Almost everyday we treated to a new and possibly exciting development in the world of Apple and its shiny gadgets, the iPod, iPhone and now, iPad. Today is no exception, thanks to Spatial View (Toronto, Canada) as they bring 3D to the to the handheld masses. The company is making a lenticular screen for these devices, enabling autostereoscopic (no glasses-based) 3D viewing of properly formatted content.

Dale Maunu
Insight Media Consultant

The lenticular screen looks like a screen protector you slide in front of the display; the company calls the device "3DeeSlide." There is a slot in the case for sliding in the screen, after which it is necessary to bring up an alignment image and manually move the screen to see the 3D effect. You only use the screen for viewing 3D content; the rest of the time it is stored.

The company is planning on a version for the iPad (to be released this fall) and is also developing a version for laptops.

Spatial View has some content available for users on their website and is working on bringing more to the market. According to the company:

"You’ll be able to download 3D content or tune into a live 3D broadcast and experience the event on your home computer screen as if you were there. This fall, Spatial View will launch 3DeeCentral. It will be the only content distribution system to provide stereo 3D content on the iPhone and iPod touch, when used with Spatial View’s 3DeeSlide. 3D enthusiasts and creative professionals will be able to view and interact with compelling stereo 3D content in the home or on the move with their mobile, laptop and desktop devices."

Our take: This is an interesting approach to bringing 3D to consumers and could be successful. The Apple gadgets have proven to be popular, and have also attracted many software developers. With the upcoming launch of the Nintendo 3DS, there is an opportunity for game developers to offer their AS-3D games on more than one platform, assuming they port their games to the iPhone/iPad and incorporate the Spatial View video format. Another opportunity would be the viewing of the thousands of 3D YouTube videos — again assuming that the video format issue can be resolved. It looks like 2011 will be the year of handheld 3D.