Here is AutoCAD 2016; the last perpetual license you will ever get!

Introducing AutoCAD 2016! The latest! The greatest! The last perpetual license of AutoCAD you or anyone else will ever purchase! If there were ever a time to upgrade your AutoCAD license it is now! So what's new? Well there really isn't any one new thing but instead there are a lot of updates to many existing commands. One thing that isn't new is the DWG file type. Yep AutoCAD 2016 will still run on AutoCAD 2013 DWG. Autodesk has also removed the ability to password protect DWG files. It can open and use password protected files but it will not be able to create them. This update brings performance improvements, new ways to create dimensions, a few UI tweaks, a new osnap, additional point cloud tools, updated referencing options, a brand new 3D rendering engine, and a handy system variable monitoring tool.

Autodesk Upgrade Pricing Ends January 31

Autodesk officially ends its upgrade pricing plans this month. After January 31, 2015, Autodesk customers will no longer be able to upgrade their licenses of Autodesk products to a newer version. This has been the practice of many Autodesk clients for decades. Company’s would purchase a license from Autodesk and sit on it for several years. When the need arose they would update to the latest version at a discounted price. This price was substantially cheaper than purchasing a brand new license and they only had to spend the money when they absolutely had to. The only other reason spend money was when a company needed an additional license.

Autodesk software isn’t cheap. A single license for one of their products could cost anywhere from $1000 to $7000 easy (US Dollars).  A single perpetual license of AutoCAD could cost around $4000 (estimated pricing) with the upgrade at half the price, depending on when you update and how old your version was. These upgrade prices changed throughout the years with the price slowly increasing as time went on.

Autodesk Teams Up With Evernote

Autodesk is teaming up today with Evernote.  AutoCAD 360 Mobile is getting an update soon (iOS only, for now) that will provide users a way to insert Evernote Notes into AutoCAD 360’s Design Feed directly from the mobile app.  You will also be able to export an area of a drawing into an Evernote Note!  For AutoCAD and Evernote junkies this is huge news!  It streamlines a method of sharing relevant project data between users and provides a history of data exchange.

Autodesk recognizes that their customers are using multiple technologies throughout their workflow to stay organized, share information with co-workers and clients, store data, etc.  This is an effort on their part to make Autodesk (in this case AutoCAD 360 Mobile) products more compatible with other technologies.  Many users and companies use Evernote to organize their project information.  This new integration simplifies the process.

I was able to speak with Autodesk’s Amy Bunszel, Vice President, AutoCAD Products and Mayte Zavaleta, Product Line Manager, AutoCAD Products about this new collaboration.

What’s new in AutoCAD 2014?

Autodesk is about to release the latest version of its flagship design program AutoCAD 2014.  AutoCAD 2014 is the 28th release of AutoCAD and is noted as being version 19.1.  It continues with the AutoCAD 2013 .dwg file type and format and is supported on Windows XP, Windows 7 and Windows 8 operating systems.  No official support from Autodesk will be given for Windows Vista.  AutoCAD 2014 continues Autodesk’s reach for the clouds with its integration of Autodesk 360, new geographic location tool, reality capture, design feed (my personal favorite new tool), and increased control for Autodesk Exchange Apps.  Autodesk also makes an attempt to protect us from malicious files with the Secureload tools.  We will take a look at these new features.

AutoCAD WS 1.6.1 Released – AutoCAD Utility Design Now Supported

Autodesk released the latest version of AutoCAD WS (mobile version 1.6.1) for the web based version as well as the iOS and Android versions.  All versions are up to date and match each other.  These latest versions support AutoCAD Utility Design drawings.  According to the Google Play Store and Apple App Store, various bug fixes are also addresses.

See the AutoCAD WS blog post here about this update.

 

Support-related information recently added or updated on the Autodesk knowledge base

January 14, 2012

New Solutions
Smoke: Determining the installed Wiretap Gateway version via Terminal
Tips and Tricks for the AutoCAD P&ID Administrator

Updated Solutions
Common FlexNet error codes
Education Community Serial Number FAQs
Smoke: About clip library backups
Smoke: Remote library not displayed in clip library list
Smoke: Restoring clip library backups

Updates & Service Packs
AutoCAD P&ID 2013 SP1
AutoCAD Plant 3D 2013 English 64-bit Service Pack 1 Hotfix 1
AutoCAD Plant 3D 2013 Service Pack 1 - English
Inventor Hotfix - Added\Edited Rows in Family Table not displayed in Content Center
Inventor Integration multiple Issues

January 7, 2013

Updated Solutions
2011: Troubleshooting Error 1603 in AutoCAD Map 3D
Autodesk Revit Architecture Families Guide
Service Pack 1 for Autodesk DWF Composer

Updates & Service Packs
Vault 2012 Update 2
Vault 2013 Service Pack 1

Certified Hardware
Maya Certified Hardware

Autodesk Releases update for AutoCAD WS Mobile Apps

Autodesk has released an update for the mobile versions of their free CAD program AutoCAD WS.

image from autocadws.com

AutoCAD WS 1.6 is now available for iOS and Android.

Recently Added or Updated items on the Autodesk Knowledge Base for November 12, 2012

Support Updates
Support-related information recently added or updated on the Autodesk knowledge base.

November 12, 2012

Updated Solutions
How to combine license files for multiple Autodesk products
How to Transfer Stand-Alone Licenses Online
Smoke: Deleting projects without using the application
Who is eligible to join the Autodesk Education Community?
Windows 8 Support for Autodesk products

Updates & Service Packs
Autodesk 3ds Max Design 2012 Product Update 12
Autodesk Fabrication CADmep 2013 Service Pack 2
Autodesk Fabrication CAMduct 2013 Service Pack 2
Autodesk Fabrication ESTmep 2013 Service Pack 2
Autodesk Fabrication FABmep 2013 Service Pack 2
Autodesk Fabrication RemoteEntry 2013 Service Pack 2
Autodesk MASSPROP Hotfix
Inventor Localization Hotfix—Network Sharing Library

Tools
Autodesk 360 Infrastructure Modeler for Web

Autodesk’s List of Officially Supported Products (so far) for Windows 8

Autodesk has provided a list of their products that they have officially tested to run on Windows 8.  It’s a short list but here it is:

• Autodesk 3ds Max 2013
• Autodesk 3ds Max Design 2013
• Autodesk Maya 2013
• Autodesk MotionBuilder 2013
• Autodesk Mudbox 2013
• Autodesk Softimage 2013
• Autodesk SketchBook Designer 2013

Upgrading to AutoCAD 2013? Is Your Hardware Good Enough?

If you are upgrading to AutoCAD 2013, I hope you take the time to see if your current hardware can handle Autodesk's latest version of their flagship software.  If you aren't sure, then you are in luck.  I wrote a four part series for CADspeed on this very topic.

Here are links to the four articles:

The Best Hardware Configuration for AutoCAD 2013, Part 1: Can Your Current Workstation Handle The Upgrade?

The Best Hardware Configuration for AutoCAD 2013, Part 2: Current and Future Needs

The Best Hardware Configuration for AutoCAD 2013, Part 3: Review Recommended Hardware

The Best Hardware Configuration for AutoCAD 2013, Part 4: Processor, Video Card, RAM and Hard Drive

I hope this helps.  I know I learned quite a bit researching the topic.

3Dconnexion's New Windows Driver Released

3Dconnexion, maker of several 3D mice, has released a new version of its Windows driver.  This updated driver has the following highlights:

• Official support for Windows 8, SolidWorks 2013, NX 8.5 and Solid Edge ST5
• Performance and stability improvements in plug-ins for: 3ds Max, 3ds Max Design, Maya, Softimage, SolidWorks, NX, Solid Edge and Photoshop
• Advanced button configuration in Sketch Mode in NX

Users can download the new driver here.

Recently Added or Updated items on the Autodesk Knowledge Base

New Solutions

Crashes in Lenovo OneKey Theater
How to link the LineNumberTag from P&ID to the LineNumberTag in Plant 3D

Updated Solutions

2013: Network License Manager System Requirements
Adding descriptive notes to your network license file
Apple Boot Camp Support for Autodesk 3ds Max
How to combine license files for multiple Autodesk products
How to sign into Subscription Center
How to turn on logging for Autodesk Sync features
Increasing maximum number of Display Manager Feature Labels displayed
nfsd: Can'­t export /usr/discreet: No such file or directory
Reinstalling AutoCAD on OS X 10.8 (Mountain Lion)
Simulation CFD - 2013 Revit Launcher Workaround
What Happens If You Rename The AUTODESKVAULT SQL Instance

Updates & Service Packs

ASD 2013 Trial expiration date issue Hotfix
AutoCAD 2012 for Mac (full version)
Autodesk Inventor 2013 Service Pack 1.1 

Is Autodesk going to release a Windows 8/Windows RT/Windows Phone 8 version of AutoCAD WS?

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.”

Autodesk Releases 3Dconnexion Hotfix for AutoCAD 2013 and Verticals

Autodesk has released a hotfix that corrects several issues with 3Dconnexion devices in AutoCAD 2013 and AutoCAD verticals.  Those issues are:

• Zoom speed varies in perspective view
• Pivot point position is far from the model causing the model to go off the drawing area when rotated
• High zoom out speed after zooming in a small area of the drawing

Make sure to check out the README before installing as there are certain steps to take.

If you use AutoCAD 2013 or any AutoCAD 2013 based verticals (Civil 3D 2013, Architecture 2013, MEP 2013, etc.) along with a 3Dconnexion 3D mouse then you will want to install this hotfix.  The point to a 3D Mouse is to speed up your design process so nothing is worse than software bugs.  This hotfix is meant to improve the 3D mouse experience in AutoCAD 2013.

Autodesk’s website notes that you need to make sure to install the AutoCAD 2013 Service Pack 1.1 before you install this hotfix.

Links:

Autodesk Hotfix 3Dconnexion
Readme

AutoCAD and AutoCAD LT for MAC Service packs for OS X 10.8 Mountain Lion now Available

Autodesk has released service packs for AutoCAD for Mac and AutoCAD LT for Mac that will make them both compatible with Apple’s latest version of OS X 10.8, a.k.a. Mountain Lion.  This is great for any Mac user that has updated to Mountain Lion or has been waiting for Autodesk to update to Mountain Lion.  Mountain Lion was available for download in July so this update to AutoCAD is a welcomed one.  The service pack also addresses some bugs and other issues as well.

Autodesk Removes Inventor 2013 SP1 just days after it is Posted

Autodesk has removed their Inventor 2013 SP1 patch just days after it was posted.  The entire page containing the download file seems to have been removed.  Evidently SP1 was “taken down this morning due to an unforeseen memory management regression” per Chris Mitchell’s (Autodesk Inventor Quality Assurance Team) post in the Inventor Forums.

He goes on to say “It will be re-posted shortly. If you have already installed SP1 & are experiencing random instability you can uninstall it & wait for the updated version; otherwise you can leave it as-is & add the hotfix once it is released.”

Autodesk Releases then Retracts SP1 for AutoCAD 2013

Earlier this week Autodesk released SP1 (Service Pack 1) for AutoCAD 2013.  Now it has been removed.  According to Autodesk’s Services and Support website the service pack was taken down temporarily because a “newly discovered fatal error” was found.  OOPS!!!

Autodesk is working on it, feverishly I would imagine, and hopes to have a new Service Pack posted soon.

Question; Will this service pack be Service Pack 1A or Service Pack 2?  Maybe Service Pack 1.1.  Maybe it will be Service Pack 1 Service Pack 1.

We will have to wait and see.

No Support for AutoCAD on Mac OS X 10.8 Mountain Lion (yet)

Autodesk has announced that, at the moment, there is no AutoCAD 2012, 2013 for Mac support for Mac OS X10.8 Mountain Lion, Apple’s latest update to their OS.  There is also no support for AutoCAD LT 2012 or 2013.  According to Autodesk’s Services and Support website covering this issue, “undesirable effects can occur” if you have any of the above listed products installed on Mountain Lion.


Some of those issues are:

• Issues with Installer re-start
• Resetting applications
• Cursor missing when printing to PDF
• And more

AutoCAD WS update – Now has Design Feed

Autodesk has released the next version of AutoCAD WS Mobile.  Release 1.5 has a very big new feature called Design Feed.  Design Feed is a mechanism for context-specific posts that allow real time and asynchronous collaboration from within the drawing file.

Autodesk releases Hotfix for Autodesk 360 Sync Error

Autodesk released a Hotfix for those that are having constant Autodesk 360 Sync errors.  If you are using (or have used) Autodesk 360 (Autodesk’s cloud storage and settings syncing service) then you are probably getting an annoying error.  All of the time.  I am.