We have had some recent changes to the end dates for existing technology previews. So I figured it was time to repost an updated version of my milk carton blog article. Most technology previews are like milk cartons. They have expiration dates on them. When a technology preview expires, the technology preview no longer operates. A preview has a time-bomb in it that makes it stop working on a particular date. We do this so there is a sense of urgency to try a technology preview and get back to us. Our customers are busy people, and without this, they would just say "I'll get to that later."When a technology preview expires, any data that has been created by it continues to be valid. It's just that the data cannot be edited using the technology preview since the preview does not run anymore. Certainly new data can't be created either.This time-based approach allows us to get timely feedback, early in the technology life cycle, on the general idea, user interface, performance characteristics, and correctness of the results. Here is a list of active Autodesk Labs technology previews and their associated expiration dates. The list is sorted by expiration date - so act fast if you want to provide feedback on these technology previews before they retire or graduate. Expiration DateTechnology Preview June 1, 2015 Project Energy Cost RangeUse a single, simple indicator of potential building energy use and the key factors that influence it. June 30, 2015 Item Number Resequencing for AutoCAD ElectricalResequence your electrical design elements in a new way. June 30, 2015 Project EnergyPlus CloudExperience EnergyPlus raised to the power of cloud. July 1, 2015 Project ECMFinConduct financial analyses on the desired energy conservation measures. July 1, 2015 Revit Credit Manager for LEEDManage your LEED credits with ease. July 15, 2015 Project Scandium for Simulation MoldflowExtend your simulation capabilities. July 31, 2015 Dynamo Plug-in for Robot Structural AnalysisConnect Dynamo to Robot Structural Analysis. July 31, 2015 Project Green Stormwater InfrastructureDesign and analyze sustainable stormwater projects. August 1, 2015 Project Rosenfeld for Rapid Energy Modeling in the fieldCapture existing building conditions and create energy analyses. August 9, 2015 Project DaltonConduct pipe flow simulation and analysis. August 11, 2015 Project ScorchPerform fire simulations within a structure. August 15, 2015 Project KameleonTry new infrastructure model content authoring tools. September 15, 2015 Solar Analysis for RevitPerform solar analysis on the faces of a mass in Revit. Fall 2015 Suitability Maps for InfraWorks 360Leverage mapping data with corridor optimization. November 1, 2015 Project Boulder for InfraWorks 360Match 2D flood simulations with 3D immersive models. December 7, 2015 Design AcademyHelp us evolve the learning resources we supply. December 31, 2015 Export LMC for AutoCADDrive your METABEAM laser cutter directly from AutoCAD. May 1, 2016 2D to 3D Tool for InventorCreate 3D models in Autodesk Inventor from 2D data. Technology previews have a specific end date so no one confuses them with perpetual functionality that is associated with a product offering or subscription service. In fact, technology previews are offered for free to Subscription, non-Subscription, and educational customers alike. A development team is focused on a technology preview for a project interval. While they are, they want the feedback and the ability to make a decision so they can continue development of the technology or quickly move on to something else. We appreciate it when we debut technology previews, people try them right away, and they provide us with an up or down vote. Your experience shapes the future of our technology indeed. As I always say, "Trying a technology preview, liking it, but not telling us, is the same as not trying it." Still sniffing the cartons to see what can still be tasted is alive in the lab. Go to the original post...