Ditek Software is a Canadian CAD company, which has been creating software
products since 1985, such as DynaCAD and DynaDesigner. A couple of years
ago, the former head of Autodesk Canada was hired to aggresively promote
Ditek's products. Several vertical market deals were announced. Last year,
Ditek dramatically cut the price of its CAD software. Now, it is proposing
to rename itself HomeProject.com, and change its business model. [Hmmm...
does this history sound like IMSI?]
Says ceo Amnon Zohar: "HomeProject.com is Ditek's response to the design
on the Web. Ditek Software has a powerful legacy in the graphics industry,
which we will leverage to make HomeProject.com the choice for home improvement
consumers on the Web."
Its Web site at http://www.homeproject.com
will offer homeowners info on how to plan, design, visualize, and complete
home improvement projects. When HomeProject.com is launched later in February,
it'll have 30 original garden designs, several original kitchen design
articles, and 5,000 home designs from www.HomeStyles.com. The site will
also provide advice, materials sourcing, and delivery.
MGI Software is providing Ditek a perpetual license for its Zoom technology
(which allows a Web visitor to zoom in on a image for a closer look: http://www.livepicture.com),
and software like Reality Studio, Photo Vista, PhotoSuite, and Album Publisher.
In addition, Ditek will be selling its own CAD software at the site.
Intel says it will soon preview its 1GHz Pentium III operating at room
temperature. AMD this week showed its 1.1GHz Athelon CPU. Both say they
will ship their 1GHz CPUs by year's end. Until now, a 1GHz CPU was only
possible using fluid cooling.
IBM researchers have developed CPUs that run at 3.3GHz to 4.5GHz in
the lab, and will be available to end-users three to four years from now.
[How far we have come from our 4.77MHz 8088 CPUs! My rule of thumb is
to upgrade my computer when the CPU speed triples. That means I'll have
to wait for the 1.2GHz CPU for my next purchase, then wait for the 3.6GHz
CPU.]
Intel's Timna CPU will be a 600Hz version of Celeron integrated with a graphics chip and a memory controller. [Integrating the graphics chip is a controversial move for Intel, since it could kill off graphics board vendors -- sort of like Microsoft integrating a Web browser in Windows.]
"Many companies are discovering that their 3D product development processes
and environments are growing increasingly complex. Significant problems
tend to arise, as workgroups are located in different facilities, don't
possess a mechanical engineering background or have incompatible CAD tools.
To stay competitive, there is a growing need to collaborate or work together
with a variety of work groups involved in the product development process.
Some vendors are beginning to provide solutions that help workgroups collaborate
on 3D design data originating from different 3D CAD or PDM systems.
"Please help us understand your collaboration needs as well as your
opinions on how vendors might help with this problem by completing a short
5-minute survey being conducted by an independent market research firm.
The survey is completely anonymous and no sales person will call on you.
"To take the survey, please click here: http://206.168.226.220/pollquestions/srg5
"Key survey results will be published in the next edition of upFront.eZine."
Struc Plus recently signed a
'Red Hat' agreement with MS/Visio (much the same as Bricsnet has) to handle
the commercial release of IntelliCAD 2000 in Australia, New Zealand and
SE Asia. A free technical support line is at 1-800-223-236.
Struc Plus Pty Ltd has already made a commercial release of Struc Plus
IntelliCAD 2000 available to the local market. A number of licensed components,
however, have not been included since the agreements are yet to be finalized
with the component vendors. The software is available in English only.
As part of the above agreement, Struc Plus has committed to releasing
a free patch to all existing users of Struc Plus IntelliCAD 2000, which
will include the current development (bug fixes) and licenced components
(conditional upon the agreements being finalized) before the end of March.
Struc Plus bundles their SPTools drafting utilities with every sale,
upgrade, or cross-grade of IntelliCAD 2000.
There was no press release from Autodesk, but client newsletters published
by dealers made it front-page news. On 1 Feb, Autodesk increased the prices
it charges dealers, effectively increasing the cost to customers. The
McNeel News gives the following example: their selling price for AutoCAD
2000 goes from US$2,695 up to US$2,995. McNeil's R14-2000 upgrade price
increases from US$375 to US$445. http://www.mcneel.com
As reported earlier in upFront.eZine, Autodesk has decreased
the "sales radius" for many dealers, from 250 miles down to 125 miles --
a 75% reduction in area. The effect has been for dealers to open additional
offices.
In addition, Autodesk has discontinued its MCAD Marketing Newsgroup. "Autodesk has determined that use of the MCAD Marketing newsgroup had become too broad for suitable response and management. All future MCAD related sales and marketing issues, including features and wishlists, policies and pricing should be directed to your Autodesk Authorized Reseller and/or Autodesk sales representative."
The new trend in marketing is to create a mystery Web site. Examples include www.GetTogetherNow.com, 206.168.226.220/pollquestions/srg5, www.SecretOfEdm.com, and www.WhatIsTheSecretOfEdm.com. The "get together" site is for Project Bank from Bentley Systems. Three CAD editors recently chatted about ProjectBank:
Randall Newton is the editor MicroStation Manager: "I
am in the middle of editing a ProjectBank article for my Feb issue, and
the thought hit me 'I wonder if Autodesk's big accounts are asking for
ProjectBank features? If so, how many and how loudly?'
"Have you heard any scuttlebutt in the AutoCAD universe that could
be defined as ProjectBank envy? Perhaps there won't be any until MicroStation
users have been able to take advantage of it for a while. Or, perhaps,
this will become an example of a defining moment, when Autodesk and MicroStation
don't worry about each other's feature list, and they begin to take separate
paths."
Ralph Grabowski (editor of this and AutoCAD User) replies: "Zero reaction. For the most part, AutoCAD users don't know that MicroStation exists. Autodesk is apparently working on a ProjectBank-like product. Volo View is the first, lowest-end result."
Martyn Day (editor of CADDesk for AutoCAD users) replies: "I agree with Ralph. AutoCAD users either don't know MicroStation exists or think that MicroStation users are 'poor cousins', at worst 'slightly deluded'(the old PC/Mac divide kind of thing). They certainly wouldn't know what MicroStation is capable of, and ProjectBank would mean nothing."
"Mastering Today's AutoCAD" events will be held Feb 16 Cincinnati OH, Feb 23 Richmond VA, Feb 25 Detroit MI, and Feb 28 Indianapolis IN. http://www.awarenesslearning.com
Alias|Wavefront
StudioTools 9.5 is a new version of 3D computer-aided industrial design
(CAID) software family, and will be available in March with 100 new features.
StudioTools includes DesignStudio, Studio, AutoStudio and SurfaceStudio.
Autodesk
Actrix Technical 2000 began shipping last Thursday.
CoCreate
Perot Systems will serve
as an ASP for CoCreate's OneSpace collaboration technology, the first CAD-independent,
3D collaboration software for mechanical design teams.
D-Cubed
Collision Detection Manager technology has been incorporated into SolidDesigner
2000 from CoCreate Software. The software identifies problematic assembly
configurations at an early stage in the design process.
Delcam
PS-Estimator is a a new estimating package to help mouldmakers produce
quotes quickly and accurately. As well, a new design data collection module
for its PowerSHAPE CAD system, called PS-Arm, allows point data collected
using an inspection arm to be used as the basis for designs.
Digital Cameras
Canon, Nikon, and Olympus this week showed their new 3.3-megapixel
digital cameras, while FujiFilm goes extreme with a 4.3-megapixel camera,
which works out to 2,400x1,800 resolution photos. [I find the resolution
of my 1.9-megapixel Epson digital camera adequate. This creates a 1600x1200-resolution
image that takes up about 550KB in mildly compressed JPEG format; those
4.2-megapixel images would take up 1.2MB each.]
DotSoft
ToolPac v5 has over one hundred additions including AutoCAD annotation
tables; attribute grid editor; block definition editor; block reinsert;
arc aligned labels; draworder by layer; delete duplicates; flatten AutoCAD
objects; and unique text controls.
Eagle Point Software
Eagle Point 2000 is the name of Eagle Point Software's software for
the civil engineering and surveying fields. New features include command
line COGO; multiple users can access and work on the same project at the
in a networked environment; and multiple drawing documents. In addition,
major enhancements have been made to the Storm Sewers and Sanitary Sewers
modules.
Haestad Methods
Software e-demos of their civil engineering software are available
from http://www.haestad.com/e-demos. For technical questions about e-demos
contact mailto:e-demos@haestad.com
Hitachi Software Global Technology
AutoSymbol Version 2.0 feature extraction software for AutoCAD R14,
and represents an entirely new architecture.
Intergraph
Dassault Systemes and Intergraph are forming an alliance to provide
integrated solutions (covering ship engineering, manufacturing, maintenance,
and life cycle processes within a single, integrated environment) to the
global shipbuilding industries. Intergraph's data-centric engineering design
applications include GSCAD (Global Shipbuilding Computer Aided Design)
software. Dassault provides CATIA shipbuilding applications, DENEB manufacturing,
and ENOVIA psoftware. http://www.dsweb.com/press/part/intergraph-va.htm
JW Graphics
Cad Publisher v1.6 is now available for download from http://www.jwgraphics.com.au.
The software processes DXF files into PostScript, Adobe Illustrator, Acrobat
PDF, and EPS formats in monochrome, color or color separations. With version
1.6, TrueType, Type 1, and SHX fonts can be used in the input and output
files.
Moldflow
Release 2.0 of Moldflow Plastics Xpert is the first expert system for
optimizing the manufacture of injection molded plastic parts.
Ove Arup & Partners
Information on a free document management system called 'Columbus'
is available http://www.arup.com/columbus.
Columbus is said to be different from classical document management tools
since it can be used to managed both internal data and data out on a project
Extranet site.
SDRC
The power transmission and distribution group of Siemens is standardizing
on I-DEAS and Metaphase Enterprise software and related services at 8 out
of its 9 divisions.
TenLinks.Com
Adding to its Ultimate CAD Directory, tenlinks.com is adding a series
of directories: The Ultimate CAE Directory was added in January; the Ultimate
GIS Directory is being developed, as is the Mechanical Engineering Directory.
Theorem Solutions
Data eXchange Navigator (DXN; US$2,500) is a data conversion tool providing
a hierarchical breakdown of the product structure definition for assembly
modeling, EDM, and PDM applications. DXN works with CADDS5, CATIA, I-DEAS,
Unigraphics, STEP AP203 and STEP AP214. Support includes read and write
capability of product structure, non-graphical attributes, and geometric
data.
UGS
Unigraphics Solutions announced PS/Bodyshop,
a new application that detects and corrects defects in imported geometric
models using "healing."
Graphic chip maker 3Dfx Interactive has fired 130 people (20%) to cut costs.
Corel will acquire Inprise/Borland in $2.44 billion in stocks. [The
very first software product I ever bought was Borland's Turbo Pascal 1.0
for the Victor 9000 computer.]
Credit Suisse First Boston thinks Autodesk shares will be worth US$46
in six months.
Spatial announced that overall revenue for the fiscal year was up 4%
to US$14,900,000 versus US$14,350,000 for the prior year.
http://www-4d-technologies.com/techcenter
The Tech Center
Over 250 AutoLISP programming functions in 18 categories for free download.
http://www.pcworld.com/pcwtoday/article/0,1510,15127,00.html
When Linux Flunks Drivers Ed
This PC World article discusses the "Patented Technology Doesn't
Want to Be Free" problem, which makes it harder to develop hardware drivers
for Linux.
http://www.byte.com/printableArticle?doc_id=BYT20000127S0002
"It Was Gates..."
by Wendy Goldman Rohm, Byte magazine
http://www.theregister.co.uk/000126-000014.html
Windows 2000 Slower than Windows NT, Part II
Additional details on how Microsoft got ZD Labs to run NT slower than
Windows 2000.
Sat 9 Jan (cont'd) -
I am pleased that -- bit by bit -- I am getting more of Linux working
to my liking. It's an exciting time, like the early days of personal computers
(1983 for me), the early days of Web browsing (1994 for me), and the early
days of the PalmPilot (1996).
I am stalled, though, in my exploration. My son is spending hours on
Civilization, the game included with Corel Linux. The 3D game runs in full-screen
mode, at 1280x1024 resolution. Despite the father-son clash over who gets
to use the Linux computer, I am impressed. He has figured out how to exit
Windows and start Linux on his own. Plus, he gets to boast to his geek
friends at school that he is running Linux.
Mon 10 Jan -
I'm back to tinkering with Linux. I am midly annoyed that I can't figure
out some things. I am grateful for the half-dozen upFront.eZine subscribers
who have offered to help. But there is a catch: each of them uses a different
dialect of Linux; none use Corel Linux, so they can't help. I got a free
copy of "Linux for Dummies" from http://alpha-processor.com but it is of
no help, since it ignores KDE. "The Fun and Easy Way to Make Linux Work
for You" -- not!
That was the Achilles Heel of Unix: no common dialect. By the time
the Unix industry got its act together to unify Unix, Windows had taken
over. I fear Linux may suffer the same fate -- even if it is "free."
I've launched the "My Life with Linux" Web site at http://www.upfrontezine.com/linux, which provides the following information:
Re: HOOPS is graphics development component for ... CadKey from CadKey.
"This press release is misleading. HOOPS is not currently the graphics
development component in Cadkey. It will be in the future. Cadkey currently
uses the Vibrant Graphics engine."
- Jon Banquer
"As a CAD developer, I am a regular reader of upFront. I found the magazine
is very informative and entertaining. In particular, I enjoyed very much
your 'Life with Linux" articles. Before reading your magazine, I though
most CAD-related readings are boring. You have definitely changed my view.
Keep up the good job."
- Ken, A CAD developer from Down Under
"I think the eZine is warming up quite nicely. I particularly like the
coverage of Linux and the Icad vs. Acad scene. Both are very intriguing
topics in the current software world."
- Risto Saarikko
"Accumulation of wealth has no purpose."
- Former Netscape ceo Jim Barksdale