‘google’

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Google SketchUp acquired by Trimble, Not Dassault

26 Apr, 2012 by in CAD, NEWS

There were rumors floating around about the acquisition of Google SketchUp. It was thought the buyer may be Dassault Systemes. SpaceClaim was even in there at one point. Turns out that the acquisition rumor was true, but speculation on the buyer? Waaaaaay off. Today, Trimble, producers of advanced location-based hardware and software, announced they have entered into an agreement with Google to acquire SketchUp, the 3D modeling platform previously acquired by Google from @Last software in March of 2006.
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Google+. Collaborative Portfolio, Yes. Product Design, Not So Much.

11 Jul, 2011 by in CULTURE

If you’ve been anywhere besides knitting doilies, mulching a garden or knee deep in clam-chowder, you’ve likely heard, seen or felt the social repercussions of Google’s new network site, Google+. It’s more than a site though. It’s an extension of your Google profile (if you have one) and a supplement, or in some cases, a replacement, to your other social networks. Of course, the first thing you want to is give it a few whacks to see what it can do. Turns out, Google has set it up pretty well for use as a platform for discussion and to a certain extent, collaboration. In fact, using if for something like a portfolio is definitely possible, but for product design collaboration? Well…

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Cue Your Arduinos. Google Opens Up Android Accessory Standards

11 May, 2011 by in DESIGN, NEWS, RESOURCES, TECH

Of all the things that Google announced yesterday at the Google I/O developers conference, the one I find most exciting is their new Android Open Accessory standards and the Accessory Development Kit (ADK) that goes with it. The best nerdy part of this nerdy story is that the ADK is centered around the Arduino open source microcontroller meaning that a lot of you already have the skills to start developing accessories for Android devices. So, what does this mean for the product designer or engineer?

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3DConnexion Shows TED It’s Navigatin’ in Google’s Liquid Galaxy

15 Feb, 2010 by in TECH

If you’re familiar with the TED conference that highlights some good (and some not so good) “ideas worth spreading,” you’ll know how tough it is to get into the conference, not to mention their book club.

That is unless you’re an inanimate piece of hardware showing off new tech at the conference. 3DConnexion got the props this time when Google’s Jason Holt displayed his 20 percent time project called Liquid Galaxy. It’s been out a while, but still, it’s oh so sweet.
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How Many Plug-ins Does it Take to Put 3D on the Web? Google Releases O3D.

22 Apr, 2009 by in TECH

3D… on the web. It’s here… again, but this time in fine Google form with all the openness you would expect from the crew. Tuesday, Google opened the gates on their interactive 3D graphics accelerator for web browsers, O3D.

It’s a browser plug-in, complete with a fresh API for anyone interested to play with. For web users, it’s the next rich 3D experience on the web and Google’s attempt at giving you native 3D support in your browser… without a plug-in.

So gather round the screen, load the plug-in and cozy up to the virtual blaze that is emanating from your browser. It’s Google 3D time.

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3D Coming to Your Browser: Google Earth Online

28 May, 2008 by in ROCKIN'

The Google I/O conference is in full swing with all sorts of goodies coming out. But, what’s really cool and going to affect how you view the world and map-based web apps in the future is the announcement of the Google Earth browser plugin.

No longer will you be isolated to two dimensions of movement with Google Maps. Google earth is all 3D and is one more step in bringing 3D visualization and usablility to the good ol’ internet. Plus, it’s open to developers to grow and manipulate.

“…there’s never been a way to build your own 3D web applications using Google Earth, the way you can with Google Maps… until now. you can…import 3D models from the web and overlay them anywhere on the planet …build 3D Google Sky mashups. You can also enable 3D buildings with a single line of JavaScript, …in the hopes that you’ll build the next great geo-based 3D application, and change (yet again) how we view the world.”

What does this mean for 3D Apps?
Right now this is just for mash-ups and visualization. We’re not creating 3D online yet. If nothing else, this plugin opens up the ideas that having large amounts of accessible 3D data online is possible. Building graphical program functionality into a web app, like Aviary Phoenix or Photoshop Express are doing, has been the highest reach, as of late, and performance is only as good as the bandwidth you have.

Developing parametric history-based or history free models online may seem like a far reach, but when the knowledge of both collide I think we’ll see some interesting advances with PLM, product design and how things are manufactured. CAD Mash-ups? PLM Life streams? Whatcha think?

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