Google did buy Sketchup early on.
If you read this thread through you would find out why that is not a solution for SketchUp (and probably Autodesk either). It is not the kind of API that SketchUp needs.
Yes I was misinformed. Not sadly, but yes misinformed. Thanks for the trivia. Too bad Google sold SU.
As far as finding a replacement, I’m patient, Google is deep in developed right now.
If Google hadn’t sold SketchUp, it would have died like many of the other applications they no longer needed. Trimble has put more into developing SketchUp than Google ever did.
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Looks like there’s been a lot of negative reviews, but i came here to do the same thing. I use sketchup to model shadows at specific locations around the globe for the purposes of ensuring proper solar energy collection for our clients. The Google satellite data was great for this. DigitalGlobe is completely unusable. I will be searching far and wide for a suitable replacement and will move to it as quickly as possible.
Sorry to be so negative, i really liked sketchup before this change. But I want to be honest, brutally so if necessary and i think it is necessary in this case. The DigitalGlobe imagery really is completely useless, unless of course you find value in a smorgasbord of pixelated brown and green hues.
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Yes. Many users have a reason to be frustrated by Google’s decisions regarding their Maps api. It’s unfortunate but so far no one has presented a better global option than what DG makes available.
Do you think could be reasonable to find a way to import “KMZ” files exported from Google Earth Pro?
stefanozilio http://forums.sketchup.com/u/stefanozilio ,
Read earlier in this thread about the plugin adebeo_DanielTall_GEMaker
You can add the crummy location imagery, use the plugin to export a kmz
file, open in GE Pro, save the GE Pro image, import the image to SU as a
texture, and position it over the crummy image to get the right scaling.
It’s a really clunky solution, but it works.
Correction, I think it’s export KML file.
Hi thanks, for info. This is ok to improve the texture quality, but maybe importing google Earth files we can have also the 3D map. I think that Goggle Earth files could be considered at the same level of all other imported files.
Hello,
As a longtime Sketchup user, this is incredibly disappointing. Having to import new map imagery from Stamen maps or from Google Earth Pro is time consuming and frustrating, especially since the maintenance program is $250/year, we should be seeing more value for our $$$. I’ve relied on Sketch-ups robustness for years, and it looks like we will have to start looking at other options. I teach at a course at a university, which will now have to be taught differently, and will be more difficult for first-time users to get into. Its a real shame if the map image quality doesn’t improve. I will not be paying for a maintenance subscription if this continues, and I’m sure others will follow. I’m going to recommend the university I teach at also start considering other options for the courses that utilize SU. Really not impressed.
Regards,
Steve
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It’s unfortunate that you are choosing to ignore the important detail that it was Google who removed the access to terrain and imagery for SketchUp and other users. And when Google was allowing that access, it was at no charge to Trimble and at no charge to you. Yes, it’s not a good situation now but it isn’t Trimble that took it away. It was Google.
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Man… This is really unfortunate especially since Trimble has other mapping technologies. This is a huge part of project design, being able to overlay in the real world terrain and environment.
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I’ve used similar procedures when I needed a high resolution image in our “shade/shadow” studies. Works fine for areas that need attention.
But from what I’ve seen being done in SketchUp over the years - not every project or user uses or needs a high resolution GoogleEarth image for their project. That being said, might we urge the folks at Google and Trimble and others that have any influence (and common sense) to make a deal to offer a Google Earth extension available for us who NEED it - even for a nice, user friendly price - so that we’re back to great graphics again in OUR work or hobby and the users who seldom (if ever) need the hi-def images don’t have to bother with it ?
Works for me - how about it folks ? ? ?
Nice in theory. The Google Earth API hasn’t been used for many years and Google has made it clear they don’t want to make the Maps API available anymore. It’s been explained repeatedly here and in other threads. The horse is dead.
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Yes, thanks DaveR, I’ve read all the threads and others and know the facts. And I’m sure they have good reasons for that decision.
So we will just soldier on, NOT having to pay $400 a year for GE Pro anymore and just use their “Save Image” or a quick “Shift-PrintScreen” for all needed areas, patch them together and proceed to charge our customers a few(?) more hours for their results. Too bad . . .
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Any news regarding the lack of data above 60 degrees North? Is it just an error that cause it to be missing from sketchup’s grab, or does the new provider simply not own or have any data above this line?
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It was explained in this thread. The data supplied by the providers comes from satellites that don’t go far enough north. There’s been some investigation into a solution but no word yet. SketchUp would grab it if the data was there to grab.
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Thanks Dave 
I didn’t read all 360 posts. Satellites being the issue is sad, as it likely means many years before we can expect to be able to use the grab functionality again here in the Nordic countries 
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