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Three 3D Web Browsers Reviewed

Posted by ryuzaki0 on from the just-don't-turn-down-the-wrong-alley dept.

mikemuch writes "Use that graphics card for something besides games. ExtremeTech has a group review of three browsers that use some aspect of 3D to display the Web. While none of them are going to put Firefox or IE out of business any time soon, they're fun to play with and give a new slant to the Web." From the article: "Whatever happened to the virtual reality, 3D world of the Web? Back in the late '90s, all the hype was about VRML -- Virtual Reality Markup Language -- which would turn the web into an immersive environment that you'd maneuver around to get to the information you wanted. We're here to tell you that the reports of the 3D Web's death are greatly exaggerated."

10 of 237 comments (clear)

  1. Not dead by mboverload · · Score: 5, Funny

    But still completely useless and unneeded

    1. Re:Not dead by gardyloo · · Score: 5, Funny

      No way, dude. Boobs've gotta be WAY better in 3D.

    2. Re:Not dead by Anonymous Coward · · Score: 5, Interesting

      It is very much not dead. Look at any MMORPG or FPS. It's the internet and people are networked through a 3D world are they not? But outside of games getting information would actually be more difficult in a 3D world. The information you want is all 2D anyway, text, images, video, ect. It would cause lag, waste system resources and cause many other problems. For gaming, 3D worlds are very important and add to the realism and strategy involved. For gathering or sharing information a 2D world simply works better! Adding another dimension doesn't mean it's better. Thats like saying adding more salt to a recipe will make it taste better. Sounds good in theory until the final result is so salty you will want to throw up.

      *Notice I avoided (yet another) car reference*

    3. Re:Not dead by Kelson · · Score: 5, Insightful

      It may be useless in its current incarnation, but that doesn't mean someone won't come up with a good way to use it as the technology matures.

      The main problem is that people have this nifty tool, but they keep applying it to bolt it onto an existing interface instead of really trying to create a new one. (And when they do try to create a new one, the drawbacks outweigh the advantages. I swear, these "airport/city" metaphors and the like remind me of nothing so much as Microsoft Bob.) It's like using advanced 3D graphics to render a console app -- in a hard-to-read font.

      Someone needs to figure out what a 3D display brings to the table, and build on that. Texture-mapping the 2D web onto the walls doesn't accomplish much.

    4. Re:Not dead by gannn · · Score: 5, Insightful

      No way, dude. Talking about 3D, real boobs are WAY better than virtual boobs.

    5. Re:Not dead by smokeslikeapoet · · Score: 4, Funny

      We're Slashdot readers, we wouldn't know.

  2. Second Life by Unoti · · Score: 4, Interesting

    Second Life is a sort of 3D web browser. To me, Second Life is everything I envisioned and more when I first heard about VRML.

  3. the best 3d web thingy ever by graveyhead · · Score: 5, Interesting

    The best 3d web thing I've ever seen is Apple's dashboard widgets in OSX. Each widget can have a (nicely standardized) button which activates the preferences for the widget. The prefrences are on the back of the widget. Literally when you click the prefs button the widget flips over in 3d animation and you interact with the preference panel.

    I find this incredible because a) it's an amazing practical use of 3d and b) it's not at all flashy or trying to create a 'new 3d browsing paradigm' or some such silliness. Instead, Apple has used the graphics tools available to them and once again, made a fantastic advance in user interfaces.

    Before you call me an Apple fanboy, you should know that I don't even own a Mac, I just think they're neat is all.

    --
    std::disclaimer<std::legalese> sig=new std::disclaimer; sig->dump(); delete sig;
  4. Sigh by tool462 · · Score: 4, Insightful

    It is understandable that if your only tool is a hammer, every problem will look like a nail. However, when every problem is a nail, why the hell would you look for a screwdriver?

  5. No 3D browsers before flying cars, dammit! by SlappyBastard · · Score: 4, Funny
    The flying car was promised loooooong before the 3D web browser.

    It's time that we draw a line in the sand: no further development on the 3D browser until a commercially viable flying car hits the market.

    --
    I scream. You scream. I assume that means we're both acquainted with the problem. We proceed.