On the official website it says that DXF file are presently limited to 20MB. Anything larger will not open. Also, some complex objects like splines are also not read.

iPocketDraw

iPocketDraw 1.90 is a vector drawing program with comprehensive 2D CAD tools and commands. The tool can send out files via email in Eric Pousse’s RealCADD file format for those who utilize that CAD platform, as well as PDF, DXF and JPEG formats.

01 - iPocketDraw 1.90 reads DXF files and export them too, plus RealCADD support.

Drawing tools include all the basics plus spline, regular polygon, arrow tools and font choices. You can work fully to scale with dimensions. The drawing area is not limited and the objects are not limited in number either. iPocketDraw 1.90 lets you import images into your CAD files as well as PDF files.

iPocketDraw is 9.99.USD. and is available from the App Store. There is a Lite version which is free. To learn more visit the official website.

Editor’s note: See our recent review of TurboViewer Pro 2.0 here.

“We are going to enable an entirely new generation of CAD developers, letting them create powerful, custom apps based on our TurboViewer series, the fastest 2D and 3D viewing platform in the mobile world,” stated Royal Farros, Chairman and CEO of IMSI/Design. “We think this can be a real game changer.”

IMSI/Design has come out with TurboViewer, TurboViewer X and TurboViewer Pro for Apple’s iOS platform and the products are excellent (this site has given TurboViewer Pro 2.0 a top 5/5 product rated score). The TurboApps SDK, due in February, will let CAD developers build apps around viewing 2D and 3D DWG and DXF wireframe models.

“Our goal with TurboApps SDK is to create a mobile development platform specifically designed to take advantage of those things that make portable devices so different from desktop computers. We believe we can be a foundation for Mobile CAD going forward and can’t wait to see what apps the smartphone and tablet generation creates,” added Farros. The TurboApps SDK will be free.

To learn more about IMSI/Design visit them here.

After reviewing TurboViewer 2.0, our previous view that Farros was already speaking our language, was further confirmed. It is not just that he is making a bold prediction about the impact of a game-changing device–anyone can do that! But rather that IMSI/Design is clearly showing what they mean by “inflection point” in the CAD industry.

The Key is Immediacy

On a personal note, I’ve been toting around an Apple iPad 2 since it came out. I couldn’t wait to use it as a tool for practicing architecture. I was very excited about what I could possibly do out in the field and what older processes could be replaced by this new tool. I was particularly interested in “speeding up” work flow processes that normally were tied down to limitations in the field or repetition back at the office or both. But here is what I learned: if the new process on the iPad isn’t fast enough to keep up with the old analog process, it doesn’t matter all that much if you are speeding up workflows downstream.

Let me explain it more clearly. Say you typically take field meeting notes on a pad of paper. Then you type up those notes back at the office. Say you often sketch up details and ideas for the client or the contractor as part of those notes on paper. Now you have an iPad. And you want to do all this work directly in the field and not burden yourself with the conversion from analog to digital back at the office. In theory, you should save time. But here is the rub. If the process on the iPad is anywhere more than 25 percent slower than the old analog process, you will not find the reward you are looking for. And if the process needs to keep pace with the flow of meetings, then it must be just as fast as analog or faster.

As it turns out, not a lot of iOS apps for AEC professionals meet this criteria yet. They offer streamlining by “everywhere access” and elimination of “double data entry” back at the office, but if you can’t keep up with others or an existing workflow it doesn’t matter how great the tool is–eventually you will stop using it.

Why TurboViewer Pro Succeeds

Given that criteria then, the reason why TurboViewer and TurboViewer Pro succeed as top notch tools in the new mobile app space is this: They are simple viewers that provide the market with CAD file viewing needs that normally have been served with mobile laptops. But they exceed laptops because they view the data faster, provide easier mobility, and also provide unique “one-of-a-kind” viewing experiences.

01 - Pixar's Wall-E robot is the star of this CAD file. The Views menu is shown in TurboViewer Pro 2.0. Selecting a view choice switches to that saved view.

Let’s start with the uniqueness factor. With TurboViewer and its Pro sister app you have the power to spin 3D models around effortlessly with your finger tip. It is like having the object in your hand. The combination of Apple’s Multi-touch user-interface and CAD/3D is wonderful when it is delivered this smoothly. And it is very smooth! Take the Wall-E.dwg file shown in the image above. (see image 01). TurboViewer Pro gives you an excellent Views menu with easy to understand icons and viewing options. It is so easy to reach out and touch the object on the screen and start spinning little Wall-E around.

If you get to where you have lost control and spun the model around in a way you don’t like (sometimes that can happen) you simply re-choose a typical view from the Views menu. (image 01) From there you have the option of axon, and all the various sides of an object. And with the Pro version you get Perspective options as well, giving you preconfigured lens starting at 28mm Landscape mode up to 50mm Object mode. (see image 03)

02 - Visual styles are available and the Pro version features X-ray mode, which is very useful for architecture urban design model files. You also have Perspective as an option.

03 - In the Pro version you have "Perspective" in addition to side and axon views. Camera options are available, including Custom.

Other unique things that are not so easy to do in a CAD application on a laptop are the simple way you can switch to various visual styles. You can easily toggle between line view, hidden line view, X-ray mode, shaded openGL and more. The X-ray mode is particularly cool for buildings; SketchUp users in particular with be at home with this viewing method. (see images 02)

next page: Other Details & Closing Comments

“The response to our free TurboViewer app has been terrific,” stated Royal Farros, Chairman and CEO of IMSI/Design. “TurboViewer Pro adds a host of powerful new viewing features, making TurboViewer Pro the fastest and most capable 2D and 3D [CAD] viewer on the iOS platform.”

01 - IMSI's Turbo Viewer Pro for iOS devices puts true powerful 2D/3D CAD file viewing into your hands.

TurboViewer Pro includes a number of excellent features not found in the free version. A summary list of its key features are included below:

• Visual styles that support:
  • Hidden Line
  • X-ray
  • Shaded with edges
  • Grayscale mode
  • Adjusted edge color range from white-gray-black
  • Adjusted X-ray transparency factor
  • Option to use default or model lights
  • Option to render both inside and outside model (forced two-side rendering)
• Layer Manager (turn on/off layers, invert layers, turn all layers on/off)
• Additional Settings (turn on/off 2D/3D auto sense navigation and more…)
• Support for 14 languages
• No onscreen advertising

“We built Turbo Viewer from the ground up for mobile devices… but what we’ve found is it may be the fastest 2D and 3D drawing viewer on any platform,” added Farros.

Turbo Viewer Pro has an introductory price of 9.99.USD and is available now on the App Store. For more information visit them online at: www.IMSIdesign.com/TurboViewer

With the coming of this software, came the DraftSight community, an online collection of people coming together, comparing and sharing learning resources as well as an open dialogue about what is needed in the most practical sense for the software.

Social Network

This community is one of the first social networks designed by engineers for engineers, designers and architects.

“We couldn’t be happier about reaching this milestone,” said Aaron Kelly, senior director, DraftSight, Dassault Systèmes. “From the start, it has been our intent to offer a valuable product for engineers and designers while giving them the opportunity to provide feedback on its future growth. We want to thank our users for the support and consistent response to DraftSight, and we look forward to continued shared success.”

“From evaluating tools to help with the Gulf of Mexico oil spill clean up to developing beautiful yachts, users worldwide have implemented DraftSight in resourceful and inspiring ways.”

The point is DraftSight is growing. Even schools, such as Weber State University, Utah, are offering a DraftSight education for engineering students. Thus, leading to the creation of a Hovercraft Autonomous Target Vehicle (HATV) developed for possible use in U.S. Air Force pilot training.

What We Think

We have been watching the emergence of Dassault’s DraftSight with great interest. It seems that every month, more and more user success stories are featured on their online community, encouraging new users to submit projects showing the inventive ways in which they’re using the product.

It is clear that Dassault Systèmes’ is very proud of its product. Surpassing one million downloads is no insignificant deal. That is a lot of software out in the wild, even if a great proportion of it is in experimental or secondary use.

For more on the story.

Or to see the online community itself.

Autodesk has announced that they are taking the first step in this direction by releasing a first set of APIs (application programming interfaces) for AutoCAD WS .

01 - AutoCAD WS 1.2 Mobile's new Snap Preview tool is beautifully executed on Apple's multi-touch devices.

This new set of APIs enables developers of different languages to:

• Securely connect to an AutoCAD WS account
• These APIs already rely on the industry standard http based WebDAV protocol which can be used in a variety of programming languages such as C#, C++, Java and JavaScript to access
• AutoCAD WS’s allows functionality from within web browsers, desktop applications and server-side components

Here are two tutorials Autodesk released with full source code samples showing how to use the new set of APIs using either C# or JavaScript.

Click here for the C# API tutorial.

Click here for the JavaScript API tutorial.

These web apps shows how the APIs can be used to show AutoCAD WS files, access files’ metadata, upload new files, and open them in the online AutoCAD WS editor.

You can enter your own account details to check out the app or use this sample account -

Username: js_sample@autocadws.com, Password:123456

To learn more about AutoCAD.

Royal Farros, who is chairman and CEO of IMSI, starts to speak about Apple’s amazing iPad. “We really believe that the iPad represents an inflection point in the CAD industry,” said Farros. “It has phenomenal portability with its very long battery life… and with Multi-touch you simply can’t match what it can do with any other computing device.”

“Like the Mac in 1984, which many said was just a $2400 Etch A Sketch, many looked upon the iPad when Apple introduced it in a similar way,” said Farros. The IMSI CEO continued to elaborate on why the iPad is such a game-changing device, for the CAD software industry and elsewhere.

Refocusing

Prior to Apple introducing the iPad, IMSI/Design had began refocusing on serving the needs of its TurboCAD users and providing robust support for DWG users as well. The results proved worthwhile and the company has grown. But as soon as the Apple iPad was introduced IMSI recognized opportunity. “Doug Cochran, our CTO, recognized what the iPad could be in the CAD industry very early on,” said Farros, “and we started to refocus and map out our strategy for this era.”

01 - TurboViewer by IMSI Design is a fast 3D DWG and DXF CAD file viewer application for your iPad.

TurboViewer isn’t just a single product but an environment and platform for IMSI. The company has much larger plans in the works for addressing mobility in the CAD market and exploiting the unique strengths of the Apple iOS platform.

“There are many new CAD apps for the iPad and iPhone,” said Cochran, “but there are very few good CAD viewers and none that can do what TurboCAD Viewer can.”

Next page: TurboViewer Details and The Future

NCS helps architects, constructors, and operators, by providing a way to classify electronic building design data. Streamlining information across disciplines, can save the expense of transferring building data from design applications to facility management applications. By improving communication, owners and teams can avoid or cut costs of developing and maintaining company-specific standards.

“CSI and its partners, AIA and NIBS, are pleased to introduce NCS Version 5,” said CSI Executive Director and CEO Walter Marlowe, P.E., CSI, CAE. “The refinements to the NCS, including round-the-clock online access, reflect the changing needs of the industry and how they work with design data.”

Because NCS Version 5 is web-based it is available any time, where references within the text are cross-linked, and spreadsheets are available for tabular data. Users can print each section separately, avoiding the need for a hardcopy of the entire document for reference

NCS has many new updates for Disciplines such as “Distributed Energy” and “Real Estate” etc. Many of the previous existing Disciplines, such as “Survey/Mapping”, have been expanded.

For NCS users who have purchased the previous version of the NCS within the past six months are eligible for a discount on NCS Version 5. This discount will be available for the next six months.

For more information.

iPad Will Change Course of Computing

“We believe iPad is going to drive as much innovation in the CAD space as the original PC did back in the 1980’s,” stated Royal Farros, Chairman and CEO of IMSI/Design. “Because of the amazing portability, battery life, and Multi-touch display of iPad, an architect, designer or engineer can spend all day viewing even the largest 3D plans right on site…even view plans while walking around a building site. That simply can’t be done with existing PC technology.”

01 - IMSI TurboViewer is first 3D capable DWG and DXF file viewer on iPad.

Architosh has spent some time playing with TurboViewer recently and the application is quick, nimble and useful. “We built TurboViewer from the ground up for iPad… but what we’ve found is TurboViewer may be the fastest 2D and 3D drawing viewer on any platform,” added Farros.

TurboViewer Capabilities

• Fast native 2d and 3d .DWG (Autodesk AutoCAD and AutoCAD LT) and .DXF file viewing
• Unique time-savers: able to navigate full-screen preview during file load; Cancel errant file load
• Smooth Apple Multi-touch navigation while panning, zooming, and orbiting
• Restore saved AutoCAD views to quickly display the best vision of your design
• Supports AutoCAD linetypes to maintain visual fidelity as intended
• Autosense 2d and 3d drawings to automatically set appropriate gesture navigation of a drawing or model
• Doesn’t require internet connection for remote field work

TurboViewer is the first in a series of next-generation apps designed specifically for the AEC market, aimed at Apple iPad, says company. Pricing for this version is free and it can be obtained at the iTunes App Store.

To learn more visit: www.IMSIdesign.com/TurboViewer

The source shared this news with one of our fellow associate editors at approximately the same time as AIA National about a year ago. My fellow editor said, “this might be really big!” Clearly he was excited.

Crowded BIM Market?

One thing that came to my mind immediately was, does the market have room for yet another BIM tool? That’s what I was wondering a year ago.

And I’m still wondering… but here we are and even SolidWorks has entered the world of AEC 3D tools. Perhaps there is more room than we imagine? But I understand that it may not be a whole new competing BIM tool in the classic sense but a tool that operates in the BIM space, complimenting other BIM tools. And that would be consistent with the structure of the BIM transformation in general.

Here We Go

So we are trying our best to secure an arrangement to learn more about this new BIM software offering that is lurking in the software labs somewhere. So here is what we currently know.

Will the new mysterious software be in the BIM space? Yes. Will the new software tool be web-based? Yes. What platforms will the new software support? All of them. Will it support iOS for tablets like the iPad for instance? Yes.

This isn’t much to chew on. We know. We don’t know for example the scale of the tool. What types of problems it addresses. Or how it might interact with other BIM tools. As you can see we don’t know much yet. But we know from the source that they believe this tool is very important and the BIM market needs it.

I hate mysteries like this. I’m dying to know what this new tool is. Hopefully, we will all find out soon enough.

Think about that. Microsoft introduced the world to the Microsoft Windows Tablet PC back in 2001. In addition to Windows-based devices there have been several Linux varients, but for all these options and in so many years (9 to be exact) Apple outsold them all combined in just nine months!

That’s quite an accomplishment and shows you the tremendous, game-changer momentum Apple has generated with the first iPad.

Goodness Comes in Nines

The number nine seems to be meaningful to Apple and its iPad  product line. Not only has Apple outsold all others combined in nine months compared to their roughly nine years but the new iPad 2–very importantly for the engineering and CAD markets–is now nine times faster in graphics performance!

And the main CPU performance is twice as fast. All an all this is very important and good news for Apple’s leadership in this space. And it is good news for software developers who take advantage of this technical leadership, says Charles Edge, book author and director of technology for 318, Inc., an IT consulting and development firm specializing in integrating Apple in the enterprise.

“The added performance with the new processors and graphics is going to bring a lot of new possibilities,” said Edge. “That’s the main reason why Apple built the Garage Band and iMovie applications…to showcase how far you can push the envelope.”

But the nine times graphics performance is really going to benefit engineering and CAD software developers serving the enterprise space. “If a company like Autodesk releases tools–which they have–then they are going to de facto have portability to the desktop applications and a lot of adoption because of that,” said Edge.

Next page > Enterprise is Leading

Blocks are simply grouped objects that can be reused by simply selecting the block and inserting back into your drawing or a different drawing in later CAD sessions. The ability to do this in AutoCAD WS has been in demand.

Also new are the Chamfer function to connect two non-parallel lines and array functionality. Finally, AutoCAD WS’s latest update improves on locked layers giving the end user in WS more flexibility.

The latest version of AutoCAD WS is available on the Apple App store as well and supports these new features. A new open/download from email feature expands on the flexibility of AutoCAD WS as well as Amazon CloudFront and Zip support. To learn more read the news on the AutoCAD WS product blog.

Managing Director, Andre Strauss, said TCSC is very proud and excited to support Graphisoft in the region, to serve more than 2500 license holders of Graphisoft’s award-winning BIM (Building Information Modeling) software. TCSC has been an official ArchiCAD distributor for South Africa for over 10 years, with clients that have designed some of the most significant projects constructed in the region.

To learn more about Graphisoft ArchiCAD visit them online.

Aiming High in AEC

The new version also aims very high in the AEC market, with new powerful improvements to its BIM (Building Information Modeling) capabilities. “Vectorworks 2011 takes a major step in positioning the Vectorworks brand as the AEC 3D technology leader,” says Dr. Biplab Sarkar, Chief Technology Officer of Nemetschek Vectorworks. “Taking a page out of the MCAD world, Vectorworks now supports drafting on arbitrary working planes and interactive modeling based on the drafted entities. Vectorworks 2011 also reinforces Vectorworks Architect as a major global BIM product. Users will find the new 3D wall components, floors with components, and improved space and stair objects very useful to create the building model. This release also delivers major improvements on the 2D side. Text and dimension improvements, scalable symbols and tiling are some of the long-awaited features. And, we have vastly improved the performance and quality of the renderings from Renderworks 2011 by integrating the CINEMA 4D render engine.”

Key Major New Features Include:

• 2D/3D integration. Vectorworks software has now, more than ever, a true 3D modeling environment. 2D planar objects can be created and edited within a planar context, where they display with all their attributes. Users can work in Top/Plan view as usual, or switch to a 3D view and continue working in the same way, with the same tools and operations.
• Improved Building Information Modeling (BIM) capabilities. The Vectorworks Architect program is even easier to use, and its state-of-the-art capabilities, new tools and features help get the job done faster and better, while communicating and exchanging files with colleagues and partners. It offers a greatly improved space object, along with new 3D wall components, and a new slab tool to enable architects to more accurately model and associate building components.
• Best-in-class rendering. Renderworks 2011 is faster, easier, and more powerful than any previous version. Now based on the robust CINEMA 4D render engine, the results are breathtaking and easier to achieve. The new engine is fully integrated into Vectorworks software, so users can seamlessly visualize their work throughout the design process, producing clear and accurate renderings. With the click of a button, rendered viewports will update as the design evolves.

With the launch of Vectorworks 2011, Nemetschek Vectorworks will expand its subscription option, Vectorworks Service Select, to customers in the U.S. and United Kingdom. This option is also currently available in Germany, Switzerland and Austria, where it was begun as a pilot program last year.

“Vectorworks Service Select has received a tremendous response from our customers in the markets where it was first launched,” says Stewart Rom, Chief Marketing Officer. “We are pleased to be able to offer this option to more Vectorworks users who will now be able to experience the added value this type of service provides.”

For a look at all of the new features by product, as well as feature movies, please visit www.vectorworks2011.net. To learn more about Vectorworks Service Select, visit http://serviceselect.vectorworks.net.

“We are best known for our flagship Vectorworks® product line, and incorporating this brand into our company name better reflects our focus,” said CEO Sean Flaherty. “Our top three markets are Japan, USA, and Germany, and a company name that is product-based rather than geography-based indicates our mission more clearly while also clarifying our position within the Nemetschek group.”

With use in over 85 countries the global leader in multi-platform CAD will be better suited within the overall market place under this new identity. In addition to English the Vectorworks line of products are available in Japanese, German, French, Dutch, Italian, Spanish, Portuguese and Norwegian. With a global network of distributors and resellers, the Vectorworks product line is one of the most broadly sold design solutions available.

Over the course of the next month, Nemetschek Vectorworks will transition all branding and communications materials to reflect the new name.

We’ve been getting tons of emails over the weekend about the new screenshots and video of AutoCAD Sledgehammer Beta for Mac. Earlier in the year we reported on other rumors of Autodesk planning to release its flagship program (AutoCAD) for the Mac. This time the evidence continues to pile up and aligns with multiple changes we continue to see in the market and even with items said and intimated by Carl Bass, Autodesk’s CEO. More on that in a minute.

Sledgehammer – What Is It?

Sledgehammer appears to be the code name for either the first native version of AutoCAD for Mac in more than 18 years or the specific beta phase name. We think possibly the former. The sighting was first tipped off to us by readers who pointed us to enthusiast site Italiamac.it. Within its forums was a post that said basically (translated from the Italian) “I managed to get a beta of Mac AutoCAD showing some first screen shots.”

01- Sledgehammer version of AutoCAD for Mac Beta. Autodesk appears to be serious about producing a native version of its flagship design CAD program for Apple's platform after being not available for over 18 years.

The images have since been removed from the site and replaced by images containing the following text in Italian: “Questa immagine e stata rimossa dallo staff a seguito di una richiesta non-ostile proveniente da una persona legata all’azienda produttrice. Ci scusiamo con i nostri utenti. Lo staff di Italiamac.” The Google translation is approximately:  This image has been removed from the team following a non-hostile request from a person connected to the company that produced them.”

Meanwhile, over at YouTube there is a video of the new Sledgehammer Beta. Very professionally produced, this video highlights Mac-specific features in AutoCAD Sledgehammer for dealing with Apple’s Magic Mouse and Multi-touch interface technology on trackpads.

What We Can Tell

We have no information from Autodesk on what Sledgehammer is. Since this emerged for us over the weekend we’ll have to wait until the upcoming week to try to contact the company for an explanation. Interestingly, Architosh just had a private WebEx meeting with Autodesk a week ago (on a related product) and there was no mention of a native way to produce a DWG file on a Mac from within an Autodesk software program. We note this because, as you will read shortly in our upcoming feature, this was a shortcoming of the product that was previewed for us.

The images of AutoCAD Sledgehammer for Mac beta have been taken down from the site from which they first appeared but they can be found on other sites and publications. The AppleLounge.com seems to have most of the images we have seen out in the wild. Macstories.net has some additional images, including one focused on the Apple Multi-touch technologies.

From what we have scanned and picked up off the Net, AutoCAD Sledgehammer is a true 64-bit, Cocoa-based application. Why do we think its Cocoa-based? Very simply, we don’t believe it is possible to produce a full fledged 64-bit Mac app that has standard Aqua interface and Cocoa UI without using Apple’s xCode development environment. Also, we have been told by those in the know that Autodesk would need to rewrite AutoCAD for the Mac from the ground-up–which is partly why the company has not produced it sooner.

This is not AutoCAD LT either. It appears to have full-fledged 2D and 3D features. In fact you can see the 3D functionality right away in the YouTube video mentioned above. It also has a Command Line option.

[Editor's note: some key comments on this story on below in the Comments area.]

Ontario-based OS&B has announced the new Hazard Manager 1.0 for Apple’s iPad. This is a spatially-based “workplace inspector.” It enables the automation of the entry, configuration and export of hazard points recorded on a workplace floor plan. The app can email out date-stamped, user-stamped or x-y geo-referenced .csv hazard data to GIS and CAD or spreadsheet apps.

01 - Hazard Manager for iPad.

Accuracy is improved using floor plan Cartesian coordinates rather than GPS. The program allows health and safety works to do hazards management without trucking along binders and paper, recording pertinent data for their health and safety program. The program requires the upload of a floor plan file. It cannot make a CAD-based floor plan file. It only accepts this floor plan as a JPEG file as well. The GPS-based data is recorded, along with user-input into a layered structure and this data can then be emailed up to GIS or CAD programs. You can find Hazard Manager 1.0 on the App Store.

Other iPad News

We have just learned of Citrix Receiver for iPad. What an amazing application this is. With Receiver for iPad it is actually possible to connect to thousands of PC applications via the iPad and control them at native speeds. You can conduct virtual surgery in 3D or even implement a sophisticated BIM or CAD program. Citrix Receiver for Windows and Mac has been around already and does the same thing but with iPad you can have “always-connected” access to PC applications from anywhere with an AT&T 3G account.

02 - Complex 3D virtual surgery programs running on Citrix Receiver on iPad. This shows you what is possible with virtual desktop/virtual workstation and virtual server technologies.

Here is an image of the virtual surgery application. Very cool interface in the program in general and it looks great on the iPad (as if it was made for it.)

In other iPad News we want to point out to current or potential iPad users that there are many new and interesting iPad applications out there. Some are actually older and we just didn’t know about them. Here’s a list to take a look at:

• Adobe Ideas 1.0 for iPad – Vector drawing and sketching tool. This app looks very promising and with the addition of more sophisticated layer features will really rock! Today you can sketch over photos (think buildings and existing conditions photos and sketching out new ideas for additions, etc.
• goBIM – Now out for iPad as well. The latest release 1.2.1 continues to push the app forward. This is from a small-time developer so it shows you what is possible in this space (BIM on iPad). Just think if a larger company threw some serious programming power at this!
• WebEx for iPad – Join WebEx meetings using your iPad.
• GoToMeeting from Citrix for iPad – Join GoToMeetings using your iPad.
• Things by Cultured Code – very cool business name, btw! Looks really great!

We’ll keep scanning the horizon for superior iPad applications. We realize that many of you just can’t justify buying one until there is that one killer app!

Each session is a free one-hour long webcast that will show you Vectorworks 2010 and how to save valuable time accomplishing various tasks and processes. Some of the topics for this series include:

• Unified 3D modeling environment
• Use of new Dimensional Constraint Manager from Siemens PLM
• New architectural and landscape architectural design features
• New rendering functionality
• Key new usability changes, all built upon the Siemens Parasolid modeling kernel

The schedule of events is:

• Vectorworks Architect with Renderworks – March 23 – register here
• Vectorworks Spotlight with Renderworks – March 23 – register here
• Vectorworks Landmark with Renderworks – March 24 – register here
• Vectorworks Fundamentals with Renderworks – March 24 – register here

For more information on Vectorworks 2010 series products go here.

SolidWorks Community Cheers Loudly About Mac

Desktop Engineering reports that the 5000 plus attendees cheered loudly when SolidWorks CEO, Jeff Ray announced support for the Mac. “Clearly he hit a nerve,” writes Desktop Engineering’s Kenneth Wong. “The spontaneous applause that erupted in the audience was louder and longer than the initial one he received when he first walked in.”

Later this year SolidWorks Corporation will release a new cloud-based computing solution for SolidWorks customers. “A web-hosted CAD modeler is bound to be accessible to both Windows and Mac users,” writes Wong, “but addressing the demand for a Mac-compatible CAD in such a fashion may not fully satisify dedicated Mac fans, because this approach doesn’t take advantage of Apple’s hardware and OS.”

Solidworks World showed Mac and multi-platform Cloud future for SolidWorks. (image courtesy of Desktop Engineering)

The mandate to push for future technologies and compute models was delivered to SolidWorks research and development (R&D) three years ago by Jeff Ray. Now the first fruits of that multi-year effort are being delivered later this year. It is not clear yet when a native SolidWorks for the Mac will be ready, but based on the feedback in applause to Jeff Ray’s news it should be readily apparent that the demand for this is out there. And now that this news is out, what will Autodesk’s response be? Will the CAD giant and chief SolidWorks rival sit back or will they respond with Mac versions also?

To read the Desktop Engineering article go here. There’s a few pictures too.

ARES CAD

ARES is the first CAD software to run natively across all three major operating systems: Windows, Mac and Linux. It is optimized for each respective platform and utilizes special features of each OS. According to the company ARES will be 3-5 times faster in operations such as open and save than other rival CAD packages. It will include its built-in VoiceNotes features for attaching notes to specific files, as well as 3D modeling features compliments of its ACIS geometry kernel and AutoCAD-compatible command line scripts.

ARES will include support for AutoCAD DWG 2009 and DWG 2010 native file formats, plus PDF, SVG, DXF, SAT, WMF, SLD, ESRI SHP and more file formats. It features over 400 commands and it extensible via Lisp, C, Delph, and C++.

ARES will ship in two versions. ARES for 495.USD and ARES Commander Edition for 995.USD. To learn more visit them on the web here.