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Apple to launch online 3D store?
The latest round of gossip has Apple possibly looking to start a new online store in the image of 3D worlds such as Second Life.
Normally, Apple doesn't go into markets that other big names have failed in, so one has to ask, what could Apple do what the likes of IBM and Sun couldn't accomplish: make a 3D outlet that people actually care about?
I guess there's the iTunes store, which relies heavily on visuals, but even that doesn't solve the fundamental problem of these online 3D outlets: there's nothing to make them any more appealing than current 2D formats. Users simply don't want to go through the hassle of loading and navigating a virtual world just to look at a 3D image of a product. The lure simply is not there.
Can anyone think of any reason for Apple to go metaverse?
> Users simply don't want to go > through the hassle of loading
> and navigating a virtual
> world just to look at a 3D
> image of a product
Will this be for harware/software or tunes/videos? Doesn't matter either way. The key is to not make a store that forces non-Second Lifers to go there, but make a store that anybody who uses Second Life would want to go to and be entertained. And maybe draw some outsiders. Remember, Apple is a lifestyle and the best way of demonstrating a lifestyle is with a simulation. What's the investment necessary? I'm sure Apple could sell more than it costs. iTunes runs on razor thin margins similar to supermarkets in the real world, so no reason a 2nd Life outpost couldn't do the same.
Posted by Yacko | April 22, 2008 4:04 PM
"Users simply don't want to go through the hassle of loading and navigating a virtual world just to look at a 3D image of a product. The lure simply is not there."
Not sure why you would assume that. To date there hasn't been a really good 3d world built, that is usable by the general public.
Second Life's interface is powerful, but has a steep learning curve. To build something for the public, it must be simple and intuitive.
The other problem you allude to is loading the software. I'm playing 3d games (while typing this actually) that run in a browser, with only a few seconds load time. I agree the public won't load software to visit a website. In today's diverse world, it must also run on several operating systems. Therefore browser based is really the only solution.
It seems simple, but nobody's done it correctly yet. Just like at one point nobody had built a decent music player, even though it seemed obvious. Or nobody had built a very good smartphone, even thought that seemed obvious.
Don't laugh to soon, if done correctly, this could start a revolution.
Posted by sunflower | April 22, 2008 6:21 PM