I retired from personal blogging in July 2008.
But you can find me over at http://blog.xero.com.
Posted by rod@drury.net.nz in Old-blog-archives at 9:50 am on Friday, 28 April 2006
Google has just announced their 3D modeling acquisition, SketchUp is now free.
SketchUp allows you to create 3D models, which you can then upload into GoogleEarth.
There is even a Model Library where the community of modelers can upload and share the models they create.
So by giving a tool away for free (there is a Pro model that you can pay for), and accepting the models that the community creates, they start to model the world - at minimal costs.
Wow! Does that sound like the SETI model with immediate commercial payback.
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I have used 3D modelling software since 2002, AutoCAD Architectural Desktop and Archicad and bought SketchUp Pro a few months before Google did. This is the best concept modelling package out there- not as fast as AutoCAD or Archicad at doing the simple stuff (walls, doors, windows, roofs) but great at doing the tricky stuff- chases in walls, joinery, etc. A great tool!!