Microsoft Buys Caligari To Pimp Up Virtual Earth
Erick Schonfeld
23 comments »
Microsoft’s Virtual Earth just added some serious 3-D modeling and animation chops. It bought Caligari, a small company that makes 3-D modeling and animation software. Terms were not disclosed.
Caligari’s trueSpace software renders lifelike environments with a consumer-friendly user-interface. Presumably, this software will be integrated into Virtual Earth, and will allow users to add fine detail to specific locations. Caligari also has software for creating fly-through animations, which could come in handy as well. (Check this one out).
Microsoft already has some impressive 3-D modeling technology that it is applying to entire cities within Virtual Earth, and this will complement that. But in some ways, this is a catch-up move. Back in March, 2006, Google bought SketchUp, 3-D modeling software that can now be used to place 3-D objects inside Google Earth. Caligari, like Sketchup, I see more as a software tool for consumers to use to add their own 3-D spaces to these virtual environments.
Here are some more Caligari screen shots.
ar-oh … the giant is awakening
Nice but I hope Caligari will eventually develop ‘real world’ pics. I’m sorta tired of entering another Sims/Second Life type world. Useless to me if I’m mapping a shop or location.
The true is that Microsoft is monopolizing all the markets quickly to become in the # 1 techno-giant.
This may be off the point but it is interesting to note with all the support we techies gave to Obama, Obama still loses Silicon Valley to Clinton
http://www.news.com/8301-13578.....ag=nl.e703
Did MS Virtual Earth buy this specifically or we just assuming that that is where they will use it?
@Obama loses Silicon Valley to Clinton
Funny that she won by a larger margin than as a state as a whole! Looks like that TC endorsement was about as useful to Obama as the Kennedy one was in MA. Can’t say that it is totally a surprise though. After all, the Obama video girl didn’t even vote. Much easier to be enthusiastic sitting on your ass browsing myspace and watching youtube than to go out into the meatspace and vote. Way too analog man.
The attachment of this post has just killed my RSS reader … argh
Sketchup is much better, MS is again late too the party.
Why didn’t they think of buying Sketchip first? Or maybe buy AutoDesk instead of wasting cash on Yahoo?
Well if MS is not doing it I think Google should buy AutoDesk+Intuit and start financing versions for Mac and Linux. That will hurt MS more than Google’s recent efforts with Google Docs. If anything, Google should also buy SoftMaker Office and offer it as a free download. In the future they can integrate it with Google Docs.
“In some ways, this is a catch-up move. Back in March, 2006, Google bought SketchUp”
Wrong - have you developed any apps for either platform?
VE is technically superior in many ways compared to google earth - sketchup has not been very popular and frankly speaking, is a mediocre modeling tool;
Gmaps API is better than live maps, but VE is hands down superior to GEarth;
Not to mention VE already has a 3d modeling environment built in, and it’s been there a while - 3DVIA
I said this on another blog. I have used Caligari’s TrueSpace when I was in High-school. It wasn’t really big then also. I mean, it’s not possible for them to catch-up to 3DS Max or Maya… (TS is, of course, not as costly as Maya, so they may be targeting different markets). Anyways, glad they’ll get acquired, and hope that MS does something awesome after the acqusition…
- hobnobLover.
http://www.hobnobLover.com/
It seems likely that Microsoft might have made this acquisition for it’s Xbox division, to counter what Sony has been putting together for Playstation Home:
http://www.engadget.com/2007/0.....-revealed/
Interessting. The guy from the german blog redmondspy stated that microsoft announced last year something like a Second Life or Sony Home competitor. So … truePlace from Caligari could be the base for this …
http://redmondspy.blogspot.com.....igari.html
I would love to see this technology make it into there Silverlight framework. It currently lacks a 3D engine and developers currently need to fake 3d which is really difficult.
Im wondering if this technology will make Silverlight technically more advanced than Flash for 3D (which i believe flash also uses fake 3D to achieve the effect)
I think some research needs to be done here Eric. You missed that Microsoft is now reentering the 3d market again with this purchase they owned Softimage before.
Truespace is an aweful 3d app in my book. They could of made their own cheaper I bet.
I believe the acquisition will allow MSFF to better render 3-D objects/buildings etc with an intent to spruce up rendering for ad insertions and placements.
After all, the Obama video girl didn’t even vote.
Why don’t they buy the Crysis engine and integrate it into IE8. That would fit right in with their master plan of bloating software until 3 year old hardware can barely run it.
One good move.
Caligari has a good package in the name of trueSpace not very popular in the 3d world but with some powerful features. Obviously trueSpace is no match for 3ds Max, Maya or XSI. But it is the right move into a powerful market.
Compared to SketchUp, Caligari’s trueSpace is like the coolest girl in class. In this case there are some other very pretty girls in the school.
………
1 point for quality goes to Microsoft
1 point for timing goes to Google
Caligari was at one time a cutting edge 3D software package. It has improved slightly over the years but has really shown is age in the last few years.
That being said I think Microsoft made a good move. The 3D industry is growing and it is better to get in with door relatively early. It will be interesting to see how MS handles the product. Does trueSpace go away and mutate into something else like expression?
That’s why i believe, MOST of the times..
SMALL companies INNOVATE and CONGLOMERATES acquire..
We consider this as a very interesting move on the market. Slowly real time 3D will become more and more popular thanks to giants like MS and Google.
At SquareClock, we are preparing a nice solution for mass market also.
your feedbacks are very welcome:
See http://www.squareclock.com
You can model in Virtual Earth right now - just right click on the map in 3D model and select “Add 3D Model” it will launch the install for the free 3DVIA application that was mentioned earlier.