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3D TV, Cinema & Gaming Guide |
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3D TV |
The age of 3D TV has arrived
While there are no certainties in the world of audio visual entertainment, the consumer electronic landscape being littered with failed formats and products, big TV companies such as Sky and major manufacturers such as Panasonic feel confident enough in its potential to have made huge investments in 3D technology.
Of course, what the big corporations have to rely on is consumer adoption and while Sky's new 3D channel will operate through their existing Sky+ HD Box, the general public will still need to make a considerable investment in display hardware. The experience will be stunning, but it will come at a cost.
TV manufacturers, faced with the technical challenge of adapting 3D for the small screen have adopted the 'active shutter' 3D system. While implementations of the system vary considerably, almost all will use expensive (approx £100) active shutter glasses.
Sky leads the way with broadcast 3D TV
Sky will launch a version of their 3D channel in pubs across the UK this April to be followed in October by a service for home consumers.
Sky describe their 3D TV technology as a 'side-by-side half resolution system compatible with both polarising and active shutter based TV's ( see 3D Technology section). Although resolution is effectively halved (the requirement to broadcast two images simultaneously) demos of Sky's 3D channel have been very impressive.
Using purpose built equipment, Sky have been filming a range of material in 3D for over a year. Specially built 'rigs' have two cameras attached side-by-side, capturing slightly different left and right images.
Broadcaster such as Sky and Virgin Media have realised that their existing infrastructure makes it relatively easy for them to broadcast 3D TV. Using their existing Sky+HD set-top box, subscribers will be able to watch a fully fledged 3D TV channel in 2010 on Sky.
On 2nd April 2009 Sky broadcast a performance by the pop group Keane live from Abbey Road Studios through the company’s satellite network to a Sky+HD set-top box and 3D Ready TV.
Sky are filming sporting events in 3D
Over a million UK homes (currently subscribing to Sky HD) could upgrade to 3D without the need for a new set-top box, although a 3D subscription could well be a requirement. Whether 3D TV in the UK becomes established or becomes a passing gimmick depends to a degree on just how many of these 1m homes choose to invest in a 3D compatible display.
Sky has concentrated its 3D filming largely on football, rugby, live music and boxing. It is also a possibility that there will be some big Hollywood 3D blockbusters on their way.
Hardware manufacturers are supporting the 3D revolution
The investment in 3D hardware by likes of Panasonic, Sony, Samsung, LG and Philips suggests that 3D TV is being taken very seriously. Samsung in particular is betting big on the format with almost half of its 2010 LCD TV's becoming 3D ready.
Hyundai are already selling 3D ready TV's
Panasonic, LG, Sony and Samsung have all recently previewed their own 3D TV systems. LG has demonstrated a 60in plasma and 55in LCD displaying Full HD 3D material directly from their BD300 Blu-ray player. Panasonic meanwhile has shown off a Full HD 3D system on its 103in plasma. 3D TV's and Blu-ray players will begin to appear in the UK Spring 2010.
 | 3D TV's heading your way in 2010 |
Owners of Sony's PS3 games console may be interested to know that it can become 3D-enabled with a firmware update this June. We could well see the PS3 playing a pivotal role in the adoption of 3D in the same way that its built-in Blu-ray player gave a boost to High Definition DVD.
Based in Universal City, Panasonic's new 3D labs are working towards establishing a 3D Full HD (3D FHD) Blu-ray format along with the introduction of a range of 3D products including TV's, Blu-ray players and Home Cinema systems.
Sony are also planning to release a range of 3D products beginning in 2010, with their chief executive, Howard Stringer, indicating that consumers will be able to buy not only 3D Bravia Televisions but also Vaio Laptops, Blu-ray disc players and Playstation3 games consoles compatible with 3D technology.
JVC, Philips and LG have all been working on advanced 3D systems. Philips are calling their latest innovation in the field '2D-plus-depth' which can be enjoyed using stereoscopic (special glasses needed) or on auto-stereoscopic 3D displays, special glasses not required.
Using 'lenticular' lenses, LG's code named M4200D 3D TV introduced this year does not require special glasses to achieve a 3D effect, but requires a 4m viewing distance. We have seen this TV, which works remarkably well as long as the 4m viewing distance is maintained.
3D TV via Blu-ray
In the same way that we have seen standard format films converted to High Definition (HD) we may also see the conversion of existing films to 3D. Blu-ray already has the capacity to store a 3D version of a movie.
If 3D takes of, expect to see new 3D movie releases on Blu-ray, of classic blockbusters like Star Wars, The Matrix and The Lord of the Rings.
Some manufacturers including LG and Philips have demonstrated 3D systems that use existing Blu-ray players. We are already seeing the release of some films on 3D using the older Anaglyph (red and blue glasses) 3D format.
The BDA (Blu-ray Disc Association) has recently ratified a 3D Blu-ray standard with the prospect of 3D film releases on the High Definition format. Monsters v Aliens was the first 3D Blu-ray disc to be announced and will be bundled with a pair of Samsung's 3D glasses.
'Cloudy with a Chance of Meatballs' will be the first Blu-ray 3D release from Sony while Disney has announced that 'A Christmas Carol' will become generally available in 3D format towards the end of 2010. Many expected 'Avatar' to arrive in 3D late 2010 to give the format a significant boost; unfortunately, 20th Century Fox have indicated that its release is unlikely before 2011.
Is there going to be a 3D format war
Quite Possibly, Keisuke Suetsugi, Manager of Panasonic's Development Center, recently commented: "There are so many 3D systems proposals it could kill 3D itself".
There are so many prototype systems vying for worldwide adoption that there is bound to be some kind of clear out in the future, if not a full blown 3D format war.
Top Ten LCD | Plasma
Top Ten LCD | Plasma