Roll a Winner with PocketDice, a New App by Big in Japan, Now Available at the Apple iTunes App Store
Roll a Winner with PocketDice, a New App by Big in Japan, Now Available at the Apple iTunes App Store
Dallas, TX (Vocus) September 16, 2009
Big in Japan, a Dallas-based idea factory for mobile applications, today announced that its new app, PocketDice, is now available for free download at the Apple iTunes App Store.
Created by a Big in Japan developer and designer team made up of Tyler Parsons and Jay Shuffler, PocketDice simulates the shaking, tossing and collisions of real dice — from four-sided up to 20-sided — in a variety of textures and styles.
PocketDice features:
realistic 3D dice motion, including physics-based collisions;
dice options of four, six, eight, 10, 12 and 20 sides;
a variety of dice styles/textures, including sharp-edged and smooth polished dice;
a variety of game backgrounds.
PocketDice is the perfect companion for games such as Dungeons & Dragons, Warhammer, HeroClix and Mechwarrior.
Tyler Parsons is a veteran developer who has created a number of popular iPhone apps, including palmReader and Trains. Parsons specializes in 3D games built for the iPhone using the Unity3D gaming engine.
Jay Shuffler has worked as a creative director and senior art director for some of Dallas’ top advertising agencies and has built creative departments for companies such as Lending.com and Credit Solutions.
To download PocketDice, visit the Big in Japan Web site at http://www.biggu.com/apps/pocketdice-iphone.
About Big in Japan
Big in Japan Inc. is a Dallas-based idea factory for mobile applications, building software for Google’s Android mobile platform and Apple’s iPhone. Big in Japan’s ShopSavvy application — a personal shopping assistant — is one of the most popular applications designed for the Android operating system for mobile phones. For more information, visit http://www.biggu.com
###
Attachments
©Copyright 1997-2010, Vocus PRW Holdings, LLC.
Vocus, PRWeb and Publicity Wire are trademarks or registered trademarks of Vocus, Inc. or Vocus PRW Holdings, LLC.
Amazing New 3D Technology Video From Japan
Amazing new 3D technology from Japan. Just when you thought it couldn’t get any better.
Sony Will Launch 3D TV in Japan in June 2010
Japan will be one of the first countries to have Sony’s 3D product lineup. Although several new 3D TV models will be launched there this summer, we are unsure how well sales will be. Considering the additional cost of 3D technology, are Japanese 3D fans going to rush out to buy one?
A 46-inch 3D screen will cost around 350,000 yen ($3,898; £2,608), 52% more expensive than a regular Sony flatscreen television.
Sony hopes to “liberate 3D from the confines of movie theatres,” says senior vice-president Yoshihisa Ishida.
The success of 3D films like Avatar, which won three Oscars on Sunday, has boosted hopes that 3D television could take off.
Widespread Launches Announced
Panasonic will begin selling 3D televisions in the US from Wednesday, in co-operation with electronics store Best Buy.
Samsung and LG are already selling 3D televisions and expect to launch their products in the UK and Europe over the next couple of months.
Included with the Sony television will be two pairs of special glasses and a camera sensor that will adjust sound and picture quality depending on where you sit.
The glasses cost around 12,000 yen each time you need an extra set.
They operate on an “active shutter principle” and present slightly different images to each eye, which Sony claims will provide realistic depth and crisp pictures.
ESPN, the sports network owned by Walt Disney, plans to launch a 3D sports channel this summer.
Early adopters might also be motivated by playing computer games – many of which are inherently three dimensional.
‘Barriers to growth’
But in a downturn will consumers pay for fancy features like 3D?
“I’m not very optimistic about 3D TV as it is today, I see more negatives than positives,” says Fernando Elizalde, from research firm Gartner.
“The biggest barriers to growth in 3D TV are the lack of content, the inconvenience of wearing glasses and that millions of consumers have only just upgraded to high-definition sets.”
“Sony has one advantage: it has arms that make TV sets, produce content and make filming equipment.”
Sony Betting Big on 3D TV
Sony has ambitious growth forecasts for 3D set sales.
It wants to sell 25 million liquid crystal display (LCD) televisions in the financial year April 2010 to March 2011, and hopes 10% of these will be 3D.
They will be hoping for a rush of orders before Japan’s analogue TV signal is turned off in July 2011.
Sony is betting big on 3D. Its president, Sir Howard Stringer, calls it “the next great consumer experience”.
The firm has implemented a programme of restructuring, cutting costs, reducing the number of manufacturing sites from 57 in December 2008 to 45 by May 2010.
Nevertheless in February, Sony said it expected to make a net loss of 70bn yen in the financial year ending March 2010. In the previous financial year it made a loss of of 98.9bn yen.
Sony Heralds Era of 3D Entertainment in 2010
Consumers will be able to enjoy 3D with “BRAVIA” LCD TVs, “Blu-ray Disc” Products, “VAIO”, Digital Still Cameras and PlayStation®3
Sony today announced plans to accelerate initiatives to deliver an array of 3D entertainment to the home in 2010, leveraging all its diverse business assets to create a 3D world encompassing electronics and games to movie content.
Sony also showcased the first of its ground-breaking line up of 3D entertainment products for the home at a press conference in Dubai.
Addressing the media, Hiroyasu Sugiyama, General Manager, 3D Strategy Office, Sony Corporation, Japan, said: “Today, we have brought the latest 3D experience for you to enjoy. For Sony, 3D is strategically very important, and we are committed to lead the 3D industry.
“In the 3D space, Sony is very uniquely positioned compared to other consumer electronics makers because we are not only going to sell 3D compatible consumer hardware but also ensure there is affluent variety of 3D content that consumers can enjoy.”
Sony is introducing the following 3D compatible consumer electronics products within this year, enabling users to enjoy an array of immersive 3D content in the home:
3D compatible “BRAVIA” LCD TVs, “Blu-ray 3D™” compatible Blu-ray Disc?players, and “Blu-ray 3D” compatible home theatre systems. 3D compatible VAIO PCs and 3D compatible digital still cameras.
For PlayStation®3, the global installed base of which is approximately 30 million units with more than half a million units in the Middle East, Sony will provide firmware updates making PlayStation®3 units compatible with 3D stereoscopic games. And with a separate firmware update, they will also become compatible with “Blu-ray 3D” discs.
In the Middle East, cable television service providers such as E-vision, ORBIT SHOWTIME and broadcasters such as Al Jazeera are upgrading their bouquet to provide the latest in entertainment technology and are in active discussion with companies to bring 3D to Middle Eastern homes in 2010.
Speaking at the press conference, Osamu Miura, Managing Director, Sony Gulf, said: “Clearly, 3D has already captured the imagination of filmmakers, content creators and broadcasters. Sony is moving to bring that magic directly into consumers’ homes with movies, games, and sporting events, all in 3D, in 2010.
“Today, 3D is the next generation of home entertainment and, with our technological leadership, we stand at the forefront of 3D technology.”
Sony’s range of professional 3D products is also driving the growth of 3D production and distribution across a range of entertainment industries, from theatre and music performances to sport and beyond.
Andy Hotten, Senior Product Manager, Sony Professional Solutions, Europe, said: “At Sony, we not only have the products to bring 3D to the home we also have a complete line up of professional products suitable for production of high quality 3D content for both movie makers and broadcasters. We are hence able to offer a complete Sony solution from the lens to the living room.”
Humaid Rashid Sahoo, CEO of E-Vision, said: “3D broadcasting and 3D television sets will form the next new standard in the world of home entertainment. As specialists in television broadcasting, our network has the ability to provide 3D broadcasting service, which we will launch in a timely manner, depending on the readiness of the market and the availability of appropriate content.
“E-Vision has always taken the initiative to launch the latest TV broadcasting technology in the UAE, and undoubtedly the greatest credit for our success is due to our clients who have come to expect the best from us.”
Sony is uniquely positioned to deliver compelling content that enhances the 3D experience. In addition to PlayStation®3 games in 3D, Sony will film major sporting events in 3D (e.g. FIFA World Cup 2010, Sony Open in Hawaii, a golf tournament organized by the PGA Tour) that will be made available to consumers through various channels.
Last but not least, the availability of “Blu-ray 3D” compatible players will herald the arrival of many new 3D films on high definition “Blu-ray 3D™” discs, coinciding with the launch of 3D compatible “BRAVIA” TVs later this year.
