Samsung's 3D-capable PN42A450P plasma display hitting the States in March

Spotted at CES and out this month in Korea, Samsung's 3D-capable plasma is going to be making an appearance Stateside in March. The 42-inch and 50-inch PN42A450P TVs use the TriDef 3D tech from DDD Group, which costs $200 for two pairs of 3D glasses and the TriDef 3D software. Samsung's calling this the "world's first 3D-ready flat-panel HDTV," but didn't leave out the other fixins like a 15,000:1 contrast ratio, 18-bit color processing and three HDMI-CEC plugs. No word on cost, but you can't put a pricetag on those migraines.

[Cross Eyed @ Feb 6th 2008 3:49PM]

The Kid just went to see the Hannah Montana 3-D movie. She came back saying "Awesome" over and over again. If Samsung's monitor can duplicate that effort they've got a real win.

'Course, the glasses will have to be a little more durable than at the movie, I imagine.

[TestSubject86 @ Feb 10th 2008 11:39PM]

I saw the U2 one in IMAX 3D and I should still be saying "Awesome" to myself, but the IMAX theater by my house (Cinemark 17 IMAX in Dallas) doesn't know how to collaborate their projectors for 3D so the separation of the left and right was just off enough for there so be Ghosting in about 70% of the scenes.

[Tim @ Feb 6th 2008 4:00PM]

Smello-vision wept

[alex @ Feb 6th 2008 4:32PM]

i want to mix a plasma tv with a kitchen range. who cares about refrigerators...

http://www.wolfappliance.com/DualFuelRanges/DF30DualFuelRange

[Christian @ Feb 6th 2008 5:15PM]

test

[Reginald @ Feb 6th 2008 7:50PM]

Well, I'll have to see the hot Asian models before I can comment on any new technology from Samsung!

[Andrew @ Feb 6th 2008 10:06PM]

Bad thing I can't see 3D...

[TestSubject86 @ Feb 10th 2008 11:54PM]

People who make "I can't see 3D" comments on 3D video threads should have their good eye gouged out so that they can move over to the HDTV threads and tell people "I can't see HDTV"

[Andrew @ Feb 11th 2008 2:01AM]

But I like HDTV, and thats a nice way of picking on peoples disabilities...

[randus @ Feb 6th 2008 10:18PM]

found this video on it:

http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=p39lD70omks&feature=PlayList&p=9135BF978D84AB92&index=36

[daywalker2676 @ Feb 7th 2008 4:18AM]

so the tv uses it's own software to interpret 3d seperation from a 2d source, ehh? hmm... suddendly my confidence in this product isn't very high. i'm interested in trying it out though, but i doubt the effect will be as cool as using 3d glasses for pc games (like the elsa glasses)

[TestSubject86 @ Feb 10th 2008 11:50PM]

The TriDef 3D software does a good job of converting 2D to 3D for video, and I've done extensive testing. It seems to work best if there is only one light source or the the scene is outside during the day. When the scene gets too complicated it just tilts the top of the image back and the bottom of the image forward.

The system requirements are steep and it requires Media Center, but if you have a core2duo and a geforce 8 series card, you should be good.

[techieguru16 @ Feb 7th 2008 7:28AM]

i heard that the new(er) glasses used for 3D were alot better than the old ones. no more headaches, sick feeling, etc.... idk. i would have to try it myself before buying it. cool idea tho. i am still waiting for them to come out with a 3D halo game for pc. or maybe assassin's creed?

[TestSubject86 @ Feb 11th 2008 12:25AM]

You heard wrong, the glasses haven't changed, it's the refresh rate and display tech that has improved. CRTs have been 120Hz capable for a long time, but the phosphors resonate too long, causing the ghosting that plagues CRT based 3D.

My Samsung 56" DLP however has no phosphors to resonate, resulting in the cleanest looking 3D to hit the consumer market ever. At 120Hz it is not only flicker free, but also no ghosting at all.

[Jason Rhyne @ Feb 7th 2008 2:43PM]

Homework assignment for 2008:
Take PS3 add
http://www.gametrailers.com/player/usermovies/169289.html
then add
http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=p39lD70omks
QUESTION: Is the sum equal too or more than a gamer overload?

HINT: PS3 + Samsung PN42A450P tv + Thomas Miller IV headtracking software +
3D glasses with infared LED light = or > gamer overload

[TestSubject86 @ Feb 11th 2008 12:40AM]

OK, one last comment before I chill for a few. The TriDef 3D software from the DDD Group is very good, but it only supports a few select titles. They cost an extra $5 per game and they are:
World of Warcraft
Command & Conquer 3
Madden NFL 07 and 08
The Sims 1 and 2
Tiger Woods PGA Tour 07
Need for Speed Carbon CE
Battlefield 2142
Tomb Raider Anniversary

If NVIDIA would ever get around to updating their 3D stereo drivers to support the new 3D displays from Samsung, then all OpenGL and DirectX games would work, but they're dragging their feet and DDD isn't releasing any new title support anytime soon.