Samsung's Smart TV update will feature YouTube 3D videos

Richard Lawler|@Rjcc|September 1, 2011 5:00 AM

Today at IFA 2011, one of Samsung's many announcements is an update to its Smart TVs that will place YouTube's library of 3D videos front and center for users to stream. So far one of the major issues for 3DTV owners has been a lack of content, but since it launched support for 3D videos two years ago, YouTube has accumulated quite a library of both professionally developed and user generated videos for viewing. HDTVs from LG added access to the site's 3D content earlier this year, and the update is expected to appear across the Samsung lineup across the second half of 2011. We spoke with one of the engineer's responsible for the initial rollout of YouTube's 3D support, Pete Bradshaw, and he mentioned the project's genesis as one of Google's famous "20 percent" projects that was worked on on the side, but has now drawn the support of a multiperson team to support, and a rapidly expanding number of viewers and content creators uploading videos to the service. The intent is to make viewing 3D just as easy as watching anything else, once users film in 3D with their phone or camera, they can upload it to YouTube and watch on TV (or mobile device) without worrying about the formatting and technology involved. We're still a few steps away from the magic bullet that removes the current hurdles for wider 3D acceptance in the market, but if you're one of the (not so early at this point) adopters with the hardware to handle it, you'll probably appreciate anything that makes more content available easily. Check after the break for the press release and a few sample videos to check out.

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Samsung First to Launch YouTube™ 3D content for Smart TV at IFA 2011

Samsung Smart TV Zone to exclusively exhibit newly updated YouTube on TV
application featuring YouTube 3D content for Samsung booth attendees at IFA 2011

Berlin, Germany – September 1, 2011 – Today at IFA 2011 (Booth No. 101) Samsung
Electronics Co., Ltd, a global leader in digital media and digital convergence technologies,
announced it will partner with YouTube™ to be the first to exhibit the YouTube 3D content within
the re-vamped YouTube on TV application for Smart TVs from the Samsung booth's "Samsung
Smart TV Zone." YouTube 3D content, brought to you exclusively at IFA by Samsung's Smart
TV platform, provides users with an entertaining, intuitive, social and visual home entertainment
experience like never before.

The 3D device industry has long lacked a source for content until now-with this new YouTube
on TV app, anyone can view 3D content on a Smart TV. Consumers will now be able to enjoy
thousands of 3D videos,-allowing friends and family to more realistically share and enjoy each
other's life moments via YouTube and Samsung Smart TV. YouTube uses standards-compliant
video formats to enable the sharing of 3D content with 720p HD video quality across an array
of devices, including Smart TVs, Blu-ray players, set-top boxes, mobile phones and gaming
consoles.

"Samsung is glad to be a partner in bringing YouTube 3D experiences to TV space for the
first time in the world at IFA 2011," said Kyungsik Kevin Lee, vice president of Visual Display
Business, Samsung Electronics. "Samsung Smart TV is an ideal platform for YouTube to
convey the beautifully visual user interface and 3D experience that consumers will now have
at their fingertips for watching and sharing of 3D content worldwide-this partnership will
contribute to the continued growth of both the 3D and Smart TV industries."

Using an updated, intuitive user interface specifically optimized for large screen devices and
Smart TVs, YouTube on TV has simplified login and search screen functionality-allowing
consumers to more easily browse, view, save and rate their favorite content. The service now
includes a "personalized profile" which provides users with tailored recommendations based on
their individual interests and previous search terms. The YouTube on TV service for Smart TV
provides consumers with an expanded home entertainment experience-one that is completely
customizable, interactive, immersive and can be enjoyed from the comfort of the home.

"The launch of YouTube on TV underscores one of YouTube's core missions: to make high
quality video available anywhere and on any device," said Francisco Varela, YouTube's Global

Head of Platform Partnerships. "In addition to our efforts in web and mobile, 3D videos on
YouTube can now also be and shared and enjoyed through high-quality/large-screen enabled
Smart TVs."

As a continuous market leader, Samsung Smart TV provides the perfect mix of rich content, rich
experiences, and convenience to consumers. Much more than just a connected TV, Samsung
Smart TV creates an entirely new way to view television through Smart Hub, Smart Design,
and Smart 3D functionality. This is further matched by intuitive user experiences and content
driven by apps and services made specifically for the TV. Bringing these intelligent features
together, Samsung Smart TV serves as the entertainment hub of the home by connecting to not
just the Internet, but a variety of other home network devices. Much like user-created content
helped in the growth of the smartphone market, YouTube's 3D content for Smart TV service is
a testament to the already thriving Smart TV industry. Attendees of IFA 2011 can experience
Samsung Smart TV hands-on at Booth No.101 in Samsung's Smart TV Zone.

The new YouTube on TV app with 3D will be available on 2011 Samsung Smart TV and BD
Player globally in the 2nd half of 2011.