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Orthograph 4.0

A few things have changed since the last time I mused about Orthograph.

  1. I got an iPad (well my wife and I bought an iPad mini for ourselves, though it’s mostly hers)
  2. I got a copy of Orthograph 4.0
  3. Orthograph 4.0 was released

I’ve had some time to play around with Orthograph 4.0 and so far I’m quite happy. It definitely lives up to the assumptions I made in my previous post. Once you begin to understand the logic of Orthograph it is quite easy to draw rooms and dimension them. Of course I’ve only spent a little time with the app, so before I make more sweeping judgements I want to investigate further and pester the guys that make Orthograph about a few questions I have (I don’t want to blame them for some missing command if it’s just my own ignorance). Now my wife is taking our iPad with her to Dubai and Oman for two weeks while she’s there as part of her MBA program. Which means if I don’t find time in the next week to investigate Orthograph 4.0 further, a more in depth look will have to wait until late January…

Nevertheless, I wanted to spread the word that the new version is out and mention that the above video does a good job of showing Orthograph in action.

Comments

  • December 20, 2012
    reply

    This looks extremely helpful to streamline drawing as-builts. A few questions: What is the laser measuring device you are using? How do you think Orthograph 4.0 would work on the iPad mini? It appears that having a strap to attach the iPad to your forearm might be helpful?

  • December 22, 2012
    reply

    Hi,

    Let me answer the questions regarding OrthoGraph.

    The first is the laser distance meter: in the video we are using an old Leica Disto A6, but we are also compatible with other Leica models like D8 or D330i (D3aBT in Europe). Unfortunately there is no Bluetooth laser distance meter on market currently being able to connect with any Apple tablet or phone, so we need also a bridge for this support, see more here: http://bit.ly/OGLeic

    Secondly why iPad Mini is suitable? From technical point of view iPad Mini is exactly the same as iPad 2, the same processor, same resolution etc., so there can be no performance issue. The only but also huge difference is the size of the screen, and therefore the only question is if it is big enough. From the first feedbacks it is.

    Of course an iPad Mini customer has to zoom a bit more often than a iPad2 owner for its screen’s higher density, but it is well balanced. Those guys at Apple took their time to find out which is the perfect screen size in this league, and they determined that it is 7.9″ instead of 7″ of the competition. And I don’t know if it is art or science, but they have the masters for determining such things 😉

    Regarding the holding of the iPad: there are many decent iPad cases equipped with elastic straps on the back which can strictly hold the tablet attached to your wrist.

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