Ibex Virtual Reality Desktop Beta For Mac Released 52
New submitter Hesh writes "Ibex, the first cross-platform VR desktop of its kind, was previously released for Linux, and has finally been updated to work on Mac OS X Mountain Lion. Running at a silky smooth 60fps, it is nearing final release and awaiting delivery of the developer Oculus Rift kits for final integration testing. A Windows version may be released in time. The source can be found on bitbucket for the Linux version and iPhone orientation sensor client while the Mac source is to follow soon at the same location."
Re:... Virtual reality on a Mac? (Score:5, Interesting)
On Linux it is actually a compositor. On the Mac you use the built-in compositor to render the desktop to a virtual desktop then allow full interaction with it from the virtual world.
It also adds the ability to work with the Oculus Rift (http://oculusvr.com) so that you actually look around and the companion iPhone app (and as it is open-source any other platform really) will let you navigate. The plan is also to add support for the Leap Motion (https://leapmotion.com) so that you can navigate the world using gestures, look around anywhere you want, and if you want, still get work done.
Imagine you are on a plane, instead of using your puny laptop screen you can use a giant virtual one (or many giant virtual ones). This is just the beginning.
Re:... Virtual reality on a Mac? (Score:4, Interesting)
I watched the video (linked from the home page) and wondered why it was just a flat desktop in a 3D world. I would have expected being able to move windows around in 3D space or at least to be independent of the desktop "square" that was floating there.
Ya well that's more difficult (Score:4, Interesting)
The Occulus VR really isn't very exciting because it doesn't seem to have solved any of the problems that have been present in past "VR glasses" solutions. I think some people forget this idea isn't new and it has been done before.
One of the problems is glasses, that it is somewhat difficult to make the headset in such a way that it easily accommodates people's glasses.
Another one is resolution. Right now the Occulus VR is 640x800 per eye, so quite low rez, just a little over standard definition. With the display being so visually big, that equals really large pixels. They say the final version is supposed to be higher resolution, but with no details, meaning they hope they can do it, not that they have a way to.
Now I'm not saying these, or other, problems are insoluble, but if they aren't solved, it'll really make this less useful and appealing. It also makes it not so different from the stuff in the past, which means it is reasonable to assume it won't succeed.
I like the idea, but so far it strikes me as people who think VR is cool, and don't have any solutions to the problems it faces.