Aladdin 4D

Over 1 Billion Served

2009-04-24T08:28:00.000-07:00

It's always nice to witness the birth of a new platform (iPhone). The speed of over a billion apps downloaded from the App Store is amazing. It just illustrates the changing landscape of software development and the nature of technological excellence. If you build good tech customers will quickly come. Software development today is a very different world then days gone past when Aladdin 4D was originally created. We watch and hope and dream for better days in the future.

Promoting the Competition?

2009-04-23T10:06:00.000-07:00

We don't normally promote 3D Animation software from our competitors but this little package is just too cool not to mention. GroBoto is an amazing rendering package and it only costs $79! Don't forget to try out the 30 day demo version. GroBoto can be a software treat for you to enjoy while your waiting for new versions of Aladdin 4D. Buy for Mac OS X & Windows via the link below.

GroBoto

Resurrection Almost Complete!

2009-04-19T14:14:00.001-07:00

You may have noticed the Aladdin 4D Blog has been kind of quite lately. Hard work has been going on behind the scenes though cleaning and updating code. Your patience is appreciated and the first on the new versions is getting closer to release. The resurrection of Aladdin 4D is pushing forward!

NVidia 240 GPU Tesla Monster

2009-03-08T21:55:00.001-07:00

NVidia is working on some very exciting 240 multicore GPU tech that future versions of Aladdin 4D may take advantage of. We will be researching and exploring this evolving technology. Learn more via the link below.

NVidia Tesla

Magic Toolbar

2009-03-08T21:48:00.000-07:00

Aladdin 4D's Toolbar will be changing in the next version. The greyscale drab toolbar pictured here will be gone. It will be replaced with a user configurable toolbar that will allow you to create your own images for the various tools. There will also be an option to just display text in case you want to read what the tool does, text what a concept!

Trick Contest Question Announced on ART # 38

2009-03-08T16:40:00.000-07:00

We announced the trick Aladdin 4D origins question on Amiga Round Table Episode #38. Please listen to that episode and join the A4D Blog as a follower to win the contest. You will have to do a little digging to win and the first one that answers the question right wins a free Aladdin 4D. If you feel you have the right answer please leave it in the comments section of this blog entry. For your convenience we have provided a direct link to episode #38 below.

ART Episode #38

Just a Little Hash?

2009-03-05T22:47:00.000-08:00

A few of you have asked why we sometimes veer off topic on the Aladdin 4D Blog. It's suppose to be about that damn Aladdin 4D after all right? What you don't know is that we do it on purpose and it was slightly inspired by Martin Hashes Minutes. Who is that? Martin Hash is the CEO of Hash Inc. and they have been creating 3D animation software since the late 1980's on the Amiga. Today they are a Windows/Mac shop but they started before many others. Martin used to write some very creative and interesting minutes before Blog times. He too veered off topic many many times! Find out more about Hash Inc. below and get a sample of Martin's Minutes. Thanks Martin for inspiring us just little. Maybe you could make all your minutes available on the web again for everyone to enjoy?

Links

Hash Inc.

Martin's Minutes

Wired Interview With Martin Hash

Win a Copy of Aladdin 4D!

2009-03-04T23:32:00.000-08:00

Aladdin 4D Contest

Become a Follower on the Aladdin 4D Blog and get a chance to win a copy of Aladdin 4D for free. Sometime this week we will be asking a trick question. It's hard but not too hard and one lucky winner will win a copy of the software if they answer the question first. Only people that have signed up as Followers to this site will have the opportunity, so join soon if you want to win. Members of DiscreetFX and Amiga Round Table don't qualify for the contest but the winner will be announced on a future episode of Amiga Round Table.

We want to personally thank everyone that has believed in Aladdin 4D and new versions are shipping Q2 2009.

Dreaming in Amiga OS 4.1

2009-03-04T13:08:00.000-08:00

Even though many people don't realize it yet. Amiga OS 4.1 has come out for a surprising amount of motherboards. First the Amiga One, then the MicroA1. Pegasos 2, SAM 440, and the list keeps growing. We hope this tread continues because it gives 4.1 more traction and awareness in the marketplace. Unlike other Amiga developers that have long abandoned Amiga OS we feel Aladdin 4D has a pleasant future on the platform. Of courses Aladdin 4D will also be available for other operating systems but any 3D animation app should follow that philosophy. 3D animation software is still such a niche that being on many systems helps assure your success as a developer. Customer choice it seems is a very good thing. The age old myth is certainty no longer true. Which myth is that? The one that states if you just port your software to Windows you are going to be a millionaire. Caligari Truespace's almost death then acquisition by Microsoft squashes that theory, at least when it comes to 3D animation software.

But back to Amiga OS 4.1. We dream of what hardware support is coming down the pike for this great OS? Will it be ARM, PS3, the dreaded but now much improved x86? What hardware would you love to run Amiga OS 4.1 and Aladdin 4D on? Please give some feedback, we would very much like to know.

AROS Powered Desktop Computer Now A Reality!

2009-03-03T19:24:00.000-08:00

Many of you are aware that Aladdin 4D will be the first commercial 3D animation package for AROS. We are looking forward to the AROS version of Aladdin 4D and customers that buy a iMica System will be able to take full advantage of it. The specs for iMica are impressive and the founders of the company have deep roots in the Amiga market in the past. Should be an awesome turn key AROS system that customers will love. Further information about iMica can be found via the link below.

iMica

Removing the Weave

2009-03-03T14:44:00.000-08:00

Do you feel like your woven into the Windows world without a choice? Does being a servant of the monopoly no longer please you? Fear not operating system user dying to be free! The marginalization of the Windows Empire continues at a record pace. Now if you need to run Windows applications on Linux or Mac OS X you don't even need a copy of the OS! Codeweavers CrossOver product might just be all that's required!

In a nutshell, you have three main choices:

Dual-booting: running two separate operating systems on one PC, and switching between them as needed by rebooting. Applications such as Apple's Bootcamp allow this to occur on a Mac OS X machine, for example.
Running a virtual machine: Emulation products such as VMware and Parallels allow you to run a full version of the Windows OS inside a program running on your native operating system. The Windows applications essentially run in a separate "box within a box."
Running Wine or CrossOver: Unlike emulation, Wine is a re-implementation of the Win32 API, allowing applications to run as if natively on the target OS. CrossOver is a commercialized version of Wine. More info and access to a 30 day trail via the link below.

CrossOver

More Mac & More Pro

2009-03-03T07:00:00.001-08:00

Apple updated several of their systems today. Their market share continues to grow and they go from strength to strength even in this down economy. Mac OS X growth and adoption helps all alternative operating systems. It's also one of the important elements to the future of Aladdin 4D. More choice and diversification in the marketplace is always a good thing.

Links

New Apple Mac's

The Blue Butterfly will soon land on the MacMini!

2009-02-26T16:20:00.000-08:00

Many of you already know the blue butterfly is set to land on PowerPC MacMini's very soon. This is exciting news and extends MorphOS to more mainstream hardware. Apple sold millions of PPC MacMini's but now focuses their efforts on Intel Mac's. This abandoned platform architecture is a great place for MorphOS 3.0 to land on. The more places the butterfly lands the more people that will get a chance to enjoy the MorphOS version of Aladdin 4D.

Linux we Love You!

2009-02-26T12:13:00.001-08:00

We wanted to take a moment and officially announce that we are going to release a Linux version of Aladdin 4D in the future. We were a little on the fence about this when we announced the Aladdin 4D acquisition and we apologize for that. Linux is an important part of Aladdin 4D's future and it's a great OS. Many of our old customers have asked for this since they are now using Linux as their primary operating system. The Multi-Platform strategy of Aladdin 4D allows us to support diverse operating systems this way. Of course we would feel evil and strange selling a Windows version so you will always get that version for free when you buy one of the other operating system A4D's including Linux.

More Mind's Eye Inspiration

2009-02-26T11:43:00.000-08:00

As we have previously stated on the Blog the founder of the company was inspired by 3D animation art from the Amiga and the Mind's Eye video from the early 1990's. Back then all the animations were done on high-end multi-million dollar 3D software packages. Today you can achieve the same thing using off the shelf software if your creative. Sadly the Mind's Eye VHS video never made it to DVD. Please enjoy this YouTube video of some of the animations from it. Maybe you can be inspired and create some new Aladdin 4D videos based on what you see here.

After The Software Wars

2009-02-24T12:45:00.000-08:00

A fascinating view on the possible future of software by Keith Curtis. Keith is a vetern programmer and shares his views on software development and it's future.

Book Description:

Given the technology that's already available, we should have cars that drive us around, in absolute safety, while we lounge in the back and sip champagne. This book explains how we can build better software and all get our own high-tech chauffeur.

Link to Buy Book

After The Software Wars

Netbooks killing off sickly Windows PC sales

2009-02-20T19:26:00.001-08:00

We would like to wrap up our week discussing Netbooks which will be an important platform for the Linux version of Aladdin 4D. Our No Microsoft week won't start until Monday so expect a little Windows mention in the article linked below. As time races to the future Windows becomes less and less relevant to emerging computer markets.

Link

Netbooks

No Microsoft Week Coming Up!

2009-02-20T16:35:00.001-08:00

Next week we are declaring a non-Microsoft week. What that means is the Aladdin 4D Blog will only discuss issues that are not about Microsoft. Maybe we will talk about..... Aladdin 4D for example. It should be a fun and informative week.

Stay Tuned...................

Link

Windows

Microsoft sued over profiteering from XP downgrades!

2009-02-18T16:41:00.001-08:00

Talk about sticking it to the customer during hard economic times. Want a new computer with Windows XP? If it's not a Netbook Microsoft will make you pay even more for it. They claim the extra cost is because you have rights to a higher end version of Vista, like Ultimate for example. But.... hello!!! Microsoft the customer does not want any version of Vista, ever! That is why they are requesting XP. Finally a brave woman is suing them over this ridiculous practice. MS is trying to spin it that they don't profit from downgrades but do you believe that? Congrats to Emma Alvarado for being brave enough to seek justice on this stupid money grubbing tactic. Crazy stuff like this reinforces the fact that we are on the right track not selling a version of Aladdin 4D for Windows.

Microsoft Getting Sued Again

Windows Plague!

2009-02-17T14:42:00.000-08:00

A new Windows worm has been making the rounds on the internet. Last count was over ten million PC's infected and counting. This is one of the dangers that having most people running one insecure operating systems causes. We feel really bad for anyone that gets infected with Conflicker. They should be more open to alternative and more secure operating systems in the future.

The future is about transparency, openness, customers running applications on the operating system of their choice and web based and or web aware software. If you use Windows and have "AutoRun" turn on it might be best to turn it off since that is one of the ways Conflicker spreads itself. Nightmare situations like this shows how dated and old Windows is. That is why we don't focus on the Windows version of Aladdin 4D and will only offer it included for free when you buy one of the other versions. Windows will be used less and less in the future.

Links

Network World

ComputerWorld

Digital Breast Feeding

2009-02-14T09:30:00.001-08:00

The Platform Aladdin 4D comes from (Amiga) has often been misunderstood. Like the great Leonardo da Vinci the Amiga was way ahead of it's time and did things that are even now just being understood. When it came out in 1985 other competitors spent lots of money on marketing calling it only a game machine and a toy. They lived in fear that something so far ahead would destroy their primitive less visionary products. Customers, which are most of the time pawns of huge marketing machines, also fell victim to these beliefs. The computer industry did not mind sucking at the Amiga breast while they dismissed it. Today's computers are much better thanks to the Amiga and this idea suckling. Today's Amiga scene is somewhat in chaos with several offshoots competing for that original ideal (Amiga OS 4.1, MorphOS 2.2, AROS, Amiga Virtual Machine).

This is ok and we are just glad that the Amiga exists in any form in the modern world. Those that did their best to kill it in the past now have more dangerous enemies to deal with. We predict an Amiga renaissance at some point in the future. Just as da Vinci was not appreciated at first so is it with the Amiga spirit. It's this spirit that also keeps the Amiga offshoots of Aladdin 4D alive. We could kill those off and only focus on a Mac OS X version, a Linux version or god forbid a Windows only version. But never fear, we are not that short sighted.

Micro & Soft Retail Stores

2009-02-12T16:11:00.000-08:00

Well this old rumor is finally coming true. Microsoft will copy Apple again and open their own retail stores. While this works well for Apple, Gateway already tried this for Windows PC's and it failed miserably. Just another way for M$ to beat the dead horse that is Windows Vista. Desperate times call for desperate measures in Redmond. But copying Apple when you have a substandard operating system product will just remove more of that quickly dwindling revenue that Microsoft has in the bank. Cash is king in the current economy.

Links

MS Retail Stores 2008 Rumor

CNBC Feb 12th, 2009 News Item

CNN Money News Item
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Begging For Vista Customers & Cash

2009-02-12T07:50:00.000-08:00

A very very long winded post on the brand new windowsteamblog.com can be summed up in just a few words. Please please buy Windows Vista now and Windows 7 later, we need your money now! The failure of Windows Vista has shaken the very foundation of Microsoft and they still can't accept that no one wants it. A dead brand is very difficult to resurrect once the public has made up their minds about it. Microsoft can't accept this, they want to change everyones mind. They want to take your money twice, once for Windows Vista then again with Windows 7. It kind of reminds us of the current American car manufacturing industry. They are saying something just like Microsoft "Please buy our old dated crap products now because we need money." Sad, very sad, read the whole buy Windows Vista beg orgy if you dare at the link below.

Begging Business Customers to Buy Vista

SGI in Trouble Again?

2009-02-07T11:31:00.000-08:00

An interesting article on OSNEWS asks the question that's on everyone's mind. Is SGI in trouble again? SGI once was an exciting company with many innovations like OpenGL, O2, Super computers, etc. We still have a few Octane's and O2's kicking around and enjoyed them. The company was started by the genius billionaire Jim Clark. SGI's problems started when they lost their visionary leader and many of their talented employees. It also hurt SGI and made customers run when they stated they were switching to Windows NT and the Itanium processor. We had hoped SGI would do better once they emerged from bankruptcy. Many famous 3D animation programs and high end graphics tools got their start on Irix. SoftImage, Maya, Houdini, Xoas Tools and many more. We had explored porting Aladdin 4D to the SGI platform in the past. Too much drama and the death of the Irix operating system has made us choose not to do it.

Links

OSNEWS

Jim Clark

SGI

Houdini

SoftImage

Alias

LightWave 3D Goes Hardcore!

2009-02-05T04:55:00.000-08:00

Congratulations to NewTek for revealing LightWave Core. Two years of hard work have gone into this upgrade of the flagship 3D animation program for Windows and Mac OS X. Now Linux joins the party and LightWave will also be available for that operating system. That's awesome news, Maya and other 3D applications have already been on Linux for a long time. What Maya lacks though is the ease of use and workflow that has made LightWave 3D a hit since the original Video Toaster days. LightWave now being available for three operating systems is great news. We have always stated multi-platform is the best course of action with 3D animation software. We wish NewTek great success with this upgrade and hope they sell a million of them.

Links

LightWave CORE