Honestly… pretty disappointed with this news.
I just don’t get why they’re stopping development and support for the SketchUp Viewer for Quest.
It was such a useful tool for viewing models in VR/AR, and honestly, it feels like a step backwards.
They say it’s to “bring better products and features in the future,” but in the meantime, they’re leaving us without an option many of us used daily. Such a shame.
It is interesting that 2 days after the announcement no one else has commented on the dropping of the VR app - probably because it won’t be missed is what I’m guessing. It wasn’t the gamer changer that everyone was hoping for, the model rendering options were flat and half-baked, and they didn’t improve or develop the app despite this being initially teased. So not actually a step back - just no steps at all. There are various other, better and more expensive apps out there to display models in VR so it looks like we will have to dig into our pockets once again as Trimble reduces the value for money ratio that comes with our Sketchup license.
For me, having access to Trimble Connect models in a VR/AR in Quest environment through the SketchUp VR app was essential. Although there are other apps, they cannot be managed directly from Trimble Connect, which made this one unique. I work in the industrial sector and used it so that clients could view their equipment and facilities in AR/VR. The fact that no one has commented probably means they don’t own the headset or they limit themselves to SketchUp’s modeling functionalities. But if TRIMBLE truly wants to commit to innovation across all sectors, they cannot let go of a development that, in my opinion, was very good — unless they are planning to develop in the future a dedicated AR/VR app through Trimble Connect instead of SketchUp. And would it be too much to ask to just keep the app as it is?