| WINDOWS VISTA August 29, 2010 |
| Palm Pilot PDA May 23, 2009 |
| SIMPLE GUIDE TO NEEDED SOFTWARE Windows XP sp 1 and 2 Use Cortona plugin for internet worlds and models, and for worlds and models on your local hard drive. Windows XP sp 2, or if Cortona fails for you Use Cortona plugin for internet worlds and models. Use Instant Reality for worlds on your local hard drive. Use Swirl (Pine Coast) for models on your local hard drive. Windows Vista up to win64 Use Cortona plugin for internet worlds and models. Use Instant Reality for worlds on your local hard drive. Use Swirl (Pine Coast) for models on your local hard drive. CORTONA MAY NOT WORK ON WINDOWS 7 |
| Palm Pilot TX Windows Vista win64 will not hot synch with the USB nor with WIFI. It will synch with Bluetooth. See their article here. I bought a $15 Bluetooth USB from Walmart and it installed first time. And I turned WIFI off on the PDA and Bluetooth on. The PC needed restarting after the Bluetooth driver install, and I did it again after Bluetooth setup just in case. I configured Hotsynch to use the Bluetooth (COM3 in my case). Several Hotsynch attempts failed. I rebooted my PDA (warm start) after a serial port in use error on the Palm. Eventually after much random trial and error things happened. After several synch atrtempts on my PDA, Vista win64 suddenly asked for a code (like WIFI), I have mine something like: d2d3a1a2b0 and suddenly the PDA asked for a code, so I entered: d2d3a1a2b0 (same as above) And Vista asked for permission to proceed, then the hotsync worked. I am still noit sure how or why this finally worked, there are many mysteries in this universe, and PDAs and VISTA is one of them. NOTE: You not need the blue light to be on for the Bluetooth machine to be listening, so just because there is no blue light does not mean that “it needs turning on”. Of course, I expect it would work quicker if I read the booklets, but I didn't. |
| VIRTUAL REALITY WORLDS OF SUNDIALS ~ you can walk around them. VRML and later X3D is to 3d virtual reality what HTTP is to text and simple graphics. With VRML you may maneuver around 3d objects. Illustrating Shadows brings virtual reality to both web users as well as to stand alone computers when it comes to sundials. Web browsers (Netscape, Mozilla, Internet Explorer) do not support VRML or X3D directly, they need a plugin. There are many plugins, for XP and Vista win64 the Cortona plug-in is fully usable. BOTTOM LINE: for internet stored worlds, use the Cortona Plugin. File browsers for large virtual worlds: if the virtual worlds are on your computer and not on the internet, then you may use Instant Player on Windows Vista, or you may use Internet Explorer with the Cortona plugin if you are using Windows XP. BOTTOM LINE: for worlds stored on your computer use INSTANT PLAYER for late XP serivce packs or Vista, and Cortona for early XP systems. NOTE: If you get file associations right, Cortona enabled, and answer YES to all sorts of ActiveX messages, the Internet Explorer+Cortona works on Vista, if any problems then use Instant Player. File Browsers for small sundial models: the Cortona Browser plugin works if internet based, for computer based it also works for old XP systems. For later XP systems or Vista use SWIRL. NOTE: If you get file associations right, Cortona enabled, and answer YES to all sorts of ActiveX messages, the Internet Explorer+Cortona works on Vista, if any problems then use Instant Player. CAUTIONS: Using a web browser with a plugin for computer (as opposed to internet) files may get you into a circle of the computer asking permission to open the vrml (.wrl and .wrz) file which never ends, so, use INSTANT PLAYER instead. Cortona may crash your Vista win64 computer once or twice, however persevere and it will work very well. Useful links: cic.nist.gov/vrml/vbdetect.html a useful set of links for misc operating systems and computers www.cortona3d.com/cortona the plugin for most browsers, for internet based worlds and models. www.instantreality.org INSTANT PLAYER works standalone and lets Windows Vista users view computer stored worlds in vrml which is helpful since Vista and later XP service packs prohibit a web browser with a plugin from viewing local files which they allow if from the internet. For small computer based models use SWIRL. www.pinecoast.com SWIRL is a good viewer for small models stored on the computer (for worlds use INSTANT PLAYER) WINDOWS: Browser plugin: Cortona Navigation uses the mouse and SHIFT or CTRL speeds it up. Hyperlinks to other worlds may or may not work depending on how Windows feels that day. Works for large worlds and small models if internet based, and for computer based files if an earlier XP system. If later XP or Vista and computer based then use INSTANT PLAYER for large worlds such as Jaipur, or Swirl for small models. Standalone browser Instant Player Works for full scale worlds stored on your computer, worlds such as Jaipur Observatory, not as good for small models. Standalone small model viewer The Swirl Viewer from Pine Coast works very well for small models of sundials, not usable on large worlds. Another standalone viewer An alternative to Pine Coast's Swirl viewer. INSTANT PLAYER and SWIRL are all free, as is CORTONA. Navigation using Instant Reality is best done with NAVIGATE and FLY then use the mouse or arrow, and to speed it up do +++++, and if you hit an object you must back up. Read these notes here for details on enabling the Cortona plugin, problems, navigation, and other helpful clues. |