MacDirectory Magazine

Ergo Josh

MacDirectory magazine is the premiere creative lifestyle magazine for Apple enthusiasts featuring interviews, in-depth tech reviews, Apple news, insights, latest Apple patents, apps, market analysis, entertainment and more.

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You Can Take it With You Live Home 3D 4 runs on macOS, iPadOS and iOS, taking advantage of the strengths of each as well as Apple’s latest AR and LIDAR technology. Saving a design on iCloud makes it available wherever you are and being able to move furniture around by touch is a lot easier on your back. LIDAR will let you map out a reasonably uncluttered room, recognizing doors and windows fairly well. There are a few important tips for getting the best results, well demonstrated in one of BeLight’s many videos. When the scan is complete it can be joined with other scans or a floor plan. According to BeLight, the accuracy is currently 1-3%. It’s close enough to make Live Home 3D the killer app when you’re planning a move to a new home or apartment, letting you build a floor plan without running around with a measuring tape and clipboard. The AR view is also incredibly useful as well as just plain fun. When you call it up with other Export functions, you’re asked to point your device at a surface. When it’s satisfied it found one, you have the option of scaling the home down or, of you’re outside and have enough room, you can view it at its full size, optionally reproducing the current sun position for shadows. (That option does take a bit of time and processing power.) It’s often best to put your scaled-down house on a floor or tabletop to view it conveniently from a variety of angles without having to do a lot of walking around. Pro in All But Price The most basic level Live Home 3D 4 starts out at a very reasonable price: free. It includes an large library of objects and materials, but has some restrictions on the kinds of formats that can be exported from the program. Upgrades can be purchased inside the app. The Standard version that includes all the export options is $4.99 monthly, $9.99 yearly, or $29.99 for the lifetime license. The full Pro version, which includes the Terrain Editor, an Object Editor and the multi-story Elevation View of a project is $9.99 monthly, $19.99 yearly and $49.99 for a lifetime license, in our opinion, the best value of the batch. The Pro version can also be purchased directly as a standalone app for $49.99, a more useful option for business and enterprise users. BeLight is, as usual, being faithful to its faithful customers, providing the update to owners of the previous Standard and Pro versions for free. But don’t let the price, the friendly-looking interface, or the fact that the program is reasonably easy and to learn fool you, Live Home 3D 4 can provide some very professional-looking results. But BeLight is once again living up to its rather light-hearted name and making that work kind of fun to do. For more information, visit: LiveHome3D.com

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