TreeSketch was created by Steven Longay, and I believe it's open source code.  However, you might want to contact him, and discuss your commercial interests.

His contact information can be found here: http://vimeo.com/user7899797.  I guess quite a few folks have pleaded with him to port this application to Android, Mac, and Windows.

I think he could do well financially if he were to develop it into a full-blown 3D vegetation modeler, and go commercial.

It's on Apple's iTunes store.

Actually 3D Coat lost me as a new customer -- literally, due to their really obnoxious protection scheme. The software companies have every right to impose any protection scheme, and as long as I have the right to refuse purchase, my argument is part of that democratic marketplace - not one of principle.

About 3 - 4 years from now (with present usage/activation trends), about half the present Vue users on this forum will probably no longer be involved with the leading-edge versions of this software, and they will mostly be using earlier versions. My earlier point was: the more controlled activation process is likely a prelude to subscription software. One may not own the software code, but one does own the use of that code.

I would certainly hate to see the same attitude of software protection applied to, let's say, the automotive industry; "...well sir, you need to buy 2 versions of this car if transporting more than one person at a time." Or, "...our warranty lasts until you start the car -- and by the way, we have several known bugs that will keep you in a state of random frustration, but we will try and fix those bugs -- or at least make sure those bugs are fixed for the next model year"...not forgetting the "warranty period" -- of course!

Eon hasn't really been that bad, but I am concerned about the future of this pretty fine, and unique software.

Questioning attitude is a virtue, and the smallest and greatest bad events in human history could have been mostly mitigated if independent, critical thinking was one of humanities most widespread attributes.

The slippery-slope of control. The software androids accept (as all good software junkies do) the more complex and onerous controls implemented by software companies. They buy the unproven, and in some cases disproven claims of the impact of piracy on the economic well-being of software companies. One day, the uncritical thinkers will wake up and discover that their software is now only theirs by subscription -- with annual fees for continued use.

The number of users will decline as the 95 percentile of major improvements (essential features -- those features which eliminate great artistic effort and post-work for desired results) is approached, and more and more users refuse to pay the increasing cost of incremental (and often esoteric) feature additions. Eventually, the pros are left as the primary driver of revenue for the companies, the rest are left a half-dozen revisions behind.

Put-up with those onerous activation/registration/rental mentality schemes without protest, and this is what you'll have in a few more years with Eon and Vue -- as well as other niche software, with the more generic software to follow. I work in a pretty technical area (nuclear based power) and many of my geek coworkers are tired of all the activation/upgrade nonsense, and are buying less.

Unfortunately, Carrara is still only a 32-bit application. It can theoretically only use 2 GB of RAM. In practice, it will use less than that. Until Carrara becomes a 64-bit program, I'll be spending no more money on "upgrades" (I'm still with 6.2.1). The more advanced features that are added, the more unstable Carrara becomes in its 32-bit form.
Daz obviously could care less about advancing Carrara into the 64-bit world. They seem to only consider it a vehicle for their (mostly mediocre) content.

Yes, back on topic...

I purchased GC1, and used it somewhat, but when Vue7 hit the streets, with the improved terrain editing capability, I slowed down with GC1 use. I just purchased GC2 the other day from Cornucopia, and it is a vast improvement over GC1. The ability to create rivers, lakes, and roads is alone worth the price of admission.

Also, the Vue export/import seems much improved, as the resulting terrains brought into Vue have much more detail, and less low resolution "layer" effects. It's going to take me quite a while to nail all the capability of GC2 down -- actually, I'll probably never get it truly nailed down. GC3 will likely be out before I get highly proficient with GC2.

Vege-Mite,

Actually, and this has been scientifically validated, we (most) humans can fill-in spelling and grammar gaps with amazing accuracy and ease. So, the evolution of that specialized speech/grammar part of our brain must be due to the importance of a natural interpretive algorithm, over a precise expressive capability.  In other words, Vege-Mite, perhaps being overly annoyed by a laps in spelling or grammar, represents an underdeveloped capability to easily interpret imprecise expression -- written or verbal form, in yourself?

To wit, what silverblade33 has to say -- the engine of his discussion, counts far more than the esthetics of the vehicle that the engine moves. Our incredible ability to easily interpolate misspellings and other grammar glitches had/has a much greater survival value. Hence, a much greater value.

Vege-Mite; chill out!

Go for a new Mac Pro with 2 i7 Nehalems. Run Bootcamp on an added HD with Vista Business 64 bit. I have a 2nd generation Xeon 8-core (the newer, 3rd generation Mac Pro with the 2 i7 Xeons, multithreads like 16 cores -- 8-cores + 8 Hyperthreaded, simulated cores).

I own several quad-core, a few dual-core (1st generation) PCs, and 4 laptops. This is my first Mac. It's the highest quality, most stable PC I've ever owned.  Just add your own memory and HD, as Apple charges a reasonable -- almost bargin price for the basic box, but charges an arm and a leg for upgrades -- which are very easy to do (just slide the HD in, just pull out the memory trays, and plug in the memory).

Also, Apple's mouse stinks, and the keyboard is almost solid aluminum, but has chiclet keys. The Mac OS is lovely, and I prefer it to Vista, but alas, Vue runs only 32-bit on the Mac! Hence the Bootcamp option. Per Consumer Reports, Acer ain't so hot in the reliability dept., and Apple is # 1.

Quality should count., and my Mac has that in spades!

Actually the new Mac Pro has 8-cores (2X4 core Xeon “Nehalem” processors) which, along with 8 virtual Hyperthreaded cores results in 16 "cores." The i7 is 1X4-cores plus 4 Hyperthreaded cores, for 8 "cores."
 Let's not compare Apples to oranges though. The Xeon “Nehalem” processor is not, I repeat, NOT the same as the i7.  The i7 is pretty comparable in doing rendering -- clock for clock, but the mac is a workstation level PC, and one could use the Xeon “Nehalem” processor based Mac as a powerful server. The Mac Pro is first and foremost a powerful graphics workstation. BTW, 3D applications like Vue are graphics applications -- just not 2D graphics applications.
My Mac Pro is not the Xeon “Nehalem” processor base Mac, but the Jan 2008 model. Doesn't matter to me, the 8-cores still render like about 16-cores worth of RenderCow activity (RenderCow is Not very efficient!).
The only significant difference between a brown box PC and my Mac Pro is the OS. Except, my Mac is also the most stable Windows platform I've ever used.

"Commonality..." Mediocrity.

"the average person,..."   I don't think that would be the average Vue user (see mediocrity above)?

"So I stick with PCs..." Like...flypaper? (Let's see, My Commodore CBM 80, Vic-20, C-64, Amiga 1000 and 2000, dozens of PCs -- many self-built, 2 Quad-cores, 4 PC laptops, and one Shuttle [presently building quad-core]). Damn me for voicing the excellent quality of one lone Mac! I should be ashamed of myself for not sticking, as if a Windows hood ornament, to a cheap steel box!

"Can't play most games on MACs. WHy have consoles when most games are better on PCs?" Game makers are leaving the PC market in droves -- to game consoles -- sorry (BTW, with a 35 second boot I can play my PC games).

"So, think of Joe Public, guys, when you are fighting.." Who's fighting, and who is this "Joe Public? (see "commonality", and "the average person"  above).

This lone Mac of mine will likely last me until many PC owners have either tossed their Windows PCs into the recycle bin, or through their window -- which ever comes first. In fact, I'm sure I will be one of them (hopefully, it will be the recycle bin).

Here is the unadorned, unvarnished truth. Before I purchased my 8-core Mac, I had tried to figure out a (1) Dell 8-core build (but it didn't have the more advanced Xeon, yet cost more), and (2) HP...same problem as the Dell. (3). So I went to Newegg and created a list of components. Alas, I could built a PC equal to the Mac Pro, at almost the same price! But then this mysterious logic hit me!  All these parts, put them together and cross my fingers, and then all those separate, individual component warranties to worry about, along with trouble shooting to verify just what might have failed. Bad idea! So, I got a new Mac Pro 8-core for ~ $2600.00.

It is the finest PC I've ever owned, and runs Windows better than any PC that I presently own!

Enough said, but now I know why graphics pros prefer Macs. Commonality, the average person, and Joe public can live in mediocrity all their lives as far as I'm concerned.

Actually, there are/were more than two participants -- and of course your debate would provide a valuable insight into setting a ruined (varying point of view) straight -- no doubt.

Say...I know you!  You're the PC lobbyist the original poster hired to set all the others back on the right and virtuous track -- towards the Windows world.

Oh, the road to ruin is so cluttered with the remains of frustrated would be emperors!

Adios...

Well, I do think education has something to do with knowledge. I have no degree, but work at the largest nuclear power station in the U.S. with instrumentation and controls. My work often involves PLCs (ladder logic programming, as well as computer control systems). I also worked in aerospace, materials research, and worked with analytical instrumentation. I worked with computers since the DEC PDP-11 LSI series, Modcomp, tape readers, drum memory, etc..

So do I get lambasted because I've been a science geek most of my life?

The integrated Macs are not so hot for the $$, but the Mac Pro is entirely different. It's a rendering monster, and is built with an aluminum chassis that is about twice as thick as the Chinese stuff sold all over the web. The keyboard is solid aluminum, but I don't like the feel of the keys. The mouse is...a stupid, but "cool" design. Overall, the computer is the best built PC box I've ever owned. And, the Mac OS is much nicer, albiet, lacking a 64-bit version of Vue. Using Bootcamp to run a Vue sesion is no big deal for me.

Yes, the only reason I use Vista Business (make sure to get the Business version, as Home premium 64-bit can't see 2 CPUs), is because Vue has yet to code a 64-bit version of Vue for the Mac.  The Vista side of my Mac Pro renders about 25% faster compared to the Mac version. And, with 14 GB of RAM...well, 32-bit applications just won't use the memory.

The Opteron is an excellent processor, but a 2.5 GHs Intel Xeon (or any Intel Q -series) processor will be better at the specialized task of rendering.

How much is the cost of this Opteron based PC?

"Haha! Is that why you run Windows on a Mac?... :-)"

No, but the Mac hardware quality is top-notch, and it's a no brainer running Vista Business 64-bit. The point concerning Consumer Reports, is the build quality.

As I stated, I own 7 desktop PCs, and 4 Laptops.  All run Windows except for the Mac Pro, which runs both Mac OS as well as Vista.  The Mac represents the best of both worlds. Anyone who sees any significant difference between a Mac Pro, and a Windows work station make no sense. Except for the (primitive) BIOS, a Mac is essentially an...Intel PC. I actually think the Mac Pro 8-core is probably the best bang-for-the-buck of any Mac.

If Vue ran 64-bit on the Mac, I would likely not bother with Bootcamp at all.

Remember, I own 10 Windows based PCs. Maybe I'm simply computer agnostic? All I know, is the Mac Pro is the finest Windows PC I've ever owned. ; )