We announced the release of eDrawings for iPad earlier today, and while we're excited about it, we realize that some of you are using tablets with other operating systems. So if you would like to see a version of eDrawings for a different mobile operating system, leave a comment on this entry and let us know. Our product managers want to hear from you.
A SEPDM option of some kind. If the mobile had an option to search a SEPDM Vault, that would be awesome. Even if the search happened through some kind of web interface.
I have an Acer Tablet on Android. Edrawings would be a life saver! I don't want to buy an Ipad!!
I'll echo the Android sentiment.
Is this an official wish list for alternative mobile OS's?
The obvious starting point must be iOS on iPhones.
As for wish lists for missing features - you know what they are!
1. Measurement
2. Annotation
3. Show/Hide
Version 2 must haves...
- Platforms: iOS universal app (iPad/iPhone/iPod Touch) & Android devices (tablets and phones)
- Author markups, measure, comments
- Hide/Show/Transparency/Section
-WISH LIST (nice to have)
- collaboration (share screen, chat)
i would love an Android version, and with Ice Cream Sandwich creating a common OS across Android devices surely this is not too much to ask.
I actually would've prefered something more like the 3Dvia Composer Player, but here is my list anyway.
1. Secure access to EPDM Vault or Local Server.
2. Measure
3. Mark-Ups/Comments
4. Collaboration
5. Android
6. Display Styles
This existing tool sounds good for sales. To be useful for engineering I need the following:
1. Access to PDM/Windows File structure. I need to be able to log in to our engineering server and pull drawings/parts. This may be difficult with Apple, but perhaps with an Android tablet it will work?
2. Markup. I need to be able to walk to the shop floor, discuss a part/assembly on the screen, and take notes right there.
This exists now in a Web UI. Contact your VAR about it.
Android please
Thank you for this iPad application!
We really need access to cloud-based file services such as Dropbox, SkyDrive, Box, Google Drive, etc. ASAP.
Regarding my comment above - I have since discovered that Dropbox, SkyDrive work just fine. Instead of opening files from the app, you simply need to select the file on the server and then select the appropriate app to use to open the file. For example, if you select a DWG file you will have the option to use eDrawings or AutoCAD WS - assuming you have both apps installed.
Access to PDM would be great too. (Charles Culp - this should be no problem for the iPad. There's nothing special about Android that would make this any easier.)
Once file services have been supported, the next priority would be to bring the iPad version up to par with the PC/Mac versions of eDrawings viewers.
Casey - I'm surprised that you would think that Android would be more popular than iPad/iOS. From my experience (http://www.ibusinessmag.com/i.Business_Magazine/Home.html) there must be at least an order of magnitude more iPads in the business world compared to Android. I'm not saying that they shouldn't come up with an Android version but targeting and developing for the iPad first just makes a whole lot more sense. I suspect this is why iPad/iOS was chosen first for all of the other CAD/Viewer tablet applications. It still remains to be seen if Android tabs really take off anywhere near to the extent of the iPad. I think it's likely that Windows 8-Metro tabs might be the first real iPad contender.
A Android-Version is absolutly needed!!!!!!!!!
Jim, I don't think it's so much Ipad versus Android tablets as it is iOS versus Android OS. As an organization, the phones given out are more likely to run Android (They have 50%+ of the market). If people use an iPhone for work its usually their personal phone which they setup to access their work email, etc.
They may be missing the boat on this by not including a phone app as well. I don't how iOS works between iPhone and iPad, are they not running the same OS and thus can you not install this on an iPhone as well? Starting with Android 4.0, the OS is the same whether on a phone or tablet.
In terms of numbers, I would think they would target phones first. We have many Smartphones (Android, Windows) in our oganization, I think they have only barely began discussing tablets.
Hey Jim,
Our own Mike Puckett shows how to use Dropbox with the eDrawings app in this blog post. The same should apply to other services like SkyDrive, Google Drive, etc.
Just to expand on Jim's comments above, Apple's iOS currently commands (roughly) 63% of the tablet market versus Android's 19%. There are also signs that Android may actually *decline* in the tablet market over the next year. We opted to concentrate on iOS for the time being because we felt we would reach the most users that way. But as I said earlier, we welcome any and all feedback.
An eDrawings-app for android is realy realy needed. I cannot believe you are even considering not to develop it!!
Jason,
iOS is essentially the same for all iOS devices. Of course there are differences between the iPhone, iPad and iPod Touch and therefore you install the version required for the hardware you're using. But it's the same under the hood and not a separate OS for each hardware device. So when a new iOS release comes out, for example, it's available for all iOS users. Android has had a much more confusing history of update compatibility and which hardware can be updated or not. Hopefully, Google has addressed this and they've addressed the fragmentation problem. If one talks to app developers you get an appreciation why developing for Android can be a real pain compared to iOS.
I think the decision not to use phones (regardless of iOS or Android) has more to do with usability and functionality of the larger screen size on tablets.
eDrawings just would be tough to use on a smaller phone screen. I had AutoCAD WS and other CAD viewer apps on my iPhone but took them off because it's just so compromised on the smaller screen.
I think it's a toss-up to see whether it's going to be Win 8 or Android to finally become a bona fide iPad challenger.
-Jim
In fact, just today IDC released information to bear out the fact that iPads are making gains in market share at the expense of Android tablets...
http://macdailynews.com/2012/05/03/idc-apple-makes-big-gains-in-tablet-market-android-slumps/
A steep drop in shipments of Android-based tablets offset a strong quarter from Apple and caused the media tablet market to miss projections for the first quarter of 2012 (1Q12), according to preliminary data from the International Data Corporation (IDC) Worldwide Quarterly Media Tablet and eReader Tracker. Total worldwide media tablet shipments for the quarter reached 17.4 million units in 1Q12, 1.2 million units below IDC’s projection for the quarter. While IDC predicted a sharp seasonal slowdown of -34% from the previous quarter’s record-breaking 28.2 million units, the actual decline was slightly steeper at -38.4%. The total still represents a robust year-over-year growth rate of 120%, up from 7.9 million units in the first quarter of 2011.
“Apple reasserted its dominance in the market this quarter, driving huge shipment totals at a time when all but a few Android vendors saw their numbers drop precipitously after posting big gains during the holiday buying season,” said Tom Mainelli, research director, Mobile Connected Devices at IDC, in the press release. “Apple’s move to position the iPad as an all-purpose tablet, instead of just a content consumption device, is resonating with consumers as well as educational and commercial buyers. And its decision to keep a lower-priced iPad 2 in the market after it launched the new iPad in March seems to be paying off as well.”
I think the productive thing at this point is to list what we would all like to see in V2. IOS vs Android, is really not necessary. I do, however, have to disagree with Phone not being necessary because of the screen size. Applications can be device appropriate but I still get eDrawings in my email and I am never holding my iPad when it happens... I always have my phone.
The other thing, let's face it, is we are typically engineers and we don't follow the typical folks numbers so device choice may vary from the regular population. More importantly, having a way to view that is not device specific would be nice as well. Android and iOS get the most focus in this App swamp we are in.
Maybe the best would be to have an HTML5 app that has offline capabilities in addition to device centric applications. I am glad there is something out and hope for a time soon where more people in our community can take advantage of this SolidWorks viewing technology.
As mentioned above, we need markup capability, show/hide, and sections. I'd also like to be able to add folders for organizing files. Also, while it is nice that files on cloud servers can be accessed, it would be nice if there was direct access within the app to keep from having to switch back and forth.
Good idea on the folders and user files organization.
Patrick,
Not having folders and hierarchial filing system was a design decision for iOS devices. I've also wanted this feature but I also understand why Apple decided against this. The current scheme of each app presenting all the documents/files in their own window makes sense for novice users but can be problematic for advanced users who wish to have more control. This is particularly the case when you have documents/files (such as DWG, DXF, text) which can be opened by multiple applications. For example, right now if I have a DWG file on the server and select it for opening - I'm presented with a list of all apps which can open DWG files (eDrawings, TurboCAD, AutoCAD WS, etc). That makes sense. But if the file is stored locally on the iOS device, where is the actual file location?
I suspect and hope Apple addresses this in future releases of iOS in such a manner to keep it simple for "novice" users but still optionally flexible enough for the more advanced users (like most CAD users).
-Jim
PS: There are 3rd party apps in the App Store which enable the creation and use of local file folder/hierarchies on iOS devices.
Jim,
I realize that Apple limits access to its file storage, but I was just asking for a way to create folders for files stored within the app. As you mentioned, other apps have this capability, and I use some of them often to keep my files organized. I have a PDF viewing app that lets me create folders, and I use them to separate my work/home files. With everything dumped into one spot, it makes it more difficult to find what I'm looking for.
on May 1, 2012
Android. While iOS is not uncommon, Android seems to have the hearts of the "thinkers", generally. As a SolidWorks user myself, I have searched high and low for a SolidWorks viewer for Android, only to come up empty handed. I am quite surprised than there was more of a demand for iPad than for Android.