The Panasonic Viera TH-P54VT is the first model to get official pricing from Panasonic, and it comes to just about $5,900. The Panasonic Viera 3DTVs are priced to sell roughly $800 more per unit than the top-of-the-line 2D TVs in the company’s lineup. Something to keep in mind is that the 54-inch Panasonic Viera TH-P54VT won’t be the base model 3DTV that Panasonic will push, the price of the smaller 50-inch model shouldn’t be that much different. Of course, this is pricey, but if you recall how much flat screen LCD’s were when they first came out, it should bring some solace. Expect these prices to drop in the next few years.
Gizmodo’s Mark Wilson considered the Panasonic 3DTV to be almost as good as the LG 3DTV prototype. With the update in price, the Panasonic 3DTV will beat that LG to the market, being one of the first 3DTVs in this quality range to be available to those early adopters.
1. The Matrix – It was hard to choose between the Matrix and the original Star Wars films because it was a battle between head and heart. The kid in me would love to have that blown-away feeling of Star Wars be re-created by the magic of 3D – but the cynical adult in me knows that George Lucas will probably be douching up the classic movies even more in order to 3D-ify them – and that makes me sad. So I give spot number one to the movie that blew my adult mind – The Matrix.
2. Star Wars: The Original Trilogy – See above.
3. The Fifth Element – The colors and imagery in this film were stunning, and the film holds up to the test of time. Over a decade later and the movie still looks great. A 3D treatment would make this film barf rainbows all over an excited audience.
4. Aliens – This one would be a real exercise in 3D trickery, because its so darkly lit. That said, Giger’s aliens would be incredible in the 3D format, and you know Jim Cameron must be dying to go back to all his films and see what he can improve with the immersive tech.
5. Pixar Classics – I considered The Incredibles first, but then as I started to remember how amazing Finding Nemo was, and how beautiful it would look in 3D – I decided to make Pixar its own category. With an upgrade cost of 5M a film, Pixar should be able to handle their catalogue getting the upgrade – everyone on Earth would go see the films again in the theater.
6. The Shining – All those incredible steadicam shots would look insane in 3D. Also, it would be a crime to leave “Here’s Johnny” out of this list. That axe scene is screaming for 3D-ification.
7. The Lord Of The Rings – I love these films, so a chance to see them again, in a different format, would be awesome. I’d like to see the 3D glasses technology improve a little before committing to the entire trilogy in 3D – I’m not sure my poor eyes could handle 10 hours at this point.
8. Star Trek – The new one from JJ. This spectacular sci-fi action-fest was one of my favorite movies last year, and it’s brightness and color would be perfectly showcased by the 3D treatment.
9. Contact – If for anything, I nominate Contact for the last 25 minutes of the film. Ellie’s journey through the wormhole and her meeting with the alien on the blacklit beach are fantastic, and would look even more gorgeous in three dimensions.
10. 2001 – A Space Odyssey – Many will say that this film is too slow to be given a 3D treatment, but I say that Kubrick made the ultimate sci-fi film, and that it would look stunning in 3D. I bet even Kubrick would like the idea. A bold statement, but one I believe to be true.
Beauty and the Beast 3D – Release date: 12th February 2010
Alice in Wonderland 3D – Release date: 5th March 2010
How to Train Your Dragon 3D – Release date: 26th March 2010
Shrek Forever After 3D – Release date: 21st May 2010
Toy Story 3 3D -Release date: 18th June 2010
Toy Story 3 3D – Release date: 18th June 2010
Cats & Dogs: The Revenge of Kitty Galore – Release date: 30th July 2010
Step Up 3D – Release date: 13th August 2010
Guardians of Ga’hoole – Release date: 24th September 2010
Alpha and Omega – Release date: 1st October 2010
OoberMind – Release date: 5th November 2010
Harry Potter and the Deathly Hallows – Release date: 15th November 2010
Rapunzel – Release date: December 2010
The Smurfs 3D – Release date: 17th December 2010
Tron 2 3D – Release date: Late 2010
Here Be Monsters – Release date: Late 2010
The 2010 World Cup in South Africa will be filmed in 3D for the first time, it has been announced. Up to 25 of the games will be captured using 3D cameras, football’s governing body FIFA said.
FIFA has no definite plans to broadcast the matches live in 3D, FIFA said it was a possibility and would be decided in “the coming monthsâ€. Initially, it said, footage will also be shown at public events in seven cities around the world. Sony technology will be used to film the games, although the firm has not confirmed details of the specific technology it will use.
Sony recently unveiled a couple 3D tvs in two Sony Style stores where consumers can check out the new technology. Sony plans to add additional stores to its demo program in the coming weeks and months.
3D television was the top headline at last month’s Consumer Electronics Show in Las Vegas.
Sony said it will make two versions of 3D TV sets available in Canada in the early summer, before the start of the World Cup. One version will work straight out of the box and come with a transmitter and two pairs of active shutter glasses. The transmitter will send the 3D signals to up to eight pairs of glasses.
A second version will be 3-D-capable, but will come without the transmitter and glasses in case the buyer is looking for a high-end TV but isn’t yet sold on 3-D. The transmitter and glasses will be sold separately.
Sony and Panasonic have recently announced some cool new technology, called “active shutter” for producing the experience of 3D on high definition TVs. The first models are expected to be available in late 2009 or early 2010.
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.
Samsung has announced that they are mass producing 3D television sets. Samsung Electronics Co., Ltd, a global leader in display technology and digital media intends to become the first company to commence mass production of panels for 3D LED TVs and 3D LCD TVs.
“Recently, 3D displays have captured the industry spotlight,†said Wonkie Chang, president of the LCD Business at Samsung Electronics. “Samsung Electronics aims to lead the global 3D TV panel market in pioneering panel mass production for 3D LED and LCD TVs.â€
The sets will come in models of 40-inch, 46-inch and 55-inch and will produce full HD.
As reported, at the Super Bowl 2009 you will be able to see two 3D commercials. DreamWorks’ Monsters vs. Aliens and PepsiCo’s SoBe Lifewater will be featured in 3D on Super Bowl Sunday.
The 3D glasses you need to see the 3D action are distributed for free at SoBe displays in super markets. The list of shops where you will be able to find the Super Bowl 3D glasses include: Safeway/Vons, K-Mart, Ralphs, Kroger, A&P, Frys, Supervalu, Food Lion, Pathmark, Coburn, Fairway, Fresh Brands, Hy Vee, Nash Finch, Dollar General and Winnie Dixie.
Target and Meijers will have the 3D glasses only on January 31st. 125 million pairs of 3D glasses will be distributed at 25,000 locations. If you still cannot get a pair you are supposed to be able to call 1-800-646-2904 in order to obtain a pair.
At CES, several tech companies, including Samsung and TCL were displaying TVs that didn’t need glasses for the 3D to work. Unfortunately, this technology is in its infancy, so the effect was not the best. To optimize your viewing, you have to stand in exactly the right position to get a good effect.
Glasses-free 3D technology works by using a physical layer that separates what your left and right eye sees. It does this using a long, thin lens that runs over the surface of the TV. This process is identical to those 3D cards you move to generate an image that either moves, or changes.
Producing television or video games that works on 3DTVs would be a difficult undertaking at this stage of the game, because if the image you are looking at isn’t properly aligned with the lenses, it simply won’t work. Which is why there are several companies investing a lot of money into developing this technology.
Sunny Ocean Studios has announced its running in the glasses-free 3D television techno-battle. There were a number of glasses-free 3D TVs shown at CES, however most of them had flexible, yet pretty limited viewing angles (around 8 or 9.) Sunny Ocean Studios has made the huge claim that its 3D panel will have 64 viewing angles. The company plans to demonstrate the display at next month’s CeBit show in Germany.
Sunny Ocean Studios is currently running its 64-viewing angle technology on a 27-inch monitor. They claim that the tech uses “64 individual frames for the different perspectives in each 3D image.” The press release doesn’t say much more than that, stay tuned for updates on this promising new tech from Sunny Oceans.
