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Ask Engadget HD: How can I get my home theater ready for 3D, right now?


You'd have to be living under a rock to miss the flurry of 3D content and standards flying around during the last few years, though very few have actually bought in up to this point. But what about someone ready to get a jump on things, and set up their home theater for the full Captain EO experience right now? That's Joel's question, we'll let him take it from here:

"I just moved into a new house with a room I'm specifically planning for my home theater setup and need something that will beat all the equipment my friends have. The way I figure, a 3D setup should keep me ahead of the curve for some time, but I can't decide who to go with. Dual projector, plasma, LCD? Samsung & Mitsubishi are two I know already offering 3D ready equipment, but is there anyone out there that's tried them out yet?

Well, there it is, instead of just keeping up with the Joneses some people want to get way ahead of them. So c'mon, if anyone's been brave enough to invest in the future, let us know where you found the proper equipment right now (and content) for a 3D experience worthy of an upcoming Avatar viewing party.

Got a burning question that you'd love to toss out for Engadget HD (or its readers) to take a look at? Tired of Google's blank stares when you ask for real-world experiences? Hit us up at ask at engadgethd dawt com and keep an eye on this space -- your inquiry could be next.

3D glasses included in two new Disney games for Xbox 360, PS3 & Wii


While you'll probably have to wait for James Cameron's Avatar for a proper stereoscopic 3D experience on consoles, Disney is readying two games this summer that will not only support anaglyph 3D (good news, it will work on any TV, bad news, it's the same low quality red/blue style 3D you've seen and ignored before), but come with two pairs of glasses packed in. Just continuing on the 3D hype its been dispensing to the kids with Jonas Bros. and Hannah Montana flicks both on the big screen and at home, highlighted most recently with Up and culminating in the upcoming Toy Story 1 & 2 3D remakes in October, Disney is clearly making an effort to work the technology in on every level with special 3D modes (no cheat codes necessary.) Toy Story Mania is a Wii-exclusive game due this fall based on the ride at its resorts, while G-Force brings spy guinea pigs to the Xbox 360 and PlayStation 3 July 21.

[Via Joystiq]

JVC GD-463D10 3D monitor pops up in the UK, brings silly glasses for all

After a showing in Japan, JVC's taken its GD-463D10 3D monitor to CEDIA in the UK, confirming that polarized glasses can make people look dorky on any continent. Otherwise the specs are the same, adjusted for a £8,000 price tag, though that's only a concern if you can grab one of the 2,000 JVC plans to sell, whether that's just for the UK or all regions though, is unclear. Just like its slender cousin, we're still waiting to hear when this hits the U.S.

LG readies first 47LH50 3D LCD TV -- just 29,999,999 to go


LG is set to release its first 3D TV -- the 47-inch 47LH50 LCD -- into the Korean market next month. As our tech overlords, this could signal a trend that'll head west. In fact, LG estimates that the 3D television market will exceed 30 million units by 2012 -- exactly what we'd say too if we were in the business of selling televisions. Hmm, 30 million TVs multiplied by 4.5 pairs of glasses required for the average household -- guess we'll be investing in polarized lenses.

[Via @visitken]

DDD CEO talks the future of 3D HDTV

On the 3D movement, DDD has consistently been a step ahead so far, shipping add-on hardware for Samsung televisions and jumping on the bandwagon in Japan, but if you're still unsure about its impact check out this interview with I4U. Unfortunately there's no new details on the latest 2d-to-3D hardware we're waiting on, but CEO Chris Yewdall drops science on glasses free 3D, new laptops on the way from Acer and 3D gaming. Most notable are his comments that users are happy to wear glasses, given the much greater resolution experienced compared to autostereoscopic solutions, plus the company's open approach to porting PC games to its TriDef Ignition platform allowing enthusiasts to create a profile and use any display with their solution. That enough info to have you itching for a 3D TV?

Viewsonic announces three new 3D projectors


Good news, 3D fanboys and girls, looks like Viewsonic's back on the scene with a clutch of 120Hz 3D-enabled projectors. The first new model, the PJD6381, looks to be aimed at schools and businesses, with an extremely short throw ratios (around .68) for reducing shadowing effects, and a number of interactive whiteboard options. Available in August, this guy has 1024 x 768 XGA resolution, 2,500 ANSI lumens, a 2,500:1 contrast ratio, 120Hz refresh rate, and is compatible with the both Texas Instruments' DLP Link and NVIDIA's 3D-Vision 3D technology -- expect it to have an MSRP of $1,249. The PJD6211 and PJD6221 ($849 and $899, respectively) also sport 1024 x 768 XGA resolution, as well as up to 2,700 lumens, a 2,800:1 contrast ratio and both DLP Link and 3D-Vision compatibility. These two should hit the stores some time in July.

Mitsubishi's 3D-ready and Unisen HDTV lines in the flesh


Toshiba already showed us what its freshest line of HDTVs looks like, and now its Mitsubishi's turn. The outfit was on hand in NYC to showcase a few of its now-shipping sets, including the 3D-ready Home Theater line and its speaker-infused Unisen crew. We won't bore you with the specs (which can be found here and here, respectively), but we will confess that the 82-inch WD-82737 has us squirming uncontrollably. Have a peek yourself in the gallery below.

James Cameron's Avatar game coming in stereoscopic Sensio 3D on PlayStation 3 and Xbox 360


We'll admit it, we fell asleep during James Cameron's epic description of the game that will accompany his latest movie, Avatar, during E3 earlier this week, so we have no idea what it will be like. What we do know however, is that the movie is expected to be another leap forward for 3D technology, and apparently the game will be as well, now that Sensio has announced Ubisoft will deliver it in stereoscopic 3D. All that should be required is connecting one of the consoles to a Sensio-compatible TV (Panasonic's 3D Full HD Plasma Home Theater System was used to demo the game at E3, although its unclear if that was a special version) and a pair of 3D glasses.

New Orleans' Prytania rises up to 3D

New Orleans' Prytania Theater
Outside of the frozen food section at the supermarket, nothing beats the summer heat quite like a cool (or downright cold) movie theater, and the recently Sony/RealD 4k-equipped Prytania theater in New Orleans just added 3D capabilities to entice viewers some more. No surprise -- Disney's summer blockbuster, Up, was the first talkie to make the leap off the silver screen at the newly outfitted venue, and we suspect that The Prytania -- the only theater in N'awlins to have Up in 3D -- raked in a healthy crowd for its investment. We love to see storied theaters keep up with the times, and this almost 95-year old movie house is no exception.

[Thanks, gamedude360!]

NEC upgrades DLP projectors for higher res 3D in time for the premiere of Up


If you roll out this weekend to check out Disney Pixar's latest addition to the 3D film movement Up, you might be seeing it broadcast by one of NEC's new NC2500S-A projectors or an older model that has been upgraded, sending out 3D in 2K res courtesy of Texas Instruments' DLP chips. The kids might not notice a 33% improvement in resolution and brightness over previous generations that let it put the show on bigger screens than ever before, but we're sure you will. Word is Clearview's Ziegfeld Theatre is one of the first with the upgrade, so if you're close by, we all know how important choosing a theater carefully can be these days.

HDMI 1.4 officially detailed: Ethernet / Audio Return channels, 3D, 4K x 2K support


We already heard that HDMI 1.4 was just around the bend, and now HDMI Licensing has come forward with all of the official details surrounding the specification. Unfortunately for AV enthusiasts, it seems as if we're taking two steps forward and three back, and we get this sinking feeling that HDMI 1.5 will be here before we know it. At any rate, the main additions to the format are an Ethernet channel, audio return channel, 3D over HDMI, 4K x 2K resolution support, a micro HDMI connector (around half the size of the existing HDMI Mini plug) and an automotive connection system. All fine and good, right? Sure, until you get to the part about having to choose between five different HDMI 1.4 cables, something that the suits at Monster just had to have a hand in. For a detailed look at what you'll need to study up on before buying your next HDMI cable, clinch your fists and hit the read link.

LG demos ultra-bright Full HD 3D monitor


LG's certainly been known to dabble in the third-dimension, and while we're still waiting for it to ship those "one or two" 3D TVs this year, at least we're confident that it's getting closer. Over in South Korea, the company has showcased a new Full HD (1080p) 3D monitor with what it says is the highest brightness level of any competing panel. Sadly, viewers are still required to don glasses when ingesting the action, but this take on the tech enables said eyewear to be somewhat thinner and less cumbersome. Have a peek at the vid down in the read link.

Blu-ray Disc Association working to create a standard for home 3D


Count the Blu-ray Disc Association as the latest to jump on the 3D standards bandwagon, announcing the formation of a task force to create a universal 3D home entertainment spec. It's already been said that Blu-ray will be a great delivery mechanism for 3D, but without a standard, even incredible productions like Coraline come home in anaglyph 3D instead of the stereoscopic 3D format that more HDTV sets are beginning to support. We won't even begin to wonder who they will back, there's not even a timetable for meetings yet but hopefully all this gets worked out sooner rather than later so we can enjoy our Jonas Brothers: The 3D Concert Experience at home, the same way we did in the theater (3 times, it was fantastic.)

Coraline Blu-ray disc brings home 3D & 2D versions July 21

Waiting for the next big 3D release to come home? Universal has slotted Coraline for July 21, with a 3D and 2D version included in the 2 disc set, along with four pairs of 3D glasses. Extra features like U-control and Digital Copy are 2D only, but with 5.1 DTS-HD MA soundtrack and D-BOX Motion Code included, it's hard to see anything this release is missing. Of course, it could be proper stereoscopic 3D instead of anaglyph, but until those 3D HDTVs gain wider adoption, we guess this will have to do.

NY storefront hosts the first no-glasses 3D LCD ad


Like 3D, don't like glasses? Check out 750 7th Avenue at 50th Street in New York for the Snickers display where Inwindow Outdoor and Alioscopy have teamed up for the first 3D LCD ad on a storefront. The 42-inch panel uses an 8x recorded autosteroscopic (read: no glasses) 3D process to make the catchphrase jump off the wall at passers-by. The installation debuted May 6, and for the small cost of being marketed to vs. the now-shelved €18,000 Philips screen we once lusted after, it's a cheap way for us to get a peek at the future.




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