Apple released the following updates today:
iCloud mail is easy to set up, use and is free from Apple. For architects that want to have their own domain name as part of their email, which iCloud does not offer, one has to find another email host. This often leaves some of OS X's built-in Mail apps features unavailable. Including the new Mail Drop feature in OS X Yosemite.
Mail Drop allows attachments to be sent, up to 5GB in size regardless of your service provider's limitations, which is critical for architects that often have to email large files to clients and consultants.
For non-iCloud email accounts this feature seemed unavailable that is until Peter Cohen over at iMore posted that you can turn on Mail Drop, even for non-iCloud accounts. Check out "How to turn on Yosemite's Mail Drop feature for non-iCloud email accounts" to activate Mail Drop. Then even with your own domain email account, you too will no longer need to worry about sending those large rendering files.
Architosh recently introduced their "Ultimate iPad Guide: Apps for Architects 2.0 (Wave 1)" which updates and expands upon the original "Ultimate iPad Guide." This is the most comprehensive listing and summary of the best apps for the iPad and the architectural community. Anthony Frausto-Robledo AIA, LEED AP should be commended for his hard work in curating the guide and Apple for Architects highly recommends checking it out.
Finding clients is one of the most difficult things to do as an architect. The best ways of being discovered is a topic that many discuss, but in 2014 one of the most often used methods is an online search. Though online searches are more varied than just a simple Google web query and today include Twitter, Facebook, LinkedIn, Instagram, Yelp, Houzz and even Google Maps.
Having a presence on each is often in your control, in that you create a profile or account on each and sit back and wait for the flood of calls from clients that need your services. Though, adding your firm to Apple Maps has been just about impossible. That is until recently when Apple launched Apple Maps Connect.
After all the concepts, designing and redesigning, construction documents and building department comments are completed, the last phase of a project is construction. For architects that are Apple fans, the ultimate construction currently underway is the Apple Campus 2 project, which is currently being built with an expected completion date in 2016.
The building itself is a massive 2.8 million square feet on 176 acres that will eventually house 12,000 staff. Since the project began there have been several drone flyovers detailing the construction process and Seth Weintraub over at 9to5Mac has published the latest Apple Campus 2 Drone Video from November 8, 2014.
Architects work in imagery. They are either designing it, documenting it or photographing it. For that last one, the tool that many architects now use is their iPhone.
With the recent updates to the Apple's operating systems, iOS 8 on the iPhone and OS X 10.10 or "Yosemite" for the Mac, there are many new and or revised features that affect how architects use these tools.
Austin Mann is a professional photographer and has complied an extensive list in an article title, "Yosemite + iOS 8.1: What Photographers Need to Know." Although Austin focus is for photographers many of the tips and features he highlights are applicable for architects as well and everyone should give Austin's post a read.
Where once an architectural office never seemed to have enough desk space to layout drawings, today most architects workflow has migrated to the computer. That has driven the need for larger and larger monitors. Though monitor sizes have topped out between 27-inches to 30-inches, the resolution is going higher and higher allowing you to see far more on one screen than ever before.
Even thought Apple has been selling Retina displays on their MacBook Pro line for a couple of years now, they only recently introduced a high resolution screen on the iMac. If you are not in the market for the iMac with Retina 5K display, but need more pixels then check out Peter Cohen 4K Mac Display Roundup at iMore.
The Get a Mac campaign was a television advertising campaign created for Apple by TBWA\Media Arts Lab, the company's advertising agency, that ran from 2006 to 2009. If you have 37:35 minutes to spare, check out the complete collection of "Get a Mac" ads and for some history, follow up with the Wikipedia page.
Which one was your favorite?
After an announcement in June, during Apple's World Wide Developers Conference, HomeKit which is a platform designed to allow smart home devices to seamlessly integrate with iOS devices via Bluetooth and Wi-FI, will soon be here. Though it has been all quiet on the HomeKit front, chips from Apple-approved chipmakers will allow manufactures to incorporate HomeKit in a variety of products like lightbulbs, locks, fans, thermostats, power outlets, garage doors, and more.
To learn more about it and what products we as architects will able to spec for our clients, read the story on MacRumors.
Do you think the "connected home" that has been promised for decades will finally arrive with a push from Apple and HomeKit? Leave your thoughts in the comments.
Trimble has released a second update to SketchUp this year with the announcement of SketchUp 2015. SketchUp is the most popular 3D modeling app and there are some major improvements in the 2015 version. To read more about the announcement check out the story on Architosh, then head over to Trimble's SketchUp site to download the new version.
Do you use SketchUp? If so, how do you incorporate it into your workflow? Use the comments below to share how you use SketchUp and if you are excited about the new version.
