Ask the Reader: eDrawings App for iPhone. Would You Use It?

by Josh on May 12, 2009 · Comments

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So, here we are. the iPhone market is growing like genetically modified corn and SolidWorks ships a million licenses. Seems something should be going on there.

Some people I’ve heard from recently think an eDrawings App for the iPhone is in order. They travel, they need access to drawing info, models and AutoCAD drawings. So, it only makes sense that one way to view or transport this data would be via your super cool, and very trendy Apple iPhone.

What do you think? Is this needed? Why hasn’t an eDrawings app come out yet?

{democracy:9}

The regular eDrawings Viewer has been available for the Mac for years. Personally, I think this is something like SolidWorks Labs would be working on if they haven’t been toying with the idea already.

(3 votes, average: 5.00 out of 5)

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Comments

Tagged as: edrawings, web app

gol10dr

It would be a cool thing but they can use DrawingsNow, which has an iPhone web app interface. As long as they have remote access of some type I think people would use it.

Marijn

How many lines (or whatever do they called it) can the iphone load? Cool i have edrawings on my Iphone but I can only load nuts and bolts, other parts make my Iphone turn into a radiator ;)

Phil

PDF is already a more widely used format and can be used an most smart phones. An e-drawings app might be useful but difficult to use for any detail.

bcourter

I just save PNGs for drawings. But please please give me a viewer. OBJ or VRML would be fine.

Pete Yodis

I produce and keep control of drawings that a normal desktop these days can have some slowness issues with in eDrawings. eDrawings is a dog for anything slightly complicated. Why would I want to attempt that with an Iphone. I would much rather view pdf files.

Daedo

Its not just about 2D drawings. I want to look at 3D models.

Rod_Uding

Moot point for me since I do not have an iPhone. It is a cool idea though, would probably be more like to use a laptop to view drawings on the road. I'm sure some iPhone users would be using it if it was available.

CroAxis

Rod's right, iPhone might be a very handy tool for many application yet I would rather use my laptop to view drawings while I'm on the train or so. I also have concerns regarding the screen size, I would probably struggle to see small details or lost somewhere in zooming in and out.

JeffMirisola

I wouldn't use it. The screen would be too small, IMO, to be of any use.

Josh M

Jeff, I've had several emails asking about it and saying they travel so much it would be very convenient to have. It seems too small to me, but seems there's also people that wouldn't mind the size. whatcha think?

JeffMirisola

Again, I think the screen is too small. By the time you zoom in, you will have lost perspective. I suppose it may be useful on drawings that aren't overly detailed, but I can't see myself using it.

Daedo

jeff,

keep in mind apple's going to be releasing larger screen variants of the iPhone and iPod Touch.

Rod_Uding

Your thinking the same way as me on this one. I could see something like one of smaller Wacom tablets being better for this. However, I realize that in some situations having this application on the iPhone would be better than nothing at all.

Everyone needs to remember that the iPhone is a just a tool that each individual uses differently based upon their needs and desires to get the information they require for different situations.

Chris Serran

I don't have an iPhone so technically I wouldn't use it. Even if something was released for the Storm I probably wouldn't use it but it's just my situation. I don't travel from the office much.
With that said, I think it would be difficult to view anything somewhat complex on the small screens, let alone if there is enough processing power.

Daedo

Having an iPhone version of eDrawings would be espescially cool if and when (according to the rumors its coming) Apple release a larger version of the iPhone/iPod Touch.

Josh M

I have an interesting post coming up tomorrow that those interested in being able to view apps like eDrawings on an iPhone will absolutely love. :)

Dan Bovinich

It would be another cool thing for your i-Phone. I would use it. Especially animating an object. Or if I was in the feild and I needed a quick look at a part, I could bring up the drawing. You might as well create the app, because the other CAD programs are probably trying to make one for theirs ~ so that they can jump ahead of SW anyway they can.

Josh M

righto Dan. The thing about edrawing is that we (engineering and manufacturing) use it more often to view the actual parts/assemblies, not the drawings. It's a great resource for the shop, from CNC to build. Practicality on an iPhone? well, there's maybe an arguement there that it's not as good as a tablet, but I'd like to use it. :) thanks for the comment!!

LSUME

i would like to see autodesk inventor on the iphone.

davidmcneill

Great Idea, We (designers) have been talking about this for some time and nothing yet. Perhaps everyone is waiting for someone else to actually make it happen. The only thing is that there isn't one single viewer for mac or pc at the moment that enables people to export from a variety of 3d software platforms. There is edrawings for proe and acrobat pro for 3d pdf (both expensive ways of creating 3d files) If someone develops a nice little app for 3d viewing a few basic formats like IGES, Parasolid, dxf, etc then it would fly.