Wednesday, March 23, 2011
Tuesday, March 15, 2011
Panasonic TC-P65VT25 65-inch 3D Ready 1080p VIERA Plasma HDTV
Panasonic TC-P65VT25 65-inch
3D Ready 1080p VIERA Plasma HDTV
Rating 9.0
alaTest.com
Review Summary: alaTest has collected and analyzed 117 reviews of Panasonic TC-P-VT25 Series Plasma TV (50", 54", 58", 65") from international magazines and websites.The Verdict: Experts rate this product 84/100 and users 84/100. Comparing these reviews to 289837 other TVs reviews gives this product an overall alaScore 90/100 = Excellent.
Product Details
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Saturday, March 12, 2011
Sony KDL-60NX810 60" 3D LED Home Theater Bundle
Sony KDL-60NX810 - 60" BRAVIA NX810 Series 3D LED-backlit LCD TV - widescreen - 1080p (FullHD) - edge-lit - 240 Hz - HDTV - black
Designed to deliver dazzling Full HD 1080p resolution, BRAVIA NX810 series HDTVs feature advanced LED backlighting technology for incredibly high contrast levels. Motionflow PRO 240Hz produces crisp, fluid motion in fast-action scenes. And when you're ready, simply add the Sony 3D sync transmitter and 3D active glasses to watch 3D entertainment in HD. Connect to your home network and instantly stream a wide variety of movies, TV shows, videos and music. Experience premium picture quality and amazing motion detail in a revolutionary design with the BRAVIA NX810 series LCD HDTV with 3D. In addition to a striking monolithic design, this 3D HDTV features dynamic Edge LED backlight technology for incredible contrast. Add the Sony 3D sync transmitter and active glasses to experience 3D movies and video games in Full HD 1080p or convert 2D to 3D with a push of a button on your remote control.
Sony Bravia Theater DAV-DZ170 - Home theater system - 5.1 channel
Complete your home theater with the DAV-DZ170 BRAVIA theater system. Fusing style with performance, this 5.1-channel surround sound system features a built-in DVD player and 1000 watts of home theater power. You can also connect your iPod or other digital music player via the front USB port. In addition to Digital Cinema Auto Calibration which optimizes speaker placement in just 30 seconds, you can use the HDMI interface to upscale your DVD media to near 1080p quality.
Designed to deliver dazzling Full HD 1080p resolution, BRAVIA NX810 series HDTVs feature advanced LED backlighting technology for incredibly high contrast levels. Motionflow PRO 240Hz produces crisp, fluid motion in fast-action scenes. And when you're ready, simply add the Sony 3D sync transmitter and 3D active glasses to watch 3D entertainment in HD. Connect to your home network and instantly stream a wide variety of movies, TV shows, videos and music. Experience premium picture quality and amazing motion detail in a revolutionary design with the BRAVIA NX810 series LCD HDTV with 3D. In addition to a striking monolithic design, this 3D HDTV features dynamic Edge LED backlight technology for incredible contrast. Add the Sony 3D sync transmitter and active glasses to experience 3D movies and video games in Full HD 1080p or convert 2D to 3D with a push of a button on your remote control.
Sony Bravia Theater DAV-DZ170 - Home theater system - 5.1 channel
Complete your home theater with the DAV-DZ170 BRAVIA theater system. Fusing style with performance, this 5.1-channel surround sound system features a built-in DVD player and 1000 watts of home theater power. You can also connect your iPod or other digital music player via the front USB port. In addition to Digital Cinema Auto Calibration which optimizes speaker placement in just 30 seconds, you can use the HDMI interface to upscale your DVD media to near 1080p quality.
Samsung UN55C8000 55" 1080p 3D Ready LED HDTV - Black
Watch jaw-dropping action leap off the screen with Samsung 3D technology. The Samsung UN46C8000 LED television brings new depth and dimension to it all - so you're not just watching the action, you're living it. Along with a visually stunning picture, it also features web-connected Samsung APPS so you can Stream movies, play games, flip through photos, and more while you watch TV. And Real 240Hz Clear Motion Rate virtually eliminates all motion blur so your picture is crisp. Add a 8,000,000:1 Mega Dynamic Contrast Ratio and you'll experience a truly exceptional home entertainment experience. (Some features require Internet connection and a router)
· Features
· Ultra Slim 1.1" depth: Stunning at only 1.1" deep - includes Tuner (no external transceiver box)
· 240Hz Clear Motion Rate - Samsung 240Hz technology delivers even the fastest onscreen motion with utterly lifelike clarity
· Innovative LED picture quality - Creates a picture with an exceptionally large range of contrast and color, making images appear more real
· Samsung 3D - See vivid new dimensions in picture depth and action that leap off the screen (3D viewing experience depends on source of 3D content and hardwares)
· Internet Connectivity - Your TV isn't just for TV and movies any more. Connect directly to the internet for real time news, weather, sports scores, stock quotes and more. Watch Video on demand, view photos on Flickr, watch content from YouTube all at the touch of a button.
· Content Library - Download movies, games, and more with hours of built in features and downloadable content providing seemingly endless entertainment
· Eco Friendly - Up to 50% more efficient than the latest Energy Star specifications
· Specifications
· Screen Size Diagonal: 54.6"
· Resolution: 1920 x 1080 Widescreen
· Dynamic Contrast Ratio: 8,000,000:1
· Picture Engine: 3D HyperReal
· Auto Motion Plus: 240Hz
· Wide Color Enhancer: Yes
· Local Dimming: Precision Dimming
· Audio: 15W x 2 stereo
· Features: 3D, Anynet+ (HDMI-CEC), Games Mode, Caption, PIP, Internet@TV, DLNA, USB 2.0 Movie, Content Library
· Tuner: Built-In Digital Tuner
· Connections: 4 x HDMI, Digital Audio Output (Optical), PC Input (D-sub), Component, Ethernet, 2 x RF In, 2 x USB 2.0
· Dimensions (WxHxD): 50.5"x32.8"x12.1" with stand; 62.4"x35.4"x7.9" without stand
· Weight: 53.4 lbs. with stand; 48.5 lbs. without stand
Monday, March 7, 2011
Watch TV in 3D
The huge success of Avatar has increased the popularity of 3D. Watching TV in 3D gives you a great experience. It allows you to play a game with characters and objects that appear to surround you. You can enjoy cinematic quality 3D entertainment at the comfort of your home with the help of 3D TVs.
Many reputable manufacturers like Panasonic, Samsung, Sony, Toshiba and LCD offer 3D TVs now. To watch TV in 3D, you need special glasses that produce a 3D effect. Some companies have demonstrated at trade shows that they can produce 3D without glasses. 3D TVs use active shutter LCD glasses, which include a tiny transmitter that communicates with the TV to block your left eye, when you watch an image with your right eye and vice versa at 120 times per second. Most 3D TVs come with one or two pairs of 3D glasses to give you the best possible 3D experience.
You may like to know how 3D works. Your eyes are spaced away from each other. This means that your left and right retinas see objects at slightly distinct angles. However, in real life, the brain merges theses two images into one 3D image. 3D TV recreates this experience. It displays two different, yet overlapping images of the same scene concurrently at distinct angles. One image is for your right eye and the other image is for the left one. You can use the active glasses to watch TV in 3D, as they help you perceive the two 2D images as a single three dimensional image.
All the 3D TV models represent their respective manufacturer’s flagship models, so you are able to watch 2D video on a 3D TV. The biggest hurdles to watch TV in 3D is the 3D glasses. Many people complain that they are uncomfortable. Toshiba is now working on a 3D TV model that can be watched without goggles. This TV would allow viewers to sit in multiple places, but enjoy seeing the images in 3D. Toshiba showed that a naked eye 3D display is possible by employing integral imaging. This enables 3D images to be viewed from nine different viewing angles without wearing 3D glasses.
In the traditional frame sequential method that involves 3D glasses, the parallax is utilized between two images for the left and right eyes. Alternatively, integral imaging has the ability to reproduce 3D images without special 3D glasses. It produces rays of light that are projected at distinct angles. You can watch TV in 3D with very little eye fatigue in this method, no matter how long you are seeing. It also relieves you from the trouble of buying several pairs of 3D glasses for everyone in your family.
At present, you can view Blu Ray, which is the only 3D content source available. Blu- Ray delivers High Definition. Some models like Sony, Samsung and Toshiba offer 2D to 3D conversion feature that allows you to watch everything in 3D. However, you cannot expect all these models come close to the exact 3D content.
Many reputable manufacturers like Panasonic, Samsung, Sony, Toshiba and LCD offer 3D TVs now. To watch TV in 3D, you need special glasses that produce a 3D effect. Some companies have demonstrated at trade shows that they can produce 3D without glasses. 3D TVs use active shutter LCD glasses, which include a tiny transmitter that communicates with the TV to block your left eye, when you watch an image with your right eye and vice versa at 120 times per second. Most 3D TVs come with one or two pairs of 3D glasses to give you the best possible 3D experience.
You may like to know how 3D works. Your eyes are spaced away from each other. This means that your left and right retinas see objects at slightly distinct angles. However, in real life, the brain merges theses two images into one 3D image. 3D TV recreates this experience. It displays two different, yet overlapping images of the same scene concurrently at distinct angles. One image is for your right eye and the other image is for the left one. You can use the active glasses to watch TV in 3D, as they help you perceive the two 2D images as a single three dimensional image.
All the 3D TV models represent their respective manufacturer’s flagship models, so you are able to watch 2D video on a 3D TV. The biggest hurdles to watch TV in 3D is the 3D glasses. Many people complain that they are uncomfortable. Toshiba is now working on a 3D TV model that can be watched without goggles. This TV would allow viewers to sit in multiple places, but enjoy seeing the images in 3D. Toshiba showed that a naked eye 3D display is possible by employing integral imaging. This enables 3D images to be viewed from nine different viewing angles without wearing 3D glasses.
In the traditional frame sequential method that involves 3D glasses, the parallax is utilized between two images for the left and right eyes. Alternatively, integral imaging has the ability to reproduce 3D images without special 3D glasses. It produces rays of light that are projected at distinct angles. You can watch TV in 3D with very little eye fatigue in this method, no matter how long you are seeing. It also relieves you from the trouble of buying several pairs of 3D glasses for everyone in your family.
At present, you can view Blu Ray, which is the only 3D content source available. Blu- Ray delivers High Definition. Some models like Sony, Samsung and Toshiba offer 2D to 3D conversion feature that allows you to watch everything in 3D. However, you cannot expect all these models come close to the exact 3D content.
3D TV - Pros and Cons of 3D TV
What is all the fuss about 3D TV?
By Robert Silva, About.com Guide
Jan 14 2011
3D TV - PROs
1. Viewing 3D Movies, Sports, TV shows, and Video/PC games in 3D
Seeing 3D in the movie theater is one thing, but being able to view 3D movies, TV programs, and 3D Video/PC games is quite an attraction for many, especially the Sports and Video/PC game experience. 3D if done well, can provide and immersive viewing experience for movies, games.
2. 3D TVs are excellent 2D TVs
Even if you aren't interested in 3D now (or ever), it turns out that 3D TVs are also excellent 2D TVs. Do to the extra processing (good contrast, black level, and motion response) needed to make 3D look good on a TV, this spills over into the 2D environment, making for an excellent 2D viewing experience.
3. Some 3D TVs perform real-time 2D to 3D conversion
Here is an interesting twist on some higher-end 3D TVs. Even if your TV program or movie isn't being played or transfered in 3D, some 3D TVs have real-time 2D-to-3D real time conversion. OK, admittedly, this is not as good an experience as watching originally produced or transmitted 3D content, but it can add a sense of depth and perspective if used appropriately, such as with viewing live sporting events.
3D TV - CONs
1. Not everyone likes 3D
Not everyone likes 3D. When comparing content filmed or being presented in 3D, the depth and layers of the image are not the same as what we see in the real world. Also, just as some people are color blind, some people are "Stereo Blind." They just can't see in 3D.
However, even many people that aren't "stereo blind" just don't like watching 3D. Just as those who prefer 2-channel stereo, rather than 5.1 channel surround sound.
2. Those Pesky Glasses
I don't have a problem wearing 3D glasses. To me, they are glorified sunglasses, but many are bothered by having to wear them. Depending on the glasses, some are, indeed, less comfortable than others. The comfort level of the glasses may be more a contributor to "so-called" 3D headaches than actually watching 3D. Also, wearing 3D glasses serves to narrow the field of vision, introducing a claustrophobic element to the viewing experience.
Whether 3D glasses bothers you or not, the price of them certainly can. With most LCD Shutter-type 3D glasses selling for over $100 a pair, this is certainly a downer for those with large families or lots of friends. However, some manufacturers are switching to 3D TVs that use Passive Polarized 3D Glasses, which are much less expensive, running about about $20 a pair, and are more comfortable to wear.
No-glasses 3D is being demonstrated, and it will eventually be available, but it will be some time before it is ready for consumers.
3. 3D TVs are more expensive
New tech is more expensive to acquire, at least at first. I remember when the price for a VHS VCR was $1,200. Blu-ray Disc players have only been out for about four years and the prices of those have dropped from $1,000 to about $100. In addition, who would have thought when Plasma TVs were selling for $20,000 ten years ago that you could buy one now for less than $700. The same thing will happen to 3D TV. In fact, if you do some searching in Ads or on the internet, you will find that 3D TV prices have come down on most sets, except for the real high-end units.
4. You need a 3D Blu-ray Disc player, and maybe a 3D-enabled Home Theater Receiver
If you think the cost of a 3D TV and Glasses are a stumbling block. Don't forget about having to buy a 3D Blu-ray Disc player if you really want to watch great 3D in high definition. That can add at least a couple of hundred bucks to the total. Also, the price of 3D Blu-ray Disc movies hovers between $35 and $40, which is about $10 higher than most 2D Blu-ray Disc movies.
Now, if you connect your Blu-ray Disc player through your home theater receiver and on to your TV, unless your home theater receiver is 3D-enabled, you cannot access the 3D from your Blu-ray Disc player. However, there is a workaround - connect the HDMI from your Blu-ray Disc player directly to your TV for video, and use an alternate connection from your Blu-ray Disc player to access audio on your home theater receiver. Some 3D Blu-ray Disc players actually offer two HDMI outputs, one for video and for audio. However, it does add cables in your setup.
Of course, the solution to this is to buy a new home theater receiver. However, I think most people can put up with one extra cable instead, at least for the time being.
5. Not enough 3D content
Here is the perpetual "Catch 22". You can't watch 3D unless there is 3D content to watch, and content providers aren't going to supply 3D content unless enough people watch to watch it and have the equipment to do so. On the positive side, there seems to be plenty of 3D-enabled hardware (Blu-ray Disc Players, TVs, Home Theater Receivers), but content has been slow in coming, which less than 30 3D Blu-ray Disc movies available at the end of 2010.
Also, another problem is that many 3D Blu-ray Disc movies are only available for purchasers of certain brand 3D TVs. For instance, Avatar in 3D is only available for owners of Panasonic 3D TVs, while Dreamworks 3D movies are only available with Samsung 3D TVs. Once the exclusive contracts expire in throughout 2011 things will hopefully improve in this area, but it should be happening in the first place if 3D is to take off.
On the other hand, Blu-ray isn't the only source for growth in 3D content, DirecTV and Dish Network are also offering 3D content via Satellite. You just need to make sure your satellite box is 3D-enabled or if DirecTV and Dish have the ability to do this via firmware updates.
I feel that 3D TV is hear to stay, but it will be more of a niche audience for some time, until pricing and content are widely available. You have to remember that all new tech takes awhile to make inroads. Also, manufacturers and content providers need to keep in mind that most consumer just purchased new HDTVs as a result of the recent DTV Transition and asking them to fork out more bucks to upgrade to a 3D TV now is too much to expect, especially in the current economy.
Also, another move in the industry is the possible introduction or Ultra-High Definition TV (also refer to as Quad Resolution, 4K, or 4K x 2K) which creates another TV product category that consumers could be faced with in the next several years, at least for screen sizes 65-inches and larger.
However, before your start to panic, keep in mind that, just as with 3D now, unless TV broadcast bandwidth is increased, a new compression alogrithm is worked out, or a new disc format is created, actual Untra-High Definition content will be almost non-existent for some time, so almost everything you would e viewing on an Ultra-HD TV would simply be upscaled from current 1080p content.
What will happen going forward is that 3D will be just another feature offered on and increasing number of TVs that you can advantage of or not, in same manner as the increasing number of TVs that have internet connectivity and media player functions. When you shop for a TV, just make sure it has the features you want, whether its 3D, internet streaming, media player functionality, easier-to-use onscreen menus, or Ultra-High Definition resolution (when that comes out).
3D Movies: Will Your Family Enjoy the Home 3D Movie Viewing Experience?
The Home 3D Experience Has Finally Caught Up
By Carey Bryson, About.com Guide
3D Capability at Home
Improvements in the theater 3D experience have sparked a surge in 3D theatrical movie releases in the last few years, especially in the category of family and kids movies. When the subsequent 3D DVDs and Blu-rays started hitting the shelves, though, we found out that the home 3D viewing experience had not come as far. Sporting a pair of red/blue glasses was not even worth the trouble. But now, the home 3D experience has caught up and then some.The first of the 3D capable TVs are now on the market. Those horrible red and blue glasses are no more and have been replaced with active shudder glasses that allow even better viewing than you can get in theaters. The only problem now, is affording all of the upgrades.
Is the Upgrade to 3D Enabled Home Viewing Systems Worth It for Families?
The upgraded 3D technology is still very new, which usually means early adopters are going to pay a high price. Not only that, but there is also the risk that the technology will rapidly change or improve, leaving those that bought the first systems on the market with a less than optimal set-up. In this case, though, the new 3D TVs are not much more expensive than their 2D only counterparts, and you may not even need to upgrade components right away. Here are some things to consider if you're looking into buying a 3D capable TV and components:- What kind of content is available? So you spring for a nice new 3D enabled TV and Blu-ray player, now what can you watch? Only a handful of 3D movies using the new technology are available. 3D content on TV through cable or satellite is coming, but it will still be a while before a wealth of content is readily available. By the end of 2010, you'll see more and more 3D movies on Blu-ray, and most of the movies scheduled to come out on 3D Blu-ray are kids and family movies.
- I know I need a new 3D capable TV, but what else do I need? Depending on your current home theater system, if you have a newer Blu-ray player or PS3, you may not have to upgrade components -- at least not right away, though you probably won't be able to watch in full 1080p. Before you buy your new 3D enabled TV, check the guide What Do I Need for My 3D Home Theater, by About.com's guide to home theater, Robert Silva. You can also check your Blu-ray player manufacturer's website to see if you player can be upgraded. In addition to home theater components, you will also need to fork out some money for the high-tech glasses to watch in 3D, although it's fairly easy to find a sale where stores will throw in at least a couple of pairs when you buy the TV.
- Is watching a movie in 3D really that much better? The answer to this question really depends on you and your family's love for watching movies. If family movie night is something you value, or if you are just really into cool home theater technology, a 3D TV is a must. Go to your local home theater store and let them give you a demo. You will be impressed. And again, if you have kids, most of the Blu-ray content available for 3D viewing is family and kid-oriented. Kids will get a big kick out of the home 3D experience, and if you provide it, your house will be the movie central for you kids and all of their friends. In fact, you may save money on going out to the the theater, since everyone will want to wait and see the movie on the 3D TV at home.
- What about young children, will they enjoy watching 3D movies at home? Even when the movie is great and the glasses are just their size, most very young children just don't keep the glasses on and end up losing interest or watching a fuzzy movie. If your kids are old enough to keep the glasses on their faces, they will be able to enjoy 3D movies with the rest of the family. Of course, this ability to keep the glasses on depends on the child's age and personality.
- Does watching 3D movies hurt your eyes or present any other health risks for adults or children? Blu-ray.com has posted a health warning issued by Samsung regarding 3D viewing. According to the release, 3D-related health risks include headaches, dizziness, nausea, seizures, and more. With the technology being so new, we will not likely know of any unforeseen long term effects for some time, so it is important to exercise caution, especially where kids are involved. If your child has had or is at risk of having seizures, you may want to contact your pediatrician before letting him view any 3D content.
The Future of 3D and the Home Theater
Whether you love it or hate it, 3D is definitely going to be a big part of the home theater future, and this is just the beginning. Bob Perry, Panasonic Senior Vice President, states in a Panasonic ad featured in Home Theater Magazine, "Over the next decade, television will change by becoming more immersive or lifelike in its experience, as 3D capability comes to Blu-ray Disc and flat-screen television." He forecasts changes and improvements to 3D capability will be seen over the next 3-8 years.Wednesday, March 2, 2011
How it works
How does 3D Work?
Your brain creates a sense of depth in real life that gives depth perception and hence a ‘real life image’. 3D Movies and TV images are created and can be used with 3D Glasses to fool the brain into thinking it’s seeing a ‘real life image’.
If the camera shots are set up with a 3D audience in mind, you can enable recording of the actual ‘real life image’ experience. If the camera operator is behind the goal of a football match or falling through the air with sky-divers in a movie, then the viewer at home or in the cinema can have almost the same experience.
Each image is then recorded sequentially (left and then right image) and can be broadcast live or saved for future broadcast.
Are the glasses red and green/blue?
Do I need a 3D Ready TV?
Yes. 3D ready TVs are already being marketed and will also be HD ready. Some of the main manufacturers are: LG, Panasonic, Sony and Philips.
Active v Passive 3D explained
Active v Passive 3D refers to the type of glasses you have to wear to watch 3D.
Active glasses contain LCD lenses that alternately ‘black-out’ each eye depending on whether the right or left image is being displayed on the screen. They are referred to as active because they require a battery to operate the LCD lenses. The shuttering occurs so rapidly that you don’t see the shutters just the amazing 3D picture.
Passive glasses use polarisation to separate out the left and right image. They are referred to as passive because the glasses do not require any power to operate them. These work with polarised TVs that use circular polarisation to deliver the two images to the viewer. The TVs have a polarized filter integrated into the screen, and when switched into a 3D mode, the filter orientates the light emitting from screen differently for the left and right image. When you put on the passive polarised glasses the left lens has a filter that blocks out the right image and right lens has a filter that blocks out the left image.
One important point to consider is the cost of replacing broken or lost 3D glasses. Active glasses will cost more than polarised glasses due to the additional technology they use. Active glasses will also occasionally need a new lithium battery (similar to a watch battery) when it runs out.
Your brain creates a sense of depth in real life that gives depth perception and hence a ‘real life image’. 3D Movies and TV images are created and can be used with 3D Glasses to fool the brain into thinking it’s seeing a ‘real life image’.
3D movies and tv broadcasts project a left and right image simultaneously onto the same screen, and then the glasses that you wear filter out the correct image to each eye, to create the sense of depth of a ‘real life image’.
How is a 3D movie or TV Program filmed?
A 3D moving image begins by recording the way that our eyes see (from two different perspectives). Two HD cameras are used in a special camera apparatus to take left and right images of the chosen scene or subjects. What you then see is exactly what the camera operator views.
If the camera shots are set up with a 3D audience in mind, you can enable recording of the actual ‘real life image’ experience. If the camera operator is behind the goal of a football match or falling through the air with sky-divers in a movie, then the viewer at home or in the cinema can have almost the same experience.
Each image is then recorded sequentially (left and then right image) and can be broadcast live or saved for future broadcast.
How can I view 3D Moving Images?
There are two different 3D TV technologies.
1. Polarized screens, project both the left and right images onto the screen at the same time, and then a special filter on the glass polarizes the left and right images differently, such that your 3D glasses then use a different left and right lens to filter the correct image to each eye. Your brain then does the rest.
2. Active shutter glasses, switch between one eye and then the other in sync with the TV, which is alternating left and right images on the screen at a very high rate (50 frames per eye per second). This is fast enough that the brain sees no gaps, and again, takes the two different views from left and right eyes to merge them into an image with depth.
Are the glasses red and green/blue?No. The red and green/blue glasses also known as anaglyph were used for 80’s 3D movies. Although the principles are the same, Digital 3D delivers a far superior experience. Anaglyph images suffer from a loss of colour, as the method for filtering out the left and right images strip out colours from the image. They lead to images that the brain finds too difficult to process which cancause headaches and eye strain.
Yes. 3D ready TVs are already being marketed and will also be HD ready. Some of the main manufacturers are: LG, Panasonic, Sony and Philips.
Active v Passive 3D explained
Active v Passive 3D refers to the type of glasses you have to wear to watch 3D.
Active glasses contain LCD lenses that alternately ‘black-out’ each eye depending on whether the right or left image is being displayed on the screen. They are referred to as active because they require a battery to operate the LCD lenses. The shuttering occurs so rapidly that you don’t see the shutters just the amazing 3D picture.
Passive glasses use polarisation to separate out the left and right image. They are referred to as passive because the glasses do not require any power to operate them. These work with polarised TVs that use circular polarisation to deliver the two images to the viewer. The TVs have a polarized filter integrated into the screen, and when switched into a 3D mode, the filter orientates the light emitting from screen differently for the left and right image. When you put on the passive polarised glasses the left lens has a filter that blocks out the right image and right lens has a filter that blocks out the left image.
One important point to consider is the cost of replacing broken or lost 3D glasses. Active glasses will cost more than polarised glasses due to the additional technology they use. Active glasses will also occasionally need a new lithium battery (similar to a watch battery) when it runs out.
3D--How Does It Work?
3D is based on the principle of stereoscopy, which creates the illusion of depth in an image. The easiest way to enhance depth perception in the brain is to provide the eyes of the viewer with two different images, representing two perspectives of the same object, with a minor deviation exactly equal to the perspectives that both eyes naturally receive in binocular vision.
There are currently three kinds of 3D technology on the market and each one works differently:
The first one, anaglyph technology, is the most famous one (think red/blue paper glasses) but usually the 3D effects are not so great.
The second one, polarized (or passive) technology, is the technology you have been exposed to when watching a 3D movie in an IMAX theater (e.g. Avatar 3D, Alice in Wonderland 3D, etc.)
The third one, active technology, is the most recent one that is quickly becoming the standard in terms of 3D watching at home.
Let’s learn more about each of these technologies....
Is 3D new? Not at all.
For the longest time, mankind has been interested in creating a 3D effect on a 2D screen. Most painters created some effect of perspective in their paintings to simulate a 3D effect.
More recently, in 1853 Wilhelm Rollmann developed a technique to simulate 3D. He created anaglyph images using two color layers superimposed but offset with respect to each other to produce a depth effect. Usually the main subject remained centered while the foreground and background shifted laterally in opposite directions.
When viewed with two-color glasses (the lenses are chromatically opposite in color usually red and cyan), these images produced a stereoscopic 3D effect (your brain is tricked into thinking that this picture is in 3D).
This technology has been used countless times in movie theaters, as the typical red and blue glasses are inexpensive. The movie Bwana Devil is regarded as the first of the commercial 3D movies in the 1950s. However, while the 3D effect were fun to watch, the pictures were of low quality and had strong shades of green and red.
Most DVD and Blu-ray Discs currently on the market use this technology.
Polarized (or Passive) Technology:
This is where it gets interesting. Most of us have seen Avatar or other movies in IMAX 3D with polarized 3D glasses. These glasses create the illusion of three-dimensional images by restricting the light that reaches each eye, creating a stereoscopic, or 3D, effect.
To create that 3D effect, two images are projected onto the same screen through different polarizing filters. The viewer wears low-cost eyeglasses which also contain a pair of different polarizing filters. Through the filters, each eye sees a different picture (each filter allows the light which is similarly polarized and blocks the light polarized in the opposite direction). This is used to produce a three-dimensional effect by projecting the same scene into both eyes, but depicted from slightly different perspectives.
The great thing about this technology is that the glasses you need to wear to enjoy 3D are really cheap (between $1 and $10 per pair); however, most believe that the 3D effects generated through this technology are not as sharp as the ones generated through a display with active technology.
Active Technology:
This technology has been adopted by most consumer electronics firms, including LG, Samsung, Panasonic, and more. With this technology, an HDTV will display one image to your left eye and one image to your right eye. Since the effective frame rate is halved, these HDTVs need to have double the refresh rate of HDTVs (60 Hz). This is why you will find that all 3D HDTVs have a minimum frame rate of 120 Hz (most have a frame rate around 240 Hz or even 480 Hz).
Active liquid crystal shutter glasses are then worn by the viewer and quickly block each eye in sequence to ensure that each eye only sees the corresponding image being displayed on the 3D TV set. The active shutter glasses are kept in sync with the HDTV using Bluetooth, infrared, or radio technology. These special glasses usually contain liquid crystals that can be made opaque, thus acting as a shutter. These glasses are battery-operated (battery life estimated at around 80 hours or so).
There are currently three kinds of 3D technology on the market and each one works differently:
The first one, anaglyph technology, is the most famous one (think red/blue paper glasses) but usually the 3D effects are not so great.
The second one, polarized (or passive) technology, is the technology you have been exposed to when watching a 3D movie in an IMAX theater (e.g. Avatar 3D, Alice in Wonderland 3D, etc.)
The third one, active technology, is the most recent one that is quickly becoming the standard in terms of 3D watching at home.
Let’s learn more about each of these technologies....
Anaglyph Technology:
Is 3D new? Not at all. For the longest time, mankind has been interested in creating a 3D effect on a 2D screen. Most painters created some effect of perspective in their paintings to simulate a 3D effect.
More recently, in 1853 Wilhelm Rollmann developed a technique to simulate 3D. He created anaglyph images using two color layers superimposed but offset with respect to each other to produce a depth effect. Usually the main subject remained centered while the foreground and background shifted laterally in opposite directions.
When viewed with two-color glasses (the lenses are chromatically opposite in color usually red and cyan), these images produced a stereoscopic 3D effect (your brain is tricked into thinking that this picture is in 3D).
This technology has been used countless times in movie theaters, as the typical red and blue glasses are inexpensive. The movie Bwana Devil is regarded as the first of the commercial 3D movies in the 1950s. However, while the 3D effect were fun to watch, the pictures were of low quality and had strong shades of green and red.
Most DVD and Blu-ray Discs currently on the market use this technology.
Polarized (or Passive) Technology:
This is where it gets interesting. Most of us have seen Avatar or other movies in IMAX 3D with polarized 3D glasses. These glasses create the illusion of three-dimensional images by restricting the light that reaches each eye, creating a stereoscopic, or 3D, effect.
To create that 3D effect, two images are projected onto the same screen through different polarizing filters. The viewer wears low-cost eyeglasses which also contain a pair of different polarizing filters. Through the filters, each eye sees a different picture (each filter allows the light which is similarly polarized and blocks the light polarized in the opposite direction). This is used to produce a three-dimensional effect by projecting the same scene into both eyes, but depicted from slightly different perspectives.
The great thing about this technology is that the glasses you need to wear to enjoy 3D are really cheap (between $1 and $10 per pair); however, most believe that the 3D effects generated through this technology are not as sharp as the ones generated through a display with active technology.
Active Technology:
This technology has been adopted by most consumer electronics firms, including LG, Samsung, Panasonic, and more. With this technology, an HDTV will display one image to your left eye and one image to your right eye. Since the effective frame rate is halved, these HDTVs need to have double the refresh rate of HDTVs (60 Hz). This is why you will find that all 3D HDTVs have a minimum frame rate of 120 Hz (most have a frame rate around 240 Hz or even 480 Hz).
Active liquid crystal shutter glasses are then worn by the viewer and quickly block each eye in sequence to ensure that each eye only sees the corresponding image being displayed on the 3D TV set. The active shutter glasses are kept in sync with the HDTV using Bluetooth, infrared, or radio technology. These special glasses usually contain liquid crystals that can be made opaque, thus acting as a shutter. These glasses are battery-operated (battery life estimated at around 80 hours or so).
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