iPhone/iPad apps for AutoCAD Users

So you've got that iPhone/iTouch/iPad and want to do more than Facetime with the Spouse or the next round of Angry Birds bragging with friends, where do you start? Below is a list of Apps I have found to be most useful, most are free, some are not. What would you add or delete from the list?

• AutoCADWS: this free mobile app enables you to view and work with AutoCAD drawings directly on your iPad, iPhone, or iPod touch.  Using the touch and gesture interface of your iPad or iPhone you can accurately view, annotate, and revise drawings on the spot.  Change the way you work in the field or on the road by reducing the need to carry around over-sized paper drawings.  With a free add-on to AutoCAD on your desktop/laptop and you can share files seemlessly. Explore more at http://www.autocadws.com/
• TURBOVIEWER: a free application and the first native DWG viewer that supports both 2D and 3D CAD DWG files for the iOS platform. Enjoy smooth multi-touch navigation as you pan, zoom, and 3D orbit effortlessly around your DWG and DXF files. View drawing files by sending an email with DWG or DXF attachment to your iPad/iPhone email client. Drawing files can also be viewed through Web downloads, FTP, Dropbox and WebDav systems. Explore more at http://www.imsidesign.com/TurboViewer
• CadFaster iPad app: Bring your Autodesk® Revit, Bentley MicroStation or SolidWorks models to life, and share from wherever you are with whomever you want – collaborators don’t need CAD software.
• Dropbox: allows you to sync your files online and across your all of your computers (dekstop, laptop, iPhone, iPad, iTouch, Netbook etc.) automatically. Grab a free account from their website and for your phone, and any file you drop into that folder is available on all of your devices. The iPhone/iPad app also lets you open DWG files with AutoCADWS on your handheld device too.
• Box.net: an alternative to Dropbox.
• CamScanner Free: this free mobile app turn your iPhone camera into a scanner. You can crop, save and edit/save to PDF (single or multiple sheets) then email or upload to Dropbox and Box.net reviewed above.
• FileViewer USB FREE: Turn your iPhone into a USB drive. This free app is a file storage, transfer, viewing, and email application for the iPhone and iPod touch. Files are transferred between your computer and FileViewer USB over a USB connection via iTunes. Similar apps include iDrive USB and iFlash-drive.
• neu.Annotate PDF: Read, markup, redline, and annotate PDF documents. PDF files can be opened from any application that supports the "Open with..." menu command. This includes Mail, Safari, MobileMe iDisk, Dropbox and many others. PDF files can also be imported using iTunes File Sharing. Annotations are compatible with Apple Preview and Adobe Acrobat!
• Colorsnap: Capture real world colors and match them to Sherwin-Williams paint colors—for free. Use ColorSnap search to find the color name and values, quickly and easily. Browse hundreds of possibilities and adjust color lightness, saturation, or hue to get the perfect paint color and palette.
• ColorCapture: similar to Colorsnap above, from Benjamin Moore Paint.
• ContraCalc: a free calculator app that does fractions.
• iHandy Level: once calibrated, this free app can be used for Picture Alignment; Angle measurement; Measure angles of slope, escalator; Measure the verticality of a wall, or furniture; Measure the inclination of an aircraft, ship, car or mountain; Roof pitch calculation and so much more.
• SketchBook MobileX: Use it to digitally capture your ideas as napkin sketches or produce artwork on-the-go. This is a professional-grade paint and drawing application designed for the iPhone and iPod Touch. SketchBook Mobile Express offers a dedicated set of sketching tools and delivers them through a streamlined and intuitive user interface.
• HP iPrint Photo: With this free app you can capture and edit photos but most importantly Wirelessly print photos, PDF, and text files directly from your iPhone, iPod Touch or iPad to HP Inkjet printers connected to a local wireless (WiFi) network.
• TeamViewer (Free): access your desktop PC and network (and files, folders and apps) from your iPhone screen. TeamViewer provides easy, fast and secure remote access to Windows, Mac and Linux systems. The Pro version is for use by business organizations.
• LogMeIn Ignition: No free version available, but it can be used with all LogMeIn accounts (free and not) to get full access to your PC/Network and files/folders and apps much like Teamview.
• Qik Video Camera Pro: Not free but this app allows you to share your live video feed over the internet with remote users logged into your webpage. It also allows you to save your videos to the remote site, as well as post to most social media sites like Facebook and MySpace.
• Free Wi-Fi Finder: a must-have app for any Apple mobile device user, it instantly finds FREE Wi-Fi Internet hotspots wherever you are in the world online or offline!
• iHandy Flashlight Free: free app that really works in a pinch when you need a flashlight but forgot it in the car or office.
• Twitter: yes, for business Twitter is the perfect Team commmunications tool. Far beyond eMail on smartphones, with the right Twitter app on the desktop and smartphone (or any phone with texting ability), you and your team have a deposit for all project related communications. Plus at a limit of 140 characters, you will only get the facts with no fluff. Tweetdeck and similar vendors have desktop as well as phone apps that allow you to sort groups (think projects or teams) and take the experience to the next level.

Look for Part 3 of our series on Commands and Variables in LT2011 to be continued soon.