TrackIR5 is out!

[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]

Originally Posted by JG27CaptStubing

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/japanes...ree-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 .

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.

http://vimeo.com/2880313 encrypt this

or this:

http://www.camspace.com/

[rakinroll]

Originally Posted by 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/japanes...ree-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 .

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.

http://vimeo.com/2880313 encrypt this

or this:

http://www.camspace.com/

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

[Skoshi Tiger]

Originally Posted by rakinroll

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

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!

[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]

Originally Posted by Codex

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