Microsoft showed off Windows 8 and the Surface today. Both look very interesting to me. One question that has been on my mind is if Autodesk will release any of its mobile apps for Windows 8, both Windows 8 RT and Windows Phone 8? Or neither?
I figured the best way to find out is to ask Autodesk. So I did. Here is the response from an Autodesk spokesperson:
“As of today (October 18th, 2012) no Autodesk products are supported on Windows 8, but it is our intention is to support many of our key products on Windows 8 in future versions. Our current offering of mobile apps are limited to iOS and Android but we are actively investigating opportunities to broaden offerings to include Windows 8 mobile versions.”
I felt it was safe to say the entire time that Autodesk will support Windows 8, the desktop version. I don’t see Autodesk putting full versions of their products on Windows RT. I do think it very possible for them to create versions of their apps (AutoCAD WS, Autodesk 360, etc.) for Windows RT and Windows Phone 8. The two platforms are not synonymous but Microsoft has said that porting apps from Windows RT to Windows Phone 8 (or vice versa) is not that difficult to do. That’s kind of the point to RT. Autodesk announced on its Facebook page today that it has reached 10,000,000 downloads of its AutoCAD WS app on iOS and Android (that’s a combined total). It seems that their apps are very popular.
Do they even need to create a Windows RT/Windows Phone 8 version? Windows RT devices, which could possibly be used by enterprise companies, could simply run the AutoCAD WS browser version. The same is also true for the Windows 8 Pro users. The same can also be said for Mac user, but Autodesk has created a standalone version of AutoCAD WS for Mac OS. Where’s the Windows love Autodesk? They would need to create a version for Windows Phone 8. You can’t run the full browser version of AutoCAD WS on a phone. I’m not even sure you would want to do that on a tablet to be honest.
I don’t know. I wish Autodesk would come out and say “YES!! Windows Phone 8, Windows RT and Windows 8 look great! We are going to support them all!” Seeing how Autodesk has plunged head first into cloud based design services I would think that they would also incorporate the cloud based uses that these new Windows platforms will make available to users.
We shall see.
I hope so, wonder about Win Phone (due to market share) but cant see them ignoring the Win 8/RT platform for mobile type apps. I think the "metro" UX could be great with the mobile apps on a tablet with pen/touch
ReplyDeleteIt seems evident that they will make sure their products work on the Windows 8 Desktop mode. I hope they make an RT version of their mobile apps. If there is enough of a want for it they will I guess. If they make an RT version of AutoCAD WS, then they might as well make a Windows Phone version too. That's my opinion.
ReplyDeleteI'm waiting patiently here for Windows Phone 8.
ReplyDeleteNokia sales seem to be booming
ReplyDeleteBig waiting lists for 920
Looks like Phone 8 big improve on 7
Don't know why Microsoft cannot get outlook to synch with mobile properly
Must be trying to make extra buck out of cloud
Can't blame Autodesk for not jumping in up to now but time to get the third platform serviced - especially as you don't have Apple revit