X3D Gets KML Translator
3D tech co. Media Machines has a press release announcing the release of its new KML-to-X3D translator for creating 3D browsable content that can be linked from Google Earth. The tool essentially takes KML models, like those found in Google’s 3D Warehouse full of SketchUp models, and translates it to the X3D open standard for 3D browsing. I’m not terribly impressed by what I’ve seen of X3D so far; the Google Earth-X3D mashup that Media Machines flags on its site “takes you to the Statue of Liberty, where a link launches FLUX Player running inside Google Earth’s embedded web browser!” Only it doesn’t, since my default browser is Firefox, and this needs IE. And in any case, when I did download the FLUX player and finally got the page to load, I found myself orbiting the Statue of Liberty in a Web browser (not in Google Earth’s browser, for some reason) while fireworks bloomed behind her and some music played. Seems like something you could do more easily in Flash. So I’m skeptical, but I’m willing to be convinced. It seems like there must be more impressive demonstrations than this. This disaster response app seems like it might take better advantage of the format, but it’s hard to tell. I’d love to see it in action.
Feeds
Mark,
Hi.
1. If your not seeing the fluxscene in the google earth browser than you dont have it set to launch urls in the browser. Check your options- default IS set to launch inside the browser.:)
2. Firefox plugin is coming very soon.
3. www.thex3dxperience.com offers many more demos done in x3d and using flux. They all run rings around google earths renderer and what uou may not be getting about this one day made demo is that all of this is open standards, and offering capabilities for web usage/ movie linking/audio/hyperlinking etc, directx shaders etc. that cannot be had in google earth or many ” closed” web3d solutions over the last few years.
best:)
Larry R.\cube3
Founder - SFWEB3D
cube3.com
Thanks, Larry, that’s good stuff, I will check out 3dexperience. Yep, I get the open-standards bit, and I’m confident that will be a factor in driving innovation. As I say, I’m totally willing to be convinced. Looking forward to seeing more.
give us a hollar anytime;)….. have over 10 years of realtime 3d virtual worlds projects under our belts…:)
so we know a wee bit:)
over the decade ive used and seen every 3d realtime tech come and go, our www.Starbasec3.com site stands since 1997 and was on AOL, its a web3d showcase of technologies used for chat, games, trade, commerce, and avatar sales and design since way back then.:)some gone/ some still around….mostly the open standards stuff is around:)
and those models/ avatars still sell today ..:)
larryr
c3