14 DAY TRIAL // YouTube is introducing several new tools for its eager users, specifically, those who upload videos. The site is now debuting a 2D to 3D video converter tool which magically creates 3D videos from your boring old clips. Another change is that the site is now allowing verified users to upload videos longer than 15 minutes, the current limit.
"Creating 3D videos was pretty tough before. You had to set up two cameras, combine the footage from each, and use special software to make the effect look just right," Zack Mistry, product manager at YouTube, wrote.
"Today we're launching 2D to 3D conversion. Once you've uploaded your 2D videos to YouTube, you can convert them to 3D with the click of a button," he announced.
The tool is now in beta, but YouTube promises that you'll be able to convert any video to 3D with just one click. The feature is in beta, but it's available to all.
To many people, this may seem like a great new feature, why fiddle with expensive equipment or hacks and then with complex video editing software to create a 3D flick when you can do what you've always done and then just let YouTube do all the work.
But, while some users may appreciate the new option, what YouTube is offering is not real 3D, in the same way that movies shot with conventional cameras and then digitally converted to 3D are not the same as Avatar.
"Today, we’re improving upon our previous launch by enabling long uploads for users with a clean track record who complete an account verification and continue to follow the copyright rules set forth in our Community Guidelines," Mistry said.
YouTube has already increased the clip length limit from 10 minutes to 15 minutes, recently. It has also lifted all time restrictions for YouTube Partners. Now, it's doing the same for regular users, provided they can verify their accounts.