"Autodesk shifts design apps to the cloud"

[Hirazi Blue]

Autodesk is planning to take the bulk of its software onto cloud services
in the next three years, beginning with AutoCAD WS.

(Quoted from here)

Discuss...

[Maximus]

Dont remember the meaning of "cloud", what does that mean?
You no longer have the software installed locally and you require an internet connection to work with your software that is installed in their servers, and you log on them?

If is that so, its a total fail:)

[Hirazi Blue]

Your definition of the "cloud" seems about right... ;)

[Mathaeus]

Software called Dassault Catia v6 is based on this system, already.Here is an interesting article. Catia at least, is still installed locally, but files are not on your HDD, anymore. It don't have 'save' button.
Won't be easy to do the same with our, 'entertainment creation' software, probably you'll need to save render output on server, and load it back for later use in compositing. But of course, AD guys will find some way

Who knows, maybe I'll be able to sent my clone to work every morning, finally

[kiwimation]

So if you lost your internet connection at home or work for what ever reason you wouldnt be able to work. It seams a bit crazy really. Even if they have other fail safe servers if your connection is broken what can you do???

[Pancho]

This sucks big time, because all your work will be public to AD. So you loose all control over your privacy as far as your work is concerned. They know when you work, what kind of projects, how much you work, etc. Total control from AD, they can switch off your computer anytime. Rather fascistic attitude. Lamest excuse for this is that the software will be always equiped with the latest bug fixes. This will be horrible.

Facebook just started a way to save your whole life online, because it's so beautiful to share.

I can't eat as much as I'd like to vomit.

[Lord Futzi Voldemort]

I have a 1 mbit connection. That means 16 kbyte upstream. I couldn´t work at all. I´d sue Autodesk for that. Honestly.

Achim

[iamVFX]

This news reminded me of The Cloud™ technology.
"Microsoft is using it, Sony is using it, Apple is using it, now you can use it too!"

I'm sure AD will leave local versions of the software as is and in addition to them will provide cloud ones

[Ethangar]

This news reminded me of The Cloud™ technology.
"Microsoft is using it, Sony is using it, Apple is using it, now you can use it too!"

I'm sure AD will leave local versions of the software as is and in addition to them will provide cloud ones

That isn't the way I read it. They want to push all their apps onto the cloud and then charge a subscription to get at them. Fees for online storage and you can also use the cloud to aid in simulations etc. The more power you use the more you have to pay.


Its not new. M$ tried this years ago also. They wanted everyone to be on thin clients where all the OS and the apps (office especially) would be served over the internet. They were billing it as a way to curb piracy and how it would be cheaper for companies since you could pay on a per use basis instead of bulk licences. Macromedia (at the time ) and Adobe both went on record as thinking that it was a great idea... until the user backlash hit. Then they ran for it and M$ let the idea quietly die.

[Hirazi Blue]

Well, if this comes to pass (and I have no doubt that it will), it will take some serious adjusting on part of the industry (i.e. Autodesk's clients) and I seriously doubt, all of them will gladly make the transition instead of switching to software they can still use locally and that allows them to store their precious "Intellectual Property" locally as well. If something goes wrong with the data of your project, you'd rather have to "kill" your own IT-specialist than look at a blank screen and go "damn you, Autodesk" forever.

But generally, it is obviously a good thing...

[Lord Futzi Voldemort]

It´s just a matter of time that some hacker kid finds a way to blast a cloud. The damage will be gigantic.
Anyway I do believe there will be local versions, since you must be able to work under any circumstances. It´s not just server downtime to consider, but also maybe caterpillar related or meterologically caused loss of connection, which really no-one can control or prevent.
If they offer "cheaper" packages for people who use the cloud, than fine by me. If they charge more if you don´t use the clouds, than goodbye AD.

Achim

[Hirazi Blue]

One other point one could raise against cloud based services is a legal one. The physical location of the servers creating the cloud seems to determine the laws applicable to its content. While this probably won't matter much with 3D creation, it still seems a downside one needs to consider. Some content that's considered illegal in the United States for example might be considered legal in other parts of the world. And you wouldn't want your production seized by the American federal authorities, when the U.S. wasn't its intended market to begin with...

[luceric]

ts not new. M$ tried this years ago also. They wanted everyone to be on thin clients where all the OS and the apps (office especially) would be served over the internet. They were billing it as a way to curb piracy and how it would be cheaper for companies since you could pay on a per use basis instead of bulk licences. Macromedia (at the time ) and Adobe both went on record as thinking that it was a great idea... until the user backlash hit. Then they ran for it and M$ let the idea quietly die.

Microsoft's web office, Office 365, just launched one month ago. Microsoft is a big player in software as service, and as I wrote elsewhere many fortune 500 companies including Autodesk have been using Microsoft hosted applications and renting software instead of buying for many years. Mail at autodesk, for example, is hosted on microsoft server and payed per use.

[McNistor]

If Autodesk and other sw companies will adopt this method of delivering its products (which is wicked if you ask me) the ball will be in the clients' court. The question is will they react or conform like sheep. I already know which is it.

[Hirazi Blue]

I wonder how long beforehand clients will get notified should everything get moved into the cloud... ;)

[McNistor]

I wonder how long beforehand clients will get notified should everything get moved into the cloud... ;)

Well, what now?! Shouldn't you be thankful for Autodesk taking care instantly of your content? In the time required to notify you and then you accepting and replying, oh my, a lot of bad stuff can happen to your pc. It's better to first make the move and after that, everybody should do what suits them.