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i3D's glasses-free prototype screen aims to take on all of 3D's problem areas
Uncomfortable, expensive glasses and a lack of 3D content -- that'd be the short list of stuff we dislike about current 3D TVs, but coincidentally it also happens to be the exact issues i3D is determined to wipe out with its glasses-free technology. We stopped by to meet with the young, Los Angeles-based company last week, and though it obviously isn't the first to develop spec-less displays, its proprietary hardware and software combo was really impressive. The demo of a 7-inch prototype really tells the whole story -- and we encourage you all to see it for yourself in the video after the break, though obviously you won't be able to experience all three dimensions from your standard LCD. Our time screen-gazing was pretty breathtaking, even though the smaller display was far from immersive. As for the viewing angle issue that's the Achilles' heel of the others, i3D claims its technology allows for three-dimensional viewing at close to 90 degrees, though it was hard for us to really evaluate that on such a small screen. The coolest thing by far is the software's ability to convert 2D to 3D content on the fly. One second we were watching a two-dimensional clip of Cars and then with the tap of the 3D button the car was driving off the screen. While this isn't the first company dabbling in 2D conversion, we haven't seen any others doing this without the glasses, and i3D does claim it can convert any resolution programming. We'll have to see it to believe it, but if it does work and the quality lives up to what's being promised there'd go our lack of content issue! Apparently the price of the technology should add at most 20 percent to that of a current HDTV, but here's where we tell you that we wouldn't be surprised if it took years for all this technology to make into Best Buy's Magnolia Home Theater section. Given the fact that we met with the company in a backyard, we'd say that both it and its technology are in the early stages. But hey, it makes you feel better that someone is working on that 3D frustration list, right? %Gallery-88839%
AUO's 65-inch 3D HDTV panel headed for the conveyer belt in 2H 2010, boasts polarized specs
While it might have been a pipe dream back in '09, Taiwanese display manufacturer AU Optronics is firmly committed to blasting our eyeballs in 2010, with a monstrous 65-inch HD LCD panel ready for all the 3D and pseudo-3D content (we're looking at you, G-Force) you have on offer. AUO isn't hedging its bets on this one, either; at FPD China 2010, the company announced that they're using a polarized solution with cheap, $2 to 3 glasses to generate the 3D effect. Sure, polarized is the preferred method for most theatres, but it's often more expensive than active shutter tech for an in-home user -- and can come with some serious visual tradeoffs like permanent ghosting or halved vertical resolution. We won't know for sure until we get hands-on, but either way, expect to see AUO's panels in a branded 3D HDTV near you early next year, or just a few months before HDI drops a 103-inch monster of its own.
HDI headquarters walkthrough: details galore on the new face of in-home 3D
Call it an inexplicable fascination, or call it all-out geek lust over a screen with three digits in the "diagonal screen size" specification field -- either way, we had little choice but to shuttle over to HDI's nondescript Los Gatos, California headquarters in order to check out what even Steve Wozniak has been quoted as saying is the best 3D solution out there. While stationed on the west coast this week for GDC, we grabbed a camera and bolted down the 280 in order to get a sneak peek at the aforesaid firm, a tight-knit startup that currently has prototype displays in production and plans for far more. We've heard plenty through the grapevine, but we set out to get our questions answered directly, and possibly even provide some insight that has yet to be made available to the public thus far. For those unaware, HDI's flagship product is a planned 103-inch 3D HDTV that uses a proprietary technology in order to showcase content in the third dimension (or 2D, if you'd like). We sat down with Chris Stuart (Director of Technology) and Edmund Sandberg (Chief Technology Officer) in order to get an overview of the tech, set the story straight in regard to pricing and availability, and dig in a little deeper on its plans for distribution and expansion. We also plopped down in front of the company's prototype 97-inch set and a 46-inch 3D LCD that has remained mostly a myth up until now, and we've certainly got plenty to share in terms of impressions. If you're eager to learn more (and take a behind-the-scenes look at a television R&D lab), give that 'Read More' link a gentle press. %Gallery-88076%
NVIDIA 3D Vision Surround eyes-on, triple the fun
What's better than gaming on one 3D screen? Gaming on three, of course. We're no strangers to NVIDIA's 3D Vision along with the Acer and Alienware displays, but the company has unveiled its 3D Vision Surround capability at CeBIT that lets you play 3D games on three 1080p 3D displays simultaneously. Yeah, it's as crazy as it sounds -- we got to throw on a pair of the glasses and it's one seriously panoramic and immersive experience. What won't be as pleasing is how much a set-up like this will cost you -- you'll need three 3D screens, and a rig with an GeForce GTX 480 SLI configuration or higher (the desktop we saw had two GeForce GTX 280 GPUS). NVIDIA will officially launch the whole platform along these new GeForce GTX 480/470 GPUs later this month.Thinking about digging into your savings? Maybe the video after the break will put an end to your wavering. %Gallery-87417%
MSI and ASUS show off 3D all-in-ones at CeBIT
There's no escaping that 3D trend, that's for sure. Both ASUS and MSI are demoing 3D versions of their respective all-in-one PCs here at CeBIT, though both companies say they are just concept models at this point. ASUS' 3D Eee Top wasn't up and running, but there was a pair of NVIDIA-branded glasses next to it which hints that they may be exploring putting 3D Vision into its touchscreen system. We had better luck at MSI, where we got to put on a rather large pair of shades and watch some very happy show-goers play Left 4 Dead in 3D. We're not sure what to make of the 3D in a touchscreen all-in-one thing, but it was pretty cool to just tap the screen to enable some three-dimensional images. Hit the break for a quick video of MSI's 3D Wind Top. %Gallery-86996%
Acer GD235HZ and Alienware OptX AW2310 do battle in 3D HD monitor faceoff
We know 3D isn't for everyone, but if you've got your heart set on jumping that bandwagon nice and early, here's a review for you. The folks over at Tom's Guide have sat down with 23-inch 3D displays from Acer (GD235HZ) and Alienware (OptX AW2310) and sought to figure which one offers the better gaming experience. After some sobering notes about the need for a high end system to run 3D games -- NVIDIA's 3D Vision solution renders each scene twice, meaning you'll need as much power to drive one 3D screen as you would a dual-monitor setup -- they delve right into some benchmarking and real world testing. The key differentiator between the two panels is in the price, with the GD235HZ costing $399 and the AW2310 asking for a steeper $469, though on balance it was felt that the Alienware justified its premium with a superior feature set and better overall performance. Hit the source for the full verdict. [Thanks, Ben]
MIT's Flyfire paints images in the sky using micro helicopters, is apparently top-secret
Micro helicopters, the kind that fit in the palm of your hand (and sometimes spread holiday cheer) are huge fun -- and hugely frustrating. Have you ever tried to get one to hover in place next to another? Impossible! MIT thinks it can do that, not with just two but thousands of the little beggars all hovering in harmony as part of a project called Flyfire. By using LED-equipped drones the project pledges to build free-floating 3D displays, endowing them with enough smarts and positional awareness to organize themselves into an airborne canvas. It sounds deliciously exciting and challenging, yet for some reason the school has decided you aren't to know about it, pulling its concept video and website offline. We can only imagine there's a government agency involved here, possibly trying to stem the virulent spread of robo-socialism, but we invite you to leave your own conspiracy theories in comments. Update: You can take your tinfoil hats off, the site and the video are both back online! We have the goods embedded after the break.
Panasonic launches BT-3DL2550 25.5-inch 3D IPS monitor, breaks your piggy bank
Feel like making your own 3D movie? That 3D camcorder and the bucket of blue paint alone won't be enough -- consider Panasonic's new BT-3DL2550 3D production monitor. This 1920 x 1200 IPS display relies on an Xpol filter for the 3D magic through passive polarizing glasses (like the ones in the 3D cinemas; two pairs included), and sports two HD-SDI ports plus a DVI-D socket -- both are for jacking your beastly video processing rigs, while the former also take direct feed from HD cameras. Little else is known about this professional Panny screen, but given the jaw-dropping $9,900 price we'd expect a pretty impressive stat sheet when it comes out in September.
CBS brings 3D advertising to Grand Central Station, glasses makers drink to that
We know good and well what kind of extravagant displays are available to gawk at in New York City, but now it looks like the locals will have yet another one to check out when they're taking a breather from the rat race. CBS Outdoor has unveiled plans to deliver two solid hours (from 11:30AM to 1:30PM throughout February) of 3D advertising on an expansive, high-definition video screen installed within Grand Central Station. Unlike the glasses-free solution that we spotted at Intel's CES booth this year, this one will still require onlookers to rock those heinous and soul-crushing glasses in order to "see" the "effect," and with around 70,000 commuters passing by each day, we'd guess that the spectacle manufacturer who nabbed this contract is feeling pretty good right about now.
Alienware M17x and M15x gaming laptops get revamped, OptX AW2310 LCD gets introduced
Dell's spitting out all sorts of new gear today, and if the miniaturized M11x just ain't your cup of tea, maybe the beasts known as the M15x and M17x will fit the bill. Both of Alienware's flagship gaming laptops have received a well deserved refresh today, with the 17-incher (starts at $1,799) getting a Mobile Core i7 CPU and twin GPUs; the little brother has also been tweaked somewhat, and it starts at a reasonable-for-Alienware price of $1,399. In related news, the $499 23-inch OptX AW2310 LCD has been announced for the 3D gamer set, offering up a 1080p resolution and support for NVIDIA's 3D Vision Kit.
Toshiba announces partnership with RealD for 3D teevees
Toshiba's just announced a partnership with 3D gurus RealD to bring 3D viewing a little closer to home. The company plans to hit the world with support for RealD's stereoscopic format on its new Regza televisions. RealD's proprietary shutter style 3D glasses are not to be confused with the polarized ones used in theatres that the company is known for. The plan is apparently to unleash a full line of 3D Regza full HD LCDs in 2010. We don't know anything about specific models, pricing, or specific availability yet, but we'll keep our eyes open for fuller details as the CES 3D onslaught continues. The full press release is after the break.
Magnetic unveils a clutch of glasses-free 3D displays
As you well know, Magnetic 3D is one of many companies that have been dabbling in 3D sans glasses -- and lo and behold! Here we are in Las Vegas where the company is debuting three new auto-stereoscopic product lines including the Allura (commercial grade high-definition 3D LCD monitors up to 55-inches), Emersa (3D displays for close proximity viewing up to 42-inches), and Envolve 3D touch displays for commercial uses -- you know, slot gaming, kiosks, and all sorts of red hot Vegas-y stuff. Will this be the year that 3D displays stop giving us headaches? Time will tell...
LG first to hit mass production with Full HD 3D LCD monitors
The 3D revolution, whether you like it or not, is gathering steam. LG has just announced the world's first mass produced Full HD 3D-capable monitor, which spans 23 inches diagonally and looks to sport a pleasingly minimal bezel. The company hasn't spilled much in the way of further info yet, though the PR blurb (after the break) makes mention of Korea's plans to introduce Full HD 3D broadcasts, as well as satellite 3D broadcasting trials set to take place in the UK and Japan. Based on shutter glasses tech -- which seems likely to be the way forward -- this panel benefits from such great buzzwords as a "copper bus line" and a "high performance 3D exclusive controller," the benefits of which we'll have to wait a little while longer to discover. CES 2010, here we come.
Samsung showing off 55 inches of 240Hz 3D LCD glory
Look, we know this 3D thing is as likely to sink as it is to swim right now, but we have to hand it to Samsung -- it's pursuing the idea with some pretty hefty ambition. A 55-inch 1080p panel with a true 240Hz refresh rate is a decent base on which to build your paradigm-shifting new offering. Using a set of "shutter" glasses, which rapidly alternate between blocking out the left and right eye, the set is capable of delivering the full 240Hz quality, debatable as its benefits may be. Of course, the value or otherwise of a TV like this is going to be found only by experiencing its output in person, so if you're somewhere near Seoul this week, head on down to the IMID 2009 conference to get an eyeful of an early model.
gCubik shows off its good side, and every other while it's at it (video)
Remember gCubik? It's been a few months, but to recap, it's a cube developed by researchers from NICT that features textured surfaces that present you a different view on the "internal" image based on viewing angle, giving the illusion something is physically in the box. Theoretically, at least -- it's pretty low-resolution and in the early stages of development. We stumbled upon the device at the CEATEC showfloor this week and decided to snap some video while there. There were moments when the effect was lost, and getting too close completely blurred what we saw to the point of incomprehension, but again, this shows a whole heap of potential that's fascinating to us. See it for yourself after the break.
Zero Creative's 71-inch 3D LCD will make environmentalists weep
As Sony's notoriously power-thirsty PS3 receives a major boost in efficiency, you might think the age of the gluttonous gadget is at an end. Zero Creative, however, is here to show us that some manufacturers just aren't interested in being green. The company has created a 71-inch version of its xyZ (not xYz) lineup, a 3D LCD that sucks down an impressive 1 kilowatt when turned on. Given your average eco-friendly display tends to require something like 20 to 50 watts to bring you an image, that's quite an energy premium to pay -- and that's on top of the €70,000 price tag (about $100,000). Of course, what those purportedly eco-friendly LCDs can't do is give you a 3D image even without glasses, a feature that is the very specialty of the commercially-minded xyZ lineup. An inability to display anything in plain 'ol 2D is something of a shortcoming, but we're told switchable versions are coming -- as is an even bigger, 100-inch screen that will surely ship with a dedicated coal-fired power plant.
Computex: Pioneer's 3D interactive display brings you one step closer to seeing a girl in her knickers
Among the expected netbooks and digiframes encountered at this year's Computex, the gang at Engadget Chinese have stumbled across this beauty. Pioneer's unnamed 3D imaging / sensing device contains a wholesome, dancing three dimensional figure. The camera in the top of the cannister keeps an eye out for contact, and if the operator touches the figure, her clothes disappear... behaving much like the avatars you meet up with in the "red light district" of Second Life. No, this thing doesn't appear to be available commercially -- and shame on you for even asking! Video after the break.
LG demos ultra-bright Full HD 3D monitor
LG's certainly been known to dabble in the third-dimension, and while we're still waiting for it to ship those "one or two" 3D TVs this year, at least we're confident that it's getting closer. Over in South Korea, the company has showcased a new Full HD (1080p) 3D monitor with what it says is the highest brightness level of any competing panel. Sadly, viewers are still required to don glasses when ingesting the action, but this take on the tech enables said eyewear to be somewhat thinner and less cumbersome. Have a peek at the vid down in the read link.
PureDepth ramps up production of "Multi-Layer" 3D displays
PureDepth has been talking up its "Multi-Layer" 3D display technology for quite some time now, but it looks like the displays should finally be rolling out en masse, with the company announcing that volume production of its new 12.1-inch displays was slated to begin this week, which follows those first few 20.1-inch displays that wound up in slot machines. For those not up to speed, the displays themselves make use of two LCD screens placed a few inches a part, which lets them display three dimensional images without the need for special glasses and, according to the company, without the headaches often associated with 3D setups. It also looks PureDepth is getting increasingly confident in the technology and its future, and it's now even gone so far as to establish a Japanese arm of the company that it hopes will help it garner a bigger foothold in the country.
NICT's gCubik six-screened touchscreen cube in action
In theory, NICT's gCubik sounds like a pretty wild idea -- wrap a box in six screens, simulate a 3D object inside, make it touchscreen interactive. In reality, the screens are perhaps just a bit too low-resolution to really pull off any sort of illusion, but it's certainly a start. The 3.5-inch VGA screens that surround the cube are themselves 3D, with 18 x 18 different viewable angles, drastically reducing the quantity of pixels available to each view. NICT is looking at full HD or higher resolution displays to refine the idea, and while users can currently touch the screens to move the object "within," they're hoping to add further interaction like cube-shakage further down the line. Video is after the break.
