There is now an official Autodesk press release for both the DWG file viewer named DWG TrueView and the batch dwg converter named DWG TrueConvert. Both of these utilities are free.
The DWG TrueView is available now and a good internal solution for viewing DWG files while using DWF externally. The DWG TrueView can view with complete visual fidelity DWG files. I posted some specific details on DWG TrueView last week Link.
The DWG TrueConvert will be available in the next few weeks. It went through customer beta testing this summer and is nearing final release and download. It will be a stand alone application not requiring AutoCAD on the computer. DWG TrueConvert can convert DWG files from way back in AutoCAD version 2 to the latest AutoCAD formats or convert from the latest back to the AutoCAD R14 format.
I created 2 quick charts showing the great span of DWG file viewing and conversion.
DWG TrueView
DWG TrueConvert
