Go to http://apps.exchange.autodesk.com/ and click Autodesk Revit on the drop-down list.  A number of free add-ins are already available.

Autodesk Exchange has been active for AutoCAD for a while now, but it looks like this will become a somewhat ‘official’ delivery method for add-ins in the future (think Autodesk Seek for add-ins…)

Direct link:

Autodesk Exchange for Revit

Beginning January 1, 2012, Autodesk will have formally ceased support of the Microsoft Windows Vista Operating System for all new (and upgraded versions) of its products and services released in 2012.
Currently shipping versions and previous versions of our software (delivered prior to January 1, 2012) will continue to be supported on this operating system.

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Autodesk – Microsoft Windows 7 and Windows Vista Compatibility – Microsoft Windows Vista Support FAQ

Pretty funny that XP is still supported… that OS has some legs!

Just in case you missed this – Autodesk has picked up the previous work of Mr Keough on Dynamo and provided a Labs plugin for Vasari!

Dynamo for Vasari
Build parametric functionality on top of Vasari with a graphical user interface. Autodesk has extended the open source effort of Ian Keough by adding some additional nodes and packaging it in an installer for Vasari to make it easier to get up and running. The download also includes some sample workflows.
// Download
// Wiki help

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Two New Free Addins available for Project Vasari – It is Alive in the Lab

More from Wiki help below:
Autodesk has extended the open source effort by adding some additional nodes and packaged it in an installer for Vasari to make it easier to get up and running. We have also provided some sample workflows which you can find below…

Installation

  1. Download the zip file from the Labs site.
  2. Run Vasari_2-1_WIP_Dynamo_Add-In.exe
  3. Keep the option to also install Vasari_2-1_WIP_Solar_Radiation_Add-In.exe
  4. Launch Project Vasari

Getting Started

  1. Launch Dynamo.
    Click Add-Ins tab>Visual Programming panel>Dynamo.
  2. Follow the sample workflows below for instructions on use.

Alexander Vysotsky makes the following recommendation:


CPU – i7 second-generation
Memory – 8 or 16 GB of DDR3
Video – NVidia Quadro, more accessible – GeForce (Budget)
Hard Disk Drive – solid-state, more available – WD Raptor
Screen – 1 or 2 display with a resolution FullHD (1920 x 1080), 22 inches

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Google Translate
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Заметки о Revit и том, что с ним связано: Конфигурация компьютера для работы в Revit

For further information, check out my previous posts:
Xeon vs Custom Built

The CPU to beat (December 2011)

Hardware priorities for Revit

Computer configurator for Revit

Revit benchmark

Forum links (2009)

Google Earth 6.2 features a new way of rendering all those mosaic pics of satellite and aerial photographs, smoothing out the borders between them so the globe looks even more like our beautiful blue planet.
That smooth beauty is not just visible from a distance, either — as you zoom in, the seamless look continues, all the way down to the closest views.

If you haven’t used Google Earth in a while, download Google Earth 6.2 and look at how much better it’s become.

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Google Earth 6.2 Is a Massive Improvement, Shows Smooth Blue Planet [PICS]

To lock to the current selection

  • Right-click the ViewCube and click Lock to Selection. If Lock to Selection is checked when a view orientation change occurs, the ViewCube uses the selected objects to calculate the center of the view and zooms to the extents of the selected objects. When the option is unchecked, the ViewCube uses the selected objects to calculate the center of the view and zooms to the extents of the model.

To examine an individual object with the ViewCube
  1. In the model, select one or more objects to define the center point of the view.
  2. Click one of the preset locations on the ViewCube, or click and drag the ViewCube to reorient the view of the model. The ViewCube reorients the view of the model based on the center point of the selected objects.

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Wikihelp

I have previously posted about the future of real-time visualization tools.  Lumion appears to be developing a bit of a following.  Have you used it?  How did you implement it?

If you haven’t seen what it does before, there is a set of videos at this link:
Revit Landscape – Urban Design: Lumion 3D

Promo video:

If you want to see a project go from Revit to Lumion (also this thread):

A free version for non-commercial use is available from this page.  The free version will apparently be updated to version 2 in January 2012 (only a few days of that month to go…)

The company line:
Lumion® is a real-time 3D visualization tool for architects, urban planners and designers.
It’s perfectly suited for creating videos, still renderings and live demonstrations with a quick turnaround.
Lumion offers excellent graphics in combination with a fast and efficient workflow, saving you time, effort and money.
It is in fact so easy to create awesome still renderings and videos with Lumion® that it almost feels like cheating.

Nathan Miller of The Proving Ground says:

“As a key component of this, I have added a lot of content to my program lab. The page includes a growing collection of scripts. My focus right now is on documenting code for RhinoCommon and Grasshopper that I think may be useful in scripting workshops. Processing and Revit code is also sprinkled throughout.

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The Proving Ground by Nathan Miller: The Proving Ground Wiki and Program Lab

In the past, overclocking your graphics was risky, difficult, and yet at the same time it could be very beneficial.  These days, it is easier to do, but video cards are often cheaper and some people may ask ‘is overclocking really worth it?’

In any case, if you are interested in giving it a go, the new overclocking utility of choice is MSI Afterburner.

Obviously, you use this utility at your own risk…

MSI Afterburner

Platform: Windows
Price: Free
Download Page

Features:

  • Change your core clock, shader clock, memory clock and fan speed using simple sliders
  • Works on nearly any video card, not just MSI-manufactured cards
  • Turn on voltage tuning for super high overclocks
  • Built-in access to MSI’s Kombustor benchmarking tool
  • Monitor your clocks, voltage, fan speeds, frame rate and more from the app’s drawer or from an on screen display during games
  • Save your settings to five different profiles for quick loading
  • Take screenshots and capture videos from your games with hotkeys
  • Fine tune the automatic fan control so you stay at the temperatures you want
  • Multiple different skins for changing the interface
  • Start with Windows or apply settings at boot, so your card is always overclocked

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App Directory: The Best Video Card Overclocking App For Windows | Lifehacker Australia