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issue #553 : : april 1, 2008 |
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In this issue:
Number 6 Psychology, by Gordon Rigg
Out of the Inbox and the other regular columns. |
Write the editor. Make him smile! Through Paypal, consider donating $25 in support of upFront.eZine. Or else... We're trendy. We have a Weblog. WorldCAD Access. |
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A new phenom has developed: 1. Users finally get around to reading the end user licence
agreements accompanying software. Last week, Apple and Adobe did it:
After the overnight outcries, Apple changed the wording of Safari EULA, and Adobe is said to be changing it. Maybe corporate legal departments have become complacent: nobody reads EULAs, so it matters not what the paragraphs of text contain. 2007 H1B Database Search Clemson University records the number of H1B visa-holders in the USA. H1B allows US companies to employ foreign workers for 3 or 6 years in occupations that require a minimum of a bachelor's degree. (Canadians can work in the USA under similar conditions through the TC1 visa program.) For the CAD companies I checked, the number of H1B employees in 2007 were: Company No. Average salary Autodesk 75 $76,690 Link: career.clemson.edu/graduate_students/H1B/2007/ Number
6 Psychology Ask a group of people to pick a number between 1 and 10 (without them knowing each other's choice) and the most popular number will be 6, by a surprisingly big margin. Most folks don't want to seem extreme (by picking close to 1 or 9,) and somehow the middle number seems boring, and a bit higher than middle seems upbeat rather than depressed, and so 6 is the popular choice. So no surprise that 6 is the number chosen by bored people all at the same stage in their lives, eager to impress their friends but still wanting to "fit in" with the others. Sounds good doesn't it, and it may even turn out to be true. But I made it all up. Unlike engineering, popular psychology is easy! - - - April Day responds, "Are you fooling me?"
Dosch Design has many new 3D and VIZ image packages, including Agriculture Vehicles, Abstract Trees, and Business. www.doschdesign.com CADDIT announces progeCAM CNC 2008, which integrates progeCAD 2008 Standard and Dolphin PartMaster CNC. /www.caddit.net iCADsales.com releases ProgeARCH, architectural software for progeCAD IntelliCAD. No-charge eval from www.ICADSales.com Tesline-Service ships Rohos Logon Key 2.5, a two-factor authentication solution for Windows Vista, as well as XP, 2000, and 2003. 15-day trial from www.rohos.com/welcome-screen/rohos_welcome.exe ASCON Group updates KOMPAS-3D V9 SP2 for 3D solid parametric modeling, 2D drafting, design, and documentation. www.ascon.net VX updates VX to v13 with CAM enhancements. www.vx.com - - - These news items were posted during the last week at the WorldCAD Access blog < worldcadaccess.typepad.com>:
Hardware News ROMER's new 6- or 7-axis INFINITE 2.0 measuring arm includes kinematic probes, ergonomic wrist with integrated USB digital camera, and upgraded WiFi with a range up to 200 feet away. These arms are used as high precision probes for mobile measurement, inspection, and reverse engineering. www.ROMER.com
Seminars & Conferences International Abaqus Users' Conference is May 19–22 in Newport RI USA. www.simulia.com/AUC2008 2008 GeoTec Event is June 2-5 in Ottawa, Ontario, Canada. www.geoplace.com/gt Design for Manufacture and Assembly is June 10-11 in Providence RI USA. www.dfma.com/forum
People/Companies on the Move SolidWorks acquires Priware Limited, developer of CircuitWorks software, which links electronic CAD and mechanical CAD designs. think3 links up with Mahindra Engineering Services as a PLM implementation partner in India and the world. www.mahindraengineering.com ESRI has become a national reseller of Oce's large format color printers and multifunction copy/scan/print systems. Colortrac UK appoints Simon Wincott as their new International Technical Support Manager. Bentley Systems appoints Volker Mueller as research director for computational design in Bentley’s Applied Research group. Mr Mueller is the former design technology manager of NBBJ’s design technology group. Dassault Systemes appoints Scott Berkey as CEO of Simulia. Mr Berkey is the former vp of Simulia worldwide operations, and replaces Mark Goldstein, who continues part-time in an advisory capacity.
Market News Ansys pays US$832 million to acquire Ansoft, maker of microprocessor-design software. Jefferies & Co downgrades its recommendations for Autodesk and PTC stock: "Our most recent survey work and checks show a clear down-tick in business trends in North America. We are concerned that we will see further deterioration in demand trends going forward and a spill over into other geographies including Europe."
WorthWhile Web www.engadget.com/2008/03/27/nvidia-drivers-responsible-for-nearly-30-of-vista-crashes-in-20/
Letters to the Editor Re: Orange More Important Than Green "I do care, a lot I might add, about green. Every expense I now make comes after the reflection about the best choice green-wise. I buy less, I buy locally, I care about how things are made (that's my job too), and what is the global impact of m buying decisions. "I'm trying to have some training about the "PLM-for
real" < www.polymtl.ca/ciraig/pensee_e.html >.
I think a lot of people are now more aware of the real consequences
of their choices, but they are more informed too and they can see
that these claims by software companies are pure BS!"
"I know that this is actually a bit more important than you are letting on. I have read numerous books over the years that you have recommended so let me do one in return and it won't cost you a thing: http://www.earth-policy.org/Books/PB3/Contents.htm "It doesn't have much to do about CADD, but CADD can have
its impact on Green." The editor replies: "I work at home. That's green with a capital G."
"Maybe not [that security involves thinking wrong in order
to get it right]. Look at www.ranum.com/security/computer_security/editorials/dumb/
for an argument on why it's better to design it right than
to put on a black hat to think wrong."
"This is for your general interest regarding your last newsletter
on people feeling secure. Here is a link to a story on how a teacher
in NC is using Envisoneer to model schools for first response security.
See the 'Terror around the Corner' story. www.wjbf.com/midatlantic/jbf/news_index.apx.-content-articles-JBF-2008-02-15-0006.html
" - - - Re: Inventor LT Free One More Year "Unfortunately, here in Ireland, I cannot legally download Inventor LT. Can anyone shed any light on why Inventor LT is not available for free download over this side of the pond? Why is it only available in United States, Australia, Canada, and New Zealand? "Seems very unfair. Maybe they just don't like us over here." The editor replies: "The only excuse I can think of is localization. If Inventor is available in Ireland, then there should be no barrier to LT. The only reason I can think of is creating artificial scarcity in order to stimulate demand and buzz." Mr Smyth responds: "I checked with my local supplier and Inventor is indeed available for purchase. As for localisation, all four countries where it is available for download speak English -- as do we here in Ireland and most obviously, the UK too! Oh well. I guess it is just not to be!" - - - "I retired a few years ago and keep my hand in CAD drafting
and really enjoyed reading your news about the CAD companies."
Notable Quotable "The computers are too quick for people -- you still have
to have a human at the other end unloading the bags."
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