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2010.09.12
The purchase cost of Tactile 3D has been reduced. Please see the authorize page for details.
2010.09.11
The Tactile 3D licence now allows two machine installs per key plus a single backup copy. It used to
be only one. The new licence may also be applied to earlier versions of the software if you don't want to
download the most recent 1.4.0 version.
2010.09.10
Tactile 3D V1.4.0 now officially supports Windows 7. It's still a 32bit application, but has been tested on
64bit (x64) installs.
2007.05.15
Tactile 3D now supports 3Dconnexion® devices like the Space Navigator™.
Read more about them out at www.3dconnexion.com. These devices are very
accurate and it's a lot of fun to boot around in Tactile with them.
In addition, this release supports improved thumbnail quality, and a newer sound driver.
Check out the Change List for the details.
2006.11.01
A shiny new theme to go along with a shiny new release is available. The Baut theme can now be
downloaded by all authorized users. In addition, there is a new version of Tactile 3D,
version 1.3.5, with new features and various other improvements. Here's the precis:
Directory Shortcuts : Directory link files (shortcuts) are now much more powerful. When you double-click one the file-system tree is traversed to get to the destination directory instead of just opening an explorer window. Selecting 'open' will still launch an explorer window if desired.
Skyboxes During Evaluation : Skyboxes may now be used while still evaluating the product.
Thumbnail Generation Speed : Another speedup and quality improvement to initial thumbnail generation.
Stadium Sorting by Default : Changed the default sorting shape to Stadium for previously unvisited locations. A method of allowing user-specified default arrangments is still forthcoming.
Baut Theme Avavilable : Was this mentioned before?
The full list of changes, including bug fixes and other details, is available in the Change List.
2006.09.22
Sky-boxes, sky-boxes, sky-boxes!
Cubed3 has converted their huge collection of sky-boxes to Tactile 3D's
box format. Simply download the one you want and place it in the Tactile 3D 'Skyboxes' folder. There are over 150
to choose from!
The next release of Tactile 3D will probably allow skyboxes to be used even for the evaluation version. Other
ongoing work includes a theme-building kit for authorized users as well as a new theme. Stay tuned.
2006.08.15
Version 1.2.7 is now available. This minor update addresses a number of not-so-minor issues:
Texture Quality : Wired skybox textures are now much higher quality and less blurry.
Thumbnail Generation Speed : Significantly faster initial thumbnail and icon generation.
Skybox Tool : The skybox tool now handles more image file types including dds files.
Fixed AVI Thumbnail Bug : Fixed bug where AVI and other movie thumbnails were showing up black.
Driver Lighting Workaround : Workaround for an issue with some graphics card drivers causing objects to be lit unintentionally.
Squirrel Script : Began integrating the Squirrel scripting language into Tactile 3D. This work is ongoing.
For a more detailed description of the changes take a peek at the Change List.
2006.06.14
Version 1.2.5 is now available. Authorized users now have access to the Tactile 3D Skybox Creation Tool. Screenshots of various skyboxes
are forthcoming, but there are a couple already posted in the forums. A good collection of skybox textures can be found at
cubed3. Other improvements include:
Easier Upgrade : No need to uninstall the previous version. Just run the installer. It will automatically authorize the product using the previous key.
Bug Fixes : Some stability related bugs have been fixed and minor features like loading splash-screen.
2006.03.12
PayPal is now available as an alternative payment method. Authorization keys get sent as soon as the transaction clears; which is immediate in
most cases but may take longer for eChecks. Direct immediate payment via InternetSecure is still available.
2006.02.16
A tutorial video,
Using Tactile 3D to manage image content
, is now available in the
documention area. It shows how photos taken with a digital camera may be transferred from
the memory card, viewed, and managed by Tactile 3D.
2006.02.08
A tutorial video,
Using Tactile 3D to manage audio content
, is now available in the
documention area. Hope it gives you some ideas.
2006.02.02
Version 1.1.4 of Tactile 3D is now available for download. It features all of the improvements
listed below. A complete list of changes is available in the
Change List Document.
Get the free download from the download area.
The press release for these improvements may be
found here.
Have fun organizing your audio CDs and mp3 files in 3D!
2006.01.27
The next release is about a week away. So what's new and exciting? Well, this release will offer
better support for viewing, organizing, and listening to audio files and audio CDs. You will be able
to organize your music in 3D. Tactile 3D will support the CDDB protocol and connect
to www.freedb.org or a mirror that supports the protocol. This will
allow album names and song titles, as well as other relevant information like genre, artist, and year,
to be displayed inside the 3D environment. Playing an entire CD will be possible by right-clicking and
selecting "open" on the audio CD sphere. Improvements are not limited to audio however. Here is a
short list:
Better Hidden Directory Rendering : Hidden directories currently show the objects inside as completely opaque. They will appear appropriately semitransparent in the next release.
Ability to Tweak the Control System : The ability to set how much mouse movement will cause rotations will be present. Additionally an overall sensitivity setting will be provided for those that demand faster response times.
Mute Persistent Sounds Option : You will be able to mute the continuous sound effects. This is useful if audio is being played while navigating withing Tactile 3D. One-shot transient effects will still get played.
Improved Cache Performance : Improved cache performance when lots of thumbnails have been generated. CD information will also be cached to reduce web traffic and allow disc information to be displayed even if the internet connection is lost.
Better Documentation and some Bug Fixes : The boring but important stuff. Some of that will be done as well.
2005.12.26
An AVI movie showing Tactile 3D in operation is now available. Work on the user manual has been started. The user manual
explains all of Tactile 3D's options and key bindings. Both of these items are available
on the documentation page.
2005.12.01
The Wired theme press release has just gone live. You can read the official statement
here:
www.prweb.com/releases/2005/12/prweb316640.htm
There is now also a documentation page on this
web site. Currently the content of interest is an
interface design article and the Tactile 3D read-me.
2005.10.25
Good news on two fronts. The Wired theme is now available to authorized users.
Additionally, the cost of authorizing has been reduced to $29.95USD. Screenshots of the new theme
are available on the images page.
The new core installer is required before installing the new theme. This installer includes a number
of small bug-fixes such as better thumbnail generation as well as being able to render the sky box;
a requirment of the new theme.
2005.10.25
Development of the Wired theme continues. A new screenshot is viewable
from the images page. Work on an
upgrade build is also progressing. The upgrade will contain small enhancements like
the ability to adjust control speed plus a few other minor enhancements.
For those who have authorized their copies of Tactile 3D, thank you. Your
key will work with the upgraded version as well as allow the download of the new
Wired theme.
2005.10.11
The Tactile 3D press release
has hit the wire. Read it
here.
2005.10.07
Release! What more is there to say? Version 1.0.1 is now available for download!
2005.07.29
Beta-testing is winding down and initial release preparations are under way! The beta team did an awesome job
helping improve this product. Currently the goal is to release on October 11, 2005. T3D will ship with a single
theme, Orbis. A second theme, Wired, should be completed within a month of release. It will be
available as an add-on to those who authorize the product.
2005.07.29
Well, Tactile 3D is now in beta. The beta test list is closed. Exciting but scary. On the path to a release.
2005.07.19
How does that saying go? Good things come to those that wait? Progress is steady on the art side, but a beta is probably still
a week and a half away. It will not be a public beta, so those on the beta-test list will be the most affected.
Thanks for all your patience!
2005.06.28
A week or so more and Tactile 3D will be Beta. Hopefully it will be a solid one and release can be expected within 6 weeks or so after beta.
In the mean time, the 2005.06.28 screenshot is worth looking at. In terms of
development too much has happened to comment on it all. A partial list includes: an LOD system, impostored geometry, a skybox,
all major file moving and copying functionality, and more SFX.
2005.03.05
There hasn't been an update here in a while because development has taken a front seat. So far the "secret hope" of the
previous news item is not out of the question. Also, check out this
article at web3Dnews about Tactile 3D.
2005.01.07
Many of the buttons on models are... well, nearly working. There is now a quick select mode allowing the file or
directory name to be typed, narrowing the selection as you type. Some work on trying to get the rendering speed up.
Selected files, folders, and drives get detailed information displayed underneath their models. Other stuff too.
Just thought some kind of update would be a good idea. Work is still progressing :) Secretly hoping for a beta within
the next 3 months. Take a look at the 2005.01.07 screenshot.
