Architosh Staff ([email protected])

20 Dec 2002

 

TidBits: CAD/3D news around the Web, plus notes on 'Xstation' rumor

CAD News around the Web

Spatial Corporation, the makers of market-leading 3D kernel technology used in hundreds of CAD and 3D software applications has announced support of AMD's new Opteron processors. The pre-certification on AMD's Opteron marks a significant endorsement of AMD's strategy to move the x86 platform to 64-bit technology. The AMD Opteron architecture is a 64-bit extension to the common Intel-based x86 Pentium-class compatible microprocessor platform.

Spatial is the maker of the 3D ACIS modeling kernel, used in such products as Form-Z and Autocad, among others. While this news does not directly apply to Macintosh users, its should be stated that Spatial's tools for the Macintosh platform support the PowerPC instruction set which scale naturally to 64-bit processing in IBM's new PowerPC 970. In many ways, AMD's approach to 64-bit desktop computing is superior to the Intel 64-bit architecture of the Itanium line of processors because it provides full 32-bit backwards compatibility. The PowerPC line was planned for 32-64 bit computing from the very beginning. To learn more...

Apparently Autodesk Gets in Hot Water Over Go-Go Dancers

In industry news, the CEO of Autodesk apologized for the Go-Go dancers at a recent Autocad users event. Did any Architosh readers attend this event too? Have a word to say?

A New CAD Application Coming to Macintosh Only

A brand new, built for the latest Apple operating system (Mac OS X 10.2.x), CAD application is coming exclusively to the Macintosh platform. This new app is one the first of many signs that the Mac OS X platform and development tools out today are attracting creative developers all over the world to the Mac OS X platform.

Powerful CAD functions, superb ease-of-use, advanced Photogrammetry, Advanced project management, and smooth workflow are some of the new features in the yet unannounced CAD product. We'll keep you posted!

Reader Question: Is There A List of Macintosh-based Architects in the Los Angeles Area?

Architosh reader John Gil writes: Is there a list of the Macintosh or Mac / PC firms in the Los Angles area? I have been searching and asking and nobody knows.....I am a Mac architect and would think that there would be an advantage to architects listing this data.

A: We agree. Having such data is useful but the only list we know of, of Mac-based architects, is the one we publish on our site in the AIWUG: Architosh International Web Users Group. Try looking in there and then asking firms on that list of more Mac firms. And if you are a Mac-based architect, please join AIWUG yourself!

Apple Xstation Rumor

We have heard from a little bird that Apple is changing their product line and evolving it to reflect the changing PC landscape. With the personal computer in decline and mobile, smart phones, PDA's, and music players on the rise, Apple Computer will be evolving its computers around the digital hub metaphor even more. Moreover, its computers will evolve to become more versatile and more targeted.

The traditional tower design of computers (rampant in the PC field) is of decreasing value to the home and pro-sumer market, which is enlisting new computers today for ever increasing digital media tasks. This digital hub metaphor, first articulated by Steve Jobs with the iMac design, is finally striking a working accord with Apple's rivals, in particular Sony Corporation. But what of the tower design?

The personal computer is evolving into two distinct animals, laptops not withstanding. The first animal is the Digital Hub. Microsoft sees this type of computer as an entertainment device and purposely places it in the living room. The second type of animal is the computer which is a "workstation" -- a station or place where you do your work! Jobs has said this many times that you separate life functions between work and play, between work and entertainment.

Beyond these basic assumptions, there is the division between computers in the workplace, computers in schools, and computers in homes. In each division, the focus is different and has its own profile. Macs in the workplace have traditionally been seen as workstations, particularly in the graphics and publishing industries. Word has it Apple is developing a new powerful computer called the Xstation, designed to fit in the same family of devices currently defined by the Xserve and Xraid. Some have said this new Xstation would have up to four (4) PowerPC processors.

As usual, the official word on such a machine is unlikely to appear before the introduction of the same device. We'll just keep our ears open.

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