The Korean electronics giant ‘LG Electronics‘ are the latest company to announce their range of 3DTV products for western consumers, following the likes of Sony, Panasonic and Samsung. LG says they have “ambitious plans to sell one million 3D television sets this year and hope to take a quarter of the emerging 3D TV market.” Apparently LG are also planning a global launch (iPhone style) late in April, though I’m a tad doubtful that they will have the required quantity (manufactured and warehoused) to simultaneously flood global market. Especially considering that Panasonic sold out right across the states in less than a week from launch.
LG has unveiled both 47-inch and a 55-inch models of 3DTV’s that are LED back-lit. They are also offering two sets of 3D Glasses with each LG 3D TV sold (stay posted to see our update 3D Glasses Guide). Interestingly, LG has only around a 10 per cent share in the existing LCD TV market today, behind the likes of Samsung, Panasonic and Sony.
Panasonic’s has just one model of 3D glasses currently on the market and depending on your individual tastes, you’ll either love or hate them. Panasonic’s TY-EW3D10U 3D Glasses have the boldest designed frames you’ll see of all the 3D glasses on offer so far. You’ll get two sets of Panasonics 3D Glasses included with the purchase of a Panasonic 3D Viera TV. Or if you wish to purchase them without the 3DTV they are US$180 each sold seperately. Despite the premium price, one benefit over sony range is that the Panasonic 3D emitter is part of the deal (sony charges an additional US$50 for it’s required ‘3D Emitter’ device. SEE ALL THE LASTEST 3D GLASSES IN OUR 3D GLASSES GUIDE. (Four pages of 3D fun!)
We’ve seen 3D mobile phones before but never as impressive as Hitachi’s new Wooo H001 mobile phone featuring a new IPS stereoscopic 3D TFT LCD display.
Hitachi’s Wooo H001 comes with a 3.1″ 3D IPS TFT LCD screen displaying a 854 x 480 resolution. Most impressive is the fact that not only does the W000 H001 phone shows video created in a native 3D format but it can also convert standard 2D images to IPS 3D (including photos taken with Wooo H001’s built in 5 megapixel camera).
Apart from it’s a 3D capable display, the Hitachi Wooo H001 mobile phone comes with a built in integrated 1Seg TV tuner. The tuner (pressumably) can be used to watch live 3D TV broadcasts (when they are available). Read the rest of this entry »
Sony has unveiled it’s latest 3D prototype, a table top ’stereoscopic 3D display’. Sony’s new gadget is a cylindrical device that displays ‘Autostereoscopic 3D vision’, which means no 3D glasses are required to see the 3D images. Even more impressive is that the 3D vision can be viewed from a full 360 degrees around the device. As the device is just a prototype it is still not clear what market this device might be for. Similar autostereoscopic displays are already being used in the medical and education industry. However, to me the resolution doesn’t look quite high enough for medical use. I would suggest that this 3D device will be used mainly in advertising (on shop counters and behind bars) and perhaps might make an appearance in the home as a 3D digital photo frame. It looks like the type of thing that Japanese consumers would love at home.
For the specs, a video and a dodgy translation of Sonys japanese press release, read on.. Read the rest of this entry »
As we reported last week, 3D industry heavyweight XpanD, has released a range of ‘universal’ ‘3D Ready’ TV glasses. The XpanD X103 3D glasses are designed to work with “almost all” new 3D-ready TVs of all brands, allowing you to use your personal 3D glasses with a friends 3DTV, 3D computer monitors and at XpanD 3D cinemas. The XpanD X103 active 3D glasses come in a massive 12 color flavours and feature two fast-switching, liquid crystal cells, called “pi-cells” which XpanD says make these “the fastest 3D glasses in the world”.
XpanD X103 3D Glasses retail for USS$140
MTV reports that a rep for her music label, Interscope Records, said that “there are talks about a 3D concert and 3D DVD to be released in the near future.” No other information (including how the 3-D concert would manifest) was available at press time.
Late last week, Lady Gaga fan sites began speculating about plans for a 3D DVD, but this is the first time a concert has been mentioned. In December, Gaga released a deluxe edition of her Fame Monster album, which included a pair of 3D glasses that she mysteriously explained would come in handy “for things happening soon.“ Read the rest of this entry »
In light of the many 3D TV brand options and the fact they all have their own matching ‘proprietary’ (non universal) 3D glasses. CNET decided to run an internet poll on peoples thoughts regarding the 3D tech dilema. The results are in and from just under 500 people here is what the public thinks… Read the rest of this entry »
Summary of Samsungs 3D TV range is as follows..
The cheapest 3D TV is a 46-inch LCD, due out in May for about $1,700.
The 3D plasma line features six 3DTV’s starting with a 50-inch 3DTV at about $1,800 going up to a 63-inch 3DTV $3,800, all available in May.
Samsungs 3D LED range includes a 40-inch model for about $2,000 due out in May and 46-inch and 55-inch versions due this month at $2,600 and $3,200, respectively. There’s also new higher-end 3D range on the cards including a 55-inch premium 3D LED TV for just under $7,000.
NOTE: Prices above are US Dollars.
Dreamworks Animation is offering the world’s first-ever HD 3D movie titles to the consumer market, converting “Monsters vs. Aliens” and the “Shrek” series to a ‘3D Ready’ TV Bluray disks.
Dreamworks is offering these 3D movie titles in a special partnership with samsung (to promote samsungs new 3D TV range). Samsung says said that people who purchased both a samsung 3DTV and a Samsung 3D Blu-ray player would also receive a special “3D pack”, including a set of two active 3D glasses and a copy of Monsters vs. Aliens 3D Bluray.
Alice in Wonderland director Tim Burton has found a new 3D project. He will direct a stop-motion animated film based on Charles Addams’ original ghoulish cartoon drawings of The Addams Family. Illumination Entertainment, the Universal-based family film unit headed by Chris Meledandri, has acquired the underlying rights of the Addams drawings, once a staple of The New Yorker magazine.
More 3D Projector news. This time from Dell releasing their 3D-capable S300w Short Throw Wireless 3D Projector.
Dell is promising that the S300w projector can display crisp 720p HD 60- and 90-inch diagonal images from up to two and three feet away. Users also have the option to split the screen into four sections simultaneously, providing side-by-side comparisons during presentations (if that’s your thing)
The gunmetal-shaded S300w is reasonably light, weighing just 6.8 pounds with a speaker and 8-watt RMS power already built-in.
The new Dell 3D projector is priced at US$999.
The specs are as follows: Read the rest of this entry »
Technicolor today announced that it has launched the first independent broadcast services platform ready to broadcast 3D channels out of its Chiswick facility in London.
Technicolor has developed its state-of-the-art Broadcast 3D service offering to ensure optimal viewing and distribution technologies are being used. The company is now ready to offer this service to its cable, television, and satellite network service provider clients. Read the rest of this entry »
Viewsonics new 3D capable DLP projector is called the PJD6251.
As usual, nothing in 3D is easy and to actually view 3D content you’ll also need a compatible NVIDIA GeForce 8 series or higher graphics card, GeForce 3D Vision Kit with 3D goggles, oh.. plus some 3D content.
That said, Viewsonic claims “the projector uses BrilliantColor technology for clarity with life-like colour, sharp graphics and outstanding video, It also has 3700 ANSI lumens and a high 2800:1 contrast ratio”.
Weighing in at 2.9kg, the projector has multiple inputs (including HDMI) and a shitty integrated 5W speaker.
The ViewSonic PJD6251 projector is available now in Australia and New Zealand for AU$1,439 inc tax.
Judd Apatow (hollywood producer and director) has revealed that he has reserves about using 3D technology in his movies, especially in the sex scenes. Apatow, who is behind hilarious raunchy comedies such as ‘Knocked Up’, ‘The 40 Year Old Virgin’ and ‘Forgetting Sarah Marshall’ (which saw Jason Segel strip off) believes that sex scenes in 3D is a little too close for comfort.
In the UK the SUN quoted him as saying “I don’t want everything in 3D because I don’t want to be in the middle of everything, sometimes I want to be distant from it.” ..adding “I don’t think anyone wants to see Jason Segel’s penis in 3D”.
Earlier this week some “numb nut” at LG issued a press release claiming that Sky was buying 15,000 3D TVs from LG to be used to show 3D sports broadcasts around the UK in pubs.
It seems that said “numb nut” from LG f#cked up, big time. LG has now come back and said that Sky is NOT buying 3D TVs from them after all.
LG says however that it “is supporting the 3D channel Sky is setting up to show sporting events and other content” and that “Sky will help its customers (eg Pubs) purchase 3DTVs from LG”.
With all the news of new US and UK 3DTV Stations, Germany is next to jump on board the 3D train.
German broadcaster SES Astra will launch a 3D demo channel during the ANGA Cable show 2010, which starts on May 3 in Cologne, Germany.
SES Astra, the Luxembourg based satellite operator, has a long history of demoing and promoting new technologies in germany. Read the rest of this entry »
The following two sources were lucky enough to place their dirty fingers on Panasonics US 3DTV offering (the Panasonic TC-P50VT20 3DTV). Both were impressed, read on to see their opinions. Read the rest of this entry »
Sony’s 3DTV – BRAVIA HX903, is availble for pre-order for those located in Europe. Luxury retailer Harrods, apparently has one on display in their shop window with a price tag and delivery date.
The 52-inch model is expected to retail at £2500 and ships in June if not earlier says Harrods. You will pay extra for the required 3D glasses and a 3D reciever as the model is only ‘3D Ready’ (no 3D reciever built in).
