Google has taken its recent acquisition of @LastSoftware which was snagged up with 3D dreams last month and offered it via download to the masses as Google SketchUp. This new version makes it easy for users to create 3D drawings of houses, sheds, decks, home additions, woodworking projects - among other things. Google will still support a more sophisticated version for architects and engineers called SketchUp Pro 5 via plug-ins.
The Google blog offers up a warning to new Google SketchUp users as follows:
"Warning: don’t start messing with this stuff after dinner because your first experience could be an all-nighter… making an idea come to life in 3D can be very addicting."
I will keep this in mind as I look to give it a whirl but in the meantime you can see other SketchUp user creations by visiting and searching through the newly created Google 3D Warehouse. I assume Google is looking to benefit by empowering the online community to pitch in with developing 3D models of landmarks which could then be added to Google Earth.
