A new home for SketchUp
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Not late to the party, I've just been lurking on this post and I frequent the bugs forum and Ruby forum from time to time.
Some of you know me I'm Brad on the SketchUp QA team. I've been working on SketchUp since v4. I went through the @Last -> Google acquisition now from Google -> Trimble.
I love the passion this community has for SketchUp. As John said earlier, if there was no reaction we would be worried. The fact people are voicing concern about "our" baby makes me feel good. You care about SketchUp as much as I do!
From the people at Trimble I have met and talked to I can tell you...they are lot like we are, they "get" SketchUp. They know we are passionate about SketchUp. They know our users are passionate about SketchUp. They know our users are not just some people that use SketchUp, it's a community of people who don't want their baby being touched by a stranger.
I excited about the future! I don't know what is going to happen in the future but I'm moving forward with the SketchUp team to Trimble to get this party started.
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@khai said:
welllll there was trueSpace and Microsoft...
Microsoft also owned Softimage (remember Softimage?) until they sold it to Avid in 1998. Who then sold it to Autodesk in 2008.
john
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@ely862me said:
All the new tools are from the ruby guys, not from Google.
Exactly! If SU were to disappear down a black hole, we still have a great program as it is enhanced by the plugins (sorry SU developers, that blame is aimed squarely at Google
) I do hope there's freedom to develop the program in ways that had languished before.We'll see... (geez, I'm waiting for vfsu, now another wait on where SU goes. Oh well, guess I better get back to work.)
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@edson said:
@mike lucey said:
@krisidious said:
...... The most important thing to me is really this place ...... SketchUcation ...
So onward and upward to better things and Trimble, we'll be watching... so fly straight.
Nice sentiments Kris and thanks from the SketchUcation Team.
Now regarding your last comment regarding Trimble flying straight! While having my chat with John B yesterday he told me to check out the recent accusations by Trimble. This I have been doing this today and am quite impressed. One particular accusation has caught my eye, Gatewing and its x100! You can check it out here ....... Mmmmmm, I wonder if they would be interested in sending one along for a test and review in Catchup
mike,
accusation or acquisition? this whole thing is getting to you...Nay, its not getting to me in the slightest. I was becoming a little bored of late and this is livening things up.
BTW, I've corrected the word misplacement now ...... and ........ before anyone says it ..... it was not a Freudian slip ..... more a case of a mis spelt word and then an incorrect replacement word
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@unknownuser said:
From the people at Trimble I have met and talked to I can tell you...they are lot like we are, they "get" SketchUp. They know we are passionate about SketchUp. They know our users are passionate about SketchUp. They know our users are not just some people that use SketchUp, it's a community of people who don't want their baby being touched by a stranger.
I excited about the future! I don't know what is going to happen in the future but I'm moving forward with the SketchUp team to Trimble to get this party started.
Thanks a lot Brad, this helps! The corporate ethos is important I think. When you see a faceless corporation, you tend to think the worst. It's nice to know they have identified the passion, and more importantly, have some of their own!
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@mrdentini said:
I've been told that SU will be greatly simplified.
I love it! Those of you who have been around for a while may have seen me post shots of my SketchUp workspace before, which is simple. I'm a fan of simplicity in life... and design.
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I would like to welcome a Trimble member at Sketchucation
to share in our joy here. -
@mike lucey said:
I was becoming a little bored of late and this is livening things up.
This explains the flame-bait threads started in the Corner Bar...
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@jbacus said:
@mrdentini said:
I've been told that SU will be greatly simplified.
I love it! Those of you who have been around for a while may have seen me post shots of my SketchUp workspace before, which is simple. I'm a fan of simplicity in life... and design.
[attachment=0:3ci5ah4s]<!-- ia0 -->SketchUpScreenSnapz002.png<!-- ia0 -->[/attachment:3ci5ah4s]
thats looking a bit outdated john.. the collapse toolbar lozenge has been replaced by the full screen icon hint_wink_etc
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Rumor has it the next version will replace ex Google staff with a German shepard...just sayin...
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Ve hav vaze of makin you happy...
I'm sure the neue version will arrive very subtly ...
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There're only 2 development suggestions I have:
1.) This is the tech from 50 years ago, Which Alan Kay presenting, that SketchUp should realized it to the mass in some way:
http://youtu.be/mOZqRJzE8xg2.) There're many time that I need to draw wall line, extrude it to wall and floor. Add gable/hip/typical form roofing and structures by it surfaces. I want to draw just a close loop line and have everything done instantly.
After that there will be a lot iteration/moving things as design progress. So I want things auto-update just by modified these simple exterior wall line/interior wall line. Wall-windows-Roof should have some way to know relationship. Just surface/components relation, not BIM, easier flexible and freedom like mechanical assembly. Simpler, fast, a lot smarter. Quite Spaceclaim smartness. There're so many cases BIM is not the smart way to do it becuase it slow down things.
Quite like this combine with dynamic components, but very straight-forward, automated, fast and robust:
http://youtu.be/1SqVGIwNpxYI'm not so sure what Trimble would think about BuildEdge. So I think I should write it here
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What to say ?
IMO only.
Google is a free swinging entrepreneurial cash cow and could afford to play around with SketchUp which may have served uses apparent and unseen that just no longer are of need.
Not artists but full of imagination and energy.
Enter Trimble.
They are engineers and as an Architect I find them to be good fellows but for the most part just "technical bean counters".
Unless it computes it is not an answer.
IMO this is money deal and not an acquisition of passion and it would not be surprise at all to see a new price tag on every element of SU today.
Play to pay and download to get the latest and greatest.
Good chance that SU will in time just show as the engine for some engineering related application.
Just look hard at their website and know the face of the new girl in town.
For the nonce SU will probably stay as is so a good idea to buy the Pro version just to CYA.
As in the "Terminator" "la tormenta".
She responded "I know."Cheers
dtr
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A couple of articles flying around,
SketchUp buy adds to Trimble's dimension
http://uk.reuters.com/article/2012/04/27/oukin-uk-trimble-idUKBRE83Q1AL20120427
Google's SketchUp Acquired by Trimble
http://www.i-programmer.info/news/99-professional/4128-googles-sketchup-acquired-by-trimble.html
Trimble Snatches SketchUp from Google
http://www.pehub.com/147629/trimble-snatches-sketchup-from-google/
SketchUp Acquisition: The Big Picture
http://www.constructech.com/news/articles/article.aspx?article_id=9248&SECTION=1
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There are a couple of things that make me take this news with a little bit of optimism (maybe I'm a little candid)
First, they have clear how and how many users have Sketchup
@unknownuser said:
Who uses SketchUp?
SketchUp is currently used by millions of users annually—ranging from architects to engineering and construction firms to building and design professionals—for designing, modeling and visualizing projects. The SketchUp product and its vision of “3D modeling for everyone” has allowed modelers worldwide, across a wide range of industries, to express design concepts easily, accurately and efficiently. Additionally, SketchUp users benefit from its extensive third-party developer community that provides industry-specific solutions for a variety of customers.Second thing, I consider very important, the importance they give to SketchUp third-party developer
@unknownuser said:
What if I am a SketchUp third-party developer?
Trimble acknowledges the value of SketchUp developers and will continue to support SketchUp’s developer program.and the last, I hope still that way “3D modeling for everyone”
@unknownuser said:
What if I am a SketchUp user and I am not in one of Trimble’s current vertical markets or concentrated industries?
From its inception, SketchUp has provided a wide range of industries with an innovative and easy way to model all things from A-Z. The SketchUp product and its vision of “3D modeling for everyone” has allowed modelers worldwide to express design concepts easily, accurately and efficiently. Trimble intends to continue to support the existing SketchUp customers and community and to continue to offer both the free and professional versions to a multitude of markets.Taken from the FAQ of Trimble http://ww2.trimble.com/3d/Trimble_Customers_FAQ_SketchUp_pre-close_FINAL_20120426.pdf
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So Trimble Stock closed up 2.5% today. I knew it, I knew it.
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Thanks for the chime-in Brad.
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It's 8:30 and I just finished a 12 hour day (but at least I ended it designing with SU!), and I find 22 pages on this out-of the-blue news; oy vey. BTW, is this a record for the most pages generated in such a short time? At last, I have something I can post in the gallery, but everyone is distracted so I'll wait
. Anyhow, this reminds me of the time when Google bought SU, and there were predictions of it's eminent demise. So, I will take them at their word and believe/hope SU continues as the great program it is, and maybe will be improved in time. I find it optimistic that the SU team of developers is migrating to Trimble with the program, so it should be in good hands. At least it wasn't bought by Autodesk! Ciao! -
oh my... I so love SketchUp the way it is now (I mean all round: cheap/free, tons of plugins you don't even need to install/uninstall, lots of 3rd party renderers, clean and "generalist" approach... etc) I am also worried as many of you
I am not afraid of the change itself but please don't make it another revit/archicad (for both price and complexity)
I just hope 8.x will still work with all my plugins for a long time in the worse scenario...
...and you should see what my 12yo students can do with it after a few lessons!
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