Are you an avid AutoCAD user and a Mac enthusiast who's long
been frustrated because the two live in separate worlds? Well, they don't anymore.
Autodesk just
announced a new version of its professional design and engineering application
that runs natively on Mac OS X and exploits all of the features and
functionality unique to the Mac platform. Accompanying the new AutoCAD for Mac release is AutoCAD WS, a mobile
application that extends AutoCAD to Apple's iOS, enabling the design tool to
run on the iPad, iPhone and iPod Touch.
"This is really all about making AutoCAD accessible to
everyone," said Guri Stark, vice president of AutoCAD and platform products, in
a press conference announcing the new platforms. "For the last few years, AutoCAD
was limited to just running under Windows, but recently because of the
importance and growing market share of the Mac platform and due to many
requests by our customers, we're making AutoCAD available on the Mac and mobile
platforms."
While AutoCAD users will recognize the new version - it
supports the full feature set, including 3-D navigation, 3-D meshing and
materials capabilities - the software has been designed to take full advantage
of the unique Mac interface. Users can graphically browse design files with the
Cover Flow interface common to the Mac, for example, as well as take advantage
of Multi-Touch gestures on Mac notebooks or the Magic Mouse to leverage
intuitive pan and zoom features. User experience design patterns, such as the
visual approach to drawing and layout management, have also been incorporated
into AutoCAD for Mac.
Interoperability between the Mac and Windows versions is
another big focus. The new release offers support for native creation and
editing of files in the DWG file format, ensuring easy collaboration with
customers and suppliers regardless of the platform. Files created in previous
versions of AutoCAD will open seamlessly in AutoCAD for the Mac, reducing the
time-consuming translation and clean-up process of converting data. There are
also extensive API and customization options that let tailor-built workflows
and custom configurations for setting and screening real estate options to be
modified to individual workflows. "We're looking to provide the best-in-class
DWG interoperability between Windows and Mac that ever really existed," said
Rob Maguire, product manager for AutoCAD for Mac.
Accompanying AutoCAD for Mac is the new AutoCAD WS mobile
application, a free app that will be available through Apple's App Store. The
app extends AutoCAD to Apple's iOS, enabling users with a wireless connection
to edit and share AutoCAD files on an iPad or iPhone. This will allow real-time
collaboration and co-design sessions on-the-go, officials said.
Both new applications, to be delivered in October, were
developed as part of an extensive beta program involving more than 5,000 early
customers.
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