3D is certainly back with the expected release in the market of 3D displays, cameras and related gadgets from many vendors, including the big names in the consumer electronics industry. The good thing is the HDMI organization is early in ensuring that manufacturers will adopt the same active shutter 3D glasses standards in their products. The organization has now included 3D in its 1.4 version. This version specifies protocols for different 3D display parameters at up to 1080p resolution, such as field, frame or line alternative methods; 2D plus depth methods; and side by side display modes. It also specifies standards for the input/ output connections for consumer 3D devices. The HDMI group also announced that an updated version, to be called 1.4a, is in the works and maybe released very soon. This version is expected to address specifications not only for 3D playout but also for 3D broadcast and distribution.
This year’s CES is the year of 3D. Almost every major name in the television industry had something to show about 3D in the CES 2010 floors. Upcoming 3D products from Sony, Panasonic, LG, Samsung and other vendors were either demonstrated or announced during the show. Though many were enthusiastic on the developments, there were still some who were skeptical. This is because of the need for 3D glasses in order to enjoy this comebacking technology. To address this issue, some companies showed a number of no-glasses solutions that are based on the same principle. If a viewer is located at a certain viewing angle from a display, he will perceive different images in each eye, thus creating a virtual 3D image. One of the most most promising solutions is from Sunny Ocean Studios from Singapore, which promises to offer 64 viewing angles compared to a typical 8 or 9 from other companies. It will show its no-glasses 3D technique at the upcoming CeBIT exhibit this March. Though 3D with glasses already had a big headstart, 3D without glasses would certainly be more convenient and exciting.
There is no doubt that one of the hottest item or could even be no. 1 in CES 2010 is 3D. A lot of exhibitors have on display something about 3D and almost everybody is talking about this exciting technology, which is actually just making a comeback. There was so much hype about 3D many years back but it fizzled out probably because encoding and display technologies then were not matured enough. The big names in consumer electronics have made announcements and live demos on the CES floors and ahead of the pack is Panasonic, which showed its upcoming 3D camera that will record full left and right HD videos in SD cards. Samsung, Toshiba, LG and Vizio likewise showed their 3D LCD TVs but did not announced shipping dates. There were also solutions on 3D Blu-ray players, set top boxes, glasses and video gaming that were presented on the exhibit floors. Considering recent industry developments, 2010 is predicted to be the year of 3D. The success of Avatar and the proliferation of 3D contents and hardware will most likely make this bold prediction a reality.
The final specification for Blu-ray 3D was recently announced by the Blu-ray Disc Association. This means that soon, we will be able to watch 3D movies and content stored in Blu-ray media and displayed in 3D standard-compatible devices. The new format will use the Multiview Video Coding or MVC codec, a variant of H.264, in encoding sterecopic 1080p data to Blu-ray discs. The extra data, however, will require only 50% additional storage space and the recorded content will be backward compatible to 2D players. The standard may specify new HDTV set-ups but should also work with existing HD displays and will also still require 3D glasses. As soon as the final specification is released, expect manufacturers of HD displays and Blu-ray (including PlayStation 3) devices to start to come out with 3D format compliant products. Include to this list content and software providers who naturally will come out with applications such as the popular Final Cut and Adobe Premiere editing tools.
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Televisions | cesar | 
February 7, 2010 7:37 am | 
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