SolidWorks:Heard! - Episode 376 - SWW12 Aftermath

SWW12 Aftermath:

This podcast covers the release of the February Support Montly FAQ as well as the aftermath reactions from SolidWorks World 2012 around the 2013 backwards compatibility and SolidWorks V6 platform (or lack there of) around the web.  Topics covered:

- SW Monthly Support FAQ

- 2013 to 2012 SP5 Backwards compatibility (sort of but not)

- 2012 SP5 access to visual and configuration data (cool)

- No translation or re-export (nice)

- No editing in 2012 |-(

- RickyJordan, RockSolidPerspective, Rob Rodriguez thoughts...

- SolidWorks V6 platform

- Reactions from Blogs

- DezignStuff - Matt Lombard

- Axis Blog - Rob Rodriguez

- CAD Insider - Roopinder Tara

- World CAD Access - Ralph Grabowski (in comments)

Although this year's SolidWorks World was a good time, it is interesting what pops up in the news a week or so after.  Since the Press group gets these exclusive sessions where questions can be asked, sometimes that results in some good nuggets that are withheld from the main stage.

This year it is mainly around the pseudo backwards compatibility that was show for SolidWorks 2013 and the lack of news about the future platform of SolidWorks illusively named SolidWorks V6.  Whether it is a platform for many "SolidWorks" branded products or the 3D modeler we saw on stage in 2010 in Anaheim, the public heard one sentenance by Bertrand Sicot in the first general session, "...we will debut the new platform next year...".

One thing is clear, the desktop version of SolidWorks as we know it today will remain the same as a parasolid-centric desktop tool and the V6 platform will be cloud-based and on the V6 kernel.  Although the press did get some further clarity on these topics, the details stop there and we will have to sit tight to hear details when SolidWorks is ready to talk. ~Lou

Remember to check out the SolidWorks: Heard! Blog and to follow me on Twitter, Facebook and THE HEaRD! 

SolidWorks:Heard! - Episode 312 - State-less CAD

State-less CAD:

This podcast covers the pros and cons of "state-less" systems and cloud-based applications like the ones shown at SolidWorks World 2010.  With SolidWorks World 2011 just around the corner, these are my thoughts, wishes and predictions for the coming conference.  Topics covered:

SWW10 Refresher:

- SolidWorks Connect (formerly known as SolidWorks PDS)

- "SolidWorks V6" - Pros/Cons and questions

SWW11 Predictions:

- Reveal of SolidWorks Connect final product

- More in-depth demos on SolidWorks V6 (beta dates, cost, etc)

Cloud Application Thoughts:

- Power of state-less application (parallels to ChromeOS)

- Endless CPU, RAM, Storage options/configuraiton

- Automation backup and restore

- Live collaboration and versioning capabilities

- Rent Technology

- Local vs hosted cloud apps

Crazy Wishes:

- eDrawings online (maybe inside Connect with live Markup and Measure tools)

- Connect opens for Beta at SWW11

- SolidWorks V6 goes into Beta when SolidWorks 2012 does

- SolidWorks announces mobile clients for iPhone, iPad and Android (like eDrawings or Connect)

With SolidWorks World 2011 now just around the corner, the elephant in the room is SolidWorks in the Cloud.  It was announced at SWW10 and had only 3 or 4 followups from SolidWorks on their blog.  Everyone wants to know details and all have a laundry list of questions to how the desktop version will co-exist with the Internet delivered version.

Every year the first and third days of SolidWorks World reveal the next version of SolidWorks to come and now many of us want to get our hands on these new hosted services to see what they might provide and test their reliability with our data.  I know not everyone is as excited to get their hands on it as I am but curiosity still is brewing among most I have talked to.

After switching to Google Apps for over a year ago and living the cloud-based life for nearly everything non-SolidWorks I can see how a cloud-based CAD might be attractive to some.  I think, if anything, it offers some collaborative and light editing capabilities that could be tapped into from anywhere.  We will have many more answers in just a couple of weeks!

Remember to check out the SolidWorks: Heard! Blog and to follow me on Twitter, Facebook and THE HEaRD!