Last year, Samsung introduced a TV app that allowed users to stream 3D video content. It launched with three 3D movie trailers but has never been updated. Now, a third-party video service is looking to pick up the slack.
PictureBox, which supplies streaming video to parts of Europe and Asia, is reportedly working on a Samsung app that would allow owners of a Samsung 3D TV to watch 3D movies without the need for any additional hardware or software.
3D TVs and 3D glasses are quite expensive, so it’s not surprising that it is a deterrent when consumers also need to buy a 3D Blu-ray player and specific Blu-ray 3D movies in order to watch any actual three-dimensional content. Blu-ray 3D movies retail for as much as $50, an unbelievable price for most movie watchers.
Not counting Samsung’s demonstrative 3D app, Vudu was the first to offer 3D movie streaming late last year, but its selection remains small and is also more of a testing ground right now.
PictureBox could bring the race for 3D streaming to a head. Because it’s teaming up with Samsung, there is bound to be a greater desire to push up the amount of content available. Vudu, by contrast, really has no big investment in the 3D market so its service is more of a convenience rather than a true push forward.
Samsung content services manager Darren Petersen said in a Tech Radar story that the company is “hoping that 3D movies will be available later this year. The technology is there we are just waiting on our partners to come up with something.”
Assumedly, the service will be available initially in Europe, but if successful Samsung will most definitely work on bringing 3D streaming over to the US.
