Adult entertainment industry finds new ways to go 3-D in TV
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AVN attendees test out the Bad Girls in 3-D display. Credit: Mark Milian / Los Angeles Times
Two themes dominating much of the Consumer Electronics Show in Las Vegas were 3-D televisions and open platforms that allow for third-party software applications. When considering the old adage about pornography driving technology, it should come as no surprise that booths devoted to 3-D and apps also had a home a couple miles away at the AVN Adult Entertainment Expo. Bad Girls in 3-D disrobed its $3,999 home entertainment package, which consists of a computer hooked up to a 60-inch Panasonic TV and a pair of 3-D glasses. Users navigate to the company’s website using the remote and can stream the 15 or so movies that are currently available.
Although Bad Girls is planning to steadily unload more 3-D content to its site, it can do more than provide a few minutes of amorous entertainment. It’s a standard TV set, which can play HD content and Blu-ray movies, eventually coming in 3-D -- pornography or otherwise.
The consensus at CES in regards to 3-D in the home was lukewarm. Testers at the Bad Girls booth were mum on analysis, as they studied the dancer on the screen, mouths agape.
The demo video showed a decent but not outstanding implementation of the 3D technology. Unlike most 3D demos at CES, Bad Girls’ video elected not to display any objects popping out or being shot at the viewer. They have standards.
On the mobile front, the Sex App Shop proved a much more practical and potentially lucrative technology. The Web app enables developers to build iPhone-friendly pornography. This is pretty huge because Apple generally denies adult content from being sold in its App Store. It’s one of the many arguments in the battle between Web and native apps.
IPhone and iPod Touch owners navigate to the company’s website and add a shortcut to their home screen. (Probably not a great idea if spouses or significant others have a habit of perusing your app library.) Content providers can easily build sections of mobile-formatted pictures and videos, selling them if they like.
The store, which opened on Dec. 1, could potentially house basic games and some interactive content, but the company is primarily focusing on securing traditional pornography partners. ‘This industry is 90% pictures and video,’ said Steve August, creative director of Your App Shop.
One of our favorite features: turn the iPhone on its side and the screen transforms into a faux newspaper site to fool onlookers. ‘The Wall of Times,’ as it’s called, is a takeoff of the New York Times’ site.
-- Mark Milian in Las Vegas
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