FLASH: IPIX vrs . . QT . . . with Flash

[dave.trautman]

>

"Daniel Votino" <danieldescry [dot] com> asked:

>So then, which is the VRLX Flashed site using, IPIX or QT?

This site is using both.  In some exteriors they are using QTVR� for 

panorama views.

They are using IPIX� for some interiors where you can look in all 

directions (spherical).

I think the interiors are wonderful and this is a perfect application for 

IPIX� and QTVR�.

As an exterior will likely have (at least here on the prairies) plenty of 

sky in a spherical shot then using QTVR� panoramas is quite acceptable.  

[ratio is about 60% sky : 40% horizon in open country around here]


I did see the seams in the IPIX� views I visited.  The photos are taken 

extremely well with the seams running along natural lines in the 

environment.  As QTVR� makes a panel-based set of seams they become 

entirely invisible (unless you have an error in the pictures themselves) 

and the suggestions others have alluded to with respect to the speed of 

IPIX� compared to QTVR� are quite correct.  IPIX� has taken a 

photographic solution to the spherical image and QTVR� have taken a 

(mostly) software solution to the spherical image.  I'm also of the 

opinion that two IPIX� images could likely be used by QTVR� to make a 

spherical view but I haven't tried it.


>Anyone have a comparison to run and how it might relate to future Flashing?

I've made QTVR� objects and panorama images and I've been intrigued with 

the capability of IPIX� as demonstrated on their site with the Capitol 

Building in Washington D.C.


We have to be careful to distinguish between the FLASH� interface to the 

V�R�L�X site and some of it's other media.  And, there's been discussion 

on this list in the past concerning the melding of QuickTime� and FLASH�. 

 Where it makes little or no sense to convert FLASH� content into 

portable QuickTime� content it does make sense to be able to place QT 

media into a FLASH� interface allowing for some "hooks" into manipulating 

it.  As well, I've been expecting Apple� to announce with Macromedia� a 

"codec" for playing FLASH� content within the MoviePlayer� for 

QuickTime�.  QT3 plays vector 3D images and provides shading internally 

so it might not be a stretch for having QT playing the FLASH� vectors and 

having a FLASH� extension in your Mac OS (or DLL for Win98) which 

interprets the clicks.  Heck it's also not a stretch to imagine a FLASH� 

interface for the desktop.  But enough dreaming.


I suspect FLASH� will grow to include other media playback and QT (or 

even IPIX�) will be a part of that.  The challenge lay in the streaming 

of other media along with the streaming FLASH� content.  FLASH� is just 

so much more efficient at delivering full motion and full screen 

interactions _over the web_ than any "movie" format yet made.


IPIX� images are the same of better quality than similarly compressed 

QTVR� images.

It's all in the compression you see, or can't see.


Enough for now.


Dave Trautman

EncycloMEDIA Ltd.

Edmonton, Alberta, Canada



"Never ask a man what sort of computer he drives.  If it's a Mac, he'll 

tell you.  If not, why embarrass him?" 

      � Tom Clancy



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