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Panasonic Ushers In The 3D HDTV Era—Will Ship 3D Displays & 3D Blu-ray Players in 2010
hdguru.com ^ | August 21, 2009 | hdguru.com

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.


TOPICS: Arts/Photography; Business/Economy; Music/Entertainment; TV/Movies
KEYWORDS: 3dhdtv; hdtv
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1 posted on 08/22/2009 1:15:18 AM PDT by Las Vegas Dave
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To: ADemocratNoMore; advertising guy; aft_lizard; AJMaXx; Alice in Wonderland; american colleen; ...
Pinging the HDTV list..

HDTV pings!

2 posted on 08/22/2009 1:16:19 AM PDT by Las Vegas Dave ("Thou shalt not speak ill of any fellow Republican." - Ronald Reagan)
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To: Las Vegas Dave

speaking of 3d... has anyone seen the AVATAR trailer?


3 posted on 08/22/2009 1:40:08 AM PDT by GeronL (Pro-Freedom Fiction Writers Unite! - http://libertyfic.proboards.com)
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To: GeronL
AVATAR trailer can be downloaded in HD... CLICK HERE : AVATAR trailer
4 posted on 08/22/2009 2:15:06 AM PDT by Las Vegas Dave ("Thou shalt not speak ill of any fellow Republican." - Ronald Reagan)
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To: Las Vegas Dave

I wonder how much the shutter glasses will cost to replace- and how available they’ll be.


5 posted on 08/22/2009 4:29:50 AM PDT by R. Scott (Humanity i love you because when you're hard up you pawn your Intelligence to buy a drink)
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To: R. Scott

These shutter glasses look as comfortable to wear as welding glasses.

6 posted on 08/22/2009 4:41:42 AM PDT by 6SJ7 (atlasShruggedInd: ON)
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To: Las Vegas Dave
While I have great respect for Cameron and believe Avitar will probably be successful box office wise, 3D is just a gimmic designed to get more people back into the theater. Having to wear 3D welding glasses (see above) in order to enjoy the "experience" has NEVER been enjoyable.

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.

7 posted on 08/22/2009 5:02:47 AM PDT by Jmouse007 (hank you)
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To: R. Scott

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.

8 posted on 08/22/2009 5:13:12 AM PDT by texas booster (Join FreeRepublic's Folding@Home team (Team # 36120) Cure Alzheimer's!)
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To: texas booster
Hi TB

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?

9 posted on 08/22/2009 5:54:14 AM PDT by dfwddr (fubo)
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To: dfwddr
why do 3D glasses need such a thick frame ?

I think they're targeting the "fashion conscious" crowd. The functional cardboard frame glasses just don't seem to appeal to anyone anymore....

10 posted on 08/22/2009 6:35:09 AM PDT by Hot Tabasco (Who's your Long Legged MacDaddy?)
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To: texas booster

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.


11 posted on 08/22/2009 9:13:20 AM PDT by toast
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To: Jmouse007

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.


12 posted on 08/22/2009 9:43:06 AM PDT by ctdonath2 (flag@whitehouse.gov may bounce messages but copies may be kept. Informants are still solicited.)
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To: dfwddr; toast
The glasses are thick to provide sturdiness and hold some electronics, made of plastic to be cheap and made a brilliant shade of red to be very geeky. We requested sleek titanium aviation style frames. We'll see.

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.

13 posted on 08/22/2009 10:23:27 AM PDT by texas booster (Join FreeRepublic's Folding@Home team (Team # 36120) Cure Alzheimer's!)
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To: 6SJ7

Really.


14 posted on 08/22/2009 1:53:34 PM PDT by R. Scott (Humanity i love you because when you're hard up you pawn your Intelligence to buy a drink)
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To: texas booster

Guess I’ll wait until I get rich - but I can’t afford a 3DHD now anyway.


15 posted on 08/22/2009 1:55:25 PM PDT by R. Scott (Humanity i love you because when you're hard up you pawn your Intelligence to buy a drink)
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To: Las Vegas Dave

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....


16 posted on 08/22/2009 2:33:19 PM PDT by mowowie
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To: mowowie
Mrs.LVD and I saw a 3D movie several years ago at the Luxor in Las Vegas. It was very interesting. (BTW: the Luxor no longer has this attraction.)
17 posted on 08/22/2009 2:51:36 PM PDT by Las Vegas Dave ("Thou shalt not speak ill of any fellow Republican." - Ronald Reagan)
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To: mowowie; Rca2000
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....


I remember in the early 1980's, they tried 3D on regular TV using the old red/blue color system like they did in the 1950's. It worked relatively well, first on my 1970 Zenith (as long as I had the convergence adjusted, it was a pain in the butt on that set sometimes) and then on my 1982 Zenith, the TV I still use to this day.

I think you're talking about Captain EO. I was out in LA when it came out and had I went a day later to Disney World, I would have seen Michael Jackson perform the first show. Bummer. B-( I could have been at the Apollo 11 launch in 1969, but it seems like I always miss these things by a kitten's whisker.

I also saw "Friday the 13th, Part III" in 3D back in 1982, they used the polarized light system then, it was funny at times where the kids were in the back of the van smoking marijuana and you see this hand with a joint come out at you. Naturally everyone, including me, reached out for it as a joke.

Myself, I'm a man of limited means, my 1982 Zenith will have to do me for a long time to come, it has been in use daily since 1983.
18 posted on 08/22/2009 2:57:16 PM PDT by Nowhere Man (Woodrow Wilson should have been waterboarded.)
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To: Nowhere Man

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.


19 posted on 08/22/2009 7:53:55 PM PDT by mowowie
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To: Nowhere Man

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.


20 posted on 08/22/2009 8:02:05 PM PDT by mowowie
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