After the longest wait between platform versions in my memory, Combustion 4 for Macintosh finally rolls out of the Autodesk factory. All users of Combustion will be well aware of the fact that apart from some minor speed improvements, and stability added when working with Splines and Particles, most of the application has remained un-changed.
The main new features are the Diamond Keyer, from the Discreet Flame and Inferno systems; A new plug-in that allows footage to be sped up or slowed down cleanly. I used a self-made filter to do the same task for my film, The Möbius Strip, however my version was so processor intensive that one frame took about 10 minutes to render, Autodesk’s version is far faster and produces better results.
For the £200 exc. Vat for the upgrade, its a good price for my favourite compositing tool.
22.Dec.05 
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Today I announced my resignation from ‘previous employer’. This very blog was responsible for these turn of events, and as such it seemed both I and my ‘previous employer’ were quite happy to part company at this point. After the holiday, I will explain in full what happened from my point of view, baring in mind that every story has at least two versions.
But between now and then, its time to regrow my own business!
Polaris Digital lives once more
14.Dec.05 Uncategorized Comments (0)
After a wicked weekend in London, Siân and I were returning to Manchester yesterday on the West Coast Main Line. As we past through Watford Junction I looked out to the East and saw a colossal black cloud heading slowly towards London, its reach slowly spreading as it veiled more and more of the South-East in its dark grey shadow, not unlike the effect of a total eclipse of the sun. I was instantly reminded of the dark cloud of Mordor spreading darkness from its epicentre over Mount Doom - in this case Mount Doom was the Total Oil Terminal outside Hemel Hempstead.
This whole scene was slightly more ominous as I was completely oblivious to the cause at this time, unaware that a huge fire had been blazing for almost twelve hours at that point. It was only today, reading the news that all became clear.
Images courtasy of BBC News
12.Dec.05 Uncategorized Comments (0)
This week Adobe finally aquired Macromedia, providers of rich internet development tools such as Dreamweaver and Flash. Recently Macromedia has been moving into the server market to provide RIA (Rich Internet Application) Servers, an area that Microsoft are also trying to corner with their .NET technology. I have recently been working with Macromedia Flex and have found developing with it a real charm.
Meanwhile, Adobe have been trying to corner the digital content market, especially with their portable document format (PDF). Microsoft are developing a rival to PDF for Windows Vista, and Macromedia have been developing Flash Paper for a number of years. It didn’t take a genious then to figure out that if Adobe aquired Macromedia, the joint forces of the two product lines would probably ensure that Adobe is the software provider for all content creators, and not Microsoft, which in my humble opinion would be a good thing.
Microsoft are a big animal and Adobe are right to re-enforce their position in the market. But the problem I have with all of this is how it has been achieved. Many of the Macromedia staff in (Western) Europe are about to find out that their jobs are gone or being moved to Eastern Europe. Also, all Macromedia products will loose the Macromedia name from their title, so from December 15th, Adobe Flash, Adobe Dreamweaver and so on, will be the order of the day. This in itself isn’t particularly bad, except for the fact that this is exactly what Adobe said they weren’t going to do.
Which leads me on to the point. Shortly after Adobe and Macromedia announced their merger, AutoDesk, producers of 3DS Max, announced they were aquiring Alias, the producers of Maya 3D software. At present AutoDesk insist that they will not touch the Alias product line, however with AutoDesk still producing 3DS Max, and intending to keep on producing it, Alias Maya’s days may now be numbered. Not a good thing IMHO.
06.Dec.05 Uncategorized Comments (0)
So mortgages, why are they so difficult to understand, deal with and ultimately get in the first place. With all of our recent dealings with solicitors, banks and estate agents, the one group of people that go back and forward asking endless questions about your life are the mortgage lenders.
Now I understand that mortgage lenders are risking an awful lot of capital on each investment they make, but at the same time they are getting a lot back. However there is one little detail that is always out of our control, but has to be passed before any money is handed over, the credit check.
Not a big problem is like me you have never had a CCJ or been served for non-payment. However, if you happen to live in a property like ours that is currently involved in a number of fraudulent mortgage cases, then suddenly ones credit history looks decidedly dodgy to the mortgage lenders. No matter how much you explain these outstanding mortgage payments have nothing to do with you, they can’t get past the computer just saying - NO!
05.Dec.05 Uncategorized Comments (0)
So, we are into the last 25 days until Christmas day itself. Christmas is a nice time of year, if you are a child. As I have got increasingly older I have noticed that Christmas just turns from a very happy occasion to one of the most stressful experiences outside of trying to get a mortgage and buying a new home - which by complete co-incidence is what we’re also trying to do this Christmas! You can read more in 18 // The Green Building section of this site.
If you want to know what we’re doing over Christmas, where we’ll be and most importantly, what New Years Eve antics coming our way, then go forth to the Christmas 2005 section.
Finally, almost as soon as we’ve all recovered from Christmas and New Years, Siân’s Birthday is upon us. This will also be our next house warming celebration (and hopefully final) for a while. Find out more in the Siân’s Birthday 2006 section soon.
01.Dec.05 Uncategorized Comment (1)
