3D Ruminations
XpanD is also planning to release “universal” 3D glasses this summer. Due to differences between brands, Samsung glasses won’t work with a Sony 3DTV, etc. XpanD’s solution is to provide “smart” sensing technology, which identifies the brand type by the makeup of the infrared 3D synchronization carrier.
The glasses (which are rechargeable via mini-USB connection) also don’t have a power button. Instead, they “wake up” every few seconds and look to see if there’s a sync IR carrier coming from the 3DTV. If a carrier is detected, then the glasses scan the data stream and match up with the right protocol and lock onto the carrier. All of this happens in an instant, and if the IR carrier goes away (indicating the set is either off, or in 2D mode), the glasses go back into sleep mode automatically. Battery life is claimed at an astonishing 300 hours (which is six times that of typical disc battery powered models, and ten times that of other rechargeable types).
In the case of Panasonic’s plasma 3D sets, their glasses have, in addition to the active LCD shutter, a color filter that aims to remove some of the bluishness that’s a byproduct of their approach to 3D. Mr. Dror said that the XpanD universal specs should provide a “99%” compatibility with the Panasonic sets, and other brands as well.
They’re reasonably priced, with an SRP of $129.99 (which compares very well against Samsung’s forthcoming rechargeable glasses, which are priced at $199.99). We’ve already asked for a test pair for review.
3D, or “Real” 3D?
Dreamworks Animation’s Jeffrey Katzenberg is most decidedly a 3D evangelist. Appearing at January’s CES show in Las Vegas at the Samsung press conference, he also appeared at the recent National Association of Broadcaster’s convention to preach the 3D gospel.
His firm’s “Monsters vs Aliens” in 3D is the first of the “real” 3D Blu-ray titles to actually become available, and is the disc included with Samsung’s 3D starter kit (which also includes two pairs of 3D glasses). The disc hasn’t yet been released for general sales just yet, though.
What will be interesting to see is how Dreamworks Animation (and other studios) will explain to consumers that there are now two types of 3D Blu-ray discs – old-style anaglyphic for use with the cheap blue/red 3D specs, and the new high quality discs that are compatible with the latest 3D Blu-ray players and 3DTVs. While early adopters will probably figure this out, as 3D grows in popularity, there’s a good chance of consumer confusion further down the line.
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Comments
The issue with Quad was not so much that it was a limited technology, but that the marketplace was completely confused because of the multitude of different and incompatible Quad systems. When consumers are confused, they defer the purchase decision. I don't know why manufacturers never learn this lesson.
While the 3D industry is not making that mistake in terms of media, they do seem to be making that mistake in terms of monitors and glasses. While they probably make more selling the glasses than they do on the sets, it's a strategic mistake to not produce glasses that are compatible with any 3D set, even if that means giving third parties the opportunity to co-opt the glasses business.
In addition, I have been in two highly-regarded retailers lately that were displaying 3D, but without any glasses to actually view the 3D. So what you saw was a relatively low contrast, somewhat dim, "ghost" image. This is obviously not the best way to get consumers excited about 3D.
I think the comparison between quad and 3D may prove to be more that just skin deep. In my opinion quad was not just a flash in the pan that faded into obscurity. It was just ahead of its time. Quad eventually won. I have one sitting in my rec room today. They just call it home theater today, and mine has six speakers instead of four. The concept is identical; it just took 30+ years to get traction.
We are now in the infancy of 3D. I fully expect that by 2040 everyone will be watching 3D. It may not be "this" 3D, but it will be something similar.
I like to watch 4 double d's myself. As far as 3d goes? it is a boon dogel by tv makers to suck more money out of people in that down economy. That in it self should tell you how it is going to go. Down economy, people are not going to get new tvs for some gimick like 3D.
Has anyone there actually seen a Panasonic 3D display? I did at the local Best Buy. You can be looking at it with your head bent over at a 90 degree angle and the 3D effect does not change. The other thing that was not mentioned in this article is that the off angle viewing on the Panasonic still delivers a better picture than a LCD display. Plasma will always beat LCD when it comes to that but the LCD champions always seem to either not mention it or do not seem to care. In the real world, family members are spread out in an arc across the front of the TV and the ones on the ends have to make do if they are looking at a LCD TV. That is not the case with plasma.
Almost got the feeling that we were going down the old TAS Road here and we would be told that real viewers watch only CRT Sets as God intended, and listen to Milton Berle in mono via a tube amplifier
Fortunately that did not occur. I guess those Samsung Engineers were not too successful with the toaster testers as they have not changed their tune, nor the degree of doneness of the toast if that is what they were after.
Personally I like 3D content and have already ordered a Panasonic 3D set. Oh, I got myself a head vise too but I don't use it for watching TV :-)