01/26, 7:00pm
Shaderlight accurately renders lighting fixtures
iPhonso has announced that its mobile financial tool, Gekko, will be launched in the App Store on January 31. The universal app is fully customizable and allows users to follow financial news from their favorite websites. Gekko also includes a smart caching system and built-in ad blocking to help improve page load times, as well as raw financial data for every stock. Other features include Evernote, Read It Later, and Instapaper integration, as well as support for sharing content via e-mail, SMS, and Twitter. Pricing has not yet been announced.
more
07/12, 11:00pm
Performance improvements of 30 to 300 percent
A new update for E-On Software's LumenRT plug-in for Google's Sketchup, now at version 1.2, promises from 30 to 300 percent performance improvement, gains of up to 14x in pre-processing time, and the ability to compute lighting on very large scenes. The software, which focuses on visualizing architectural projects, can now handle whole cities and large structures with ease. The new v1.2 release is free for all registered users.
more
03/10, 5:40am
Users can create 3D scenes from Sketchup models
Now available for both Mac and PC users, Shaderlight from ArtVPS adds photo-realistic 3D rendering to Google SketchUp drawings. The program works as a plug-in to SketchUp (Free or Pro versions). It also features a "progressive rendering" mode that allows users to watch their 3D image develop as they refine their SketchUp models.
more
12/16, 4:30pm
Plugin enhances Google SketchUp
The second Humble Indie Bundle has gone public, offering buyers five games at a price of their own choosing. The bundle includes Braid, Cortex Command, Machinarium, Osmos and Revenge of the Titans. Each title is DRM-free, and can run on Mac, Windows, or Linux systems. As the bundle is mainly a charity deal, buyers can pick where the money they send ends up. Charity options include the Electronic Frontier Foundation and Child's Play; cash can also be directed to the game developers, the Humble Bundle team or any mix of the four.
more
11/02, 1:05am
Creo, Luxion team up to import data on Mac
Luxion, makers of Keyshot, have announced a collaboration with Creo Elements Pro (formerly known as Pro/Engineer) to bring native import of Creo CAD/CAM/CAE data into the Mac version of Keyshot, an real-time ray-tracing program. In other news, LightUp for Sketchup as well as Octane Render have both been updated, the latter of which will soon be leaving private beta, Architosh reports.
more
09/28, 6:15pm
Google integration steps backward, however
AutoDesSys, the 3D imaging company best known for its modelling software Form•Z, have updated their 3D design program Bonzai3D to v.2.2, adding support for Abvent's Artlantis and two new languages (French and Czech) along with 75 minor fixes and improvements -- but the software has also had to modify support for Google Sketchup's 3D Warehouse and Google Earth due to changes on Google's part, meaning users will have to adapt to new ways of using these components.
more
12/14, 4:15pm
Enhances visuals of SketchUp designs
Visual Dynamics has uncovered plans to bring the V-Ray rendering engine to the Mac edition of SketchUp, Google's 3D modeling tool. SketchUp is oriented towards object and architectural design, and can import and export using a variety of formats, or else tap into a library of free models. The V-Ray engine improves on the visual quality of SketchUp output, supporting techniques such as high dynamic range (HDR) and per-material global illumination.
more
05/15, 1:55pm
Modelur modeling tools
Urbs has announced Modelur, an add-on for Google's SketchUp that is focused on parametric urban design. While typical CAD software starts with a building's exterior dimensions, Modelur allows users to define a set of final parameters such as build area, gross floor area or the number of stories. If any of the basic parameters is changed, the entire building is automatically adjusted and the urban control values are recalculated.
more
05/04, 4:20pm
New ARplug-in for SketchUp
Following the success of its PC version, Inglobe has released a Mac AR-media plugin for Google SketchUp. The ARplug-in allows users to study and analyze their SketchUp designs in "augmented reality," by creating a virtual model of a design in the real physical space around them. This is done by simply printing a code onto a piece of paper, and utilizing a webcam. The plugin creates a virtual model that moves with the camera so it can be seen from all angles.
more
08/29, 4:35pm
LightUp for SketchUp 1.2a
A group of UK developers has produced LightUp, a plug-in for Google's SketchUp modeling tool. The software generates real-time lighting for models, and supports effects such as skyboxes, Fresnel reflections, area and point lighting, and normal and specular maps. Users do not have to wait for files or export them, and can do live walkthroughs of environments.
more
