I love Podium. I learnt everything I know from this app. The basics of lighting, detail, textures, bumps, specs etc etc. The forum is fantastic and I owe everything to all the people who helped me improve and try harder. I started to look at my work much more critically. People have specifically 'defected' to twilight because it's completely integrated into SU, just like podium.
It gets to a point though where you need more options; more realism, SOFT SHADOWS, real bumps, more control, image based lighting, camera settings, DOF (haha). I started to fake effects in photoshop with my podium renders and I don't think you should have to do this...such as blurring the unrealistically sharp shadows.[edit] which they have fixed in the new update 😍 😍 😍
I bet it's hard for the developers to strike a balance between an easy-to-use program and one with enough 'professional' features. They are listening to us though, there is a wishlist on the podium forum that people constantly update with new ideas.
Future of Podium Version 2? I bet it will be awesome.
But please, this isn't about Podium vs Twilight. It's about DOF and sexy chairs 😄
My theory on renders......it's the substance that counts......"you cannot polish a turd"
