3D glasses or special goggles typically come to mind when it comes to 3D viewing. SoftBank Corp. (TOKYO: 9434), however, broke this mold in September 2024 with the launch of a new 3D experience service called “TOBIDERU.” TOBIDERU is unique in that it lets smartphone users view their photos and videos in 3D without the need for glasses or accessories. As a service for the Japan market, a that’s required is a compatible smartphone*, a special screen protector, and the accompanying app. How does it measure up? SoftBank News editors took a firsthand look at this ground-breaking service.
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Compatible models as of October 2024 are the iPhone 16, iPhone 15 Pro and iPhone 15, and availability for other devices is planned in the future.
Photos and videos convey the full 3D effect
3D technologies have advanced significantly in recent years. Whether it’s movies with images that pop out at audiences when they wear 3D glasses, virtual reality (VR) metaverse experiences, or immersive games where characters move around freely in a 3D world, 3D technology is transforming industries. 3D viewing is also used in online catalogs so customers can see products from all angles, in architectural models that display buildings in 3D, and even in the medical field for precise imaging and diagnosis applications.
Back to TOBIDERU. The service promises to let users view photos and videos they’ve taken on their smartphones in full 3D, without the need for any special glasses. In a demo, the first thing that came up was content made specifically for 3D content. It was a space scene, where a small spaceship was trying to escape from a large one. It became more immersive the longer it was viewed, with the asteroids appearing to get closer and the spaceship popping out of the screen.
In a captured photo the image appears blurry, but to the naked eye it appears in 3D
As shown in the photo above, it’s difficult to convey the full 3D effect with photos, as the 2D images come out blurry or distorted. But the actual experience is very immersive.
Watching a video of dancers, their choreographed dance moves seemed to leap right out of the small smartphone screen. While it was slightly difficult to follow fast movements, the 3D effect was undeniable.
Memories take on an extra dimension
TOBIDERU can also display videos already saved to a smartphone in 3D. In a video of two people walking toward a torii gate, seen up close on a smartphone, there was an impressive sense of depth.
After going through a quick conversion process, personal videos can be viewed with new dimensions when opened in the special app.
The road took on a new sense of depth to make it look as though the cat was actually approaching
The sense of distance in the background is similar to what one would see with the naked eye
TOBIDERU 3D experience needs to be seen to be believed
To learn more about how the 3D effect works on a regular smartphone, SoftBank News spoke to Yuki Kumon of SoftBank’s Content Promotion Division.
Yuki Kumon
Business Planning Department, Content Promotion Division
Consumer Business Promotion Unit
SoftBank Corp.
Since 2020, Yuki Kumon has been responsible for the launch and strategic planning of augmented reality (AR) services like "AR SQUARE" in SoftBank’s “5G LAB” suite of entertainment services.
How does TOBIDERU work?
It’s as simple as applying a special screen protector to your smartphone. Then, you just view your photos or videos using the dedicated app, and that’s it—you can easily enjoy visual content in 3D.
So you can see photos and videos in 3D just by attaching the screen protector?
Once you apply the special 3D screen protector to a supported smartphone, you can easily enjoy the 3D experience. I’d really like more people to try it out! And when you're not using the app, the screen protector works just like a regular one. You can purchase the protector at ‘SoftBank’ brand stores or major electronics retailers in Japan, so if customers are in the market for a screen protector, we hope they’ll choose the 'TOBIDERU 3D Screen Protector.' The excitement of seeing your own photos and videos in 3D is something you can’t fully appreciate until you experience it yourself.
How are you promoting this 3D experience?
We have demo units available at SoftBank stores across Japan (except at some certain locations) to let customers try the 3D experience for themselves. I really encourage people to see it firsthand. Plus, if customers download the free TOBIDERU app, they can try out content from popular artists. Fans shouldn’t miss the chance to see how their favorite content looks in 3D. We’re also planning to add charged content to the app in the future.
Is this service available only for SoftBank users?
No, users of SoftBank’s ‘Y!mobile’ and ‘LINEMO’ brand services, and even customers of other carriers in Japan can experience the 3D service. However, as of October 2024, this 3D service is only available for iPhone 16, iPhone 15 Pro and iPhone 15 users. This is because the process of making 3D screen protectors and the way the app controls the 3D conversion varies by smartphone model. We need to ensure it works properly on a device before recommending it.
We’re planning to expand support for other smartphones soon. Please stay tuned for future updates!
How to experience TOBIDERU
Below is a quick list of what’s needed to enjoy TOBIDERU, a service that lets customers view photos and videos taken on their smartphones in 3D without glasses.
- *
As of October 2024, this service is only available for iPhone 16, iPhone 15 Pro and iPhone 15 users.
- Purchase the special 3D screen protector and attach it to a supported smartphone
- Download the free TOBIDERU app
- Open the app and access photos or videos from the smartphone’s gallery
That’s all it takes! The app also includes free trial content. By taking spatial video or pictures in cinematic mode or portrait mode, the 3D effect is even more pronounced. Since the 3D experience can’t be properly conveyed in this article, readers are encouraged to visit a store to experience it first hand.
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(Posted on October 21, 2024)
by SoftBank News Editors
