Spotlight
Issue: Volume 38 Issue 3: (May/Jun 2015)

Spotlight

Boxx Mobile Workstations Sport Core i7 

Boxx Technologies’ GoBoxx MXL mobile workstation series features Intel Core i7 desktop processors. The 17- and 15.6-inch notebooks support professional workflows and feature  desktop-class Intel Core i7 4790K processors capable of 4.0 ghz and 4.4 ghz in Turbo Boost mode. The GoBoxx 15 and 17 MXL mobile workstations include an optional Nvidia Quadro graphics card for a total of 1,536 CUDA cores. GoBoxx MXL also includes up to 32gb of RAM, a full-HD panel, and I/O that includes five USB ports, and M.2 PCI-E SSD options. 



The Foundry Pounds Out Modo 901

The Foundry has introduced its most significant Modo update, Version 901, which delivers new creative tools and enhances workflow and productivity. Modo 901 will deliver more than 100 new features at launch in late May. This functionality will impact the entire content creation process across all disciplines, including modeling, texturing, character animation, and rendering. 

Among the features are better Booleans, with MeshFusion now included; new progressive texture baking; new and improved tools for modeling tasks; better ways of working with regular and UDIM multi-tiled UVs; and layered, multi-resolution sculpting, with multiple sculpt layers at each mesh level. 
With Modo 901, The Foundry will introduce new pricing for new seats ($1,799).

HP Displays Notebook Workstations, Monitors

HP introduced five new notebook workstations at NAB, including the slick-looking, ultra-thin Omen Pro, which comes with a choice Intel core i7s and an Nvidia K1100m GPU with 2gb of GDDR5 RAM to drive the 15.6-inch, 1920x1080 touchscreen display. The main memory starts at 8gb and can be doubled in size, and the SSD can be 256gb or 512gb. The SSD uses HP’s Z Turbo drive. 

The company also expanded its ZBook mobile workstation line. Now the company offers the ZBook 15 ($1,499), its little sister, the ZBook 14 ($1,199), and the ZBook 17 ($1,749).  HP also unveiled its new monitor lineup, which includes the Z27n (2560x1440 resolution), Z25n (2560x1440), Z24n (1920x1200), Z24nq (1920x1440), and Z24nf (1920x1080). 


Eizo Presents ColorEdge CG318-4K Monitor

Eizo is releasing ColorEdge CG318-4K, a 31-inch monitor with a DCI (Digital Cinema Initiatives) 4k (4096 x 2160) native resolution. The ColorEdge CG318-4K uses an LED-backlit IPS (in-plane switching) LCD panel with a wide color gamut that reproduces 98 percent of the DCI-P3 and 99 percent of the Adobe RGB color space.  

The ColorEdge CG318-4K comes with a built-in sensor for self-calibration. Eizo is offering two dedicated calibration software programs, ColorNavigator NX (free download) and ColorNavigator 6 (bundled with the monitor), which let users set target values for brightness, gamma, and white point, and generate an ICC profile. 

For color management of the ColorEdge CG318-4K and other select ColorEdge monitors on a network, Eizo also offers ColorNavigator Network, a cloud-based Web hosting solution for performing quality-control tasks on client ColorEdge monitors with ColorNavigator NX installed. 

The ColorEdge CG318-4K will begin shipping this summer. 



Autodesk Rolls Out 2016 Releases



Autodesk has strengthened its 2016 3D animation portfolio with significant updates to Maya and 3ds Max. Each includes new features and improvements to boost performance and collaboration, and simplify daily operations for advanced creativity. 

Maya 2016’s animation performance with a parallel evaluation system takes advantage of the CPU and GPU to increase the speed of both playback and character rig manipulation. New capabilities in Bifrost, including adaptive foam and guided simulations, help deliver realistic liquid simulations.

3ds Max 2016 offers procedural content creation and tools for better collaboration. It features the new Max Creation Graph, a node-based content and tool creation kit that lets users extend 3ds Max with geometric objects and modifiers. The software also sports new XRef Renovations so users can externally reference objects to scenes and animate/edit material on the XRef object in the source file without merging the object into the scene. There’s also an intuitive design workspace and template systems for easy access to object placement, lighting, rendering, modeling, and texturing tools while creating high-quality stills and animations. 

Autodesk also released new versions of Flame and Flame Premium, which offer a comprehensive, high-end VFX and creative finishing tool set, new look development tools, a connected workflow, faster, interactive performance, and other improvements. 


The 2016 Entertainment Creation Suite includes all the new updates to Maya 2016 and 3ds Max 2016, in addition to Mudbox 2016 and MotionBuilder 2016. The stand-alone products are offered on a pay-as-you-go basis through Desktop Subscription. 

PipelineFX Offers Qube 6.7

PipelineFX has released Qube 6.7 of its renderfarm management software for VFX, delivering more speed, stability, and variable control options for professional VFX and design studios. New features include modifiable job variables, faster bulk submission capability, platform support upgrades, improvements to WranglerView, distributed rendering controls for 3ds Max users, and more. Customers on maintenance and support can download Version 6.7 immediately.