iPad CAD / Vector

[How Goes It]

Talking GPS ---------

I was thinking of buying a GPS survey rig a few years back.

As I recall, I was looking at Trimble.

And as I remember, I was going to have to spend something in the range of $4k to $8k -- I think it was.

There were set-ups that wouldn't loose sync. Where you could drive on a four wheel off-road vehicle and log points while moving.

But I was looking at a less sophisticated and cheaper set-up. Like a single base station and one rover type thing --- where you would walk to a point, and then stop and take a reading. With this type set-up, it was possible to lose your lock or sync. And as I recall, you would have to go back to the base station to establish lock again? I think? This configuration was supposed to be accurate to around 1/2" or so.

But as far as the single hand held navigation, or iphone, or dedicated golf gps type of units --- well -- my golf unit for instance, is usually accurate to within a yard or two of my friends golf gps. But these recreational handhelds aren't even capable of reading less than a yard. So ...

----------
Steve

[Davydd]

Since my golf accuracy would most likely be off 30 yards or more, a GPS unit would be no help at all for me. I gave the game up.

[Alfred Scott]

New iOS app VueCAD just added to App Store. Lets you view CAD files of a variety of formats.

Alfred

[Alfred Scott]

I made the plunge and now have one of the new iPads.

The Retina display is incredible and it's clear we are going to see hires displays on Macs.

It is phenomenal for reading books and PDFs. Please note that you can find the WildTools manuals in the Documentation part at the bottom of the page. I've always preferred books made of paper, but having the manual in iBooks on the iPad is really great, and I would encourage WildTools users to get it.

I am really interested in the ability to create iBooks and that is the main reason I got an iPad. My first project will be Project Winkie (find this at www.rosegill.com) and I want to see what can be done to make a book more interactive and interesting. A history book does not have to be boring and I want to make the architectural history of Richmond come alive. I've got other books I've done on the same website and I would like to get them into iBooks.

And the WildTools manual should be more interactive. Everyone has loved the animations of WildTools on the website.

Lots to do, and I'm also looking at things being done in iOS for ways to improve WildTools. I am deliberately designing dialogs with the idea of creating the same kind of elegant simplicity that has made the iPhone and iPad so popular. Maybe it sounds looney, but when I am working on a new design I always imagine that I am working at Apple, that everything should be up to the standards of Apple's best designers. When I think of what I have done in the past with complicated dialogs for Squiggle and the Balloon Text tool, I just blanch. If I worked at Apple and took these in to show them to Steve Jobs, he would have thrown me out of the office and he would have been right to do so. Look at the Tree, Shrub, Picture Frame and Gradient Fill tools. I am doing this to the Balloon Text tool, and will shortly be doing this to the new People tool.

And I am looking for ways to eliminate menu-based setups and change them to a graphic display as done in the four tools mentioned above. I've just done this in the Balloon Text tool.

Alfred

[pbacot]

Alfred,

Sounds good.Check out E.O. Wilsons textbook "Life On Earth" on iTunes (free preview version). I didn't get the retina display, but I can't imagine, the screen I have appears flawless.

I just got an iPad in February. For a stylus I got the iPonet Jot Pro and it works great.

Peter

[David Scott]

I am really interested in the ability to create iBooks and that is the main reason I got an iPad. My first project will be Project Winkie (find this at http://www.rosegill.com) and I want to see what can be done to make a book more interactive and interesting. A history book does not have to be boring and I want to make the architectural history of Richmond come alive. I've got other books I've done on the same website and I would like to get them into iBooks.
Alfred

There's a good manual on creating iBooks by Nellie McKesson and Adam Witwer. It's a free download at the moment from O'Reilly at http://shop.oreilly.com/product/0636920025597.do

David

[Alfred Scott]

David,

Thanks. Turns out I had already found it and have it on my iPad.

Fascinating new world out there!

Alfred

[ftribel]

I'm waiting for the samsung note (10'), I want to be able to draw with a real pen and not with the finger...

[Alfred Scott]

TreeSketch2 is a very cool app. Now if there was a way to email it to yourself as a 2D image that you could use. Maybe there is and I just didn't look.

I think there are similar things on websites where you can do all this in your browser.

I found this when I was thinking about maybe doing an iPad app that would be a subset of Trees & Shrubs.

Alfred

[Davydd]

I'm waiting for the samsung note (10'), I want to be able to draw with a real pen and not with the finger...

You might have to wait for the apps too. It seems the Kindle Fire taking 54% of the Android tablet market has put a wet blanket on app development. Not only is it a somewhat crippled OS it is way out of date for anything other than reading Kindle books and half-***edly trying to use it as a tablet for other uses.

The Galaxy Note outside of the iPad sphere is probably the most innovative tablet or phablet there is. It looks great for jotting which requires the using one hand to hold the device and one hand to write. That is about as big a form factor you can go and accomplish that comfortably I think.

I'm getting very comfortable using the Studio Neat Cosmonaut stylus on my iPad. It seems very responsive and natural to use (for me) bringing back my art training, especially charcoal sticks. After 40+ years the hand memory muscles come back.

[How Goes It]

Alfred,

I am a heavy user of GPS apps on the iPhone and I have hiked my property with several out of curiosity. They just are not that accurate. They are good for taking a 3 mile hike but not for surveying. I find many can be as much as 30 feet off. I don't think our satellite system allows us to be that accurate. I use Tom Tom North America for turn by turn in my car and RV and generally use Everytrail Pro to track my hiking exercises, though I switch around just for variation. Everytrail Pro has the most seamless way of integrating taking photos along your hike without needing additional tapping like pause and resume.

Talking GPS ---------

I was thinking of buying a GPS survey rig a few years back.

As I recall, I was looking at Trimble.

And as I remember, I was going to have to spend something in the range of $4k to $8k -- I think it was.

There were set-ups that wouldn't loose sync. Where you could drive on a four wheel off-road vehicle and log points while moving.

But I was looking at a less sophisticated and cheaper set-up. Like a single base station and one rover type thing --- where you would walk to a point, and then stop and take a reading. With this type set-up, it was possible to lose your lock or sync. And as I recall, you would have to go back to the base station to establish lock again? I think? This configuration was supposed to be accurate to around 1/2" or so.

But as far as the single hand held navigation, or iphone, or dedicated golf gps type of units --- well -- my golf unit for instance, is usually accurate to within a yard or two of my friends golf gps. But these recreational handhelds aren't even capable of reading less than a yard. So ...

----------
Steve

WELL HERE IS SOMETHING VERY INTERESTING AS TRIMBLE IS BUYING SKETCHUP
http://sketchupdate.blogspot.com/2012/0 ... tchup.html

[Davydd]

WELL HERE IS SOMETHING VERY INTERESTING AS TRIMBLE IS BUYING SKETCHUP
http://sketchupdate.blogspot.com/2012/0 ... tchup.html

Trimble has iPad app experience. I wonder if they have plans to adapt SketchUp to the iPad in some way. Google was reluctant I am sure as to not give Apple any more fuel than necessary against Android tablets. OK, one can dream.

[Rob C]

That's an interesting twist. I've grown to use SketchUp quite a lot in recent years, and I hope this move doesn't ruin it.

[Alfred Scott]

I told you so! I told you so!

But then it was just a matter of time because it was so obvious.

New app MagicPlan for iPhone and iPad let's you stand in the middle of a room and "trace" a floor plan by pinging the corners.

Reverse engineering done right.

And PlanGrid looks like a great way to publish your drawing sets. Upload PDFs to the website then view in the iPad app.

Alfred

[pbacot]

That looks like a good one to check out Alfred.

I have been using PlanGrid and it works fine. Easy and uses iPad format well. They are improving it all the time too.


There's a lot happening with iPAD AEC field applications. I wish there was a place for AEC on Apps store. Apple has never given AEC a break in this way. It's just lumped with "Productivity".

Here's another one to look at http://www.redstickcad.com/ I don't think it is on the App store.

I tried working with Eric's iPocketDraw, and I think there are some good attempts at CAD like that, but I think some things are just not suited to iPad.

Apps that do specific task--such as ONLY be oriented to drawing as-built floor plans--might be able to take more advantage of the iPad, rather than Apps that try to fill the space of traditional computer programs--such as a full featured CAD.

Other App to look at

My Measures http://www.google.com/url?sa=t&rct=j&q= ... Gw&cad=rja

and AR Apps like Pixeet:
http://forums.sketchucation.com/viewtopic.php?f=81&t=43334&hilit=altared#p386362