NextGen recently announced that they are releasing 3D glasses that work with any brand of 3DTV that makes use of active technology. This is big news for people who wanted some options when getting extra glasses.

The Active glasses are going to retail for about $79.95 and can be charged with a standard USB cable (making them the only universal rechargeable 3D glasses.) A pretty nice case and decent lens cleaner come with the glasses. In a press release, Bob Dolatowski, the President of NextGen, said a three-hour charge would last about 50 hours.

Keep in mind that these glasses will only work with active-shutter 3D technology ((LG, Panasonic, Samsung, Sharp, SONY, Toshiba.) You’ll be able to pick up your pair as soon as August 1st.

The Consumer Electronics Association has began a standards process for 3D active eyewear, seeking proposals from manufacturers for a technology that utilizes an infrared synchronized interface. They calling on manufacturers to band together and create interoperable 3D active shutter glasses that work on any 3DTV.

The CEA feels a standard for 3D glasses will remove barriers to the consumer and increase its prevalence in the home. “The expanding presence of 3DTV in the home makes the need for interoperable 3D glasses more urgent than ever,” said Brian Markwalter, CEA vice president of research and standards. “As the hub of technology industry innovation, CEA is the logical host for such a crucial effort. Industry participation will help meet consumer demand and expectations regarding 3D interoperability in the home.”

XpanD was one of the first companies to announce plans for universal 3D glasses. These new glasses, XPanD’s X103 model, are designed to work seamlessly with the broadest range of 3D-ready TVs as well as Xpand 3D cinema. So far the Xpand X103 Universal 3D glasses are the only 3D glasses that are claimed to work with all 3D TV brands and models, as well as 3D computers, 3D gaming consoles and 3D cinema. Currently the Xpand 3D technology is being used in more than 3,000 3D cinemas in more than 50 countries.

“The most anticipated product in the history of 3D is now a reality,” says Maria Costeira, CEO of XpanD. “The introduction of the XpanD Universal 3D Glasses represents a watershed moment in consumer electronics, as I am confident the glasses will serve as catalysts in the worldwide adoption of 3D systems for the home.”

Retailers are also hoping that the XpanD Universal 3D glasses will help drive sales of 3D-ready sets this holiday season.

The plan is to launch a pair of 3D glasses that will provide high-definition 3D video to users on their little Apple product screens. iPhones, iPads, and iPads.

Already nicknamed “iSpecs” by Apple fans, will allow users to slot their Apple iPod or iPhone into it and then the headset uses presumably active shutter technology for 3D viewing.

The device is also mounted with an external camera and infrared sensor, the patent said, meaning that a live video stream of the view in front of the glasses could be automatically displayed if someone approached the wearer.

Xpand recently announced a deal with Mitsubishi with its X102 glasses, which use a technology called “DLP Link” that puts a tiny flash of white light into a black interstitial frame to control the shutters. This is called active shutter. This will work with 20 projectors using TI’s DLP technology, as well as DLP TVs.

The next set of glasses being released are called the X103 series, and they are designed to be universal active shutter glasses, which will be able to interpret the signals from all the major 3DTV sets – Panasonic, LG, Samsung, Sony, as well as the signals used in Nvidia 3D Vision glasses. The glasses to be in stores by June, and will come in 12 colors. Final pricing wasn’t set yet, but it will probably be in the $125 to $150 range.

Sony has released the official pricing on its active shutter 3D glasses as well as emitter, where both of them will go with the 3D-capable 2010 BRAVIA TV. Starting in June, the TDG-BR100 as well as the TDG-BR50 active shutter 3D glasses will retail for around $133 after conversion.

The 3D glasses are adjustable to help out those of us with glasses or huge heads.

As for the 3D infrared emitter, it will sell for $55. Although if you buy the BRAVIA LX900 series you are in luck as the TV already comes with the emitter integrated within.

About a million times better than the freebie handouts you get at the theater, Gunnar has adorned these bad boys with custom-shaped, formed and cut lenses that provide distortion free optics. The price will be in the $190 dollar range. Hopefully they will release an entire line of 3D glasses when 3DTV catches on mainstream.

Samsung’s 3D active glasses (model SSG-2100AB) will cost $150 each. Not cheap, especially since you’ll likely need more than one pair.

The liquid crystal lenses in these Active Shutter glasses change from dark to light several hundreds of times per second while communicating wirelessly with the television set. The glasses will also be able to communicate with Samsung-branded Blu-ray players and a Home Theater in Box.

These guys seem to have the monopoly on free stuff, and from the looks of it can hook you up with a few pairs of those paper disposable 3D glasses.

These folks also have a huge selection of 3D glasses, and claim to be able to send you some for the cost of shipping and handling.

And for more options to get glasses sent to you from an online source, check out this site.

In the case of a situation where a network is airing a 3D broadcast, they generally make a deal with a big box chain store (like a grocery chain) in order to provide the glasses from their locations. When that happens, we will be posting the locations where free 3D glasses can be obtained, as situations arise.

The original 3D experience of movies depended on the viewer wearing stereoscopic green and red glasses. Problem is, it strains the eyes. Another process for 3D uses a special screen and polarized glasses. In this system images for the left and right eye are rapidly alternated, and the glasses pick up the appropriate image for each eye.

Now Sony and Panasonic have introduced an “active shutter” technique for high definition plasma and LCD TVs. The viewer still has to wear polarized glasses, but in this system the glasses have LCD active shutters that are synchronized with signals from the TV. The shutters rapidly block the right and left eye views alternately so each eye receives the correct image.