Quick Post: "Encode Once And Deploy Anywhere" - TDVision's TDVCodec

TDVision Systems To Show Worlds First and Only 3D/2D Compatible Full HD Stereoscopic Broadcast and Blu-Ray Format at 2009 Consumer Electronics Show

IRVINE, Calif.--(BUSINESS WIRE)--TDVision Systems, Inc., the leader in design and development of 3D digital infrastructures and visualization systems will be showcasing the TDVCodec encoding and decoding system for High Definition 3D Digital Video streams that supports Blu-Ray™ and broadcast at up to 1920x1080p resolution per-eye at CES 2009. The theme of the demonstration is “encode once and deploy anywhere.”

Stereoscopic HD3D is here. TDVision set the bar almost a year ago at CES and then in April 2008, presenting the working implementation of the TDVCodec running on a Blu-Ray™ disc and a 3D Ready DLP at NAB. Now we have optimized our systems and we are proud to demonstrate that this can be in your home today, working over existing pipelines, running on every existing and future 3D display at the best native resolution, even in 2D HD for backwards compatibility.” said Manuel Gutierrez, President and CEO of TDVision. “TDVision's patented technology has also been implemented as Intra-view coding in the MVC MPEG4 H.264 extension recommendation initiative by comparing the difference between left and right channels. This eliminates redundant information and optimizes the bandwidth required for a given infrastructure such as cable, satellite, ATSC 1.0/2.0 and Blu-ray™ disc. The TDVCodec is the best and only way to deploy HD 3D with no loss in color, quality, frame rate or resolution. All other existing technologies like spatial squeezing or display pre-formatted techniques defeat the purpose of realistic 3D imagery by cutting resolution in more than half and at times showing only 25 percent of the original pixels after formatting and presenting to a 3D Ready Display. TDVision has simply created the first class and preeminent codec that provides full 100% 1080p per eye as close as possible to the original content,” he continued.

"People use our high quality XpanD glasses in the theater and in the home to watch exceptional content in the best quality possible, that's why the TDVision System is so appealing to consumers that won't except anything less than true high definition 3D,” said Ami Dror of XpanD.

Attendees at CES 2009 will experience at the show high quality cinematic content encoded in the TDVision format playing back on a variety of devices including Texas Instruments™ enabled DLP, provided by Mitsubishi™, in conjunction with high quality shutter glasses from XpanD, 3D enabled LCD (passive glasses) from Hyundai™, a Planar™ display and all the way up to a Dual Projector System provided by Scalable Display Technologies running at full 1920x1080p per-eye. TDVision will also be showing the TDVirtualCam gaming technology which accurately emulates the way the eyes and brain perceive 3D information allowing for a very comfortable and engaging gaming experience on the XBOX® platform.

TDVision invites all CES visitors to the Las Vegas Convention Center, South Hall, lower level at exhibit #21425 and see for themselves. To book an appointment or receive more information on TDVision contact Courtenay Dulak 406-270-2949 of Orange County based Public Relations Firm, NN Public Relations, www.nnpublicrelations.com.

About TDVision:

TDVision Systems, Inc. is the owner of several 3D-related patents for proprietary system architectures, which will propel a media breakthrough by providing true 3D through means of this new digital technology. This technology allows the acquiring, emulation and processing of a 3D image from a video stream or computer-generated image. The architecture also allows the use of current existing infrastructures, and with the addition of TDVision’s hardware, enables true 3D in High Definition.

TDVision Systems, Inc.
www.tdvision.com
www.tdvalliance.com
info@tdvision.com

If you are at CES - drop by and see their awesome products. It is a heckuva experience!

TDVision is a sponsor of MarketSaw

EXCLUSIVE: Watch 3D Movies On A Samsung? YES. NAB 2008 Demo Coming Up!

Are you ready for this? I have been speaking with Ethan and Manuel over at TDVision and they are set to bring 3D into the home starting at the NAB 2008 show. Check them out at booth C9042 in the central hall.

How the heck are they going to do this? Well it is quite ingenious actually and the light went off for me immediately once they took me on a stroll of their technology. Let's start with what they are actually going to show you at NAB:

1. TDVision will start by showing you many different movies and content titles in 2D. It will be on Blu-ray and will be played in a Playstation 3 unit. Pretty common setup for Blu-ray today right? You bet - the PS3's Blu-ray is one of the better choices on the market right now. Those titles that they will be playing include many blockbusters including "Star Wars III: Revenge of the Sith" (provided by In-Three). This whole step is to show you that this new technology is backwards compatible with todays 2D technology - it simply will playback in 2D (Blu-rays have enough space to hold the info for many movie formats). Note that the Blu-ray disks being used here are encoded with 3D information, but that extra 3D code is ignored in favor of the 2D in the PS3.

2. They will then take that same Blu-ray disk out of the PS3 and pop it into their PC's Blu-ray drive. This PC will mimic the ability of future standalone 3D players to come.

3. The PC is hooked up two different devices for viewing:
- A 50" Samsung DLP HDTV : Note that these were recently on sale for less than $1000.
- TDVision's TDVisor which brings up the equivalent of a 72" screen @ 10' distance.

4. Everyone who is watching the Samsung dons their 3D polarized active glasses.

5. BINGO. "Star Wars III: Revenge of the Sith" is popping out at you. On home theater equipment!

6. TDVision will also have 3D cameras hooked up so that you can see LIVE 3D streaming into the Samsung and TDVisors! Ever wanted to know how your butt looks in your jeans in 3D? Now you know.

HOW THEY DO IT:

The secret to all of this technological wizardry is quite simple actually: A new Codec (called the TDVCodec) for home electronics chips that are compatible. Codec stands for Coder / Decoder and it is the programming on a chip that takes the data from a Blu-ray disk (or other source) and presents it to a screen for viewing. Your equipment has these now. They decode the Blu-ray data to present your movies. TDVision has created a codec that can be automatically updated on your equipment so that you can view 3D.

The flip side of things is the disk itself. Will 3D encoded Blu-ray disks play on 2D equipment? YES. The 2D chips will simply ignore the extra 3D code and present just what it understands. There is no conversions that take place here - it just ignores the extra code - very elegant. THAT is the inherit beauty of the technology. Backwards compatibility. TDVision is working with all the major studios in making this happen - it is just a matter of time.

Consumers should not notice a difference in the price of Blu-ray disks when they buy a 3D enabled version vs. a 2D. Similarly, no new chip for your home electronics should need to be purchased - most are flash upgradeable (the PS3 is for sure!) and so therefore no expense is incurred for this either! Again, awesome news for consumers. TDVision makes their money from fees from the studios who license their TDVCodec technology. On a single disk, the difference in overhead to the studios is negligible.

You will be able to watch more than just 3D movies and Blu-ray content! 3D TV is on its way - Mark Cuban just broadcast a 3D NBA game via satellite to one of his theaters. The same can obviously be done for home satellite and cable systems. You will see 3D live events taking place first, then an increase in 3D TV recorded programming.

TDVision is not the only game in town that are showing off their wares. Another strong player is Sensio. Keep an eye on their offerings too - they even sell the compatible 3D movies on their website ("Jaws 3D", "The Adventures of Sharkboy and Lavagirl", etc.). Look for wider distribution of studio 3D releases soon as more and more 3D box office successes become available: "Beowulf", "U2 3D", "Hannah Montana/Miley Cyrus: Best of Both Worlds Concert Tour", etc.

I will be updating you on all relevant 3D technology as it becomes available. For a list of all upcoming 3D movies check out the best list on the Net.