[3Dconnexion's SpaceNavigator device allows users to navigate through 3D environments within a browser interface.]

3dConnexion -- 3Dconnexion, a Logitech company, today announced its line of 3D navigation devices are now supported by the Microsoft Virtual Earth platform, enabling people to fly through the Live Search Maps 3D world in a manner not previously possible with a mouse and keyboard alone. With 3Dconnexion’s SpaceNavigator device, geo-browsing enthusiasts can take advantage of the same powerful navigation control popular with 3D artists and computer-aided design (CAD) professionals.

3Dconnexion's devices significantly enhance the Live Search Maps experience. When navigating 3D worlds with a mouse and keyboard alone, people must repeatedly stop to switch tools or toggle keyboard shortcuts to change directions. Using a 3Dconnexion device, people can fly seamlessly through the visually rich 3D world of Live Search Maps to learn, discover and explore by gently manipulating a controller cap. Within 3D mode in Live Search Maps, an online local search and mapping Web site powered by the Virtual Earth platform, customers can use a 3Dconnexion device to navigate through immersive 3D environments within a browser interface.

"The ease with which people can now navigate in Live Search Maps using a 3Dconnexion device is truly exceptional, and on top of that, it makes for an engaging 3D exploration experience," said Aric Weiker, director of product management for the Virtual Earth platform at Microsoft Corp. "3Dconnexion's devices dramatically change how our customers interact with both Virtual Earth and Live Search Maps."

"The Live Search Maps high-quality graphics, coupled with impressive mapping functionality, provide an immersive visual experience," said Rory Dooley, president of 3Dconnexion. "Our navigation devices further enhance the experience by connecting people to the content more powerfully, enhancing understanding and encouraging exploration."

The SpaceNavigator device is a companion to the mouse and is held in the alternate hand. Users apply very slight movements to the device's controller cap to simultaneously pan, zoom and rotate 3D objects. The entire 3Dconnexion product line is supported by more than 100 of today’s most popular 3D applications, including Adobe Acrobat 3D, Adobe Photoshop CS3 Extended and all of the top-tier 3D CAD applications.

Availability

Live Search Maps supports 3Dconnexion devices natively (without additional installation of a plug-in) on Windows XP and Vista and is currently available free of charge at http://maps.live.com. 3Dconnexion SpaceNavigator Personal Edition (MSRP $59), and SpaceNavigator Standard Edition (MSRP $99) are available from major online resellers including Amazon, CDW and PC Mall as well as directly at www.3Dconnexion.com.

The SpaceNavigator Personal Edition license supports non-commercial use of the device and offers online technical support only. The SpaceNavigator Standard Edition license supports both commercial and non-commercial use and offers online, e-mail and phone technical support. Upgrades from SpaceNavigator Personal Edition to SpaceNavigator Standard Edition licenses are $40 and are available online at www.3Dconnexion.com.

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