Apart from their high price tags, the need for a pair of active shutter glasses is a major factor slowing down the adoption of 3D TV sets. Jazz them up all you want, but they are in no way convenient, a problem even more pronouncedly uncomfortable for those wearing prescription glasses too.
However, a report from Japanese newspaper Daily Yomiuri insists that Toshiba are diligently working away at a glasses-free 3D set. While the tech giants wouldn't be drawn into any details concerning a precise product, they confirmed that it was a technology they are giving a great deal of attention to in their labs.
Toshiba have already showed a glasses-free 3D display earlier in the year, pictured above. Running at a WVGA 1280×800 resolution, it had 15 degree horizontal viewing angle and may prove to be an early prototype of what has been hinted at by the Yomiuri report.
Toshiba wouldn't be alone in their pursuit of glasses-free 3D either. Philips have already shown off a TV using lenticular technology to produce depth in images without the need for glasses, while Nintendo's hotly anticipated 3DS handheld console makes similar use of lenticular technology.
It's a no-brainer for Toshiba and co to crack 3D sets without glasses. Massive amounts of investment have been thrown at 3D technology for the home, and if glasses are the main gripe leaving consumers sitting on the fence, an alternative can't come soon enough.
Samsung are again looking to drum up interest in their forever-delayed OLED range. This time Sammy have been talking up the potential of a 3D OLED TV.
Confirming that a large OLED TV screen from their stable was still coming soon, Samsung's Brian Berkeley also said that OLED displays would be perfect for 3D screens due to their high contrast ratios and quick response times. A 3D TV using OLED technology from Samsung could be just "a few years down the line".
Fair enough if Samsung are holding out until they can merge 3D and OLED tech together into one super-TV, but I tremble at the thought of its accompanying price tag. They'd best get their act together if they're to make launching a smaller regular OLED HDTV worthwhile though - rivals Sony and LG both have 14 and 15 inch OLED screens respectively already available on the market, and the last thing an expensive, relatively niche product category like this needs is another competitor.
Via: OLED Info
LG have confirmed that they will be displaying a 31 inch OLED TV at this year's IFA conference. It will be the largest that the company have produced so far, and while bigger examples exist from the likes of Samsung and Sony, the LG display could be unique in that it may make it to shops before the year is out.
OLED TVs, with their superior contrast ratios, minimal motion blur and svelte sizes, were hailed as the future for TVs when they first popped up on show floors a couple of years back. But the increasing quality of LCD TVs (not to mention the high pricing of OLEDs) has kept them quite the niche product.
Click here for more IFA-related news in the run up to the show's grand opening next month
Via: OLED Display
Two new high-end sets have been added to Sony's 3D Bravia range this morning. The NX713 and NX813 3D TVs are yet another two options to bring your PS3 games and (eventually) 3D Blu-rays into the third dimension.
Apart from 100Hz motion processing in the NX713 model and 200Hz processing in the NX813, there's very little to set the two TVs apart. Both sport the monolithic design of the updated Bravia range with dynamic LED backlighting and Sony's Bravia Internet Video services.
The sets also have with an optional designer stand, tilting the screen at the optimal 6 degree angle and squeezing in a 2.1 channel speaker system in the base.
"With 3D capability, the connectivity of BRAVIA Internet Video and stunning monolithic design, the NX713 and NX813 are perfect for people who want both style and performance from their TV," says Christian Brown, Senior Category Marketing Manager, Sony UK.
"More and more people recognize that 3D will play an important part in the future of home entertainment. And with the NX713 and NX813 you'll be safe in the knowledge that you're ready to upgrade to 3D viewing as soon as you decide the time is right.
No price or release date has been set yet for either model, but we'll pass on the info once we get it.
Panasonic's next line of 3D TVs set to hit the US will feature 2D-to-3D conversion abilities, the company have confirmed. Aimed at gamers, the GT25 range will launch across the pond before the end of the year, with the 42-inch version one of the smallest 3D sets currently available.
However, the addition of 2D-to-3D tech doesn't come without some controversy, after Panasonic bosses recently slammed its quality.
Speaking to Home Cinema Choice magazine, Panasonic's VP Bob Perry had said that his company would not be adopting the conversion technology "just as a sushi bar should promise never to serve fake sushi-like food."
Likewise Panasonic Europe's TV chief Fabrice Estornel questioned the conversion tech's ability to stand shoulder-to-shoulder with "real 3D" content: "We don't think it's right to confuse consumers this early on with second-rate conversion technology."
The TC-P42G25 and TC-P50GT25 models are expected to feature in Panasonic's show at next month's IFA conference in Berlin, so expect more details to come in then, as well as word on whether or not the sets will be hitting UK shores.
Via: Tech Radar / Home Cinema Choice
Avatar maestro James Cameron himself said that the only way to truly enjoy 3D TV is to get the biggest set you can possibly afford. Well, expect to see the Samsung UN65C8000 in the Titanic helmsman's living room then, as they don't come any bigger than this.
With a 3D LED display a whopping 65 inches across, the set also features a 240Hz refresh rate for silky smooth motion, Samsung's 3D processor built-in and web abilities such as Wi-Fi access to apps like ESPN and Hulu in the USA.
3D TVs of course are still mightily expensive, and a monster screen like this is no exception. You wont get any change from $6,000 (circa £3,830), but Samsung will throw in two pairs of 3D glasses and a 3D Blu-Ray copy of the actually-pretty-good How To Train Your Dragon for your troubles.
Via: Gizmodo
ProVision, who wowed the CES crowds earlier in the year with their wireless high-def streaming kit, have just lifted the covers off of their potentially game-changing AXAR2010 HD video system.
Though not yet available to buy, the AXAR2010 will allow four separate HD signals to be streamed to multiple sources around the home from a single box.
Using the 5GHz 802.11n wireless standard, four different 1080p HD streams (HD TV channels, Blu-ray, games consoles etc) can be sent to different TV sets around the house. Potentially, the technology could do away with the need for separate set-top boxes per room in a house.
"AXAR software technologies are sold under an IP licensing model and will be integrated into set top boxes, TVs, DVD players and media routers from major consumer electronics manufacturers and multinational OEMs", said Steve Cliffe, CEO of ProVision.
No word on a retail release yet, but ProVision are said to be in talks with distributers on both sides of the pond.
Philips' latest range of 7605 HD TVs will be following the current LED trend of having edge-lit backlighting rather than a rear-lit system.
Due for release in 32, 37, 40 and 46 inch screen sizes, the edge-lit backlighting should result in a smaller footprint, keeping your energy bills down and doing your small part for the environment at the same time.
Philips have also revamped their Ambilight Spectra 2 ambient lighting system. There will now be an onscreen menu for tweaking the light output, with Philips now recognising that not everyone wall mounts the sets on white-washed walls.
Elsewhere the 1080p sets feature Philips' own Pixel Precise image processing, 100 Hz HD Natural Motion tech, NetTV connected service and 500,000:1 dynamic contrast ratio.
The sets are available now, with pricing ranging from £849 for the 32 incher up to £1499 for the 46 inch largest model.
If you haven't got the cash (or the space) for both a high-end PC monitor and HD TV, Samsung may have an all-in-one solution to suite your needs in the shape of the SyncMaster FX2490HD.
Doubling up as both a PC monitor and 1080p high-def TV, the SyncMaster FX2490HD squeezes in a TV tuner alongside two HDMI inputs, D-Sub and a SCART socket.
At 24 inches it's a great size for a PC monitor and a decent-sized secondary TV, featuring a 5ms response time, 250 nits of brightness and a contrast ratio of 1,000:1. The set also includes a USB port for media playback, as well as support for 7.1 channel Dolby Digital and DTS audio.
Due for release in both the US and Europe later this month, it seems a tidy little deal at $540 (£339).
Via: Akihabara News
ITV have agreed a pay-television deal with broadcasters Sky to bring high definition versions of ITV 2, ITV 3 and ITV 4 to the subscription service.
ITV2 HD will launch in October, just in time for the mega popular X Factor talent show, with ITV 3 HD and ITV 4 HD following soon after.
Adam Crozier, Chief Executive of ITV plc, said: "Building new revenue streams by exploiting our content across multiple platforms is a key part of the ITV Transformation Plan announced today. Pay television has seen continual growth over the last decade and this deal is a great example of how a new, subscription-based launch, can complement ITV's existing free-to-air channels."
Mike Darcey, Sky's Chief Operating Officer, echoed Crozier's sentiments: "The subscription model best rewards those committing to HD and continues to drive its growth. We therefore welcome ITV's move to embrace pay TV to satisfy the demands of millions who now regard anything less than HD as a compromise. This is great news for the one in three Sky homes who have already responded to the increased choice and quality offered by Sky+HD."
Looks as though the 3D content drought may be about to end, as broadcasters Sky have today announced that their 3D TV channel will officially launch on October 1st of this year.
Those with a 3D ready TV, Sky+HD and top channel subscription package will be able to enjoy the new 3D-only channel at no extra cost. The channel will offer a range of programme types, from sport to Hollywood movies.
The intial line-up includes coverage of both the Ryder Cup golf tournament and Premier League football, as well the 3D movies Bolt and Monsters Vs. Aliens. By Christmas, this will expand to include My Bloody Valentine, Alice in Wonderland, Ice Age - Dawn of the Dinosaurs, Coraline, Fly Me To The Moon and Harry Potter & The Half Blood Prince.
Jeremy Darroch, Sky's Chief Executive, said: "As with High Definition, 3D is set to transform the way TV is enjoyed in homes nationwide. Following hot on the heels of the success of 3D cinema, Sky customers will now be the first anywhere in Europe to experience 3D TV from the comfort of their living rooms. They can look forward to a fantastic mix of live sport, blockbuster movies, and innovative entertainment and arts shows."
Panasonic have unveiled their Viera RT2B 3D TV, an "all-in-one" set that includes a built-in 3D Blu-ray player and HDD recorder.
While people are still only taking tentative steps towards widespread adoption of 3D tech, Panasonic seem to have the right idea here. Priced definitely at the higher end of the market (around £3,500 when converted from Yen), it'll allow people access to 3D content straight out of the box, providing they snap up a 3D Blu-ray disc to go with it.
The HDD and Blu-ray can also combine to make recordable Blu-ray discs from the content you've got stored on the drive.
Available in 46 and 42 inch sizes, the Viera RT2B 3D TV goes on sale in Japan on August 27th. We'll keep you posted if Panasonic decide to bring it over to UK shores, which we very much hope they do.
Via: SlashGear
If you're looking to give your tinny flatscreen TV speakers a boost, but can't afford to break the bank in the process, it might be worth having a look at the Logitech Z506 5.1 surround system.
Designed to connect with as many devices as possible, the Z506 will play nicely with a PC, PS3, Xbox 360, Wii, iPod or a DVD player. Capable of creating a 3D stereo surround sound experience from a two channel audio source, the surround system blasts out 75 watts (RMS) of cinema-style audio, and includes a down-firing subwoofer.
"We designed the Logitech Surround Sound Speakers Z506 so you can set them up the way you want to in any room of your home," said Mark Schneider, vice president and general manager of Logitech's audio business unit. "The Logitech Z506 speakers can support nearly any home-entertainment configuration, letting you quickly connect to a game console using an RCA connection, a PC through its sound card, or a digital music player using the 3.5mm input. Now, getting engrossed in whatever entertainment you love is a snap."
A headphone jack is also included for those preferring to keep their noise a little more private, while the kit also has the ability to connect up and play back from two different audio sources simultaneously.
Best of all though is the price. Rolling out in August, the Z506 speaker system should cost no more than £79.99 when it hits the shops.
Who said TVs had to be the same bog-standard black boxes that sit in the corner of your living room? Loewe certainly didn't as they prepare to launch their range of fully customisable Individual Slim HD TVs.
Available in four different screen sizes (32, 40, 46 and 55 inches), the Full HD sets come in either Aluminium silver, high gloss white or aluminium black colours. Though they are fairly regular colours for for a TV, Loewe open the flood gates by allowing you to choose the colours of the TV's side panels from any that feature in the entire RAL colour spectrum.
The LED back-lit TVs are made to order, which means you can also choose what sort of speaker set up features in Individual Slim. This can be anything from simple 2.0 stereo right up to full on 7.1 cinema sound.
If you're interested, head on over to the Loewe website to start fiddling about with all the possible combinations.
I have to admit to being a little bit sceptical about the need for another Toy Story film when it was first announced a year or so ago. The first two films are, in my opinion, classics, capturing all the imagination of childhood, full of lovingly realised characters and friendships, not to mention some hysterical gags.
But after the beautiful and, dare I say, challenging Up and Wall-E, I couldn't believe that Pixar re-visiting our old plastic friends could lead to anything more than an enjoyable, if unnecessary nostalgia trip. Pixar had grown up, and were confidently covering some quite difficult subject matter in their more recent films. What else could be done with the Toy Story crew, other than milk the cash cow by slapping a 3D suffix to the title?
Well, forgive me Pixar, for I had too little faith; Toy Story 3 is a stunning tale, every bit the equal of both its predecessors and Wall-E and Up.
A long time has passed since the events of Toy Story 2, and Woody Buzz and co are feeling a bit neglected. As their owner Andy has become a teenager, they've been left sitting in the toy box, whilst friends like Bo Peep and Wheezy have either been donated to charity or simply thrown away. Andy's off to college, growing up, and growing out of love with his toys. He decides to take Woody along for the ride, but pack the other toys up in the attic, which they resignedly accept as a sort of retirement period.
However, a mix-up sees the gang left out as trash, a betrayal Andy would never have intended, and a quick-witted Woody thinks fast, sending his pals off to the SunnySide daycare centre instead. While Buzz and co are initially thrilled to be played with again, all is not what it seems at SunnySide, and it's soon down to Woody to help get the gang home again.
It's a rip-roaring adventure, every bit as imaginative as previous entries into the series. Again the Pixar team have mined memories of childhood to great effect, pulling together a hilarious cast of recognisable childhood toys, wonderfully animated, and playfully poking against our expectations of each character.
Mr Potato Head, Hamm the moneybox and Buzz Lightyear still get big laughs, but the funniest scenes are reserved for newcomers the Ken and Barbie dolls. The too-cool-yet-sickly-sweet pair have a fiery, hilarious romance in the film, and Ken's camp and oh-so-misunderstood outlook on fashion and life are superbly written.
But for all the humour on show, Toy Story 3 will be best remembered for its heart. It's truly touching, and downright sad at some points. The toys are coming to terms with the loss of their owner and best friend, moving on from relationships and dealing with the grief of losing their pals. It's never patronising, and some of the finer points may go straight other a younger audiences head, but it goes pretty deep for a children's film. A 15-minute sequence at the end of the film is one of the most suspenseful, intense and heart-wrenching scenes you are ever likely to watch. I defy you not to cry, or to at least scream "nooooooooooooooooo!" out load at one particularly magnificent moment.
This being a tech-blog after all, I'll give a quick review of the 3D tech on show during my screening of the film. We were lucky enough to catch Toy Story 3 in a 3D RealD showing on a Sony 4K screen at the Apollo Cinema on London's Regent Street. RealD screenings on 4K screens have a few significant differences compared to the technology used in other 3D cinemas. Sony's kit projects two images to both eyes simultaneously, rather than high-speed alternating left and right images for each eye used elsewhere. It makes for a far more comfortable viewing experience, and those who have suffered from 3D-induced headaches in the past should seek out a similar screening near them. The 4K display itself is also far sharper than other cinema screens I've seen, though the necessity for 3D glasses throughout still remains an issue, with brightness levels suffering once they are over your eyes.
As for the 3D effects on show in Toy Story 3, apart from a few notable scenes, it's yet another film that hasn't quite managed to capture the sense of depth and movement as well as Avatar did. I wouldn't be too upset if you can't catch a 3D screening of the film, as thankfully the story itself is excellent either way.
A masterfully told adventure, full of belly laughs and some of the most touching scenes you're likely to ever see in a film, I can't recommend Toy Story 3 highly enough. For a kids flick, this will be as emotionally resonant with adults as it will be entertaining for the starry-eyed children its aimed at.
5/5
Toy Story 3 hits cinemas nationwide on 19th July 2010.
Name: LC-46LE820E Aquos Quattron (Sharp)
Type: 46" LCD LED Backlit HD TV
Specs:
Contrast Ratio: 6,000,000 :1
Resolution: Full HD (1920 x 1080p)
Connectivity:4x HDMI, 1x VGA, 1x USB, 1x Scart, Composite adaptor
Speakers: 2x 10 watts speakers
Dimensions: 1127mm H (including base) x 785mm W x 39mm D
Features: Quad-pixel technology, LED backlighting, 100Hz motion processing, DLNA home networking
Price: Circa £1,400
(NB. The LC-46LE820E model we were sent to test was a European model that did not feature the HD Tuner that we have been assured comes as standard on the UK model. Therefore any HD sources described refer to either a Sky+ HD box or PS3 and its built in Blu-ray player)
While the rest of the industry has thrown itself head-first into the 3D TV race, Japanese manufacturers Sharp have taken a different tact. They've been working on what they've dubbed quad-pixel technology, which they've stuffed into their new range of Aquos Quattron HD TVs. It adds a fourth yellow pixel pixel to the standard red, green and blue make up used by other sets, which they claim will redefine colour processing in TVs. But just how revolutionary is the quad-pixel technology? Read on to find out.
The 46 inch LC-46LE820E Aquos Quattron set we tested was quite a sight to behold. Incredibly slim, with a curved black bezel that features a near transparent strip along its bottom edge, it's a very attractive set in terms of design. Either sitting on a metal base with glass support or wall mounted, it features an illuminated Sharp logo (which can be switched off if you prefer) and a few simple, touch-sensitive controls on its right lower edge.
In terms of the actual aforementioned quad-pixel technology, the set's "big sell" if you will, it's not quite as revolutionary as Sharp would have you believe. There's no denying that colours are incredibly vibrant and defined, but you'll be hard pressed to note a remarkable difference between the Quattron's colours and similar top-end models from other manufacturers. Sharp apparently are planning to introduce the same technology in their forthcoming 3D sets, which can suffer from colour and brightness issues, so perhaps its influence will be more noticeable there. For the time being however you're getting solid if not ground-breaking colour response here.
With that said, picture quality on offer here is still very impressive. Sharp by name, sharp by nature, the set delivers 1080p HD images in great detail, providing you've tweaked the (frankly atrocious) out-of-the-box image settings. There are plenty of colour and sharpness options to play about with, and messing with them can lead to some excellent results in picture quality. Blu-ray playback of "The Road" revealed startlingly deep black levels, fine detail in its post-apocalyptic setting, and managed to show excellent definition between the movie's somewhat muted colour palette. Conversely, Blu-ray playback of manga animation "Paprika" showed just how vibrant the colours can be with the Quattron, with the vivid cartoon really shining on the screen.
Sharp's image processing techniques also seem to have been given a bit of a overhaul. The 100Hz motion technology present here leads to perfectly smooth action scenes in movies and games, though we'd suggest avoiding the highest settings as they can make certain scenes move a little unnaturally. Likewise, the TV handles standard definition sources with aplomb, tidying up the image without causing any glaring artefacts to appear.
It's also worth noting however that the glass panel over the screen's display was incredibly reflective, even in relatively low light. It didn't make the TV un-watchable by any means, but it was quite annoying at times, and is definitely worth considering if your living room is a bit of a sun trap.
The Quattron's speakers are worth applauding. As ever with a screen not even an inch thick, they will never compete with a dedicated sound system, but the clarity on offer here is commendable, as is the bass response in comparison to other slim-style TVs.
Sharp make great use of the massive screen real estate on offer here when it comes to displaying menus. As I mentioned earlier, the preset image settings are pretty poor, so initially at least you're going to be fiddling around quite a lot with menu options. This is made far easier thanks to the way the TV intelligently scales the entire image around the menus when tweaking settings like colours, allowing you to see exactly how the changes you are making are affecting the picture. The intuitive menu system also makes navigating the set's basic home-networking capabilities nice and easy (allowing you to play back MKV files, HD video, photos and music from either a USB or LAN connection), though it's no replacement for a dedicated media streamer.
Lastly, the remote control. It's a little long and thin for my personal liking, but it is light, intelligently laid out, and seemed sturdy enough to withstand a few bumps and drops. It's also got a dedicated button for sending the set into ECO mode, which should help save on the electricity bills of anyone too lazy to turn the set off the old fashioned way.
All in then, its a very strong set. It's quite expensive at around £1,400, and the quad-pixel technology doesn't really justify such a high premium. It remains however a top notch goggle-box, with sharp HD pictures, vivid colours and speakers far better than its rivals, and is well worth your cash so long as you aren't expecting the visual revolution that the adverts have touted.
4/5
Apple are rumoured to be re-launching their Apple TV service. Though just last month Steve Jobs shrugged off the platform as just a "hobby" at a D8 conference interview, sources have now revealed that a fully-fledged re-vamp of the hardware could be in the pipeline.
According to Apple sources quizzed by the NY Times' blog, there is a whole team working on re-vamping Apple TV. Graphics and user interface specialists are in place, as well as a hardware team tasked with producing a new bit of kit for the software to run on.
The iOS based re-launch would also be more app-centric than its predecessor, with the likes of Hulu and Netflix potentially coming built-in.
Though Jobs is certainly keeping his cards held closely to his chest with this one, it's hardly a far fetched proposal. With Google TV just around the corner and the likes of Samsung throwing themselves head-first into the trend for web-connected TVs, you can almost guarantee that some sort of plans for a re-vamped competing device are in place.
We'll keep a close eye on this as any further developments are revealed.
It's been dubbed as a televisual revolution, the year when 3D tech bursts out of cinemas and into living rooms. If there was one nation of early adopters you'd have banked on jumping head-first into the 3D fray, it'd be the tech-savvy consumers of Japan, right?
Wrong. It appears that the Land of the Rising Sun still cant see what the third-dimensional fuss is all about.
A survey of 8, 957 Japanese consumers found that nearly 70% of those questioned had "no plans" to purchase a 3D TV. That's not a bad number for a sample pool really, which must send chills down the spines of Samsung and Sony execs.
So what was the reasoning behind the 70 percent's indifference? For 70% of the, er, 70% it came down to not wanting to wear silly 3D glasses, while the remaining 30% were put off by the high asking price of 3D technology. Pretty much the same reasons as everyone else's around the world then!
Still, if 30% of Japanese consumers all went out and bought a 3D TV, that'd be quite the success story. But that's not going to happen anytime soon really, is it?
Via: Reuters
Onkyo have today announced the release of two brand-new networked receivers. Featuring THX Ultra2 Plus certification, the TX-NR5008 and TX-NR3008 will also be fully compatible with the incoming wave of 3D capable gear.
Both receivers feature eight HDMI v1.4a inputs, 1080p upscaling and ISF video calibration, as well as networked playback of FLAC, MP3, WAV, Ogg Vorbis, WMA, WMA Lossless, AAC, and LPCM files thanks to a rear-sided Ethernet port.
Both also have dual HDMI outputs for connecting up two HD displays, as well as the ability to set up multi-room set ups for stereo sources around the house.
Lossless Blu-ray codecs Dolby TrueHD and DTS-HD Master Audio are supported, as well as having 9.2 audio channels boosted by Audyssey DSX or Dolby Pro Logic Iiz.
The TX-NR3008 features a front sided USB port, while the TX-NR5008 has them front and back as well as a torodial transformer and 22,000uF power capacitors.
Out in August, the TX-NR3008 and TX-NR5008 will cost £1,700 and £2,400 respectively.
Hailed as the best thing since sliced bread, it's been hard to avoid the buzz generated around 3D TVs over the last 18 months. However, it appears, so far at least, that the massive promotional push behind 3D TV has only resulted in modest sales in Europe.
Retail analyst GfK have revealed that a mere 25,000 3D-capable TV screens were sold across Europe in the first month of their availability.
Despite "almost every notable manufacturer " carrying a £D set of some description, it still hasn't caught the imagination of the public beyond the odd trip to the cinema it would appear. Internet TV however seems to be faring a little better, with 90% of 120 electronics retailers stating that their customers are excited by the prospect of web-connected television.
We're guessing the high-premium to grab a 3D set and the relative lack of 3D content out there yet is still a big hurdle for consumers to jump. But considering some 250 million TVs are expected to be sold this year, it's not the healthiest of starts for the fledgling technology.
Via: Broadband TV News
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