When you think of Google, 3D image modeling isn’t generally the first idea that pops in your head. The search engine giant looks to be changing that with a new project they’re calling “Make Ideas Real“. It’s based around their …

Google has launched a new major version of its 3D modeling tool SketchUp: version 8. This comes ten years after the launch of version 1.

Google says there are over a million people using SketchUp. "That’s a pretty humbling number of 3D model makers," says SketchUp Product Manager John Bacus.

Google has teamed up with the Guggenheim Museum to create a design competition to design a "simple shelter for a specific geographic location anywhere in the world." Contestants will use Google’s SketchUp, Google earth, and Google 3D Warehouse to design, geo-locate, and upload their projects.

Google has announced the release of SketchUp 7. SketchUp is software you can use to build 3D models for any number of project types, including Google Earth projects. In version 7, Google has added a whole slew of new features.

Google SketchUp enthusiasts, rejoice!  An official blog for SketchUp is now up and running, and if the posts on it are any indication, this will not be one of Google’s sites that sit stagnant for a month (or more) at a time.

Google is planning on hosting a Google Developer Day on May 31, which will take place in ten countries around the globe. The event will include workshops, keynotes and discussions on Google’s APIs (application programming interfaces) and developer tools.

"We’re very excited to hold this first-ever worldwide Google developer gathering," said Google Vice President of Search Products and User Experience Marissa Mayer.

Google’s modeling applications received an upgrade earlier this week; SketchUp 6 (free) and SketchUp Pro 6 (not free) are now available. Most of the new features relate to the software’s 3D capabilities.

Google has released Google Sketchup, the recently acquired 3D modeling software and making it available for free (except for concerned residents of San Francisco, who don’t like free stuff from Google).

The professional version of the 3D modeling program still carries a price tag, but a new version released by Google can be had for free.

Google has released Google Sketchup, the first Google version of the 3D modeling software they acquired recently, and it is absolutely free.

@Last Software, parent company of Sketch.Up – 3D software has been acquired by Google.

The maker of 3D creation package SketchUp, @Last Software of Boulder, CO, have been acquired for an undisclosed sum by Google.

Google continues is roll-up of cool technologies with news that it has acquired @Last Software, makers of SketchUp.

So much news, so much innovation… not sure how I missed this one but on the heels of Google Earth being released for the MAC OS the folks at Sketchup have developed a cool Google earth (gearth) plug-in – recall Sketchup is a CAD program used in 3D design.