Google SketchUp - Today's Free File

I have been a fan of SketchUp for a couple of years. And I wasn't entirely shocked to see Google buy them out (since they looked awfully cozy together at Macworld). But now that there is a free version of SketchUp, called Google SketchUp, I can expect my productivity in everything but 3d to plummet dramatically. SketchUp is just so darn easy and fun to use, it makes me wince a little to drop into other apps like 3ds max (not for long, since the toolset in max is decidedly larger and more potent). Better still, you can upload your models to Google Earth. So that's how Google is going to add 3d buildings for all the towns not currently included (only 38 major cities are in there now). If you have ever considered using a 3d app before, give Google Sketchup a try, it is a lot of fun. Then consider the fact that most other 3d apps are NOT as much fun. There is still a pro version of SketchUp, which allows many more output options (like movies). This free version is for personal use, not business use, much like Google Earth, which comes in a pro flavor as well.

Tags: 3d, freeware, google earth, GoogleEarth, sketchup