LAS VEGAS – Without uttering a single syllable, the world’s major television makers have jointly proclaimed the 3-D movie theater concept as outdated as the rotary phone. Through the type of pomp and circumstance that usually accompanies a championship parade, TV manufacturers haughtily introduced 3-D television at the Consumer Electronics Show and proclaimed they will be ready for the markeplaace as early as June 2010.
The 3-D television sets were the unquestioned winners of the “wow factor” at the annual CES convention that attracts high-tech and electronics connoisseurs and disciples from around the country and across the globe.
Technological enhancements, including high-definition imagery, have finally ushered in the era of 3-D televisions at home. These are robust times for the embattled TV makers who helplessly witnessed the fall of TV prices for the past decade.
Of course, TV makers are hoping that you will be willing to reach deeper into your back pocket to pay for specially-equipped 3-D TV sets and the requisite state-of-the-art glasses.
Here’s how it will work:
It will require a separately purchased pair of active 3-D glasses. Overall, each display will only work with partner glasses. You have to have an HDMI 1.4 connection from the source and 3-D content. A plethora of Blu-ray titles will hit stores in 3-D and several TV channels and programs are set to launch in 3-D, including Direct TV, Discovery, ESPN and others.
One manufacturer, Toshiba, says some of its TVs will be able to convert standard 2-D content into 3-D by adjusting 480 Hz in 2-D to 240 Hz in each eye for proper viewing.
Panasonic has partnered with Direct TV to launch three all-3-D satellite channels as early at June. The channels will be available to Direct TV HD subscribers that will bring movies, events and shows into homes in 3-D. The first planned major event to be shown in 3-D will be Major League Baseball’s All-Star Game in July.
Samsung has added some Hollywood pizzazz to its launch. DreamWorks animation chief Jeffrey Katzenberg says the studio will release the animated movie, Monsters vs. Aliens, as a 3-D Blue-ray disc as part of an exclusive promotion with Samsung.
Sony, of course, came with both barrels cocked and loaded. They brought current pop princess Taylor Swift (who was swiftly dissed by Kanye West at the MTV awards), whose image was projected behind her in 3-D for attending journalists. –terry shropshire
