A couple of articles describing the latest releases of Microsoft’s new visual development tools:
Hands on with ‘Sparkle’ from publish.com
http://www.publish.com/article2/0,1895,1914852,00.asp
Expression Interactive Designer, one of three new software tools aimed at creative professionals and developers. Interactive Designer is being developed under the moniker “Sparkle”.
and
Microsoft’s Sparkle: Is it a Flash Killer? from eWeek.
http://www.eweek.com/…K0000594
The software giant has released the first Community Technology Preview (CTP) of its Microsoft Expression Interactive Designer tool, formerly known as Sparkle, and the company also released the fourth CTP of its Expression Graphic Designer, formerly known as Acrylic, said Forest Key, director of product management for Microsoft’s design tools.
Microsoft’s Expression Suite consists of the Expression Graphic Designer, Expression Interactive Designer and the Expression Web Designer. Microsoft has yet to release a CTP for the Web Designer, also known by its codename Quartz.
Key said that with the Microsoft Vista operating system being “all about user experience,” with the Windows Presentation Foundation and support for rich media and advanced user interface capabilities “we believe professional designers will be fundamental to the growth of the Windows platform.”
The Wacom Cintiq interactive pen display combines the advantages of an LCD monitor with cordless (battery free) pen technology.
This is an active matrix LCD monitor (21″ giving a resolution of 1600 x 1200 – 17″ providing 1280 x 1024) for sharp, flicker free viewing.
For more details visit
http://www.wacom.com/lcdtablets/index_21UX.cfm
A version of an electronic drawing board perhaps. May be a better option than a Tablet PC, although you couldn’t use it on your travels, but you could invest in a powerful desktop machine and interface to it with this.
Now if it were only cheaper (21″ is $2499, 17″ is $1799) and wireless ….
Still one to watch …
Blender v2.41 is released. Blender is Open Source software for 3D modeling, animation, rendering, post-production, interactive creation and playback. Available for all major operating systems under the GNU General Public License.
You can read about features in the latest release at
http://www.blender3d.org/cms/Blender_2_41.731.0.html
or visit the blender home page at
http://www.blender3d.org/
Adobe stepped further into the 3D world with the announcement of Acrobat 3D, available now. The product incorporates OKYZ technology, which Adobe adquired over a year ago, to convert 3D models to a format that can be embedded in a PDF file. The technology can obtain model data from the OpenGL graphics stream, so no plug-ins are needed for the originating CAD application.
Read more at the Adobe web-site
http://www.adobe.com/products/acrobat3d/main.html
or view a 3D PDF demo document (needs Adobe Reader v 7.0 )
3d_pdf_demo.pdf
NextEngine have released a 3D scanning device for the desktop, which is integrated with Solidworks, at a price tag of $2495.
Claimed accuracy is +/- 0.005in for models up to 5.1 x 3.8 inches (Macro mode) and +/- 0.015 in for models up to 13.5 x 10.1 inches (Wide mode)
https://www.nextengine.com/indexSecure.htm
The SolidWorks Community Blog has promised updates on the daily happenings at SWW Jan 22-25 …
You’ll want to be sure and check the blog posts during the week of SolidWorks World 2006, January 22–25. Greg and a guest blogger, freelance reporter Amy Castor, will be posting updates on the daily happenings at the show. “We want to bring the highlights of SolidWorks World 2006 to SolidWorks users who are still back at their offices,” explains Greg. “So we’ll have pictures, daily posts, and possibly even videos for visitors to download.”
http://solidworkscommunity.blogspot.com
This is a relatively old technology, but are haptic devices getting closer to a price attractive to a mass market?
I first came across this company in 1999 and although the technology looked interesting, it’s cost ( > $15000) meant that it would only appeal to a select few. If the price is right now then who knows …
This device from Sensable may be targeted at a larger market.
As mentioned, the technology has been around for a while, and it allows a user to “feel”, via force-feedback technology 3D digital objects on the computer screen. One application, for example, allows a user to manipulate onscreen “digital clay” to sculpt their required form before exporting the resultant model into CAD software for further refinement and tweaking.
One to watch (if the price is right)
http://www.sensable.com/
Autodesk, Inc. (NASDAQ: ADSK) today announced that Carl Bass, the company’s chief operating officer, has been named president and chief executive officer, effective May 1, 2006. Bass also has been appointed to the company’s expanded Board of Directors, effective immediately.
Carol Bartz, who has served as CEO since April 1992, will become the company’s first Executive Chairman of the Board
Read the full press release at
http://usa.autodesk.com/…linkID=1977925
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