Unity 2.6.1 contains a new webplayer plugin that is compatible with Mac OSX 10.6 Safari when running in 64-bit mode. Additionally a number of improvements and bug fixes were implemented to smooth out some of the issues experienced by Unity (free) license holders. Additionally, Unity 2.6.1 projects are now compatible with Unity iPhone 1.5.1 projects.

Unity 2.6.1

Improvements:

• The Mac webplayer has been rewritten to be compatible with 64-bit Safari on Mac OS X 10.6.
• Reduced time spent connecting to large Asset Server projects.

Editor Fixes:

• Fixed an editor crash when painting trees in the free version of Unity.
• Fixed an FBX import crash bug which could happen with some assets.
• Fixed rendering of terrain details in the editor after a player has been built.
• The Draw checkbox for trees and details in the terrain inspector now remembers it's setting.
• Fixed ImportAssetOptions.ImportRecursive (it didn't do anything before).
• Fixed a bug where the terrain lightmapper would render shadows incorrectly.
• Fixed an error message about asset timestamp counts that sometimes showed up after saving the project.
• Fixed warning when deleting a TerrainData asset which is used in the scene.
• Fixed a bug in which Input.GetMouseButton() would fail in the Editor on Windows, when the game view is detached from the main window.
• Fixed a bug where selecting text with the mouse would deselect the asset when renaming assets in the Project View.
• Fixed an Editor crash when pressing the gear menu on the default references of a script on Windows.
• Editor Search string now resets when objects not matching the search filter are selected.
• Unity will now highlight prefabs in Project view when selecting the prefab from the GameObject Inspector.
• Fixed an editor crash when trying to compare against a non existent asset in the Asset Server history view.
• Fixed an editor crash when passing an invalid prefab reference to EditorUtility.ReplacePrefab().

Runtime Fixes:

• Fixed a runtime crash when changing screen size or FSAA settings when RenderTexture assets are used.
• Fixed more than 2 Image Filters being upside down on Windows when Anti-Aliasing was used.
• Fix GUI toggles drawing with the wrong state when on.
• Fixed a regression which broke WWW.LoadImageIntoTexture() in some cases.
• Fixed AudioSoruce.ignoreListenerVolume to work again.
• Fixed a bug which could cause gamepad input to get lost on Windows when multiple gamepads are connected.

Web Player Fixes:

• Fixed switching from one fullscreen resolution to another in the windows web plugin on Vista.

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great stuff, go get it.

In the most shocking move in history. Unity Indie licenses is now free. publish to the web, mac and PC for nothing. The indie version was $199. But as of now It is completely FREE!!!

The only really bad news is if you where like us and had the indie version of unity pre the new licensing of 2.6 and have the iPhone basic. And want to use Unity to publish to the iPhone. Pre October 27th 2009 it cost $699.00 total in annually updating the tools to do that with unity. Now it going to cost 10 times the amount money it did Pre October 27th to publish with the iPhone using Unity. Why? Because a very expensive pro license is now required.

That is really really bad news, consider we make less money with iphone builds than desktop builds. (19.99 a title desktop to under 4.99 a title iPhone is a major difference, specially when 40% of that skimmed off the top of the under 4.99 price point. Then add the mix of production cost and it hard to stay out of the red with mobile publishing.)

If your an indy developer or small shop these 3rd party over priced licenses to build out to the iPhone, are really become ridiculously over priced. It makes no more since to use any development tools besides Apples SDK and xcode. Unless your a huge company and making big profits of selling mobile apps for peanuts in price points.

Well go get the free unity It worth it. Not because it free, because it awesome and just works.

For the iPhone I guess it time to switch back to xcode. Now that it cost $1,101.00 more than yesterday. Because it now requires the pro version licenses to update (will be $2000.00, Total, annually!) to use Unity to build out to the iPhone. 

rejoice unity is free to some degree. The bad half just means, hello xcode good bye Unity iPhone publishing.

Update; if the people that commented below are actually unity staff, then it might be true that unity iPhone may not need a pro license. (I hope so) Why it worded like it should is beyond me? I have to send in a support email. as I will only believe the one person that help us with all our unity questions up to this point. As our free updates are over, for our current license #.

get it here @ http://unity3d.com/

here to unity news on the free version of unity.@  http://unity3d.com/company/news/unity2.6-press.html

October 27-30, 2009
San Francisco, California USA

Once again it's time for developers, artists, publishers and anyone else interested to come together for a few days to learn more about Unity and how to get the most out of it. We're larger than ever before: We're now a four day event that starts with a day of advanced hands-on classes, followed by three more days of technical sessions.

Unite is held on October 27-30, 2009 at the Fort Mason Center in San Francisco, California. Detailed agenda is on the way.

Conference Highlights

• A day of hands-on technical classes
• Keynote and road map presentations
• Over a dozen one-hour technical sessions
• 5 hours of hands-on lab time
• And as always, lots of time to get social and have fun!

Buy Unite Ticket

Unity 3D has posted a few new tutorials and assists for it game engine and tools. They are worth checking out, even if you never used Unity. As there is a 30 day demo to try them out. If you need to do 3D programing Unity 3D is one of the easiest and well supported products available and is cheaper that Torque. 

Also Unity iPhone plugin v1.5 is also out. with updates.

More Info @ http://unity3d.com/

Unity added a new, different live web demo to there site. Control a butterfly. It is always neat to see what else one can do with this great tool.

see it @ http://unity3d.com/gallery/live-demos/index.html#butterfly