TrueSpace is a Windows only 3D modeling and rendering package that’s been available for over 20 years. Recently, the company was acquired by Microsoft for their Live Earth project. This runs parallel to Google’s acquisition of of SketchUp! a few years ago.

My previous experience in using TrueSpace (years ago) wasn’t very positive - mostly because I couldn’t appreciate the user experience in comparision with other tools on the market. That being said - this is a very powerful toolkit.  But first - how good is the COLLADA export? While its believable that Microsoft will build up and release improved versions of TrueSpace, I couldn’t see investing in building models in a format that could easily get tossed onto the waste bin.

Works with Product X Okay

This is very applicable to - say - products that are designed only to work with the Apple iPod, or Adobe Photoshop (talking plugins here). If I make a plugin that works with Photoshop, I can say “Plugin X for Photoshop” and comply with fair use doctrine.

On the other hand, this isn’t a license to grab a logo and slap it onto a box or splash screen. For example, “iPod” can be expressed in text without the need to use the Made for iPod logo. Many companies have logo programs that are special licenses to use such official logos, and regardless of fair use, you can limit your fair use rights by agreeing to participate in these logo programs.

So Why Go for the Logo?

Not surprisingly, ecosystem companies like Apple and Adobe don’t like it when you do not join their programs. This can have a significant impact on the success of your product. Those logo programs may come with some form of co-marketing, early access to technology or even channel access. For example, Apple has little reason to put an iPod compatible product into its chain of Apple Stores if the manufacturer isn’t a logo program participant. You should also never rule out the influence large companies have with their channel partners. If I am a large vendor, and I am pouring millions of dollars into a national campaign with national reseller X, I may be able to influence the reseller to not carry non-logo products; while this may be illegal in some countries, that sort of influence is entirely possible anyway, unless its specifically documented.

I can appreciate the arguments the same way I appreciate the arguments against updates to HTML. There are loads of libraries out there that do a great job at extending today’s apps - loads and loads. New versions collide with the support for those versions within existing and future browsers, whereas nicely loading external scripts can add value now without so much trouble.

This particular anti-Javascript group though isn’t really arguing about Javascript, but what they think should replace the browser as a frame of experience (sorry, that’s not intended to be funny). That’s an entirely different argument and predictive of what humans will want to get out of the collective network soup of the future Internet. Javascript should be incrementally improved to put more powerful and streamlined functionality into the hands of site designers who already have years and years of production experience with Javascript, rather than forcing them to learn brand new languages or huge paradigm shifts such as placing a proprietary technology (yeah, Adobe’s said they are opening up Flash - until its actually available, so what) at the center of whatever you create.

The MySQL Performance Blog reports that MySQL Community Edition has not been upgraded since November 2007, whereas it previously received twice-a-year updates. This product is the free and open source version of MySQL (The M in LAMP) that was MySQL’s source of success.

What is bothersome is that the MySQL Community Server page lists version 6.0, however if you follow that link, you are directed back to the 5.0.x version and also directed to their per server/per year license, which has an enticing per server/per year license starting at $595 but quickly stepping up to $4999 per year.

I’ve had a few folks point out to me that this is a better price than Valentina, until they figure out that Valentina initial pricing is for two years of updates, not one, bringing the price down to about the same or below MySQL pricing. That is intentional.

• How the Message Path Works. Since messages may be passed or acted upon and then passed up through the application, you have so much flexibility in deciding where you put your scripts.
• What You Can do with the Message Box. It is so very extremely easy to create a new object in Revolution - “new button” in the message box gives you a new button. It is easy to forget that the Revolution engine is interactive.
• Groups as Backgrounds. Groups are powerful, but they are confusing if you futz about with them when all you need is a repeated object or background that appears on all cards in a particular stack or sub-stack.
• Custom Properties. It is easy to forget that if a property doesn’t already exist, you aren’t stuck.
• It Probably Does What You Want Already. I had a lot of questions about FTP and other internet protocols, all of which I know Revolution supports, and probably not all that less advanced than those RIAs.

Mirye Software Publishing will be providing Campers with free copies of Runtime Revolution Media Edition. You have to participate in the event to get one of these. They will also get a free copy of Valentina Community Server.

I will be blogging this event, which will be held at the Adobe Conference Center, 801 N 34th St., Seattle. Some important links to know if you are planning on attending.

RSVP with Mirye. Let other Rev and Valentina users know you are going.
RSVP the Event and Get Your Badge.
Get listed on Facebook
BarCamp Seattle Twitter. Watch this brighten up during the event.