It is Alive in the Lab

Simulation Book in the works will mention Advanced Simulation Technology Preview from Autodesk Labs

I stumbled across this today: http://www.vdssolutions.co.uk/ Wasim is writing a book about simulations with Autodesk Inventor. He's going to include a chapter on the Advanced Simulation Technology Preview from Autodesk Labs. Sweet! Read more →

Project Showroom 1.0.1 Now Available

Project Showroom has been given an extreme makeover. http://showroom.labs.autodesk.com For more information about Project Showroom, you can see http://labs.autodesk.com/technologies/showroom We at Autodesk Labs have absolutely been killing ourselves working on Project Showroom. It was a tremendous amount of work but... Read more →

Where do you see the difference between Application Service Providing and SaaS?

When I posted the article "What does SaaS mean to you?", Dan D. Gutierrez made the comment: My firm launched the web's first web-hosted database service in 1999 when the SaaS industry was called Application Service Providers (ASP)... IMHO the... Read more →

Visual Basic Example for using the Project Draw API

In June we released an API as part of Project Draw 0.7.4. Based on feedback from programmers, we expanded the API in Project Draw 0.7.5. The feedback on the API continues to pour in. We are happy to provide API... Read more →

Advanced Simulation Technology Preview for Inventor Now Available

If you're my age, you've probably heard Aretha Franklin's "Respect": R-E-S-P-E-C-T Find out what it means to me. R-E-S-P-E-C-T Take care TCB. I've never understood that take care TCB part.One thing I think you'll understand is the ASTP. A-S-T-P Find... Read more →

Project Draw 0.7.6 Now Available (features Project Freewheel integration)

Many of you have expressed your opinions that you feel Project Draw is a cool technology in the area of design software. For more information about Project Draw, see: http://labs.autodesk.com/technologies/draw/ For those who don't need no stinkin' information, you can... Read more →

UI Technology Preview for Inventor 2009 spans globe

I was looking at the download data for the UI Technology Preview for Inventor 2009. Though the United States is a fair amount, we have representation from all parts of the world (OK except Antarctica). We actually have representation from... Read more →

Get $30: Usability Specialist looking for a few good people

Usability Specialist, Alison Kather, is looking for people who work with design documents from designers/engineers but are not the actual designer or drafter of these documents. They can be users of DWF and Design Review, but we ideally would like... Read more →

Boomless Chameleon for Autodesk Design Review Now Available

If you have a computer and a web camera, you can navigate your designs without a multi-touch wall, Wii remote, or even a mouse. Using Autodesk Design Review and the Boomless Chameleon Navigation Add-in, you simply attach your camera to... Read more →

What does software as a service mean to you?

Andreas Müller of WIN-Verlag GmbH & Co.KG recently asked me: What does Software as a Service mean for you? We are all familiar with software sold as a boxed product. You buy a software application. You pay for it once.... Read more →

Autodesk University 2008 Class Schedule

Joseph Wurcher has published the Autodesk University 2008 class schedule: http://au.autodesk.com/files/5101_5200/5183/file_5183.xls Of note you may wish to check out: ID Course Title Time Room Instructor BU301-1 When Your Customer Doesn't Speak "CAD" 12/4/2008 8:15 am - 9:45 am Lido 3002... Read more →

Staying SaaSy in the Lab

One of the Autodesk Labs key missions is to explore and prove the viability of new approaches to design. Rather than take a purely theoretical approach, we want to involve customers along the way. That’s why we provide several Software... Read more →

Software documentation: As easy as 1, 2, 3...

It was Father's Day. My wife, Sheryl, decided to make some brownies. Here was the set of instructions on the box: Notice anything unusual? Unless you read carefully, perhaps not? Look at the first requirement in the "FOR 20 BROWNIES... Read more →

Support for 64-bit for 2D to 3D Tool for Inventor Now Available

You asked for it. You got it. I seem to be saying that a lot lately. Autodesk Labs is happy to announce the availability of an update for the 2D to 3D Tool for Inventor: http://labs.autodesk.com/utilities/2d_to_3d_tool/ This update adds support... Read more →

installer update: MEP Analysis Extension for AutoCAD MEP / Revit MEP

The MEP Analysis Extension for AutoCAD MEP and Revit MEP has been an immediate hit. Part of the initial feedback was that the install did not always work on Windows Vista and 64-bit versions of Windows XP. This update corrects... Read more →

Looking for more MEP Analysis use cases

How many of you recall the movie Brazil? If you do, you'll also remember that it's all about the ducts. AEC Product Manager, Stephen Roth, shared some of his insights on the MEP Analysis Extension for AutoCAD and Revit. The... Read more →

Project Showroom - under construction

We are performing some maintenance on our Project Showroom servers in anticipation of an upcoming update. The service may be unavailable at various points during the day. We appreciate your patience and thank you for your continued interest in Project... Read more →

Project Freewheel 1.0.4 Now Available

You asked for it. You got it. Autodesk Labs is happy to announce the availability of Project Freewheel build 1.0.4.48. The focus of this release is your ability to customize how you can present your designs using Project Freewheel. What's... Read more →

NASA: World's Highest Resolution Visualization System

GBU Product Design Manager, Itamar Lima Medeiros, alerted me to the following article: NASA DEVELOPS WORLD'S HIGHEST RESOLUTION VISUALIZATION SYSTEM Highlights: ...128-screen hyperwall-2 ...capable of rendering one quarter billion pixel graphics ...quickly explore datasets that otherwise would take many years... Read more →

MEP Analysis Extension for AutoCAD MEP/Revit MEP Now Available

To support our vision for Building Information Modeling and strengthen our portfolio of sustainable design solutions, Autodesk has packaged 25 useful utilities for energy efficiency in a "green" MEP Analysis Extension. I was thrilled to post the extension for download... Read more →

One World, One set of It's Alive in the Lab blog files

Based on your feedback, the Autodesk Labs site is in the process of getting a minor makeover. You may recall that this blog was incorporated into the Autodesk Labs site using the RSS feed: Reading Choices: Browser or RSS; all... Read more →

Saas Blogs: When Should Software be Sold Pay Per Use?

On his SaaS Blogs - understanding the Software as a Service revolution, Sinclair Schuller asked the question: When Should Software be Sold Pay Per Use? Andreas Müller of WIN-Verlag GmbH & Co.KG recently asked me: Which pricing models and use... Read more →

Advantages of a SaaS approach

I am old. I have been using computers for a long time. So I have been following Software as a Service with a grain of salt. In May of 2006 I had a blog posting: DWF provides a rich and... Read more →

Chris Blocher: We've come a long way baby

Image source: http://www.wpclipart.com/world_history/ape_man_evolution.png User Assistance Manager, Chris Blocher, used to write documentation for Autodesk Design Review. One day he sent me the following: Chris noted how viewing designs had evolved from Autodesk View, WHIP!, and Volo View to Autodesk Design... Read more →

Through the Interface: Getting to know the Project Draw API

Our old pal and super programmer, Senior Manager of Worldwide DevTech, Kean Walmsley, has an article about Project Draw on his Through the Interface blog: Getting to know the Project Draw API Recall that Project Draw 0.7.5 featured a new... Read more →

UI Technology Preview for Autodesk Inventor 2009 Read Me

The Read Me for the UI Technology Preview for Autodesk Inventor 2009 is available at: http://labs.autodesk.com/files/201_300/270/file_270.pdf OK - don't everyone click at once. I am familiar with the fact that not everyone reads the read me. On the other hand,... Read more →

Missing ShareNow icons for AutoCAD 2009? Perhaps you migrated...

If you migrated your AutoCAD 2008 CUI settings when you installed AutoCAD 2009, you need to manually add the ShareNow icons to an existing toolbar. ShareNow and ShareDSD are available from the command line independent from this action. I was... Read more →

Q&A: Autodesk Inventor LT Technology Preview 2009 and Shipman King Pty Ltd

From their web site: Shipman King Proprietary Limited is "an Australian designer, manufacturer and distributor of equipment for below ground and above ground storage systems used in the petroleum and chemical industries." http://www.shipmanking.com.au/ Manufacturing Systems Division Product Marketing Manager, Tyler... Read more →