreasonable price of $80.Update: Although all the details are still unclear, Ars Technica got a brief hands-on with the Game O', and states that 3D movement is actually accomplished by a joypad on the left side of the mouse that's controlled with your thumb (they say that the top button, or perhaps second joypad, didn't even work in the demo). Oh, and AT doesn't seem all that thrilled with the whole concept, either.[Via MobileWhack, picture courtesy of 4Gamer]
