3Dconnexion Extends Support for SpaceNavigator Device to Macs

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3Dconnexion has announced immediate availability of its beta software for use of its SpaceNavigator 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 SketchUp.

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 3DxMacWare 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.

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