WorldCAD Access

Alibre Xpress: Now More Free Than Ever

When Alibre first released its free Xpress CAD software last August, downloaders found they had to watch in-your-face Google ads along the top of the program window. Google ads require a continuous Internet connection, so dial-up users and non-connected users couldn't use the software, free. A $50 fee removed the ad and Internet "features." On Nov 7, the ad-free Xpress becomes free; no more $50 fee. Alibre has now made the Xpress even more download-friendly: no need to register. The reason given for dropping ads: "Initially we looked at advertisements as a way to subsidize Xpress, but our ability to... Read more →

EyeOS: Could be Interesting

I just learned about eyeOS from a slash.dot posting. Here's what the company has to say for its product: What is eyeOS? EyeOS is a free, cross-platform Personal Content Manager System based upon the style of a Desktop Operating System. The base package includes the whole Operating System structure and ten apps, as a Calendar, a File Manager, a Text Editor, an Internal Messenger, a Browser and a Calculator. EyeOS's is thought to provide a complete, scalable and free (GPL Licensed) Organization and Work System. It's scalable, so everyone can port an existing PHP app to EyeOS and create a... Read more →

Another Free One: FelixCAD LT

Graebert Systems (aka GiveMePower Gmbh) is offering FelixCAD 5 LT Second Edition free for the first 1 million who register and download the software. No word on how close they are to that million-user mark. The AutoCAD DWG2002-compatible 2D CAD system, normally e99 (US$120), is available in English, German and Simplified Chinese. While "stuck" at DWG2002, this CAD package has the intriguing ability to be programmed with Lisp and C/C++. More information here. Read more →

Jaw Dropper: 9 Million Downloads

Autodesk says that downloads of its DWF Viewer have passed 9 million downloads and is now halfway to 10 million. The company's Weblog notes that that equals the number of Christmas trees grown (and cut down?) in the state of Oregon each year. A number like this is mind-boggling, distorting the rest of the market. For example, the CEO of another CAD company proudly asked me to guess the number of downloads of their free add-on. "A million?" I guessed, trying to be conservative. His countenance fell. Hundred thousand was their number. Read more →

Intergraph to Marry 3D Flythrus

Intergraph is integrating Skyline Software Systems's 3D visualization into its GeoMedia software. This'll allow users to view digital elevation models and high-res images in 3D. From the press release: The new offering will give users advanced 3D visualization and fly-through capabilities embedded directly in GeoMedia's easy-to-use interface, improving data visualization and the presentation of terrain, imagery and feature data. Combining dynamic and accurate geospatial data from GeoMedia with real-time streaming imagery capabilities from Skyline enables users to evaluate environments using realistic, location-specific simulations, which gives decision makers a reliable platform to quickly and accurately make critical decisions based on real-time... Read more →

PTC Release Schedule

PTC has announced the following release dates for its software: * Pro/E Wildfire 3 is currently in beta, and is due to ship in March-April, 2006. * The integration of Arbortech into Windchill is due to be complete by mid-2006. * Expect Windchill 9 in early 2007, conservatively speaking. Read more →

Need for Speed Starts with CAD

From an interview with Carl Jarrett -- lead vehicle modeler. based in Vancouver BC -- at www.needforspeed.com: CT: Can you give some background on the process you use in modeling a car for a video game? What are some of the programs you use or even steps you take to ensure accuracy? CJ:One way we have used successfully is actually getting CAD information directly from the manufacturer, and using a program to convert this to useable data for our 3D software. From there we use the CAD data as a template to build the surfaces of our cars in 3D... Read more →

Autodesk Up to $50... or Down?

One analyst figures Autodesk shares will hit $50 (currently in the mid-to-upper 40s). But Bethany McLean of Fortune magazine reports that Albert Meyer of 2nd Opinion Research feels that Autodesk will be one of a dozen companies experiencing "severe downward pressure on their stock prices once the expensing of stock-based compensation is in full force." "The market has yet to fully recognize the damaging effects of the accounting rule change on the profits of companies that have been pigging out at the stock option trough," writes Meyer. Others, however, feel that the cost has already factored into stock prices. We've... Read more →

Up, Down...

PTC and Moldflow report up and down numbers... For PTC's Q4, revenues were up, but profits down. Revenue was US$195.1 million, up 15% from $170.1 million a year earlier. Annual income was US$720.7 million. But GAAP net income $17.3 million, down from $42.0 million a year earlier. For Moldflow, Q1 revenues were $15.3 million, up 9% from 14.0 million a year earlier. Net income fell from $1.7 million to $30,000. The reason for revenues up but profits down: a new accounting procedure US corporations are requred to use, called "Financial Accounting Standards No. 123, Share-Based Payment, or FAS-123 for short.... Read more →

Now Shipping: VectorWorks 12

Nemetschek North America (the awkward name for what used to be called Diehl Graphsoft) is shipping release 12 of its Vectorworks CAD softare for Macintosh and Windows. New features include: * Live sections (in Design Series products). * DWG imports now handle xrefs and CTB files. * Interactive zoom and pan with mouse wheel * Organization palette that consolidates layers, classes and views. * Automatic linking of 3D layers. * New radiosity and other lighting and presentation improvements in add-on RenderWorks. ... and more. Basic VectorWorks is US$995 and add-ons, like Architect, are $1395. Read more →