Download ArchiCAD for free!

I am making this post mainly for my uni mates because I have met many students who have no idea whether ArchiCAD is available for free or not. And no idea at all how or where to get it from.

Having said that, I am sure it will also be of some benefit to any one who wants to find out how and from where to download ArchiCAD for free. I would also like to mention it here that ArchiCAD is not available as a free download for commercial use.

However, it is available for registered students and teachers worldwide. The academic version of ArchiCAD gives the same functionality and full features as the professional version.

And for those who might have stumbled upon here who have no idea what ArchiCAD is please note that, ArchiCAD is a professional software application designed for architects for designing and development of architectural drawings in 2D and 3D complete with project documentation from start to end.  

Steps:

1. Visit Graphisoft.com and register as a student for a temporary license key by providing your name and email address etc. [make double sure that your correct email address is entered here]
2. Download ArchiCAD and install it as academic version by selecting the academic option during installation. When prompted enter the temporary license key that was emailed to you automatically by Graphisoft in step 1. ArchiCAD has both mac and windows versions plus localized versions for specific languages. So choose which version you need from here.
3. After installation is complete run ArchiCAD and click on Help from the top menu and select Educational registration/Register for one year serial number
4. Fill  in your student/teacher details in the web form provided in step 3.
5. Wait for the one year serial number which will take about a week or so to reach you

That’s all. You are done!

If for any reason you run into trouble following these steps and you could not either download or install ArchiCAD I am more than happy to help you. Just give me a ring if you know my number. If not just Email me or leave a comment here.

Who says artwork is piece of cake?

This is a must see video showing pure genius artwork! I have no recollection of seeing anything even remotely like this. Please watch this video and get awestruck.

I found this video on the blog of a famous Maldivian blogger/journalist Hilath and couldn’t just resist posting it here.

A truly virtual but real book by Microsoft

Anyway, what is this gadget about? You are right. This is going to be a new addition to the world of computers. Another fascinating product that will perhaps replace most books and pens, if not wipe out all books and pens from the face of Earth!

This new product is rumored to be called Courier. What does it look like? ehehe yeah, just like a book or booklet as shown in the above picture if, you prefer. The pictures look very promising. I like to have one like that.

Watch this cool video demonstration of Courier

Have a look at some more pictures and details about this cool gadget from GIZMODO

Contact lens to browse internet?

A new high-tech bionic lens is being developed by Babak A. Parviz which will enable the wearer to browse internet in addition to  monitoring his/her health. Watch this video by Reuters for details.

Lost Renaissance masterpiece rediscovered

Renaissance master painter Ludovico Mazzolino’s work done in 1522 has been found stored by its owner for 60 years after it had been passed on to him through his grandmother.

Experts traced the history of the painting to an 1812 auction in London where it was sold for £20. Its current owner’s grandmother is said to have bought it in Italy in 1862.

Possible current value of the painting is said to be worth £40,000 to £60,000.

Another masterpiece by Mazzolino was sold in July 2005 for £350,000.

Original article and image source at BBC

The largest mud structure in the world

Photoshop tutorials

Here are a few Photoshop tutorials I found on the web.

These are really handy tutorials that take you through the Photoshop background layer to Creating and modifying text using layers. The whole tutorial list from 1 to 8 shows you how to prepare a nice poster with graphics and text. This might be exactly what some of you out there finding it a little lost when it comes to Photoshop skills, need to follow for making posters and presentation boards for class projects.

So, enjoy watching through these highly professional 55 minutes length of tutorials and learn these basic but vital Photoshop skills to design and make your own project posters or presentation boards.

1. Understanding the background layer 
2. Creating, selecting, linking and deleting layers
3. Locking and Merging Layers
4. Copying Layers, Using Perspective and Layer Styles
5. Filling and Grouping Layers
6. Introduction to Blending Modes
7. Blending Modes, Opacity and Fill
8. Creating and Modifying Text

Please note that these tutorials are based on Photoshop CS 4 and are provided by Total Training Online for free.

You will need the Apple Quick Time Player to view these tutorial videos. Please download the free Apple Quick Time Player here if you don’t have it installed already.

Buffalo’s architectural digest

Here is a nice video to watch if you are too down and tired after too much time without sleep making and remaking models drawings urgh! …enjoy and relax

Nice one eh?

Yet another tallest building design proposal

This building is said to be under consideration by the oil-rich middle eastern Abu Dhabi. If the project becomes a reality, plans are to build it on an artificial island.

The picture here is showing a scale model of the design with the designer/architect beside it. Picture source is Los Angeles Times. Please visit Los Angeles Times to read the full story by Roger Vincent.

Islam in Maldives

I just read this article on Minivan News from the Maldives which gives details of an interview the paper had with a prominent Islamic scholar Salih Yucel. This article is an interesting read, as Maldives being a so called 100% Muslim country, at the same time claiming to practice a moderate form of Islam is now in a period of radical change politically which, certainly influences freedom of religion in Maldives to some extent.

The constitution of the Maldives states that, in order to become a Maldivian citizen a person must be a Muslim which, in my view has some limitations to basic rights of human beings in general, as accepted by the modern democratic societies today.

In Maldives one can see that religion is very much politicized, and sometimes being used as a propaganda tool by politicians to win over the unsuspecting Maldivian public in general.

New look

From the new look you can tell that I have just started to become a little serious about this blogging thing. The vast sea of information on the internet is surprisingly helpful for a novice blogger like me to have accomplished this task in so little time and effort.

I found instructions and tutorials straight to the point and very clear in conveying the message across to help anyone looking for the required information. I must say that there are so many good people out their to help you out if you ask nicely.

I support Google books

Here is just one example of a book from Google books. This is an out of print and out of copyright book digitized by Google and is also  available for full download in PDF format.

 

The idea that, Books like this and many others digitized and made accessible with just a click by Google is so good for all seeking knowledge.

The Google books project is sadly being opposed by some giant corporations like Microsoft and Amazon for some reasons about which I care the least to understand.

I wish Google books good luck and hope they will succeed in the project making me and many others happy.

French Spiderman

 

This guy is crazy. A daredevil like no other. He climbed the topmost point of one of the tallest buildings in the world without any safety using just his bare hands! He is reported to have done the stunt in the early hours of yesterday morning when it was less likely to get caught by the security.

Imagine how wet and slippery the surface of the tower will be during that time making it more dangerous and difficult to climb.

Pushing limits with Lego

Image source: archdaily.com

Architects have used many different kinds of materials for buildings. Even paper have been used by famous architects such as Shigeru Ban.

But it is a different matter when a real building is built using toy parts. Lego is a mass manufactured toy product with complete modules with which different shapes can be formed, literally limited to the builders’ imagination.

I found this very interesting article about a Lego fanatic or master builder from the UK who has built a complete working house with Lego parts.

Check out the complete article at archdaily.com