CES 2012: Must See S3D Products & Services!

Well CES 2012 is almost upon us and what better way to warm up to the infamous show than to go over some of what you will see there!

This year is something special. 3D has taken the world by storm and now some truly awe inspiring products are hitting the market now after some R&D has been spent.

2012 is the year of autostereoscopic 3D - no glasses required. Many new products will be revealed this year from such companies as LG (computer monitor), Stream TV and Magentic 3D. But I have not seen these offerings and cannot vouch for them. I CAN vouch for MasterImage 3D's tablet sized displays however as I have used them...

1. MasterImage 3D's 10.1" Autostereoscopic displays: Yes, glasses free screens for tablets are here already much faster than I thought would happen. No need for any 3D glasses whatsoever and believe me, the screens are very impressive. I saw the 7" version at Cinemacon last spring and wow. Amazing depth from such a portable screen.

MasterImage uses their proprietary Cell Matrix Parallax technology. It offers both portrait and landscape modes and can easily switch from 3D to 2D.

Here are the Display's features:
- High brightness level and wide viewing angle, delivering the sharpest and highest quality 3D images
- Elimination of crosstalk (ghosting)
- Switchable between 2D and 3D modes. Reverse compatible with existing 2D content
- Switchable between portrait and landscape modes in 3D, unique to ‘Cell Matrix Parallax’
- Compatible with all existing flat display technologies
- Cost effective – Manufacturing simplicity resulting in high yields

I can't wait to see their 3D demos at some point using their 10.1" display! The 7" was great, but of course the larger the screen, the better the 3D. It won't be long before we see these things in our standard issue tablets!


2. 3D Now's Theater - Drop In Black Box 3D Solution For Your 2D Television: A new non-anaglyphic frame-sequential stereoscopic processor to allow you to create S3D content from your existing 2D investment. Apparently first in the world. The content must be in 1080p with HDMI input, so that includes Blu-ray players, video game consoles, cable, satellite, Internet, etc.

From their press release:
"Almost everyone wants to enjoy all of the great new 3D content becoming more and more available, but most people don't want to invest in a new 3D-ready flat panel display or projector," said Doug Smith, director of sales for 3D Now. "3D Now Theater is the perfect solution for instantly converting those 2D displays into high performance 3D experience."

To achieve "instant 3D", 3D Now Theater utilizes 3D Now's proprietary frame interleaving with active shutter technology. 3D Now's system integrates the latest 3D standards and is far superior to either the passive shutter or the older anaglyphic technologies - used in alternative products. Passive technology skips every second line of the frame in the processing thus delivering a lesser quality picture while the anaglyphic format does not store the color schemes in the processing degrading the picture quality. 3D Now's active shutter technology is the most advanced technology and delivers a true stereoscopic 3D viewing that doesn't derogate the original source.

High quality 3D performance is also achieved thanks to 3D Now's Active Shutter RF Eyewear. Unlike competitive IR eyewear, the 3D Now Eyewear allows the viewer to turn his or her head without losing synchronization, achieving a smooth, continuous 3D presentation. Critical to maintaining the qualities of the original content, the 3D Now Eyewear features high contrast ratio, high uniformity and fast response time. The 3D Now Eyewear is comfortable to wear and large enough to wear comfortably even over prescription glasses.

The 3D Now Theater processor will be available through authorized dealers and retailers in the U.S. beginning in early Spring 2012.

3D Now will showcase the new 3D Now Theater at Booth 21166 (The Powerhouse Alliance booth) in the South Hall at CES 2012, held January 10-13 in Las Vegas, Nevada.

About 3D Now LLC
3D Now is the world's first producer of non-anaglyphic frame-sequential stereoscopic processors. 3D Now's unique technology allows users to instantly and easily convert high definition 2D displays into 3D displays. For more information on 3D Now, visit http://www.3dnow.com.

Just as I thought when this story came to me (thanks Wm Turner!), that the heavy lifting will have to be done with the glasses as the televisions are all 2D. Active Shutter is the only way to go with this.

I am setting up an interview with these guys shortly. Stay tuned for more info.


3. BCS Championship Game 3D Viewing Event: The night before the show opens, invited guests will view the BCS National Championship game live on ESPN 3D at the Las Vegas Hilton Theater. Food, drinks and 3D glasses will be provided. This is by invitation only, so... get invited!

Here are the details for their various 3D events:
BCS Championship Game (Invitation Only)
5:30 p.m.; Doors Open at 4:30 p.m.
Monday, January 9
Las Vegas Hilton Theater

SportsNation
2 p.m.
Wednesday, January 11
LVCC, Central Hall, ESPN 3D Booth #13632
Watch Emmy Award-winning SportsNation live as it becomes ESPN’s first studio program to be telecast in 3D! The show provides an off-beat look at sports, doesn’t take itself too seriously, and weaves pop culture into a fast-paced hour like no other.

CES Edition of Friday Night Fights
1:30 p.m.
Thursday, January 11
LVCC, Central Hall, ESPN 3D Booth #13632
Let’s get ready to rumble! Join ESPN 3D for the best seat in the house during Top Rank boxing matches staged live on the show floor. This event will also be telecast live on ESPN 3D.

ESPN 3D is doing it right! Love their content and passion for delivering solid 3D entertainment to the home.


4. LG's 84" 3D Ultra Definition TV: LG Electronics will showcase the "world's largest" 3D Ultra Definition (UD) HDTV measuring an incredible 84-inches and feature a 3840 x 2160 resolution (4K), 8 million pixels, a slim and narrow bezel design, 3D Depth Control and 3D Sound Zooming.

The LG display will also offer more than just razor-sharp graphics. The company said it will come packed with LG's Smart TV ecosystem that provides over 1,200 apps and a library of 3D movies. Users will navigate through the content using LG's new ergonomically-designed Magic Remote which supports four different types of input: Voice Recognition, Wheel, Magic Gesture and Point. There's also a 2D to 3D conversion engine that brings older flat content to new 3D depths.
"LG is pushing the limits of home entertainment innovation with this 3D UD TV," said Havis Kwon, President and CEO of LG Electronics Home Entertainment Company. "We are bringing together all our Smart TV and 3D knowledge in the 3D UD TV in order to demonstrate to the CES audience that LG is committed to being the world’s leading brand for immersive home entertainment in 2012 and beyond."

Pricing and availability my be disclosed at the show. From what I have seen and read - WOW. Note that LG subscribes to passive 3D technology, so their TVs use the same type of glasses as RealD does at the theater.


More CES news when I get it!

Monday Night Football Coming in 3D on ESPN3D

"Get with the program"

Tim here. That's right, Monday Night Football! This was the most exciting news to come out of the 3D Summit last week. Bryan Burns, Vice President Strategic Business Planning and Development for ESPN, broke the news to us after showing a clip of fan reactions to watching games in 3D on 3DTVs placed in bars. One person said, "My next TV purchase will be a 3DTV. I watch more sports than any other program." This is an eight-year, $15.2 billion, deal made with the National Football League!

This also was announced after a little rumor was started by a press writer that ESPN would be closing their doors. The rumor spread rapidly, but it wasn't true and two days the Monday Night Football announcement came. Mr. Burns pointed out that this was another example of an opportunistic reporter using 3D negativity and bashing to attract readers to their unfounded reporting in order to propel themselves. (Writer's note that several others had made similar comments about the presses negativity throughout the summit.)

Sadly we have to wait for 2014 when ESPN's rights pick up distribution, but that's plenty of time for you to go get your 3DTV! As Mr. Burns put it, "We're not playing defense, but instead we've got the ball and are driving down the field."

ESPN Commits To S3DHD Broadcast Of The 2011 NBA FInals!!

I am a bit biased: I love 3D. I love basketball (I am 6'6" after all). Put the two together and I am suitably enjoying myself!

ESPN 3D has announced that they will be covering the 2011 NBA Finals in stereoscopic 3D!

Here's the official press release (emphasis is mine):
NBA Finals Televised for First Time in 3D

ESPN 3D, in its first year of distribution, will expand its NBA offerings to include The Finals – the pinnacle of the NBA season – this June, marking the first time the championship-crowning event will be presented in 3D. ESPN 3D televised the first NBA game in 3D when the Miami Heat visited the New York Knicks on December 17, 2010. Since December, ESPN 3D has shown six NBA games in addition to other programming.

ESPN 3D's upcoming NBA schedule (schedule subject to change):
Fri, Feb 25 8 p.m. Oklahoma City at Orlando
Fri, Mar 4 7 p.m. Chicago at Orlando
Wed, Mar 16 8 p.m. Oklahoma City at Miami
Fri, Apr 1 8 p.m. Boston at Atlanta
TBD TBD NBA Playoffs (First Round) – Game 1
TBD TBD NBA Playoffs (First Round) – Game 4
TBD TBD NBA Playoffs (Conference Semifinals) – Game 2
TBD TBD Western Conference Finals – Game 1
TBD TBD Western Conference Finals – Game 2
TBD TBD Western Conference Finals – Game 4
Thurs, Jun 2 9 p.m. Finals (Game 1)
Sun, Jun 5 8 p.m. Finals (Game 2)
Tues, Jun 7 9 p.m. Finals (Game 3)
Thurs, Jun 9 9 p.m. Finals (Game 4)
Sun, Jun 12 8 p.m. Finals (Game 5)
Tues, Jun 14 9 p.m. Finals (Game 6)
Thurs, Jun 16 9 p.m. Finals (Game 7)

Beginning Monday, Feb. 14, ESPN 3D began showing 3D content 24-hours a day. In its first year, ESPN 3D will telecast more than 100 live events.

About ESPN 3D
ESPN was the first to announce in the United States an exclusive 3D network in January 2010 which was the culmination of more than three years of testing 3D television. ESPN produced many 3D domestic telecasts in 2010, including: college football and basketball, the State Farm Home Run Derby, the Masters, the Harlem Globetrotters and NBA games. ESPN 3D first produced the USC vs. Ohio State college football game in September 2009 which became the starting point for the network. ESPN has developed best practices for utilizing and producing 3D technology in live game applications. In addition, ESPN utilizes cutting-edge technology located at the ESPN Innovation Lab in Orlando at the ESPN Wide World of Sports complex at Walt Disney World to continue to develop innovative production enhancements. ESPN 3D is available in the United States to approximately 62.5 million households and has carriage agreements with AT&T U-Verse, Comcast, DIRECTV and Time Warner Cable. It will launch in 2011 on Verizon FiOS TV. Sony was named the first official sponsor of the network in January 2010.

Yes, I am predicting a Miami Heat vs. Oklahoma City Thunder NBA Final! Mark. My. Words. :-)