3Dconnextion mice offer SketchUp 8 and Pro 8 users the following features:

• Superior Navigation — simultaneously pan, zoom, and rotate your model as if holding it in your hand
• Superior Modeling — 3D mice also offer a superior control of modeling when working with the new Solid Tools modeling operations for creating, editing and validating multiple shapes
• Precise Control — patented six-degrees of freedom (6DoF) sensor is capable of detecting inut as small as four micrometers for smooth and natural control of the sketch or 3D model
• Improved Efficiency — programmable buttons provide quick access to commonly used software features
• Intelligent 3D Navigation — Sets the center of the rotation to a point on the model that is nearest to the display screen center, which is helpful at higher zoom levels, or SketchUp users can pick a new center of rotation point for an individual modeling task

Compatibility

The entire 3Dconnexion product line is compatible with SketchUp 8 series products, including the Professional Series with the SpacePilot PRO (399.USD) and SpaceExplorer (299.USD) and the Standard Series with the SpaceNavigator (99.USD) and SpaceNavigator for Notebooks (129.USD).

To learn more visit: www.3Dconnexion.com

What’s Really Hot in SketchUp 8

For quite awhile now modeling pros have talked up SketchUp’s famed ease-of-use but often criticized its lack of being a true solids modeler. New in SketchUp 8 are Solid Tools, only available in the Pro version. We are not sure yet how the company added “true solids”….whether they wrote their own modeling kernel or have incorporated a third-party modeling engine.

The Solid Tools in SketchUp 8 Pro will allow faster and more capable modeling, featuring union intersects, deletes, adds, subtracts, splits and trims. There is a video of some of these tools in action here.

Also very powerful in the pro version are several features aimed at helping modeling be faster and more precise, integrating with other professional tools and working with angles. In Pro you now have precise move options in LayOut so you can create custom snap points. Pro also features the latest AutoCAD DWG/DXF 2010 formats for import/export. This extends to LayOut 3 where you can export your drawings from LayOut 3 into other programs like AutoCAD or DWG/DXF capable CAD systems.

There are several new features that all SketchUp users will find important right away. Back Edges turns obscured edges into dashed lines and forms an alternative to X-Ray view mode. SketchUp 8 now has Push/Pull pre-selected faces, which helps you confirm the face you are affecting. Entity Info now displays volume data and reports it in SketchUp Pro. And finally another Pro features is that  Dashed Lines are fully configurable in LayOut 3 in the Pro version.

Other Key Features

Maps have now been built right into SketchUp 8, making geo-location based information easy to incorporate. This will be immensely useful to urban designers and architects who want to work with accurate site and map data with their designs. And aerial imagery is now in color in included 3D terrain data.

Match Photo has had some minor improvements to make it easier to generate models from tracing photos imported into SketchUp.

SketchUp  8 has a new compliment in Google’s Building Maker tool. Building Maker is a tool for modeling buildings and adding them to Google Earth. You select a city in the world, build your model from photos Google provides, and then save your building for review for inclusion in Google Earth.

There are several new videos of the new Google SketchUp 8. Visit this page to find out more information.

The BumpTop user-interface technology will look somewhat familiar to those long-time Mac users who are aware of Apple’s forays into 3D interfaces going all the way back to the System 8 era.

You can check out the BumpTop UI technology is this YouTube video here. How Google would actually use this UI technology on a smartphone device is very unclear. Not all of this technology’s capabilities would suit a small screen device like a smartphone. However, it many of these same concerns  become opportunities on a device the size of the iPad.

Sketchers Studio Features

Sketchers Studio works with your Google 3D models. It supports SketchUp model files natively. It also supports the models in Google’s 3D Warehouse and you can view the 3D Warehouse from within the Sketchers Studio application.

Sketchers Studio looks a lot like Apple’s iMovie or Garageband application with a twist. It merges a 3D model window into the interface wherein you view and manipulate your Google models. You can create flythrough animations and animate 3D objects themselves.

A “Live Mode Controller” enables you to move around your Google model so you can add scenes while you are walking around in 3D space. The program also supports visual effects, though they are basic and very limited. These include a simple Particle System, simple motion effects and things like shadow effects.

The latest version is Sketchers Studio 1.2.3 and it runs exclusively on the Mac (Universal Binary) running Mac OS X 10.5 Leopard or later. The product costs 59.USD. To learn more visit them here: http://sketchersstudio.com/en/index.html

Boston Vectorworks users have an upcoming User Group (UG) meeting in Boston. The date is set for January 6th, 6:00pm EST, at the Boston Society of Architects (BSA) building on 52 Broad Street, Boston, MA. User group leader, Brian Hores can be reached at: brianhores@gmail.com.

If you are interested in attending you are requested to send an email to Brian with the following information:

1. Your specific industry segment

2. Your Vectorworks product experience level: beginner, intermediate, advanced

3. Your goals for such a group

4. Your interest in hosting a user group meeting in your office.

SketchUp News

In the latest Google SketchUp news the company says that Detroit, Michigan, has been added in 3D to Google Earth. From sports venues like Joe Louis Arena and Comerica Park (home of the new Tigers) to legendary Lafayette Coney Island, the whole city is available in 3D. Tuscon and Cleveland are next up!

The latest Tips blog teaches you how to create web-ready images using Google’s LayOut, included with SketchUp Pro.

And new in version 7.1 include the support of Google’s Street View imagery to add real-world photo textures to your geo-located SketchUp models. You can now use the Component Browser to search the 3D Warehouse for buildings located near the one you’re working on, then download the ones you want directly into your model. This will save you immense amounts of time rather than hunting for what you need. 

01 - This image shows the ability to use Street View imagery as the basis of a photo texture applied to a model. On the left you can see the SketchUp model with the applied photo texture. On the right you can see Google's Street View and map technology within its own window. Pins locate key points defining the image and then you hit the Grab button to extract it for use.

New Sharing and Collaboration

Version 7.1 improves sharing and collaboration. You can now upload individual components to the 3D Warehouse without first having to save them out to separate files. Split up large city models into buildings, preserve Dynamic Component functionality and more. 

You can now import and export COLLADA files, which enables you to move your data around between multiple programs. Google Earth KMZ is the standard file format for packaging 3D models together with information about their geographic locations. SketchUp 7.1 gives you access to a world of geo-located 3D models. Additionally, you can exchange model data in other CAD formats like DXF, DWG, 3DS, OBJ, XSI, EPS, PDF and more. 

LayOut 2.1

Google has also updated LayOut to version 2.1. New features include dimensioning improvements, new Snap to SketchUp models in Layout, improved freehand drawing tool and the ability to produce lists in bulleted or numbered format. 

There is also improvements to the grids. You can now see your grid as dots instead of lines, in front of or behind your drawing. And finally there is an improvement to Copy/Paste. 

To learn more visit the SketchUp webpage: www.sketchup.com

Interestingly, auto-des-sys, Inc. first introduced Bonzai 3D at AIA last year. A year ago it was an early beta that showed a lot of promise. This year, at essentially version 1.0, Bonzai 3D is vastly more mature and ready to go.

In our earlier report we have a bullet list of the key new features in Bonzai 3D. Of this list, the feature that is most significant in my mind is the combination of real-time Booleans with true class-A NURBS behind all the curved functionality. This product is a serious challenger to Google’s SketchUp. 

01 - both formZ and Bonzai 3D brought visitors to the auto-des-sys booth.

Bonzai 3D also has the easy ability to move data back and forth between it and its more mature and capable sibling, formZ. This direct-upscale capability is attractive from the perspective of those who want to start with a “sketch-oriented” modeler and move to a full-featured industrial-class modeler that features the same modeling engine and most of the same tools. 

02 - formZ and Bonzai on display at AIA.

Of course this workflow I’m describing between Bonzai 3D and formZ will get vastly better with a revamped formZ–which is in the works. Chris Yessios told me last year that Bonzai 3D is paving the way with new approaches to the interface and workflow and that some of this innovation will move over to formZ in the future. 

03 - Google shows off SketchUp 7 Pro.

Google is now one of the big and popular software companies at AIA National. SketchUp Pro 7 is the latest version of the popular, easy-to-use modeler that now has a direct competitor in Bonzai 3D. Architosh published an in-depth interview with SketchUp 7 product manager John Bacus back in December. This is a must read for the details behind this release.

04 - Architects sit within the Google Booth Theater to check out demos of the SketchUp 7 product line.

You can notice in this picture that even Google’s booth had empty seats in its booth theater, as did mighty Autodesk and the smaller companies like auto-des-sys, Inc. Don’t take any of this as a reflection of the vendors’ popularity at the show. The truth is, the AIA National this year had noticeably less people attending the show. Those empty seats reflect a severely troubled US economy. However the vendors who exhibited deserve credit for staying in the show and for pushing forward in troubled times. I encourage readers to follow these links and check out their products new and old.

Successful applications will be offered a $4500.USD stipend for their work courtesy of Google. Application deadline is Apri 3, 2009. You can learn more by visiting here: http://wiki.aqsis.org/dev/soc_2009.

Google was at hand at Macworld as usual but this year they had a smaller and different booth setup. And instead of the usual hardcore push of SketchUp, Layout, 3DWarehouse and Google Earth 3D, the company this year was showcasing its iPhone applications. 

Google's newer and smaller booth at Macworld Expo - Big Focus on both Mac and iPhone applications from the tech giant.

But aside from that they were also showcasing its Mac software and this did include things like Google 3D Earth and SketchUp. Still, the overall feeling of the booth was very different. Clearly Google is intent on letting the iPhone market know that it intends to produce some of the best applications for the iPhone. 

BeLight Live Interior 3D

BeLight’s booth was busy showcasing their mix of design and small business applications, including of course its Live Interior 3D application. 

BeLight's Live Interior 3D is on the Apple Display above.

Live Interior 3D comes in two versions including Standard and Pro and the latest version is v.2.0.1, based on version 2 that came out back in the fall. 

EazyDraw 3.0

EazyDraw now at version 3.0 is a program in the tradition of MacDraw. The EazyDraw folks had a wonderful booth with excellent product branding design throughout. 

EazyDraw 3.0 - feature updated interface and lots of new features.

EazyDraw 3.0 is not a CAD application but rather a simple vector drawing application with import support for AppleWorks 6, ClarisDraw, MacDrawII, MacDrawPro and PICT files. Based on Cocoa the program works well in tandem with Apple’s iWork suite applications. 

FileMaker Pro 10

Filemaker Inc., a subsidiary of Apple, had a large showing at Macworld Expo with the outing of version 10. FileMaker 10 also features a sleek new look with new interface components. There is new live two-way connections with external SQL data sources (databases) enabling workgroups to create, add and modify SQL databases using FileMaker 10 as the front end. 

FileMaker 10 offers its own internal built in Email server, enabling sophisticated script-driven emailing. Plugins can allow FileMaker to serve as your primary email program if you so choose.

Script Triggers are a new way to generate user actions for increased productivity and they simplify end user programming of FileMaker databases. Also new are Saved Finds and Dynamic Reports. Architosh will be taking a look at FileMaker 10 in a feature AEC business report series. 

LaCie

LaCie always has a good Macworld Expo. In general the company’s products stand out inside its polished and large booths. 

LaCie's expansive array of external drive options.

LaCie d2 Quadra products were shown at Expo along with the rest of the product line, including their RAID products and network drive storage.

3Dconnexion’s products, like its award-winning SpaceNavigator, allow users greater ease in navigating in and around SketchUp 7’s modeling environment. The product also works with Google’s 3D environments in Google Earth. By pulling, pushing and rotating pressure on the cap section of a 3Dconnexion device one can combine simultaneous pan, zoom and rotate functions into one smooth movement. 

To learn more about the SpaceNavigator and other 3Dconnexion mice, visit their website here.

A couple of quick emails led to a telephone interview and conversation with longtime SketchUp product manager, John Bacus. John does an excellent job of describing the latest addition to what has become a staple in the architectural world for conceptual modeling.

Discussing SketchUp 7 Pro

AFR: John, first I want to congratulate you guys on quite an amazing update. There are some real impressive features in SU 7.

John Bacus (JB): Thanks, we went dark for quite awhile.

AFR: Yeah, I was really beginning to wonder…but now I see what Google has been working on. The Dynamic Components feature is really quite extensive. Where can users go to learn more about Dynamic Components and how to make sophisticated things like stairs?

JB: There are a couple of places…

The best place we would recommend to learn more about Dynamic Components is to look at other Dynamic Components. We have shipped some with SketchUp 7 Pro and there are others you can find on 3D Warehouse. You can also learn more by watching the YouTube videos on the SketchUp Channel.

SketchUp 7 Pro - Dynamic Component: Google Provided Stair

AFR: Are those on 3D Warehouse produced by Google?

JB: Some are Google-produced and some are by others. Some are by manufacturers, like Marvin Windows. With their windows you can size them to the limits in which they can manufacturer them.

AFR: What about learning more as to the mathematical and logical functions that you see under the Functions tab? Where does one learn how to apply those?

3Dconnexion’s 3D mice enable SketchUp 7 users to navigate in 3D more smoothly by tapping the power of several different SketchUp navigation tools at the same time, including Orbit, Pan and Zoom. You can watch a QuickTime movie of it we produced as part of a review here.

With SketchUp 7’s new dynamic components users can build basic to sophisticated modeling components that can be stretched or manipulated as a group and watch intelligent modeling consequences emerge from that single manipulation. A good example would be to see a dynamic stairway component auto-adjust to a scale change by adding treads and risers to account for a new height or length. 

The new crossing line feature automatically breaks planes up for immediate push/pull modeling action and there is a new ability to program interaction into modeling components. 

Dynamic Components

There are several ways in which Dynamic Components can be deployed within SketchUp 7 Pro. Firstly, they can be configured as basic parametric modeling objects setting dimensional constraints to their location in space (x,y,z) or their relative dimensions across all three axes or a selection of axes. Secondly, they can be configured to allow for component options such as color and texture. Thirdly, they can be endowed with behaviors like animation and smart scaling. Through a spreadsheet like interface you setup and manipulate Dynamic Components. Google has several YouTube videos that showcase Dynamic Components. 

Other New Features

SketchUp 7 Pro and 3D Warehouse are more fully integrated with direct access from within SketchUp 7. You can perform and save searches. And in this new version you can take full credit for your models uploaded to 3D Warehouse as well as limit who has access to them. This last feature means you can utilize 3D Warehouse as an “cloud computing” store for your team’s models, only granting access to those on your project team. 

Another big new feature in SketchUp 7 Pro is the ability to tag metadata to your models. This means as a manufacturer you can attach part numbers, weight, or cost figures. On the presentation side of things you can now edit textures applied to your models in your favorite editing program and then see the results automatically updated within SketchUp 7.  

LayOut 2

LayOut 2 is fast becoming a sort of CAD container application, similar to Graphisoft’s old PlotMaker program. Essentially a holder of viewports of SketchUp model data, with LayOut 2 you can create sophisticated presentation or “working drawing” sheets for print or PDF production. LayOut 2 lets you create multi-page documents thereby allowing a complete setup of a set of drawings. 

In LayOut 2 your model data is linked to SketchUp 7 so that you can manipulate views of SketchUp models directly in the viewports within LayOut 2. Another key update is “scaled views.” Now with scaled views you can populate model views in LayOut 2 to exact scale. Lastly, LayOut 2 also integrates views for printing and files for presentation directly into the same file. LayOut 2 has a new presentation slide mode built right in. This enables you to showcase your project from within LayOut 2 without having to flip back and forth to SketchUp. You can orbit and fly around your SketchUp models, you can play animations and you can annotate on top of your view data. 

LayOut 2 also has some nice new little feature improvements like the ability to do both bounded and unbounded text, a new measurements entry window in the bottom right hand corner (a la SketchUp itself) and a new Vector rendering option.

To learn more visit: www.sketchup.com

No. 2 – Obama faces ban on Blackberry and Apple at White House

There is a wonderful and interesting story about Obama and his geek toys not making it to the White House come his January inauguration. Apparently US Presidents don’t get to have their own laptops or cell phones. Gee? I wasn’t aware…were you? Obama is a MacBook Pro guy — so this is great to finally see a Mac user back in the White House again. Al Gore, who ran for the White House eight years ago was not a Mac user at the time, but has since switched back to the Mac after being appointed an Apple board member. 

As for the Blackberry, last week RIM announced that it is finally coming out with Mac syncing software for its popular Blackberry smartphones. This should make a lot of people happy — including Obama (…if only he could keep using his cell phone!) 

No. 3 – Microsoft’s Future Web-based Office Suite to Run on Linux, Safari and iPhone

According to this report on ZDNet, the future of Office isn’t tied to Windows or Internet Explorer. The upcoming Microsoft Office Web Applications will not require Internet Explorer. MS-OWA’s will work across multiple platforms and browsers including Apple’s Safari and FireFox too. They will even work on the Safari browser on the iPhone. And Linux! 

According to this Microsoft blogger the future web-based Office suite will not replace the boxed version of software.

No. 4 – Will the iPhone gobble up iPods? No, the iPod will evolve into flavored versions — one version being a Gaming Machine

That is exactly what will happen and it’s nice to see the beginning of that coming to fruition now. This BBC report discusses Apple’s growing momentum in the mobile game device market, where Nintendo and Sony compete. 

Sega, Electronic Arts (EA) and Hudson are all creating games for the iPod and iPhone now. The big advantage Apple has is that they have the App Store where buyers can peruse not just games but over 5000 programs (1500+ games) for their iPod touch or iPhone. And best yet, the programs cost much less than the “cartridge-based” old school method of mobile gaming. Whether Apple succeeds fully is yet to be determined. It’s an early market, as the report notes, but one where Apple can be a big player. 

No. 5 – Apple’s iPhone Number One Handset in US in 3rd Quarter

The iPhone has taken the crown from Motorola’s popular Razr, according to NPD data for the US handset (mobile phone) market in the third quarter. The Razr had been the number one handset for 12 quarters straight.

Google Earth has been downloaded over 400 million times since its introduction in 2005, and now the iPhone gains this wonderful application, complete with unique iPhone platform features. One such feature is that you can utilize the iPhone’s accelerometer to fly around and navigate in 3D by tilting the device. Google Earth for iPhone and iPod touch includes all the same features as the desktop version. 

Writing from his Google Blog, Google Earth Product Manager, Peter Birch writes, “Now, with a free download from the iTunes App Store, you can fly through the same 3D immersive world of Google Earth you’ve come to love, without having to fire up your desktop computer.”

Google Earth on your iPhone can uniquely use the iPhone’s “My Location” features to pin-point your location — just like Google Maps on iPhone — on Google Earth. You can interactively discover your location’s options for entertainment, dining, business, et cetera. To check out Google Earth on iPhone watch the video above.

Quick Stuff

Firstly, if you want to post in the Comments section you need to sign-up (upper left margin or sign-up box in Comments area. We encourage you to do so. You will especially want to chime in in future Blog posts and other debatable topics we plan to delve into. 

Secondly, we have just a few items under Reviews and Features at the moment. We will be adding our older Reviews and Features to the new site in the fullness of time. In the meantime you can still access all our older content (see below). 

Lastly, we encourage you to explore our site thoroughly — especially our Tag Cloud and Most Popular bar upper right margin. You will also notice our Forums are back in place too, recently updated, and there are some new features within them. If you have any comments or issues please don’t hesitate to contact us at: info@architosh.com.

Finding Old Stuff

Our older content is still up on the Web. A simple Google search like this will find it. Say you are searching for a review of modo. Type into the Google search bar this: modo review site:architosh.com. Your results will help point you to all instances of both “modo” and “review” on site = architosh.com. The review in question is here at: http://www.architosh.com/features/2006/reviews/modo/modo_1.html. 

Finding our old Features page and home pages is equally easy. Here are some links:

• Old Features Page (http://www.architosh.com/features/index.phtml)
• Old Digital Practice Guide-DPG (/DPG/index.phtml)
• Old Edu/tainment Page (/edutainment/index.phtml)
• Old Community Page (/community/index.phtml)
• Old Site Map/Find Page (/find/index.phtml)

Developing New Stuff

Write to us with any questions at: info@architosh.com