O3D is Google's own home grown open-source web API for creating rich, interactive 3D applications in the browser. First released late April 2009, this API's goal in Google's own words is to create an "
open web standard for 3D graphics". First things first though, before being able to view anything constructed using O3D you will need to download and install Google's browser based plug-in (if you haven't already).
Features
Once you do install the plug-in it's clear from their demos that the resolution and technical abilities of the engine are far above anything a Flash based 3D engine can hope to achieve right now. High quality animation, particle physics, shaders, and shadow rendering are just a few of the features that O3D boasts at this early stage in it's development. Not only this, but being Google, you can be sure it's going to be a pretty stable platform.The future of O3D
Google's plug-in hasn't yet been nearly as widely adopted by the internet community as Flash's has. This means viewers of your O3D created content will see a blank space asking them to download a new plug-in. In the immediate, now now now culture of the internet this will put a lot of people off. Hopefully though with O3D's stunning GPU supported graphics and trusted Google name it will compel uses to download, install and enjoy.
