Why is Google Account Required for SU?

Tandem

Can someone explain to me why is access to the SU Extension Warehouse limited to ONLY GOOGLE accounts? Was this a part of the $100M deal when Trimble acquired SketchUp 2 years ago?

Extension Warehouse Terms of Use (July 1 2014)
Currently, a valid Google user account is required for accessing and using the Warehouse, and you must authorize Google to share account information with Trimble. The information Google provides may contain personally identifiable information, which will be handled by Trimble in accordance with Trimble’s online Privacy Statement.

3D Warehouse Terms of Use (July 1 2014)
Currently, a valid Google user account may be used for accessing and using the Warehouse and is required to upload Models to and access certain areas of the Warehouse. To create a Google account and use it to access and use the Warehouse, you must authorize Google to share account information with Trimble and you must maintain your Google user account in good standing subject to any separate user terms between you and Google. The authentication information Google provides to Trimble may contain personally identifiable information, which will be handled by Trimble in accordance with Trimble’s online Privacy Statement, and we may publicly display the name and profile photo associated with your Google user account.

Aerilius

Under Google, the SketchUp web services (ie. 3D Warehouse) where integrated with Google's infrastructure. Of course that was still the case after money exchange, so any change to the accounts system would need to be built. The 3D Warehouse accounts are now separated, but use (only) Google as OpenID identity provider for signing in. You also have to consider that all "old" SketchUp users already had a Google account anyways, and the SketchUp team are also still friends with their colleagues at Google.

An interesting topic… …do you think about anything for or against that current status quo?

Tandem

I don't understand why I need an account at all in order to just download a free extension and don't plan to upload anything to the Extension Warehouse.

Aerilius

I have no answer. Someone else might help out.
I understand that some users see it as a one-time action to download a plugin, without permanent membership (by having a account).
It reminds me a bit of the newspaper sites where you have to pay with a FB like. The more registered users, the more fans/better stats has SketchUp?

deaneau

@tandem said:

I don't understand why I need an account at all in order to just download a free extension and don't plan to upload anything to the Extension Warehouse.

what kind of extension you need, what you can´t find here in sketchucation?

pbacot

I would say that such registration is so common online that one has to decide whether to DL each time. Trimble is not unique and they probably find it easy to use google for this. Many allow you to use other accounts like FB but then you share all your info. I suppose with google they get all your search history. IDK. I use my Google account not at all.

Box

It may well become a trimble account login now that they own it , would that disturb you? When it is sold to skynet mapping would you terminate your account?
The internet is a free resource but for the content providers there needs to be some feedback, some connection some advertising some likes etc etc
Try building a website of your own and just be happy that it is there. If a bear shits in the woods and the pope isn't there to smell it does it really happen.

Tandem

Google gets a lot more than your search history. Think of all the Google APIs used by the websites you visit.

I understand your point regarding the free content. What about the extensions built by the SketchUp Team. I paid for those when I purchased the Pro version. It makes sense that some of them are not part of the default install, but as a paying customer I should not be forced to jump through hoops in order to get them. I am not asking for a free lunch.

Aerilius

@unknownuser said:

It may well become a trimble account login

I've be wondering about that possibility for long. Or at least add more OpenId providers. It just happens by hazard (or conspiration) that I already had a Google account, but I would certainly not create a new one just because one website doesn't support any openids that I have.

tomot

Its time the Sheeple wake up and smell the SHIT they are covered in, Its the SHIT that Google is providing in return for free searches, all in the name of finding new advertising revenues. Same is true for FB, Twitter, Linkedin, etc. etc.
But you have the option: opt out. and please complain vigorously, otherwise we will all be ruled by these predatory Companies, ....unless you like the smell!

My advice:

Don't use Google search engine. I use https://startpage.com/ as my startup search page.
Don't buy an Android OS device. All you are buying a device that Google uses to spy on you.
Run CCleaner each day on your computer system.

On an Android OS you can't log out of Gmail. After doing simple search for "anything" you discover advertisements for "anything" on all your subsequent searches.
Also some Newspaper links wont work on Android without a paying account. Its still best to stay with a Windows OS.

Recently my password protected .zip files were rejected. I could not send them via Gmail. The comment was my zip file contained a virus. I had to remind the Gmail forum that the .rb extension is a Ruby file extension not a virus. I then changed the .rb extension to .txt, the file now passed the Silly Gmail Virus checker. I reminded the Gmail forum of this fact. Now my password protected .zip files are no longer rejected.

Makes one wonder what type of people Google employs?