Thursday 7 June 2007

3D web browser experience with SpaceTime

 

SpaceTime, an innovator of 3D Technology has announced its flagship application which is now available in Beta. SpaceTime is a free consumer PC software application that enables searching, browsing and shopping in an unlimited 3D environment. It makes web surfing a 3D look with visually rich experience. This allows the users to make their best search engines like Google, Yahoo! and eBay look and search in a 3D environment.

 
                      

         Watch an exclusive stunning video....Please wait while the video loads....





SpaceTime revolutionizes the process of web searching with three key functionalities: 3D search, 3D eBay Search and 3D Tabbed browsing.

Download SpaceTime 3D Web Browser Beta .9

 

Sysem Requirements:

OS     : Microsoft Windows XP  Professional  version 5.1 Service Pack 2 (Build 2600)

CPU     : (586/15/401)
Computer    : HYRDWS0217
Memory    :      114 free MB/    1014 total MB physical memory
3D Device    : Intel(R) 82915G/GV/910GL Express Chipset Family - ialmrnt5.dll - \\.\DISPLAY1
Video Memory    :      128 MB
Free Texture Mem    :       60 MB

Features of SpaceTime 3D Browser

1. 3D Search

                    
 Take the case of an ordinary search, which returns a list of links that one have to read the description and click each one at a time. Whereas SpaceTime simultaneously loads 10 results at a time, each in its own window. Using mouse and keyboard, users can quickly and easily filp through the results, re-arrange the pages or manipulate them as desired. This seach supports Google, Yahoo, Google Images, Yahoo!, Yahoo! images, Filckr, eBay and others.

2. 3D eBay Search

SpaceTime has developed a way to make browsing eBay listings more like flipping through an electronic catalog of full-sized images. Users can also explore other retail sites in its 3D space for ease of
comparison shopping.

Ebay Search Options in 3D Browser

  • Place Bid
  • Star Item
  • View Page
  • More Images
  • Compare
  • Remove

3. 3D TABBED BROWSING

                  

Each time you create a new tab, the new page replaces the previous page and the browser creates a tab to keep track of the new page. Clicking these tabs allows you to shuffle among the pages in your browser. In addition, for each URL you enter in the address line, SpaceTime catalogues this by creating an icon on the Timeline which is located at the bottom of the application. Once you have several web pages within SpaceTime, you can shuffle between these pages by clicking the icons on the Timeline.

You can shift between 2D and 3D view of the search results. When in 3D mode, double clicking on the page renders the page to 2D view. Clicking on Back at the right top corner renders to 3D view.

4. 3D Desktop
One of SpaceTime's most fascinating features is the ability to use your unlimitted 3D Space presented to you as beautiful blue skys as a floating 3D desktop. In other words, you can drag or move any item you would like to any position you choose.
Ctrl-Click-Drag - Just choose an image or web page, press the Ctrl key and then click-drag the item you would like to reposition along the X and y axis (up down, left right).
Ctrl-Shift-Click Drag - Just choose an image or web page, press the Ctrl-Shift key and then click drag the item you would like to reposition along the +z and -Z axis (into the background or into the foreground).
Please not that to reposition web pages, you must Ctrl-Click the Menu bar of the 3D web page to initiate teh Ctrl-Click-Drag.

NAVIGATION


Once you have a 3D Visual Stack in front of you, you have several options which are presented to you to move around. They are:
(1) next - advance forward to the next item in the visual stack
(2) previous - go back to the previous item in the visual stack
(3) next 10 - add the next 10 items to the current visual stack
(4) previous 10 - go back 10 pages at a time in the visual stack
(5) Scroll Wheel - You may also use the scrool wheel of your mouse as an alternative to the "next" and "previous" buttons.

Fly around with Keyboard - You can also fly around in SpaceTime (which is really thrilling) and assume any viewpoint you can think of. To Fly, use the up, down, left and right keys. In addition, you can change the style of your up, down, left and right key navigation by choosing the right-click menu > movements > to walk, slide, examine and pan style movements. This is really one of the greatest features of SpaceTime as you have total freedom to move about your space.

SpaceTime Jargon

TIMELINE
When you conduct searches, SpaceTime creates one icon for this new search on the Timeline . Clicking among the icons on the Timeline will allow you to shuffle between your searches.
HISTORY
Most of the functionality in SpaceTime is visible to you as you mouse-over the icons on the screen. By clicking the triangle, it will open the History which reveales three tabs representing three categories (web pages, searches, and pictures). All of the searches you create in SpaceTime are indexed in the Searches Tab.
Right Click Menu
If you are in SpaceTime, in 3D (not in 2D mode) and you click the right button on your mouse, you'll a bunch of commands available to you. One of the menu items on the right-click menu is options which features a list of very useful commands. Let's go over them.
Delete Item - Let's you delete a single item that your mouse's cursor is positioned at. Simply mouse over the item you would like to delete, right-click, choose options and delete item.
Delete Stack - This is similar to delete item, but instead of deleting one image or one web page, delete stack allow you to delete an entire 3D Visual Stack. In addition, if you mouse-over the active icon on the timeline, you'll see a small "x box" in the upper right hand corner of the timeline icon which clicking allows you to accomplish the same Delete Stack command.
Reset Scene - Resets your entire 3D Scene and frees up all you memory. It is equivalent to running the program for the first time.
Refresh Item - Reloads a web page
Save Item As - Saves either your (1) image or (2) web page to your computer's local file system. This is very usefull for 3D Image searches where you are able to save the images that you find right from within SpaceTime.

What about Security Issues?

SpaceTime guys have produced a solid and navigable environment. It carries your browser security settings over to its program. So, it is as secure as your browser (IE7, firefox). It was announced that the security settings within SpaceTime would be in their upcoming release.

Shortcuts Using SpaceTime

           Feature                      Shortcut Key

Walk                           Ctrl+shift+W               
Slide                           Ctrl+shift+S
Examine                         Ctrl+shift+E                
Fly                              Ctrl+shift+F
Pan                             Ctrl+shift+W               
Jump                                    F3
Straighten                  UpCtrl+shift+U           
Collision                       Ctrl+shift+C
Gravity                        Ctrl+shift+G            
Force Movement          Ctrl+shift+R
Preference Control               F9                  
Save Screenshot                  F11

My Experience with SpaceTime

I have selected eBay search option from the drop-down menu in SpaceTime, the search result offers you more options compared to other searches with a 3D visual experience. Along with these options, you can manipulate the view page, Place Bid, Star Item, the comparision and look for more images. You need to click these hyperlinks and initiate actions to use these features.

What are looking for...? Just Download the SpaceTime Beta version and enjoy the 3D experience of searching and shopping right in your desktop.

Download SpaceTime 3D Web Browser Beta .9