Virtual reality pioneer Cosmo Software, a Silicon Graphics Inc company has announced two new products in one day. First came the release of the public beta of PageFX 1.0, a vector graphic design tool which aims to put 3D into non-programmer hands by enabling a point-and-click interface to VRML 2.0. Then the Mountain View, California, company announced an upgrade to its browser/plug-in hybrid multimedia client, Cosmo Player. Designed to start up and render more quickly than earlier versions, Cosmo Player 2.1 is fully VRML 2.0 compliant. The upgrade supports both SGI’s OpenGL and Microsoft’s much-criticized rival, Direct3D – one sign of a new, bi-partisan age in 3D rendering.
