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Schindler Escalator Division Takes Digital Prototyping Further With Autodesk Manufacturing Software Portfolio

FARNBOROUGH, England--(BUSINESS WIRE)--

Schindler, one of the leading global manufacturers of elevators, escalators and moving walkways, is using Autodesk Digital Prototyping software to cut the costs and risks of replacing or retro-fitting escalators in existing buildings.

Schindlers escalator division is a long-term customer of Autodesk manufacturing solutions and uses Autodesk Inventor as its standard 3D mechanical design and engineering software. Working with Autodesk Consulting, the company has now expanded its Autodesk software deployment to include Autodesk Navisworks and Autodesk Showcase.

To perform a simulation for an installation of a new escalator at a Vienna railway station, the Schindler escalator division migrated its Autodesk Inventor escalator digital prototypes into Autodesk Navisworks project review software, which enables the integration of multi-format data into a single 3D model. This enabled Schindler to combine scans of the surrounding environment with digital models of the escalator to create a more accurate virtual model of the entire metro station. Schindlers escalator division then used Navisworks to simulate the installation of the escalator, calculate space requirements and minimize the number of times an escalator needs to be divided to fit into the building. Every time an escalator needs to be divided, there are significant overhead costs, so exploring digital alternatives helps to reduce installation costs significantly.

The project team then used Autodesk Showcase to create a high-end presentation from the Navisworks simulation. Schindler uses the presentation to show colleagues across the globe how installing an escalator virtually, before actual work begins, can save time, money and reduce the risk of damage to existing structures. Presentations such as this will also be valuable in demonstrating to clients how an escalator can be installed and illustrate how downtime can be minimized.

A large portion of our business comes from maintenance and service, including the replacement of existing escalators, explains Gerhard Lindstdt, head of marketing at Schindlers escalator division. When working on a new-build project, the installation of an escalator can be scheduled before certain walls are built to ensure both simplicity and safety. However when replacing or transforming we need to work with an existing building and install the escalator with minimum disruption.

He adds that the Schindler escalator division is currently seeing significant demand from shopping centers for simulations and presentations where the management is looking for evidence that disruption will not lead to loss of business or an installation wont damage the building and surroundings.

We are working closely with Autodesk Consulting to optimize our Autodesk portfolio. The Vienna project is a good example of how we can gain significant added value from our software, and we foresee this being replicated by Schindler teams worldwide, concludes Lindstdt.

About Autodesk

Autodesk, Inc., is a leader in 3D design, engineering and entertainment software. Customers across the manufacturing, architecture, building, construction, and media and entertainment industries -- including the last 17 Academy Award winners for Best Visual Effects -- use Autodesk software to design, visualize and simulate their ideas. Since its introduction of AutoCAD software in 1982, Autodesk continues to develop the broadest portfolio of state-of-the-art software for global markets. For additional information about Autodesk, visit http://www.autodesk.com.

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Schindler Escalator Division Takes Digital Prototyping Further With Autodesk Manufacturing Software Portfolio

Digital Call Sheets for the Film and Television Industry Have Arrived

LOS ANGELES, March 21, 2012 /PRNewswire-iReach/ -- A Giant Leap For Filmmakers, Television Producers and Event Planners

Mobile Imagination, LLC, creator of doddle and doddlePRO launches the web/cloud version their digital "Call Sheet" generator

Call Sheets. Anyone involved in the logistics of film/tv/event planning knows thetedious drudgery of managing crews in the field on location. This involves creating detailedspreadsheets including each crew member, with contact information, each location,the days' schedule, emergency resources, and more. The better designed call sheetswill contain maps and directions to locations, important notes to groups or individuals,appropriate radio channels for radio communication on set and more.

doddlePRO for iPhone/iPad/iPod revolutionized this process with a mobile system that allowsfor point and click creation/editing, and distribution of call sheets, integrating data from yourcontact list or the comprehensive doddle directory.

The release of doddlePRO2.0 moves this technology forward at lightspeed by adding doddlePRO "on the web, on your desktop", allowing you to sync seamlessly with your IOS device. Now any production house,filmmaker, or event planner can utilize this transformational tool in quickly creating their callsheets, with automated mapping/emergency resources, weather, and more, and editing theminstantly on their mobile device, and vice-versa. Additional upgrades include syncedphotos for locations, schedules, and other entities, heightened security with editing permissions,branded logos on the call sheets, and much more.

See the future of green production today online visitingthe doddle websiteor in theiTunes Storeby searching doddlePRO.

Jim Robertson, Mobile Imagination, LLC Principal & Founder: "In an industry where time equals money, doddle saves on both. Lightning fast and user-friendly, doddle is a resource destined to be a producer's best friend. Already a must-have smartphone application for the savvy entertainment professional, our new online service now opens the world of doddle to everyone on the internet. doddle was built by production people for production people in order to save producers money and get locals hired."

Richard Kwiat, Mobile Imagination, LLC Principal & Founder: "We created a beautiful app that brings simplicity to an often chaotic environment. doddle cuts through the noise, and gives entertainment professionals the ability to reach out and secure the exact services that they need at the exact moment that they need it... and did I mention, it's a really fun app to use."

ABOUT MOBILE IMAGINATION, LLC: Mobile Imagination's doddle places the world's production industry resources in the palm of your hand. Created by a team with decades of experience in the software and production industries, doddle promises to transform the lives of production professionals from movies and television to audio, and video production by giving them the unique ability to plan, communicate with, and manage their workforce from their smartphone throughout the creative process. doddle is the first of many mobile business productivity applications planned by Mobile Imagination, which will helps professionals across various industries spend less time in the office and more time in the field where their business is captured and created.

For press inquiries and to set up interviews with Jim Robertson or Richard Kwiat contact: Jim or Rich at 877-363-3537

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Digital Call Sheets for the Film and Television Industry Have Arrived

PayPal's bid for the digital wallet looks strong

by Kevin Kelleher, contributor

FORTUNE -- As long as the Internet has been a venue for commerce, some companies have dreamed of making electronic cash as seamless and intuitive to use as possible: no cash or coins, no check-writing, no typing in or storing credit card numbers. Thanks to the rise of the cloud and the popularity of smarphones, that idea is becoming real.

As a result, the names of companies working to create a so-called digital wallet is growing: startups like Square, big-name companies like eBay (EBAY), Google (GOOG) and Apple (AAPL) or financial services giants like Visa (V) and MasterCard (MA) each hoping for a key role in what could in coming years become a lucrative market.

No company has been working longer at this goal than PayPal. Back when people spoke less of the cloud and more about grid computing, and when mobile phones were too big to fit comfortably inside a pocket, PayPal was laying the foundation for a global e-payment system working through regulatory processes in hundreds of countries, grappling with myriad forms of online fraud and fielding customer complaints.

MORE:Yahoo's risk-taking may be its best chance

Today, PayPal works with 9 million merchants and 106 million active customers. And over the past couple of years, the eBay (EBAY) unit has been quietly assembling a strategy to create a digital wallet for those customers, and potentially many more. But it means improving on offerings from competitors, some of which have large customer bases and ample cash reserves.

It also means placing bets on which standards consumers and merchants will embrace. Will Square-like dongles become an everyday accessory in retail? Or will near-field communications overcome security concerns and become the norm? Will credit- and debit- accounts continue to play a central role? And most importantly, which brands will emerge as the most trusted consumer interface to mobile payments?

Slowly, PayPal's strategy is becoming clearer. After buying startups such as BillMeLater, shopping-engine Milo and app developers WHERE and Redlaser, PayPal has begun rolling out new features most recently its PayPal Here service. Announced last week, PayPal Here was widely seen as a competitor of Square, the startup noted for the dongle that plugs into smartphones for on-the-spot payments in stores and restaurants.

Square is catching on with many retailers. PayPal says it saw $4 billion in payments in 2011 and that it expects to top $7 billion this year. But Square also says it processed $4 billion in payments last year, largely from small brick-and-mortar retailers that PayPal has tended to overlook.

MORE:Where social networking is headed next

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PayPal's bid for the digital wallet looks strong

Loz's round four preview

Preview ... Loz gives his tips and analysis for the week ahead. Source: FOX SPORTS

Fox Sports commentator and former Canberra premiership player Laurie Daley offers his thoughts and predictions for round four of the 2012 NRL premiership season.

Parramatta v Penrith, Parramatta Stadium, Friday, 7.35pm EDT

What do you say about the Eels? There were good signs in their first two games but they were completely outplayed last week. That sometimes happens when you play the Warriors; you get knocked around a bit and you don't come up the next week. Defensively they weren't on their game, it's a tough road trip up to Townsville but we were still expecting a lot more from them. They'll still struggle without Jarryd Hayne but I think they'll give a better account of themselves this week. With all the bagging they've got, I'd almost like to tip them in an upset. But Penrith have been steady. They weren't good enough last weekend, but South Sydney were very good. I think they'll have enough points in them to break down Parramatta's defence and with Tim Grant coming back it gives them another big body up the middle. Tip: Panthers

South Sydney v Brisbane Broncos, nib Stadium, 9.30pm EDT

If Souths can repeat their form and Taylor and Inglis can play as well as they did against Penrith, I think they can trouble the Broncos. I think that would have done their confidence a world of good. The Broncos are playing steady football, they're grinding away and that's the way they'll play it for most of the year I would think. They haven't jelled in terms of their attack yet but that will get better as the year goes on. Souths beat the Broncos over in Perth last year and they know one game doesn't make a season. So I think they'd like to back up what they did last week. Tip: Rabbitohs

Warriors v Gold Coast Titans, Mt Smart Stadium, 5.30pm EDT

Both teams have been disappointing so far. The Warriors have started slow in all their games this year, against Manly, Parramatta and the Bulldogs. That's a real attitude thing that they have to address so that will be a focus for them. They've got too much talent in their team but I still think they're missing the experience of Luck, Rapira and Lillyman. They are three tough forwards who consolidate the ruck for them. It will be difficult because I think the Titans were competitive against the Storm for 60 minutes last week. It was only the brilliance of Slater and Cronk that beat them. They will have to show the same resilience but I don't know if they can do that going across the Tasman. Their key position players are still struggling for combinations. If you shut down Prince, you've got a young hooker, a young five-eighth and Zillman hasn't played a lot of football. They'll have a go, but I don't know if they have the class to pile on the points. Tip: Warriors

St George Illawarra v Manly, WIN Jubilee Stadium, 7.30pm EDT

The loss of Williams is a massive blow for Manly as I thought he was close to their best on Monday night. There's no Matai on the left either and Glenn Stewart on the other side is missing as well. They might find it difficult going to Kogarah and taking on the Dragons. If the Dragons play as well as what they did last weekend, you'd think they'd be too good for Manly without those strike players. It's always a close, tough, grinding match between these two and with Manly having those injuries and the short turnaround, I think the Dragons can go back-to-back. Tip: Dragons

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Loz's round four preview

Despite 'worst' outing, Bauer happy with spring

SCOTTSDALE, Ariz. -- Trevor Bauer didn't mince words when asked what he had working in his start Tuesday against the Giants.

"Not a whole lot, to be honest," Bauer said. "I was kind of like, 'Well, everything kind of stinks today, so flip a coin, pick one and hope they don't hit it out of the park.' No, it was a little bit of a struggle control-wise today. I've had four outings now and I think this is probably the worst I've thrown the ball."

Still, the results were not terrible. The highly touted D-backs right-hander allowed two runs on six hits over three innings. Of his 53 pitches, 33 went for strikes.

A few of the six hits were hit hard, but there were a couple of grounders that went through the infield and a broken-bat bloop hit as well.

"What are you going to do?" Bauer said. "They hit one ball hard in three innings and ended up with six hits and two runs. I think I did a pretty job of disrupting their timing. Not really a whole lot to be displeased with other than being behind in the count a lot, which I haven't really done this spring."

Indeed, in 10 innings this spring, Bauer has fanned nine and walked just one. Command was a bit of an issue at times during his seven Minor League starts after he signed last summer. In 25 2/3 innings between Class A Visalia and Double-A Mobile, Bauer walked 12.

"I'm throwing a lot more strikes, and quality strikes at that, so overall I'm pretty pleased," Bauer said. "I haven't given up a whole lot of hard-hit balls. That being said, there are still plenty of areas I can improve on. I still can't figure out how to throw a curveball in the dirt when I want to, which is a little frustrating."

Despite his impressive spring, Bauer and his 3.60 ERA seem destined to start the season in the Minors with the D-backs rotation apparently set at Ian Kennedy, Daniel Hudson, Joe Saunders, Trevor Cahill and Josh Collmenter.

Whether or not he makes the team, his time at big league camp has paid off.

"I've learned a lot," Bauer said. "I've gotten to face some really high-quality hitters and I think I'm definitely a better pitcher now than I was four outings ago, so nothing wrong with that, right? I think I've actually thrown the ball better than I was hoping to."

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Despite 'worst' outing, Bauer happy with spring