BSA Committee on Design Software
15. Handheld CADD
Most Handheld CADD is going to run on either PocketPC (a variety of Windows) or a PalmPC (running the PalmOS)
The PocketPC (WindowsCE) type devices seem to hold an advantage currently for CADD and graphics viewer software over PalmPC PDAs partly because of the inherent color and that they merely run a small screen version of Windows. An example is the recent announcement by Aportis Technologies Corp. of a PDF viewer for Palm handhelds - which works, essentially, by using a companion Windows98 system to strip out any graphics images. At the moment, however, there are far more Palm devices in existance than PocketPCs.
PocketCAD PRO for PocketPC
PocketCAD PRO is an actual CADD drawing program, also for Pocket PC (WindowsCE) devices, which supports creating and editing layers, blocks, polylines, arcs, trim, extend, copy, offset, rotate, move, delete, zoom, pan, undo, and much more.
PocketCAD PRO = http://www.PocketCAD.com
Autodesk OnSite View
Autodesk OnSite View is essentially an AutoCAD drawing viewer with a redliner (similar in features to the original PocketCAD)
Autodesk OnSite View = http://estore.autodesk.com/dr/v2/ec_MAIN.Entry17c?CID=0&SID=19515&SP=10007&PN=5&PID=264684
PDF viewer for PALM
Aportis Technologies Corp. of a PDF viewer for Palm handhelds - which works, essentially, by using a companion Windows98 system to strip out any graphics images
Aportis Technologies Corp. - PDF viewer = http://www.aportis.com
Primer
PDF reader (which does retain the graphics) by Ansyr Technology which currently runs on Windows CE, Pocket PC, as well as Palm operating systems
Ansyr Technology Corp. - Primer = http://www.ansyr.com
ISilo
A utility which allows Palm users to download and view and scroll through any Web site (with graphics)
iSilo = http://www.isilo.com
VoloView = http://www.voloview.com
Hardware News:
Palm will ship a color Palm V running Palm OS v4 next March; it will contain the SD (secure digital) external expansion slot.
In September, Palm had 68.8% of retail PDA dollar sales; Handspring was in second place with 11.2%. NEC and Compaq are tied for third place with 4.6% each.
In the first nine months of 2000, 2 million PDAs were sold, a 163% increase over a year earlier; 9 million desktop PCs were sold in the same period, a drop of 16.2%.
User Comments :
PocketCAD: This semi-AutoCAD-compatible CAD system runs on handheld computers with Microsoft's Pocket PC (nee Windows CE) operating system. I asked at the Arc Second booth if there would be a version for the Palm OS, which has a potential market eight times larger. "No," came the answer. Reasons? The Palm is limited to 8MB RAM (PocketCAD needs more than that); and it is easier to port software from Windows to Pocket PC OS. Nevertheless, I picked a copy of their cool-looking business card-size CD-ROM containing the demo software. http://www.pocketcad.com Ralph Grabowski
FelixCAD for PocketPC
The world premiere of CECAD occurred at Intergeo in Berlin two weeks ago. Grbert Systems ported its AutoCAD-compatible FelixCAD over to the WinCE operating system .It is not just viewing and a little editing, but the full engine with LISP and a C/C++ interface, as well as programmable menus and palettes. Reports president Wilfried Grbert: "We had one of the best parties at the show to celebrate this."
Interested developers should email Mr Grbert <graebert@fcad.de> and state what you are using -- Palm PC or HPC/Pro. He will send you a demo with a C and LISP example; if you have already ported apps to Felix, you need only to download them and perhaps adapt the dialogs.
Grbert Systems has shipped approximately 50,000 copies of their FelixCAD software, and expect to ship 20,000 this fiscal year. The company signed 30 new OEMs in the last 12 months, including Siemens, Nikon, and ACECAD (StruCAD).
Version 4 is available in English, German, Italian, Japanese, traditional and simplified Chinese, and Korean. Spanish and French are in the works.The new version is available as beta and will be AutoCAD 2000 compatible; it features a long list of enhancements and adds a solid modeling option with programming interface. http://www.fcad.de Ralph Grabowski
PocketDGN performs view/redline and editing functions of CAD files on CE v3-based PocketPC devices. PocketDGN supports the creation and editing of DGN and DWG files, and the display of CIT, COT, RLE, TG4, JPEG, and TIFF files. No conversion required when uploading or downloading to and from your desktop computer. PocketDGN will be available Nov. 15 for US$49.00 from http://www.pcscad.com