News Google buys SketchUp

Discussion in 'Article Discussion' started by WilHarris, 15 Mar 2006.

  1. WilHarris

    WilHarris Just another nobody Moderator

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    WilHarris, 15 Mar 2006
    #1
  2. yodasarmpit

    yodasarmpit Modder

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    What a strange acquisition for google, seems like quite a departure from their normal product range.
     
    yodasarmpit, 15 Mar 2006
    #2
  3. BioSniper

    BioSniper Minimodder

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    It's indeed an odd purchase but then it makes you wonder what the next will be. I have my bets set on something like Open Office and believe it's all in preparation of getting a full suite of apps together for their own OS :p
     
    BioSniper, 15 Mar 2006
    #3
  4. ralph.pickering

    ralph.pickering What's a Dremel?

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    Maybe google are looking into some kind of 3D web plugin based on Sketchup technology?

    And hopefully there'll be a free for non-commercial use license sometime. £500 or so is a little steep for software for doodling mod ideas.
     
    ralph.pickering, 15 Mar 2006
    #4
  5. Meanmotion

    Meanmotion bleh Moderator

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    That would be pretty awesome.

    Well, i belong to the "i've never heard of it" group and for a moment (particularly given it's name) i thought it might be a cheap 3D design suite for the casual user - evidently not!

    Definetly worth keeping an eye on.
     
    Meanmotion, 15 Mar 2006
    #5
  6. mclean007

    mclean007 Officious Bystander

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    SketchUp does kick ass, but I can't afford to shell out for it. I enjoyed my free trial, and might pay $50 for it, but the price they charge can't be justified for a casual home user IMHO.

    My first thought when I saw it was, "cool! free SketchUp", so strong is the link in my mind between Google and high quality, ad-supported software at no cost to the end user.

    I don't think the acquisition is so odd - with some tweaks, and if it were free, SketchUp could become Google Earth Building Designer, which would vastly increase the rate at which new layers are contributed giving accurate 3d cityscapes.
     
    mclean007, 15 Mar 2006
    #6
  7. ch424

    ch424 Design Warrior

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    ch424, 15 Mar 2006
    #7
  8. DarkReaper

    DarkReaper Alignment: Sarcastic Good

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    My first thought was Google Earth, full 3d would be pretty cool.
     
    DarkReaper, 15 Mar 2006
    #8
  9. Herbicide

    Herbicide Lurktacular

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    Fingers crossed.

    - H.
     
    Herbicide, 15 Mar 2006
    #9
  10. Tulatin

    Tulatin The Froggy Poster

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    Wouldn't it be sweet if Google Earth rendered your planet in glorious Sketchup 3D? With Google paying for good quality models, photo textured etc? Granted, they have a LOT of optimizing to do, 'cause this cat runs like shite.
     
    Tulatin, 15 Mar 2006
    #10
  11. Hans Voralberg

    Hans Voralberg What's a Dremel?

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    Cross my finger and hope they make it free
     
    Hans Voralberg, 15 Mar 2006
    #11
  12. P2D

    P2D 99.999% Pure Spam!

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    Exactly which one are you on?
     
    P2D, 15 Mar 2006
    #12
  13. RotoSequence

    RotoSequence Lazy Lurker

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    Sketchup is $400? Thank God for gift licenses :jawdrop:

    Though honestly, once you learn how to use a program, the cost can start to become justfied (Trust me, after using sketchup for hours and hours and hours longer than just free trial learning periods, you start to learn some interesting tricks...)
     
    RotoSequence, 15 Mar 2006
    #13
  14. Guest-2867

    Guest-2867 Guest

    Good stuff, hopefuly they'll produce some form of free/cheaper ad-supported version with a little box for ads *crosses fingers*
     
    Guest-2867, 15 Mar 2006
    #14
  15. acidfire

    acidfire What's a Dremel?

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    Well, after a friend of mine attended a seminar held here last nite i can confirm that sketchup was bought to addon to google earth, as annouced by google canada's president. Hurray for a 3d world!
     
    acidfire, 17 Mar 2006
    #15
  16. mclean007

    mclean007 Officious Bystander

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    Called it! Woohoo!
     
    mclean007, 17 Mar 2006
    #16
  17. Nexxo

    Nexxo * Prefab Sprout – The King of Rock 'n' Roll

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    Er, no. This was explicitly stated as the reason for acquisition in the General Discussion thread started by zerokool04, and also in SketchUp's official announcement here. You're late to the party, dude...
     
    Nexxo, 17 Mar 2006
    #17
  18. mclean007

    mclean007 Officious Bystander

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    Fair enough. Still, I hadn't seen that when I made my previous post. It did seem the logical place for SketchUp to fit into Google's line up.
     
    mclean007, 17 Mar 2006
    #18
  19. customh

    customh conflagration.

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    Well i ahve sketchup through an educator and will for a looong time if i want it, so yay.
     
    customh, 17 Mar 2006
    #19
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