Google took another step toward turning Google Earth into a sort of YouTube for geo-located 3-D models today when it released a new version of its 3-D design software Google SketchUp at Macworld.

In a statement, Google said SketchUp 6 will feature "simpler, more realistic" modeling. New features include a function to allow users to trace a photo to create a 3-D model or match an existing model with a background photo.

There's also a new feature that allows users to watermark their models or render them as though they were drawn by hand. There's a 3-D text function to enable users to convert text to 2-D outlines, filled surfaces or extruded 3-D objects.

Google said the new SketchUp features are all part of the company's effort to create a fully detailed 3D Google Earth with user-generated modeling. With the new, simplified version of its 3-D design software, Google Earth will now feature a default "Best of 3D Warehouse" layer to showcase the most realistic, detailed models from Google SketchUp users.

Call it "YouEarth." It's a platform for all the world's user-contributed, geo-located 3-D information.

Read more: internetnews.com