Bits'o news from AU 05 in rainy Orlando FL:
- Some 5,200 registered attendees, although that number was bolstered by the inclusion of Autodesk's discreet customers for the first time.
- Very few details are being given publically about AutoCAD 2007 and new software from Autodesk. Two new software products were hinted at during the keynote address by Carl Bass:
1. Vespa appears to be an illustration tool applied to AutoCAD drawings.
2. Northland Render is animation software ported from the discreet division. It appears to combine 3D CAD drawings and GIS mapping and aerial photography, so that a machine designed in Inventor can be shown in a building designed in Revit on land imagery provided by Map -- all combined into a single-movie-like yet interactive experience.
No details were provided about a future release of AutoCAD, but screen images appear to show the following new features:
- a new conceptual modeller that works inside AutoCAD, a crude form of SketchUp
- a new palette called Dashboard that appeared to control rendering, views, etc.
- a new palette named External References
- a new Rendering toolbar that hints a new rendering engine
- a new button on the status bar named "DUCS" - could be dynamic UCS?
- the PAPER and MODEL button replaced by two icons.
As reported by Randal Newton, the media here are buzzing at Evan Yares (of the Open Design Alliance) being prevented from registering.
Also curious: Large posters in the Press Room praising Inventor as a world class champion and SolidWorks as a weakling -- using boxing motifs. At this Autodesk Love-in, it's too bad somebody decided to engage in competitor-bashing.
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