Don't go wasting money on upgrading your current set for a 3D TV, easy to do yourself, checkout my effort

On a related note has anyone ehcekd out 3D tv? I saw a demo in Sony store, didn't like too much. There's something not quite right about it, and I foudn myself finding the 2D sets next to them looking crisper.

by Stephen Scott;

Myth #1: You don't need two TVs! Blame it on poor advertising by the manufacturers, but some people believe that 3D TVs can only display 3D. Not true. 3D TVs just happen to be the top-of-the-line Plasma and LED TVs in the range - they need to be to have the refresh rate to display left & right images so quickly that they eye can't discern it without glasses. And trust us on this, the Full High Definition 1,080p images on these sets when they're not in 3D mode are fantastic!

Myth #2: You need special glasses. OK, this one's actually true. The agreed standard by the industry is to use Active Shutter Glasses - a fancy name for a simple concept. These powered glasses alternately allow each eye to see a different image. The images on screen refresh in time with the glasses so you can view the 3D image. The good news is that most sets are coming with free sets of glasses, and most are rechargeable. The bad news is that while the industry has agreed upon a standard for showing, the glasses are a different matter, and most don't appear interchangeable between models (so Samsung glasses won't work on Panasonic sets).

Myth #3: 3D glasses cause headaches. There have been few (if any) reports of people finding the Active Shutter Glasses uncomfortable. While some complaints are justified (there’s a small percent of people the glasses don’t work on), most are psychosomatic, as the glasses are essentially just filtering light at high speed. You might feel a little geeky when you first put them on, but after watching for a while you forget you’re wearing them. And you only need to wear them while watching in 3D mode.

Myth #4: I need new cables and AV components. Slightly true. Most high speed HDMI 1.3 cables can actually handle the signal required for 3D, and the new 1.4 versions will definitely carry the signal correctly (special note – HDMI are changing their names shortly, so be sure you buy High Speed or High Speed with Ethernet). On the hardware side, to play a 3D Blu-Ray you either need a PlayStation 3 (with firmware upgrade) or a new 3D compatible Blu-Ray Player – be sure to keep your eye out for firmware upgrades for these as there will be constant improvements. If hooked through an AV Receiver, then you’ll also need to upgrade to one of the newer models due out in the second half of the year. Again, this is due to them not able to currently process the data required to display 2 images at once.

Myth #5: 3D TVs are too expensive. Here’s a big one busted – the 3D models are just the top-of-the-line TVs in each range. When compared to last year’s models, they’re around the same price. Yet you’re now getting 3D thrown in for free! And think about it, when Plasmas, LCD & now LEDs first launched, people ridiculed the idea as they cost too much. Now they’re everywhere. Give it a few years and we predict it will be close on impossible to buy a TV without 3D.

Myth #6: What’s the point? There’s no content! Hard to argue this, except if you’re a footy fan you won't use this argument after watching the State of Origin. It’s currently being repeated on Channel 31 (the assigned channel for 3D in Australia), and if you’re curious then pop in and watch some of it. The depth is incredible, and at one point we all thought it was raining in the showroom. With a surround sound system, you’ll almost feel like you’re part of the crowd. And what did that guy once say? “If you build it they will come”? There’s over 60 films in development that are being shot in 3D, not to mention the recently released Toy Story 3, Shrek Forever After, How to Train Your Dragon, and a little one you might have missed called Avatar. And let’s not get started on the gaming potential: already around the corner are the long-awaited Gran Turismo 5 and Tron Evolution.

Myth #7: My TV is “3D Ready” – do I need a new set? This one is yet to be finalised, as some models (eg Mitsubishi) use a different system to the agreed standard (checkerboard vs frame stacking). However there have been announcements regarding adapter devices being released, so best to check with the manufacturer whether your set is compatible with the new standard.

pweedas said...

evlPanda said...

On a related note has anyone ehcekd out 3D tv? I saw a demo in Sony store, didn't like too much. There's something not quite right about it, and I foudn myself finding the 2D sets next to them looking crisper.

The reason the picture doesn't look quite as crisp is because it isn't quite as crisp.

And the reason for that is because... [explanation]

I know. But it still looks slightly ****. I noticed in Avatar too, I kept adjusting my glasses every 10 minutes to see if I could fix it. The final image, to me, is 95% sharp.

Perhaps it is the fact that you can't focus on what you are looking at, unless the camera has too. For example you are enjoying the soccer in 3D but when you look at the crowd it is all blurry. Same in 2D, but blur is more annoying in 3D, unnoticeable in 2D (or perhaps we are used to it). I find it especially annoying around the edges.

Also 3D slightly nauseating.

Also I'm not sure how 3D will transfer to quality cinema. Many scenes are shot with the focal range very much in mind. The director directs your eye by using focus. Again the sensation will be/is like you can't focus properly.

Also the screens are 50% darker.

Also I don't know what the hell you need a 3D TV for. You need the glasses and a player that will sync the images it is pumping out (to the TV) with the glasses. I don't get the TV part. In theory you don't need the TV at all. Cinemas certainly didn't install 3D screens, did they.

I actually had 3D LCD glasses on my PC back in ...1996. Worked the same way and worked with most games (Direct X or Open GL, I forget) out of the box. Had a 100hz monitor at the time so it was similar to what these 3D TVs do now. It was pretty good for games, I must admit, but the fact is I used them for about 6 months and forgot about them until now.

Short version: You can't focus on what you want/depth of field issues, there is still some double image effect, image is 50% darker, slightly nauseating (I'd had two coffees prior the demo), had it in '96 and don't miss it.

Side-by-side I found I somewhat preferred the 2D TVs, if I removed the "new" factor.

Check out my effort:

It is called a 'window'

Next to it is a 'door'

You can use the 'door' to actually interact in real time with the 3D images you can see through the 'window'.

Awesome or what ??

No upgrades needed to hardware, possibly slight upgraded needed to software in some people's heads ?

Totally agree Mr G.

Now that everyone (pretty much) has signed up for plasma, then LCD, then LCD/LED it's time to somehow make them feel like they need some new news and need to reach deep into thepockets again.

Hey - they do offer something new but is +$4k worth it for the occasional 3 D viewing experience? Myeh.. probably not. Kinda the same for Blue ray, yeh it is slightly better but no massive improvement on standard DVD (not 3x better as initial pricing was).

I'd be waiting a couple of generations at least before taking the plunge on what is essentially a marketing gimmick. But I have no plans at all to sign up for 3D in the future as I just don't find it spesh at all. Never say never tho.

What I'd like is for the focus (no pun intended) in movie making to return to quality scripting, acting and real vision not cardboard cutout peformances all on a blue/green set with a story a 10 yr old would be embarrassed to produce.

Saw Toy story 3 yesterday (in 2D as my kids - and I - don't really enjoy 3D, its' fatigueing) and the quality of plot/storylines in all 3 of those movies leave 90% of movies for adults sadly lacking. Sure they have produced a 3D version too, as it would be commercial suicide not to in the current trend, but whatever version you see the story is kn great.

If you look at a dog turj in 3 dimensions is it suddenly interesting?

Can't wait for smellivision.

getfunky said...

If you look at a dog turj in 3 dimensions is it suddenly interesting?

Depends what's in it I spose.

3D ...ehh