Google Blog reports that Google has released Google SketchUp, a free version of SketchUp 3D modeling software. I downloaded it and tried it, and I must say that it's very intuitive, much moreso than Pro/E, the software that I use at work. Of course, I'm comparing apples to oranges, as Pro/E caters to a entirely different professional community, but I was still impressed. Download it and try it out!

One of the neat things about this offering is that you can insert your creations right into Google Earth. Also, Google 3D Warehouse is "an online location where you can find and share 3D models," and some of the models there are pretty damn cool. If you want to export your creations into more conventional CAD formats like DXF etc., you'll unfortunately need to upgrade to SketchUp Pro, though...