Frequently Asked Questions

Should I choose Java or QuickTime for my web site?
Pick Java VR if you have to choose the single largest and most available Internet delivery solution for your web site audience. The main disadvantage is the poorer performance of showing larger higher resolution images. Choose QuickTimeVR if you can control the hardware and/or software used to view your virtual tour like a company network, kiosk installation, CD-ROM or PowerPoint presentation. QuickTime will handle larger higher resolution files for full screen presentations much better than Java as well as streaming sound and video. A Macintosh computer will already have QuickTime installed while a Windows PC computer may need to have this additional software installed. You can offer to display both and give the visitor a choice. The main disadvantage is not all Windows PC will have QuickTime already installed.

What is a Cylindrical 360VR?
Cylindrical 360VR panoramas are limited view panoramas and do not need the requirements to see fully above and below. These panoramas are typically imaged with a field of View (fov) of 100 x 360 degrees or less. These are taken for subjects that are best suited for limited views like city sky lines and group photos. Cylindrical panoramas are also used for print presentations.

What is a Java VR?
Java is multi-platform computer language from Sun Microsystems and is used to give web pages more functionality. We use small Java Applet programs like PTViewer for our Java VR Web pages to play back our 360VR images. All popular Web browsers are Java friendly and should automatically play back Java delivered content.

What is a QuickTime VR?
QuickTime is a high performance multi-media platform developed by Apple Computer for playing iTunes, video and digital media files including 360VR images on your computer. A Mac computer will already have QuickTime installed while a PC computer may need to have this additional software installed. QuickTime is a free download and is used by iTunes to download music and video for iPods. QuickTime extends your Web browser's capabilities to view web pages that contain rich media files like QuickTime VR Images.

What is a Spherical 360VR?
Spherical 360VR images records the full spherical environment: 180 degrees up and down and 360 degrees around. Apple Computer who originally delivered the technology called Quicktime VR also calls them Cubic VR's.