TrackIR5 is out!

[Viking]

Available now at http://www.naturalpoint.com/trackir/


Here is a good Youtube demo link, mostly infantry stuff but it explains the use.
http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=9wXx3vMy_AQ&fmt=22

I am still using my “Mark1” but I will update as soon as SOW is on the shelves.

Regards

[RCAF_FB_Orville]

Yeah, heres the Official specs

Hardware Specs
- Raw Sensor Resolution: 640 x 480, reporting resolution 96,000 x 72,000
- Resolution/Horizontal Degree: 1850 subpixels/degree
- Sample Rate: 120 fps
- Field of View: 51.7°
- Size (w/o base): 2” x 1.5” x 0.57” / 1.8oz / 6' cable
- Response Time: 9 ms
- Connection: USB

Features
- Precision Grayscale for improved image processing and 10X effective resolution
- Spurious Marker Rejection for improved ambient light filtering
- Wider Field of View for more trackable real estate
- Magnetic Base and USB Cable Anchor for reduced damage from wear and tear
- Hyper fast 120 FPS Sample Rate for most accurate tracking data
- Adjustable LED Brightness

I'm perfectly happy with TrackIr4 pro though, don't see any major reason for upgrading it already does everything I need. Slightly larger field of view, but meh. Good enough as it is IMO. Maybe I will invest one day but not enough groundbreaking features to be worth it at the moment I reckon. It does look cool though :)

[RCAF_FB_Orville]

Addendum. If it can make me a cup of tea, a slice of toast, and sing Pavarottis "Nessun Dorma" while bringing them to me on a tray, I may have to reconsider........:lol:

[JG52Uther]

Happy enough with my TiR3 with vector expansion!

[SlipBall]

Because of the limitation's in IL-2, I always said that I would wait for trackir 5 to come along before buying. Look's real good, it should complement SOW nicely, and also give a bit of an edge.

[brando]

I think I may shell out for this....so there'll be a 3 Pro with Vector up for grabs soon.

B

[Urufu_Shinjiro]

Hmm, I wonder if trackIR4 owners will have access to the new software?

EDIT: Answered my own question:

Version 5.0 - Beta 01
(posted May 1, 2009)
(.exe 6.4 MB)
• Supports TrackIR 5, TrackIR 4:PRO
• Note: TrackIR 3 with Vector support will be added in version 5.1

[choctaw111]

I've had my TrackIR3 for more than 5 years, and I have the Vector. When this thing finally dies, I will get the new version.

[zapatista]

its good to see they are continuing to improve the product,

going by the specs of the previous model, no real reason to upgrade if you have a recent model. going from a trackir-1 to version 4 pro some months ago was a big jump forward in performance, the improvements on going to the newer model would probably not be noticeable

[ElAurens]

I'm wondering what the 5 software is like when used on a 4 Pro?

I also see the 5's software is still a beta.

[robtek]

The TrackIR 5 Software doesn´t work on my system with my TrackIR 4 pro.
The Software starts and then i see a error box that som memory couldn´t be read.
The options are ok or debug, neither works.
I am waiting for a feedback from NaturalPoint.

[SlipBall]

I would not expect the 5 software to work with the 4 or earlier unit's...nice of them to do that:confused:

[Viking]

I would not expect the 5 software to work with the 4 or earlier unit's...nice of them to do that:confused:

I think you are wrong but 5.0 is still Beta so better wait for 5.1 or use 4.1.037.
From the TrackIR support site:


LATEST SOFTWARE ::
Version 5.0 - Beta 01
(posted May 1, 2009)
(.exe 6.4 MB)
• Supports TrackIR 5, TrackIR 4:PRO
• Note: TrackIR 3 with Vector support will be added in version 5.1

Version 4.1.037 - Final
(posted April 30, 2009)
(.exe 4.6 MB)
• Supports TrackIR 5, TrackIR 4:PRO, TrackIR 3

Regards

[_ITAF_UgoRipley]

I tried the beta 5 software, but it always crashes the moment I launch it :( so I'll wait to a next more stable release.

[SlipBall]

I was trying to say that it was nice of them to make it backwards compatible

[kristorf]

The 5 software will work on 4Pro (I know I tried it), however it seems to jump about quite a bit and seems to 'judder'.
Take into account though, it is beta software for the 4Pro and hopefully it will be sorted.

[RCAF_FB_Orville]

The 5 software will work on 4Pro (I know I tried it), however it seems to jump about quite a bit and seems to 'judder'.
Take into account though, it is beta software for the 4Pro and hopefully it will be sorted.

Yep Kristorf, I had the exact same judder/shake problem with 4Pro and it was unusable. Kind of like watching one of those CSI type Cop dramas which use the "shaky hand cam" filming technique lol, even when absolutely stationary. I binned it and have went back to .37 final, which is much better at present. The new interface looks nice though and is seemingly more visually intuitive, I'll have a look again once they have ironed out the problems.

[335th_GRSwaty]

Anyone got it?
(Track IR 5)

[ElAurens]

I was online last night flying with some gents from the FA squad who have the 5. They report it is far better than 4.

*SIGH*

[RCAF_FB_Orville]

I was online last night flying with some gents from the FA squad who have the 5. They report it is far better than 4.

*SIGH*

Hi ElAurens, ok sure and thanks for the report. But then they would say that, wouldn't they? I don't see how having an 11% (? Thereabouts) increase in field of view makes any difference. Set up right, 46 degrees is more than enough. As for the resolution, ditto. TrackIR4 Pro tracks and responds pretty much perfectly in my opinion........I honestly don't see how its worth it? Maybe the allegedly improved light filtering, but I'm English and we see the sun about twice per annum if we are lucky lol, so it matters not to me! :lol: That said, I haven't tried it, but I find it hard to believe there can be much discernable difference. It reminds me sometimes of people bragging they can get 120 FPS, when in reality it makes no difference :)

I think I will get it when old faithful here dies *sniffle....hehehe*

[ElAurens]

It's more than the field of view increase.

They said it tracks smoother, and pans in all directions much better.

Just relaying what I overheard in comms.

I'm not ready to drop $150 on it yet either.

[Feuerfalke]

The TrackIR5 software runs great with my TrackIR4 & Vista 64bit.

It just lacks a few options still, but hey, that's why it's called "beta"



In the meanwhile Beta2 has been released. Probably going to check it out later today.

[JG27CaptStubing]

I will give you the quick report back after getting my TrackIR5 a few days ago.

I will try and answer the main question as best I can. I've only had some limited time with it so it's sort of a reaction more than a review.

What is the main difference between the TIR4 and the TIR5. Off the cuff you can tell that the TIR5 has more resolution and it does track finer movements. It's noticable.

The questions that a lot of guys will ask is if I think it's worth the upgrade. Well to be honest the higher resolution pays off in games that are more 6DOF and those that require fine movement. Clicking cockpits etc I think it makes for a nice improvement. So is it worth it? I think it's too subjective. For me yes its worth it. Others might be fine with their TIR4. I have both.

So far in IL2 it's broken the head turning limits of the game which is rather annoying. In addition 6DOF limits are broken as well and I would like to see them fixed. I think it has to do with the software more than anything.

It also looks like the software needs some improvement as well. Couple little quirky things that I'm sure will get ironed out over time.

[SlipBall]

(quote)JG27CaptStubing
It's noticable



Well that says it all

[HanneG]

I think it has to do with the software more than anything.

I may be wrong, but I think this is really what they are charging you for. Software. The hardware, by the looks of it, can't be worth more than a couple cents. It's also a pretty good reason to not allow low-level access to their hardware and/or open-source the API. If someone were to write a 'free' program that worked the same as theirs, they'd be out of business the next day. I had a 3Pro (VE still locked) for a long time and it worked reasonably well. Anyway, I think it's kind of a lame business model, but hey, as long as they can find customers who will happily shell out big bucks for incremental (ie cosmetical) hardware upgrades, I'd say more power to them :)

[robtek]

As of yesterday i can say that i have the TrackIR 5 Software runnig with my TrackIR4 on my Windows 7 RC System.
IL2, Saitek SW, Teamspeak, teamspeak overlay and TrackIR were installed without Problems and are working fine.
It seems that MS has don it right this time.

[Skoshi Tiger]

Just waiting for 5.1 and it's support for TrackIR 3.

As a business model I don't see a problem with it. Free updates as long as your a paying customer.

Yes it's expensive, but then unless you buy an expensive webcam the various clone's out there will give you fairly average results. Also TrackIR's software is fairly robust and with the online software and game updates makes it easy to use.

I've got to compare the Natural Point product with one of the knock offs first hand and I wouldn't be swapping to the other products, although they are an interesting exercise in creating a piece technology.

[zaelu]

My freetrack 2.1 (yeah, I didn't upgrade to 2.2 cause it's working great) is smooth and works without problems in Win XP an Win7 beta/RC1 (Il-2, DCS Black Shark, GRID).

The software costs... nothing.
A webcam cost dirt (the high rezolution TIR 5 is bragging about is nonesense, as the software makes the required aproximation and there is no need for pixel interpolation in hardware)
The LEDs assembly costs 5 bucks at most. You can still order TIR clip if you are lazy or you don't like to play with soldering iron.

The problem with TIR X is that they are just trying to hold down the evolution of the tracking devices... They encrypt their communication protocol with the games in a desperate attempt to lock down the user. I understand them... is the only thing they can do in this "economic crisys" but, history is about to get rid of them as they are no use anymore.

You wanna bet?

here:

http://i.gizmodo.com/5210245/japanese-game-uses-head-tracking-webcams-to-enable-hands+free-upskirting

Note... the site I am linking is Gizmodo.com a well known site for gadgets and electronic little things. The game depicted in that presentation might be... "odd" to some... but, is Japan market and they have few centuries ahead of "western crowd" in some areas :D.

So... actual face/head tracking is possible with a normal unmodified webcam. The software can be open source/free as always.

So, there is no need to fall on your backs when you hear about last desperate market acrobatic maneuver of a dying niche of money milking... "economic entity".

TIR 5 is a joke. :grin:

http://vimeo.com/2880313 encrypt this :P

or this:

http://www.camspace.com/

[Codex]

I may be wrong, but I think this is really what they are charging you for. Software. The hardware, by the looks of it, can't be worth more than a couple cents. It's also a pretty good reason to not allow low-level access to their hardware and/or open-source the API. If someone were to write a 'free' program that worked the same as theirs, they'd be out of business the next day. I had a 3Pro (VE still locked) for a long time and it worked reasonably well. Anyway, I think it's kind of a lame business model, but hey, as long as they can find customers who will happily shell out big bucks for incremental (ie cosmetical) hardware upgrades, I'd say more power to them :)

There are a few "free" options out there which have been around for years but TrackIR is still here. Lame business model? No offense, but that comment really shows the lack of knowledge or appreciation of what it takes to make a niche product like TrackIR and still turn over a profit. You're either making things happen or you're watching things happen.

[RCAF_FB_Orville]

There are a few "free" options out there which have been around for years but TrackIR is still here. Lame business model? No offense, but that comment really shows the lack of knowledge or appreciation of what it takes to make a niche product like TrackIR and still turn over a profit. You're either making things happen or you're watching things happen.


Yeah, I agree Codex......Naturalpoint are doing Ok for themselves......but isn't part of the reason for this due to the erm.....borderline "obsessive" nature of some flight sim enthusiasts? :) Its the only community I know of where people regularly buy more than one copy of a game to "support the cause", I know a lot of folk who got the blackshark download AND the hard copy.....this is probably unprecedented in any other market.

Point being, even if TrackIR5 only produces a very nominal improvement, flight sim folk will STILL buy it, if only to say they have the "latest and greatest" and to support the industry. Flight simmers probably spend more on their computers hardware than anyone out there, don't have hard proof of this but I am sure its the case. Natural point could release a "TrackIR5.5" tomorrow with the new exciting feature of saying "Greetings.....In the kingdom of the blind, the one eyed TrackIR is King. Your TrackIR is well. Your finances are not." when switched on..... And I have no doubt someone out there would buy it:mrgreen:

[zauii]

Just got one , works very good :)

[Chivas]

I received a TrackIR 5 on Friday. It was supposed to come with the Track Clip Pro, but it was missing from the shipping box. :( Initially it isn't as smooth as my Track IR3, but with some more tweaking, things should improve.

I haven't got a handle on the new setup and I'm struggling with the range of movement. Your virtual head can swival over 360* , very annoying and disorientating in a dogfight. I have it setup now so that atleast it pauses before jumping past the rear center position. I should have it sorted tonight, but I seem to be losing interest in flying. Hopefully the release of ROF will renew my interest.

[Codex]

Yeah, I agree Codex......Naturalpoint are doing Ok for themselves......but isn't part of the reason for this due to the erm.....borderline "obsessive" nature of some flight sim enthusiasts? :) Its the only community I know of where people regularly buy more than one copy of a game to "support the cause", I know a lot of folk who got the blackshark download AND the hard copy.....this is probably unprecedented in any other market.

Point being, even if TrackIR5 only produces a very nominal improvement, flight sim folk will STILL buy it, if only to say they have the "latest and greatest" and to support the industry. Flight simmers probably spend more on their computers hardware than anyone out there, don't have hard proof of this but I am sure its the case. Natural point could release a "TrackIR5.5" tomorrow with the new exciting feature of saying "Greetings.....In the kingdom of the blind, the one eyed TrackIR is King. Your TrackIR is well. Your finances are not." when switched on..... And I have no doubt someone out there would buy it:mrgreen:

Yeah I see your point and agree, however, it's all about choice.

I, for example, often upgrade my graphics hardware. In fact I went from an X1950XTX to X3870 to 4870X2. Many would call me crazy as the incremental changes to be honest in IL-2 is very small, but hey, I have disposable cash I can save for myself each fortnight, I enjoy having the latest PC graphics hardware because it's my interest as I dabble in GPU and OpenGL / DX programming, so to me it's justified.

As for TIR, I'm looking at getting TrackIR 5, as I'm coming from TrackIR 3 Pro which is exactly what most are arguing is a justafied upgrade. But in terms of buying v5 when you own v4 well thats an individual choice, if your passionate about simming (which I have to admit I have gone off a bit lately) then it's justified.

As for other industries where fans buy more than one of thier product ... one word for ya ... iPod :mrgreen:.

[JG27CaptStubing]

I received a TrackIR 5 on Friday. It was supposed to come with the Track Clip Pro, but it was missing from the shipping box. :( Initially it isn't as smooth as my Track IR3, but with some more tweaking, things should improve.

I haven't got a handle on the new setup and I'm struggling with the range of movement. Your virtual head can swival over 360* , very annoying and disorientating in a dogfight. I have it setup now so that atleast it pauses before jumping past the rear center position. I should have it sorted tonight, but I seem to be losing interest in flying. Hopefully the release of ROF will renew my interest.

Chivas make sure you get the beta 3 version of the software. The first couple versions had some issues. I tweaked my Smooth profile and it works flawlessly. You will see a big difference in terms of the accuracy and you just won't lose tracking especially in 6DOF.

Run your Smooth bar up to around 50 and you will get a big change.

That should help you right off the cuff.

[Chivas]

Chivas make sure you get the beta 3 version of the software. The first couple versions had some issues. I tweaked my Smooth profile and it works flawlessly. You will see a big difference in terms of the accuracy and you just won't lose tracking especially in 6DOF.

Run your Smooth bar up to around 50 and you will get a big change.

That should help you right off the cuff.



Thanks Stubing... I put the Smooth bar up to 100 and already have the Beta 3, but my main problem was over rotation, which I was able to fix by dropping the third circle back down to Zero at the 30 degree mark. Its working great now, thankfully better than my Track IR 3. It should be interesting to see what difference the Track Pro Clip will make. I'm currently using the vector clip as they forgot to put the Pro clip in the shipping box.

~Salute~ Chivas

[zauii]

This little bugger survives a fall from 2 meters i can tell ya,
Was adjusting it when i got abit pissed and pressed too hard and it flipped right of the magnet and 2 meters down into the floor lol, well at least it's quality :)

[JG27CaptStubing]

Thanks Stubing... I put the Smooth bar up to 100 and already have the Beta 3, but my main problem was over rotation, which I was able to fix by dropping the third circle back down to Zero at the 30 degree mark. Its working great now, thankfully better than my Track IR 3. It should be interesting to see what difference the Track Pro Clip will make. I'm currently using the vector clip as they forgot to put the Pro clip in the shipping box.

~Salute~ Chivas

Okay I had the same problem with the over rotation which is annoying... It's a very simple fix.

Go to your advanced settings with the graph of your curves. You will see the end points (circles on the line there are 5 on each side from center) on both sides of the curve. Go to the very end either left or right. Make sure you have the YAW axis selected and then grab one of them and pull it down to the bottom of the graph and in just a tiny bit. If you go up it makes the movement larger in the game. So by going down you will get rid of the over rotation problem.

Play with your smooth curve a bit and you should see a big difference.

[Thunderbolt56]

Ordered mine yesterday. Should be here Friday or Monday. I too will likely have a 3 pro w/vector up for grabs in a week.

[JG27CaptStubing]

I gave my TIR3Pro with Vector to a buddy who is still using a Hat switch. Funny thing with him is he's one of the first guys to introduce me to Thrustmaster back in 1989 with the concept of a hatswitch and HOTAS.

I told him going to the TIR is the same thing.... Light years ahead of using a switch to move your view. Love it won't go back to using switches or a mouse. It's retarded.

I think once he tries it for the first time he's going to have a baby right there on the spot.

[PE_Tigar]

5 version SW works perfectly with my TIR4Pro. If you experience twitching increase smoothing to 50% or so. Otherwise much better FOV etc, compared to the old SW (or I couldn't be bothered/didn't know how to fix it before).

[Codex]

@Stubing ... Check your PM mate.

[rakinroll]

My freetrack 2.1 (yeah, I didn't upgrade to 2.2 cause it's working great) is smooth and works without problems in Win XP an Win7 beta/RC1 (Il-2, DCS Black Shark, GRID).

The software costs... nothing.
A webcam cost dirt (the high rezolution TIR 5 is bragging about is nonesense, as the software makes the required aproximation and there is no need for pixel interpolation in hardware)
The LEDs assembly costs 5 bucks at most. You can still order TIR clip if you are lazy or you don't like to play with soldering iron.

The problem with TIR X is that they are just trying to hold down the evolution of the tracking devices... They encrypt their communication protocol with the games in a desperate attempt to lock down the user. I understand them... is the only thing they can do in this "economic crisys" but, history is about to get rid of them as they are no use anymore.

You wanna bet?

here:

http://i.gizmodo.com/5210245/japanese-game-uses-head-tracking-webcams-to-enable-hands+free-upskirting

Note... the site I am linking is Gizmodo.com a well known site for gadgets and electronic little things. The game depicted in that presentation might be... "odd" to some... but, is Japan market and they have few centuries ahead of "western crowd" in some areas :D.

So... actual face/head tracking is possible with a normal unmodified webcam. The software can be open source/free as always.

So, there is no need to fall on your backs when you hear about last desperate market acrobatic maneuver of a dying niche of money milking... "economic entity".

TIR 5 is a joke. :grin:

http://vimeo.com/2880313 encrypt this :P

or this:

http://www.camspace.com/

Oh my!.. feel stupid that i spend those dollars to my tir4 pro. :sad:

[Skoshi Tiger]

Oh my!.. feel stupid that i spend those dollars to my tir4 pro. :sad:

How so? The difference between a marketable technology and a piece software demonstrating a technology is huge interms of effort and time and cost.

You and I paid good money for TIR's because they work with the minimum amount of effort on our part. Nautral point developed a marketable technology that has been integrated into a lot of programs.

Just few question. Who here uses their Track IR software in mouse emulation mode with unsupported software? What is your satisfaction with the result?

My quess at the answers would be , Not many , and It could be improved. My take on things is that TrackIR is effective because it is nativly supported in a wide range of current software titles and the list is getting bigger. Without this native support then Track IR would just be a curiosity like the two bits of software shown above.


Now when these new technologies mature and are nativey supported and are ready to market, I doubt that they will be "free". The developers that put in all that time, effort and money will want to be recoginised and in our culture money if the generally acceptable medium for that recogintion. (About the exception for this is of course those highly talented and dedicated individuals who create mission and skins, content and the like for games and all they want in return is the occasion "hey! This is cool" mention in dispatches!)

Cheers!

[Eckhart]

Ordered my TrackIR two weeks ago through PCaviator.......on backorder and no response from their customer service....:(

with shipping the cost is $159.95 which is much less than the price offered by TrackIR but question service....:confused:
On the other hand I had a problem too with my order to TrackIR: their website didn't acknowledge my order but took in my cash. Fortunately somebody from TrackIR noticed it and gave me a refund

reading your experience especially the 6DOF problem I wonder if I did the right move.:confused: My main reason was that I broke my TrackIR4 at the level of this ridiculously small swivel axis and now it is quite hard to adjust ( had to glue it to the base as it was impossible to fix the swivel axis).

I will be back and give you my impressions once the stuff arrives (10 days with UPS once they got it in stock:()....

Cheers,

Eckhart