Worst Blogger Ever!!

Back in April, I went to San Francisco for an Autodesk sponsored Blogger Day. I got to spend a couple of days with 

Lynn Allen, 

John Evans, 

Luciana Klein, 

Robert Green, 

Shaan Hurley,

Robin Caper,

Paul Munford,

Curt Moreno,

RK McSwain,

And my only friend named Vladimir.....Vladimir Michl

I never posted any pictures... until now. Here they are folks.

 Vladimir, Robin, me, and Shaan on the ferry

 Luciana Klein

 Paul Munford

 Robin Caper

 Luciana Klein

 Shaan at the orange door

Luciana Klein enters the porthole

 Robert Green, Robin Caper, and Vladimir Michl

 This is Lynn Allen's back, see the close up of her coffee cup below.

Lynn rhymes with Ken

New Version of AutoCAD

The web is buzzing about the new versions of Autodesk software, and I have to admit that I am very excited myself. My biggest excitement at the moment is hanging with a great group of fellow Bloggers in San Francisco as we prepare for the official launch.

Thanks to Lynn Allen for picking up the dinner tab and making sure nobody got left out.

Thanks to Shaan Hurley for the best advice of the evening. "Don't Google "meat turtle".

Melanie Perry for being the kindest person ever.

Robin Capper for giving us the inside scoop on The IT Crowd.

Robert Green for getting me to the restaurant.

and R.K. McSwain, Curt Moreno, John Evans, Paul Munford, Vladimir Michl, and Luciana Klein for sharing a great meal and drinks.

I Instantly Like It. Autodesk Instant

Today Autodesk launched Instant in North America.

Instant allows connected teams and co workers communicate and exchange messages, photos, video, and location. 


Colleagues can initiate conversations with anyone in their address book, or any other colleague who has verified their email with the app.

Autodesk seems to be continually exploring ways to increase collaboration among distributed workforces. So, can many professional industry customers who need improved mobile project-based collaboration benefiting from this tool? I think it pulls things together that already exist and puts them into a single place. Getting people to gravitate to it is the trick. having everything I need in a single location, that might just do the trick. 

Autodesk Instant should also benefit business by providing a cheaper alternative to SMS; and corporate administration controls and integration access to web tools will be added in future versions of the app.

Search for it on the App store and Google play.

It will also benefit you to have a not ancient mobile device. Since it relies on cutting edge technology, older devices may not support it.

I am jumping on board, come on and find me.

360 Support for Apple Air

Who is very busy these days? Our friends at Autodesk. This just came off the presses last night.

AutoCAD 360 Optimized for iPad Air and iPad mini with Retina Display and AutoCAD 2014 for Mac is here!

Autodesk is excited to report that Autodesk AutoCAD 360 is the first professional software app that is optimized for the iPad Air & iPad mini with Retina Display. The new Apple-designed A7 chip with 64-bit desktop-class architecture provides designers and engineers a much improved experience out of the gate when working with AutoCAD 360.

“We are thrilled to be the first professional application to be ready for prime time iPad Air and iPad mini with Retina display. From a user’s perspective, navigating and editing large models will be snappier and much more fun,” said Jonathan Seroussi, director of AutoCAD web and mobile. “Users will see an immediate improvement in a number of functions such as rendering – render time is twice as fast in both navigation and editing.”

In addition to faster rendering, opening drawings is much faster, and selection is also twice as fast.

AutoCAD 360 is one of the most popular and widely used Autodesk mobile apps, with more than 5.5 million downloads on the App Store, more than 40 million uploaded drawings, and there are more than 1 million active monthly users on iOS alone.

AutoCAD 360, optimized for iPad Air and iPad mini with Retina display, will be available on the App Store.

On the new iPad, AutoCAD 360 opens files faster, and rendering and selection is also twice as fast.

AutoCAD 360’s compatibility with the new iPad is the latest evidence of the company’s ongoing commitment to development on Apple platforms. In addition to optimizing the user experience for the new iPad, Autodesk has already updated seven of its mobile apps to take advantage of iOS7. Users can now experience enhanced functionality with AutoCAD 360, BIM 360 Field, BIM 360 Glue, Sketchbook Mobile, 123D Creature Show, InfraWorks mobile and Pixlr on iOS7.

MAC-tastic Upgrade!

From my super secret inside sources at Autodesk, this picture... 

and the following facts...

AutoCAD 2014 for Mac is Here!

Further demonstrating the company’s commitment to Apple platforms, it announced that Autodesk AutoCAD 2014 for Mac and Autodesk AutoCAD LT for Mac are available immediately. 

Support for Apple’s Retina display, synchronization with Autodesk 360 and other enhancements make AutoCAD 2014 for Mac the most powerful 2D & 3D CAD application for Mac. AutoCAD 2014 for Mac is one of the first major professional software applications to support Apple’s new retina display, which delivers a superior user experience.  AutoCAD 2014 for Mac also boasts major improvements such as synchronization with the Autodesk 360 cloud platform, Package Drawing (like eTransmit on Windows) and overall performance enhancements and UI improvements.

“AutoCAD for Mac users are extremely passionate, and we have worked hard to incorporate their top requests and feedback into this release,” said Amy Bunszel, vice president of AutoCAD products at Autodesk. “Customers will find the overall experience much faster and cleaner, enabling designers to be more efficient and collaborative with their teams.” 

The enhancements in both AutoCAD 2014 for Mac and AutoCAD LT 2014 for Mac are the result of rigorous development work to give customers a better experience and connect them to the Autodesk 360 platform, giving customers access to cloud-based storage and collaboration capabilities.  Other enhancements include:

Retina Display Support: AutoCAD now fully supports Apple’s stunning, high-definition Retina display experience throughout the user interface with crisper lines and text, easier-to-see tools, and a much higher level of detail even at high zoom levels.

Drawing Sync: Directly access files from Autodesk 360 and synchronize them between your computer and the cloud.

Package Drawing: Similar to eTransmit in AutoCAD for Windows, Package Drawing allows users to quickly collect related files into a compressed folder for easy distribution or storage.

Online Help: We’ve made major changes to help find the assistance.

Default Save--‐as--‐Previous Version: It's now possible to set a default save-as version for  drawings.

Software Security Enhancements: AutoCAD 2014 for Mac enhances software security and helps prevent loading and running of unauthorized or malicious AutoLISP applications.

Happy Birthday AutoCAD!

You might have to down load this image for yourself to see it in all it's glory.

All the same, Happy Birthday AutoCAD!

Autodesk AppHack at AU

Autodesk is hosting the first AppHack at Autodesk University Las Vegas this year. There are great prizes for the top 13 AutoCAD compatible apps including a $5000 first prize. 

To be considered, make a 5-min (or less) video that demonstrates the capabilities of the new app/plugin, the work needs to be submitted to this Buzzsaw repository, complete the Competition Participation Agreement, and if selected as a finalist – perform a live demo of the app at AU!

The contest has officially started and they are accepting submissions until November 14, 2012 @ 11:59 pm (PST). Please reference this site for more information.

Qontext is now part of Autodesk

Autodesk just announced that it acquired the Qontext Social Collaboration Platform. You can plan on seeing it used to expand the social capabilities of its products and of Autodesk's cloud-based service, Autodesk 360 and enable new social functionalities. 

Add to this the recently announced new features in AutoCAD WS; 

• 8M+ downloads 
• A real-time activity feed 
• Comment organization within a design 
• The ability to add and tag new stakeholders in a conversation 
• Photos pinning to specific locations within drawings

It is becoming clear that the way we communicate is evolving, probably quicker than some traditional design firms may be prepared for. For some reason that made me think of the old typing exercise....

The quick red fox jumped over the lazy brown dog.

Autodesk's New Product Support Framework

Autodesk has a new Product Support Framework.  The goal is to provide high value, predictable support services and tailored support services for customers tailored to their individual needs whether they are part of a large enterprise account, small or medium business or single professional.

You can learn more about the program by visiting www.autodesk.com/support, but the key things to be aware of in this new structure include:

New Advanced Support (an enhanced version of the previously-named Autodesk Gold Support offering) provides Autodesk Subscription customers:

Priority access to one-to-one phone support.

• Remote desktop assistance
• On-demand training webcast
• Application programming interface (API) support
• Expedited community forum support

Autodesk Basic Support is included with Autodesk Subscription. It is designed for customers needing a minimal level of product support. It provides unlimited access to a comprehensive knowledge base and moderated community support forums.

Autodesk Per-Incident Support is designed for Autodesk customers wanting access to Autodesk technical phone support on an as-needed basis, for most products in the Autodesk portfolio. Customers are charged a one-time fee for each incident, even if multiple calls are required to resolve the incident. It is available globally, for most products, and can be sold by Autodesk resellers.

More options for Autodesk Resellers

• Resellers now have the option to resell Autodesk support or provide their own support.  
• Product Support Specialization for resellers enables them to escalate cases to Autodesk.

Click on the image below to see a full break down of offerings.

AU 2011 Classes Now Available Online

If you went in person or just virtually, you can now virtually relive the event or check out the classes you missed.

• AU Virtual classes are available to all AU members.
• AU 2011 Las Vegas attendees, Autodesk Subscription customers, and Autodesk employees with an Autodesk email address can access all class recordings and class materials from AU 2011 Las Vegas.
• AU members who did not attend AU 2011 Las Vegas can access class handouts, datasets, and other class documents, but not class recordings.
• Class recordings and class materials from AU 2009 and 2010 are available to all AU members

If you meet the requirements... go check it out.

AutoCAD WS is on Fire

Gosh, I hope I am the first to use that pun.

Autodesk just announced that AutoCAD WS is now also available for Kindle Fire through the Amazon App Store, allowing users to take designs with them anywhere. Use the Kindle Fire to view drawings, edit them and share them with colleagues. Also, you look really cool and less fortunate geeks will be jealous.

Ask Santa for a Kindle Fire and then download the app.

Final Thoughts on Autodesk University 2011

I am already missing all my AU friends old and new. I am not missing the sound of slot machines. Especially the one that yells out "Wheel! Of! Fortune!" at the airport. Tom and Brian from Virginia agree.

Other ways to know you are in Las Vegas.... Well you see a giant ad like this one in the airport!

I have to admit that I am still a little curious about what a "grease gun" is.

All that being said, mark you calendars, the place and time is set for next year.

Last Day of AU

Well, a lot of really cool things happened to me at Autodesk University this year.

I saw Lynn Allen. She turned and went the other way before I could say something stupid like "duh... I like AutoCAD too!" Thanks for that Lynn.

Santa Claus was looking at using Autodesk Inventor to crank up toy production. I am happy to report that only I am on the naughty list. My kids need only hold it together for a few more weeks in order to stay on the Nice list.

I ran into Kate Morrical author of LT Unlimited and said "Duh... I like AutoCAD LT too!" She was very nice and let me get a picture before enforcing that restraining order.

Lastly, a co-worker and I decided to go for broke and take the Revit Architecture Certification exams today.

I am proud to announce that we are both Revit Architecture 2012 Certified Professionals. Here is a picture of Andrea nailing it.

With all that, I have one more class, a nice meal, a short sleep and a plane ride home tomorrow. 


Next year, you come too and will get that picture with Lynn Allen.

The Exhibit Hall

On Wednesday I finally hit the Exhibit hall. As usual there was a ton of activity and lots to see. The annual beer bust was going on which tends to liven things up. I think I met everybody that works for IMAGINiT.

I met Martha Hollowell, who happens to write the book on everything for Ascent. I mean Architecture, MEP, Structural and CAD/BIM Management (AutoCAD and Revit based) books. Truly, an amazing woman.


Randy Swaim and Christal Vandecar were holding down the fort at the Eastcoast CAD booth. They showed me some awesome tools for converting Revit MEP files to AutoCAD MEP so they can be customized and sent to be manufactured.


My long time friend and one time boss, Lonnie Cumpton was burning the midnight oil over at the BIM9 booth.


Todd Saemisch at the Lighting Analysts booth, blew my mind with thier tool to do point by point lighting calculations directly in Revit using the same engine developed for AGI.


Oliver Turan was showing off Cad technology Centers' Revit Express Tools.


Steve Martin of CAD Works has a great story to tell with BIM Xchange 4.0.


On top of all that, (and there was very much more) they were giving out corn dogs and popcorn!


Best night of the event, hands down.

From the Press Lounge - Tuesday at AU

This year at AU is a little different for me. Normally I am fretting about a class I am teaching the whole time, but this year I am fretting about blogging about the event as a member of the media.


I have to say it has its perks. Number one, I have access to Dr. Pepper and the internet in the Media Lounge.


So to wrap up Tuesday, I ended up meeting with more great friends and attending some great classes. Ask the Experts was an interesting class because it was not really a class.

A bunch of smarty-pants types, put themselves on the line and had a room of almost 200 try and stump them on anything we couldn't figure out. This is especially brave considering the room was full of smarty-pants.


Seeing the people I only get to see at AU brings back memories from AUs past. Below is a hat that I got in 2004 at the very first AU that I presented a class on how to make MV Parts in ABS. I was terrified.

Its good to see you again;

• Tom Glidewell - Thanks for the drink ticket
• Doug Bowers
• Bill Zavadil
• Beau Turner
• Matt Mason

Welcome to AU 2011

It's on! Really just the start, but I have already learned a ton and reconnected with friends that I only get to see at these events.

Melanie Perry is the coolest person to just talk to about geeky things and books.

Joe Eichenseer from IMAGINiT is simply the smartest person I know.

Bob Palioca from ideate has the most intersting ideas about data and the future.

Carl Bass had a great slide in the opening address.

I think this year is all about fireing us up on technology and the ideas that anything is possible for anybody. PCs are cheap, sensors are cheap, data is available... what we should do with it is up to us.

You got to love being empowered to go out and change the world!

Gearing Up for AU 2011

It's a short week and I am settling all the details for my trip to Vegas. I have lots of appointments with vendors and Autodesk people, and I am looking forward to posting all about it. I hope to have some real interesting and insightful conversations and hopefully a scoop or two on what Autodesk is up to.


If there is something you would like to have me find out about while I am at the conference, please comment on this post and I will do my best to make it happen. If you are in Vegas next week, I'll be the geek with glasses. Stop me and say "Hi".

AutoCAD for MAC and AutoCAD WS Updates

Well, it's been a very exciting day, and the fun isn't over yet. I have just received word of some updates to today's new about AutoCAD for MAC.


The date for AutoCAD WS for Mac availability has changed by one day – it will be available for download from the Mac App Store on Thursday, August 18^, 2011.  AutoCAD for Mac 2012 will still be available on the 19^th, and AutoCAD LT for Mac is available now.


If you want to be notified of when AutoCAD LT for Mac is available in your country, tyou can fill out this form: www.autodesk.com/ltformac-notifyme


And finally, in addition to our big “Mac” news announced today, we are excited to also to know a new release of AutoCAD WS (version 1.3) is being released! This version synchronizes the updates across all our platforms—mobile and web—so you’ll see the same features no matter how you connect. AutoCAD WS for Mac app offers the same simple set of viewing, editing and markup tools as the mobile app, with the addition of the ability to download files and plot to PDF or DWF.  

New for AutoCAD WS Mobile 1.3

Units Typing – Numeric Entry: Draw and edit by entering exact units and measurements

File Management: Rename, duplicate, and delete files from your mobile device

Area measurement: Calculates the area and perimeter of the area you select.

Layer management: Toggle layers on/off or toggle layer visibility.

AutoCAD WS is also compatible with iOS 3.1 and higher so that you can run the AutoCAD WS

mobile app from an original iPhone 2G.

New in AutoCAD WS Web

Command line

 Hatch editor

Multi selection (200 items)

What is DE8.16N?

What is DE8.16N? Well since today is DE8.15N, I have a good feeling we will find out tomorrow via live Facecast at 10am PT. Go to www.facebook.com/AutoCAD or, watch it here on the LazyDrafter by clicking here.


Well now we know that today Autodesk Debuts AutoCAD for Mac 2012 Products Built for Mac OS X Lion.
See the official press release.

Heidi Hewett Hosts Facecast About Parametrics

Just another heads up about the next AutoCAD Facecast.  The team hopes to get to a point where we have at least one per week! 

Heidi Hewett Hosts Facecast About Parametrics

Wednesday, July 6 · 10:00am - 11:00am (Pacific)

The Facecast Tab http://autode.sk/kX9khB

AutoCAD Technical Marketing Manager, Heidi Hewett will review parametrics and take questions for our fans.

If you're unable to make it, the recorded version will be posted on Facebook shortly after.