TRACKIR 5 - is alive !

Check this out! Just got the notification email. Sounds very impressive!

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NaturalPoint is proud to unveil TrackIR 5, successor to the best-selling head tracker in the world, TrackIR 4. Through a series of hardware enhancements as well as completely overhauled software, our fifth generation head tracker offers new levels of precision, freedom and reliability.

More Precision

With a 640 x 480 sensor resolution, TrackIR 5 has triple the number of pixels as a TrackIR 4, resulting in radically more precise tracking and further tracking distances. Combined with NaturalPoint's new Precision Grayscale analysis, it achieves a reporting resolution of 96,000 x 72,000. The result is a potent 10-fold increase in effective resolution over TrackIR 4. See a video demonstration of Precision Grayscale on the Product Comparison page.

More Freedom

TrackIR 5's 51.7° field of view is an increase of more than 12% over TrackIR 4. Enjoy more trackable real estate as you move around as much as you need to. Like to sit close to your monitor? Track a fuller range of head motion from up close. Want to keep your distance? Leverage the higher resolution with the wider field of view and enjoy more room than you'll know what to do with at larger distances. With an effective resolution of 1850 subpixels per horizontal field of view degree, you'll still enjoy tremendous tracking fidelity.

More Reliability

TrackIR 5's intelligent design aims to reduce damage from wear and tear with a magnetically attached base and USB cable anchor. The newly designed software introduces NaturalPoint's Spurious Marker Rejection to help filter out unwanted light sources in hostile conditions.

TrackIR Software 5.0

Coinciding with the release of TrackIR 5 is version 5.0 of the TrackIR software, which will also be available to TrackIR 4 and 3 (with Vector) owners. With separate Basic and Advanced settings, you can identify your preferred level of customization and utilize the software accordingly. If you're new to TrackIR or would rather not dig deep into settings, you can personalize your experience by using the basic speed and smoothing settings as a basis for your customization. Power users can delve into a robust profile management section, which puts all of the settings you need right at your fingertips. All users can take advantage of our powerful new preview features, which allow you to customize your profiles with immediate game-like feedback.

Download TrackIR Software 5.0.

Note: Support for TrackIR 3 with Vector will be introduced in software version 5.1. In the meantime, TrackIR 3 users can still use the 4.x software for full functionality in your favorite games and simulations.

TrackIR Enhanced Games

Be sure to take advantage of your new TrackIR 5 with over 100 games and sims! See the complete list of TrackIR Enhanced Games.

Seth Steiling

TrackIR Product Manager

NaturalPoint, Inc.

phone: 1.541.753.6645

fax: 1.541.753.6689

http://www.naturalpoint.com

COMPARISON

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TrackIR Model

TrackIR 4 TrackIR 5

MSRP

$ 99.95 $ 149.95

Head Position Tracked

6 Axes (6 DOF) 6 Axes (6 DOF)

Horizontal Field of View

46° 51.7°

Sample Rate (FPS)

120 120

Raw Sensor Resolution

355 x 288 640 x 480

Sub-pixel Resolution

1/20th pixel 1/150th pixel

Reporting Range

7,100 x 5,760 96,000 x 72,000

Resolution/Horizontal Field of View Degree

154 subpixels/degree 1850 subpixels/degree

View Resolution Comparison Video

Unit Size (without base)

0.5" deep 0.57" deep

1.7" wide 2" wide

1.1" high 1.5" high

Connection

USB USB

USB Cable Thickness

2.5 mm 2.5 mm

Ta - downloading.

Natural Point's website is getting hammered pretty bad, I can't even get to the page...

Natural Point's website is getting hammered pretty bad, I can't even get to the page...

Yeah - that is true. I finally got the new software! They seem to have a week server.

Dang only got TIR a short time ago! I don't know if its really worth the price for this new version though? The only main feature that caught my eye is the increased field of track. I mean, TIR4pro is pretty damn smooth, how much smoother can it be? And in that comparison video, my TIR is nowhere near that "juddery". Good for first time buyers I guess, but I cant see many people upgrading from TIR 4. Wonder if they have an upgrade option?

I got the solfware downloaded but as I was leaving the site I got a

( virus intercepted ) message and that worries me.

TOOLBAR\GTBB655.TMP.EXT" is a destructive program

Heh, I might offer to sell my TIR4 to my roommate, then in a week or so go "oh hey look, a new version!" :music_whistling:

I don't think the hardware is worth upgrading at all, but the software looks good.

I downloaded and installed the software but it always crash at the beginning. :(

Dang, here I sit with a brand new TrackIR 4 unit! Oh well, I can't imagine the new unit being significantly better.

Don't sweat it. The new unit offers a wider field of view, which is nice, but that's really the only real significant change, it would seem. It's great that they're still looking for ways to improve their already awesome product though. Look on the bright side, you'll still be able to use the new software! Although, based on Focha's post, I'd wait until it was out of beta... :smilewink:

I'm waiting for TIR 6 with the even more increased field of view , you know .. so I can get behind my monitor to pick up beer cans and it still tracks my head movements .

I just dl'd the new software. Took all of 30 sec.

Dang, here I sit with a brand new TrackIR 4 unit! Oh well, I can't imagine the new unit being significantly better.

Here's a comparison.

http://www.naturalpoint.com/trackir/02-products/trackir-product-comparison.html

The numbers sure do make it look worth it. Although my TrackIR 4 Pro w/ trackclip pro works just fine I might have to buy this.

That greyscale processing test is very interesting, although I wonder how that really interprets into cockpit head movement.

I mean look at it this way, I am still using a Track3 with vector and have very smooth movement and fine control with 6D0F but I am sure when comparing the TR3 to the TR5 with the same greyscale test, the results would look for very poor for the TR3.

Regardless, I bought one, time to upgrade.

TrackIR4 works very well anyhow. You'll be well pleased by it. :)

Got an email about the TrackIR5 release literally hours after I ordered my TrackIR4 with the DCS Black Shark coupon :(

then cancel your order, if you really did just bought it hours ago then your order most likely still hasn't been processed.

I upgraded from TrackIR3 to TrackIR4 and there was a noticeable improvement in tracking and field of veiw. I don't think I will regret missing out on TrackIR 5 because I have not had any problem with moving out of the FOV since upgrading and tracking has been extremely smooth. I am very satisfied with TrackIR 4.

CJSO... my Track IR4 was sent from the Naturalpoint online store 1 day before the TrackIR5 release... how do you think I feel>?

CJSO... my Track IR4 was sent from the Naturalpoint online store 1 day before the TrackIR5 release... how do you think I feel>?

Hi - Natualpoint offers help in cases like you describe.

Please look up the Forum of Naturalpoint for more info.

http://forum.naturalpoint.com/forum/ubbthreads.php?ubb=showflat&Number=35916#Post35916

I am afraid of magnet base on my monitor.

OR maybe I am too afraid.

TIR5 looks like a good work on mistakes correction.

Weak thin plastic center pin, so prone to breaking, is replaced with detachable magnetic base.

USB cable anchor should address TIR displacement, which happens because of cable weight and tension... serrated rubber legs for the same sake. At last.

This is how TIR4 should look like, mechanically.

Sweet!! Perhaps it's time to scrap the old Tir3 and get this.. :) Or perhaps prices drop for the Tir4...

Thx for the heads up!! :thumbup:

sounds like it would be a good time to buy TIR 4, they have it on the site for only $99 now :) and comparing 4 to 5, it looks like 5 is only minimally better. a slight FOV increase, more resolution, higher FPS, but the resolution and FPS are prob overkill as many here have said that TIR 4 works perfectly smooth with BS.

given the rave reviews for TIR4 and that its only $99 now, it might be worth considering.