Confirmed: Autodesk is making Windows 8 Apps

--UPDATED--2012-10-31
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.

IMSI/Design announces TurboSite, a mobile solution in field and site survey visits

IMSI Design has had a natural progression with their mobile applications.  They started with a series of viewers and followed up with a markup app.  Now IMSI/Design is taking things to the next level.  TurboSite is IMSI/Design’s approach to taking full advantage of the mobility and tools built inside tablets, like Apple’s iPad.  They are using the hardware built within; cameras, microphones, accelerometers, GPS, Wi-Fi, and long battery life.  They are using these tools to create a software platform that can ultimately save time and effort during field visits.

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.”

Epson announces new T-Series line of large-format color plotters

Epson announced a new line of large-format color plotters aimed at architects, engineers and GIS professionals.  It is the SureColor T-Series line.  This line has three models; T3000 (24”), T5000 (36”), and the T7000 (44”).  Each are said to deliver a “combination of precision, performance and value with the fastest plotting speeds in its class, as well as industry-leading plotting accuracy and all-new Epson UltraChrome® XD pigment ink for brilliant, crisp output on virtually any media type”

For more information see:
www.proimaging.epson.com
and
SureColor T-Series

Review-HP Designjet T2300 eMFP

Brief Overview

The HP Designjet T2300 eMFP is a large format, inkjet color printer, scanner, and copier with web connectivity that allows users to print to it remotely on either their computer or via a mobile device (such as a tablet or smartphone.)  It has two media rolls for continuous printing.  A color touch screen panel controls all the aspects of the device and a USB port next to the control panel where users can print directly from the USB drive.  HP sent me a review unit (and this thing is a huge beast of a printer by the way) to test.  Here I am sharing with you what I found.  What I liked and what I didn't care for.  In short, I really like this printer and I recommend it.

AutoCAD 2013: The Welcome Screen

This is the first post in a series at looking at the newest release of AutoCAD; AutoCAD 2013.  This article will take a look at the Welcome Screen.

Autodesk changed the welcome screen in AutoCAD 2013.  No surprise there; it seems to change every release.  The welcome screen is the first thing you see when AutoCAD starts up.  I don’t mean the splash screen I mean the screen that pops up (some would say intrusively) and has lots of buttons for you to click on.  I wanted to take a moment and talk about it.

The welcome screen has three main columns: Work, Learn, and Extend.  Each column contains bits of information and links that will take you away to magical places.  Ok, not really, but sort of.

Civil Project Workflow, Base Files, Proposed Linework and As Builts-How do you handle it?

When working on specifically (but not limited to) civil site projects, like a residential or commercial site design (waste water, potable water, drainage, etc.), I have used different types of workflows or standard to manage our data.  In the past the places I worked at created a base file for all linework involved.  I have also worked where we create two separate base files; proposed line work and existing conditions.  You can also include into that any survey linework as a separate, or combined, base file.  I don’t want to go into any software specific discussion here, I just want to look at a general workflow process for the life of a project.  How do you do it?  How should it be done?

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.

Quick Tip: Save before using AutoCAD Etransmit

AutoCAD's eTransmit tool is a quick and easy way to gather all of the used files, data, sheet set info, fonts, xref's, etc. from a project in order to send the files to a client or to archive the project.

eTransmit will get every piece of data you used to create your drawings so that you can rest assured that you have everything.  I use it to send project files to clients, municipalities, and for archiving.

But before you use it, if you have any files currently open that you plan to eTransmit  save them first.  If you don;t save them first, eTransmit will not work.  It will return an error message and stop working.  You will have to save the file then start the eTransmit command again.  Of course it stops once it has processed all of the drawing files.  If you selected 100 drawings to eTransmit, it will process each one then end.  Forcing you to sit through that again!

Save first.  Then eTransmit.

Autodesk Sketchbook Pro $0.25 in Google Play store for a limited time

The Android version of Autodesk Sketchbook PRO is currently 25 cents (USD) in the Google Play store right now!  Buy it while it's dirt cheap!  If you have an Android based Tablet and want Sketchbook Pro now is your chance.

So go and check out Sketchbook Pro in Google Play and get this great application for so cheap it's practically free!!

Sketchbook Pro