Graphisoft BIMx for iPad/iPhone announced

[Laszlo Nagy]

http://www.graphisoft.com/community/press_zone/graphisoftbimx.html

See it in action:

http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=7kBNgokxrOc

[Laszlo Nagy]

BIMx goes live in one hour.

Check out this related video.
It is about a contest related to BIMx:

http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=pTd52dPnzh0

[Rod Jurich]

.............
Really!!

[Anonymous]

it would be cool to be able to use VBE, now BIMx, files as a way to engage clients in the design process by adding bits of information to be found by exploration in the model.

the shoot-em up imagery is a bit OTT though; surely to stay in context it should incorporate something like razor sharp T-squares or technical pen darts for dispatching zombies

seriously though, i think the violent imagery is in questionable taste.

[Laszlo Nagy]

Here is an Architosh interview with GS guys for some more info about its background, technology and future plans:

http://architosh.com/2011/09/in-depth-graphisoft-bimx-for-ipad-iphone/

[Anonymous]

BIM Explorer otherwise requires that you own a license - see your reseller. One US reseller has it priced at $645 for ArchiPlus subscribers and $1,295 for non-subscribers.

I think that is really expensive.

I hope GS reconsiders.

[Anonymous]

Further reasons for my annoyance at the price.

Clearly, this is an app that is still in its early development. From GS website:

Today you cannot turn on and off layers with BIMx for iOS. Data extraction from model elements is not yet supported. Some features on BIMx for iOS are unique to that platform.

It would be nice to export a model like this to a client, but they can't select an object to see if it is what they wanted! (No data access, nevermind extraction)

Selective model display seems basic: In archicad, the 3d window content is what should show up in your BIMx model. If I design a view, with cut planes, marquee, and Renovation filters, etc THAT should show up in BIMx. (Dwight, you remember WYSIWYG? I don't see how that has changed). Currently, AFAIK, Archicad exports anything on the floorplan: studies, junk, legends and all. Either clean up a saved version, or tell the client, "never go home!" on their iPad.

So like i said. Anything less than $100 for this effort would be fine. But I feel ripped off at $645, given its functionality. (my rant might have something to do with the $500 Options Manager from AC9 or 10(i don't remember) which vanished after one version.)

[Karl Ottenstein]

Hi Nathan,

Nathan wrote:
Further reasons for my annoyance at the price.

Clearly, this is an app that is still in its early development. From GS website:

Today you cannot turn on and off layers with BIMx for iOS. Data extraction from model elements is not yet supported. Some features on BIMx for iOS are unique to that platform.

It would be nice to export a model like this to a client, but they can't select an object to see if it is what they wanted! (No data access, nevermind extraction)

That limitation is to the FREE iPhone/iPad app. It is not a limitation of the FREE desktop viewer. Sure, the IOS app is in its first release, but its free - so has nothing to do with the price of BIM Explorer, right? If you NEED layer control, etc., send your client a free desktop model.

Selective model display seems basic: In archicad, the 3d window content is what should show up in your BIMx model. If I design a view, with cut planes, marquee, and Renovation filters, etc THAT should show up in BIMx. (Dwight, you remember WYSIWYG? I don't see how that has changed). Currently, AFAIK, Archicad exports anything on the floorplan: studies, junk, legends and all. Either clean up a saved version, or tell the client, "never go home!" on their iPad.

No, ONLY what you see in 3D is exported. It's free to use all month - just try it out. If you find that something NOT in the 3D window gets exported, report it as a bug and start a topic here for others to confirm the issue.

So like i said. Anything less than $100 for this effort would be fine. But I feel ripped off at $645, given its functionality. (my rant might have something to do with the $500 Options Manager from AC9 or 10(i don't remember) which vanished after one version.)

The only thing that is NEW in 2011 / AC 15 is the free IOS app. Well, and the BIMx desktop viewer app that can view the same bimx files. (Until now, you only had the option to export an executable app/exe and send THAT to your client - basically sending them the program each time, and having to deal with antivirus issues.) Otherwise, this is the same as Virtual Building Explorer that has been around for several years. Just a new name.

Anyone who had a license for VBE, still has a license for BIM Explorer - unlike what happened with Options Manager.

It does do what you want (see above) - just not perhaps on the free IOS viewer. Still, I won't argue with you that the price seems a bit high. In spite of its peculiarities, I do think it's worth at least $300 myself.

Cheers,
Karl

[Anonymous]

As you have still one month free use of the exporter, the smart move would be to export ALL (or a significant sample of) your models in this time, and send them to your former clients, asking them if this would have been a good thing to have.

Then, depending on the response, calculating how many clients will be pleased in the next couple of years with a model delivered to their mac/pc/iPhone/iPad, dividing that number of clients by the price of the add-on.

If this math gives you at least 6 clients that in the near future would be pleased with the model, that means an investment of $100 per client, which is about the same as taking him/her to a (cheap) dinner.

Of course, you could argue that you will not have any clients in the near future, but them $600 is as expensive as $100...

[JaredBanks]

Miguel,

Great advice!

[Katalin Takacs]

The BIMx app is released for Android devices, too!
http://archicad-talk.graphisoft.com/viewtopic.php?t=40182