Autodesk, Inc. today launched Autodesk Maya 8.5, the latest version of its Maya 3D modeling, rendering and animation software. Now shipping, Maya 8.5 is available for Intel-powered Macs. The software enables faster completion of complex animation and simulation tasks, giving artists enhanced creative control on multiple platforms.
“Our goal is to give digital artists choice and flexibility in their 3D tools and platforms,” said Marc Petit, Autodesk’s Media & Entertainment vice president, in the press release. “Autodesk Maya 8.5 is our first Universal application of Maya. This multi-threaded software leverages the latest multi-core workstations from Apple. Maya 8.5 equips digital artists with innovative new technologies such as Maya Nucleus, a unified simulation framework, as well as greater productivity.” Universal applications are designed for Intel- and PowerPC-based Mac computers, efficiently running on both architectures.
“Mac OS X is an outstanding 3D graphics platform, with legendary power and stability,” said Ron Okamoto, Apple’s vice president of Worldwide Developer Relations, in the press release. “The combination of our blazing fast Intel-based Macs and new Maya 8.5 functionality, such as Maya Nucleus and Maya nCloth, makes it easier than ever for digital artists to realize their most creative ideas.”
More info: http://www.autodesk.com/maya
This is awesome software with a full featured (7.0 release) “personal learning edition” and excellent tutorials that are fantastic for learning how to use the software.
And where is AutoCAD for the Mac??????
Amen, iSteve!
I agree its about time for Revit and autocad to come to the mac
Does Maya have a steep learning curve? It seems that all 3D apps are very hard to learn and get a handle on.
As a user of Maya for years (and having written lots o’ books on it too), I can say 8.5 is a nice upgrade for us Mac users. The nCloth stuff is very cool (working on that chapter as I write this), but the best part is the universal binary support, since it increases speed so much on Intel based Macs.
And MacDaddy-Oh, it does indeed have a steep learning curve. Just wait about 5 more weeks and our 8.5 book will be out to help you learn it
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CAD is sooo last century, BIM is the future and thats why Autodesk bought Revit, and in that world of design Archicad is king. Originally design for mac, Archicad is universal and well ahead of everyone in terms of funcionality . If you need more Vectorworks is also universal and it is less
expensive. So no need for Autocad let that monster die!!a
@The MacDaddy-Oh
Maya is a robust and feature-rich application, and does require a lot of study to utilize its full potential. Maya is top end stuff for a professional that can turn Maya skills into a good payday. Not for messing around. Maya does offer a lot of self-teaching tools and schools such as Gnomon in Hollywood sell DVDs for Maya instruction that can be very helpful.
at last woop, oh, and yes steep learning curve. video tutorials are a good help though
MacJam wrote I agree its about time for Revit and autocad to come to the mac
Back. The operative word is back, as in I agree its about time for Revit and autocad to come back to the mac.
For those with few years, or short memories, from the wiki:
AutoCAD currently runs exclusively on Microsoft desktop operating systems. Versions for Unix and Macintosh were released in the 1980s, but these were later dropped.
http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/AutoCAD
OK, maybe not Revit. That’s what I get for copy/paste w/o looking closely.
AutoCAD is a wounded dinosaur on a crowded bus.
The COBAL of the CAD world.
The fat men in a stalled elevator.
And Autodesk knows this.
No soup for you!
AutoCAD for Mac please…… if only so I can convert those pesky DWG’s for use in ArchiCAD!
autocad for mac, please
if only so i can shut those idiot cad/cam designers up
AutoDesk should have their entire lineup on Mac.Period.
We use Vectorworks and Archicad. Practically every single other firm we work with and rely on uses Windblows and AutoCAD. Too bad but that’s the standard unfortunately. Hopefully it will change.
Fuck Autodesk for buying Motionbuilder and then ruining it!
I agree that Autodesk should get Architectural Desktop or Revit over to OSX. Would prefer ADT. Revit does not excite me doing details (roof, window, and door) or wall sections. Revit is more or a design tool and not for construction document production. Have not looked too hard at Archicad. From what I have seen it is hard to make good looking details. This is even more of a problem when a person does renovation work . Why am I on the slant of drawings and detailing? I am a drafter. I have very little input as to what the building looks like. My design effort is to make the details look good and have a good set of construction documents. The details should also be clearly noted so a contractor can read them – thus better bidding. I will get off my soap box now.
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Yes finally! Can’t be too long before they release the 64bit version for OS X too.
Geez already… launch 3DS Max for Mac, Autodesk! That’t the only reason I’m still stuck in PC land at work.
STFU! Autocad is just too expensive for me to buy a Mac copy too! It runs just fine with Bootcamp and that’s all I need for compatibility.
When I’m done using Autocad I boot into the worlds greatest OS and do photos, video and sound.
We don’t need no stinking Audodesk shite on the Mac. Screw them. I don’t buy any of their software that I don’t have to have.
Apple has been less than kind to developers the last number of years & I think that has more to do with why AutoDesk hasn’t ported it’s software to the Mac & the same could be said for any number of other companies.
Apple has been mucking around with it’s developer environment, tools and API’s for about 10 years now. A whole freaking decade. Not the normal roadmap tweaks and improvements- highly expensive and disruptive stuff that many companies have no desire to deal with.
Carbon, Rhapsody, Classic, Cocoa, now Universal Binaries. Forced transition from Code Warrior to X-Code through the Intel Switch. Significant changes to the APIs from version to version of OS X. Maybe now that things have (hopefully) stabilized, we will begin to see some developers return or jump into the Mac marketplace. That’s before you look at the way they have bigfooted many of their small indy developers. It’s not been a partnership- it’s been a plantation. I’m glad I didn’t have to feed myself working as a Mac developer the last 10 years.
Back before iPhone World SF 2007, someone posted the 1997 Keynote where Jobs came clean with the faithful and talked about the vision going forward on the Net. I took a look at it and noticed a couple of things:
1- He said that Apple had about 25 million users. Recently, he was quoted as saying that about 20 million use OS X in various releases. Otherwise a decade later the Mac has 5 million fewer users than it had back then. This small ecosystem has been dragged through the transition to OS X, the transition to Intel, etc. Developers have been through way more. Many have seen Apple reward their effort and support by giving away software that was the bread and butter of their existence with out so much as a thank you.
2- Jobs said that Apple’s go it alone strategy was the wrong thing going forward and that they would be actively seeking to partner with other companies. I’m sure Apple found it very hard to find many partners in 1997, but might find the going better today. It’s time for Apple to act like a partner with vendors, 3rd party manufacturers, resellers and developers. It’s the only way Apple will get the Mac out of it’s boutique ghetto and into the mainstream.
I love the Macintosh, but it’s time somebody called them on their hubris and bullsh*t. They have been less than kind to many who have sold their products and developed HW & SW for their ecosystem. Sometimes they have been less than kind to their customers. They do not walk on water and have gotten very profitable by locking their users on a plantation. Maybe it’s another kind of Stockholm Syndrome.
>>Why No AutoCad, Etc
There’s nothing like good old quality bitterness…