A new home for SketchUp

[HFM]

I'm going with worried...

Looks to me that this will make Sketchup too specific. Also, as this company is clearly invested with integrating its own software into Sketchup, what will happen to ruby scripts? Do they need to be 'checked' first?

A good time to start practicing with other software, just to be sure...

[dale]

Mark
I think my only knowledge of Trimble, is Trimble Oil, and I am not at all aware of any other mainstream software tools developed by Trimble, so in that sense, this is quite a surprise.
I do hope as is mentioned that the core SketchUp team is kept on and encouraged.

[thomthom]

Mark
I think my only knowledge of Trimble, is Trimble Oil, and I am not at all aware of any other mainstream software tools developed by Trimble, so in that sense, this is quite a surprise.
I do hope as is mentioned that the core SketchUp team is kept on and encouraged.

Yea - their description of their plans and what they do didn't make it clear to me of anything really. Felt a wee bit much corporate-speak in the announcements.

Trimble isn't a name I've heard of at all - not within any of the 3D modelling communities I've experiences. Therefor this all feels and sound very alien.

[pbacot]

"Trimble" is well known in the states for surveying equipment.

[Marian]

From the wiki page, Trible bought the following 3d related companies:
Acquisitions

2003 MENSI S.A. Terrestrial 3D scanning technology
2006 BitWyse Solutions, Inc 2D and 3D software applications for engineering and construction plant design
2006 XYZ Solutions, Inc Real-time, interactive 3D intelligence software
2009 Assets of Callidus Precision Systems GmbH 3D laser scanning for industrial market
2011 Tekla Corporation BIM Software
2012 StruCad and StruEngineer business from AceCad Software Software to extend BIM solutions
2012 Plancal of Horgen 3D CAD/CAE and ERP software provider

So at least they do have some 3d related expertise....how are those going to relate to SU's developement...who knows.

[dsmelcer1234]

Looking at their products they don't even seem to be a software developer as their primary focus. Why would they want to acquire sketchup? To me its like some random company acquires a product in another completely random category. Wal-mart buys Lumion. Ford buys word perfect.

[thomthom]

What worries me here is that I don't see the relevance of what they do with what I'm used with for SketchUp.
Will SU transform into a different type of solution? Will it fragment into specialized editions?

[dale]

What worries me here is that I don't see the relevance of what they do with what I'm used with for SketchUp.
Will SU transform into a different type of solution? Will it fragment into specialized editions?

+1

[pitrak]

I think developing sketchup in different directions might be interesting!
The fact that sketchup is still the 3D modeller of choice for many experienced modellers probably has more to do with all the great plugins around here than with the last upgrades we've seen.
The evolution of sketchup in the last years has been slow and not always successful (dynamic components anyone?)

My enthousiasm for this acquisition might have to do with Trimble's expertise in laserscanning as well. The holy grail of surveying in architecture would be an automated process from laserscan to a textured 3D model. If this would be possible with sketchup, I'ld be delighted!

So good luck guys, I hope you get all the freedom and support you need to take sketchup in new directions!

[tallbridgeguy]

from Trimble

Concurrently, the SketchUp engine will be integrated into Trimble's current solutions in its Engineering and Construction, Field Solutions and Mobile Solutions segments.

I think this is a bad idea....what software should I start learning?

[Marian]

That's wouldn't be a bad idea if that means that it would make more stuff compatible with SU and SU remains intact.

[solo]

Time to learn Blender.

[Glenn at home]

What worries me here is that I don't see the relevance of what they do with what I'm used with for SketchUp.
Will SU transform into a different type of solution? Will it fragment into specialized editions?

My feelings as well

[tomasz]

My enthousiasm for this acquisition might have to do with Trimble's expertise in laserscanning as well. The holy grail of surveying in architecture would be an automated process from laserscan to a textured 3D model. If this would be possible with sketchup, I'ld be delighted!

It is the direction it will go and will stop there. This is my impression.

Acquisition by Google didn't improve a lot what SU is all about. They wanted something for modelling the Google Earth content and that was all. Trimble wants to reach broad market with their tools. I expect multiple plugins for their products.

I doubt they will create a 64bit version. There is too much work they would have to do.

[tallbridgeguy]

Google was as close to open source as you can get. Now a private company owns it, which means profit. Whether that means banners, user fees, extra stuff we don't need. All Google needed to do was make the software 64 bit compatible with multiple cores and it was done.

I wonder why Google did it?

[Pilou]

Now a private company owns it

Google was not a private company?

[thomthom]

That's wouldn't be a bad idea if that means that it would make more stuff compatible with SU and SU remains intact.

That pinpointed my concern - I hope I can still do the same with Trimble SketchUp as I can with @Last/Google SketchUp without it becoming filled with features for disciplines I don't use.

I like the basic and generic design of SketchUp - with plugins being the method of adapting the core platform to my needs. My fear are big-features applications like 3D Studio Max, AutoCAD and Revit.

I hope SketchUp remains simple at core - and this acquisition will enhance it's powers as a platform where Trimble offer their solutions (as customer options). As long as it remains as a lean simple platform other developers, like myself, can use it to develop our own solutions custom fit for any particular need.

[tomasz]

Google was as close to open source as you can get.

I was really hoping for that! Now it is very unlikely. Are WE strong enough to buy the SketchUp from them? Don't think so.

[sorgesu]

My first thought was "why"?
Since it was Google that introduced the idea of a free version of SketchUp they cannot possibly be disappointed if the revenues are not there. They set up the scenario that guaranteed little revenue so therefore they clearly had a different agenda. In what way has that agenda not been fulfilled which has caused Google to re-evaluate?

I would like to know how come, which of course I will never know.

In many ways creating the free version was a boon. It caused SketchUp to be almost universally known. In other ways it caused a problem amongst professional users who might otherwise have adopted the use of SketchUp but regarded it as "oh, that shareware". I do think it was a mistake to give away for free, so very much. The free version would not have been a bad idea if it had not been so robust.
Perhaps a purchase by a group within the industry who will understand that will create a free version that is much more restricted. That may not be such a bad idea.

[thomthom]

All Google needed to do was make the software 64 bit compatible with multiple cores and it was done.

No no no - neither part is a magic bullet! 64bit merely let you address more memory - multiple cores cannot be applied to all tasks. The only times I've issues with any in SketchUp has been with render engines that ran within the SketchUp process.
64bit and multicore requests are just cloaked requests for better performance - where it's then best to ask for "better performance" instead of making assumption on the technical implementation.

My own wish for SketchUp was for it to improve it's Ruby API to allow more things to be created by third party developers.

[marvins_dad]

LOL Solo!

Does this hiccup affect "#9"

At least now people can't opine about Google holding SU development hostage for purposes of populating Google Earth.

Both thoughts I had while reading the announcement and the Trimble pdf to it's shareholders.
Maybe it will help develop the product past what Google needed it to do to help out their own interests (google earth).
Maybe we will finally get a 64 bit version of the product? (I use Twilight, main reason for this)

I would hope that they would carry on the tradition of Basecamp (that really wasn't a Google exclusive thing, was it?) - that way they can announce a new version and explain all of this to us in person...to assure us everything will be all right and what great advances will come out of this new partnership/owner.

...or it could be a trainwreck

[dale]

Susan
As a trainer, I wonder how it will affect you?

[Marian]

The free version would not have been a bad idea if it had not been so robust.
Perhaps a purchase by a group within the industry who will understand that will create a free version that is much more restricted. That may not be such a bad idea.

Why create a useless free version?
They should have left the free version as it is for the most part and added more stuff for the pro.

[sorgesu]

Yes I also wonder about how that affects trainers.

[tallbridgeguy]

I still think it is a lousy development. I liked Google being in charge.

What happened to their "do no evil"....

[IdahoJ]

http://ww2.trimble.com/3d/

From their news release:

"In Trimble, we found a partner that will grow SketchUp in a way that best supports the SketchUp team and our users," said Brian McClendon, Google's vice president of engineering. "While at Google, the SketchUp community grew significantly because the team put users first, and we are confident they will continue to do so at Trimble. We at Google look forward to a continued partnership with Trimble and the SketchUp team."

Concurrently, the SketchUp engine will be integrated into Trimble's current solutions in its Engineering and Construction, Field Solutions and Mobile Solutions segments.

While this may indicate that SU could stay a free app as we know it, it makes me wonder if any of the improvements to the SU engine will find their way from Trimble's other integration projects. Normally, this sort of thing becomes proprietary and the answer is either "no" or "we'll consider it".

The other things that bother me is how this acquisition will effect content produced by independent individuals and shops, plugin designers and sites like Sketchucation. One wonders if it will raise licensing or copyright issues. Companies don't acquire assets from the goodness of their hearts, someone saw a profit in it. Companies exist to make a profit ...

Or will they do what Oracle did when they acquired Java from Sun? Keep it freely available but leave you with the feeling that there will always be a sword hanging over your head?

We'll see ...

One more thought: If Google can do this to SU and it's MILLIONS OF USERS (which are being sold to Trimble by proxy as well), then what would stop them from selling their Google Drive service, google+, the Android OS or any other "free" product or service they currently own?

The answer: nothing would.

Cheers.

[tomasz]

Time to learn Blender.

Sad, but true.

[pbacot]

I thought this was funny in Trimble's text:

SketchUp is currently used by millions of users annually—ranging from architects to engineering and construction firms to building and design professionals

Not really a "range". Silly me, I thought architects WERE "building and design professionals". They left out industrial, nautical, furniture, game, film, graphic etc. designers and hobbyists, sculptors and just plain artists to name a few.

and it's daily, not annually.

[tallbridgeguy]

What does it mean for this site? I see the google part has been replaced by ??????...

I can't imagine how many jobs this affects

[solo]

Wondering if they would be bold enough or courteous enough to come on this forum to discuss their plans, I mean we are after all their support and will be their best asset in the future.