After a lapse of 18 years, Autodesk is releasing a new AutoCAD for Mac. The application, widely used by engineers, architects and other professionals, has been developed as a native Mac OS X program. Simultaneously, the San Rafael, Calif.-based company has announced a free AutoCAD WS mobile app for the iPhone, iPad and the iPod touch.

This release, said Autodesk Senior Vice President Amar Hanspal, "marks the return of professional design and engineering software to the Mac platform," and follows a beta program with more than 5,000 testers. He added that making the software available for Apple's popular mobile devices will make it "more accessible for an ever-greater number of people."

A 'Visual Approach'

AutoCAD for Mac features an interface designed for that platform, including graphical browsing of design files with Cover Flow, the use of multi-touch gestures, and what the software company called a "visual approach to drawing and layout management."

There's also support for native creation and editing of files in the DWG file format, and support for files created in previous versions of AutoCAD. There is also an application programming interface (API) enabling customization for work flows, settings configuration, project-specific adaptations, and other options.

The free AutoCAD WS app for Apple's mobile devices was built specifically for iOS, and it allows AutoCAD users to share and edit files on Apple's portable devices. AutoCAD for Mac is also being offered free to students and teachers.

Laura DiDio, an analyst with Information Technology Intelligence Corp., noted that, "after 18 years, everything old is new again." AutoCAD on the Mac, she said, will find "entire generations of computer users" who haven't used the program.

A key takeaway from Autodesk's decision to develop for Apple platforms again, she said, is the resurgence of Apple's devices in professional settings. "This absolutely validates" the growing popularity of Macs, iPads and iPhones in companies, she said.

'New Level of Acceptance'

DiDio suggested that the biggest driver of Apple's "new level of acceptance" inside corporate environments is the iPad, which is becoming popular in many of the same verticals where AutoCAD has thrived -- architecture, engineering, construction, manufacturing and medical, to name a few. She said the popularity of the iPad, as well as the iPhone, is leading some employees to request Macs when they can make a choice for laptop or desktop machines.

She noted that there is also a "growing population of remote workers" who prefer to use Apple's devices.

When Autodesk discontinued Mac support of AutoCAD in 1992, it was seen at that time as another sign that Apple was floundering.

Apple appears quite aware that the return of AutoCAD helps its validation in the workplace. The Cupertino, Calif.-based company doesn't normally issue statements about new third-party software, but Philip Schiller, senior vice president for worldwide product marketing, said Apple is "thrilled that Autodesk is bringing AutoCAD back to the Mac."

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