So, you've got your 3D TV. Check. You've got your snazzy, active shutter 3D glasses. Check. You've got your high definition Blu-ray 3D player. Check. Last but not least, there's the simple matter of some 3D content beyond those few titles already available on Blu-ray 3D. What? You know, that's the stuff you'll actually WATCH in 3D with all of this cutting-edge 3D hardware. Oh. Right. Umm...
Fear not. Slowly but surely, help is on the way.
In an effort to stave off buyer's remorse for 3D TV's early adopters, Samsung has taken the wraps off "Explore 3-D," a new web app that can be downloaded via Samsung Apps on 3D-capable Samsung displays. Although still in its "beta" stage, consumers - after downloading the free app - will now be able to stream 3D content from Samsung's growing internet apps store. And since the display downloads the content directly from the web, neither a Blu-ray 3D player nor a 3D cable or satellite box is required.
At the moment, the only 3D content that appears to be available for streaming is 3D theatrical trailers for the films Shrek Forever After, How to Train Your Dragon and the upcoming Megamind, which features the voice talents of Will Ferrell and Brad Pitt. A slim set of offerings to be sure, but more 3D content is sure to follow.
Samsung is billing "Explore 3D" as the "first application to provide streaming 3D content via the Internet" - which, depending on your definition of "application" is not entirely accurate. As 3D fans probably know, YouTube, the popular streaming video website, quietly rolled out its YouTube 3D channel back in 2009. At last glance, the site is offering more than 40 3D videos, all available for free internet streaming. With options for old school "anaglyph" 3D or the more modern side-by-side implementation (which YouTube calls "cross-eyed" 3D), there is a growing repository of 3D content on YouTube that can be viewed on a 3D-ready HDTV, assuming that TV has access to YouTube (which many do). In Samsung's defense, YouTube 3D has not yet been incorporated into a dedicated 3D TV app, but I wouldn't bet against that happening and soon.
Who was first and how you define an application - these nitpicks are of little importance in the grand scheme of things. What is important is that the 3D hardware manufacturers, who are desperately trying to sell us on 3D as the next Must Have technology for our living rooms, start finding us some compelling 3D content to watch with those sexy, new glasses. And while a handful of 3D movie trailers isn't exactly the cornucopia of content we've been waiting for, it's a step in the right direction. A baby step to be sure, but an important step nonetheless.
