Jul 97 - NewsBits
Volume Number: 13
Issue Number: 7
Column Tag: Newsbits
Jul 97 - Newsbits
by Jessica Courtney
Kaidan Announces KiWi
A Low Cost Panoramic VR Tripod Head
KiWi is the first truly affordable panoramic VR tripod head. KiWi brings digital
photographic panoramas to an even wider audience. With the advent of easy-to-use and
affordable VR panorama creation software, such as PictureWorks' Spin and
Panimation's Nodester, the KiWi panhead provides a complete solution that is ideal for
anyone interested in adding digital VR panoramas to their websites, e-mail and
multimedia applications.
The KiWi bracket consists of two intersecting aluminum struts that adjust and lock to
accommodate the nodal points of a wide range of digital and conventional cameras, such
as the Kodak DC50, Apple QuickTake 100/150/200, APS film cameras, up to 35mm
SLR cameras equipped with 15mm lenses. When the two locking screws are loosened,
the KiWi pan head disassembles into two flat pieces that easily fit inside a camera bag.
Dimensionally, the adjustment range of the KiWi supports cameras with a tripod
mounting thread-to-nodal point distance of 4 3/8 inches (111mm) and a camera
mounting surface-to-nodal point distance of 5 1/4 inches (133mm).
KiWi attaches to any standard tripod and camera equipped with a standard 1/4-20
mounting thread. Unlike the other models of the Kaidan QuickPan line, which use
angular detents to provide click-stops, the KiWi uses a specially designed friction
joint that provides smooth and even drag while turning the camera. A convenient label
on the base provides a clear indication of the location and increment angle of the
camera. info@kaidan.com
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QuickCRC 1.0 -- Software Design Tool
Excel Software, makers of the popular MacA&D and WinA&D software engineering
tools, today announced availability of QuickCRC 1.0 for both Macintosh and Windows
95/NT. QuickCRC is a software design tool for discovering objects and related
information for an object-oriented software development project. QuickCRC automates
the CRC card concept of identifying classes, responsibilities and collaborations
between objects. It provides developers with a powerful, intuitive design tool that
requires little or no formal training.
QuickCRC uses a diagram workspace for creating card and scenario objects. A card
represents the properties of a class including its name, description, superclasses,
subclasses, attributes, responsibilities and collaborating objects. A scenario
represents a design mechanism defined as a series of steps involving communicating
objects. Scenarios can reference cards or other scenarios. Information is entered into
the Property dialog of each card and scenario object. Cards and scenarios can also
reference external agents defined by the designer to identify system and user
interfaces for the software being designed.
QuickCRC provides active simulation of an evolving design. Features include single
stepping backwards, forwards or over a called scenario or jumping to a specific
location in the scenario stack of a multiple scenario simulation. Designers can even
simulate mechanisms in an incomplete design by just selecting a scenario and clicking
the Simulate button.
QuickCRC automatically and transparently maintains relationships between cards,
scenarios and external agents as fluid design changes take place during the early phase
of a development project. For example, if a card references undefined subclasses or
superclasses, those cards are generated automatically. Name changes and cross
references between objects get updated instantly. Card and scenario objects can be
arranged visually on the diagram by QuickCRC based on user specified criteria to
highlight relationships between objects. Card and scenario objects can be separated
into different diagrams based on functional areas of a complex design or cut and pasted
between different project documents. Design models can be verified to locate errors.
Information can be listed to a text report to serve as a coding specification. Design
models can also be exported or imported to Excel Software's MacA&D and WinA&D
software engineering tools for detailed design or code generation. Likewise, Excel
Software's MacTranslator and WinTranslator can be used to automatically generate
QuickCRC design models from existing C++, Object Pascal or Delphi code.
http://www.excelsoftware.com
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Java News Offers Daily Distillate of Java
Roaster Technologies today officially launched "Roasted Java News," an online Java
News Daily. Each freshly updated version includes a comprehensive collection of news
headlines concerning Java culled from over 50 different publications available on the
Internet. In addition, a department of "Short Takes" supplies information on new or
updated applets, applications or Java-related sources.
Roaster Technologies' website also functions as a major Java resource for technology
people working with Java. The newly revised site, also making its debut, includes a
popular section called "Roasted Java Links," which provides an easily accessible
wealth of information on Java related resources. This area gives the user current,
verified information about other sites of interest to Java users; the user no longer has
to wonder if the link is outdated, or stale. The webmasters at Roaster have done the
work. http://www.roaster.com/news/