Flux Mashes Itself Into Google Maps
Media Machines, which makes the browser-based 3D Flux Player (Windows only) and Flux Studio (both free), has an interesting mashup on its site that combines a Flux window with Google Maps. Click on the map marker and a 3D model of the buildings there pops up in a Flux Player window. The new Flux Studio 2.0 can now natively import the KML files that are used in Google Earth (but not yet export), allowing Flux users to get models created in SketchUp or listed on SketchUp’s 3D Warehouse into their browser-based 3D scenes.
The mashup is a cool effect and good proof of concept, but it’s still clumsy relative to just looking at the same thing in Google Earth. Flux is coming along, but slowly. Besides native KML support, the team recently added support for 2D layers, making graphical overlays and heads-up displays possible, and is working on better avatars and adding multi-user support. Look for a complete package maybe this summer.
Flux runs in X3D, the contemporary version of VRML. If it gets a significant amount of refinement over the next year it could become a nice browser-based 3D tool. But there are so many competitors out there — you can even make a whole browser-based 3D MMO like Runescape just in Java — that it remains to be seen where Flux can gain a foothold. Things are moving forward, though.
Feeds
It’s tough to contest the price of Flux Studio 2.0, though. Originally, Spazz 3D, Victor and Parisi have been doggedly faithful to the X3D/VRMLers by investing in the development using their funds from other ventures while continuing to support the authors with a kick-bunnies editor. You can’t fault them for having a decent streak in the all too rare 3D markets these days.
Also, the features are really good. You can spend a week on the multi-texturing. Sure, other tools do it, but not too often at these prices. Having started with VRML 1.0 and PFE, graduated to the now sadly deadware V-Realm Builder (still using it too - the good thing about the stability of VRML is the tools keep working long after the companies disappear), I love the guys at Media Machines for making it possible to keep building even when the nights are long and the money is short.
Foothold? Heck, they have a whole ladder and an open window where the VRML community is concerned.
How can I create these flux mash up like in this example:
http://www.mediamachines.com/maps/
I create some 3D buildings. So I want to show them like is shown in this example.