Ibex is virtual reality desktop environment (let’s call it a VRDE) which allows you to float desktops of arbitrary number and dimensions around you in a virtual space. Combined with a head mounted display, Ibex creates a 360 degree virtual world where you can do your computing. The sole developer behind the project, Hesham Wahba, continues to work on the Ibex VRDE in preparation for the Oculus Rift VR headset / head mounted display. Wahba has now launched a beta of Ibex for Mac which users can test even without an HMD.
In September I spoke in depth with Wahba about the Ibex VRDE project — check out the interview to learn what it’s all about.
Wahba began development of Ibex for Linux and now has a Mac beta version available for download. Over at the Ibex development page Wahba shares some details and teases with a potential Windows support.
“It took about two weeks of on-and-off programming to pull off the port [from Linux to Mac] but it has huge potential I think with more users. A Windows version should follow at some point I hope.” He says that Ibex runs at a smooth 60 FPS on his MacBook Air as of the latest update.
You can test the Ibex beta on your Mac even without a VR headset / head mounted display — toggle Oculus Rift lens correction with G while running the program.
If you do happen to have an HMD you can use an iPhone as a DIY headtracker to control the Ibex view by looking around, though you will need an iPhone developer account for the time being — Wahba is hoping to release his iPhone orientation tracker into the App Store at some point to negate the need of a developer account.
Download Ibex VRDE Mac Beta
You’ll need a bit of code know-how to get Ibex running. As of 1/12/13, the latest Mac beta can be downloaded here. If you are reading this article a while after it has been published, you’ll want to check the Ibex development page here to find the latest Mac beta download. You can report bugs to the Ibex repository.
Drop us a screenshot if you get it going!
