Yesterday I speculated that Microsoft could be bringing out some new 3D visualization technology. Thanks to Pete Yodis. He got to the TechCrunch article first revealing Microsoft Will Announce the WorldWide Telescope On February 27. Cat out of Bag… or is it? The reason I kinda wonder is that this was in the news last…
Yes, that’s right. Ugly, rabid monkeys with three toes and high tariffs. Ponoko, the design-it, make-it, sell-it web site has quelled the fears of their users and completely slashed the prices for shipping around the entire known world. If you’re in the US, shipping prices from New Zealand can be downright frightening. Actually, shipping prices…
Something really cool just happened today. I guy I hung out with in Switzerland IM’d me and said, ‘The first 20 shirts are printed and sold!!’ He just had twenty screen-printed shirts made of a design he created and proceeded to sell them all. No big deal right? Well, he’s wanted to do this since…
I love errors. Those kinds that riddle a FeatureManager Tree with red like the list of a persistent hitman with refined and distinguished taste. Errors can be a disgustingly vicious act and a lovely dinner all tied up together. Errors force a solution Or rather, errors force determining a solution. The hitman’s hitman to keep…
The tech sector has been buzzing like a physician induced, caffeine-like high about a post Robert Scoble wrote last week. A post that revealed that Microsoft will reveal something never revealed by those that reveal things previously unrevealed. And that is about all you can get out of it… unless you look a little deeper.…
…you could win a SolidWorks compliant video card. CGSociety.com is tempting you to make something more inspirational that a block sitting on a mound of dirt. With some of the submission already, it’s more like a dare for SolidWorks users. Personally, I’m not sure if anyone can do create an architectural marvel in SolidWorks that…
I would have to say its a bit like being pinned under a horse. At first its all pins and needle, then it starts nipping at you… repeatedly. It’s downright antagonizing, much like these links. Stunning Desktop Wallpapers – I like nice backgrounds for the ‘puter. Makes everyone what you’ve been doing all day. Pay…
For those who use the Firefox Web Browser (and you should of you don’t) or are interested in trying new stuff you may be interested to know that Firefox 3 is in Beta now. You can download the Beta Version here or the portable version here that won’t interfere with your existing version. It definitely…
Good gravy, I’ve been waiting for the new Indiana Jones Trailer since… I don’t know, 1989. Indiana Jones and the Kingdom of the Crystal Skull comes out May 22nd and the trailer is rockin’. If you don’t think so, tell me, but I will ignore it. Here it is or you can see the Indiana…
But not in a weird, creepy, I-wish-I-wasn’t-alone-I-think-he-has-a-knife way. Happy Valentine’s Day and here’s to hoping that you’ve found a nice card… and that it takes you less time to pick out, than it does for your models to load. Oh, look here, I’ve made a special 3D heart for you. You can turn it black…
Oh, stop it. That title is just too clever. It’s hard to believe there would be any rude, self-serving miscreants in the realm of SolidWorks, but you watch. One day your helping old ladies take their meds, next day your making everyone change part colors and capitalize the ‘S’ and ‘W’ in SolidWorks for all…
One of the most interesting things to come out of the continuing saga of Microsoft buying out Yahoo is a group of people that have banded together in a Flickr Photo Pool aptly named Microsoft Keep your Evil Grubby Hands off our Flickr. For those that don’t know, Flickr is owned by Yahoo. Some think…
There’s a few products out there that I think are exceptional for the problems they address. Typically, its a fancy electronic consumer product that promises to save more time or remove hair or whatever. Recently I’ve been seeing products that are designed to save space. The Verticulture planter concept is one of my favorite. It’s…
You’ve been working on a 13,000 part mega-assembly in SOLIDWORKS with the most well thought out top-down assembly structure ever devised by man. The next morning, you gingerly sip your coffee as the model ooooopens, and then… something doesn’t look right. Suddenly, that pastry loses its sweetness as you come to grips that all your…
So, tell me. What would you do if you could peel back your skin (the body’s largest organ) and examine your endocrine system and lack of muscle fibers? I’d do it… if it didn’t sting so much… and now you can to with the painless and, yes folks, amazing, VisibleBody.com. No assembly required As a…
I love new developments in interface design and the whole questioning why we do things the way we do. I cover some of it in the Tech to Watch category and have focused a lot on monitor technology. However, one aspect of interface design is the mouse. You have the SpacePilot to reduce mouse clicks…
I just looked at there it was, a lama with one eye and the most incredible voice you could imagine. Makes you want to make a lama hair sweater and look at these links. Uber.com – A community for creatives with interest in photo, art and music. The gallery has an interesting interface. Baby Instructions…
How do you get info out of SolidWorks models? Threats and candy don’t do the trick, but bring out a steamy bowl of button clicking and you’ll be in statistical, property enhanced euphoria to break up the vapid atmosphere of deadlines and cold pastries. If you’re like me, you like your fill of statistics and…
If you tried to come to the site yesterday, it was not rockin’. Apparently, something (someone) did something that killed my site. I didn’t lose anything, but was up till 2 am rebuilding it. Fortunately, it turned out for the better. I upgraded to the latest Wordpress 2.3.3 and the K2 (v628) Theme, so we’re…
This is similar to the wii remote touchless and doesn’t look as cool, but still it’s another step toward tossing that keyboard and mouse at a churning industrial size fan. [youtube]tuAIckCTaNo[/youtube] Link to Touchless Interface Video Elliptical Labs is the purveyor of this fine example of hands free manipulation. Everyone thinks this is to, you…
I’m feeling kind of queezy right now. You would think I received a gory email forward from a friend when I’ve actually just listened to the original studio recording of ‘Running With the Devil’ by Van Halen… minus the background vocals and music; pure David Lee Roth bliss. If you can scream like that, I…
I know how you feel. You’re out with the kids or on a hot date and you’re wondering how to maintain design intent and still get that profile extruded to that surface. Sad state of affairs my friend… until now. The boys at Inspirtech SolidWorks Training just launch their web-based video course that will allow…
A lot of you were probably awed by the incredibly weak video I grabbed of the SolidWorks World General Session Intro Animation. Fortunately, someone from SolidWorks saw it, became sick to their stomach and posted the actual animation. I immediately downloaded it, ripped it to Vimeo, and have posted it below. Why’s it Rockin’? It…
It was sort of like picking pieces of glass out of your arm at first, then I tried the curly fries and everything was much, much better. But seriously, no turpentine next time. Best of Photoshop Tutorials – Forget a book, this is all you need. TrackmyShipments.com – Forward emails, automatically don’t go crazy wondering…
If you mix an interest in web design with an interest in SolidWorks you get a hideous amalgamation of 3D graphics, silly phrases and coffee stains. Couple that with a frustrating inadequacy of font types and its basically pure madness. The Problem Adobe Flash, formerly Macromedia Flash, opened up a lot of possibilities for web…
When you look out over the wall surrounding the meat and cheese paradise that is sketch-driven, history-based solid modeling, you’ll notice the rolling hills of free-form 3D modeling. It’s a wonderfully surreal place to escape to every once in a while, especially if you need to work in some unusual 3d formats or create something…
January 31st is the last day to enter the Acrobat 3D contest and if you’re a SOlidWorks users there’s really no reason why you shouldn’t enter because it’s super dang easy to create a 3D PDF. Hey, you don’t even need Adobe Acrobat installed. 2 step process for SolidWorks Users Open your favorite model and…
I know all you engineers out there are hardcore graffiti artist, but feel conflicted over vandalizing your place of employment. That’s why you need to see this. Graffiti artist DAIM is part of the “Tagged in Motion” project to create virtual free-floating 3D graffiti. That’s right kiddo’s, railroad cars and abandoned buildings are no longer…
If you remember the problem I had with SP2.0 that caused (from all indications on my side) me to have my computer wiped and rebuilt, you’ll know I’m glad to see this Service Pack come out so soon. I’m preparing to load it, this time with WindowsXP System Restore activated. I was stupid and had…
Each year SolidWorks host a modeling contest and announces the winners on the last day of SolidWorks World. Some people have asked me who won the contest but, in the sheer excitement, I failed to write them down. Fortunately Nancy Buchino from SolidWorks, who ran the Chase Corporate Challenge in 29 minutes 48 seconds, was…
It’s hard to put truly inspirational art into words. At best you’ll end with someone wondering what in blazes you’re talking about, and if you’ve ever created a piece of art in your own mind… you’ll still end up with someone wondering what the blazes you’re talking about. It’s best to experience the creation and…
The most amazing thing happened right this second. (Jan 28th 1:58 PM) The Lego brick turned 50 years old. Can you imagine just trying to build things with sticks a rocks. That is just inhumane. Kids need multi-colored easily connected blocks of joy to grab their imagination and turn them into creative adults with something…
If you’re really peeved that 4700 SolidWorks users have an iPod Nano and you don’t, take it out on your nearest cubicle mate and prepare for next year. SolidWorks World is heading for Orlando. The one in Florida. Where that scary mouse and his minions live. SolidWorks World 2009 February 8-11th, 2009 The Walt Disney…
I dunno? A bit too strong, ya think? At SolidWorks World the most anticipated moments are sleeping and the presentation of features on the next release. SolidWorks 2009 is set to launch the third quarter of 2008 and the development crew has some very pretty functionality they’re cooking up. Do you want SolidWorks to perform…
Geez man! how many papercuts do you have!? That’s disgustingly retched! I mean, you may need some ointment or a skin transplant!… or these useful links. Freitag.ch – A bag shop. Buy or design your own online. These will make you look incredible. StickerGiant.com – The best place, at least my favorite place, for stickers.…
Perhaps the coolest thing about SolidWorks World is all the people you can meet. People that change things and know what the heck they’re doing. I had to privilege of speaking to a SolidWorks user and entrepreneur. The John Ferguson, aka Muggs, of John Ferguson Design.I didn’t get a photo of him, so I stole…
The headline was suppose to read Top Rockin’ Enhancement Request, but some weird lights flashed and suddenly I was cookin’ ramen noodles with Theo Jansen and Richard Doyle. So, the attendees of SolidWorks World submit enhancements, SolidWorks compiles them, they announce them at the final session, I took a really blurry photo of them and…
I’m Irish pubbin’ it out at the DFW terminal trying to recuperate from the last three days. Tired, exhausted, can’t wait to get home but what a blast. I have 78 different things across 7 categories I’ve started compiling. That’s way to many. If there’s something about world you’re particularly interested in, hit the comments,…
Bellissimo! You lika the ipod nano, yes? It is like cute puppy, yes? Today, all the attendees at SolidWorks World got an ipod nano. 4,699 ipod nanos prepackaged with the goodness of SolidWorks marketing material to show your mama and your papa. This is all part of the new Real Solutions campaign to generate some…
Ok, since this new social web thingy is all about putting up really low quality video that is almost annoying to watch, I’ve done my part by getting some video of the SolidWorks World General Session Intro Animation with a 2.0 Megapixel camera. Use your imagination to scale this 100,000 times, remove the graininess and…
I know, my hand is beautiful in a pasty sort of way, but that isn’t important. That orangish thumb drive between my digits has SolidWorks 2008 running off it. It uses Thinstall application visualization to lock and load the software. By packaging with Thinstall, the application has all files, libraries, components, and data that it…
Right now I’m wishing I could start this blog post out the way SolidWorks started out their first General Session of the Conference. It, as well as the entire session, was nothing short of incredible. I’ve been to MLM (multi-level marketing) conferences where no expense is spared for those deals, and they didn’t compare. First,…
A question… How Many SolidWorks Users Does It Take to Change A Dangling Relation I’m gonna venture out and say, oh… 699,999. That’s (apparently) how many other people like you… use SolidWorks… and are driving decisions at SolidWorks HQ. Driving the decisions? Really? Then why…(loud tire screech) Now, I know. If you’re sitting at your…
You may be familiar with the book Getting Things Done: The Art of Stress-Free Productivity by David Allen. I recommend it if you haven’t read it. If you want a taste, check out the video below. He’s addressing Google on the core principles of focusing your activity and being clear about decisions. It’s a bit…
And it’s a shame, because from the looks of the group there may have been some pros. The Press Day events were a little like watching hopscotch though. I was hoping for something a little more full contact as far as content, but you know us people, always wanting more. I gotta mention first, Laura…
For the love of pete, the convention center escalator is mighty tall. 30 stories at least. maybe just three. I think some people disappeared on it. These steps are on the way to the convention center. This is a perfect 8-set, if you were a skateboarder and into that kind of stuff.
Tulsa to Denver to San Diego is a long flight, especially when chunks of the airplane go missing before takeoff and they’re loading and unloading. I arrive, taxi down to the Marriott, and walk four blocks to the Hard Rock Cafe. All the SolidWorks bloggers are there along with a bunch of the SolidWorks Crew.…
Now a blue Juniper is a tree you can prune. As a matter of fact, I pruned one around a family of raccoons. They’re so furry. Reminds me of these links. Luxa – a social learning site for Photoshop artists. You learn, you vote, you succeed. Endeve.com – Did someone say free invoice management. Yes,…
Time for Vodka, cigars and feedback. If you’re a customer that is in regular contact with SolidWorks you may have received an email inviting you to be part of a private SolidWorks community called Real Insights. It’s hosted by Communispace who set up these cozy communes to allow companies to interact with a select group…
Ok, SolidWorks World 2008 is coming up and if you’re not going you probably don’t care so much. If I wasn’t going I would either be filled with jealousy or completely disinterested. Nonetheless, it’s going on and a bunch of crazed SolidWorks users and people vying for your business will be out in full force.…