Firestorm Win64 (experimental)
At our last Q&A event the question came up asking whether we would ever release a Linux 64bit. I stated that we would, at some point, and that it is possible we may or may not have already been working on a 64bit version for Windows. I also stated that we hadn’t found a huge benefit to this but were still considering it. Well… perhaps we should let you all decide that for yourselves. For those of you who watch our code repository you may have spotted a large code drop by our very own NickyD (Firestorm Lead Dev) a few days ago that referenced Windows 64bit. If you’re not sure what 64bit means? click here.
Yes, we will be releasing a Windows 64bit version of Firestorm, hopefully a Linux 64bit version and in the future possibly a Mac 64bit. The first release of this, however, will be called ALPHA and experimental. To my knowledge, this is the first time any viewer has succeeded in building and releasing a true 64bit version for Windows, (though since our 64bit code became available there are other viewers scooping it up and actively trying to release it before us as I type this). But anyways… Please understand anything labeled experimental should be considered pioneer territory for those of you who are adventurous. It may be stable… it may not be stable. It may work perfectly or it may not work at all. We’ll be hoping those of you who try it will give us feedback to let us know.
Firestorm Public Beta Release on the way
We’ve been hoping that we could get the latest LL code into this next release to give you all the latest improvements from LL. But as it turns out, this code has been slower to materialize than we had hoped, and at this rate, by the time LL releases it and we merge it… we’ll be into the new year. We really want to get Materials, DAE Export and other things we’ve been working on out to you before 2014, so we’ve decided to release a public beta. A public beta means it is an optional update for you if you should choose to use it. It also means it may or may not meet our typical quality standards and most certainly will have bugs. However, what viewer ever doesn’t have bugs? It should be more than acceptable for your daily use.
When can you expect all this new shiny?
By the end of this month! 
Stay tuned!
Jessica Lyon
Project Manager
The Phoenix Firestorm Project, Inc.