Filed under: Analysis / Opinion, Desktops, OS
Google Buys @Last, Developer of SketchUp
Google's on an
acquisition trend, having just purchased Writely,
an online word processor, likely to compete with the Microsoft Office monopoly. And today, @Last Software, developers of
the excellent 3D/CAD design software SketchUp, announced their
acquisition by the search engine giant. The developers have posted
a FAQ which should answer many of the burning questions SketchUp users might have. Recently, @Last developed a Google Earth plug-in that allows you to view your 3D models
directly in their real environments inside Google Earth.I wonder if this is another move for Google into releasing their own operating system, as has been rumored for some time now. They're actively acquiring desktop applications, resources, and programmers to make such a move. A free Google Linux, or even a suite of Google Web 2.0 applications that run on the platform independent Internet, would be an interesting competitor to Microsoft's stranglehold on the desktop marketplace.
![TUAW [Cafepress]](http://www.blogsmithmedia.com/www.tuaw.com/media/tuaw-cafepress-promo.png)
Reader Comments (Page 1 of 1)
Jorge Salvador Caffarena said 4:12PM on 3-14-2006
A web based Google OS would be released Windows only for quite some time for sure, so I don't see it as a competition for Windows at all. Rather a boost.
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eric e said 4:21PM on 3-14-2006
I don't think google is interested in entering the desktop OS market; their expertise is all centered around networking and server technology. For example, GFS (Google File System) is a fantastic FS for a server, but a very poor one for a desktop. Google even said they have no interest in developing a desktop OS. I do think they are aiming their resources at web based applications, maybe even a web based OS that gives users virtual machines. This 3d software looks promising; and it certainly would give a M$ Office a run for it's money if it's as user friendly as their website touts.
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lloyd Wagoner said 6:01PM on 3-14-2006
I downloaded the software to try it out.
Very cool, very easy.
OS X version as well.
BUT $495.00 !!!!!!!!!!!
never mind
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am said 7:53PM on 3-14-2006
I don't think this has anything to do with their supposed desktop OS. They aren't interested in releasing CAD software...they're interested in making Google Maps and Google Earth more compelling apps, and 3D models transposed on 2D sat photos of buildings is a way to do that.
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Entica said 8:52PM on 3-14-2006
Oh god I hope google doesn't F up Sketchup. Contrary to what Google may think, Sketchup isn't just for Google Earth. Many architects, designers, hobbiests, modelers, etc. use Sketchup and don't even know what Google Earth is (or at least don't use Sketchup for it). I love this software but I fear that now Google owns it, all future development of it will have a Google Earth slant :(
E.
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Jonathan Neil said 12:24AM on 3-15-2006
Sounds to me that google is going for full 3d environments in google earth. Very cool imo, and one step closer to a completely interactive virtual earth implementation on the net. Imagine being able to travel to a friend's house or business thru google earth, right up to their front door.. a knock on the door, and if they're home they "open" it by turning on a vidcam.
Don't even get me started on the business possibilities in this...
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Peter Kirn said 11:00AM on 3-15-2006
No reason to panic. Note that Google Earth isn't just about maps and satellite imagery: cruise on over to NYC, and you'll see primitive geometry for our skyline. (My apartment building is actually covered, though it gets a little, erm, blocky!)
So I think this is good news for everyone. Read the SketchUp release, and they address some of the concerns for the existing market. SketchUp is a fantastic, fantastic 3D tool, one of the few really innovative 3D tools that I think could have a big impact. Google gives that app the potential for more investment, and a broader audience. And Google gives it what's likely to be a growing range of geometry data -- so I could soon take those 3D vertices of my apartment and mess around with it! Meanwhile, SketchUp gives Google an essential tool for handling all the data they're acquiring.
I think it's fantastic, frankly, and not only does it have nothing to do with a Google OS or Google Office, it demonstrates the kind of awesome software you can have in this other space. It's not all about the OS or yet another word processor. (Yawn.) It's about new apps, 3D, and new Internet-powered data. It's about time.
By the way, note that faculty can get SketchUp effectively free, and students can get it for $50 / year. It's a bargain.
(No, I don't work for them -- I'm a music guy. I just like playing with 3D!)
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mr.human said 12:26PM on 3-15-2006
I downloaded a copy of SketchUp a couple of months back and it's a really cool piece of software. I haven't done as much experimenting as I'd like but hopefully I will soon.
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