Blu-ray 3D specifications finalized, your PS3 is ready
By Richard Lawler 
posted December 17th 2009 5:59AM
posted December 17th 2009 5:59AM
Blu-ray Disc Association Announces Final 3D Specification
"Blu-ray 3DTM" Expected to Reach Consumers in 2010 LOS ANGELES --(Business Wire)-- Dec 17, 2009
The Blu-ray Disc Association (BDA) today announced the finalization and release of the "Blu-ray 3DTM" specification. The specification, which represents the work of the leading Hollywood studios and consumer electronic and computer manufacturers, will enable the home entertainment industry to bring the 3D experience into consumers' living rooms on Blu-ray Disc, the most capable high definition home entertainment platform.
"Throughout this year, movie goers have shown an overwhelming preference for 3D when presented with the option to see a theatrical release in either 3D or 2D," said Victor Matsuda, chairman, BDA Global Promotions Committee. "We believe this demand for 3D content will carry over into the home now that we have, in Blu-ray Disc, a medium that can deliver a quality Full HD 3D experience to the living room."
The "Blu-ray 3D" specification fully leverages the technical advantages of the Blu-ray Disc format to deliver unmatched picture quality as well as uniformity and compatibility across the full range of Blu-ray 3D products, both hardware and software. Notably, the specification allows every Blu-ray 3D player and movie to deliver Full HD 1080p resolution to each eye, thereby maintaining the industry leading image quality to which Blu-ray Disc viewers are accustomed. Moreover, the specification is display agnostic, meaning that Blu-ray 3D products will deliver the 3D image to any compatible 3D display, regardless of whether that display uses LCD, Plasma or other technology and regardless of what 3D technology the display uses to deliver the image to the viewer's eyes.
"From a technological perspective, it is simply the best available platform for bringing 3D into the home," said Benn Carr, chairman, BDA 3D Task Force. "The disc capacity and bit rates Blu-ray Disc provides enable us to deliver 3D in Full HD 1080p high definition resolution." The Blu-ray 3D specification is also designed to allow PS3 game consoles to play back Blu-ray 3D content in 3D. Additionally, the specification supports playback of 2D discs in forthcoming 3D players and can enable 2D playback of Blu-ray 3D discs on the large installed base of Blu-ray Disc players currently in homes around the world.
"In 2009 we saw Blu-ray firmly establish itself as the most rapidly adopted packaged media format ever introduced," said Matsuda. "We think the broad and rapid acceptance Blu-ray Disc already enjoys with consumers will be a factor in accelerating the uptake of 3D in the home. In the meantime, existing players and libraries can continue to be fully enjoyed as consumers consider extending into 3D home entertainment."
The Blu-ray 3D specification calls for encoding 3D video using the Multiview Video Coding (MVC) codec, an extension to the ITU-T H.264 Advanced Video Coding (AVC) codec currently supported by all Blu-ray Disc players. MPEG4-MVC compresses both left and right eye views with a typical 50% overhead compared to equivalent 2D content, and can provide full 1080p resolution backward compatibility with current 2D Blu-ray Disc players. The specification also incorporates enhanced graphic features for 3D. These features provide a new experience for users, enabling navigation using 3D graphic menus and displaying 3D subtitles positioned in 3D video.
The completed specification will be available shortly and provides individual manufacturers and content providers with the technical information and guidelines necessary to develop, announce and bring products to market pursuant to their own internal planning cycles and timetables.
"Blu-ray 3DTM" Expected to Reach Consumers in 2010 LOS ANGELES --(Business Wire)-- Dec 17, 2009
The Blu-ray Disc Association (BDA) today announced the finalization and release of the "Blu-ray 3DTM" specification. The specification, which represents the work of the leading Hollywood studios and consumer electronic and computer manufacturers, will enable the home entertainment industry to bring the 3D experience into consumers' living rooms on Blu-ray Disc, the most capable high definition home entertainment platform.
"Throughout this year, movie goers have shown an overwhelming preference for 3D when presented with the option to see a theatrical release in either 3D or 2D," said Victor Matsuda, chairman, BDA Global Promotions Committee. "We believe this demand for 3D content will carry over into the home now that we have, in Blu-ray Disc, a medium that can deliver a quality Full HD 3D experience to the living room."
The "Blu-ray 3D" specification fully leverages the technical advantages of the Blu-ray Disc format to deliver unmatched picture quality as well as uniformity and compatibility across the full range of Blu-ray 3D products, both hardware and software. Notably, the specification allows every Blu-ray 3D player and movie to deliver Full HD 1080p resolution to each eye, thereby maintaining the industry leading image quality to which Blu-ray Disc viewers are accustomed. Moreover, the specification is display agnostic, meaning that Blu-ray 3D products will deliver the 3D image to any compatible 3D display, regardless of whether that display uses LCD, Plasma or other technology and regardless of what 3D technology the display uses to deliver the image to the viewer's eyes.
"From a technological perspective, it is simply the best available platform for bringing 3D into the home," said Benn Carr, chairman, BDA 3D Task Force. "The disc capacity and bit rates Blu-ray Disc provides enable us to deliver 3D in Full HD 1080p high definition resolution." The Blu-ray 3D specification is also designed to allow PS3 game consoles to play back Blu-ray 3D content in 3D. Additionally, the specification supports playback of 2D discs in forthcoming 3D players and can enable 2D playback of Blu-ray 3D discs on the large installed base of Blu-ray Disc players currently in homes around the world.
"In 2009 we saw Blu-ray firmly establish itself as the most rapidly adopted packaged media format ever introduced," said Matsuda. "We think the broad and rapid acceptance Blu-ray Disc already enjoys with consumers will be a factor in accelerating the uptake of 3D in the home. In the meantime, existing players and libraries can continue to be fully enjoyed as consumers consider extending into 3D home entertainment."
The Blu-ray 3D specification calls for encoding 3D video using the Multiview Video Coding (MVC) codec, an extension to the ITU-T H.264 Advanced Video Coding (AVC) codec currently supported by all Blu-ray Disc players. MPEG4-MVC compresses both left and right eye views with a typical 50% overhead compared to equivalent 2D content, and can provide full 1080p resolution backward compatibility with current 2D Blu-ray Disc players. The specification also incorporates enhanced graphic features for 3D. These features provide a new experience for users, enabling navigation using 3D graphic menus and displaying 3D subtitles positioned in 3D video.
The completed specification will be available shortly and provides individual manufacturers and content providers with the technical information and guidelines necessary to develop, announce and bring products to market pursuant to their own internal planning cycles and timetables.
What happens if you get one of them there shiny new 3d TVs? Do you still need the glasses, or will it 'just work'?
@spottyelephant
Yes you will need the glasses. But the TV's comes with them. Which leads me to believe that those glasses was made specifically for the TV's and won't work well on others.
My question is this, I am going to want to listen to the HD soundtrack (DTS-MA or Dolby TrueHD) on the disc whilst watching the movie. But am I still going to be able to loop the hdmi cable through my Denon 4308 avamp if the connection from the player is hdmi v.14? Also will the av-amp
accept the 120HZ signal??.
So wait, to be able to see a big blurry pseudo 3D mess, I'm gonna have to shell out for a new HDTV? And also wear silly looking glasses?
Yeah...I'll stick with 2D
I really wish that blogs, such as this one, would stop spreading false or limited information.
Will you need a new TV? Only in some cases. Samsung and Mitsubishi have been selling 3D Ready displays (DLP's) that will work with this technology being discussed here.
Those of you who currently A.) own no HD display, B.) own a plasma, or C.) own an LCD....must upgrade to a yet to be released 3D display.
Those of you who already own a 3D Ready Samsung or Mitsubishi DLP are all set. You only need a 3D-capable player, 3D glasses, and transmitter. (or the 3D glasses with the integrated transmitter)
Definitely won't touch this with a 10 foot pole. Doesn't plasma have the potential to interfere with IR anyways?
It'd be nice if a V10 or G10 had upgrade firmware to handle this.
Why can't they just put out 60p 3D?
30fps left and right?
Do this for Non 3D enabled sets?
So do I have to upgrade my Optoma HD20 or not?!?!?!
Because 3d movies on a widescreen would be awesome
This is awesome news!
PS3, fast becoming the "Swiss army knife" of the home entertainment hub. And with this forward compatibility news plus at $299, you gotta be rolling on the short yellow school bus to not know to snap one up by now. Just sayin...
@Frankenstein Black - My PS3 Slim is good at one thing... collecting dust. There are small form factor gaming rigs out that outperform the PS3 in games, and running Windows 7 make for better media centers than the limited functionality of a PS3.
If it weren't for unique titles (I'm gay for LittleBigPlanet), my PS3 would be on Ebay yesterday.
@Ducman69 You're forgetting that HTPCs have been, statistically, going down in popularity quite fast in recent years. Also note that that's not coming down from a very high popularity to begin with. PS3's are also not nearly as limited as you think. Aside for not being able to play the .MOV codec, .FLAC/Apple Lossless, or the .MKV container, it can play just about anything. And you can always convert those filetypes in a matter of minutes, if not have them converted while streaming.
Also, the thing gaming related the PS3 does that PCs can't quite do just yet - 4D. Of course, I'm sure as more developers learn how to use the GPUs' CUDA/Stream capabilities, that'll be doable within a year or two just fine, but right now, PS3 has the upper hand. Same goes for Deferred rendering, it'll be a while before that's something PCs can handle so that it's playable. Most PS3 exclusives use deferred rendering.
"the PS3 does that PCs can't quite do just yet - 4D."
It travels through time? WTF are we sitting here for then?
@Information Central Haha, no. That'd be pretty flippin cool, though.
4D in gaming and graphics applications typically refers to procedural texturing and modeling. Essentially, things age, rust and deteriorate.
@Information Central Oh, and that's without being scripted. I'm well aware of scripted aging and deterioration, there's even an nVidia tech demo for scripted aging and deterioration for the FX 5000 something.
This would be a degree of entity AI, I suppose.
@Ducman69
Except the fact that the PS3 is less than half the price of a suitable, similarly equipped HTPC. You're not going to get the same gaming performance using onboard graphics in a HTPC.
+1 for PS3 :)
Yeeeeeeeeeeeea! I can't wait to get a 3D LED HDTV for games.
Immersion, folks. My 3D Vision with Samsung 2233rz is awesome and it works with HUNDREDS of games. 3D gaming is going to be an option feature, of course, but if you're not excited about it, you're most likely haven't experienced the latest generation of 3D. This isn't the CRAP you see in theaters, this is sixty full frames per second, per eye. As long as you have a bright enough display, it's going to rock your world.
3D movies are cool, too. I guess.
So either the PS3 doesn't really support 3D blu-ray or 3D blu-ray doesn't require HDMI 1.4. Surely you can't update the HDMI spec with firmware?
Are there 3D theaters showing Avatar 3D that aren't realD or is realD the only 3D movie technology the theaters are using?
@scottbakertemp If I understand HDMI 1.4 and 3D correctly, it's that it allows 1080p 3D at 48/60Hz, whereas for HDMI 1.3, it's 1080p 3D at 24/30Hz. For movies there should be absolutely no difference as they're typically 24Hz, but for games it'd be a difference provided the game can and does perform higher than about 30 frames per second, which I doubt. As far as I know, spec 1.4 is a hardware thing, so I don't think the PS3 will have a firmware update for 1.4
Also, there's more than Real D, there's also Dolby 3D and IMAX 3D (a lot like Real D). It just depends on what your theater has
And now my decision to go with that Samsung 61" 1080p LED DLP has one other upside. at the time of purchase, none of the LCDs or Plasmas for the next year or so had/have the capability for 3D. This set, however, as well as many Mitsubishi DLPs, actually has the 3D IR output.
Time to lay down some dough.
@travis8214
That's right! I have the same display. We made a wise decision. Samsung and Mitsubishi have been selling 3D Ready displays since 2007.
@(Unverified)
Since 2007?
In 2008 i bought a state of the art 40" model. Can it be that my model alreddy got DLP ?
@donstilnl Well, err, if you bought a DLP, then yeah it does have DLP...
but 3D? Possibly, most Mitsubishi/Samsung DLPs from late 2007 on are 3D ready. Check the main input/ouput panel on the side or back of the display, there should be a port marked for 3D. Also, check the settings menu - if it's 3D supportive, it will have an option in the settings.
@travis8214
Okido. I do not think my model has DLP.
I cannot find anny Clues
(i have got a LE40F86)
@donstilnl
That display is an LCD display, making it not DLP. It is also not 3D supportive.
No thanks!
Great. Another damn codec to contend with.
yea my ps3 will work with just a firmware update!...
now what about my old tv?, lol got it a year ago and already in 3-4 years the technology will be cheap enough and my tv will become second best
technology advances too fast, but its still good i just need bigger wallet
@(Unverified) 3d tvs arent expensive a 60 inch dlp that does 3d aslow as$900 73 as low a 1700 82 as low as 3000 (online prices) i got my 82 inch on sale 2 months ago for 2000 :)
@gamedude360 3D ready LCDTVs are expensive though, especially new LCDs (most new LCDs are 3D ready anyway)
Oh great this sucks. I hate glasses cause I wear glasses and 3D glasses make me sick and gives me headaches.
I am anti-3D until they make it without thwe need for glasses.
@RandallLind
The tech exists but very very expensive and you have to be a certain distance and positioned at exactly the right angle to get 3D. Saw it an NAB two years ago. Impressive but not ready for prime time.
@RandallLind Well, both the nVidia 3DVision and Samsung DLP 3D glasses are actually designed to fit over prescription glasses (and they fit well over mine if you'd like some first hand input).
Also, these are LCD-shutter, and reportedly very very smooth so you shouldn't see any flickering or anything to make you nauseous, unless you mean the 3D effect itself makes you sick. Try them out somewhere before you buy them, I guess.
nobody buying a new tv because of 3d. if u cant use this technology with current tv's,it will fail.40% of idiots , still thinking they watching hd content just because they bought an hdtv.
im trying to keep up with new technology,but this is f..up they coming out new stuff every year.-new hdtv's(240hz,oled),3d bluray,hdmi 1.4,usb 3...etc and that means new gears, if u have f... money its a good thing.
How many movies are going to be truly 3D anyway? 1 in 10 would be a high number and it would more likely be 1:50 or 1:100. And then if there was a huge push for creating new content how much of it will be worth watching and truly use 3D in an artistic and entertaining sense?
That is the main problem that faces the technology and not the technology itself. Avatar is great, but not all movies can be made to take advantage of 3D so well. Driving Miss Daisy or The Bridges of Madison County in 3D? What would 3D really do for those types of movies?
It takes a whole new way of thinking to make genuine, non cheesy, 3D effects. Most 3D is just popping objects out at the crowed and doesn't really play with the depth effect in the overall scene. For example if I'm watching a baseball game in 3D I don't want to just see the ball fly at me or the advertising jump off the bleachers. I want to see the depth of the field as if I was actually standing behind the catcher or in the outfield about to catch a ball. I want to see a city skyline or a mountain in their full glory. I want to see the curve on an object and feel the distance between two objects. The way it is now is just certain objects on the screen that "pop" and not the whole scene.