Hi, samad:
The first step would of course be to get the Java plugin, which is
available at:
http://www.ipix.com/support/download/plugin.shtml
or Java applets, available at:
http://www.ipix.com/support/camsoft/applets.shtml
Actually there are a variety of plugins that support the IPIX media
format, for different browsers and from different vendors. E.g. IBM's
HotMedia player does:
http://www-3.ibm.com/software/ad/hotmedia/library/docs/java_docs/java_intro.htm
which is a tutorial site that includes some Javascript samples.
I noticed a paucity of developer info at the IPIX site itself, but
they describe an IPIX Developer Network. I have a call into them now
to find out how one joins this network and what the costs/benefits
are.
The maintainer of this Javascript info site:
http://javascript.about.com/
is a former technical project lead/guru at IPIX. You might email him
with any specific questions that you have.
regards, mathtalk-ga |
Clarification of Answer by
mathtalk-ga
on
24 Oct 2002 09:19 PDT
Update: I've spoken with both Sales and Technical Support at iPix,
and the iPix Developer Network is not exactly what we want. The focus
of that program is to support "virtual tour" photographers and Web
developers, i.e. on the camera/content side of things. However I have
a contact for the software side of things, who can possibly be
persuaded to provide their iPix Viewer SDK. The technical support
person I spoke with seemed to think this one SDK supports both the
ActiveX control and the Java applet.
regards, mathtalk-ga
|
Clarification of Answer by
mathtalk-ga
on
25 Oct 2002 08:15 PDT
Hi, samad:
Here's what I learned from the friendly folks at iPix.
The iPix Viewer SDK that they released this past March
(scroll down through the news items about 20%, to the
March 4, 2002 entry):
http://news.moneycentral.msn.com/ticker/sigdev.asp?Symbol=IPIX
targets C/C++ developers who want to integrate their
viewer into an application on a Windows platform, using
the ActiveX (COM) "plugin" version of the viewer.
For a Java developer their advice was to work from the
source code included in the Java applet download (see
original answer). I downloaded that myself yesterday
and noticed that the "read me" text file zipped up
with the source files contains a brief description of
the properties that can be set on the viewer instance.
Given their asking price for the SDK ($1495, intended
to limit interest to serious developers because of an
anticipated burden of technical support by iPix), and
its apparent non-Java focus, it seems unlikely to be
worth your investment (unless I've misunderstood the
scope of your project). Getting the SDK requires you
to execute a licensing agreement with them. The Java
applet download also includes a license agreement, of
course, for the use of the viewer.
The folks at iPix expressed interest in working with
companies that are doing "vertical integration" of
spherical views into new application markets, similar
to their success in the real estate "virtual tours"
market. So if this describes what you are trying to
do, you can reach them at (888)909-4749. Press 2 for
Sales information and 3 for Technical Support.
I also searched for any open source integration stuff
at www.sourceforge.com, and came up empty handed as
far as iPix viewers are concerned.
From Google's newsgroups, I gleaned this note:
http://groups.google.com/groups?hl=en&lr=&ie=UTF-8&oe=UTF-8&th=50e823234fc0af90&seekm=a3ue84%241ev4%241%40news.boulder.ibm.com&frame=off
about the older version of the Java iPix viewer that
is licensed/used in IBM's HotMedia software.
regards, mathtalk-ga
|
Request for Answer Clarification by
samad-ga
on
05 Nov 2002 15:32 PST
Hi,
I received a reply for my question abt 20 days after i posted it. I
have already e-mailed google support with info that i had forgone the
project i was working on at that time ..... and in any case the
information provided was not sufficient. I would like a refund for the
charge i have incurred. The procedure requires that i e-mail for a
clarification and then some other steps. I would rather not go through
that because the answer supplied came in too late already .... I would
really appreciate prompt attention to my concern.
sincerely,
Samad Hussain.
|
Clarification of Answer by
mathtalk-ga
on
05 Nov 2002 20:21 PST
Hi, samad:
This is a new service (beta), and we are all learning how to make the
process work well. I'm pretty sure that Google will look favorably on
your request for a refund, since it is their policy to guarantee your
satisfaction.
The intent of allowing for clarification is cover those circumstances
in which the questioner has concerns that need to be addressed in
order to complete the answer. However I appreciate the opportunity to
explain my efforts on your behalf.
As you note, my answer came twenty days after you posted. This was my
earliest opportunity to supply you with an answer.
Because the question then was still open, I provided you a summary of
the complete available information, not limited simply to Web and
newsgroup searches, but from speaking with three levels of support at
iPix itself. After these efforts, had you been interested in pursuing
the project, I could have helped you make the contacts to get whatever
details you wished about interfacing with the iPix Java applet.
It is also for you to decide, having reviewed the answer and given me
an opportunity to clarify any missing points, if it is unsatisfactory
and to then request a refund.
In the future please expire your question, at any time prior to
receiving an answer, once you are no longer interested in one. This
way both you and experts such as myself can avoid steps we'd "rather
not go through"! I look forward to a future opportunity to consider
questions from you, as I found this one quite interesting to research.
best wishes, mathtalk-ga
|
Request for Answer Clarification by
samad-ga
on
07 Dec 2002 15:27 PST
(mathtalk)... hi,
I'm sorry for not getting back to you earlier. You'll understand my
aggravation is not with you but with the process (and google) itself.
Not only was my last charge (23rd Oct) not refunded.... I received
another charge (3rd Nov).... Now i have my cc charged twice for a
question that was never answered....(again...what you provided me with
is more than anybody else i have asked has been able to come up
with.... but the fact holds that it wasn't enough... hence i did not
follow up on your initial research... and in any case by that time i
had already lost the contract i was supposed to work on for iPix).
I don't know who else to contact with my requests.... I would be
really grateful if you could either have the charges i received
reimbursed or provide me with a definite contact who should be able to
take care of my problem.
|
Clarification of Answer by
mathtalk-ga
on
09 Dec 2002 21:08 PST
Hi, samad:
After receiving your request two days ago, I quickly sent an email to
the Google Answers staff about your concerns. As you probably
realize, I have no role in the billing side of things. As an
independent researcher for Google Answers, I am sorry to hear about
the double charges made to your account, and I have been assured that
the staff will investigate and contact you to resolve that problem.
As a fellow developer I'd really like to be able to assist you with
programming and other technical questions you might be interested in.
Please let me know if there is such an opportunity!
best wishes, mathtalk-ga
|
Hi Samad,
There seem to be two problems here.
The first: you needed your question answered the day it was posted,
not within the one month posting cycle. To remedy this in the future,
please be certain to let us know if you have a deadline. For example,
if you post on Monday and need an answer by Friday, please put "Need
answer by Friday [ date, time ]" in your question. This will alert
Researchers who see your question after the deadline that you are no
longer in need of the information.
As Mathtalk pointed out above, it's best to expire questions you no
longer need to have answered - including the deadline in the question
adds an extra safeguard against this very situation. We don't want to
give you an answer if you don't need it anymore!
The second: You now wish to have a refund, and you have an additional
charge on your credit card.
Unfortunately, Google Answers Researchers cannot help you with this.
Only the Staff can take care of refund requests and/or billing issues.
To apply for a refund, you must go here:
https://answers.google.com/answers/main?cmd=refundrequest
For billing problems and questions, you must contact the Staff:
answers-support@google.com
Be certain to include your user name and e-mail address, the question
ID, date of posting, date of the error, and any other relevant
information that might help identify the cause of the error.
--Missy
Google Answers Researcher |
