CIMdata PLM Industry Summary Online Archive
10 January 2007
Product News
3Dconnexion Extends Support for SpaceNavigator Device to Macintosh Computers
3Dconnexion, a Logitech company, announced immediate availability of its beta software for use of its SpaceNavigatorT device with Mac® OS X. The SpaceNavigator, a three-dimensional navigation device, offers 3D designers and enthusiasts intuitive and powerful 3D navigational control. 3Dconnexion plans to offer the final version of the software by the end of March 2007. The software will ship with the SpaceNavigator device, enabling it to work with select 3D applications on the Mac, including Google SketchUpT.
"We are excited about putting our popular SpaceNavigator device in the hands of the Mac community," said Rory Dooley, president of 3Dconnexion. "Combined with the renowned graphics power of the Macintosh, the SpaceNavigator device provides a breakthrough experience for 3D users."
"The legendary power and stability of Mac OS X, combined with innovative features like OpenGL support, make Mac OS X an outstanding 3D graphics platform," said Ron Okamoto, Apple's vice president of Worldwide Developer Relations. "We're thrilled to see 3Dconnexion's SpaceNavigator device harness the features of Mac OS X and the power of our Intel-based Macs to help design professionals create new 3D worlds."
A companion to the mouse, and held in the alternate hand, the SpaceNavigator device significantly reduces the number of times people need to switch tools to manipulate 3D imagery, increasing productivity. In addition, people can use the device to simultaneously pan, zoom and rotate 3D objects, which is not possible with a mouse and keyboard alone. People who use multiple 3D applications can appreciate how the SpaceNavigator device unifies the unique navigation systems of each application into a single easy-to-use device.
3D designers, students, educators and enthusiasts who have a SpaceNavigator device can participate in the public beta program by downloading the Universal Binary-Compliant driver for Macintosh, 3DxMacWare, at www.3Dconnexion.com. Participants must be running Mac OS X 10.4.6 or later and must have an available 10 MB of disk space and USB 1.1 or 2.0.
Initially, the 3DxMacWareT public beta will support Google SketchUp 6.0, Autodesk® Maya® 7 and above (with MelScripts available from 3Dconnexion) and auto.des.sys form.Z© 6.1 (must have 3DxMacWare plus the downloadable plug-in from the form.Z Web site). Additional Mac-based 3D applications will be added as the beta program progresses. By the end of March 2007, 3Dconnexion's SpaceNavigator device will ship with the 3DxMacWare.
3Dconnexion's SpaceNavigator device will be demonstrated in 3Dconnexion's booth (#4014) at the Macworld Conference & Expo in San Francisco, January 8-12; and at the 2007 International Consumer Electronics Show in Las Vegas, January 8-11, in Logitech's booth, #35512 in the South Hall.
Pricing and Availability
The SpaceNavigator PE (personal edition) has a suggested retail price of $59. The personal edition license supports non-commercial use of the device and offers online technical support only. The SpaceNavigator SE (standard edition) has a suggested retail price of $99. The standard edition license comes with an unrestricted user's license and 2-years of full support (Web, e-mail and phone). Upgrades from SpaceNavigator PE to SpaceNavigator SE licenses are $40 and are available online at http://www.3Dconnexion.com .
SpaceNavigator is available through major online resellers, including Amazon and CDW; a network of value added resellers; and directly from 3Dconnexion at www.3Dconnexion.com.
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