Autodesk FormIt - Intro and Resources

Last week Autodesk announced FormIt - a new conceptual design application built from the ground up for the iPad. I had a chance to talk briefly with Tom Vallaro ( @tomvallaro ) after he presented FormIt to a group in an open theater at AU2012 and was really excited to hear some of the things they are working towards with FormIt (some of which I can't share here).

Have an iPad?
Do you like free apps?

Then check out FormIt! If you like Sketchup/Vasari, you will love how FormIt works.

Resources:
iTunes store link
Autodesk FormIt website
Autodesk Blog Revit Clinic
What Revit Wants

The Revit Kid

The Real Deal - Viewing a Revit Model on an iPad

So, we've all seen the plugins, exporters, extractors, converters, etc. that promise to let you "view" a Revit model on an iPad. Once you start looking into, you realize quickly that you have to convert your native Revit file format into something else. Well, that has never been good enough for me which is why I'm so excited that I can finally do this! It's so easy, it's not even funny! Here's how it works...

Starting with your Autodesk Buzzsaw account (yes you can run a free 30 day trial to test this out), upload any native Revit project. Click on it to view it. Select one of the Views or Sheets from your model to view. Click the interactive button to actively pan & zoom around the model. If you are in a View, select an object to get metadata about it. Here are some screen grabs from my iPad with a test model I uploaded a few minutes ago!

After Initial model is uploaded and selected, you are presented with native Revit Views / Sheets to open

Viewing interactively in a 3D Revit View with a Wall selected and displaying metadata

 

Viewing one of the Sheets in the Revit model

Inspecting a View in the Revit model

P.S. I have to give props to HMC Architects Autodesk reseller, Kelar Pacific, for bringing this to my attention - this would have otherwise likely slipped under the rug with the new Autodesk product releases happening!

Word, Excel & PPT on the iPad...

In a previous post I mentioned an app called CloudOn that provides access to Word, Excel & PPT on your iPad. My reservation was that it wouldn't insert images. I've also found that the arrangement of the interface was different than what I was used to on my desktop. It is nice though to have it integrated with Dropbox for document editing, storage and printing if needed.

However, I now have found an even better app, thanks to Gizmodo & some friends at work. OnLive Desktop has an iPad app which gives full access to all current features of Word, Excel & PPT, with a full Windows 7 desktop. It even accepts hand writing input and translates it to text. Documents are stored on their server with access via web browser. So, if you want to print from your iPad, you can view the files you have and either print from Safari or open in Dropbox and print from there - straight from the iPad. If you have an AirPrint enabled printer, great, otherwise, tie this together with an app called Print n Share (try the free version to see if your printer works) and you've got yourself a great workflow on your iPad!

A few more apps...

I've come across a few more apps that I didn't mention in my previous post that I now feel are worthy.

SamCard - Take a picture of a business card, creates a contact from it instantly! - (free)
CloudOn - Microsoft Word, Excel & PPT on your iPad, integrated with Dropbox - (free) The potential for this is incredible, however I see 2 limitations currently. A constant, steady network is required and I don't yet see a way to insert images or print. Otherwise very cool!
Skitch - Take a picture, add markups, share with anyone - (free)
Neu.Annotate PDF - Open PDF's, mark them up with shapes, highlights & added text & share - (free)

I've been working towards a fully digital workflow, in a slightly different way than before. Online storage of docs using Dropbox, editing/viewing documents using Neu.Annotate, Pages or CloudOn, sharing documents & ideas via Dropbox/Facetime/Skitch and so on. The future is now and looking very promising!

Autodesk apps for the iPad / iPhone

It's still hard to believe, but my employer has given every employee an iPad 2! Now the possibilities for collaborating just went through the roof. Do we call each other on Face Time now instead of the phone? Do we share info via iMessage? Anyways, now that I've had a day to sit on it and let it soak in, I found myself crafting a list of apps that I've found useful to share with coworkers. Naturally it included all the Autodesk apps. When I was done crafting it, I couldn't believe how many apps they have already. Here's my list:

Autodesk apps - all free unless noted
AutoCAD WS - Dwg viewer / editor
Design Review Mobile - view and markup DWF files (like a PDF but any Autodesk tool can print them)
Sketchbook Express - hand sketching app
Sketchbook Pro for iPad - more features *** $4.99
Pixlromatic - Another photo editing software but from Autodesk
Buzzsaw - if you are on a project with a buzzsaw account, you can access your files and view them in AutoCAD WS or Design Review Mobile that Evan mentioned
Bluestreak - working on a project using Bluestreak and Revit Server? Get your notifications and messages on your iPad now!
123D Sculpt - feed your inner sculptor with this clay modeling app
Autodesk ForceEffect - physics simulator for testing forces against design models
Autodesk Imagine Design Create - eBook about design created with Autodesk products
Fluid FX - something for the kids to tinker with *** $0.99
Time FX - another clock app
TinkerBox - a physics puzzle game for the kid in all of us
Constructware - access info from the jobsite application from Autodesk
Autodesk Area Mobile - access Autodesk forums for media and entertainment products like 3ds Max or Maya

We've also come up with a few other apps that we feel are essentials or just needed for when you feel like taking a break. Some of these come courtesy of Evan Troxel over at "method" from his essential list.

Productivity
Keynote - presentations
Numbers - spreadsheets
Pages - word processing
DocScan HD - take a picture with the iPad, fix flaws, markup/make notes, convert to PDF/image and email/share. - free

Photo editing
Instagram - take and edit photos for a vintage effect and more! - free
Adobe Photoshop Express - Photoshop on the go - free

Utility Apps:
Dropbox (virtual storage)
Evernote (note taking)
Goodreader (.pdf reader +)
Dragon Dictation (you say it, it types it)
Google Earth (aerial mapping)

Sketching Apps:
Penultimate (digital sketchbook)

Reading Apps:
Flipboard (e-magazines by user preference)

Communication Apps:
Skype

Astronomy
Star Walk for iPad - if you enjoy astronomy or are simply interested in that bright dot in the sky, this will show you everything in stunning detail using gps & gyroscopic aware location technology - $2.99 and totally worth it!

Relaxation
Gravitarium2 - music/interactive app running over 5000 particles and allows you to use up to 10 fingers at once. It was free but now worth the price of admission. - $1.99 and is a great buy!