Samsung, RealD announce RDZ tech that puts active shutter 3D into the TV instead of the glasses
Just when we were getting used to the introduction of passive glasses 3D into the formerly active shutter-only home arena Samsung LCD Business and RealD will show off another option at this year's CES that is apparently based on the ZScreen technology RealD licensed last year. According to the two, RDZ LCD HDTVs are compatible with the cheaper RealD glasses already in use in theaters, by making the panel itself an active switching LCD instead. Compared to the patterned retarder passive 3D we expect to see from Vizio and LG, this has the advantage of not cutting the resolution of whatever you're watching in half, although they would likely still claim advantages in brightness and lack of flicker. We'll have to let our eyes tell us which is the best approach but the fact this is coming from Samsung's business LCD division instead of its consumer arm suggests the price of any displays that are eventually released will be something beyond the 3D capable TVs we're used to so far.
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RealD and Samsung LCD Jointly Develop
New LCD Based RDZ™ 3D Display Technology
Full Resolution 3D Video with No Reduction of 2D Image Quality
Compatible with the Same 3D Eyewear Used in RealD 3D-Equipped Theatres Around the World
LOS ANGELES, USA and SEOUL, SOUTH KOREA (January 4, 2011) – RealD Inc. (NYSE: RLD), a leading global licensor of 3D technologies for cinema, consumer electronics and professional applications, and Samsung Electronics LCD Business announced today that the companies are jointly developing a new 3D display technology called RDZ™ that offers full resolution high definition 3D video and is compatible with the same 3D eyewear used in RealD 3D-equipped motion picture theatres around the world. Unlike patterned retarder based 3D display technologies that cut resolution in half or diminish brightness, RDZ 3D display technology delivers full resolution high definition 3D images by adopting active shutter technology on the display. Based on RealD technology used in many of the world's 3D-equipped motion picture theatres today, RDZ displays are also 2D compatible, resulting in no reduction of image quality in 2D mode.
RealD and Samsung LCD Business will be demonstrating RDZ 3D displays at CES in Las Vegas, January 6-9, 2011.
"RealD is focused on delivering a premium 3D experience on screens of all sizes, from motion picture theatres to consumer electronics, and we look forward to working with Samsung LCD to develop this new 3D display technology," said Bob Mayson, President of Consumer Electronics at RealD. "Patterned-retarder based 3D TV's today reduce 3D video resolution by half for compatibility with passive 3D eyewear. Conversely, RDZ 3D displays deliver a full resolution high definition 3D experience through an active switching LCD panel that can be viewed with the same eyewear used in RealD-equipped theatres and do not compromise 2D image quality."
Seonki Kim, Master of R&D at Samsung Electronics LCD Business, said "We believe all displays should have the same high resolution video and free viewing angles both in 2D and 3D. LCD based RDZ 3D displays will offer consumers the choice of eyewear technologies without compromising image quality, which only active sync 3D technology can do."
Samsung LCD is developing displays based on RealD's proprietary RDZ 3D technology, which adopts characteristics from the company's Cinema System utilized in motion picture theatres around the world. The LCD based RDZ 3D display technology is integrated on the LCD panel and actively syncs with the left and right eye images for full resolution high definition 3D video.
About RealD Inc.
RealD Inc. is a leading global licensor of 3D technologies. RealD's extensive intellectual property portfolio is used in applications that enable a premium 3D viewing experience in the theater, the home and elsewhere. RealD licenses its RealD Cinema Systems to motion picture exhibitors that show 3D motion pictures and alternative 3D content. RealD also provides its RealD display, active and passive eyewear, RealD Format and gaming technologies to consumer electronics manufacturers and content producers and distributors to enable the delivery and viewing of 3D content. RealD's cutting-edge 3D technologies have been used for applications such as piloting the Mars Rover. For more information, please visit our website at www.reald.com.
Cautionary note on forward-looking statements
This press release includes forward-looking information and statements, including but not limited to: statements concerning the anticipated rollout of RealD 3D technology in 3D displays. These statements are based on RealD's current expectations and beliefs, as well as a number of assumptions concerning future events. Such forward-looking statements are subject to known and unknown risks, uncertainties, assumptions and other important factors, many of which are outside RealD's control that could cause actual results to differ materially from the results discussed in the forward-looking statements. RealD's annual and quarterly reports include a more detailed discussion of the risks and uncertainties that may cause that could cause actual results to differ materially from the results discussed in the forward-looking statements.
RealD undertakes no obligation to update publicly the information contained in this press release, or any forward-looking statements, to reflect new information, events or circumstances after the date they were made, or to reflect the occurrence of unanticipated events.
RealD and the RealD logo are trademarks of RealD Inc. All other trademarks and service marks are the property of their respective owners.
© 2011 RealD Inc. All Rights Reserved.
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