Autodesk AutoCAD WS Facecast - Watch it here on CAD-a-Blog

Autodesk has a great Free CAD application called AutoCAD WS.  It's a free web based AutoCAD based program that can read and write DWG files.  Autodesk is having a live "facecast" on Thursday May 26th at 9 am PST.  What's a "facecast"?  Well it's a webcast presented through Facebook.  You can see the AutoCAD WS Facecast on their Facebook page here.  Autodesk has had a few Facecasts so far and they have been successful.  One Facecast was about AutoCAD for MAC and it featured Matt Stein, one of the lead develoeprs of AutoCAD for MAC.

Imagine having the chance to hear from a lead developer on your favorite program!  Autodesk is doing this again but for AutoCAD WS.  This Facecast will feature the co-creator of AutoCAD WS Tal Weiss.  During the facecast you will be able to log on and ask questions.  Not every question will be answered but many of them will be.  Maybe you want to learn what AutoCAD WS is.  Maybe you've been using it but have a few questions.  Come to the facecast and fine out.

If you aren't using Facebook that's ok.  Aotudesk has provided me with a link so that the facecast will also be broadcast here on CAD-a-Blog!!  That's right!  If your boss has blocked Facebook you can watch the facecast here.

Watch live streaming video from autocad at livestream.com

Make sure to watch the Facecast here on May 26th at 9 am PST.

AutoCAD WS available for Android and now with Anywhere Storage

Autodesk released their latest OS version of AutoCAD WS today. AutoCAD WS is now available (click here) for free on the Android operating system.  Autodesk's AutoCAD WS mobile platform has been available for Apple's iOS (iPhone, iPad, and iPod Touch) for a while now, but this new version brings some Mobile CAD love to the Android Fanboys (and Fangirls.)

If you are new to AutoCAD WS Mobile, don't worry.  Autodesk has provided a nice little tutorial on how to use it on your Android device.

AutoCAD WS on Android is not the only new item on the list, the browser based version (the full version) has some new add functionality to it.  (from the AutoCAD WS Website)

• Anywhere Storage - Now you can connect your AutoCAD WS web and mobile account to a variety of storage sites. Click on the following tutorials to learn how to connect to: Buzzsaw, Box.net, Dropbox (via DropDAV),MobileMe, Egnyte and even your own Fille server or SharePoint site. 

• Plot-to-PDF/DWFx -- You can now create PDF or DWFx files from your DWG files for plotting or sharing with others. 

• PDF Support -- You are now able to open markup and share a PDF in AutoCAD WS in the same way as a DWG file.

AutoCAD WS already had the ability to save files in the cloud, its own cloud.  This new "Anywhere Storage" functionality means that you will always have access to your files, even if you can't get to AutoCAD WS, or if you loose connection to the internet.  Log in to your AutoCAD WS account and open the Drawings Tab (it's on the left side of the screen.)  Click the CONNECT button.  This opens the "Connect to Service" window.  Click the down arrow icon next to the URL field to populate a list of typical cloud based systems.  Pick the service you plan on using (Buzzsaw, Box.net, Dropbox, and more) and fill out your username/password, etc.

If you are going to use Dropbox with AutoCAD WS, you will need to set up an account with DropDAV.  Once you've done that you can use Dropbox.

Autodesk releases AutoCAD WS 1.2 - Import Inventor Files

Autodesk has released the next version of AutoCAD WS, version 1.2.  This new update is available for download in Apple’s App Store at this link.

(This video demonstrates the new features in AutoCAD WS 1.2)

It is also available in a web browser (for all of you non iOS designers) at www.autocadws.com .

AutoCAD WS 1.2 has several major updates; Inventor Support, Multi Language Support, and several feature enhancements.

If you are an inventor user and want to share your model with AutoCAD WS users, export your file to a DWG format and share it with AutoCAD WS.  It will seamlessly upload for collaborative sharing, editing and viewing.  The language update means that AutoCAD WS is now available in nine languages; English, Japanese, Chinese, Korean, Spanish, Portuguese, French, German and Italian.

There are also several feature updates.  One of the biggest is layout support.  Users can now go to model space in shared files.  The Free Line tool has been improved so that its width can be set.  It can also be set to sketch mode where users can draw, well, anything.  Copy/Paste now works with a double tap to select an object to copy it, cut or paste.  Units (inches or feet) can now be displayed as such if the files units have been set.  Why wouldn’t they be set?

AutoCAD WS is a great collaboration tool that has been used by over 900,000 designers (according to Autodesk.)  It keeps getting better and I fully expect it to become a very powerful design tool in the future.  If you haven’t tried it out, do.  It’s free, it’s simple, and you already know how to use it.  All we need now is for it to be available on other mobile platforms (like WebOS.)

Autodesk and HP WebOS - A "What If" Scenario

I confess; I am an Autodesk and an HP WebOS fanboy.  I love AutoCAD and my Palm Pre.  Hewlett Packard (HP) bought Palm last year when it looked as if all was lost.  I’ve purchased and used many Palm products, many HP products and many Autodesk products in my time.  I like them.  They work.  They are industry standards.  Now that Palm is part of the HP family, I expect even better things from them.
 
Hp has a problem with Palm’s mobile operating system, WebOS.  It’s not popular.  We all struggle with popularity at some point (or many points) in our lives, but when you are trying to sell a product or service popularity amongst your client base is a must.  The more popular you are the more purchases will be made. 

Autodesk has been around for over 25 years.  AutoCAD is very popular.  It is also very expensive.  Autodesk has a popularity problem too.  People only know AutoCAD.  Autodesk has scores of products, but many people only know of AutoCAD and they don’t know that AutoCAD belongs to a company called Autodesk.

HP and Autodesk have similar popularity problems.  Both companies want to sell more products.  Both companies have partnered up before.  HP had a big presence at Autodesk University this year, as well as in several years past.  They need to partner up again, but on the mobile front.

Autodesk has ventured into the mobile “CAD” market with great success.  They started out with a mobile version of Sketchbook on iOS for the iPhone, and then migrated it over to the iPad.  They now have a version for Android.  Fantastic!  There is even a Sketchbook “O” version in which Autodesk partnered up with Oprah Winfrey in order to reach a new market.  That’s not all that Autodesk has done, “mobily“ speaking.  They have also released a free mobile app that allows you to view Autodesk Inventor models.  Their best mobile venture to date has to be AutoCAD WS.  Yes, they have a version of AutoCAD for mobile devices that also works in a browser.  It is not AutoCAD, but it can read and write AutoCAD files.  Its main purpose is collaboration.  Multiple users can view the same file at the same time, save their work and go on about their lives.  AutoCAD WS is fantastic.  Best part of it is that it is free!
 

HP purchased Palm in order to get their hands on WebOS.  I don’t blame them.  It is a great mobile platform.  It is so good that RIM has emulated many of WebOS’ features in their new tablet, the Playbook.  In fact, according to early reports, Apple is also emulating WebOS features in iOS 5.  HP has many great products; desktops, laptops, tablets, printers, plotters, etc.  With the purchase of Palm they can apply WebOS to any of these platforms.  Imagine a standard operating system platform across many machines that we all use every day.  That allows products to communicate with each other or to at least get along with and share files more seamlessly.  It now seems that HP is getting ready to release new WebOS based smart phones, a new tablet and even new netbooks!  What they are missing are applications.  Why go with the iPhone or Android?  There are thousands of applications that they can use.  WebOS barely has 5000!  That’s a problem.

Autodesk has a problem being known by the average user.  HP has a problem with a lack of applications.  What if these two technology behemoths got together once again?  It wouldn’t be unprecedented.  They have worked together for many years and both have shown that they are willing to work with others for mutual benefit.  I propose that HP and Autodesk get together and create WebOS native applications based on the software Autodesk has already created.  Imagine, a brand new HP Netbook that has WebOS and AutoCAD WS running on it out of the box for every consumer to devour!  Why not get Autodesk to make the first Revit or Inventor app or 3DS Max app for WebOS.  They can make it for the other mobile platforms but make WebOS the first stop from now on.  HP gives AutoCAD a little something for it of course and HP gets to be first, and best. 

The average consumer, the DIY’s, contractors, designers of all types could use a mobile device (phone, tab, or netbook) in which they can use AutoCAD WS and/or Sketchbook.  It’s a huge market for both companies.  Autodesk, HP, think about it.  Give it a shot.  It’s a win for you and for the user.

Meet the AutoCAD WS Team in San Francisco

If you have downloaded or logged on and used AutoCAD WS and have formed an opinion about it, Autodesk is interested in your thoughts.  If you will be in San Francisco, California, USA on October the Seventh, then here is your chance to meet with the AutoCAD WS Team to share your thoughts.  Go to the AutoCAD WS blog and fill out their survey.

Have you used AutoCAD WS?  What are your thoughts?  How will you use it?  What did they do right?  What did they do wrong?  Why?  I can't wait to hear your ideas.