Top 3D Animation Software that Professionals Should Look At

In recent years 3D Animation has become popular with more and more professional animators opting to do 3D work, either in films or for short videos. It can be a great way to truly show off your talents as a digital artist. 3D animation is slowly, but surely becoming the norm with many of the leading production companies in the States and Europe, setting the bar high in terms of animation quality. We’ll be examining some of the more obvious choices for professional animators and exploring some of those applications.

Houdini

I would describe this tool as the mother of animation tools, it has been used in movies, games,commercials and personal projects by big and small companies alike.

Houdini has a very strong particle and smoke system due to its powerful animation and VFX tools and its lighting effects are also pretty decent. Companies such as Dreamworks Animation, Blue Sky Studios,Image Engine and Axis Animation use this tool.

3D Studio Max

3D Studio Max is another well recognized name within the industry. This software is commonly used in video game development, and has been used in the product of well-known games such as Grand Theft Auto and GameCube.

3D Studio Max is also starting to be used more and more in film productions, as it has powerful controls over dynamics and shading as well as realistic lighting.

Maya 3D

For the next level of users, Maya 3D is something that presents outstanding opportunities for animation work. A great deal of the work we see on our cinema and TV screens has been produced via Maya 3D including Spider-Man, Lord of the Rings to name but a few. Maya 3D is an extremely powerful software tool, and even top 3D animators continue to learn and progress their skills from using it.

Maya 3D will take you through the full 3D effects spectrum, from a world of paint affects, rendering and a plethora of animations. If you’re serious about 3D animation Maya 3D is a substantial investment at over £3,000, but you’re sure to get your money’s worth.

Cinema 4D

MAXON Computer GmbH has introduced a revolutionary 3D software to the market. This product gives you options and resources for advanced character tools,physic engines,hair,eyes and an unlimited network for rendering.

It’s also capable of  procedural and polygonal/subd modeling, lighting,rendering, texturing, animating and other common features you’ll find in 3D modelling software.

Blender 3D

Blender 3D was released in 1995 by the Blender foundation. It was created for everyone and was released as a free software for animators. Their site is also full of resources for beginners and experts and the community is warm and friendly with a lot of great insight and tips.

Gallery of other Blender 3D renders
Movies, commercials and games uses the Blender 3D software. Spider-man 2, History Channel and more used this software in planning and animating certain scenes giving it a great start for an international foothold. The Blender foundation themselves also created open projects in animation and gaming. Our favorite 3D animation open project was “Big Buck Bunny” and the game “Yo Frankie” shows exactly what you can do with the game engine.
Blender’s has the following features:

• 3D modeling
• Rigging
• UV unwrapping
• Texturing
• Animating
• Skinning
• Particle simulation
• Smoke simulation
• Camera tracking
• Soft body simulation
• Fluid
• Built-in game engine
• Match moving
• Compositioning
• Video editing
• Rendering

Adobe Flash

Adobe Flash remains today one of the most popular animation software packages on the market, particularly when it comes to web animation and people who want to get started with animation design. For many years websites have chosen to integrate flash into their designs to add to the professional quality of the website.
Most browsers today fully support applications of Flash, however it can still remain problematic for people using Apple devices. Indeed, one of the cons of animators using Flash is the lack of compatibility with Apple devices, so more and more designers are looking to HTML 5 as an effective solution to this problem.

Examples of Flash Animation

Have a look at Animator vs. Animation series by Alan Becker, a well known flash animation.

So which 3D Animation Software should you start off with?

We recommend starting out using the simple to use animation applications such as Flash and then progressing upwards to more sophisticated software, e.g. Maya 3D, 3D Studio Max,Houdini to hone your skills and build up confidence. If you’re coming from a more traditional animation background, then it’s recommended you spend sometime using other creative software packages such as Photoshop, Illustrator etc. to get a feel for how such software can aid you in the design process. Carefully consider your budget and return on investment, if you purchase this software how long will it take before it pays for itself?

10 Upcoming Technology That May Change The World

We have seen great leaps in digital technology in past the past five years. Smartphones, cloud computing, multi-touch tablets, these are all innovations that revolutionized the way we live and work. However, believe it or not, we are just getting started. Technology will get even better. In the future, we could live like how people in science fiction movies did.

(Image Source: YouTube)

Today’s post is about 10 upcoming, real-life products that is set to revolutionize the world as we know it. Get ready to control the desktop and slice Ninja fruits with your eyes. Get ready to print your own creative physical product. Get ready to dive into the virtual world, and interact with them. Come unfold the future with us.

Read Also: 20 Futuristic Concept Gadgets That Really Inspire

1. Google Glass

Augmented Reality has already gotten into our life in the forms of simulated experiment and education app, but Google is taking it several steps higher with Google Glass. Theoretically, with Google Glass, you are able to view social media feeds, text, Google Maps, as well as navigate with GPS and take photos. You will also get the latest updates while you are on the ground.

(Image Source: YouTube)

It’s truly what we called vision, and it’s absolutely possible given the fact that the Google’s co-founder, Sergey Brin has demo’ed the glass with skydivers and creatives. Currently the device is only available to some developers with the price tag of $1500, but expect other tech companies trying it out and building an affordable consumer version.

2. Form 1

Just as the term suggests, 3D printing is the technology that could forge your digital design into a solid real-life product. It’s nothing new for the advanced mechanical industry, but a personal 3D printer is definitely a revolutionary idea.

Everybody can create their own physical product based on their custom design, and no approval needed from any giant manufacturer! Even the James Bond’s Aston Martin which was crashed in the movie was a 3D printed product!

(Image Source: Kickstarter)

Form 1 is one such personal 3D printer which can be yours at just $2799. It may sound like a high price but to have the luxury of getting producing your own prototypes, that’s a reaonable price.

Imagine a future where every individual professional has the capability to mass produce their own creative physical products without limitation. This is the future where personal productivity and creativity are maximized.

3. Oculus Rift

Virtual Reality gaming is here in the form of Oculus Rift. This history-defining 3D headset lets you mentally feel that you are actually inside a video game. In the Rift’s virtual world, you could turn your head around with ultra-low latency to view the world in high resolution display.

There are premium products in the market that can do the same, but Rift wants you to enjoy the experience at only $300, and the package even comes as a development kit. This is the beginning of the revolution for next-generation gaming.

(Image Source: Kickstarter)

The timing is perfect as the world is currently bombarded with the virtual reality topic that could also be attributed to Sword Art Online, the anime series featuring the characters playing games in an entirely virtual world. While we’re getting there, it could take a few more years to reach that level of realism. Oculus Rift is our first step.

4. Leap Motion

Multi-touch desktop is a (miserably) failed product due to the fact that hands could get very tired with prolonged use, but Leap Motion wants to challenge this dark area again with a more advanced idea. It lets you control the desktop with fingers, but without touching the screen.

(Image Source: Leap Motion)

It’s not your typical motion sensor, as Leap Motion allows you to scroll the web page, zoom in the map and photos, sign documentss and even play a first person shooter game with only hand and finger movements. The smooth reaction is the most crucial key point here. More importantly, you can own this future with just $70, a price of a premium PS3 game title!

If this device could completely work with Oculus Rift to simulate a real-time gaming experience, gaming is going to get a major make-over.

5. Eye Tribe

Eye tracking has been actively discussed by technology enthusiasts throughout these years, but it’s really challenging to implement. But Eye Tribe actually did this. They successfully created the technology to allow you to control your tablet, play flight simulator, and even slice fruits in Fruit Ninja only with your eye movements.

(Image Source: Eye Tribe)

It’s basically taking the common eye-tracking technology and combining it with a front-facing camera plus some serious computer-vision algorithm, and voila, fruit slicing done with the eyes! A live demo was done in LeWeb this year and we may actually be able to see it in in action in mobile devices in 2013.

Currently the company is still seeking partnership to bring this sci-fi tech into the consumer market but you and I know that this product is simply too awesome to fail.

6. SmartThings

The current problem that most devices have is that they function as a standalone being, and it require effort for tech competitors to actually partner with each other and build products that can truly connect with each other. SmartThings is here to make your every device, digital or non-digital, connect together and benefit you.

(Image Source: Kickstarter)

With SmartThings you can get your smoke alarms, humidity, pressure and vibration sensors to detect changes in your house and alert you through your smartphone! Imagine the possibilities with this.

You could track who’s been inside your house, turn on the lights while you’re entering a room, shut windows and doors when you leave the house, all with the help of something that only costs $500! Feel like a tech lord in your castle with this marvel.

7. Firefox OS

iOS and Android are great, but they each have their own rules and policies that certainly inhibit the creative efforts of developers. Mozilla has since decided to build a new mobile operating system from scratch, one that will focus on true openness, freedom and user choice. It’s Firefox OS.

Firefox OS is built on Gonk, Gecko and Gaia software layers – for the rest of us, it means it is built on open source, and it carries web technologies such as HTML5 and CSS3.

(Image Source: Mozilla)

Developers can create and debut web apps without the blockade of requirements set by app stores, and users could even customize the OS based on their needs. Currently the OS has made its debut on Android-compatible phones, and the impression so far, is great.

You can use the OS to do essential tasks you do on iOS or Android: calling friends, browsing web, taking photos, playing games, they are all possible on Firefox OS, set to rock the smartphone market.

8. Project Fiona

Meet the first generation of the gaming tablet. Razer’s Project Fiona is a serious gaming tablet built for hardcore gaming. Once it’s out, it will be the frontier for the future tablets, as tech companies might want to build their own tablets, dedicated towards gaming, but for now Fiona is the only possible one that will debut in 2013.

(Image Source: Razer™)

This beast features next generation Intel® Core i7 processor geared to render all your favorite PC games, all at the palm of your hands. Crowned as the best gaming accessories manufacturer, Razer clearly knows how to build user experience straight into the tablet, and that means 3-axis gyro, magnetometer, accelerometer and full-screen user interface supporting multi-touch. My body and soul are ready.

9. Parallella

Parallella is going to change the way that computers are made, and Adapteva offers you chance to join in on this revolution. Simply put, it’s a supercomputer for everyone. Basically, an energy-efficient computer built for processing complex software simultaneously and effectively. Real-time object tracking, holographic heads-up display, speech recognition will become even stronger and smarter with Parallella.

(Image Source: YouTube)

The project has been successfully funded so far, with an estimated delivery date of February 2013. For a mini supercomputer, the price seems really promising since it’s magically $99! It’s not recommended for the non-programmer and non-Linux user, but the kit is loaded with development software to create your personal projects.

I never thought the future of computing could be kick-started with just $99, which is made possible using crowdfunding platforms.

10. Google Driverless Car

I could still remember the day I watch the iRobot as a teen, and being skeptical about my brother’s statement that one day, the driverless car will become reality. And it’s now a reality, made possible by… a search engine company, Google.

While the data source is still a secret recipe, the Google driverless car is powered by artificial intelligence that utilizes the input from the video cameras inside the car, a sensor on the vehicle’s top, and some radar and position sensors attached to different positions of the car. Sounds like a lot of effort to mimic the human intelligence in a car, but so far the system has successfully driven 1609 kilometres without human commands!

(Image Source: Wikipedia)

“You can count on one hand the number of years it will take before ordinary people can experience this.” Google co-founder, Sergey Brin said. However, innovation is an achievement, consumerization is the headache, as Google currently face the challenge to forge the system into an affordable gem that every worker with an average salary could benefit from.

Power Button Not Working? Use These Apps to Turn Your Screen On/Off

Whether old or new, gadgets break and smartphones are no exceptions. A simple drop on a hard surface is enough to do the damage.
Smartphones are fragile in nature. Even if they don’t break, they are open to many problems. One such problem, which is somewhat common among Android users, is when the power button stops working.

Think about it, power button – the button that you press countless times a day – stops working. That’s enough to wreck havoc in your life. This kind of makes sense though, pressing a button again and again and again -what do you expect – it will stop working one day.

This doesn’t happen with everyone but those who face this problem know how difficult it could make operating the phone. I have faced this problem with my previous phone. Here are a few solutions to this annoying problem.

1. Automate The On/Off Function With Gravity Screen

Gravity Screen is awesome. Using various sensors out your phone turns your screen on and off. With the features like pocket sensor or table sensor it assumes when you are holding you phone and when you are not. It learns when the phone is about to be used and according to that it turns your phone on or off and, to be honest, it works all the time but the accuracy may vary from device to device.
If you are not interested in how the app works and just want to use it for turning your phone on/off, go ahead and download it, it will work fabulously with any excessive battery drain, given you have configured it properly. But if you want to know how the app functions then head to this article where I talk about Gravity Screen and all of its awesome features in detail.

Gravity Screen - On/Off

2. Moto Display

This is something that is limited to those who are using Motorola devices but I had to add it in this list because it is simply awesome. I’m using a Motorola Moto G 3rd Generation and I absolutely love Moto Display.
Moto Display is used to see notifications at a glance without turning your phone on. But it also appears when there are no notifications. Just keep your phone idle for a few seconds and then pick it up, you’ll see Moto Display. While this screen shows notifications, you can drag your finger down towards the lock icon to unlock it. It works like a charm.
Moto Display doesn’t lock your phone, that you’ll have to do manually. But since your power button is broken I’ll recommend setting the sleep time of your phone to the minimum, which is 15 seconds.

3. Transfer On/Off Power To The Volume Button

Yes, you read it right, there’s an app for that too and the best thing is that it works even if your phone is not rooted. This app is called Volume Unlock Power Button Fix. That’s a very very long name but it completely defines the purpose of the app.
First of all, go ahead and install it in your phone. Now, open the app and grant it access to Device Administration. Granting it access is necessary otherwise, it won’t work. Open the app and turn on “Enable Volume Unlock” and “Screen Off” using the toggles on the right. If you’ve enabled both the options then you’ll be able to turn off your screen from the notification panel and turn it on by using any volume button.
In the app settings, you can also enable functions like auto start on boot and auto on/off which works by setting a time interval between which the app will work. For example, set the time as 06:00 AM to 04:00 PM and the app will function only during that time.
I used it for 2 days and I didn’t find any unnecessary battery drain. It’s an awesome app.

 

Volume Unlock Power Button Fix

How to configure Internet Explorer to Allow and Block URL’s

Step 1. Edit a Group Policy Object (GPO) that applies to the users you want to configure URL blocking.

Step 2. Navigate to User Configuration > Policies > Windows Settings > Internet Explorer Maintenance > Security and then click on the “Security Zones and Content Ratings”

Step 3. Select “Import the current Content Ratings settings” and then click on the “Modify Settings” button

Step 4. Click on the “Approved Sites” tab

Step 5a (Black List). Type the name of the URL that you want to block in the “Allow this website” text field and then click “Never” then “OK”

Step 5b (White List). However if you are trying to maintain a white list of URL’s then type the name of the site you want to allow it the “Allow this website” text field and then click “Always” then “OK”

Note: You will probably want to add the internal domain name of your companies AD to the Allow list of as well to ensure users can access the intranet web sites. Also note that while wildcards are supported in the URL’s, but adding just the URL “*” does not work. While this would be very handy to configure a white list I will show you how to get around this restriction in further steps below.

Now we have to create a supervisor password that will be used for making any subsequent changes to the Allow/Never URL list. This password can also be used by the user (if they know it) to work around these URL restrictions. However as this password is applied by policy it will be the same password for all users so think about chancing the password often.

Step 6. Type the same password in both the “Password” and “Confirm Password” fields and type at hint in the “hint” field. You could also type something like “To get this password please contact the help desk on 5555-5555”.

By default when you enable the content advisor it will automatically block any web site that does not have a rating configured.  Therefore you will want to turn this blanket restriction off in step 8 if you all you are trying to do is block specific URL’s in a black list configuration.

Step 8 (Black List). Tick “User can see websites that have no rating” then click “OK”

Note: For white list configuration leave the “User can see websites that have no rating” un-ticked so that all web sites will be blocked.

Step 9. Click OK

Done.

If you configured a black list then a user will be allowed to go to all web sites except the URL that you specifically blocked. When the user does hit a web site that is blocked they will be presented with dialogue box explaining why they are not able to visit the web site and an option to visit the site only if they know the supervisor password.

If they click Cancel nothing will happen and if they press OK they will get presented with this dialogue box.

Below is another example message that is presented when visiting a site without a rating and you have configured the policy not load sites that do not have a rating which you will see if you have configured this as a white list.

If you are using a white list configured and a users will still be able to visiting as site so long as it is ICRA3 rated and it does not report as having content that falls into any of the rating categories. Therefore this method is not 100% affective for a white list strategy but you do find your users visiting a site that is not specifically allowed then you can simply added it as a blocked URL.

Migrate Server 2008 R2 to Server 2012 R2

There are two ways to do it you can directly upgrade server 2008 to server 2012 which is not recommended or you can transfer all FSMO roles from 2008 r2 to 2012 r2 which we are discussing in this post steps for migrating server 2008 to server 2012 is given below,

First we have to prepare server 2008 r2 for server 2012 r2  insert Server 2012 R2 DVD into Server 2008 R2 go to command prompt run command adprep /forestprep

Type c then hit enter to continue at this process you see your current schema version is 47 and it is updating to 69 after it complete run command adprep /domainprep

After adprep successfully update the domain wide information go to server2012 for creating additional domain controller to doing this open server manger and click on add role

Click next at first screen

installation type click next

Server selection click next

On server role screen select active directory domain services click on add features then click next

Click next

Click next

Click on install then click on close

Click on flag then click on Promote this server to a domain controller

Select add a domain controller to an existing domain select domain click next

Confirm that both DNS and GC option are checked then type DSRM password click next

Click next

Select FQDN name in replicate from then click next

Click next

Click next then click on install

Our additional DC is created now it’s time to transfer FSMO roles from 2008 to 2012 which is most important part of migrate server 2008 r2 to server 2012 r2

go to active directory check on domain controller you can see your both server names

Run command netdom query fsmo you see all roles are on DC.thetechnosolution.com now we are going to transfer these roles to server2012

Go to run type regsvr32 schmmgmt.dll hit enter

Go to run type mmc hit enter mmc window open go to file click on add or remove snap in select active directory schema click add then click ok

Right click on active directory shema then click on change domain controller select server 2012.thetechnosolution.com then click ok

Right click on active directory schema click on operation master, click on change to change schema role click yes on confirmation message

Schema masters are change from DC.thetechnosolution.com to Server2012.thetechnosolution.com click ok

Then go to active directory domains and trusts right click then select connect to domain contrellorer then select server2012.thetechnosolution.com

Change operation masters from dc.thetechnosolution.com to server2012.thetechnosolution.com

Then go to active directory users and computers connect with server2012.thetechnosolution.com

Right click on opration masters then change all three RID, PDC and Infrastructure masters

Re-run command netdom query fsmo you can see all roles are on now server2012.thetechnosolution.com

Now delegate server 2008 by running dcpromo, migrate server 2008 r2 to server 2012 r2 is complete