First website designed for 3D TVs just looks weird in a normal browser

Do we need 3D websites? Whether we do or not, they could be commonplace soon enough. What claims to be the first website designed to be viewed on 3D TVs has launched and it’s… trippy.

Stereoscopic-3Do.uk is little more than a tech demo of what could be possible. Click on the items caught in a web in the centre of the screen and you’re taken off to streaming 3D video content, showing just what’s possible with 3D on the web. If, like us, you don’t have a 3D TV to view the website through, you’ll see double-vision videos that don’t make a lot of sense but might well have you pining for a compatible set to try them out on.

There are only two examples ‘trapped in the web’ on the site right now but more are promised for the future. The website has been created by Stereographx , a UK-based agency specialising it 3D technology. While it’s impressive to see that stereoscopic 3D is possible in a browser, we can’t see this getting widespread adoption until display technology gets cheap enough to enter the mainstream.

Still, it certainly adds a new dimension to the future potential for apps on TV .

Acer introduces 4.8 inch Android smartphone, due in April 2011

This is certainly an odd way to introduce a new device. Not only did Acer make good on the report that they would be launching not one, not two, but three tablet devices (one WP 7, two Android 2.2) in 2011, they also unveiled a new Android smartphone that, as of right now, doesn’t even have a name.

It does have specs and a possible release date window though.

Acer’s device is going to be rocking a 4.8 inch display with 1024 x 480 resolution. It’s going to have a 2 megapixel front facing camera, an 8 mega pixel rear facing camera, a 1 GHz Snapdragon processor, DLNA support, Dolby sound, HDMI, and Flash 10.1 support

They also describe it as being 100% tablet, 100% smartphone and it looks to be coming with some sort of update to the Acer UI. Along with the name, they didn’t reveal what version of Android this baby runs either.

Interesting Acer, very interesting.

Amazon’s “Hollywood” tablet could launch with free movie subscription

Research firm Detwiler Fenton & Co. has provided fresh insight on Amazon’s reported tablet offerings, suggesting that its 10-inch “Hollywood” device is to launch with a free movie subscription when the device goes on sale.

The 10-inch Hollywood tablet is expected to launch alongside colour Kindle e-readers before the end of the year, providing movie access for a limited time to buyers of the device, offering access for free to Prime customers. Free access via a Prime account would mirror Amazon’s strategy via its website, associating Prime accounts with a superior Amazon experience.

In May , we reported that Amazon had placed orders with Taiwanese notebook maker Quanta Computer to manufacture the Amazon tablet, also working with electrophoretic display (EPD) maker E Ink Holdings (EIH) which will supply touch panels as well as its Fringe Field Switching (FFS) technology.

Piper Jaffray analyst Gene Munster also predicted that the rumoured Amazon Android tablet would perfectly compliment the retail giant’s Kindle devices to help the company sell as many as 2.4 million portable computers in 2012. Munster also suggested that Amazon could also release 7-inch tablet at the end of this year, pricing it at around the $349 mark, with the 10-inch model retailing for $449.

Detwiler Fenton & Co explains its insights:

With Amazon buying European Netflix equivalent Lovefilm and offering its existing movie service in the US, a movie subscription could be another service that differentiates it from offerings from Apple and other tablet vendors.

With Amazon still quiet on its tablet plans, reports remain speculative. With a rumoured release before the end of the year, Amazon will need to announce devices if it is to build demand before launch.