A few days ago I was wondering if Autodesk was going to make any Windows 8 apps. I asked them, and they said, “it is our intention is to support many of our key products on Windows 8 in future versions.”
See previous post:
http://cadablog.blogspot.com/2012/10/is-autodesk-going-to-release-windows.html
It looks like they were true to their word. Autodesk now has its first free Windows 8 App, Sketchbook Express. And…it’s free!
This makes sense because I believe that Sketchbook Express was its first mobile app for iOS and then on Android. If you are one of the people that picked up a Microsoft Surface with Windows RT last week, then you can get to work on Autodesk Sketchbook Express.
This app is for Windows 8,
(edit) If you go to the DETAILS page (click the details button) it says that this app is only for x86, x64 processors. There is no support in this app for ARM processors. That means it won't work on a Windows RT tablet. That is a shame. If this sort of thing happens often, then Windows RT is in big trouble.(edit)
You can search in a browser for Windows Phone apps, but searching for Windows 8 apps is a bit more difficult. There is currently no site where you can go to search for Windows 8 apps. Each app does have its own webpage though in the app store. I don’t know why Microsoft took Apples rout here, but I did find a way to get around this. Use Google Advanced Search. Go to the Google Advanced search page, search for Autodesk, your language of choice, then search in this domain “apps.microsoft.com”. That will narrow your search to the Windows App store.
I also looked at the Windows Mobile App Store (http://www.windowsphone.com/en-us/store) and searched for Autodesk. Nothing came up. Nothing for Sketchbook either. The big question now is will Autodesk port their Windows 8 apps to Windows Phone?
I searched the Windows App store but didn't find anything else from Autodesk. I’ll keep my eyes and ears open though.
(Thanks to @kellings and @MPetrikas for working this out with me via Twitter!)
“it is our intention is to support many of our key products on Windows 8 in future versions.” Reads kind of half-hearted. I mean, 'many' of their 'key' products?
ReplyDeleteIf Autdesk considered Windows 8 as the future, then all applications would be supported -- not just many key ones.
I agree Ralph. I was disappointed in the response I was given. Windows is not going away. Not yet. It has too much inertia to stop now. It's force may slow down, thus decreasing its inertia, but it will take some time for Windows to stop. Windows is used in too many businesses around the world to go away. It's bettered suited for that sort of thing than any other OS available right now. Windows does everything. Everyone knows how to use it. Failing to support all of your Windows products on Windows 8 is the wrong move.
ReplyDeleteAs I understand Windows 8, programs that run on Windows 7 will also run on Windows 8. The App store is for Win 8 RT on the Surface, not the full blown Windows 8 which runs on an Intel processor.
ReplyDeleteFrom the website: http://windows.microsoft.com/en-CA/windows/compare
Runs programs you used with previous versions of Windows. ***
*** Refers to programs built for mouse and keyboard that run in the classic Windows desktop environment.
Yes, Windows 7 programs should run on Windows 8 desktop. However, the Windows App store has apps that run on RT only as well as on Windows x86 processors only. (which means not Windows RT as RT is based on the ARM processor) Look at the Autodesk Sketchbook Express. It only runs on x86 processors, not ARM (also not on Windows RT) even though it is not a "Desktop" program. It's confusing, I know.
ReplyDeleteThe updated version runs on ARM processors, meaning that Sketchbook now runs on Windows RT Suface
ReplyDeleteGreat find Anthony! Thanks for the update! This is fantastic news.
ReplyDelete