The new CINEBENCH 11.5 can more accurately test the industry’s latest hardware, including systems with up to 64 processor threads and the test environment better reflects the expectations of today’s production demands. The user interface has also been streamlined to make the reading of results more straightforward.

CINEBENCH 11.5 is immediately available free for users to download from the Maxon web site and can be utilized on Windows and Macintosh operating systems.

“As a leading innovator of high-performance workstations and rendering systems, BOXX Technologies relies on CINEBENCH benchmarking analysis to clearly demonstrate how our solutions will perform in real-world scenarios,” said Shoaib Mohammad, Director of Marketing and Business Development at BOXX. “CINEBENCH is a tremendous asset, providing reliable and consistent data, ensuring us that our hardware is performing at its peak, and giving our customers confidence that when they choose BOXX they are making the most informed decision possible.”

To learn more click here.

Architosh is bringing the popular ToshLetter PDF-based newsletter back to its readers. The latest ToshLetter will be sent out March 3, 2010, and is loaded with some premier CAD industry content — including a special exclusive segment of our Architosh interview with Viktor Varkoyni, CEO of Graphisoft, which touches on the future of ArchiCAD. Other exclusive items include details and reasons about Scia’s plans for North America and an analysis and self-analysis of our BIM report.

The ToshLetter was originally created and delivered back in 2005. The PDF-based and hyper-linked newsletter addresses the Mac CAD and 3D industries and brings a unique focus with original content aimed at executive-level discussion, feature articles, interviews and news. Each newsletter is organized around a topical range of issues and includes intelligent hyperlinks for further resources on the web. Some sample back-issues are available here for you to download and read. The newsletter is free but you must complete a brief subscription signup form.

ToshLetter 2010 – No. 1

This issue of the ToshLetter is focused on BIM (Building Information Modeling) and the architectural industry. A brief description of the table of contents (TOC) follows below:

• Discussions about ArchiCAD: Interface and Future Focus —  this exclusive segment of our Architosh feature interview with Viktor Varkonyi, CEO of Graphisoft, touches on rare comments about how the company views its flagship BIM program’s user-interface and notes about the future production direction.
• MarketFocus: Nemetschek Scia and BIM in America — article talks about Scia, one of the world’s premier software programs for structural engineers, and its new push here in the United States to be a leader in structural BIM integration.
• Perspective: What we learned in Architosh’s first BIM report – article covers aspects of our multi-year effort to gain insight into BIM adoption today.
• ToolTalk: Managing Teamwork 2 Projects in ArchiCAD 13 — article delves into many of the smaller details of setting up Teamwork 2 in ArchiCAD 13 and covers aspects often not mentioned in other articles on the subject.
• ToolTalk: Cool iPhone Apps for Architects — we look at some of the best applications for the iPhone for busy architects on the job site.
• News Analysis
• Architosh and Social Media
• Events

Subscribe Today

To receive this upcoming ToshLetter newsletter please sign-up here on the web and complete the very brief signup page. It is important to note that if you have received a ToshLetter before you are still on the newsletter list and will receive it again unless you need to update your email address with us. If you need to update your email address please send us an email to info@architosh.com and put ToshLetter in the subject line. Give us your name, old email if you recall it and your new email address.

If you would like to contribute an article to the ToshLetter please let us know. We are looking for contributors to this free publication. Sign-up here now.

One of Europe’s Most Prestigious Awards

Winning this award will be a high honor for the Hungarian-based 3D CAD and BIM software company. In line with the broad aims of the European Union, The European Business Awards are one of Europe’s most prestigious awards programs and are designed to recognize and promote excellence, best practices and innovation within the European business community. 

“The European Business Awards nomination is especially important for us since ArchiCAD is a leading BIM solution in most of the European markets,” said Akos Pfemeter, Director of Global Marketing. “Since we introduced the BIM Learning Studio, more than a quarter-million people have downloaded and used it to have their first practical experience of building information modeling with the kit.”

The ArchiCAD BIM Learning Studio introduces a unique approach in helping architectural professionals accustomed to working in 2D CAD software packages get familiar with the concepts and methods of working in a fully 3D-based, building information modeling (BIM) environment. The Graphisoft BIM Learning Studio is a complete suite of voice-led learning resources. 

Earlier this year the same software tools were named a finalist in the CODiE Awards for 2009.

To learn more visit: www.graphisoft.com

Graphisoft Helps Lead AEC Industry to BIM

Graphisoft continues to help lead the entire AEC industry towards BIM, moving building design, engineering and management towards a full 3D intelligent model driven world. With these latest learning tools Graphisoft is offering continued support to designers in understanding the benefits of BIM. The suite is free and can be downloaded here.

BIM Learning Studio Details

The Graphisoft BIM Learning Studio is a complete suite of voice-led resource learning materials that support experienced architectural practitioners of BIM to gain relevant hands on experience. The suite includes a core of technology tools called the Experience BIM module, which won the 2008 International Stevie Award for Best Training Technology and was a finalist in the 2008 Codie Award for Best Workforce Training Solution. 

“There is no other BIM learning resource in our industry that has been so highly commended,” said Akos Pfemeter, Director of Marketing at Graphisoft. 

The BIM Learning Studio consists of:

Experience BIM - A voice-led QuickTime animated interactive training tool that leads users through a thorough understanding of BIM using Graphisoft’s award-winning BIM application, ArchiCAD 12. This provides a conceptual overview as users work through designing the Massaro House, a famous project by Frank Lloyd Wright. 

ArchiCAD Essentials - A voice-led QuickTime animated interactive training tool that leads users through the design, layout and documenting of a modernist Microsoft campus building in Budapest, Hungary. This tool provides insight into some of the latest features of ArchiCAD 12 including its new systems-based Curtain Wall tool. 


Advanced Modeling - An introductory guide to advanced modeling techniques for creating complex forms and structures in ArchiCAD.


Advanced Collaboration - An overview of workflows for project sharing and strategies for team working.


Building Object Creation - An introduction to building object creation methods and techniques.

Advanced Modeling

Advanced modeling is a growing area of importance within the architectural industry as advances in manufacturing technology make it easier and less costly for architects to implement curved and complex-shaped components within their building designs.  To this end Graphisoft is providing architects with more tools and power behind creative form and design innovation.

“This is an introductory guide to advanced modeling techniques,” Akos Pfemeter, told Architosh today. “This is approximately six hours of material that covers the making of complex forms and structures in ArchiCAD 12.” 

With the Advanced Modeling component of the BIM Learning Studio users can learn about everything from generic modeling of basic shapes and volumes to structural grids, terrains, slanted and composite walls, columns, beams, stairs and roofs. “There is also special treatment on special openings such as skylights, corner windows and trusses and roof structures,” said Mr. Pfemeter. 

For very complex free-form modeling Graphisoft recommends that users look to the highend 3D package Cinema 4D, produced by Nemetschek Group sister company Maxon Computer GmbH, of Germany. “ArchiCAD has an intelligent bi-directional connection to this solution,” Akos Pfemeter told Architosh today, “so architects’ imaginations are not limited by any software constraints.”

To learn more visit: https://trialregistration.graphisoft.com/

For the first 9 months of the year, Nemetschek AG increased revenues 6% to 109.0 million euros, and adjusted to take into account currency fluctuations against the US dollar this figure would have been 7.5%. Outlookwise, Nemetschek AG expects to achieve median single-digit revenue growth with a stale EBITDA margin of more than 20%. 

Owing to its robust business model and successful first nine months, Nemetschek AG stands by its plans for 2008. The company has a broad customer base and gains 35%, plus or minus, of its revenues from software maintenance contracts, primarily in Europe. Its products are used by more than 270,000 companies in over 142 countries around the world. To learn more about this financial report visit: www.nemetschek.com

The Standard has a good article here. Of all the companies it mentions that Apple should buy the one I would agree makes the best sense is Nvidia. The graphics chip maker could be bought six times over with Apple’s available cash. Once more, Nvidia has been delivering superb new GPU and related technologies for the past few years, its CUDA architecture is of particular note. With Nvidia in Apple’s hands the geniuses within its PA Semi acquisition and the geniuses within Nvidia could do magical things together. It’s truly exciting to think about!

But There’s More…

I’ve been writing about specific acquisitions this past year that make sense strategically for protecting and growing Apple’s “Creatives” market. Specifically I’ve put out the notion that Apple should possibly buy Nemetschek AG of Germany as a solid AEC industry play. I’ve also written about a Gehry Technolgies buy. Both are interesting for a variety of reasons. And both would excite the AEC (architecture/engineering/construction) market and its millions of users.

So in light of that it’s interesting to see somebody outside of the CAD press discuss the idea that Apple should buy Autodesk. But that is just what David Morgenstern of ZDNet did today. Yes…it seems Apple’s big cash numbers have gotten the speculation engines oh-running. I can hear them churning across the blogosphere. The CAD blogs and press will no doubt pick up on this. It is always interesting when the general press catches up to what some of us in the CAD press have been saying.

Personally I’m not sure buying Autodesk would be a brilliant move for Apple. They would pay a premium for some de-facto industry standard apps that are in truth fairly mediocre at best. In time such apps will die-out. On the other hand, Morgenstern is correct is stating that  Apple’s approach to its customers is similar to Apple’s. This was the point I was making earlier in the year.

Would an Apple-Autodesk or Apple-Nvidia acquisition make sense to you? Login and share you thoughts below.

The Constructech Vision Award has been given to ArchiCAD-based Holden Construction for its use of Building Information Modeling (BIM) software in a large construction project. Holden won the award for its Aquarium Hilton Garden Inn in Atlanta, Georgia. The project demonstrated how a general contractor can use BIM technology to enhance teamwork, build faster, avoid costly change order and diminish the number of field conflicts.

Graphisoft, now a subsidiary of German Nemetschek AG, has recently launched ArchiCAD 12 and introduced the world’s first BIM with multiprocessing support. To learn more about ArchiCAD 12 go here.

Executive Suite Makes Some Changes at Nemetschek North America

Nemetschek North America, the makers of VectorWorks, has announced that Dr. Biplab Sarkar will now be its new Chief Technology Officer (CTO). Dr. Sarkar has been involved with the company for eight years spearheading its advanced 3D modeling technology and came to N.A. from Parametric Technologies.

Eight years ago when Architosh reported this news there was some hope that Dr. Sarkar’s ProE background would foster advanced MCAD on the Mac or perhaps create opportunities for ProE file compatibility between VectorWorks and ProE.

Former CTO Paul Pharr will now become the company’s new Chief Information Officer (CIO) responsible for information management systems and web applications and delivery technologies. These changes are aimed at better positioning the company’s resources.

Nvidia Achieves Top Spot in Distributed Computing Application

Nvidia GPUs are powering over 1 petaflop of processing power to Stanford University’s Folding@Home distributed computing application as of last week, reports the University. Active Nvidia GPUs deliver over 1.25 petaflops or 42% of the total processing power of the application which seeks to understand how proteins affect the human body.

The key to this story however is that Nvidia is achieving this computation contribution via just 11,370 total active processors. In comparison 208,268 CPUs running Windows were active, contributing just 6% of processing power to the project.

Nvidia’s GPUs are delivered in is Nvidia CUDA architecture appliances. “As these statistics show, the impact of NVIDIA GPUs on protein folding simulations has been extraordinary,” said Vijay Pande, associate professor of chemistry, Stanford University and director of the Folding@home project. “Teams that are folding with NVIDIA GPUs are seeing huge boosts to their production and this is helping to accelerate the project significantly.”

To learn more visit this page.

Nemetschek AG home page

“With the new umbrella brand strategy, we will continue to improve our good position on the international AEC market and develop our strengths for the benefit of our customers,” says Ernst Homolka, CFO and Board Spokesman, Nemetschek AG. The new public image will not only create the necessary clarity for the group’s broad product portfolio, it will also clearly set the group apart from its competitors, continues Ernst Homolka.

Moving Minds

The core of the new brand is the slogan “moving minds”, together with the use of a horizon as the key visual and a logo that reflects the group’s diversity. In accordance with the new umbrella brand strategy, other Nemetschek AG brands will also display a consistent brand image over the world.

Moving minds as a slogan represents the diversity of the group and the individuality of every product brand. Use of a horizon as the key visual symbolizes the opening of new possibilities and makes room for unrestricted design freedom. This means that Nemetschek is positioning itself as a company that provides its customers with a broad range of solutions with its ten product brands and that supports them in implementing their ideas.

Product Brand Colors

Consistent with the color bars used in the branding design, brands within the Nemetschek Group will get assigned signature colors with symbolic meaning to a significant project or technology.

Nemetschek Allplan will use dark red as its signature color in future, together with a new logo. The relaunch also covers the www.allplan.com website and the entire range of print media. The central visual motif of the product brand is the Five Boats office building at Duisburg Harbor, by Bahl Architekten. It represents Nemetschek Allplan’s competence and expertise in developing building design software.

Nemetschek Scia will use dark blue as its signature color in future. The Scia key visual is the Apollo Bridge in the Slovakian capital of Bratislava. This makes it clear that the Belgian software company stands for expertise and many years of experience in the development of engineering software for the analysis and design of frame and plate structures, as well as for project management. The new brand logo will appear on all product packaging from now on. The main product will be known as Scia Engineer.

Key Macintosh-based brands within the Nemetschek Group include:

Graphisoft ArchiCAD, a Nemetschek Company

Nemetschek North America’s VectorWorks

Maxon Computer’s Cinema 4D (C4D)

To explore the new Nemetschek AG site go here.