Sanwa YouTube 3D viewer for iPhone

Wanting to jump on the 3D bandwagon but don’t have the cash to lay down for a big screen 3D TV or even a Nintendo 3DS? This 3D viewer from Japan’s Sanwa provides a cheap and easy way to enjoy 3D YouTube content on an iPhone. Functioning like the venerable View-Master stereoscopic viewer or more recent MY3D viewer from Hasbro, the device sends the left/right images from 3D videos in the side-by-side format (yt3D) to the appropriate eyeball.

Measuring 140 x 90 x 75 mm (W x D x H - 5.5 x 3.5 x 2.9 in) and weighing around 127 g (4.5 oz) sans iPhone, Sanwa’s 3D viewer has a slot to accommodate an iPhone 4 or 4S. A hole in the underside of the device’s body allows users to slip their fingers through to reach the iPhone’s touchscreen for controlling volume and playback. With the small viewing distance, 3D movies will appear much larger than the iPhone’s small display would suggest, but holding up the device to your face for extended period is likely to put a strain on the ol’ arm muscles.

The 3D Viewer retails for 1,980 yen (approx. US$25) and is available through Sansa Direct’s Japanese site.