Posted on 08/22/2009 1:15:18 AM PDT by Las Vegas Dave
The HD GURU obtained Panasonic’s roadmap to large screen 3D HDTV. It includes 3D plasma HDTV displays and Blu-ray players planned to ship next year. In addition, Panasonic Japan, Twentieth Century Fox and Lightstorm Entertainment (James Cameron’s production company) announced today a partnership that will use the upcoming Fox 3D movie AVATAR as a vehicle to promote and launch 3D home video.
(PDF Link to press release - http://hdguru.com/wp-content/uploads/2009/08/3dhd-release-avatar-promotion-8-21-2009-3.pdf ).
Panasonic’s Executive Vice President Bob Perry provided the HD GURU with details about its 3D HDTVs and Blu-ray players. He revealed there will be “multiple 3D compatible plasma models” available in 2010 with the smallest at least 50″ diagonal. The Panasonic Blu-ray 3D player will be backwards compatible with 2D Blu-ray discs as well as DVDs. Panasonic will include all 3D processing within the Blu-ray player (as opposed to an external converter) and the signal will be delivered to the 3D plasma HDTV via a single HDMI 1.4 cable (white cable in photo of prototype Blu-ray 3D player). The 3D is “Full HD” (1920 x 1080) with left and right image frames alternating at 120 Hz. Perry explained plasma is an ideal TV technology for “Full” 3D HD as its rapid refresh permits the display of the highest quality 3D images. (Current 3D flat panels show no more than half HD resolution and will only display 3D content via a PC). Perry added he expects a three year industry transition to 3D compatible displays.
To date, Panasonic is the only TV manufacturer to announce the production of 3D displays, a system to deliver “Full HD” 3D movies and the cooperation of a major movie studio.
Panasonic has multiple studio support for its system, but Perry would not reveal specifically which ones are on-board. However, when HD GURU was shown Panasonic’s latest 3D demonstration of its prototype 103″ 3D plasma, trailers included Disney’s 3D hit “UP”. So it is a safe bet to figure Disney (along with Fox) are in Panasonic’s 3D camp.
Viewing 3D content on the Panasonic plasma requires shutter glasses. Panasonic showed its latest prototype (see photo). Unlike the passive glasses currently used in movie theaters, shutter glasses electronically “blink”, alternating the left and right eye views in sync with the content. Shutter glasses provide the highest quality 3D presentation, according to 3D industry sources. The new glasses are comfortable and easily fit over my eyeglasses, a marked improvement over previous designs.
Panasonic’s Executive Vice President Bob Perry provided the HD GURU with details about its 3D HDTVs and Blu-ray players. He revealed there will be “multiple 3D compatible plasma models” available in 2010 with the smallest at least 50″ diagonal. The Panasonic Blu-ray 3D player will be backwards compatible with 2D Blu-ray discs as well as DVDs. Panasonic will include all 3D processing within the Blu-ray player (as opposed to an external converter) and the signal will be delivered to the 3D plasma HDTV via a single HDMI 1.4 cable (white cable in photo of prototype Blu-ray 3D player). The 3D is “Full HD” (1920 x 1080) with left and right image frames alternating at 120 Hz. Perry explained plasma is an ideal TV technology for “Full” 3D HD as its rapid refresh permits the display of the highest quality 3D images. (Current 3D flat panels show no more than half HD resolution and will only display 3D content via a PC). Perry added he expects a three year industry transition to 3D compatible displays.
To date, Panasonic is the only TV manufacturer to announce the production of 3D displays, a system to deliver “Full HD” 3D movies and the cooperation of a major movie studio.
LVD
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speaking of 3d... has anyone seen the AVATAR trailer?
I wonder how much the shutter glasses will cost to replace- and how available they’ll be.
These shutter glasses look as comfortable to wear as welding glasses.
3D is a very minor nich format and no matter how "Ooh Aah" Avitar is I do not think the overwhelming majority of people are going to dump their HD tv's and other equipment to buy into it.
My company is one of many working on bringing 3D technology to the masses.
We expect that these glasses will be under $100, shooting for $50 in Qty 100.
Maybe you'd know, why do 3D glasses need such a thick frame ? Couldn't they be made lighter and more comfortable with thinner framework?
I think they're targeting the "fashion conscious" crowd. The functional cardboard frame glasses just don't seem to appeal to anyone anymore....
So I would have to buy a new plasma TV, a new Blu-Ray player, they would have to both have the new 1.4 HDMI, I would have to buy several sets of shutter glasses. I would do all this to watch a handful of movies actually shot in 3D.
This won’t catch on until TV broadcasts start to go in 3D. After the effort to switch them over to HD I don’t expect the 3D thing to catch on for another 20 years. I hope your company isn’t banking on the success of these glasses.
I’m not buying HD until 3D is there.
All the technology is right there. Everything. Resolution, refresh, shutters, data stream, disc capacity. All that’s needed is the industry will to coordinate them. As it’s so easy to do so, it WILL happen - and there’s no point in buying HD until that trivial component of full 3D is resolved.
As to cost, we are targeting narrow markets where it makes sense to use 3D and where content can be easily converted to 3D. I spend my time in education, others target medical and engineering.
The cost of content is the big stumbling block for business.
For consumers, some folks have disposable income to play their XBox in 3D, others that are looking for a new TV (and want a really big TV) have purchased a Mitsubishi or a one of these new ones.
In 5 years 3D will be just another option, and as technology improves will be in homes in 10 years.
Really.
Guess I’ll wait until I get rich - but I can’t afford a 3DHD now anyway.
I remember going to Epcot center back around 91 with some buds and seeing the aging Michael Jackson 3-D Whatever it was ride/movie and at the time sitting there seeing asteroids floating right in front of my face, it was amazing.
I was literally reaching out to these things.
I know awesome 3-D is possible, That was almost 20 years ago.
I guess it all depends on how it’s pulled off....
Here in the Boston area back in ‘81-82ish the local station pushed the 3D movie “Gorilla At Large” for months all summer.
It was a HUGE promotion around here at the time because it was 3-D!
Finally the big night came, I sat mesmerized in front of my tv with my 3-D glasses on and......pffffff.
It sucked.
I do remember Friday the 13th, Part III in 3D.
That was a big deal at the time and pretty cool.
It’s funny watching it on tv nowadays seeing all those “in your face” scenes meant for the 3-D effects.
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