Trip Report: Arizona in April

Apr 23, 2009 | Hot Topics

– is lovely. Stark brown scrubby hills surrounding the city of Phoenix — which stretches onforever. I will definitely go back to climb some of those hills someday, if I can convincemyself that the scorpions and rattlers are more afraid of me than I of...

Autodesk launches displaced worker program

Apr 6, 2009 | Hot Topics

Today Autodesk formally rolls out the Autodesk Assistance Program which offers "free"software licenses, free online training, reduced-cost classroom training and discountedcertification programs for unemployed architects, designers and engineers. The...

Formula One: PLM Bellwether #1

Mar 27, 2009 | Hot Topics

I’ve recently been researching PLM bellwethers, those groups or individuals whose use of atechnology or process portends its eventual wider adoption. Bellwethers set the stage,control early research and guide its commercialization. Formula One (F1) racing...

CD-adapco sales up 22% last year – and so far this year

Mar 27, 2009 | Hot Topics

We’re not quite done with earnings announcements, it appears. And maybe 2009 won’t bethe disaster everyone forecasts. CD-adapco President Steve MacDonald said the followingat the company’s annual European user conference:“In the midst of constant...

The Tata Nano: "Triumph of Indian Ingenuity"

Mar 22, 2009 | Hot Topics

That’s how the BBC referred to the $2000 car introduced yesterday in India. Their reporterhad a chance to test-drive the car and said it was surprisingly … not disappointing. At leastaccording to the BBC, there had been concerns that Tata’s price...

Update: MSC exec change — Investors like!

Mar 13, 2009 | Hot Topics

Yesterday I wrote that investors seemed lukewarm to the the change in CEO and COO atMSC, with Ashfaq Munshi taking over. By the close of trading, MSC shares were up 11%and look to open "up" today signalling that shareholders have confidence in Mr. Munshi...

Management shake-up at MSC Software

Mar 12, 2009 | Hot Topics

MSC today announced the departure of Chairman and CEO Bill Weyand and Glenn Weinkoop, President and COO, and their replacement by Ashfaq A. Munshi as interim Chief Executive Officer and President. The company’s Board of Directors has retained a national firm to...

ESI Group reports steep drop-off in Q4

Mar 10, 2009 | Hot Topics

ESI Group today reported revenue growth of 2% to EU70.2 million for the fiscal year endedJanuary 31, 2009. Excluding acquisitions, revenue declined about 5% from fiscal2007/2008. Like other engineering software companies, business slowed dramaticallyduring Q4: ESI...

MSC rides a winding road

Mar 3, 2009 | Hot Topics

MSC Software proved last week that it is not immune to the slowdown in spending seenby other PLM suppliers. Total Q4 revenue of $65 million was down 9% from a year ago,leading the company to an operating loss for the quarter. For the year MSC reported totalrevenue of...

ANSYS – weak Q4 leads to worries about 2009

Mar 1, 2009 | Hot Topics

ANSYS shares were hammered late last week, falling to a 52-week low after the companydramatically lowered its forecasts for 2009 — even though results for 2008 were OK.On the plus side:- CEO Jim Cashman said that companies continue to see a need to innovate, and...