I am really liking this update! The playground app beta is really nice compared to the original. The grab part at the end was well done. It felt like my computer was an extension of my hands rather than a cool visualization.
I think the best thing about the tracking update is it is much more robust when passing hands over each other. While far from perfect it is much better. I was able to pass my hand over each other and not lose tracking. It is fairly unreliable but a good start. I can now also do things like run one hand on top of another from my finger tips to my arm. I also noticed I can tap the top of my arm with my index finger without loosing tracking. This will be great for virtual reality as you could map virtual buttons on your arm.
FEEDBACK
1. I can confirm what Komposten posted about my pointing finger getting recognized as a tool.
2. Keep prediction in mind as you tackle the problem of disappearing hands and tools. Hands and tools should ideally only disappear at the edge of the range. Inside this range if tracking is lost the direction and speed it was moving at before getting lost should be used to calculate a predicted movement till a new tracking lock is established. Even though this may not be ideal if movement is too random causing jumps, I think it will be preferable to having hands completely vanish.
3. I mentioned this before but tracking reflective dots and balls(like ping pong balls) would be nice to have as an option to return a xyz coordinate to programs.
4. Update the app launcher to be able to buy apps inside of it and use the leap motion to navigate. Also add a virtual reality option as the steam app store has done for the oculus rift.
5. This is more of an idea throw out than feedback. I think the Leap Motion is at a point where, when combined with a virtual reality headset, 3d content creation is no longer out of reach of normal users. Its a complex problem today that often relies on a professional using complex software to slowly create content. Freeform was a good concept but didn't find it practical. I've used programs/games like garry's mod and second life that allow you to create items live in the game engine. Or a game like skyrim that lets you pick up and move items. Even though it is overly simple most users can get a hang of it and create things. Add virtual reality headsets create a sense of presence in a virtual environment which really helps the user get a sense of space and with the Leap Motion and the right tools the possibilities to modify and create the world around them is endless.
Thanks looking forward to more.