u p F r o n t . e Z i n e
t h e b u s I n e s s o f c a d
Issue #635 | March 2, 2010 | English Edition
< Previous Issue | Next Issue >
Write the editor. Make him smile! | Through PayPal, consider donating $25 in support of upFront.eZine. | We're trendy. We have a Weblog. Read WorldCAD Access. | Twitter us on @ralphg.
In This Issue
- How OTOY Technology Works
- Applying OTOY to SolidWorks
3. Out of the Inbox, and our other regular columns
OTOY's Cloud Technology
Dassault Systems SolidWorks frustrated the media at SolidWorks World 2010 by being vague on the technical details of their cloud-based CAD, despite it apparently being under development for three years. So I was happy to speak with Jules Urbach of OTOY, he the ceo of the company behind the curtain.
It was OTOY technology that powered the SolidWorks-in-the-cloud demo. OTOY uses a different approach from than of other technology providers, such as VisualTao (renamed PlanPlatform, renamed Autodesk Israel, recently acquired by Autodesk for its Project Butterfly for online co-editing of AutoCAD files).
The primary problem with running software on the cloud is latency -- the delay between the distant server and your computer. Latency is a function of bandwidth (how fast is the Internet connection?), distance (how far is the server from your computer?), resolution-quality of the screen images (how much data needs to be sent to your computer?), and the processing speed on the server (how quickly the data can be generated?).
Mr Urbach has been working on this problem for a decade, originally developing just such a system for playing video games over the Internet on behalf of entertainment companies like Nickelodeon. For the last couple of years, though, he's been working with AMD to deliver very high resolution images very quickly over even relatively slow connections -- which solves most of the problems associated with latency .
How OTOY Technology Works
The solutions are to (a) greatly compress images and (b) generate images at very high speeds on very low cost "computers." Compression is merely a software problem; the high-speed-but-cheap computing is made possible by AMD's new RV770 GPU with its 800 stream processing units and 2GB of 256-bit RAM boasting a bandwidth of 115GB/sec. "We're talking pennies per vector core doing parallel processing," Mr. Urbach told me.
The software-hardware combination can deliver real-time encoding of up to 3840x2160 resolution. For the more typical 1080p display, OTOY generates a frame every millisecond -- that's 1,000 frames per second. Indeed, he envisions running BluRay video from the cloud on iPhones and other devices, complete with all BluRay menuing systems.
The one problem he cannot completely solve is distance; it is desirable to keep latency under 16msec, for which the maximum distance should be about a thousand miles. But even with a server in San Francisco and the client in New York (3,000 miles), the delay is just 85msec; to Japan, about 100msec. He gets excited about the possibilities of applying his technology to ultrahigh bandwidth countries like Korea. (Companies like Akamai specialize in hosting replicated data in centers distributed around the world to cut latency for clients like CNN.)
For now, the technology works on Ajax, Flash, Java, or ActiveX but only on Windows, Windows Mobile operating systems, and ARM-based CPUs (used by iPhone, Palm, and so on) -- in a browser window or on the desktop like a regular app, complete with drag'n drop.
OTOY is working on versions for Macintosh, Linux, and Android. This explains the puzzle of why SolidWorks showed a slide with logos for all these operating systems, but then demo'ed SolidWorks running on Windows devices only.
Applying OTOY to SolidWorks
At SolidWorks World, the programmers at Dassault Systemes demonstrated a client-side app using APIs provided by OTOY. (The client-side app is the software that runs on your computer; its purpose is to communicate with OTOY's servers.) OTOY runs a copy of SolidWorks on a server, reacting to your command entry and screen interactions (mouse movements and clicks).
The screen display generated by the SolidWorks software is compressed very quickly and then transmitted to your computer. If you live sufficiently close and have a fast enough Internet connection, then it should feel as fast as running SolidWorks on your own desktop computer.
OTOY takes care of saving and retrieving the data associated with your 3D model, which could be located on Amazon's S3 cloud server or on a data farm hosted by Dassault Systemes. Mr. Urbach noted that a cloud-based SW would load and edit models quickly, because of the high-speed link between OTOY and S3 (or other servers on the Internet backbone) and the immense processing power on AMD Fusion Render Cloud servers.
It is conceivable that you could run full SolidWorks on an Android smartbook or iPhone -- and this may explain DS ceo Bernard Charles' excitement as he waved his iPhone about.
(The otoy.com Web site is not operating yet, but an initial version is due mid- March.)
Ad: CAD Software
Moving to 3D is easier than you think
As you consider the move to 3D, take a look at how easy the switch is.
In a few short minutes you'll learn the secrets of synchronous technology through short demonstrations, customer testimonials, and commentary from Dan Staples, Director of Solid Edge Development. Find out more here!
http://global.siemensplmevents.com/?elqPURLPage=382&stc=usiia420145
Or call 800-807-2200
ADSK FY 09 -26%
Autodesk last week had good news and bad news for those tracking its finances. The good news was so good it got announced over and over again: revenues are up sequentially! The bad was buried far down in a press release: year-over-year, revenues were down. Autodesk was hit hard by the recession, with revenues falling $600 million in one year -- down a massive 26%:
FY 2007: $1.8 billion
FY 2008: $2.2 billion
FY 2009: $2.3 billion
FY 2010: $1.7 billion
I don't know of any other company in the CAD business that suffered such a large drop. ANSYS, for instance, increased revenues by 6% in the same time period.
Looking at the results on a quarterly basis, Autodesk's revenues bottomed out in the middle of 2009, but by Q4 (ended Jan 31, 2010) were up 9%, sequentially. This was the good news that made the headline of its own press release and in the financial media.
Quarterly results are not usually measured sequentially, however. The reason is "seasonality," the natural variations that affect sales throughout the year in a somewhat predictable manner. For example, Q4 tends to be higher due to corporations pushing their sales outfits to goose sales in a last-minute bid to improve the fiscal year. This is why financial quarters are always compared with the same one a year earlier: using this standard approach, Autodesk Q4 revenues were down 7%.
Just as mid-2009 was Autodesk's low point revenue-wise, Q4 is now its high point. For Q1, the company expects revenue in the range of $420-$440 million -- down 6% sequentially, as Autodesk would put it. I expect their next press release will switch back to the "year over year" metric, as Q1 might be up as much as 2% over a year ago.
Autodesk cannot no longer count on a nice revenue bump in Q1 fom AutoCAD 2011 and other new software due to its shift from annual upgrades to subscriptions.
Ad: CAD Services
== High Fidelity 3D MCAD/DCC Conversion/Viewing/Rendering ==
For 21 years Okino has provided mission-critical 3D conversion software used extensively by tens of thousands of professionals. We convert between all major CAD, DCC & VisSim formats with full fidelity.
Email Robert Lansdale (lansd@okino.com) to discuss your exacting requirements. Popular requests for 2009: Sketch-Up, 3ds Max, Maya, XSI, DWF-3D, Inventor, Pro/E, SolidWorks, CATIA, BREP solids (IGES/STEP/Parasolid), 3D PDF/U3D, JT & Collada.
We know data translation and provide immaculate developer-to-customer relations. http://www.okino.com.
[633/634]
Out of the Inbox
IntegrityWare releases SOLIDS++ v5 geometric modeling kernel library with support for deformable NURBS, surface unwrapping, and an optimized mesh format with reduced memory overhead. Also includes new versions of the company's POPLib v9, MESHLib v9, and EXLib 2. http://www.integrityware.com
INUS Technology pre-announces the next release of its Rapidform XOR reverse engineering software for SolidWorks, Pro/ENGINEER, Siemens NX, and AutoCAD. The software creates parent-child relationships, not just surfaces. Due to ship in April. http://www.rapidform.com
All modules of AX3000 software from ESS EDV Software Service now run on Bricscad V10, as well as on AutoCAD and Nemetschek All-Plan. The modules handle HVAC, sanitary, electrical, building simulation and energy certificates in 3D using intelligent objects. http://www.ax3000.at
Adept 8.2 from Synergis Software supports Windows 7, integrates more deeply with Active Directory, and offers SSL-encrypted data transfer. http://www.synergissoftware.com
Design Master Software updates its Design Master HVAC, Design Master Electrical, and Design Master Plumbing modules with 64-bit support and ribbons for AutoCAD 2010. The HVAC module now exports 3D ductwork in IFC format for Revit and others. http://www.designmaster.biz
Dassault Systemes launches V5 Release 20 of CATIA, ENOVIA, SIMULIA, and DELMIA featuring:
- enhancements to SmarTeam multi-CAD collaboration.
- integration of SIMULIA’s nonlinear and thermal realistic simulation.
- composites design and simulation in CATIA and SIMULIA.
- improved digital manufacturing.
First Trace announces that Kinnosa 4.2 engineering document management software supports 32- and 64-bit Windows 7, AutoCAD 2010, SolidWorks 2010, and MicroStation V8i Select 1. http://www.firsttrace.com
Geometric Limited improves NestLib 2010 R1 for material utilization for sheet metal punching and inventory management. http://nestlib.geometricglobal.com
PTC announces that CoCreate 17.0 and its 560 enhancements will ship sometime in Q2*. http://www.ptc.com/products/cocreate (*) "The timing of any product release, including any features or functionality, is subject to change at PTC's discretion."
NEi Software unveils NEi Works 2.1 NASTRAN-based finite element analysis software running inside SolidWorks. http://www.NEiSoftware.com
3D-Tool releases 3D-Tool Premium v9 with native CAD import and export based on Spatial’s 3D InterOp components. http://www.3D-Tool.de
And Corel introduces CorelDRAW Graphics Suite X5 with better asset management, color management, Web graphics, and more content. http://www.corel.com
Hardware News
Oce's new ColorWave 300 multifunction printer does color and black-white printing, scanning, and copying. For CAD users, it reads HPGL/2, PDF, DWF, and JPEG formats. http://www.oceusa.com
Seminars & Conferences
ODA [Open Design Alliance] World Conference is May 4-5 in Orlando FL USA. http://www.opendesign.com/conference-2010
Magazine/eZine/Weblog Updates
You can get a free copy of Randall Newton's new Vektorum publication from http://bit.ly/cuv7Rr (public PDF on Google Docs).
Softcover International launches its Raster to Vector Auntie blog for advice on converting scanned paper drawings into DXF files.http://www.rastertovector.com
People/Companies on the Move
Lattice Technology and Kubotek USA agree to market and sell each other's software, in particular Lattice's XVL-related programs and Kubotk's Validation Tool. http://www.lattice3d.com and http://www.kubotekusa.com
CADsmart changes its name to KnowledgeSmart, and plans to offer a new online skills testing service. http://www.knowledgesmart.net/content.asp
Redo
Your [SolidWorks World] interview with Christina Feist was also interesting, but could you please correct the spelling of Abaqus software?
- Lynn Manning
Market News
FM:Systems reports that its revenues grew 15% in 2009.
Letters to the Editor
Re: The Cloud's Fundamental Flaw
This is something I have not seen discussed with any of the cloud problems and it is worthy of noting. Recently parts started slowly creeping across my screen. I reloaded 3Dconnexions
[3D mouse software] and still had problems. Checked everything I knew to check including the possibility of trash in the unit. Gave up on it as I had no more time to devote to it.
Fast forward a few days and Spybot Search and Destroy informs me I have a trojan virus. When I finally get it off my workstation, the problem with my Space Navigator mouse goes away.
It's getting to the point that no matter what you do to protect your PC this stuff slips in. Microsoft had to pull an update from their Web site recently, because of a root kit that no anti-spyware anti-virus aps could reliably detect or remove.
I am seriously thinking of buying a cheapo Internet-only box and keeping my workstation off-line. I wonder if infected PCs can do to SolidWorks what they are doing to Microsoft?
- Dave Ault
The editor replies: "I can imagine a disaster scenerio where everyone stops working when a universal cloud-based app fails."
Thanks for your long service to the CAD marketplace and best of wishes for the future.
- John Martin
John Martin Agency, Inc.
Thank you and great information you are providing.
- Dwight Griffith
TriStar, Inc.
Spin Doctor of the Moment
There are only two events on Sunday, the [Canada-USA] hockey game and a 50-kilometer men's cross-country race. Americans and Canadians are long shots to get medals in either event.
- Jaime Aron, Associated Press
http://apnews.myway.com/article/20100228/D9E566SG0.html
Notable Quotable
So far [Google ceo Schmidt] Eric's lofty ideas about openness and connectedness are kind of a joke in light of the fact that we can barely connect here and we're not being allowed to take photos.
- Chris Ziegler, Engadget
http://www.engadget.com/2010/02/16/live-from-eric-schmidts-keynote-at-mwc-2010
Contact!
upFront.eZine is published every Tuesday, except during summer and Christmas vacation. Editor: Ralph Grabowski. This newsletter is read by over eight thousand subscribers in 70 countries. Your comments are welcome! Deadline for submissions is every Monday noon.
To Subscribe
Send the message 'subscribe upfront' to subscribe@upfrontezine.com. All 600+ back issues at www.upfrontezine.com/welcome.htm.
Donations & Subscriptions
upFront.eZine is shareware. You receive this newsletter free. To support its publication, suggested one-time donations is US$25 or the equivalent in your country. If you prefer to pay an annual subscription fee of $25, you will be reminded each year around May 1.
Payment
- PayPal - send payment to the account of grabowski@telus.net
- Checks or money orders: 34486 Donlyn Avenue, Abbotsford BC, V2S 4W7, Canada.
- Direct bank transfer: email for details.
Japanese Edition
Editor: Yasu Ohgushi <yasu@rrcorp.co.jp>
Address Change
Send both your old and new email addresses to subscribe@upfrontezine.com.
To Unsubscribe
Send the message 'unsubscribe upfront' to editor@upfrontezine.com. I appreciate knowing reasons for unsubscribing.
Advertising
US$340 per two weeks. Position Available ads are $320 for three weeks; Job Wanted ads by the unemployed are free. Other rates available. For more info, email advertise@upfrontezine.com.
- - -
Entire contents copyright ©2010 by upFront.eZine Publishing, Ltd. All rights reserved worldwide. Letters sent to the editor are subject to publication. Article reprint fee: $250 and up. All trademarks belong to their respective holders. "upFront.eZine," "The Business of CAD," and "On your desktop every Tuesday morning" are trademarks of upFront.eZine Publishing, Ltd. Letters to the editor may be edited for clarity and brevity. Translations and opinions expressed are not necessarily shared by upFront.eZine Publishing, Ltd.
* 11,008