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Tough economic times cause Philips to axe a dimension, get by with just two

by Tim Stevens posted Apr 15th 2009 at 9:46AM

Tough economic times cause Philips to axe a dimension, get by with just two
Many people are giving up many things to get by in this dire recession, things like vacations, new cars, and highly expensive though well deserved plastic surgery procedures to finally deliver the pectoral definition that nature and daily push-ups won't. Sacrifices all, but perhaps none as big as that made by Philips, which is getting rid of an entire dimensional plane and going strictly 2D. Last year the company talked up display after display after display with glasses-free 3D tech, but now they, along with the company's entire 3D Solutions division, are all being scrapped in favor of more immediately profitable endeavors. So, who wants to buy a vibrating jacket?

AMG TV plans first domestic 3D broadcast network, $50 add-ons to make your HDTV 3D

by Richard Lawler posted Apr 14th 2009 at 8:37PM

Japan and the UK won't be able to hold their 3D broadcasts over us by the end of '09, now that AMG TV is being bought by Signet Intl. Holdings, which plans to turn it into the first 3D broadcast network. Forget waiting for a standard, Signet plans to go with a solution from Kerner Broadcast Corp. -- a spinoff of Industrial Light & Magic and wholly owned subsidiary of Signet -- that promises a $50 add-on to bring 3D to any HDTV. Described by its own CEO as a 5, on a 1 - 10 scale of 3D quality it doesn't immediately inspire confidence, but we're willing to give this a try before knocking it. Most of the programming will be 2D converted to 3D, expect to hear a lot more before broadcasts flip on around Late November.

JVC intros 1080p GD-463D10 3D LCD monitor in Japan

by Darren Murph posted Apr 13th 2009 at 3:26PM


Not that JVC's been avoiding the 3D bandwagon or anything, but it has yet to formally introduce a 3D HDTV to really take advantage of the in-home 3D revolution that 3D backers just swear is right around the bend. The GD-463D10 is a 46-inch LCD HDTV with a native 1,920 x 1080 resolution, 2,000:1 contrast ratio, twin ten-watt speakers and support for three-dee material. We're also told that the set will come bundled with a pair of polarized glasses when it ships in Japan early next month. The only problem? That ¥700,000 ($6,978) price tag, which seems particularly painful with no real 3D programming to speak of. Yet, of course.

[Via Impress]

CableLabs investigating possible 3D delivery standards

by Richard Lawler posted Apr 13th 2009 at 11:44AM

Count one more standards body trying to figure out how to bring the 3D experience home properly, now that CableLabs has begun investigating the best delivery system. the CableLabs VP of consumer video technology is the chair of the SCTE working group on 3D and claims there's as many as 30 different methods of multiplexing the video stream, so it could be a slow march towards a standard, including such problems as where the decoding happens, on a set-top box or in the display itself, but we should be able to expect experiments like the recent live BskyB trial here in the future, but your guess is as good as ours to precisely when.

Mitsubishi introduces 16-speaker Unisen LCD HDTV line

by Darren Murph posted Apr 8th 2009 at 9:00AM


With Mitsubishi's LaserVue lines humming along once more, it's time for the company to bust out a few more big announcements in the HDTV space. First up is the new Unisen line, comprised of the 151 Series (40-, 46- and 52-inches), the 153 Series (40-, 46- and 52-inches) and the high-end Diamond 259 Series (46- and 52-inches). Each set in the line comes with a built-in "5.1-channel" 16-speaker audio bar, much like the iSP LT-52149 that we reviewed last fall. Each model also incorporates a new UltraThin Frame design, Smooth 120Hz Film Motion technology, four HDMI 1.3a inputs and a USB media port. The top end crew also includes an iSP calibration microphone, Plush1080p 5G 18-bit digital video processing, a wired IR input and a few swank blue accents to really woo the ladies. The whole family should ship to the United States next month and range from $1,799 to $3,299. Exact pricing is just after the break.

Gallery: Mitsubishi introduces 16-speaker Unisen LCD HDTV line

Continue reading Mitsubishi introduces 16-speaker Unisen LCD HDTV line

Mitsubishi debuts 3D-ready Home Theater TV line, 82-incher included

by Darren Murph posted Apr 8th 2009 at 9:00AM


No need for 16 speakers built right into your next HDTV? How's about the ability to watch 3D content whenever it infiltrates the home? Mitsubishi's other big introduction today comes in the form of its 2009 Home Theater TV line, a family that includes the 737 Series (60-, 65-, 73- and 82-inch), 837 Series (65-, 73- and 82-inch) and the standalone 82-inch WD-82737. The big screen crew is completely 3D ready and the whole lot features 120Hz dejudder technology, the firm's exclusive 6-color processor, four HDMI 1.3a sockets and a JADE Activity-based user interface. For those badly in need of a new set after suffering through March Madness on that 22-inch CRT, you'll be elated to know that every set mentioned here is shipping now from $1,499 to $4,999, with the full gamut of details waiting just past the break.

Gallery: Mitsubishi debuts 3D-ready Home Theater TV line, 82-incher included

Continue reading Mitsubishi debuts 3D-ready Home Theater TV line, 82-incher included

Theaters, studios squabbling over who will pay for 3D

by Richard Lawler posted Apr 7th 2009 at 1:31PM

We're not hopping off the 3D bandwagon, but just when things couldn't be going any better a fight over money could knock things off course. Fox apparently informed theaters it wouldn't foot the $1 million bill to cover 3D glasses for Ice Age: Dawn of the Dinosaurs, and already word is leaking out that the nation's largest theater chain Regal Cinemas is planning to only screen the flick in 2D, with AMC Theaters and Cinemark poised to follow suit. For its part, Fox is claiming no exhibitor has said they won't be showing Ice Age in 3D and they're only "working out the issues." Of course if they did, the plan of offering 3D as something audiences can't get at home could be turned on its head quickly.

[Via Cinematical]

Sky brings home live 3D broadcast over a standard satellite set-top box

by Richard Lawler posted Apr 3rd 2009 at 1:19PM

The UK set a few new high water marks for 3D as a part of its push to 2012 last night as Sky broadcast an Abbey Road concert by Keane in 3D live out over the Internet in anaglyph 3D, as well as a higher quality polarized version to a movie theater and a 46-inch 3D HDTV over a standard satellite box. Confirming earlier tests, it looks like the UK is ready to step up and join Japan in 3D broadcasting, the next question is when will the standards jostling result in any progress over here?

New cable brings iPhone, 3D support to Vuzix eyewear

by Darren Murph posted Apr 2nd 2009 at 7:38PM


We know your pain, Vuzix users. You hop on the subway just trying to enjoy a little in-your-face action before the workday begins, and within minutes the accusations and stereotypes start flying. "Look, it's Geordi La Forge!" "LeVar Burton, what's good?!" "Can I try my Zune on that?" Depressing, really. Unfortunately for you, Vuzix's latest cable will not make any of that any more sufferable, though it will enable you to use your existing eyewear with Apple's iPhone and enjoy the spoils of side-by-side, interlaced and anaglyph 3D content. Said cable will be bundled in with the company's iWear AV230XL, though existing customers will definitely want to snag the standalone version for $39.95. The full release is after the break.

Continue reading New cable brings iPhone, 3D support to Vuzix eyewear

Next-gen DLP Cinema platform makes room for live 3D broadcasting

by Darren Murph posted Apr 2nd 2009 at 12:23AM

Surely you knew that you'd eventually hear "DLP" and "3D" in the same sentence, right? Over at ShoWest this week, Texas Instruments is announcing plans for its next-generation DLP Cinema electronics platform. Generally speaking, this wouldn't be all that exciting, but this one's different. Aside from letting us know that DLP Cinema projectors will be deployed by Christie, Barco and NEC at commercial theaters around the world starting in 2010, we're also told that it will feature "increased bandwidth to integrate alternative content to incorporate live 3D broadcasting." Yep, that NAB demonstration and this year's NBA All-Star weekend were just the beginning.

Monsters vs. Aliens tops weekend box office, is this the big break for 3D?

by Richard Lawler posted Mar 30th 2009 at 9:22AM


After a massive promotional push, Monsters vs. Aliens early results are promising, with an estimated $58.2 million box office take over its opening weekend, 56% of that from people viewing the movie in 3D. Still, after dropping $175 million on worldwide promotions alone, you can bet Dreamworks Animation is expecting a bit more in the future to justify its investment, and carry over to its future films, which, if you haven't forgotten will all be in 3D. Early reviews gave the 3D effects a much better rating than the Super Bowl ad, so let us know, was it enough to get your family in the theater this weekend or anytime in the future?

AMC adding upwards of 1,500 3D screens in North America

by Darren Murph posted Mar 29th 2009 at 3:41PM


Remember when seeing a movie was simple? You just strolled in, paid one low price for a ticket, and you saw the flick. No worrying over which theaters had 4K projectors, which had DTS sound or which had 3D support. As cinemas across the nation continue to leap on the three-dee bandwagon, RealD and AMC Entertainment has just linked up in order to bring up to 1,500 3D screens across Canada and the US. We're told that the rollout is already underway, with more and more screens getting equipped each month. All told, this will bring RealD's 3D network to nearly 8,000 total committed screens worldwide with approximately 2,600 RealD 3D screens installed today. Excited? No?

Video: GE bringing 3D HD baggage screening to airports

by Darren Murph posted Mar 27th 2009 at 12:19AM

Certain airports have already taken the whole "walk through the metal detector" thing to the next level, but things are about to get stepped up once more thanks to TSA certification on a new product from GE Security. The CTX 9800 DSi, which happily sits in the company's explosives detection systems (EDS) line, is now free to waltz into airports in order to "protect travelers with advanced high-definition 3D imaging baggage screening technology." We're talking 360 degree, finely-detailed views of baggage contents, which will undoubtedly cause immense embarrassment when a given TSA agent sees your prime selection of underwear, nose hair trimmer and pink nail polish. Here's hoping this won't slow security lines down even further, and if you're interested in seeing what all this thing can do, just mash play on the video above.

Gallery: Video: GE bringing 3D HD baggage screening to airports

iZ3D debuts polarized 3D glasses, announces DirectX 10 driver

by Darren Murph posted Mar 24th 2009 at 12:41PM


iZ3D, the company responsible for that $399 22-inch 3D monitor, has just unveiled a new way to see the third dimension at the Game Developer Conference in San Francisco. The new polarized 3D glasses are currently in beta testing and should soon be released alongside the iZ3D v2.0 / DirectX 10 driver. Reportedly, these linear polarized glasses will solve color viewing issues experienced by some users, not to mention allowing for easier user adjustments. Full releases for both the spectacles and the new driver are just past the break.

Continue reading iZ3D debuts polarized 3D glasses, announces DirectX 10 driver

Poll: Have you seen a movie in 3D?

by Darren Murph posted Mar 14th 2009 at 12:00PM


Considering that we just gave away 25 pairs of tickets to a 3D screening, we're expecting some serious responses to this one. With 3D doing its best to come storming back into relevancy, we've seen studio after studio commit to pumping out flicks in 3D. All the while, cinemas have been transitioning just as quickly, giving viewers the option to catch new films in 3D so long as they're kosher with rockin' the shades. So, have you checked out a theater screening in 3D? How was it? Do you plan to go again? Avoid 3D at all costs?

Have you seen a movie in 3D?





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