formerly policepad firetab

The Digital Biz Buzz™

Welcome to the Digital Biz Buzz, we’re glad you stopped by! Check in here with our team of mobile, animation and game professionals to stay up to speed on the latest happenings in the digital world.

Examples of How a Business Can Utilize Captivating 3D Content

With the advent of 3D animation, a whole new realm of possibilities has been opened for the savvy business. Not only can presentations and explanations be laid out in a precise and clearly understandable fashion, but even somewhat quirky approaches like mascot association or catchy visual motifs can be produced in a professionally acceptable manner. With this newfound versatility at the fingertips of every cutting edge company, it comes as no surprise that 3D animation has quickly become the corporate standard for a vast spectrum of uses.Car

Perhaps the most traditional example of 3D animation in business can be found in architectural and medical illustration. Virtually eliminating the need for complex diagrams and long-winded explanations, professionals can now present their materials in a manner that even their investors can understand, without losing any of the technical accuracy demanded of their trade.

These models and video compilations can even go further than real-life examples ever could. For example, surgical procedures can be slowed down to a fraction of their real time speed, so a student can fully analyze the techniques used. The potential for distractions or accidents during a filmed procedure are entirely eliminated, so even the focal clarity of the procedure is enhanced.

The precision of 3D modeling allows for an astounding degree of accuracy in designs. Buildings can be mapped out using real-world coordinates, right down to the window frames and lampposts. Whereas a traditionally created scale model was limited by the size and ability of the materials, 3D models can be scaled infinitely on-screen, so every minute detail can be analyzed, recorded, and corrected with ease.

Once these fully realized models have been created, the aspect of movement can be brought in. With an illustrated diagram, gaps between pictures can become gaps in understanding, and basic concepts become lost in the cracks. Combining a well thought-out oral presentation with a completely comprehensive, frame-by-frame animation increases viewer understanding tenfold, and even presents a convenient way to provide the entire explanation to them for re-watching at their leisure.

3d animation

Once a 3D animation studio has completed the project, you have the option to redistribute it infinitely at little to no additional costs. You obtain the option of distributing via compact DVDs or flash drives, or even uploading the piece to a video hosting website, and simply emailing links. Whereas a pamphlet or packet may be thrown away to conserve desk space, or lost amidst a pile of papers, proffering a digital version presents a far cleaner option. And what could possibly be easier to keep organized than a single, all-inclusive 3D animation?

With a high-tech marketing package always at your fingertips, you will never be at a loss for words – you can just show them what you mean!

4

The article has No Comments »  |  Tags: , , , , , , ,

Top Three NCAA March Madness Mobile Apps

With the much anticipated NCAA tournament underway, there is an app to go with almost anything your basketball loving heart desires. There are three mobile apps in particular that have generated quite a bit of buzz in correlation with this month’s March Madness:

NCAA March Madness Live

This app is a suite of live products presented across multiple platforms, including online, iPad, iPhone and iPod touch, and select Android smartphones over Wi-fi and 3G/4G for $3.99.

The formally known March Madness on Demand has been available in past years. However, this is the first year it is available on Android devices and is now known as March Madness Live. Download now and don’t miss anymore of the heart pumping NCAA action on iTunes or Google Play.

March Madness Mania

Available on the iPhone and iTouch for only $0.99. This app has instant analysis from NCAA legends like Dick Vitale, Fran Fraschilla, Andy Katz  and others. Users can also read tweets from coaches and read the latest news as it happens. You can instantly share your favorite teams info on Facebook, Twitter and email. Don’t be left out of all the exciting news. Download today to cheer on your favorite college team!


ESPNAndyKatzFraschilla Fran      Dick Vitale Online

Bump

We all know that our favorite team can be out of the tournament within seconds. Okay, so that may have a little exaggeration behind it, but a game can be finished before we finish up at our day jobs! And the outcome may not be favorable for our cherished team. Bump will let you work and play at the same time. You simply share contact info available on Apple or Android devices for FREE. Sorry, now there is no excuse to not sell, sell, sell

In my opinion, all of these apps are slam dunks! If you want to look into some additional methods of tracking March Madness, Mashable released an article this week on 7 Baller Apps to Follow March Madness Online. To be part of this top app list next year, reach out to a mobile app development company with your idea!

6

The article has 2 Comments »  |  Tags: , , , , , , , , , ,

Top Tweets About the New iPad

There has been a lot of spark and growing interest about the new iPad that was announced March 6, 2012.  I’ve taken to Twitter to see what the world has been saying about it… and surprisingly, it’s not what you would think. I thought I’d see the majority of tweets about the excitement of the release or about new features, instead the gates of Twitter were flooded with tweets about the name #newipad.

  • Dane Cook Apple just confusingly named the iPad 3 “the new iPad” dropping the 3. Steve Jobs must be a spinning beach ball in his grave.

A little jab from Dane Cook! Others are tweeting:

  • WHITE MENACE “Hey, do you have the new iPad? The iPad 3? No, it’s just called the iPad. So you have the first one? No, it’s new. – TechCrunch.

All funniness aside, there have been some tweets about the new and improved features:

  • 22 Minutes #NewiPad has much crisper screen. Now you can see just how angry those birds are.

And even some playful tweets about the competition:

 

  • Cassidy Quinn Oh shoot! New iPad has 4G LTE. Good job, Apple, for finally catching up to @Motorola and the rest of the good (Android) world…! #OCNN

When all is said and done, most just can’t wait to get their hands on the new device set to hit stores March 16, 2012.

  • Karthik Kastury Drooling over the new iPad3. It is simply the most beautiful and most gorgeous hand held device ever.

And who would have guessed there would also be excitement with this announcement in regards to the iPad2? Apple dropped its price to be $100 cheaper.

  • Nicki Bahrampour The only real benefit of the new ipad is that the previous version is now cheaper.

Regardless, right now, it is all about the iPad. Jump on the bandwagon and join the #newipad, #ipad3 or #ipadhd hashtags on Twitter! We certainly enjoy hearing all the buzz!

3

The article has No Comments »  |  Tags: , , , , ,

Game Marketing: Giving Your Fans a Voice to Generate Exposure

Creating a hit game in the modern industry requires a lot more time, effort, and funding than many people realize. From concept art creation, to analyzing the user interface and creating the code base, to the final animated polish and shine, every piece has to be meticulously placed to create a buzz in the modern market. So, after putting your all into creating your masterpiece, how can you guarantee you’ll have an audience? What steps can you take from the start to make your title a success?

Game Marketing

The first, and easiest, step would certainly be an online presence. Create a Facebook page, start up a blog, spread the news! Not only is this a great way to reach your audience, but it is also one of the best ways for your audience to reach out to you. Most gamers have been around the block long enough to know what really makes a game tick- they just need to be given a voice.

Giving your audience a way to contact you before your game hits the market allows you two privileges- realizing ways to improve before your game hits the virtual shelves, and letting the fans feel like they are a part of the magic as well. Creating a closeness with your audience will keep them interested longer, and make them more likely to bring up the website to their friends because YOU have become their friend of sorts. Put a face to the franchise, and you’ll become more than just another game.

As this trend in social connection continues, some companies are taking even more direct routes to talk with their fans. Holding web-based Q+A sessions on Reddit’s ‘Ask me Anything’ subsection has seen an enormous spike in popularity recently, since devoting a few short hours to answering questions on the popular forum can bring in thousands of new fans easily, due to the high traffic of the website. Some even take it one step further, by linking to donation websites and allowing fans to directly affect the quality of the final game.

As an industry member AND a hobbyist gamer, I definitely support it when developers reach out to fans. I lurk the blogs of my favorite game creators, post when I feel my insight can really impact the success, and even pitch in some pocket change on occasion, if I know I can help the process along. Of course, I’ve seen the receiving end as well, and realize that those eager fans can really be fountains of useful information, able to add upon ideas with astounding amounts of insight. If you have already summoned up the courage to make that title happen, then opening yourself up to the fans is simple. Make yourself available, and they will come to you.

1

The article has No Comments »  |  Tags: , , , , , , , , ,

Mobile Biz Buzz Episode 21 – Go Green Meets Mobile

Please take a look at our latest video episode of the Mobile Biz Buzz featuring (me) Candace Papajohn and the Nissan Leaf!

Key takeaway from the video - go green meets mobile:

Verizon Wireless has initiatives in everyday business to protect the environment as it is adding new “go green” initiatives. It is using solar technology to power more than 20 cell sites in the western United States. Verizon Wireless created HopeLine, which allows phones to be properly recycled. The IT department uses company workstations to conserve electricity.

At each NASCAR Sprint Cup Series there is a Sprint booth located in the track. The booth allows fans to come donate used phones and promote cell phone recycling efforts. Since 2001, Sprint has recycled more than 24 million phones. One properly recycled wireless phone supports the conservation of resources, reduces greenhouse gas emissions, and helps prevent air and water pollution.

Zco didn’t want to be left out of green initiatives. The Nissan Leaf is our new company car! It is a 100% electric car that can be controlled by a free iPhone app. The Nissan Leaf app can control and report features from a remote location. Take a look at our sweet new ride in this episode!

3

The article has 1 Comment »  |  Tags: , , , , , , , ,

The Premiere of John Carter and the History of Animated Films

There is no question that Disney is a powerhouse in the animated film world, but do we really understand the magnitude of their creations? We, as consumers to these brilliant visual masterpieces, have been awed for years by its creations.  Disney’s animated films have spanned over decades, some classics that come to mind include:

 The Little Mermaid
  • 1937 Snow White and the Seven Dwarfs
  • 1989 Little Mermaid
  • 1992 Aladdin
  • 1998 Mulan

The Disney Movie Guide Rankings includes a list of the best-animated Disney movies of all time, polled on a daily basis. The tops ratings today included the Lion King and Beauty and the Beast. These are the classics that will live on well beyond their early 90’s release dates.

Fast forward a couple years and we ride a wave into computer-animated films. 2001 brought this technology mainstream with Pixar’s film Monsters Inc. and started a curve of higher quality animated films including Dreamwork’s Shrek and Disney’s Finding Nemo in 2003.

After looking through a brilliant past, my question is, what are the animated films of the future? What are the animated blockbuster films, which are making our favorite Disney animations look like ancient artifacts? This spring and summer is expected to bring phenomenal 3d animated films to the theaters. I’m sure the list is growing, but here are some incredibly intricate, animated graphic films set to release in 2012:

John Carter
  • John Carter kicks the season off the season tomorrow on March 9, 2012. This movie combines people and futuristic, alien like, character animations. Critically acclaimed Avatar hit theaters in 2009, and John Carter is said to emulate this movie. Similarities include human interaction to another planet, and conflict among habitants of the world/planet.
  • The Avengers is the super hero team up of a lifetime! Hitting theaters May 4. The teams mission is to save the world from the brink of disaster. This is a collaboration of many of the iconic Marvel super heroes, based on the Avengers comic book series.
  • Brave is coming to theaters just in time for summer break on June 22. It follows the heroic journey of Merida, who confronts tradition and challenges destiny to change her fate.

As a marketing specialist with a 3D animation studio I certainly respect the work that goes into these masterpieces and as a consumer I appreciate the exciting and captivating experience that animated films bring to the table. What films are you looking forward to seeing this summer and what are some of your favorite classic animated films?

2

The article has No Comments »  |  Tags: , , , , , , , , , , , , , , , , ,

What’s New with the New iPad?

Apple left us at the edge of our seats with an announcement teaser yesterday on iTunes: “Tomorrow is just another day. That you’ll never forget. Check back tomorrow for an exciting announcement from iTunes.

New iPad Announcement

Prior to this message rumors had been swirling for weeks around the announcement of the iPad 3. Today, March 7th at 10:00am PST Apple followed through with the official announcement of a new iPad.

Here are some of the key features noted in the announcement of the new iPad:

-      New retina display

  • 1 million more pixels than HDTV

-      5 megapixel camera

-      1080p video recording

-      Image stabilization

-      Voice dictation

  • US, British, Australian English, French, German, Japanese

-      Supports next generation 4G LTE

The new iPad is available at the same prices as the iPad 2. It will be in stores starting on March 16th. Pre-orders start today!

 

5

The article has No Comments »  |  Tags: , , , ,

AI Trends Towards the Future with Unity 3D

When most people hear the term ‘AI’, the image that comes to mind is that of a bad Sci-fi movie from the 80’s. Back then, our idea of artificial intelligence was a computer screen with a face, telling you what your schedule was for the day. The modern truth is- the real advances in AI can actually be seen in video games.
Unity 3DImage Source
All right, so the talking screen thing still hasn’t taken off. But the computer-controlled characters in video games have been getting more and more complex as electronics become more powerful. These artificial players are able to navigate through the in-game world and interact with real players in an increasingly realistic fashion. But this kind of ability does have its drawback, mainly the sheer amount of time and manpower required to program that sort of intelligence.

A revolutionary step forward occurred recently, when the popular mobile development kit, Unity, introduced a plugin involving a few powerful pieces of AI assistance software. The hope is that these toolsets will allow developers to write in any restrictions and desires without having to worry about cobbling together code, or painting themselves into walls, since the system easily integrates itself right in.

The question now is: how much of an impact will this release have on the mobile industry? From my observation, innovation in AI has started to stagnate for the past five years or so. With the vast improvements in 3D graphics programs soaking up the limelight, many studios are finding success in flashy looking games with older-gen mechanics. If the graphics are enough to pull a person in, then why bother spending all that time to develop innovative gameplay?

Luckily, I think this trend is starting to fade because of the ever-expanding mobile gaming industry. Sure, the look of the game means a lot to the player (it would feel odd as a 3D artist to say otherwise), but the purpose of a game is to be played. Without new and interesting gameplay, it might as well just be a movie. So why let that part slide? Why not take a chance with a more challenging concept, and innovate the field? In a technological era where the sky really is the limit, and each new device adds a new tool to the table, there’s no reason why we can’t push those boundaries, and create entirely immersive in-game worlds.

How far do you think AI will evolve in the next five years? Ten? Let us know what you look forward to in the future of games!

3

The article has No Comments »  |  Tags: , , , , , , , , , , , , , , , ,

Pinterest – Connecting Like-Minded Pinners to Inspiring 3D Artwork

Pinterest is the fastest growing social media site reporting over 11 million unique users since its launch in 2010. What is Pinterest, exactly? It is a pin board-styled photo sharing website, allowing users to create and manage theme-based image collections. The site’s mission is to “connect everyone in the world through the ‘things’ they find interesting.”

3D is a growing interest to the pin board site with queries specific to a wide range of 3D related topics. Some queries have a large array of results and others are just catching on, but users can count on Pinterest to share artwork that is interesting and creative related to 3D gaming, animation, and software.

For example, take a look at the collection of artwork listed under the keyword 3D Character:

3D Charater Board on Pinterest

Pinterest already has a full page of 3D related information and Pinners continue to add new items to share their likes and interests. An even larger collection of pins can be found under the keyword 3D Design. 3D Models is another growing category, and there is a complete collection of 3d content listed under the keyword 3D animation.

What is incredibly great about sharing 3D work on Pinterest is that a specific design can be a part of many different categories. So, a Pin could be picked up by users outside of the animation community, and really start a trend. With so many Pinners interested in 3D, putting ideas and artwork on the board allows other pinners to enjoy and share the same 3D designs. Everyone has different variations of a common interest and Pinterest is an excellent platform to showcase it all.

3D Animated Film A 3D animated children’s film, Rango, recently won the 2012 Academy Awards for the best Animated Feature Film, this kind of news shouldn’t take long to become ‘Pintastic.’ I anticipate that the animation categories will become as viral as the Do It Yourself (DYI) categories. Pinners that are connoisseurs of DYI never hesitate to show off their hard work and 3D artists should be no different.

As mentioned earlier, options are endless with Pinterest and 3D artwork. Take a look at some of the possibilities and see if you can expand on them by sharing your work and ideas. If something sparked your interest, and you’d like to develop an idea with a 3D Animation Studio please feel free to reach out to one of our representatives for the development of games, videos, ads, films, e-books and more! If you have additional Pinterest 3D categories that you found interesting please share your thoughts in the comments section below or check back in with our Pinterest Page, we’ll compile some of our favorite pins there!

4

The article has No Comments »  |  Tags: , , , , , , , ,

The Future of the Past

The PlayStation Vita launched today.  The Vita is a handheld controller for the PlayStation but can be used in the home and on the go.  Trying to prove itself as a fair competitor to mobile technology, it will be interesting to see how others take the new device.  From what I hear it is far too expensive and not small enough for convenience.  On the flip side, it is a very aesthetically pleasing device.  It contains tilt controls, front and rear cameras and two touchscreens.  The touchscreen on the back is said to be annoying because many people hold the back when they play therefore messing up their game with an accidental touch.  My hopes aren’t too high for the Vita but I’m not an avid gamer so what do I know? If you are a PlayStation addict tell Zco what you think about the product. Success or epic fail?

2

The article has No Comments »  |  Tags: , , , , , , , ,
Page 13 of 26« First...10111213141520...Last »