What's New In 3D: Talking With Samsung's Dan Schinasi

Here's a second interview I completed today - this time with Samsung's Dan Schinasi and what his state of the union on 3D looks like. Join me in welcoming Dan to MarketSaw along with Samsung's amazing 3D products and industry support!

Jim Dorey: Dan, being in senior marketing management at Samsung as well as co-chairing the I3DS must take up most of your time! How do you manage to stay on top of two such dynamic organizations?

Dan Schinasi: It’s a balancing act but one that I take pride in. One that leverages my passion for marketing the world’s greatest TVs and the incredible 3D experience they are capable of delivering. Of course none of it would be possible without the support of my Samsung colleagues and management as well as the dedicated and professional leadership at I3DS!

JD: Speaking of the I3DS, what are you most proud of during the past 12 months?
DS: There have been a number of accomplishments that I share with my Co-Chair Tom Cosgrove, I3DS President Jim Chabin, and his terrific staff. The first is the successful merger of I3DS and 3D@Home. The combined organizations complement each other; our combined membership spans the entire 3D spectrum: we have members from all parts of the globe representing studios, broadcasters, content creators, the medical community, eyewear manufacturers, exhibition equipment makers, as well as CE companies. All of whom have a passion of seeing 3D thrive.

JD: What do you see happening with 3D over the next quarter? Next 6 months?
DS: On the consumer and production side, we will see continuous growth and consumer adoption of 3D in theatrical and home entertainment. We will further collaborate with researchers to better understand the hidden benefits of 3D, how we can continue to push the technology forward, as well as other applications.

JD: There are still misnomers and missteps when the media covers 3D; why do you suppose that is?
DS: There was significant promotion around the launch of 3D TV back when it was introduced in January of 2010. At the time there was not an abundance of content to enjoy and the media focused on that fact (the same misconception was apparent for HD content after HDTV’s entered the marketplace in the 90s). There was also a fair amount of confusion regarding the use of 3D technology that led to factually incorrect stories such as prohibitively expensive 3D gear to enjoy the technology at home. I3DS and its members are passionate about the technology and happy to educate the community about the technology and experiences available.

JD: The 3D Awards are coming up on Feb 6 - what are you most looking forward to during the evening?
DS: I’m most looking forward to meeting industry colleagues and the awards ceremony. In particular, honoring Ang Lee for his dedication and artistic capabilities in 3D production. There are a handful but growing number of producers that effectively use 3D as a tool to complement the story line. We are excited to reward Ang Lee for joining this expanding circle of producers.

JD: Thanks for your time today Dan! Appreciate all the time you put into 3D from multiple fronts and continued success!
DS: Thank you Jim!

More interviews to come!

New Breed Of Theatrical 3D Advertising Launches - Samsung's Interactive Pre-Movie 3D Gaming Ignites Audiences

Very cool new concept using your hands to control game motion on a 3D screen at the theater! Samsung is ramping up their cinema marketing for their brand new Galaxy S III phone and they are certainly not being cheap about it. $20 million not cheap. Apparently it's the biggest cinema ad buy EVER.

The cool thing about the advertising is that it's in 3D: A traditional advertisement - but in 3D, *AND* an interactive 3D game for the audience to participate in. The game was set in motion by US advertising agency Razorfish, produced by Audience Entertainment/NCM and the live action was produced by Geneva Film Co. headed by my good friend Director James Stewart.

Here's what Digital Outsider had to say about the new 3D advertising / entertainment:
The campaign will run all summer long across National Cinemedia’s entire network of around 18,000 screens nationwide as part of its FirstLook pre-show package of entertainment and advertising, which should put the budget for the cinema ad component at $20 million or more (NCM wouldn’t comment, but comparisons with other cinema ad campaigns confirm it should be well into eight figures; Ad Age earlier reported that Samsung is more than doubling its 2011 budget for promoting Galaxy products this year).

The centerpiece of the campaign is a two-minute-long 3D spot featuring two of the 20-somethings from Samsung’s earlier campaign promoting the S II, not-so-gently mocking Apple fanboys (in which one of them reminds the other, snarkily, “Dude, you’re a barrista”). This time around, while appearing to wreak havoc on the theater from the projection booth, the guys demonstrate one of the big new features of the S III: users can share content with each other simply by tapping the phones, which employ near field technology.

The campaign also includes a first-of-its-kind 3D interactive crowd motion game, designed by Audience Entertainment, running at a limited number of theaters equipped with the necessary motion sensor technology. In the game, the audience has to work together to make two phones (which appear to be “hovering” in the ether) touch to share content (as seen in the video) -- thus demonstrating the key new feature again, this time with audience participation.

Check out the game below:

We're seeing the beginning of a new phase of theatrical advertising that I hope is much more enjoyable for audiences. Embedding brands and experiences in 3D games that can be played before a movie starts is a brilliant move. Kudos to the companies involved!

Some content from MediaPost

3D Entertainment Summit – Day 1: Opening Remarks and Keynote Presentations

Tim here with news from the 4^th Annual 3DEntertainment Summit (9/20/11-9/22/11) where the first day proved to be a great success. Today James Cameron and Vince Pace are featured keynote speakers while Jeffrey Katzenberg will be receiving the 3D Visionary Award. The theme of the conference is “3D is the future now. Don’t get left behind.”

The first day started out with opening remarks from Bob Dowling,Co-Producer and Conference Chairperson of the 3D Entertainment Summit. He thankedthe sponsors of the event, which included Variety, ESPN 3D, RealD, MasterImage, and many others. He pointed out that conversions are getting better and that Lion King 3D is an example, especially with its box office success, and that we have to see the performance of Star Wars and Titanic next year. Also the big directors Spielberg, Scorsese, and Coppola, all have movies coming out soon in 3D.

Next to speak was Charlotte Jones of IHS Screen Digest who had a Keynote/Power Point presentation in 3D. There are 30,000 3D screens globally accounting for 64% of the international box office and 17 million 3DTV’s sets. The total revenue for the entertainment industry is $320 billion, and that encompasses all sorts of forms of media from theatrical movies, television programs, mobile devices,etc. All of which 3D is in the prime position to take a position in each market. North America accounts for 43% of the digital screens worldwide, and 3D is key for the international upgrade to digital. The top 3D territories are China,France, UK, Germany, Russia, Mexico, Spain, and Japan, and China is emerging as a key battleground. Western Europe is leading drive for 3D feature production internationally, and the leading producers are the UK, France, Spain, and there’s also Australia alongside the European giants. Jones says that the international 3D box office is set for a record year. For the split between domestic and international grosses the average split is 67.5%.

There’s an average of 3.1 new 3D releases per month, and that number is increasing steadily. On the technology watch she said that increasing light levels and higher frame rates are what we need to keep our eyes on. The greatest issue with higher frame rates is that not all the digital projectors currently in theaters are capable of showing up to 48 fps.

Jones lead into the 3DTV discussion by mentioning that there are 30 dedicated 3D channels, and France has the highest number, while on the downside Comcast has less than 40 3D movies in its catalog. She claimed that the 2012 Olympics should be a watershed for live 3D broadcast before handing off to Helen Davies (IHS Screen Digest head of video). Davies pointed out that by the end of 2011 65% of US households that are already 3D capable will be 3D ready, with 48% internationally. By 2015 she predicted that 47% of the 137 million 3DTV’s will be passive. Capable means having a 3DTV alone while ready means having the total package of a 3DTV plus a 3D source (like a 3D Blu-ray player or 3D cable/satellite) and of course the 3D glasses.

Davies covered the Blu-ray 3D market, and said that there will be 100 Blu-ray 3D titles by 2011’s year end, which was later upped to 110 by John Revie of Samsung Electronics. Davies informed us that the Blu-ray’s adoption has been slower in the international market than the US, but attributed it to the economy. She talked about gaming devices being the next driving force for 3D in the home, with PCs, Playstation 3, Xbox 360, and Nintendo 3DS. However, the adoption is slower than expected with 3D PC gaming remaining a niche. She said that 3D cellphones are in their early days and are early prototypes with little 3D mobile content. Davies said that Apple needs to join, but “we’re not holding our breath.”

Closing the early presentations John Revie talked about what Samsung is doing to push the envelope. He said, “Life is in 3D. Entertainment should be as well.” 3D is gaining momentum and Samsung has sold 3 million units this year with 88% of consumers rating the 3D picture quality positively.

Samsung has developed new 1 oz. Ultra-Light Weight 3D shutter glasses, which I got to try out at the expo part of the conference. They’re amazing and really make shutter glasses comparable to passive glasses in comfort. Revie also said that by 2012 the active shutter glasses standards would be adapted.

MasterImage 3D Announces $15M Strategic Investment by Samsung Ventures

Exciting news from MasterImage 3D - They are teaming up with Samsung Ventures for future growth! I will be meeting with the MasterImage team at CinemaCon and checking out their latest creations. I will be sure to share!

Here's the official press release (emphasis is mine):

Investment Substantiates MasterImage 3D Leadership, Supports Companies' Shared Vision for 3D on Every Screen

Hollywood, CA (March 22, 2011) - 3D technology company, MasterImage 3D, Inc. announced today that it has received a $15M investment from Samsung Ventures. MasterImage 3D provides auto-stereoscopic 3D displays and 3D content creation tools for mobile devices, and 3D digital cinema solutions.

MasterImage 3D invented, patented and mass-produced the cell-matrix parallax barrier, the leading 3D technology for auto-stereoscopic mobile display, which offers a higher quality 3D experience than striped and lenticular approaches. The company enabled one of the world's first glasses-free 3D mobile phones and is in development to deliver additional smartphones and tablets equipped with its 3D displays in 2011. MasterImage 3D digital cinema systems are installed in nearly 60 countries, following a year of over 300% growth.

"Samsung's investment supports our strong belief that we've just begun to realize the impact 3D will have on consumers," said Younghoon Lee, Chairman and CEO of MasterImage 3D. "We are committing this investment to innovation -- specifically, to advancing our 3D solutions for cinema, smartphones, tablets, and larger autostereoscopic displays. We will continue to build toward our vision of 3D on every screen."

Ilseok Yoon, Managing Director of Samsung Ventures America, said, "Our investment in MasterImage 3D is consistent with our strategy to work closely with established market leaders. The company was early to market with auto-stereoscopic 3D mobile displays and has built a significant business in 3D cinema. MasterImage 3D has demonstrated both a technical and business vision in driving adoption of 3D and we look forward to contributing to the progress MasterImage 3D has made in all facets of consumer entertainment and communication."

About Samsung Venture Investment Corporation
Samsung Venture Investment Corporation manages investment and investment-related activities for Samsung affiliate companies. The investment mandate for Samsung Venture Investment Corporation tracks closely to the strategic priorities of Samsung affiliate companies' core operating divisions, and encompasses investments in semiconductors, displays, telecommunications, and consumer electronics.

About MasterImage 3D, Inc.
MasterImage 3D, Inc. is a 3D technology company that provides pioneering solutions for theaters, mobile devices and gaming. With digital 3D cinema systems installed in 57 countries, MasterImage 3D is a fast-growing digital 3D cinema system supplier, offering audiences the clearest, sharpest 3D experience while providing exhibitors with a compelling ownership-based pricing model. The company invented, patented and mass-produced the cell-matrix parallax barrier, the leading 3D technology for auto-stereoscopic mobile display. It enabled one of the world's first glasses-free 3D mobile phones and is in development for devices in 2011. Its 3D camera ASIC empowers users to create 3D content. Founded in 2004, the company is privately held and headquartered in Hollywood, with offices in the UK, Tokyo and Seoul. http://www.masterimage3d.com

I love working with these guys! MasterImage has great products and is in the right place at the right time. Congratulations to all those involved!!

MasterImage is a sponsor of MarketSaw.

Legend3D Converts Dreamworks Animation's SHREK Trilogy To 3D For Home Viewing!

Yesterday we heard from Disney, today we are hearing from Dreamworks Animation! Legend3D has announced today that they have completed the conversion of the first three SHREK movies to 3D for home viewing!

Here is the official announcement (emphasis is mine):
SAN DIEGO (Jan. 4, 2010)—Legend3D, the leading innovator in 2D-to-3D catalog film and motion picture conversion technology, today announced that it completed the 2D-to-3D conversion of the most successful animated film franchise of all time—DreamWorks Animation SKG, Inc.’s (Nasdaq: DWA) Shrek, Shrek 2, and Shrek the Third. These titles have been bundled with the fourth 3D film, Shrek Forever After, and are now widely available via promotional offer with Samsung Electronics. Legend3D’s 3D conversion of the catalog series brings beloved 3D content into the home.

“Converting the most successful animated franchise of all time was a daunting task that has resulted in a validation of Legend3D’s high-quality conversion technology,” said Barry Sandrew, founder, COO and CTO of Legend3D. “Completing the conversion of three feature-length CG animated films, and creating such a high-quality product, was a tremendous achievement.”

Rob Hummel, president of Legend3D, added, “By working closely with the creative team at DreamWorks Animation, our artists were able to deliver a truly compelling 3D experience that enhances these great stories, extending an already rich legacy. We’re thrilled to add the Shrek collection as the hallmark of our portfolio and know that consumers will enjoy the completely immersive experience that 3D lends to the viewing of the Shrek film series at home.”

To create these valuable 3D assets, Legend3D uses a proprietary 2D-to-3D conversion process, combining skilled artistry with technology to seamlessly enhance filmmakers’ storytelling and deepen their connections with audiences. This industry-leading conversion process, pipeline and methodology, allow for existing 2D catalog films to be produced in the highest-quality 3D and is quickly becoming an access point for library holders across the globe.

The boxed set of all four films—available in 3D Blu-ray and titled Shrek: The Whole Story—makes a great cornerstone for any home 3D collection. As part of a previously announced exclusive promotional program with DreamWorks Animation, Samsung Electronics is offering consumers who purchase a 2010 Samsung 3D TV and 3D Blu-ray player or home theater system a 3D starter kit that currently includes Shrek: The Whole Story.

About Legend3D
Legend3D, Inc. is a dynamic digital media and visual effects company, utilizing patented 2D-to-3D image conversion technologies to enhance filmmakers’ storytelling by creating the highest-quality dimensional conversions possible. Legend3D’s conversion artists are helping filmmakers connect with audiences worldwide and are rapidly setting the industry standard for 2D-to-3D conversion. Legend3D has completed 3D conversions for Sony, Hewlett-Packard, M&M Mars, New Balance, the Michael Jackson Tour, MTV, and Disney and recently completed a multi-picture project for DreamWorks Animation SKG. Founded in 2001 by Dr. Barry Sandrew, Legend3D is headquartered in San Diego and operates facilities in San Diego, Los Angeles and Patna, India.

For more information, visit www.Legend3D.com.

More studio 3D conversions when I get them!! Stay tuned.

Cameron Talks Concerts And Content In Korea!

**UPDATE May 15: There is a six part video of his visit here! Thanks stormko for the headsup.

James Cameron is making quite an impact on his latest visit to South Korea! A couple of things to talk about but lets go over the surprising first:

How about Cameron working with SM Entertainment (A Korean talent agency) to create 3D music videos and concerts together? A bit of a departure if I do say so myself, but it is 3D related and he is probably taking a very light role.

SME handles such talent as Girl's Generation (the link is for a large fansite) and Super Junior. I can certainly see a synergy through a strong female connection (Cameron places women in lead roles in most of his films). It is quite a coop for SME to land him to work with them. Congratulations.

Next up, Cameron dropped by Samsung Electronic's headquarters in Suwon, Gyeonggi with his technology partner Vince Pace (pointing in photo). Cameron talked about how the manufacturers have gone ahead and provided the hardware for 3D home entertainment before the quantity of 3D content was there.

“The consumer electronics companies have set the pace by making 3-D TVs and Blu-ray players available before there is a lot of content, and this has created a content gap,” Cameron said.

“Technology will not be the pacing factor, but the creation of content will be the limiting factor.”

Cameron believes in 2D to 3D conversions for only high value classic titles like TITANIC, STAR WARS and INDIANA JONES. (I don't know if he specifically mentioned INDIANA JONES as being considered for conversion, but it would not surprise me - we know the other two are.)

Cameron also places a bit of a cap on the next big thing for media technology, saying that 3D is something that should be improved upon through higher framerates and resolution before other advances are made in different areas. Holography comes to mind for example.

James Cameron also gave the keynote speech at the Seoul Digital Forum in the Sheraton Grande Walkerhill hotel.

Nice swath cut by Cameron in Korea! His agenda must be packed to the rafters for the next oh, 20 years. Nice to see his wife coming along for the trips. More when I get it! Thanks to Jaime for the heads up on the SME story.

LG Announces FULL LED S3DHD Televisions By May!!

Jim here. FINALLY! I have been waiting for a full LED 3D TV solution and here it is. LG's LX9500. Prices are rumored to be in the $4ooo ballpark - not cheap, but it is S3DHD at its best I am wagering.

These things are THIN!

From the press release: As the world’s first Full LED 3D TV, the LX9500 uses an innovative backlight structure to deliver spectacular pictures for the ultimate 3D experience. Illuminated by panels of LEDs directly behind the screen (the 55-inch model boasts 1,200 LEDs), the Full LED display provides images of exceptional brightness and clarify for unrivalled picture quality. Complemented by a 10,000,000:1 dynamic contrast ratio and TruMotion 400Hz (480Hz), the LX9500’s mesmerizing 3D picture transports viewers right into the heart of the action.

"LG’s unique Full LED technology validates LG’s position as a global leader in 3D home entertainment," said Havis Kwon, Executive Vice President and head of the LCD division of LG. "By building a full line-up of 3D TVs and cultivating alliances with content and device providers, LG will set a higher benchmark in the global 3D TV industry."

Along with all the advantages of Full LED, the LX9500’s innovative exterior is also geared toward creating the ultimate 3D experience. With its slim and sleek INFINIA design, the LX9500 not only draws attention with its 22.3mm slim body but also boasts a 16mm super-narrow bezel that allows for fuller and more expansive 3D images that draws viewers in.

In another first for the industry, the LX9500 supports the Multi Picture Format, the 3D picture standard that enables users to create and enjoy 3D content effortlessly. On the LX9500, this means viewers can immediately see images snapped with 3D cameras without having to first convert them on their PCs.

The LX9500 employs shutter glasses (model: AG-S100) that adds depth by alternatively blocking one lens at a time in sync with the screen’s refresh rate. The glasses are comfortable enough to wear for an extended period of time and recharge via USB for up to 40 hours of uninterrupted viewing pleasure.

LG is committed to securing a dominant position in this fast growing market expected to surpass 80 million units by 2014, and aiming to achieve 25 percent share of 3D market in 2010. LG’s strategy includes plans to offer a diversified line-up of products in screen sizes from 42 inches to 150 inches utilizing both polarized and shutter type glasses and to launch a family of 3D products including LED LCD TVs, Plasma TVs, Blu-ray disc players and the world’s first Full HD 3D projectors.

Available in 47- and 55-inch versions, LG INFINIA 3D TVs will be available to consumers first in Korea followed by North America, Europe, the CIS as well as other key markets by early May.

Specifications:
- 3D TV (Shutter glasses type)
- Full LED Slim with Spot Control (Local Dimming)
- INFINIA Design: Ultra Slim Depth, Narrow Bezel, Uni-layer, Uni-color
- Full HD 1080p
- 10,000,000:1 Dynamic Contrast Ratio
- TruMotion 400Hz (480Hz)
- Picture Wizard II
- Crystal Gradation with Varying Light (Facet)
- Invisible Speaker (10W + 10W + 5W)
- Infinite Sound
- Clear Voice II
- NetCastTM ( Broadband TV )
- SkypeTM (Video Call Function with optional Video Camera)
- Wireless AV Link
- DLNA ready (with optional DLNA Dongle)
- USB 2.0 (HD DivX, MP3, JPEG play, MPO)
- HDMI 1.4
- Intelligent Sensor
- Smart Energy Saving Plus
- ECO Flower

Must. Get. One.

Samsung To Offer 3D Blu-rays of Shrek, Monsters Vs. Aliens; Plus More 3DTV News

Michael here. According to Reuters, Samsung has announced that anyone who buys one of its 2010 3D TVs - which are coming out this month - along with their 3D Blu-ray player will get a kit that includes viewing glasses and a 3D version of Monsters vs. Aliens.

They also stated that the Shrek series will be available in 3D in the second half of 2010.

Meanwhile, Sony announced that they will begin selling 3DTV's in Japan on June 10, and internationally soon after. Sony expects its 46-inch model, which includes two pairs of 3D glasses, to sell for 350,000 yen ($3,875). According to Reuters this is 52 percent more than its latest regular LCD TV with a comparable screen size.

Oh, and Panasonic will officially launch sales of its 50 inch 3DTV tomorrow at a Best Buy store in Manhattan. Whether it will be available at other stores tomorrow is unclear.

Every significant TV manufacturer will be bringing out their 3D TV's within the next few months. Now the question is when those 3D Blu-rays will arrive. Hopefully we hear announcements of titles like Beowulf, Cloudy With A Chance of Meatballs, Ice Age 3, Coraline, Journey 3D, Up and of course Avatar soon. It would be a shame to have those TVs out there without a good number of 3D Blu-rays. We know the technology is ready...now we just need to wait for the studios to make their moves.

Want that S3DHD Television? You Can Pre-order Samsungs Right Now For Next Month Delivery!!

Jim here. Exciting news! Samsung has two of its S3DHD television line up available for pre-order! Be the first on your block to have immersive S3D movies, games, sports and more. The televisions will be released on March 8!!

Just click the links below for full details and to order:

The Samsung UN55C7000 55-Inch 1080p 240 Hz LED HDTV (Black) looks stunning. Some of the highlights of the unit are downloadable and customizable widgets along with Samsung apps. Widgets allow you to track local weather and news with Yahoo, access eBay, display Flickr pictures and see Twitter updates - all on your screen. With a split-screen display, you can do it all without missing a second of your favorite shows. You can also get movies on demand via blockbuster and Amazon Video On Demand. 240Hz technology brings you your S3DHD content via the new S3D Blu-rays or cable / satellite channels. More stereo input options on the way of course, like the Sony PS3's firmware upgrade. These S3DHD TVs are only 1.1 inches thick and LED edge lit!

Key Features
• Screen Size: 55 inches
• Full 1080p HD: Enjoy the powerful picture quality, vivid colors and stunning clarity of Full HD 1080p resolution..
• 240 Hz Clear Motion Rate: Samsung 240 Hz technology delivers even the fastest onscreen motion with utterly life like clarity.
• 3D-ready: Samsung 3D technology makes images leap off the screen– so you feel like you’re a part of the action. Sync up with our Samsung Blu-ray
player to experience movies in 3D on your TV – and enjoy more TV broadcasts in stunning 3D, coming soon.
• Ultra Slim Design: Stunning ultra slim depth – includes tuner (no external transceiver box).
• Ultra Clear Panel: Advanced technology lets you enjoy crisp image details, natural skin tones, excellent shadow detail, and vibrant colors.
• Touch of Color design: Exclusive Mystic Earth Touch of Color design combines texture and color that can complement any room.
• ConnectShare Movie: Connect a thumb drive or digital camera quickly and easily. User-friendly interface allows access to videos, music
playlists and pictures via the remote.
• Internet@TV: Connect to an ever-expanding portal of your favorite digital content. Customizable widgets give you access to BLOCKBUSTER, Facebook, YouTube, Flickr, Amazon Video On Demand and more – all on your HDTV.
• Game Mode: Enhances dark areas, sharpens the picture, speeds up the image processing response and enhances the sounds of your games. Picture and sound quality optimized for the special needs of gaming systems at the touch of a button.
• Exceeds ENERGY STAR Standards: Up to 57% more energy efficient than ENERGY STAR 4.0 minimum standards.
• Wide Color Enhancer Pro delivers the entire spectrum of color and luminance for rich, saturated images with intense detail.
• 15 Watts x 2 audio power stereo broadcast reception: Supports multichannel sound (MTS)and second audio program (SAP) with 181-channel capacity.
• Built in Digital Tuner: no external box needed.
• Warranty: 1 year parts and 1 year labor warranty (90 days parts and labor for commercial use), with in-home service, backed by Samsung
toll-free support.
• BDWise: Automatically adjusts all your components for the best picture and sound quality.
• AllShare: Sync up your entire household. A wired or wireless DLNA connection lets you stream your PC audio and video files to your HDTV using your remote.
• Skype on Samsung TV: Enjoy the convenience and connectivity of free, IP-based, picture-in-picture video calls via Skype right from your couch: View it all life size on your Samsung TV.
• Swivel stand

Connections
• 4 HDMI (High-Definition Multimedia
Interface) version 1.3: 4 back
• Anynet+ (HDMI-CEC): Allows peripheral AV devices such as a DVD player to be controlled by a Samsung TV remote control.
• USB: 2 side
• PC input: 1 back

Dimensions
• TV without stand: 50.5 x 30.0 x 1.0 inches (WxHxD); 48.9 pounds
• TV with stand: 50.5 x 32.9 x 12.0 inches (WxHxD); 54 pounds

And here is the Samsung UN46C7000 46-Inch 1080p 240 Hz LED HDTV (Black) which has ALL the same features as its big brother, but with smaller dimensions:

Dimensions
• TV without stand: 50.5 x 30.0 x 1.0 inches (WxHxD); 48.9 pounds
• TV with stand: 50.5 x 32.9 x 12.0 inches (WxHxD); 54 pounds

Either way you will have an awesome S3DHD viewing experience! There will also be a 40" model released from their LED 7000 lineup. Can't wait to get one of these beautiful units in my living room... :-)

The First S3DHD Monitor Hits The Shelves: Acer's 120Hz 23.6" GD235HZ

Jim here. We first spoke about the new Acer entry into the 120Hz widescreen monitor race back in October and now they have delivered. The Acer GD235HZ 120Hz LCD 23.6" S3D display is available right now and is the first full S3DHD monitor out there and is also slightly larger than the others that are available right now from Samsung and Viewsonic). Retail price is $399.99. Resolution is 1920x1080 with a 16:9 aspect ratio. Response time? 2 milliseconds.

Recommended with the monitor is the nVidia GeForce 3D Vision Kit to complete your stereoscopic 3D experience (unless you need to upgrade your video card).

From their press release: The new Acer 3D display becomes available at an opportune time. In its recently released 3D Display Technology and Market Forecast Report, DisplaySearch forecasts that the total stereoscopic 3D display market will grow from 0.7 million units and $902 million in revenues in 2008 to 196 million units and $22 billion in revenues in 2018, a compound annual growth rate (CAGR) of 38 percent for revenues and 75 percent for units.

The Acer GD235HZ 23.6-inch display provides a revolutionary new 3D viewing experience when combined with the NVIDIA 3D Vision technology, adding depth to the image displayed on the flat surface of the monitor. NVIDIA 3D Vision is a combination of high-tech wireless active-shutter glasses, a wireless USB transmitter, and advanced software that can transform hundreds of PC games into an exceptional 3D experience. The Acer display with NVIDIA 3D Vision can deliver 3D images from any PC content, including 3D games, 3D photographs, 3D videos, and upcoming Blu-ray 3D movies. The glasses are lightweight, can be worn over regular eyeglasses, and can provide up to 40 hours of 3D entertainment on a single charge. For more information on NVIDIA 3D Vision technology, please visit www.nvidia.com/3DVision.

Full Specs:

• 23.6-inch Widescreen
• 1920x1080 Maximum Resolution
• 0.2715mm Pixel Pitch
• 120Hz (Maximum) Refresh Rate
• 2ms Response Time (G to G)
• 80,000:1 Max (ACM) / 1000:1 (Native) Contrast Ratio
• 300cd/m2 Brightness
• 170° (H)/160° (V) Viewing Angles
• 16.7 Million Colors
• 6Bit + HiFRC
• 1x HDMI (w/HDMI), 1x DVI, 1x VGA Inputs
• Vesa 100mm Wall Mount
• Internal Power Supply

Hey, this display sounds great! I will have to check this out in person soon. As these displays start getting bigger and with better resolution, our S3DHD immersion will really take off!

3D Geek Alert: Pre-orders Now Available For Samsung's First S3DHD Blu-ray Player!

**SAME DAY UPDATE: And just as soon as we post it - Amazon takes down the link! Damn - it looks good. Same $ ballpark as a Sony PS3.

Jim here. Got a hot one for you and if you want to be the first on your block to have stereoscopic 3D for your upcoming super S3DHD home theater, check this out! (click image to zoom)

Amazon has started taking pre-orders today for the new Samsung BD-C6900 1080p 3D Blu-ray Disc Player and I have a feeling this is going to be one hot item! This is an industry first as far as I know.

The Samsung BD-C6900 player is fully compliant with the new Blu-ray 3D standard (and Blu-ray profile 2.0) and comes with built-in Wi-Fi. You can order it for $399.

You will also need a S3D TV as well running at 120 or 240Hz (or better) along with its active shutter glasses.

This is awesome! Can't wait to get this stuff in my living room!! :-)

CES 2010: 3D is Everywhere! Plus 4K TV's & AMOLED from Samsung!

Michael here. I've been walking around the show floor of CES 2010 today, and 3D has been everywhere: Panasonic, Sony, Samsung, LG, JVC, Sharp, Toshiba, and more are all showing off their 3D TV lineups.

Four things caught my eye so far today : Samsung's AMOLED 3DTV's and the 4K TVs from LG, Panasonic and Toshiba.

The Samsung AMOLED has organic pixels which produce their own light. The displays are 31 inches diagonal and produced incredible images despite being only a few millimeters thick. I believe that OLED-type TVs are the wave of the future - it is only a matter of time until they are produced in larger sizes. I'd love to have one to coat an entire wall of my apartment!

See the Samsung OLED 3DTVs below:

Sony was showing off 3D OLEDs as well. Sony's screens were said to be 24 inches diagonal.

4K TVs are also drawing big crowds. So far I have seen a 152 inch Viera plasma from Panasonic, an 84 inch display from LG, and a 54 inch display from Toshiba. All are extremely impressive: you can easily imagine that you are not looking at a screen, but through a window into another world, or perhaps at a piece of artwork hanging on a wall.

The Toshiba was especially interesting as it demoed the processing power of its Cell processor, which was able to upgrade 2K content to psuedo-4K in realtime. The small screen size was also impressive: the smaller the screen, the more condensed the pixels have to be.

Of course, OLED 4K 3D TVs (at 48 or 60 fps) would be the holy grail!

CES 2010: Panasonic & Samsung Unveil 3DTV Lineups!

Hi, Michael here at CES 2010. 3D is obviously THE big thing at the show this year. I just got out of the Samsung and Panasonic press conferences, and both made 3D a big - if not the biggest - part of their presentations.

left: a banner promoting Samsungs 3D LED TVs.

Samsung:

Samsung brought out Jeffrey Katzenberg, whose Dreamworks Animation is partnering with Samsung (along with Technicolor) to bring out a 3D Blu-ray of Monsters Vs. Aliens later this year. He said that we "stand at a watershed moment for the entire 3D industry." He's certainly right about that!

Samsung plans to introduce a comprehensive lineup of 3DTVs, including full HD, shutter glasses-based 3D-capable LED, Plasma, and LCD TVs. It is also bringing out its own 3D Blu-ray players. It touted its 3D tech as having "the slimmest screens" and "the deepest 3D." The 3D LED's (models 9000, 8000, and 7000) are less than 0.3 inches thick (less than the width of a pencil). Their 3D plasma will be 1.4 inches.

Samsung's tech also includes a processor which will convert 2D to 3D in real time. The speaker said that converted material will help tide us over until there is plenty of S3D content to fill its screens.

Panasonic:

Panasonic unveiled their new 65, 58, 54, and 50 inch 3D, shutter-glasses-based, full HD Viera Plasma televisions. These televisions have been built from the ground up to provide the best possible 1080P-per-eye 3D image. Panasonic has shortened the luminescence time for each pixel using fast-decay phosphors so that there is no crosstalk between frames. The brightness level has been increased to make up for this reduced display time.

Shutter glasses will come packaged with each 3D Viera TV.

Panasonic also announced the PP-BDT350 3D Blu-ray player, which incorporates HDMI 1.4 technology. According to Panasonic, HDMI 1.4 is required for Full HD per-eye 3D viewing.

Jon Landau spoke about the benefits of 3D (and asked everyone to go see Avatar). Watch below:



Tomorrow the main show floor opens. Stay tuned to MarketSaw for the very latest S3D news from CES 2010!

NVIDIA Expanding 3D Ecosystem! 3D Gaming Set To Explode...

Jim here. It's happening! Next up of course is the upcoming launch of the ASUS G51J3D in December with it's 15.6" screen. If you happen to be in New York City tomorrow (Nov 19), check out the Wine, Dine & Demo which is focused on the ASUS laptop. Go to www.pepcom.com for more details.

We are now getting word on other OEMs (Manufacturers) that are joining the "3D Ecosystem": LG, Clevo, CPT and MSI to name a few. LG is building the next generation of 120Hz notebook panels with full support for the NVIDIA 3D Ecosystem, while the others will have S3D laptops emerging very soon.

From CNN: "We are extremely excited about bringing the first NVIDIA 3D Vision notebook to market," said PC Wang, Corporate Vice President & General Manager, Notebook Business Unit, System Business Group at ASUS. "NVIDIA and ASUS have a passion for gaming and cutting-edge technology, and this is another example of how great companies working together can deliver awesome new platforms to our combined customers."

"NVIDIA 3D Vision is by far the most immersive, highest quality, full-resolution stereoscopic 3D technology available today," said Ryan Chung, Chief Director of Notebook Business Unit of CPT. "This is an exciting time for users, who will finally be able to see their games, movies and pictures with true 3D depth."

"LG Display is planning to fully support NVIDIA 3D Vision technology with our next generation of 120Hz notebook panels," said David Choi, Vice President, LG Display.

"We look forward to bringing NVIDIA 3D Vision-capable notebooks to the market," said Stephen Chien, WW Sales and Marketing VP at Clevo. "The era of 3D is upon us, and immersive 3D gaming and movie-watching is indeed an exciting proposition."

"NVIDIA 3D Vision is the best 3D technology available today," said Vincent Sung, VP of Notebook Engineering team at MSI. "We are excited about developing new MSI notebooks that offer this awesome technology and bring 3D gaming and movies to the masses." "NVIDIA's 3D Vision technology provides the best 3D experience that we have seen, and we look forward to bringing this technology to market on notebook panels," said SH Moon, Vice President, Samsung Electronics. "Samsung LCD Division is fully behind NVIDIA's 3D Vision ecosystem."

There is obviously a tremendous corporate movement going on here and in the right direction. I have been an active shutter advocate for home S3D gaming for years now. It's finally coming to fruition and I couldn't be happier. Who is going to win? Gamers. Stay tuned!

Quick Post: 3D Gaming Computer Another Step Closer...

Jim here. Just got my Cooler Master HAF 922 case and Antec Truepower 750w power supply in today! A perfect match for my NVIDIA GTX285 GPU, Samsung 120hz 3D monitor and NVIDIA 3D Vision kit.

All I need now is the motherboard, CPU, memory and CPU cooler which I will be getting this weekend. Should be up and running in 3D next week!

I will be capturing the unboxing on video too :-)

BRING ON THE ZOMBIES BABY!

Dell And NVIDIA Hook Up With S3D!

Jim here. Thought you should know that if you are considering a PC purchase and want to get into stereoscopic 3D gaming, Dell and NVIDIA just joined forces in presenting a one stop shop for just that.

Starting right now, you can buy a Dell XPS 630 or a Dell Studio XPS 8000 with a complete 3D Vision gaming kit, including Samsung 120hz monitor (Syncmaster 2233RZ) and compatible GPU right off of Dell's website. Further, you can buy just the 3D Vision kit as an accessory on Alienware's site (which is owned by Dell).

I love this marriage. It just makes sense - so many people want S3D gaming but are a bit standoffish as you want all the parts to just work out of the box without having to figure out compatibilities and how to upgrade your existing PC. Now you can easily do it.

I am building a PC right now around my new S3D hardware, so feel free to ask any questions and I will do my best to answer them. It really isn't all that hard to get S3D gaming at home right now. And the quality is awesome!

I See 3D Gaming In My NEAR Future...

Jim here. Feels like the holidays around here! Just got a extra special package delivered to my door - a gorgeous 22" Samsung Synmaster 2233 (yep! 120hz - and VERY 3D ready!), an EVGA NVIDIA GTX 285 graphics card (a behemoth card!), and last but certainly not least, NVIDIA's 3D Vision.

I'll give you ten seconds to figure out what I am going to be doing in the very near term! I guess the title gave it away :-) Have some serious 3D gaming coming up and I will be posting my reviews for your use in judging what you want, when you want when it comes to Stereoscopic 3D gaming. BATMAN: ARKHAM ASYLUM in 3D anyone?

I am now in the process of building a box around these core pieces!

Further, I will be shooting the unboxing of these sexy pieces of 3D hardware shortly. Stay tuned! :-)

Viewsonic Joins Samsung In 120Hz 3D Gaming Monitor Biz

Jim here. Samsung is no longer the only one offering up a compatible 3D PC monitor for NVIDIA's 3D Vision technology - Viewsonic has jumped in with their FuHzion monitor and they too will operate with a 120Hz frequency.

The ViewSonic VX2265wm has a 1680x1050 resolution, 3ms response time, 20,000:1 Contrast Ratio and HDCP support (Dual link DVI-D) and is 22 inches.

"ViewSonic's heritage in providing high-quality visual display solutions and commitment to emerging technologies was an obvious choice to showcase the NVIDIA GeForce 3D Vision stereoscopic glasses solution," said Ujesh Desai, vice president of GPU business at NVIDIA. "Jointly, we are helping to further the growth of truly 3D home entertainment."

Samsung's Syncmaster 2233RZ 22 finally has some competition - adding Viewsonic to the list is a great step forward in home 3D gaming.

MarketSaw will be offering reviews of 3D games shortly as I am getting set up with NVIDIA's 3D Vision. Can't wait!

CES 2009: Autostereoscopic 3DTV Roundup

Hi everyone, Michael here with an overview of the autostereo (no glasses required) 3DTV's that were on display at CES.

Let me start off by saying that no piece of tech on the CES show floor (save Samsung's touch screen vending machine) drew crowds as big as those in front of the autostereo displays. The average attendee's reaction usually progressed from "wow, that's amazing!" to "I have to stand in certain spots for it to work" to "I can't wait until they perfect this." A lot of people seemed truly boggled by what they were seeing, as if they were witnessing magic.

Alioscopy

Alioscopy's 3DTV had the sharpest resolution, deepest 3D-effect, as well as the most inconspicuous transfer between views of all the autostereoscoic displays I saw at CES. From what I learned from the Alioscopy reps, their high quality 3D is a result of a prioprietary lenticular screen and pixel interleaving routine which maintains the highest resolution possible, along with special 3D authoring software to create the 8 viewpoints used in their display. Alioscopy's demo of potential medical applications of autostereo (in the form of 3D images of the human body) was particularly impressive.

Samsung

Samsung's autostereo 3DTV was just a notch below the Alioscopy demo in terms of image crispness and fluidity of transition between viewing angles. The range of viewing angles in their 9-viewpoint autostereo system was quite wide, too.

LG

LG's display featured the least pronounced 3D-effect of the three. The image also seemed the most pixelated. Nevertheless, this display--as well as all autostereo TV's shown on the CES floor--drew many "oohs" and "aahs" from attendees.

I heard from someone on the last day of CES that Phillips also had an autostereo set on display, but that it was being shown in the Hilton Hotel, away from the other major consumer electronics companies. If anyone who has seen the Phillips display would like to chime in below, I'd really appreciate hearing what you think of it.

CES 2009: Panasonic 103 inch Full HD 3D Plasma Details

Michael here. Panasonic is really leading the charge for bringing the 3D theatrical experience into the home, both technically and in getting the word out.

According to information sheets at CES, Panasonic's system works from a single 50 GB Blu-ray disc (using a modified Blu-ray player), feeding the 3DTV successive Full HD left and right-eye images at 60 frames per second apiece, for a total of 120 frames per second. That's significantly better than any other system currently being demoed.

They are utilizing the same 103 inch Plasma 3DTV that they showed at the 3D Entertainment Summit, this time showing some extra clips, including some spectacular footage of Aliens of the Deep, Ghost of the Abyss, sporting events and music videos from PACE.

Sony is refusing to discuss the technology behind their CES 3DTV demo, which uses polarized glasses, stressing that they do not want people thinking that they have chosen to pursue any particular 3DTV design. Samsung is using shutter glasses in their demo, but are emphasizing their technology's ability to convert 2D content (films, games) to 3D in real-time instead of duplicating the theatrical experience in the home.

I personally agree with Panasonic that shutter glasses are the way to go for 3DTV's. In every single case that I've seen, 3DTV systems employing polarized glasses have a picture that looks substantially below 1080p resolution. This is likely due to the polarizing layer on the screen polarizing only half the horizontal lines of the image at a time, effectively cutting the resolution in half. Until passive 3DTV systems figure out a way to show successive 1080p left and right-eye images without sacrificing resolution or framerate, the shutter glasses method will be the way to go. Although polarized glasses systems (such as REAL D) are ideal for the multiple-viewer theater environment (it is more logistically difficult for theaters to manage hundreds of pairs of the relatively expensive shutter glasses as opposed to the super cheap recyclable plastic polarized ones), it seems wise to uses shutter glasses in the home, as this will eliminate the need to expensively modify HDTV's to be capable of polarizing their images. It makes sense to me to just buy a pair of shutter glasses and a base station that will synch to any TV.

I really hope that Panasonic manages to get its system (albeit likely using a smaller TV) into the home as soon as possible. I'm optimistic that we will have at least a de-facto standard for 3DTV by the end of 2009, and I think that Panasonic is very well positioned to become that standard.