Sony’s PlayStation 3 game console will soon work as a player for 3D Blu-ray movies, music videos and games. The update will be released on September 21st, according to a Sony representative announced at the Tokyo Game Show this week.
Originally scheduled for release later this year, Sony pushed the date up to take part in the current momentum being built around 3D technology. The 3D capabilities for the PlayStation 3 will not be as robust as they are for 3D Blu-ray disc players. The game machine will have no problem playing 3D movies, but some parts of the menu and other minor portions of some DVDs will play only in 2D, Sony said.
LG Electronics announced this week that they have launched the first 3DTV to earn certification from audio/visual technology company THX.
The PX950 plasma series is available now in 60-inch ($2,999) and 50-inch ($1,999) sizes. THX certified the 3DTVs after more than 400 tests, evaluating color accuracy, viewing angles and video processing performance, LG said. The 3DTVs use active shutter glasses.
“THX spent more than a year in the lab developing our certification criteria and testing methodologies for 3D TVs and content,†said THX SVP Rick Dean. “To present a truly immersive 3D experience in the home, a THX 3D certified TV must be capable of delivering consistent stereoscopic images with accurate color and clean processing.
Toshiba released a statement this week saying that they are developing technology for a 3-D television that won’t require the viewer to wear 3D glasses.
Spokeswoman Yuko Sugahara declined to comment on a report that Toshiba plans to start selling the new TVs by the end of the year. Yomiuri said Mitsubishi’s technology involves transmitting different images at various angles to create an illusion of dimension and depth, a principle used by current glasses-free monitors.
“Many people don’t like to wear glasses to watch TV for a long time, especially people who must wear 3-D glasses over regular glasses,” Sugahara said.
“Panasonic, the industry and technology leader in high definition televisions, is targeting a market share of 50 percent for large screen 3D TV by 2012, and 25 percent market share for over 37-inch televisions in the Middle East region†said senior product manager of Panasonic Marketing Middle East, Abby Thomas.
This series of TV set have come about as a progression from models of last year which were the V/U/A/X Plasma TV series and U and D 25 LCD TV series. The sets incorporate 600 Hz sub field drive and this gives a clear and crisp picture output.
Verizon has added video-on-demand content from WealthTV in 3D throughout its FiOS service network. The channel, called “the premier luxury lifestyle and entertainment network,†has launched its first 3D content with an episode of “Wealth on Wheels Classic.â€
“Seeing the classic cars come to life in 3D will make viewers feel like they’re in the driver’s seat,†said Tricia Lynch, director of content strategy and acquisition for Verizon. WealthTV’s 3D VOD program is available to all FiOS TV customers across the country who have a 3D television set, 3D glasses and a high-definition set-top box.
Verizon Communications will telecast Major League Baseball in 3D, the company has announced on its official website this week.
Verizon Communications, one of the largest providers of broadband and wireless communication services in the United States, is planning to telecast the matches for its FiOS TV customers across New York state and north New Jersey.
The game between the New York Yankees and Seattle Mariners, which will be on the 10th and 11th of July, will be made available through the YES Network on FiOS TV for Verizon customers with 3DTV sets, 3D glasses and a high-def set-top box.
US market research house In-Stat cites upcoming growth of 3D in the firm’s US Consumer Electronic Device Tracker report.
In-Stat claims that “3D is the hottest thing happening in Hollywood” and that excitement over 3D has found its way to the US consumer electronics market. By 2013, the firm says, one in five new TVs sold in the US will be 3D.
The company also predicted that year-on-year 3D TV shipments will grow 231% between 2010 and 2011 and that this will result n a doubling of the US installed base of units for 3DTVs from 2010 to 2011.
Nintendo has announced the follow-up to the DS games system, which will offer 3D gaming without the need for 3D glasses. The E3 Expo saw Nintendo reveal what it calls the ‘Nintendo 3DS’ that comes with a 3.53-inch top screen and a 3.02-inch bottom touchscreen. To achieve the 3D effect it has three cameras, one inner and two outer, which deliver the 3D effect and take 3D pictures.
Some of the more popular and famous Nintendo franchises are being previewed on the 3DS at E3, such as Kid Icarus, Mario Kart, Nintendogs, Pilotwings, Animal Crossing, Mario and Starfox.
Director Michael Bay has confirmed that his trainwreck action series, Transformers, will see its third inception in gloriously expensive 3D. MIchael Bay had previously gone on record as a skeptic of 3D, claiming his movies were too sophisticated to allow for 3D rendering. Transformers 2 convinced him, and the rest of us, that the word ’sophisticated’ has no place in the Transformers universe.
Therefore, in news that is as shocking as a house plant, Transformers 3, which is set to be more drama and less comedy, will be 3D-ified for your viewing pleasure.
The World Cup events started this week in Johannesburg, South Africa’s 94,000-capacity Soccer City stadium. The games will be carried on television around the world for the first time in 3D. This global sports event marks the launch of ESPN 3D in the United States, and the first full-time 3D programming channel in the world.
Five of the 10 World Cup venues are equipped for 3D. Eight matches will be broadcast live in 3D to digital cinema theaters in 26 countries. ESPN’s 3DTV channel becomes the first ever programming service dedicated full time to 3D. ESPN will carry 25 of the 64 World Cup games in 3D. They intend to become a pioneer in 3D ads with spots from Sony, Gillette, Disney’s Pixar Studio and in-house promos.
