WorldCAD Access

At 1.6 million seats, is SolidWorks leaving Inventor in the dust?

We may never know. Last year, Autodesk ceo Carl Bass banned seat counts for his company's software packages. The decision is now handicapping the company in the seat counts propaganda war, as they are unable to respond to the astounding numbers being whooped up by SolidWorks... One Million Seats! - end of January 2011 in April 2009. One Point Six Million Seats! - end of August 2011 Two Million Seats! -take a guess when this will occur, teases DS SolidWorks ceo Bertrand Sicot. Let's take a closer look at what the number consists of. As experienced seat observers know, the... Read more →

IMSI/Design powers TurboViewer up to Pro level

When IMSI/Design first told me about their DWG viewer for iOS, they promised to make "an announcement of significance every month" for the next several months. The first one was about TurboViewer, and that it displays actual vector DWG files in 2D and 3D on iPads. In contrast, Autodesk's AutoCAD WS displays 2D only, and then only a rasterized version. (You can see the blur briefly when you zoom in.) The second was releasing the same software officially on iPhone and iPod Touch. The software is free from Apple's iTunes store. The third is coming this week, with the release... Read more →

Now updated: "What's Inside? AutoCAD 2012" ebook

When each year I write my What's Inside? AutoCAD ebooks, there is stuff I miss -- things not immediately apparent when working with the beta software. In the months following, readers of the ebook and me find more things that are new and different from the previous release, and so I issue a second edition. Last week I found time to update What's Inside? AutoCAD 2012 with corrections from Bill Fane of Canada and Ignacio Arrúe of Spain. (If you sent me corrections and I didn't mention your name, my apologies. The Inbox of my email software got corrupted some... Read more →

You no longer need a monster Dell as your portable CAD workstation

I've been in classrooms that sport monster 17" Dell "workstation-class" laptop computers at each desk for learning CAD. The problem with 17-inchers is that they aren't very portable; the huge power supply brick Dell uses would on its own tip your luggage overweight. With a two-week stint in Manila coming up, I needed a portable workstation of my own, with the emphasis on portable. My current laptop is a 10" netbook from LG that is fabulous for word processing (best keyboard evah!), doing the Web, running Linux, and is several years old. I knew I had a problem when I... Read more →

More free Creo software from PTC

First PTC released Creo Sketch 1.0 as free software, and yesterday Creo Elements/Direct Modeling Express 4.0 followed. Now, this is not exactly new-new, because this software always has been free -- it was previously known as "CoCreate Personal Edition." Now it's been Creo-ized, and you can download it from www.ptc.com/products/creo-elements-direct/modeling-express/. This page has some tutorials, and lists the differences with the paid version. Ken Wong has a good review of the software over at www.deskeng.com/virtual_desktop/?p=4238 . Not mentioned in his report is that you need to activate the software before you can use it at all; before you can activate... Read more →

Some nosedive, ADSK, PMTC!

What is with the share price of US public CAD vendors? (chart credit: yahoo.com). Here's Autodesk: And here's PTC: Read more →

Our quicky review of SpaceClaim 2011+

On our second conference call, Justin Hendrickson showed me some of the features new to SpaceClaim 2011+. Firstly, sheet metal. You can now select parts in a model and SpaceClaim turns them into sheet metal parts; the software recognizes them by their thinness. It notices sharp corners and turns them into bends, and so on. It creates tabs that connect one piece of sheet metal at 90 degrees to another; creates sheet metal hinges from cutting and bending the sheet metal walls, automatically. (This las one avoids a real hinge and the screws that would otherwise be needed.) See figure... Read more →

GstarSOFT's First iPad Release Creates and Edits CAD Drawings

ZWSOFT and GstarSOFT of China became successful on the back of IntelliCAD, creating me-too CAD software that looked a lot like AutoCAD. That was just the base, their warmup act. Last year, ZWSOFT bought VX of Florida, USA, and turned it into ZW3D, their 3D solid modeler and CAM [computer aided manufacturing] software. The company is busy updating the program a couple of times a year. And this week GstarSOFT released their first CAD program for iPads, GstarCAD MC, where "MC" is short for mobile client. Written in-house, it creates and edits CAD drawings, as illustrated below. You can download... Read more →

How does everyone gain market share in a mature market?

Who's really gaining market share? When you listen to certain CAD ceos, you would think that all of them are gaining market share. That's where everybody gets a bigger slice -- of what? At Autodesk's conference call with financial analysts last week, Walter Pritchard of Citigroup wanted to know how "everybody" could be increasing the size of their slice. Mr Pritchard: "We talked to other players in the space. Everybody sort of claims that they're gaining share, and defending turf, or expanding into new turf -- mostly around manufacturing. (In the AEC space, not so much contended.) But just curious,... Read more →

In 2007, we laughed at SpaceClaim; well, laugh no longer as the company starts talking "displacements"

Justin Hendrickson joined company spokesman Blake Courter to talk with me about what's new in the mid-year release of SpaceClaim, numbered "2011+." Mr Hendrickson is a new project manager, and is in charge of who gets what in the product. He was due to give the demo, but then GoToMeeting spontaneously shut down repeatedly. We resorted to POTS [plain old telephone system]. Mr Courter didn't chortle, but he could have, as he recounted when the company launched in 2007 it effectively "re-invented" direct modeling -- even though the technology had been around for decades. "FUD [from competitors] is a tactic... Read more →

Autodesk's ceo talks about the double-dip recession, and we listen in

In yesterday's conference call, financial analysts were concerned about the second recession towards which the USA seems to be heading. Their concern stems from their worry that Autodesk won't make as many profits in the next year. Here is how ceo Carl Bass reacted to their questioning, as recorded by Seeking Alpha, and mildly edited by me. The thing that strikes me the most is the disconnect between what we're seeing in the financial markets and how our customers are behaving. In most of my recent meetings with customers, they're seeing business to be fairly strong and it's been evidenced... Read more →

Visiting LINUXCON here in Vancouver

Well, whod'v'e thought there'd be two big significant computer conferences, one week after the other, out here in Vancouver, Canada. Last week, it was SIGGRAPH, which pulled its second lowest attendance since 1983 in its first time outside of the USA. This week, it was LINUXCON, this one put on by The Linux Foundation, who most famous employee is Linus Torvolds, who I actually got to see waiting for the elevator! When you've been in the computer biz as long as me, you get used to thinking everyone who's a founder of some sort is getting old now. Not Mr... Read more →

Roopinder asks, "What were they thinking when Autodesk bought Instructables?"

by Roopinder Tara, Tenlinks.com In a deal that may largely go unnoticed by CAD insiders, Autodesk’s acquired Instructables on Aug 1. But this raises significant concerns about independence of online communities. Autodesk as we all know, makes design software, AutoCAD, Revit, Inventor…. The list goes on. Most of it is dedicated to professionals: architects, designers, engineers, and the like. Recent initiatives, however, reveal a yearning for the consumer market. Products such as Photofly (a runaway success if only Autodesk would focus on it) can create 3D models from digital camera photos. Its recently introduced 123D -- free software intended for... Read more →

The first dual-OS book for AutoCAD: Tailoring AutoCAD 2011/12 for OS X and Windows

For the first time, a book publisher has created a tome that simultaneously tackles AutoCAD tutorials for Windows and for Mac OS X. upFront.eZine Publishing was able to do this with their expertize gained from a similar book effort for Graebert's line of ARES-based software. The Key is the Color Gray All text and tutorials specific to Mac OS X are shown in gray. This makes it easy for Mac users to spot text meant especially for them; and easy for Windows users to skip past Mac sections. When necessary, dialog boxes and screen grabs are shown from both Mac... Read more →

Live blogging: DE8.16N; updated with Q&A

The event's host is hinting at a combination of AutoCAD Mac and AutoCAD WS. See http://www.livestream.com/autocad Amar Hanspal says, "More than ever, we are committed to the Mac platform." Introducing AutoCAD 2012 for the Mac. Running through the new features to get the Mac version to catch up with the Windows version. Available on Friday, 19 Aug. (Over on WorldCAD Access, we are introducing the first dual-OS ebook for AutoCAD, Tailoring AutoCAD 2011/12 for Windows & OS X. See tam12.) Introducing new version of AutoCAD WS -- a free desktop version for the Mac. Available Thursday from Apple's store. #1... Read more →

AcadNETwork survey asks, "What will happen for AutoCAD august 16 2011?"

Here's the survey options given by AcadNETwork at http://www.acadnetwork.com/topic-128.0.html, and my response to each: LISP will arrive in AutoCAD LT: Nope. Autodesk follows Microsoft's dictates when it comes to APIs. An AutoCAD Linux version: Nope. The Mac version is selling in insufficient quantity that a Linux version is out of the question. A free AutoCAD LT reduced version: Nope. LT is 2D, and for Autodesk the future is 3D, such as the already-free 123D. 3D arrives in AutoCAD LT: Nope. See above. AutoCAD LT on Mac: Nope. With so many features missing from Acad/Mac, it already feels like an LT... Read more →

In upFront.eZine this week: report on SIGGRAPH 2011 in Vanvouver, Canada

After this issue, I take the annual summer break. Look for upFront.eZine returning next month with an irregular schedule due to heavy travel plans -- four countries in five weeks! 1. SIGGRAPH 2011 Vancouver - Jon Peddie Research's Press Luncheon - Virtual Moviemaking Panelists 2. Thoughts on the Tablet Biz - Readers React 3. Out of the Inbox and other regular columns You can read all about this week's business of CAD at upfrontezine.com/2011/upf-704.htm Read more →

Updated: What is tomorrow's DE8.16N? We speculate, openly

Bill Fane and I have been speculating over Autodesk's announcment tomorrow, which the CAD corporation has dubbed "DE8.16N." Bill Fane: I assume you received this. My guess: 3D printing. It's about the only segment of the design process left that they don't have a direct hand in. Your guess? Ralph Grabowski: I don't think so. They already have a 3D printing link in AutoCAD, and 3D printing is not useful for AutoCAD users. I wonder if the logo contains a hint, since the word "Design" is so prominent. Some new kind of Fusion-like add-on? BF: Tomorrow's big announcement: I still... Read more →

In upFront.eZine this week: what I really think about tablets

In this week's issue, we have for you... 1. The Shrinking of the EDA Silo - Overviewing Mike Evans' (Cambashi) Commentary 2. My Thoughts on the Tablet Biz - iCrave a Killer App - How Tablets Will Fare in the next 270 Days 3. Animations for AutoCAD 2011/12 eBook 4. Out of the Inbox and other regular columns You can read all about this week's business of CAD at upfrontezine.com/2011/upf-703.htm Read more →

Fixing the wrong aspect ratio for HDMI monitor connection

I have an Apple Mac mini, which sports an HDMI port, with a 22" monitor with VGA, DVI, and HDMI interfaces. I was using the DVI connector, since the monitor included that cable. I wondered what it would be like to use the HDMI connector. DVI (digital video interface) and HDMI (high definition media interface) are the same, except for the following differences: DVI is video signal only HDMI transmits video and audio on one cable HDMI incorporates copy protection in an attempt to prevent you from syphoning off the signal and making copies, legal or illegal. DVI and HDMI... Read more →

Chinese CAD vendor GstarCAD: Yip, we will do CAD on iPad, too.

GstarCAD revealed this morning that it is is developing GstarCAD M -- the M is short for "mobile" -- for viewing and editing DWG files on the iPad. Not a lot more detail available, except that this is a great time to release such software, as the press release puts it: With the advent of vehicles, variety delicious food as well as internet, etc., people’s lives become more and more colorful. Now with iPad came into being, the applications running on it is inevitable, for the work efficiency improvement turns into urgent, among which CAD software bears the brunt and... Read more →

Android settings for 2G/3G Internet access over Fido

When I recently switched from Mobilicity to Fido as my cell phone carrier, I also got the Google Nexus S phone, since it was just $50. I then discovered just how much value Samsung adds to its own brand of Android phones, for my Galaxy S Vibrant has features I can't live without -- and for which I could find no acceptable substitutes on the Android Market. With the slow read/write access fixed on the Vibrant (using Voodoo lagfix), I was ready to resume using this, my first Android phone. It works equally well on the Fido network as the... Read more →

How I switched to digital tv for $50

Well, we made the switch to digital tv today -- for $50! When I was in the store buying the equipment we needed, the clerk said, "So many people buy just the digital antenna, find it doesn't work, and then return it, mad." For us, it was the other way around. TV in the USA was forced to switch to digital-only broadcasts a few years ago; here in Canada, the analog transmissions get turned off end of this month. Unlike the American government, the Canadian government has not been helpful in explaining what's happening and what needs to be done;... Read more →

Awesome animations with AutoCAD 2011/12: yep, another ebook updated

Powering through the updates, I've got another ebook ready for you to purchase. This time it's Animations with AutoCAD 2011/12. This 112-page e-book shows you how to use AutoCAD's animation and interactive walkthrough systems: Recording animations along paths. Saving path animations as movie files. Walking and flying through 3D models. Adjusting walkthrough speed and field of view. Making interactive walkthroughs.Creating view-based animations ("shot" or "show" motion). Editing animations with Movie Maker. Testing graphics systems with the undocumented GSB commands. Dozens of helpful tips and step-by-step tutorials. And a history of AutoFlix, Autodesk's first animation software. This is the third edition... Read more →

My current Android apps collection

I have come to appreciate the enhanced apps that Samsung provided with its Galaxy S line of phones. I had the Vibrant, but got frustrated at (a) the GPS that never works; (b) the slow file access speed; and (c) the long delays in getting the latest versions of Android OS. When I switched cell phone providers, I decided on the Google Nexus S (made by Samsung), because it eliminated the three problems listed above, and was just $25 with the three-year plan. However, all those lovely Samsung enhancements are missing. Among them: - The camera app is rather plain,... Read more →

In upFront.eZine this week: PTC's ceo tells us what he REALLY thinks of Autodesk's PLM effort

In this week's issue, we have for you... 1. PTC CEO on ADSK's PLM 2. Tailoring AutoCAD eBooks Updated for AutoCAD 2011/12 - Upcoming Releases 3. Out of the Inbox and other regular columns You can read all about this week's business of CAD at upfrontezine.com/2011/upf-702.htm Read more →