April 2015 Webinar Benefits of BIM for the Executive Team

How is Your Design Trending?

Revit Credit Manager for LEED

(from Autodesk Labs) The Revit Credit Manager for LEED^® is a free^* technology preview will allow you to automate calculations as well as streamline the submittals conveniently from inside Autodesk^® Revit^® 2014 or 2015 software for the following LEED 2009 credits:

• Daylighting (IEQ 8.1), both Option 1 (Simulation) and Option 2 (Prescriptive)
  For Option 1 (simulation), you also need to download Lighting Analysis for Revit plug-in
• Views (IEQ8.2)
  
• Water Use Reduction (WEp1, WEC3 for LEED NC or WEC2 in LEED CI)
  
• Recycled Content (MRc4)
  

Revit Extension for Autodesk Fabrication

(from Autodesk Exchange) With the Autodesk® Revit® Extension for Autodesk® Fabrication, Autodesk® Revit® 2016 software users can save models that have been produced in Revit 2016 or Revit MEP 2016 using Fabrication Parts to a file compatible with Autodesk® Fabrication 2016 software products (Fabrication CADmep, Fabrication ESTmep, Fabrication CAMduct).  This interoperability allows users to utilize fabrication model data authored in Revit for use in Fabrication workflows.  Additionally, supported parts in models created in the Fabrication software products can be opened for continued modelling in Revit, or Revit hand-off at the end of the project.

The  add-in can be found here.

7 awesome paid iPhone apps that are free downloads right now

repost from BGR.com

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By Zach Epstein on Apr 14, 2015 at 10:31 AM

Email @zacharye

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Yesterday’s list of paid iPhone and iPad apps was a terrific one, and a few of the apps on that list can still be downloaded for free if you hurry. Today’s list might be even better though, with seven paid iOS apps — including a few that are pretty popular — that are all on sale for free for a limited time.
DON’T MISS: Connecting my life: The $50 gadget that transformed my iPhone
These are paid iPhone and iPad apps that have been made available for free for a limited time by their developers. There is no way to tell how long they will be free. These sales could end an hour from now or a week from now — obviously, the only thing we can guarantee is that they were free at the time this post was written. If you click on a link and see a price listed next to an app instead of the word “get,” it is no longer free. The sale has ended. If you download the app, you will be charged.

Fleksy

Normally $0.99.

Fleksy is the most fun, customizable way to type, and officially the fastest keyboard in the world. Fleksy is the only keyboard that allows you to find and send GIFs, and customize your keyboard with powerful Extensions and colorful themes.
Use Fleksy Extensions like: GIFs, Hotkeys, Number Row, Cursor Control, One-Handed Typing, Rainbow Key Pops and more
• “This is much better than your standard input methods and predictive text engines.” – TechCrunch
POWERFUL EXTENSIONS FOR CUSTOM FUNCTIONALITY
Use Fleksy Extensions to customize your keyboard with incredibly powerful features. Have more fun with the ONLY Keyboard with GIF support and great autocorrect. Control your cursor from the spacebar with Cursor Control. Make Fleksy easier to reach on iPhone 6 and iPhone 6 Plus with One-Handed Typing. Or, customize Fleksy with an easy-access Number Row or keys of your choice. Fleksy gives you 3 slots FREE, so you can mix, match, and try all 7!
THE FASTEST, MOST ACCURATE KEYBOARD
Fleksy keyboard uses next-generation autocorrect so accurate you can type without even looking, and type with record-setting speed using intuitive gestures! Type faster and save more time for the things you love.
BEAUTIFUL DESIGN. 35+ COLORFUL THEMES. 3 CUSTOMIZABLE SIZES.
Show your style on Fleksy’s beautiful keyboard with over 35 free and purchasable colorful themes. Check out fan favorites like the Chameleon Theme that matches the color of the app you are in, the Frozen and Hunger Games themes, and our snazzy animated themes.
TYPING THAT’S ACTUALLY FUN!
Express yourself with GIFs, over 800 Emoji, 35+ themes, and Rainbow Key Pops. Then, earn fun Badges and rewards for using Fleksy! Who said typing had to be boring?
MORE NATURAL GESTURES
With just a swipe of your finger, easily add punctuation, space, delete words, and much more. Easy. Intuitive. Fast.
WHY ARE WE BETTER THAN OTHER KEYBOARDS?
• The only keyboard with custom Extensions. No keyboard is more customizable.
• The only keyboard that holds a world record for typing speed. No keyboard is faster.
• The best keyboard to find and send GIFs while typing. No keyboard is more fun.
• The most beautiful design, custom themes, and sizes. No keyboard is more beautiful.
************************************************
MULTILINGUAL TYPING
Seamlessly switch between languages while typing. Fleksy supports over 40 languages including:
• English (US)
• Albanian
• Arabic
• Bulgarian
• Catalan (Spain)
• Croatian
• Czech
• Danish
• Dutch
• English (AUS)
• English (CA)
• English (UK)
• Estonian
• Finnish
• French (CA)
• French (FR)
• German
• Greek
• Hebrew
• Hungarian
• Italian
• Latvian
• Lithuanian
• Macedonian
• Malay
• Norwegian
• Polish
• Portuguese (BR)
• Portuguese (PT)
• Romanian
• Russian
• Serbian
• Slovak
• Slovenian
• Spanish (Latin America)
• Spanish (ES)
• Spanish (US)
• Swedish
• Tagalog
• Turkish
• Ukrainian
Vote for your language at http://languages.fleksy.com
Languages with the most votes will be released faster!
LAYOUT SUPPORT
QWERTY, AZERTY, QWERTZ, even DVORAK or Colemak
PRIVACY
Fleksy does not collect any personal data without your explicit permission. We take privacy very seriously.
Happy Typing!
Note – Some premium features require in-app purchase.

Download Fleksy

Video Merge

Normally $0.99.

Merge Videos : Video Editor
This is the application where you can take and merge multiple videos and merge your selected audio file from your device.
This is the complete video editing tool where you can make your multiple videos into one.
You can have your multiple videos taken for one celebration or party in single video and merge audio of your choice in that video file.
** Works with any size portrait or landscape
** Stitches together seamlessly
** Saves all your created Video’s for easy sharing
** Share to Instagram
** Very fast process , and simple to use

Download Video Merge

Fitness for Weight Loss PRO

Normally $3.99.

The only fitness app on the App Store designed specially for weight loss.
This refined approach to 7-minutes workouts will make fitness serve your goals!
======================
SMART TRAINING PROGRAM
– 4 weeks, 1 workout per day, about 10 minutes per training;
– auto-adjusted training plan for every week: prevents your body from getting used to the workload;
– alternation of low- and high-intensity workouts: lets you recover and regain strength;
– gradual workload increase, rest periods and exercise order change: achieve top results in less time;
– 3 levels of training: suits any person;
– no need to worry about anything: just follow the plan.
EASY WORKOUT MODE
– full video, audio guidance to each of 74 exercises;
– breathing instructions: audio & visualization for each exercise;
– landscape & portrait modes;
– easy access to your music, podcasts and audio books right from the app.
TRACK YOUR PROGRESS
– calories burned counting;
– weight tracking;
– calories/weight/training progress graphics;
– calendar to stay informed;
– achievements to stay motivated.
MOREOVER
– easy sharing to Facebook & Twitter;
– simple integration with fitness networks: Fitbit, MapMyFitness;
– synchronization with Apple Health;
– no equipment, you can train anytime and anywhere;
– one-time content upload: no need to be online for your training.
====================
This app is developed for informational purposes only. You must always consult your physician or doctor before starting any fitness program.

Download Fitness for Weight Loss PRO

iDarkroom

Normally $0.99.

iDarkroom is a REAL-TIME, INTUITIVE, POWERFUL photo editor. iDarkroom 1 has been featured as “BEST APP OF THE WEEK” in 14 countries. Now we are so excited to introduce the totally new iDarkroom 2, we built it from scratch all over again.
NEW UI
Clear interface with larger preview area, optimized for single handed use.
PROFESSIONAL CAMERA LIKE DSLR
You can now touch to set focus / exposure, or manual set focus / shutter speed / ISO / white balance / exposure compensation / zoom. (Need iOS 8)
POWERFUL ADJUSTMENT TOOLS
Adjust image with Curve, Selective Color, Channel Mixer, Film Grain, Fade, Shadows/Highlights, Unsharp Mask, Color Balance, Vibrance (adjust saturation and prevent skin tones overly saturated) and other powerful tools.
SPECIAL EFFECTS
Toon filter convert image to cartoon, it’s the best toon filter in the world.
Ink filter make image look like hand drawn ink line/dot drawing.
Woodcut, Pop Art, Halftone filters make image cool and unique.
You can also add Tilt Shift (with Lens Blur) and other exclusively amazing effects (Zoom Blur, Circular Blur, Glow) to image.
FILTERS
18 analog film filters, 22 color filters and 12 monochrome filters.
OVERLAYS
● 10 FILM PAPER effects
● 10 GRUNGE effects
● Customizable BOKEH effects with Lens Distortion & Aberration
● 11 LIGHT LEAK effects
● 20 FRAME effects with adjustable texture
OTHER FEATURES
● Undo/Redo/Delete/Move/Re-edit Edit History
● Save edit history as DIY Filter and Re-edit it
● SHUFFLE effects with one tap
● Crop, Rotate, Straighten and Correct image
● Control intensity of effects
● Share image to Instagram, Twitter, Facebook, Flickr, Google+, Weibo
● Save to Photo Album or share with Email
● Support FULL SIZE photo
● Backup and restore curves via iTunes File Sharing

Download iDarkroom

Since

Normally $0.99.

Since is a simple day counter, presenting a colorful array of arcs which grow since a certain day of your choice. Since is a perfect application to help quit a bad habit, or remember how long it has been since an important event.
As time carries on, since displays colorful arcs which grow with the day, week, month, year, 2 year, 5 year, and 10 year periods. Since also shows the number of days since as the focus of the visual.
Since incorporates beautiful color schemes and smooth animation into a minimal and elegant application design. Simply tap once to watch the animation, tap twice to set Since’s date, and pull right to choose from over ten brilliant color schemes.
Motivate yourself, start counting.

Download Since

The Pic Lab

Normally $0.99.

You don’t take photos with Filters. You transform them. Filters has over 800 ways to transform your photographs including fully adjustable authentic vintage film recreations, hand-painted textures, vibrant colored gel overlays, special multi-effect adjustments (Shine, Luna, Color Boost, Intimidate and Smart Fade) as well as standard image adjustment tools like brightness, contrast, color temperature, exposure and more. All features are included with nothing extra to purchase.
FEATURES
– Zoom in on your photo while editing to see crisp details
– Tap-hold on photo to compare edits with your original photo
– Adjust the intensity of every filter to get the perfect look
– Live-updating, large filter previews in a smooth, scrolling list
– Save your favorite filters for quick access
– No need to import photos into a special, in-app library
– Simple, distraction-free user interface
– Save photos to your Camera Roll or send to Instagram, Twitter, Facebook and other apps
FILTERS
Over 500 fully-adjustable filters across five categories: Vintage, Monochromatic, Dramatic, Cool and Warm. Faithful reproductions of vintage film stock processing effects from Canon, Nikon, Leica, Fuji, Sony and others with all filters specially hand-tuned by professional photographers and artists to transform your photographs into incredible showpieces.
EFFECTS
Fine-tune your photograph’s fine details with precise sliders to adjust Brightness, Contrast, Color Temperature, Exposure and Saturation. Filters also introduces 5 brand new multi-effect adjustments: Shine, Luna, Intimidate, Color Boost and Smart Fade which intelligently assess image color data to let you add drama, vibrancy or the perfect retro look to your photograph.

Download The Pic Lab

Diceepline

Normally $3.99.

Diceepline, a serious game to help you to do more good things than bad ones.
Add your actions in Diceepline, attribute some points ( negative or positive ) to each action, setup pronostics, and even costs…
Each time you want to do an action, roll the wheel. If you win, you can do it.
If you lose, you will have to do a better action, or nothing.
You can’t still do the bad action you want, but you lose twice the points.
Compare your day Score/Cost to yesterday, or previous week, estimate how much things cost you in your life… And hopefully, gradually let your bad habits down.

Download Diceepline

8 awesome paid iPhone apps on sale for free for a limited time (Repost)

https://www.yahoo.com/tech/s/8-awesome-paid-iphone-apps-sale-free-limited-140453066.html?soc_src=mags&soc_trk=copy

Revit OpEd: View Reference Example

Revit OpEd: View Reference Example: Related to a past POST or TWO ...or THREE . Here's a quick example of a poorly crafted Plan View reference that can be used to indic...

Report The 360 View: Optimizing Parallels Settings for Autodesk BIM 360 Glue / Autodesk Navisworks

Optimizing Parallels Settings for Autodesk BIM 360 Glue / Autodesk Navisworks

Optimizing Parallels Settings for Autodesk BIM 360 Glue / Autodesk Navisworks

I switched to an Apple Macbook Pro three years back and has been using it ever since at work and home. Running BIM 360 Glue or Navisworks in a Windows virtual machine using Parallels has become such a breeze that I barely have to pause. It took me a while to understand the settings initially and some additional trial and error to identify what i believe to be the key parameters. I thought of sharing in this post some of these lessons learned in optimizing Parallels settings for use with BIM 360 Glue or Navisworks.

Autodesk BIM 360 Glue on a Macbook Pro running Parallels 10 and Windows 8.1

The above screenshot shows the Clash Resolution workflow of Glue in action. I have a 2013 Macbook Pro with Parallels 10 and Windows 8.1. The below Settings are specifically for Parallels 10, and you might notice minor changes in other versions. Irrespective of the version of Windows and Parallels you use, this should give a good starting point for you to set up your work machine.

Take a back up: Before you start modifying any settings, it is recommended to take a back up copy of your virtual machine. You will find a *.pvm file within your parallels folder. Make a copy of this and save it some where safely such that you can easily roll back to your existing virtual machine state.

Configure for Design: In the newer versions, Parallels has introduced an out of the box option to specify your intent for the virtual machine. This option is available while you configure the virtual machine or you can change it later from the General Settings. It is recommended to select "Design" from the options for best results while using any CAD software.

 

In addition to this, let us take a look at some of the other settings that are very important. All these setting are accessible by selecting the "Settings" of the virtual machine. There are four main tabs General, Options, Hardware and Security. We are going to focus on some key parameters within the Options and Hardware Tabs.

Virtual Machine Performance Options: Parallels provides options to tune for performance and power usage.   I would recommend selecting "Faster Virtual Machine" and "Better Performance" for best results. Rest of the Settings within Options didn't seem to make too much impact, so I kept the default configurations.

Hardware: I have found couple of settings within the Hardware tab to be the key for good graphics, especially when you are navigating 3D models. First is the CPU & Memory numbers. I have 16 GB of RAM on my machine and I have noticed the best performance when I dedicate 9-11GB for the virtual machine to go with 2 CPUs. There are some benchmark tests available on the web that point to this setting.

Next is the Video memory, and dedicating ~1GB of Video memory and using DirectX10 has worked quite well for me. What is more important is the Resolution. It is recommended to uncheck the 'Enable Retina resolution' box. On Windows 7, instead of this checkbox you will be presented with three options - Scaled, Best for Retina, More Space. I have found the 'Scaled' option to work very well.

I think you are all set to take your newly tuned Windows virtual machine for a spin. Let us start in a Window mode or Full Screen mode (I never really liked the Coherence mode of Parallels). You can try what you like from the View options.

Couple of final tweaks to the Windows settings and you are all set. I typically run Windows in a 1440X900 Screen Resolution. And from the PC System Properties, I set Windows to 'Adjust for Best Performance'. 

Restart Windows if necessary and you are ready to Glue it! 

- See more at: http://the360view.typepad.com/blog/2015/02/optimizing-parallels-settings-for-autodesk-bim-360-glue-autodesk-navisworks.html#sthash.B21lVsVv.dpuf

CAD Shack: Top 20 Revit Tips, Tricks, and Handy Tools

CAD Shack: Top 20 Revit Tips, Tricks, and Handy Tools: Here are some of my favorite Revit Tips and Tricks. 1)   Previous Selection Set Ctrl + the left arrow key on your keyboard will re-sele...

Revit OpEd: IF Formulas and Notepad

Revit OpEd: IF Formulas and Notepad: A good tip was shared (by Josephpeel) at RFO the other day. If you use a Tab or Line Break in Notepad to make it easier to understand a len...

Revit OpEd: Saving Backward

Revit OpEd: Saving Backward: It is a common question and the answer is no, Revit does not save backward, to an older version.  People often regard saving a file from on...