If you’re a fan of the third dimension, otherwise known as depth, then this new premium 3D TV set from LG may be of interest. The LW980S is a passive glasses set that taps LG’s Cinema 3D technology, equipped with a NANO Full LED backlit screen. For those who aren’t well versed in 3D jargon, passive glasses means that they don’t have to be charged, and are thus, less expensive.

There are two types of passive 3D glasses out in the world. One, you’ll recognize from the last decade in movie theaters: a cardboard frame with one red and one blue cellophane lens on each side. Those are called anaglyph glasses, and are most likely not the passive glasses LG has in mind. It’s more likely that the glasses will be polarized passive glasses, which are the ones that jumble that 3D image when your head is tilted to the sides. Polarized passive glasses are the most advanced form of passive glasses that can be used on a home TV set.

According to Europe’s TUV and Intertek testing agencies, the LW980S has a “flicker-free” screen and is meant to cause less discomfort when viewing. And we all know how important that is. LG even found a way to build in wide viewing angles so that everyone in the room can watch pleasantly.

Unfortunately, the release lacked a few key details like… oh, I don’t know… full specs, pricing, and availability. One tech spec that we did manage to get our hands on was the fact that LG’s new premium set sports a TruMotion 400Hz refresh rate to keep things smooth and snappy. We’ll be keeping our eyes peeled for when this bad boy should hit shelves, and just how much weight your wallet will lose should you choose to purchase. Stay tuned.

The Beeb: not a fan of 3D TV. Well, not a fan of the confusion surrounding its deployment. The BBC, in a recent interview, said that it’s not sure which direction 3D TV is heading, so it cannot commit to anything, much less a full deployment, any time soon.

Said the Corporation, by way of Andy Quested, principal technologist, HD, BBC Future Media and Technology:

About 50% of the respondents said the current formats are OK for their current thinking, well current thinking is about three to five years out, so it would work if they had to do anything now. 33% said they wouldn’t work at all and everyone said we had to investigate what the DVB was doing and what is coming out of those discussions. We don’t believe we have to rush this just to get a 3D service out based on some of the frame compatible systems.

In other words, the BBC isn’t going to spend money on an unproven (in the sense that it might not be around for long) technology just to keep up with the likes of Sky.

Raise your hand if you own a 3D TV and have seen a Premier League game in 3D.

I don’t expect to see too many hands in the air.

If there’s any advice to give, it would be this: don’t rush into buying a 3D TV unless you’re cool with spending money on something that’s not quite “there” yet. How long did it take for the major networks to get behind high definition?

Let things simmer a bit, that’s all. Unless you need to be the guy on the block who always has the latest this-or-that.

Think what you want about 3D TV, but it’s here already, and we’ve just seen the beginning. But are people actually buying the devices, as a few dozen models are now available in the US, Japan and other places? The Nikkei, Japan’s biggest business daily, recently investigated the 3D TV market in Nippon. What they found out could be of interest for the US and European markets as well.

Here are their main findings:

Prices

In Japan, prices for 3D TVs offered by the two most aggressive manufacturers, Panasonic and Sony, have fallen 20% and more since they were introduced back in spring this year. Panasonic’s 50-inch VIERA model, for example, is now available for as “low” as $3,600 in some stores in Osaka and Tokyo, after the company launched it with a $5,000 price tag in April.

Sony now sells a 40-inch Bravia 3D TV for $2,800, 20% cheaper already than in June (when it made its debut in Japan). As we reported earlier, the company tries a different approach in the US.

According to The Nikkei, the nation’s retailers say prices for 3D TVs fall rapidly, but they are still 30-50% more expensive than comparable models without 3D-capabilities.

Market size

Research firm GfK Marketing Services Japan found out that this early in the game, the market share of 3D TVs is still (not too surprisingly) relatively small. In the week from August 2nd to August 8th, for example, just 2.6% of all TVs sized 40 inches or larger sold in Japan were 3D models.They accounted for 5.9% of all sales for TVs in that size range in that week.

But the Nikkei expects the market for 3D TVs in Japan to expand when Toshiba and Mitsubishi launch their models at the end of this month, with Hitachi following later this fiscal year.

Addendum

To put things into perspective, other sources are more bullish about 3D TV. Take US-based market research firm DisplaySearch, for example. According to a recent report released by the firm, as many as 3.4 million 3D TVs will be sold worldwide in fiscal 2010 (5% of the entire flat TV market). The firm expects 3D TVs to achieve a whopping 43 million shipments as early as 2014 (37%). We’ll know soon if they’re right.

Although the press release, below, is full of garbage jargon, the bottom line is that Monster, in their infinite glory, has released a “universal” pair of RF 3D glasses. The glasses support almost any 3D TV kit and cost $249.95 for a starter kit with transmitter and and $169.95 per pair of standalone glasses.

Why are these good? Well, presumably if you’re moving from 3D TV to 3D TV, they’ll allow you to watch almost anything without having to buy new glasses. The rest of the mess of buzzwords in the press release makes little sense except that you program the glasses to work with future technologies, which is nice. Sadly, they’re expensive as heck.

Monster Vision Max 3D utilizes leading-edge RF technology to achieve its stunning results. The system uses Monster Vision Max 3D ACTIVE SYNC technology, based on Bit Cauldron’s HeartBeat technology. The result is an advancement that ensures reliable communication with the RF transmitter, producing the best and purest transmission of 3D content between the source and the eyeglasses and eliminating the common sync issues found in most IR based shutter glasses.
The system works through an innovative process whereby the ACTIVE SYNC technology allows the wireless Universal 3D Shutter Transmitter to listen to the signal from any 3D-enabled flat panel display. The transmitter then wirelessly decodes the shutter signals and transmits them to a sensor embedded in the glasses. Through this connection (via ZigBee’s 2.4 GHz radio technology), coupled with interference rejection software and sync correction, the specially designed lenses in the Monster Vision Max 3D glasses react electro-chromatically, literally blinking faster than the eye can see to create the most reliable, believable and immersive 3D images. Additionally, ACTIVE SYNC is the only technology that allows Monster Vision Max 3D glasses to work with one TV even when other 3D TVs or Monster Vision Max 3D Shutter Transmitters are in close proximity.
Importantly, Monster Vision Max 3D is the only system that has employed RF successfully and can work with ANY 3D-ready television set regardless of manufacturer. Notably, the glasses have a rechargeable lithium polymer battery enabling the user to enjoy thousands of hours of 3D content before replacing the battery. And to ensure total “future-readiness,” the glasses are adjustable to adapt to future standards – updating the system to learn new IR codes is simple via USB through the built-in Monster Vision update portal.

via ChipChick

These games include Wipeout HD, Motorstorm Pacific Rift, PAIN, and Super Stardust HD and the PlayStation Network will serve them up. But that’s not all friends. Sony will also bundle Cloudy With a Chance of Meatballs with “select Sony 3D products.”

Most of us are still hesitate to call 3D TV a sure-thing and not a fade, but this Sony announcement makes us feel better. Sony is throwing a lot behind the movement and unlike with Blu-ray, 3D TV is being pushed by nearly manufacturer across their entire lines. Watch out, 3D TV might be here to stay.

Right now cable set-top boxes pass along the 3D content to the TV just fine but not anything else. This new box automatically detects the 3D content and makes it seemless to switch to a 2D station.

No word on when this new box will be rolled out by cable providers, but chances are it won’t be for a while and will probably be related to the amount of 3D content available. There would be no need for a provider to purchase tens of thousands of these boxes if there are only two or three 3D stations available and the 3D TV penetration levels are minute.

Not surprisingly, half of these orders are expected to come from the US. It’s also interesting to note that 3D television will predominately come in sizes 40 inches and larger. Manufacturers are still having problems getting the televisions to the marketplace, as the technology needed to build the new products is still quite expensive. Analysts also expect that the majority of new televisions 40-inches or larger will be 3D ready.

[via TWICE]

The TV has some interesting features, including a built in Blu-ray player, browsing capabilities, and a 500GB hard drive. Most intriguing though, is that it claims to be able to show 3D content without the need for glasses of any sort. The fact that a Google search for StreamTV turns up nothing makes us very suspicious, but for $5999.99 and $3999.99 (42 and 37-inch, respectively), we would expect nothing less. This mysterious company also has a regular 55-inch LCD TV listed on Amazon for $2,299.99.

If there’s new TVs or coffee makers, Consumer Reports will test them out. That’s the case with the new Samsung and Panasonic 3D TVs and the company just posted a early hands-on look that actually reveals some differences. It’s totally worth your time even if you don’t plan on jumping on the 3D bandwagon this early on.

I’ve been thinking about this quite a bit in the past few weeks and Adam Frucci wrote something that caught my attention, concentrating my thoughts the way a seed crystal builds boules of material in the Czochralski process.

Gaming will make or break 3D. I don’t care if James Cameron sends miniature 3D cameras into Leonardo DiCaprio’s urethra during his “king of the world” scene in the new 3D version of Titanic: there will be no compelling reason to upgrade your entire TV set-up to watch 3D movies. Why will you buy a 3D set-up? For gaming and you’ll probably buy a 3D-capable PC before you buy a 3D-capable TV.

Consider the price differential: a 3D PC kit costs about $598 without graphics card. A compatible card costs a few hundred – up to $400 for the highest-end card you can get. That’s about $1000 if you already have a nice PC and if you’re a gamer you’re probably already running a nice GeForce card.

Want to get a 3D TV? Why not pick up a Samsung 62-inch plasma for $3,400? Oh, and you’ll need a new Samsung (or Sony, if that’s the family you want to join) Blu-Ray player. Want to play a 3D console game? Don’t look to your XBox. You’d better get yourself a PS3 and then find some content.

But, if you have a PC, almost every game made in the past few years is 3D compatible.

3D games are great. I’ve been playing Burnout Paradise for the past month and messed around a little with Batman: Arkham Aslyum and Call of Duty: Modern Warfare 2. Best of all, Civilization IV is also 3D compatible so you can see your little settlers and warriors in full 3D. Even for a crotchety old man like me it’s quite a bit of fun.

3D gaming is cheap and will encourage a new generation to accept 3D as a benefit, not a burden. The current generation – folks 25 and above – still see 3D as a gimmick. Kids will see 3D as an extension of the immersive experience gaming has offered them their entire lives.

Mark my words: the vast majority of TV viewers will never have a 3D TV in their home. Maybe some die-hards will buy a few pairs of glasses to watch the Super Bowl in 2015 but you and yours will probably never find any good reason to go 3D. However, if you’re a gamer you owe it to yourself to try a 3D set-up and perhaps upgrade. It’s a lot of fun.

So sorry, everyone. The 3D TV party is over. 3D TV is, in short, the Laserdisc of this era and what comes next – the perfection glasses-free 3D television displays. The current crop of 3D TV is an interstitial technology aimed at grabbing a few upgrade dollars. If TV manufacturers really cared about selling a whole new crop of TVs, they’d try much harder to convince the world that it needs what they’re selling.

While I’m not sure how this dude is holding up that little boy, they are both enjoying the magic and majesty of 3D TV in the comfort of a Panasonic-sponsored pop-up display at a mall near you! How do I know this? Well Panasonic just announced their road show and they may be heading to your town, provided your town is relatively affluent and somewhere the guys who planned this thing wanted to go (sorry, Scranton!). Click through for the full list. You might as well go out to see what the fuss is about.

What’s strange is that the $3,299 55-inch Samsung 3D is in stock most Best Buy locations, including the none-Magnolia stores. It’s not clear whether Best Buy or Panasonic decided that the product should be an exclusive. Perhaps the model will roll out to the entire chain, but that’s not been announced as of yet.

VT20 plasma, however, is just Best Buy exclusive model and is the same thing as the VT25 that will be available in other retail outlets in the same bundle package and separate.

Samsung

There are three different models currently available. $150 gets you the SSG-2100AB with a user-replaceable battery, while the $200 set is rechargeable. (SSG-2200AR) There is a rechargeable pair for children priced at $180. (SSG-2200KR) Samsung 3D TVs come bundled with two glasses and a 3D Blu-ray movie.

Sony

Sony hasn’t official announced its US 3D TV accessories, but it’s probably safe to say that the Japanese-market versions will be available here, too. The standard size TDG-BR100 gray model, along with the smaller blue and pink TDG-BR50 glasses will sell for 12,000 yen in Japan. That translates to $132 USD. The glasses also require the TMR-BR100 IR emitter, too. (5,000 yen, $55 USD) Only the LX900, which retails for 290,000 yen or $3,204 USD, comes with glasses — two, in fact.

Panasonic

The Panasonic TY-EW3D10U glasses clearly win the “most radical” award. Each Panasonic 3D TV comes with a set and they retail for $149.99.

Nvidia

3D content can also be seen on computers with the right gear from Nvidia. The $199 Nvidia 3D Vision kit includes one pair of glasses, IR emitter, and connection cables. Additional glasses can be purchased for $149 each. Keep in mind, though, that a 3D-ready monitor/projector, GPU, and operating system like Vista or Win7 is also required.

Take a look at Sony’s just-announced 3D lineup: The company announced eight 3D BRAVIA TVs for the Japanese market along with a set of necessary 3D accessories, which will compete against Panasonic and Samsung sets when they all eventually hit the market in the coming months. Nevermind that the US models might be slightly different. Let’s talk about the multiple steps needed to watch 3D content on your brand new 3D TV.

First you have to get a 3D TV. That much is obvious and you’ll have a few options to choose from. Sears is already taking pre-orders for Samsung models and Best Buy is kicking off 3D TV with Panasonic this morning. At this point we really don’t know which brand or model is better, so let’s assume they are all nearly the same and go with the new Sony’s for the sake of moving forward.

So you have your new Sony 3D TV. Good for you. But you might have noticed that your brand new TV didn’t come with 3D glasses. Those cost extra — $140 in Japan. At least they will be available in gray, blue, and pink. But you’re still not done. You’ll need to buy the $60 3D “synchro transmitter” that ensures the glasses stay synced with the TV.

But you still can’t watch 3D content because there isn’t any right now. A few 3D Blu-ray movies are scheduled to come out this summer, but you’ll need a special Blu-ray player to watch them. Sony just started sell a few, but they can’t output the 3D content until they receive firmware that’s supposed to be out in a couple of months.

It’s true that ESPN and Discovery announced that they both plan on launching a 3D TV station. ESPN will start broadcasting only special events like the World Cup this summer. Discovery 3D should be on the air sometime in 2011. But it’s up to your cable or satellite provider to get you the station.

This is a hot mess, right? It gets worse, pal.

Let’s say you jump in and spend the cash on a nice Sony 3D setup, complete with the Blu-ray player and pink glasses. Those same 3D glasses will not work on your buddies Samsung 3D TV or with your NVIDIA 3D Vision computer setup. You’re stuck watching the World Cup alone because each brand of 3D TV requires its own 3D glasses.

There is no denying that 3D is here to stay. It’s the only viable option manufacturers have to get consumers to upgrade from their just-purchased HDTV. But it might be wise to sit on the sidelines for the first couple of rounds until the TV makers get some standards hammered out. You just saw Avatar in 3D anyway and soccer is probably just as boring in 3D as it is is in 2D.

Initially, the only televisions available will be the 46 inch and 55 inch versions, with the 46 inch priced at $2,600 and the 55 inch at $3,300. Sears also plans on providing education to shoppers via their online presence and in stores. Apparently there are a few misconceptions out there regarding how 3D television works and that 3D televisions are going to be expensive. However they are doing it, this could be a big win for Sears and Samsung if they can leverage the public consciousness into associating them with the new 3D technology.

[via TWICE]

The first projector displays in 16:9 format at 2500 ANSI lumens and has HDMI in as well as component and s-video in. The X1261 has no HDMI port. Both support NVIDIA 3D Vision glasses and require a compatible graphics card or 3D disk player to display 3D.

Acer Extends Leadership in 3D Space With NVIDIA 3D Vision-Ready Projectors

Two new projectors ready to deliver stereoscopic 3D quality video and images; 720p HD-ready model ideal for immersive home theater experience

SAN JOSE, Calif.–(BUSINESS WIRE)–Acer America today extends its leadership in delivering excellent products that take advantage of consumers’ growing demand for 3D imagery with two new NVIDIA 3D Vision-Ready video projectors.

“The new Acer video projectors provide incredibly compelling and realistic 3D video and images that make customers feel like they are part of the experience”
The three-dimensional experience is made possible by a combination of the projectors’ DLP projection capabilities, high refresh rates and NVIDIA 3D Vision technology. As a result, the flat surface of any wall can be transformed into a 3D screen.

“The new Acer video projectors provide incredibly compelling and realistic 3D video and images that make customers feel like they are part of the experience,” said Irene Chan, senior product marketing manager for peripherals, Acer America. “With the Acer projectors, consumers can enjoy existing 2D content as if it were developed in 3D for a more immersive entertainment and learning experience – whether it’s a fictional journey, a scientific exploration of the universe or a tour of ancient archaeological sites. Of course, customers will thoroughly enjoy the superior visuals projected from these new models even while watching traditional 2D content.”

Acer H5360 – Brilliant 3D Visuals for Home Theater Entertainment

Home theater enthusiasts will enjoy video, game content, photos and more in an incredible new level of realism and video immersion using the new Acer H5360 projector. Delivering HD-ready 720p (1,280×720) resolution, the Acer H5360 boasts the latest technology for a truly unsurpassed video projection experience. The advanced lamp technology with illumination of up to 2500 ANSI lumens paired with the high 3200:1 contrast ratio also heightens the color and clarity of the images. Also – it displays images in native 16:9, so customers can view high-definition digital content without image distortion that arises from incompatible aspect ratios. The projector also has a 50-120Hz vertical refresh rate.

The Acer H5360 projector has an HDMI™ port that provides a seamless connection to the latest digital sources ensuring exceptional high-definition viewing and audio from Blu-ray Disc™ high definition technology as well as DVDs. So even when it’s not paired with NVIDIA 3D Vision, customers get to enjoy incredibly realistic 2D images that are crisp and vibrant.

Along with its HDMI port, the projector has other ports that ensure the projector can connect to a wide range of video sources; it has three RCA jacks, component video, S-video mini DIN, 2.5mm audio mini-jack, 15-pin D-Sub for a PC analog signal.

The Acer H5360 projector is available now for U.S. customers at leading retailers for a Manufacturer’s Suggested Retail Price (MSRP) of $699.00.

Acer X1261 Projector – Excellent 3D Performance for Home, Work, School

The Acer X1261 projector is ideal for home, business and classroom environments, providing rich visuals at an excellent value. Delivering bright colors and crisp images, the Acer X1261 projector features advanced lamp technology with illumination of up to 2500 ANSI lumens, a high 3700:1 contrast ratio and a vertical refresh rate of 50-120Hz. Its native XGA resolution and 4:3 aspect ratio are ready for presentations, photos, multimedia, and more. The projector can also be adjusted to a 16:9 aspect ratio for video content such as that from Blu-ray Disc™ and DVD. The Acer X1261 projector can connect to a variety of video input sources through its range of ports; it has composite video, component video, S-video mini DIN, and a stereo mini Jack.

Customers who want an excellent home video projector for 3D video, games, photos and multimedia yet need to stay within a certain price range will appreciate the performance and value delivered by the Acer X1261 projector. It is available now for U.S. customers at leading retailers for an MSRP of $579.00.

State-of-the-Art Technology from NVIDIA® 3D Vision™

Both new Acer projectors – the Acer H5360 and Acer X1261 – deliver an incredibly realistic 3D viewing experience when combined with NVIDIA® 3D Vision™ technology, which transforms traditional 2D images into stunning 3D. NVIDIA ® 3D Vision™ is a combination of an NVIDIA 3D Vision compatible computer and graphics card, and 3D Vision Kit that includes wireless active-shutter glasses and advanced software that can transform hundreds of PC games into an exceptional 3D experience. The lightweight glasses, which can be worn over regular eyeglasses, can provide up to 40 hours of 3D entertainment on a single charge. For more information on NVIDIA 3D Vision technology, please visit http://www.nvidia.com/object/3D_Vision_Main.html .(2)

Projectors Have First-Rate Features for Improved Visual Experience at Home

Both new projectors display images with more natural and balanced shades, and truly lifelike tones, thanks to Acer ColorBoost II+ featuring an optimized 3X color wheel design, a powerful image processor and an advanced lamp waveform to improve color performance. Further contributing to the enhanced images, the ColorSafe and DLP® technology ensure picture integrity even with prolonged use, making the projectors virtually immune to color decay. The visuals are complemented by ample audio with an internal speaker on the new projectors with 2-watt output. External speakers can be connected.

Up to 4000 hours of lamp life on the two new Acer projectors reduces lamp replacement costs and ensures long-term dependable projector use.(3) The extended lifespan and consistent image quality lower the total cost of ownership and translate to big savings. Further savings are ensured by the innovative DLP chip, enabling a filter-free design for lower maintenance and operating costs.

Designed to be used in a variety of locations, the new projectors will deliver superior visuals at home, the office or in a classroom. Thanks to the innovative wall-color compensation capabilities, the projectors display clearly even on colored surfaces, so they do not need to be used with a screen. Acer projectors correct vertical distortions of up to 40°, so the audience sees a rectangular image rather than one with a wider top/bottom, even if the projector is placed above or below the screen. Plus, both models can be ceiling mounted and used with the included remote control. Customers can easily change the lamp module even when the projector is ceiling-mounted thanks to the Acer Top-loading Lamp design.

Easy-to-Use and Eco-Friendly

To improve ease-of-use, Acer projectors are equipped with Empowering Technology, a suite of tools designed to simplify access to simple setup, viewing and timer utilities, making customers more productive. The Acer eView Management capabilities let customers quickly and easily adjust the projector settings to suit any environment and any type of content. Eight factory or user-defined presets instantly configure color, brightness and contrast to deliver best-quality images.

The new Acer projectors employ an environmentally friendly management solution – Acer EcoProjection – which reduces standby power consumption by up to 50 percent after five minutes of being idle. Additionally, it delivers 20 percent additional power savings and automatically performs a safety shutdown if it does not receive input after a time interval that can be set by the customer. Also included in the Acer EcoProjection suite is Acer ePower Management, a tool that lets customers create customized power-saving configurations.

The new Acer H5360 and Acer X1261 video-projectors are backed with a one year warranty on the DLP chip and 90 day warranty on the lamp.

Panasonic has been toying with the idea of bringing 3D TVs to our homes for quite a while now, and today the company announced they will be showcasing a 50-inch full HD plasma TV [press release in English] that’s capable of producing high-quality 3D pictures. End consumers will have the chance to test the TV out during next week’s CEATEC 2009.

Panasonic says the TV is the result of tests they did with a 103-inch 3D TV prototype presented last year (it’s pictured above). The company also says it went for 50 inches because it expects this size to be the standard for TV screens in homes. You’ll need to get a Blu-ray player and discs that support the 3D format though. And shutter glasses are a must.

The 3D TVs from Panasonic will hit stores in the US, Europe and Japan as early as next year.

The FT is reporting that the Sony press conference I’m about to attend here at IFA in Berlin will feature lots and lots of 3D televisions, news I’m hard-pressed to describe as exciting.

Sony is working on releasing more 3D compatable Bravia TV and content is coming for the PS3 and Blu-Ray. What does this mean for you and when will you see real, interesting 3D content? I’d say in about 2011 when consumers start deciding to buy new TVs. Until then, don’t hold your breath.

Sony’s technology uses an active shutter in their glasses, opening and closing each lens in rapid sucession in sync with the images on the screen. Presumably this gives you better 3D perception.

When will 3D really take off? When it doesn’t require glasses. No one wants to wear glasses. They want the Death Star floating above Admiral Akbar’s head in Star Wars and not some