Sketchup 7 by BaseCamp 08

Phil · 17 Apr 2008, 19:18

Here are the reasons I can't help thinking this will be true.

Google call for Sketchup instructors early this year. Last time they had an instruction blitz was on release of version 6. No new large scale instruction sessions have been announced to my knowledge.
Basecamp 08 schedule of classes is mostly a repeat of things that most advanced users would know cold. It is also pretty vague about content of the classes.

It seems odds on that Sketchup 7 will be released by or at Basecamp 08. Basecamp will be used to show off what the new release can do. I think the next release will be excellent!

Probably in the next release:

Rewrite of core code to handle heavy lifting of mega polys.
Improved modeling tools some of which will be similar to conventional modelers.
Photorealistic rendering.
Better movie capabilities.

Just speculation (and hope) on my part.

dylan · 17 Apr 2008, 20:42

I can't imagine it containing the ability to do photo-realistic rendering.
Not sure it is neccasary with the other good renderers on the market.

I know I cant wait to see version 7 released though, PR rendering capabilities or not

Phil · 17 Apr 2008, 20:48

Should have said Sketchup 7 will be released on or before the date of base camp 08. My dyslexia affects more than my spelling sometimes.

tomsdesk · 17 Apr 2008, 20:53

There's going to be a 7?

Phil · 17 Apr 2008, 21:16

Google is building quite an infrastructure around sketchup, that is a support team that is reaching out in many directions. They are bloging it in a big way. Looking for Sketchup pros as instructors says something big is coming. Could be release 7. Also SU is so capable compared to older CAD programs, improving SU with a new release might throw many of the dino CAD apps into the dust bin.

As far as need for photorealistic rendering. Google could afford to produce a really speedy renderer. The addons to SU currents do not seem (hearsay) to be as fast as some of the speedy rendering applications available in places such as Modo. Speed does make a big difference in the rendering arena. Probably SU could maximize integratiion of render component better than anyone else. Will they do it. Maybe.

kwistenbiebel · 17 Apr 2008, 21:37

I wish all you are saying would be true (except the photoreal rendering which can be done by third party apps).

Stu · 18 Apr 2008, 00:47

OK Phil,

CLAP! CLAP!......wake up!...no more dreaming!..time to face the reality of another day.

Alan Fraser · 18 Apr 2008, 12:10

Basing predictions on what happened last time is a very risky strategy. My recollection is that before ANY new release (not just V6) Google let the Beta team of the leash so that they can indulge in a little pre-release hype. Heard anything lately?

And before the doubters jump in, I agree with Coen...there will be a V7....and I don't believe it will be a sell-out to the GE community or the GSU teen car modders of the 3D Warehouse.

kwistenbiebel · 18 Apr 2008, 12:17

@alan fraser said:

And before the doubters jump in, I agree with Coen...there will be a V7....and I don't believe it will be a sell-out to the GE community or the GSU teen car modders of the 3D Warehouse.

Mike Lucey · 18 Apr 2008, 12:54

I expect we will get a taste of things to come at 3D BaseCamp as
we did the last time ..... even if it did break down at times and
a Mac was even being used for the demo if my memory serves me
correctly

Mike

sorgesu · 18 Apr 2008, 14:11

I hate to be a killjoy but speculating based on hiring of insructors is falacious.

The burn out rate for instructors is very high. They do a tremendous amount of travelling and are away from home A LOT!. It is not uncommon to turnover instuctors every 6 months, certainly after a year. I think the current lot of instructors may have been on contract for a year and the year is coming to a close. ERGO: new ones to replace the old are needed.
Sorry.

numerobis · 4 May 2008, 20:45

@unknownuser said:

@tomsdesk said:

There's going to be a 7?

Yes.

..and, guess what the top feature highlights will be:

some greatly improved features for google warehouse and google earth!!!
many new and ultra cool styles!!!!!

...

remus · 4 May 2008, 20:49

You pessimist! theres bound to be sometihng thats at least note worthy (not including ge stuff.)

lewiswadsworth · 4 May 2008, 20:49

@numerobis said:

..and, guess what the top feature highlights will be:

some greatly improved features for google warehouse and google earth!!!

many new and ultra cool styles!!!!!

...

...or maybe a dumbed-down, thin-client, online version. Anyone for Google Docs 3D?

Alan Fraser · 4 May 2008, 23:23

@remus said:

You pessimist! theres bound to be sometihng thats at least note worthy (not including ge stuff.)

Indeed there is, young Padawan.

remus · 4 May 2008, 23:26

you cruel cruel man alan, how can you live with yourself while you taunt us like this?

todd burch · 4 May 2008, 23:54

Alan, the only thing I've heard is what you eluded to in the other thread about an exporter for web pages. I am VERY interested in finding out what is being done in V7 for this, because if they screw it up, I'll be on one of my own like a hobo on a bologna sandwich.

JuanV.Soler · 5 May 2008, 18:24

The thing is , that Version 7 is coming with the Polyline Tool and SandBox developed .
Isino´t Alan ?

Though I think I prefer Layout in it.
Just that.

(for the moment)

You fortunate people may know.

dont reveal the secret.

I can wait now.

a<<a<<

dsarchs · 7 May 2008, 22:51

@unknownuser said:

..and, guess what the top feature highlights will be:

some greatly improved features for google warehouse and google earth!!!

many new and ultra cool styles!!!!!

I have to agree with numerobis; I kind of think google will focus on unimportant aspects like these -- things that fit into the larger 'google' world, but have little value for SU as an individual program. SU 6, for example, was a letdown. I don't care for layout and the line types are a waste of time. What else did it add? They talked a lot about improved ruby support, or something, but I haven't seen the improvements they said would happen because of that [Can any of you programmer-types comment on this at all?]

SU is an amazing program for what it is and they should highlight that. While a very basic rendering engine for quick light studies would be nice, it would be a waste of time to include anything more than that, as there are so many great choices out there [free and otherwise].

The silly line types they've added feels to me just like a tacky photoshop edit -- hopefully they won't waste development time adding to that.

This is what I would love to see:

multi-core support
better efficiency at handling large models
a 'loft' feature
the shadow glitch to be fixed

These, I think, would fundamentally improve SU and its usability.
While there are other things that I feel would be important to add, most of these can be found in the great rubys that have been coming out lately [think bevel, subdivision, ffd, etc.] If anything it would be nice for google to incorporate some of these plugins and clean them up a little.