topic Re: In Memoriam QTVR in Visualization

In Memoriam QTVR

David Collins — Thu, 11 May 2023 10:14:17 GMT

From the ArchicadWiki front page:
"2009-10-14 - Graphisoft decided to discontinue QTVR in ArchiCAD 13. The decision was based on the fact that Apple does not support QTVR on 64-bit operating systems."

As one of its most ardent admirers throughout its lifetime, I was deeply saddened by the news that QTVR was no longer with us. QTVR was both groundbreaking and revolutionary in its youth. Stepping away from the centuries-old tyranny of the flipbook, it used the as yet untapped potential of the computer in a new way to wrap a flat image 360 degrees around a viewpoint and then went on to link those viewpoints into a virtual reality. QTVR was quick to render, modest in file size and capable of running independently on the least endowed computer of even the least endowed client. It offered the illusion of viewer control without allowing them to run amok in the dark corners and corridors of a project where even the designer had not yet dared to venture. Sadly, QTVR never even began to be developed to its fullest potential, as the typical mindset found itself completely unable to think past the cinematic paradigm, which blindly dedicated the vast potential of the computer to emulate the flickering frame-by frame drudgery of traditional celluloid animation.

It seems clear that the future belongs to VBE and its descendants and that is certainly a step in the right direction. But let us pause to remember QTVR and honor it for giving us a glimpse of what virtual horizons might be possible in a brave new virtual world.

Re: In Memoriam QTVR

Barry Kelly — Tue, 10 Nov 2009 09:30:07 GMT

So the QTVR add-on won't run at all in version 13 on a 64 bit system?
It runs fine in version 12 on a 64 bit system.
I know the V12 program is only 32 bit and therefore runs a 32 bit add-on.
But couldn't V13 run a 32 bit add-on as well? (I don't know anything about programming these things).
Or at least couldn't they give us 32 bit add-on for those of us still working on 32 bit systems?
Just a recompile of the existing version 12 add-on?

Running the QT movies is another problem but even they can be run in 32 bit mode (emulation?).

Barry.

Re: In Memoriam QTVR

andrewzarb — Wed, 11 Nov 2009 01:49:25 GMT

It seems that the latest version of Quicktime, Quicktime X, does not support QTVR. Very strange when you consider the lack of easily accessible tools to replace QTVR. Also a shame when you consider that the technology even sparked new kinds of media, www.vrmag.org.

Maybe it's part of Steve Jobs' plan to get rid of every trace of John Sculley.

Re: In Memoriam QTVR

Anonymous — Wed, 11 Nov 2009 03:26:26 GMT

we have a client who has a new computer with windows 7
and they couldnt open our QTVR presentation even in XP SP2 emulation
so this may become a problem for our business

Re: In Memoriam QTVR

Greg Kmethy — Wed, 11 Nov 2009 13:39:15 GMT

Barry wrote:
Or at least couldn't they give us 32 bit add-on for those of us still working on 32 bit systems?
Just a recompile of the existing version 12 add-on?
Barry.

It's available from here:
http://www.graphisoft.com/support/archicad/downloads/ac13/QTVR.html

But it only works with 32-bit ArchiCAD 13, and the resulting movies will not play in the latest QuickTime X player, (QT X, a 64-bit application, does not support QTVR anymore)

Re: In Memoriam QTVR

Barry Kelly — Thu, 12 Nov 2009 02:31:29 GMT

Thank you Gergely.
Barry.

Re: In Memoriam QTVR

Thomas Holm — Thu, 12 Nov 2009 09:44:12 GMT

gkmethy wrote:
Barry wrote:
Or at least couldn't they give us 32 bit add-on for those of us still working on 32 bit systems?
Just a recompile of the existing version 12 add-on?
Barry.
It's available from here:
http://www.graphisoft.com/support/archicad/downloads/ac13/QTVR.html

But it only works with 32-bit ArchiCAD 13, and the resulting movies will not play in the latest QuickTime X player, (QT X, a 64-bit application, does not support QTVR anymore)

QTX will ask for and install the required QT7 player when needed. QT7 is 32bit, but since there is no 64-bit Archicad 13 on the Mac, this should not be an issue.

Re: In Memoriam QTVR

KeesW — Sat, 21 Nov 2009 10:11:18 GMT

We never got QTVR to work on our 64 bit XP or Vista - I am glad some people did. It was our only disappointment with running AC on 64 bit OS's. Using virtual explorer is OK but costs extra whereas QTVR was built in.