Nvidia 3D Vision – Missing Application Support

[Update] Google Earth is now supported by Nvidia 3D Vision [/Update]
Nvidia’s 3D Vision shutter glasses are awesome, no doubt about it, BUT…

I’ve managed to control my negative emotions regarding the lack of driver support for my old Elsa 3D Revelator glasses. It’s also OK that the prize for the new 3D Vision glasses is pretty high. I think, as long as the support will last longer than it did for the 3D Revelator glasses, the prize will be fine for me, too.

But what I don’t get is this confusing and slow(!) Nvidia driver panel and this utterly annoying lack of really usefull application support for such thing like

  • Google Earth
  • Google Sketchup

These are apps, where you can make the most use of the third dimension, because it really gives you additional information.

I was quite please to see CoolIris supports now the 3D Vision glasses [1], but I don’t actually get the need and sense of this app anyway. What do I need this app for, beside impressing my friends?

Google Earth and Bing Maps 3D will be available some day, at least that’s what I’ve read December last year here: [2].

Google Sketchup wasn’t mentioned at all. I’ve also analyzed the problem from a developer point of view, and figured out, that it’s more a matter of the application, and less the task of the Nvidia 3D vision driver to make it work in 3D (stereoscopic). It seams, the driver for 3D kicks in, when the applications starts right away into the fullscreen mode.

So Google, please – with sugar on top – please let’s start Sketchup in fullscreen, also Google Earth, and give us the ability to turn of the menu bar – please!!

3D Vision LieBeside this, why does the Nvidia Stereo Driver list application like Google Earth or the Internet Explorer and other Browser under 3D Vision enabled application? Except CoolIris, that’s a lie – please stop that.

But from the customer and consumer point of view I don’t really give a dawn, who’s responsible for making useful apps work with 3D vision glasses.

I’d really die for the feature in Google Earth to plan my cycling tracks with 3D Vision glasses, because here I can really see, which way is best for me.

And one more thing. Why doesn’t the 3D Vision site for “Requirements” give additional information regarding the Projectors right away. Why do I have to look at every single projector, if I already know, that I’m not interested in resolutions < 1024x768? Hey, and don't buy DFP (digital flat panel), because they all do cross talk, what leads to a pretty ugly ghosting. OK - it's a bit better comparing with the old CRTs, but a projector doesn't have a touch of a ghosting! Here's a quick and dirty overview of all available and supported projectors for the Nvidia 3D Vision shutter glasses [3]. At the moment only the resolution is completely added, but it’s already a help I think.

120Hz Projectors Overview

  1. Acer X1130P
    • Native: 800×600; Accepts and scales up to 1920×1080
    • ANSI Lumens: 2500
    • Prize: ~$450
    • First Ship: Dec. 2009
  2. Acer X1261
    • Native: 1024×768; Accepts and scales up to 1920×1080
    • ANSI Lumens: 2500
    • Prize: ~$550
    • First Ship: Dec. 2009
  3. Acer H5360
    • Native: 1280×720; Accepts and scales up to 1920×1080
    • ANSI Lumens: 2500
    • Prize: ~$690
    • First Ship: Feb. 2010
  4. DepthQ® HD 3D Projector by LightSpeed Design, Inc.
    • Native: 1280×720; Single lens, works also with other 3D techniques
    • ANSI Lumens: 2500
    • Prize: ~$6000
    • First Ship: Sept. 2008
  5. DQ-3120 by LightSpeed Design, Inc.
    • Native: –
    • ANSI Lumens: –
    • Prize: ~-
    • First Ship: –
  6. ViewSonic PJD6220-3D
    • Native: 1024×768; Accepts and scales up to 1920×1080
    • ANSI Lumens: 2200
    • Prize: ~$-
    • First Ship: Jan. 2009
  7. ViewSonic PJD6210-3D
    • Native: 1024×768; Accepts and scales up to 1920×1080
    • ANSI Lumens: 2200
    • Prize: ~$-
    • First Ship: Jan. 2009
  8. ViewSonic PJD5351
    • Native: 1024×768; Accepts and scales up to 1920×1080
    • ANSI Lumens: 2500
    • Prize: ~$-
    • First Ship: Jan. 2009
  9. ViewSonic PJD5111
    • Native: 800×600; Accepts and scales up to 1920×1080
    • ANSI Lumens: 2500
    • Prize: ~$-
    • First Ship: Jan. 2009
  10. ViewSonic PJD6381
    • Native: 1024×768; Accepts and scales up to 1920×1080
    • ANSI Lumens: 2500
    • Prize: ~$-
    • First Ship: Jan. 2009
  11. ViewSonic PJD6211
    • Native: 1024×768; Accepts and scales up to 1920×1080
    • ANSI Lumens: 2500
    • Prize: ~$-
    • First Ship: Jan. 2009
  12. ViewSonic PJD6221
    • Native: 1024×768; Accepts and scales up to 1920×1080
    • ANSI Lumens: 2700
    • Prize: ~$-
    • First Ship: Jan. 2009
  13. ViewSonic PJD6241
    • Native: 1024×768; Accepts and scales up to 1920×1080
    • ANSI Lumens: 3300
    • Prize: ~$-
    • First Ship: Jan. 2009
  14. ViewSonic PJD5112
    • Native: 800×600; Accepts and scales up to 1920×1080
    • ANSI Lumens: 2600
    • Prize: ~$-
    • First Ship: Jan. 2009