The 'relighting' technique that was being demonstrated is fairly standard - I guess most architects already do this (or should do?) when rendering 3D visualisations. The rpf file format export was very clever indeed - shame it locks you down to using just 3DS Max and Combustion (yuck). Never been a big fan of Combustion, but that's kind of a 'given' working in a VFX studio - where it is very much looked down on. Apple's Shake is now only $500, and is much, much more powerful. I've been using Digital Fusion a lot recently, too, which is great - direct import of fbx and obj meshes, including textures, to your compositing package. Woo!

Could be good for those of us who work at home. Mount a monitor on it and we could stay in bed & work. Replace the bedside table with a beer fridge and it would be a great 'office'.

Very cool stuff...but someone should mention SketchUp to him. http://steampunkworkshop.com/telegraph.shtml

Thx for the heads-up! Will DL it and give it a spin sometime.

no problem.. I should have known a lil more about it... but the words free hack and music just sent me down the wrong road... and this place being new I didn't want to see a precedent... now all I need is a wee? well I have a wee here but its not to be played with like that....

Ross, It would be great if you could run google earth & sketchup on there.

Some pics of the Carver Test Drive last week Great fun at 40 degree tilts around Roundabouts Mike [image: smallCarver%20One%20test%20Drive.jpg]

True holding your pen still when right clicking is frustrating. With my MX1000 Laser mouse I can customise all 11 functions to any program, you only need the numpad off your keyboard then for entering parameters, works fast as hell. On top of that I have my mouse speed spettings set at a ridiculous high level, when people sit behind my computer they ALWAYS lose the mouse because off the speed, so minimal movement maximum efficiency, relieves the strain on your wrist after a serious CAD session.

People, please try to stick to the topic of the thread.

It got the looks of a great big mean bug.. Mike can you share something you did see in London ??

Modelhead -- When this same topic came up earlier in the Google's SU forums (The thread is here) the article talked about how the system could use electricity to run the motor as a compressor or switched over so the compressed air could generate electricity. In that other thread I wrote about how maybe a variation on the systems could be developed to generate electricity from the tides. I was thinking about Canada's huge tides on our Bay of Fundy area near where I live. edit- sorry this thread no longer exists on the old Google SketchUp Forum.

Thanks guys. gksl4 that is what I was doing going for the storage more than going for the speed. I have a 7200RPM in my desktop.

quote="Maggy"] My guess is the poor girl has no hands at all and someone else is holding up the phone. Can't believe that could be actually her hand, even the skin tone is nothing like her face. [/quote] Clicking on the picture takes you to a blog that has another pic with her hand. I think it belongs to her. Yikes! Cool phone.

Here are some more case mods... http://www.gizmodo.com/gadgets/case-mods/ I espically like the dead letter, beer, doom and bikini. Edit Here is where the Japanese case mod was first unveiled. http://www.extremetech.com/article2/0,1558,1898200,00.asp

The $1,564.37 USD price for pre-orders is rather expensive. Still, it is very cool. I like their 12-button panel they say will be available in 2008. Regards, Ross

The kind of charge needed to run 350 miles being replenished in 10 minutes would probably cause quite a bit of heat, don't think those batteries will last too long after a few repeat 10 min charges. Anyhows, what do I know, not a scientist by a long shot, just an opinion.

Mike - this is also a pretty cool phone. [image: blackjack.jpg] but you need the 3G network. cheers john

Very cool technology! My wife and I also invest in green companies....it's cool to know that my ultimate bosses do the same! On a side note, the Google campus in California has one of the largest solar arrays in North America! Check it out in Google Earth...tons of solar panels power the campus. Thanks for sharing, Mike! Cheers, - CraigD

does it run on mac?

Love that KtraK bike Ross!! Could have used that kit here in Colorado all last week! - CraigD