Archive for the ‘TV Set’ Category

3D technology that requires wearing no glasses is rapidly developing. Just recently Samsung introduced a giant 55-inch TV set that employs 3D LCD technology with no need to wear 3D glasses. It has 9 viewpoints in the 3D mode. A viewer is recommended to sit in the range 8-20 feet away from the screen in order to enjoy 3D effect. The TV set can work in 2D as well. The principle of this product is that it beams different images for each eye thanks for a changing optical refraction index of the front LCD panel.

It is still in the prototype release and its current specifications are a 1920x1080 resolution, 4,000:1 contrast ratio, and 500cd/m2 brightness. It is estimated to take up to three years before this prototype will become a commercial product.

Over 800,000 households are estimated to buy a 3D-ready television in 2010, but less than 10% will actually be able to watch 3D programmes on it.

This year has been predicted to have a "3D boom" as consumers rush to buy 3D TV sets following the hype caused by the film Avatar and the promise of viewing sport such as football via the new technology from BSkyB. But the report from Informa Telecoms and Media predicts that while 845,000 households worldwide are likely to have 3D TV-ready sets by the end of the year, just 101,000 homes will be watching 3D shows.

By the end of 2015, 3D-ready sets will have reached 70m households, some 5.1% of all homes that have a television. But once again a huge number – up to 68% or 48m – will not actually be watching 3D TV shows on them. Just over 30%, or 22.2m homes, will be watching 3D TV shows.

Other factors include consumers buying TV sets more for 3D DVDs or 3D games than an interest in television shows.

By the end of the year the number of homes watching 3D TV programming globally will be 101,000. Of those 60,000 will be in North America with just 22,000 in Western Europe.

Samsung - a pioneer of 3d TV technology - trying to reduce legal risks, published on its web site a detailed list of precautions for those who plan watching Samsung 3d TV sets.

The first concern is about glasses: fluorescent lighting may cause a flickering effect and direct sunlight may affect the operation of the 3D glasses.

Then it goes on health warnings. It is presented similar to drugs' instructions. They claim that some viewers may experience an epileptic seizure or stroke when exposed to certain flashing images or lights contained in certain television pictures or video games. So you need to consult with a medical specialist if you or any of your family had epilepsy or stroke in the past.

You should stop watching 3D and see a doctor if you have altered vision; lightheadedness; confusion; dizziness; involuntary movements;  nausea; convulsions; cramps; and/or disorientation. Parents should pay closer attention to children watching 3D TV. Viewing in 3D mode may also cause motion sickness, perceptual after effects, disorientation, eye strain, and decreased postural stability. You should not watching 3D if you are in bad physical condition, need sleep or have been drinking alcohol. Be aware that watching TV while sitting too close to the screen for an extended period of time may damage your eyesight. Watching TV while wearing 3D Active Glasses for an extended period of time may cause headaches or fatigue. Some viewers may experience disorientation.

Panasonic has already increased its 3D television production by 30 per cent, being encouraged by the general public, after US demand for 3D sets exceeded its expectations when they went on sale in March.

The Panasonic plasma panel factory works at full capacity and they increased 3D panel production by 30 per cent compared to our original plan. Panasonic is hoping that business will embrace the technology as well as the entertainment industry.

The major television manufacturers have been quick to embrace the new technology – seizing on a prime opportunity to push a new generation of television sets to a public still coming to terms with HD. TV makers hope to ride the wave of interest in 3D initiated by the box office success of James Cameron's Avatar. They are not alone, with entertainment content producers like movie studios and, particularly in the UK, Sky television racing to produce enough content to fulfil demand.

Let's compare two 3D TVs that are available on the market right now: a plasma from Panasonic and an LCD from Samsung. We want to examine their strong and weak points.

Two HDTVs were tested, they both use the new Full HD 3D standard: the $2900 Samsung UN55C7000 (a 55-inch LCD, on the left in the photo) and the $2500 Panasonic TC-P50VT20, a 50-inch plasma on the right. We tested them with the requisite 3D glasses and a Panasonic BD-C6900 3D Blu-ray player playing both a 3D movie (Monsters Vs Aliens) and a disc of sample footage that came with the Blu-ray player.

The Glasses

Both displays require you to wear a pair of 3D glasses. That is what really creates the 3D effect: the glasses contain LCD shutters that turn on and off to show each eye a separate image 60 times a second. Without the glasses, you see a confusing mess of two images slightly offset. With them, you see the 3D effect, but this means that you need a pair for every person watching, and they cost $150 each.

The Panasonic 3D glasses are arguably less dorky looking, although they aren't going to win any design prizes. The Samsung 3D glasses are larger, heavier and somewhat more nose-ache-inducing; the weight sits right on the bridge of the nose and feels like you have a slight head cold. The Panasonic glasses are also more adjustable, coming with 3 different nose bridges and a neck strap. You can't adjust Samsung's glasses at all.

In use, we found that both HDTVs produced a decent 3D effect, with a good sense of depth to the images. However this experience was far from perfect; the 3D effect often broke down when the camera panned around or moved too quickly. That's because the 3D effect relies on the brain detecting the differences between the two images, and that doesn't work when it can't figure out the difference between one blurry mess and another.

The Samsung displayed an annoying issue with a ghost image that showed up around the edges of objects, caused by some of the left frame getting into the right eye and vice versa (the technical term is crosstalk). The Panasonic actually had the same issue, but to a much lesser degree. It isn't yet clear if this phenomenon is caused by a slight overlap between the timing of the frames on the screen and the shutters on the glasses, or by a lag in the response time of the LCD screen that the Samsung uses. Plasma displays like the Panasonic TC-P50VT20 can react much faster than an LCD, so the screen can show the two images with much less interference between the two. Whatever the cause, it is very irritating and distracting. Samsung's choice of LCD technology gives vivid (if not perfectly accurate) colours, lower power consumption and a bright picture in bright rooms. These features are a very real advantage for most buyers. However, Getprice continues that LCD is "not inherently the best fit for 3D TV.

Watching a movie, we found that the Panasonic was better for extended viewing; although the glasses are heavier, the 3D effect felt more comfortable over time, and the crosstalk between the frames was less annoying. But while the Panasonic HDTV produced the more pleasing 3D effect overall, neither 3D TV was as convincing as seeing the movie on the big screen: the image didn't pop out of the screen on either TV in the way that the adverts imply, even when the filmmakers used tricks like objects flying into the screen. Those didn't really work in the 1950s, and they don't work now. Panasonic's choice of plasma technology is the cheapest and best way to get a huge flatscreen that's free of motion-blur and has excellent black levels. The quality is hard to beat. Getprice review reminds us "Since 3D works by flickering between right and left eyes' viewpoints, plasma's excellent responsiveness is an advantage in ensuring that each eye gets a truly different picture. Plasma's only disadvantages are its high power consumption, the heat it gives off and the (now much reduced) threat of burn-in"

Size has a lot to do with this. Even at 55 inches, the physics of 3D are against home theater enthusiasts. So you'll still want to glue your face to the screen to maximize the 3D effect.

As well as the cost of the TV itself, don't forget to include the cost of the glasses ($150 a pop: you get one set with the Panasonic and none with the Samsung) and $400 for the 3D Blu ray player, because your existing one won't play 3D Blu ray discs (though the PS3 will receive an update this summer). Total that all up for a family of 4 and you are laying out a hefty $3700 for the Samsung or about $3350 for the Panasonic.

And don't forget that you'll need to find something to watch—the only option right now is the execrable animated movie Monsters vs. Aliens, which gets old pretty quickly. At the moment, that's the only 3D Blu-ray available, so you'd be better off getting your 3D kicks from going to see Avatar again and saving your cash until the price of the glasses for these 3D HDTVs falls.

But if you are dead set on being the first one on the block to have a 3D HDTV, the Panasonic TC-P50VT20 is the better pick right now. The Panasonic produces the stronger and more convincing 3D feel, and comes with one pair of glasses. The Samsung is a bigger, brighter and perhaps better overall HDTV, but the 3D is still a little glitchy and you don't get any glasses with it. Plasma technology selected by Panasonic appears to have more advantages in terms of quality of viewing and 3D imaging available; it appears to be slightly more expensive and is less energy efficient, but receives better reviews thus far in terms of quality of image.

Major electronics brands have announced plans for 3D TV, including Panasonic, Samsung and Sony. Some have already launched new 3D TV sets. They hope to capitalize on the huge 3D theatrical success of James Cameron's Avatar.

The technology retail giant Best Buy said its Full HD 3D Home Theater System will be available at Best Buy stores' Magnolia Home Theater division for $2899.99. The system comprises a 50-inch Panasonic VIERA television for $2,499.95, with a pair of 3D glasses, and a Blu-ray disc player for $399.95. Extra glasses will cost $149.95 each.

Best Buy intends to establish and maintain leadership in the new television technology. That's one way it differentiates from Wal-Mart and other competitors. Younger consumers express great interest in 3-D TV, although the popularity of 3D technology is just beginning. Television successfully moving from black and white, to color, to high-definition, now reached the final frontier delivering immersive, totally realistic 3D imagery. Among the problems are limited 3D content on TV channels and the hefty price tags for the 3D TVs. Some experts believe that these factors may slow down sales.

Samsung Electronics, has introduced 3D televisions. Samsung hopes to sell 2 million units this year. Despite the challenges of new 3D technology, there are pitfalls like the lack of available content, high prices and the need to use special glasses.Samsung 3D televisions use LCD technology backlit LED (light emitting diode) 46-inch and 55 inches and the 3D function that can be activated or not.

Samsung UN55C7000 comes with a stunning ultra slim design. It uses a 240 Hz technology that promises the fastest onscreen motion with utterly life like clarity, and features Internet@TV that lets you connect to the best of the web, right on your HDTV — allowing you to download customizable widgets and upcoming Samsung apps.

This Samsung 3D LED TV has four HDMI 1.3 ports, 2 USB slots, one component & PC input input and ConnectShare Movie support.

The new Samsung UN55C7000 should sell on Amazon for a hefty $3,299.

Sony is entering the next round of  3D TV wars by introducing its first 3D TVs. Sony launched three new 3D TV models coming out this summer: the LX900, HX900 and HX800. The flagship model (LX900) comes in 52 and 60-inch sizes. The HX900 (46 and 52-inch) model features the best LED backlight technology with anti-glare coating and Motionflow PRO 400 - running at 200Hz with partial black frames inserted to make 3D look sharper.

3D Glasses

These Sony 3D TV sets require viewers to wear Sony's battery powered "active" glasses, which offer a 120 degree viewing angle. The LX900 comes with a built-in infrared transmitter and two pairs of glasses while the transmitter and glasses are optional extras for the HX900 and HX800. Sony 3D glasses are said to work with any Sony 3D TV. There is an option to switch off the 3D, and just watch it like a normal television.

There is a definite minimum viewing distance, particularly for sport. If you stand within about three metres of the 50 inch screens, the soccer match is very difficult to focus on.

3D HD televisions have launched at CES 2010. But are general public and home consumers ready for 3D TV? Despite recent success of Avatar in cinemas all over the world, it is doubtful that people in mass will be willing to shell out for a new pricy TV sets and compatible glasses.

However, vendors like Panasonic, LG, Samsung and Sony are already exploring this technology. They were all showing off new 3d sets at CES 2010.

Panasonic’s VT25 series TVs is supplied with only one pair of their cool-looking glasses included for free. Sharp concentrated more on improving colour rather than 3D. Samsung C9000 comes with what has to be the coolest remote ever (with a mini TV on your remote).

Product demo of the new Sony Bravia LX900 3D at CES 2010: