Look Ma 3D With No Glasses

[highfigh]

How much programming is available in 3D? DirecTV has channel 103 and right now, that's all. I don't have U-Verse or Time Warner, so I haven't had a chance to check into them. I don't know of many discs that use it at the moment and if they don't roll out more, it may be a slow climb.

 

[gmichael]

This is the mentality that I wish more people would convey. 3D certainly is 'nifty', but it's not at all like the huge quality jump that HDTV delivered, or the revolution from CRTs to flat panels. This is just like a new Widget for your TV. It may be nifty to some, it may be stupid to others, but eventually it is likely to be on almost all TVs sold.

One of the best parts of the BD specification as I understand it, is that 3D Blu-ray Discs are encoded in such a way that you get the full (and perfect) 2D film as well as the 3D extension to that film. The disc will play in a 2D player fine and then can be used in 3D players as well. This means that if someone is interested, they can just buy a 3D Blu-ray title and enjoy it in their 2D player until they decide to upgrade or something breaks.

There seem to be a lot of people who get enough information to be dangerous, but not enough people who just take the attitude - "I'm not buying yet, I don't have to, I don't want to... I'll wait and see what happens."

I'm in that category, and if I buy anything it is likely to be a 3D capable projector to pair with my PS3. But, I will buy it to replace my current projector, not to just get a simple upgrade. It won't be a price hit really unless glasses start going way UP in price. Not likely!

Really, people can get the Samsung 46" TV, with 2 pairs of glasses and a 3D Blu-ray player for under $2,000 pretty easily. This is a good looking flat panel for day-to-day viewing and a 'bonus' of 3D. Not exactly cheap, but a long way from the prices that 46" flat panels were just 10 years ago.

Thanks,

Someday, I'll want to upgrade my 720p Sanyo Z-4. I could use something that's a little brighter. (at 106", the Z-4 is at it's outermost usage curve) But we're still getting used to going from an old 32" CRT at std def, to a giant HD screen. We're very happy. We'll be happy for a while.
I'll keep reading about the updates as they come and go. When it's time to buy, I'll dig a little deeper and make a purchase. Till then, this is all just fun to read.

BTW, thanks for so very many informative posts over the years. You may not see me post much here, but I read a lot of your posts and have learned a great deal.

Do you know when the 3D patch for the PS3 is coming out?

 

[Ares]

The 3D update for gaming was released in June and the update for movies will arrive in September.

 

[yepimonfire]

i meant until there are standards for it and it becomes better established, sorry misworded that.

 

[Ares]

There has been some news regarding 3D Blu-ray playback for the PS3 Sony has delayed the firmware update til October this news was just announced today.

 

[yepimonfire]

what about the fact that you need HDMI 1.4 for 3D? do the PS3's even support that?

 

[Ares]

Hello Yep,

From what has been reported the PS3 will not need HDMI 1.4 but you would have to use a High Speed HDMI 1.3 cable connected straight to a 3DTV if you don't have an AVR that handles 3D.

 

[BMXTRIX]

what about the fact that you need HDMI 1.4 for 3D? do the PS3's even support that?

This is not correct, per se and is part of what the misinformation stream is that is turning some people off.

HDMI cabling supports 3D in the HDMI 1.3 specification, so no cabling needs to change.

HDMI 1.4 RECEIVERS will have the proper chip set to deal with frame packed 3D images from Blu-ray natively - guaranteed.

HDMI 1.3 products, which are not entirely hardware based, can be firmware upgraded to support the frame packed 3D BD information without the need for buying new product. The first 3D BD players are not HDMI 1.4, nor is the PS3. The Emotiva pre-pro is also not HDMI 1.4, but all of them have, or will, receive firmware updates to support frame packed 3D from Blu-ray Disc.

Not all BD players will support 3D, though all players are supposed to be able to play back, in 2D, the discs themselves. So, if you buy a 3D movie, like Monsters vs. Aliens, it should play on every Blu-ray player you own in your home regardless.

For me, I could just use my PS3, my existing HDMI cabling, and I would just need a 3D display since my HDMI runs straight to the display.

 

[Audioholics]

You need one more thing, of course... some freaking software! lol

 

[BMXTRIX]

You need one more thing, of course... some freaking software! lol

Ain't that the truth!

Clint - Unlike Blu-ray, which I was very vocal about, I don't think 3D is going to see anywhere near that type of acceptance (which still has a ways to go!) and the tech isn't really enough to get people buying it on its own, except for a very few.

This feels very much like the early rollout of HDTV though. I'm sure you remember (don't you?) when there were only 1-2 channels of HD, and HDNet would play the same loop over and over for weeks on end. There would be a huge amount of excitement over a new 30 minute show released in HD. 3D doesn't even generate that much excitement for most people.

I think they need to figure out 3D Blu-ray authoring software and ALL titles which are released in 3D in the theaters need to be released on Blu-ray as the only title. Keeping in mind ALL players can play back the 2D movie from the disc without problem.

I'm certainly in no rush on this product, and mostly I want it for front projection... and it needs to look GOOD. I've considered going to a silver screen setup if I had to with passive glasses. But, I think tech will catch up in the next couple of years.