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.
Stephen Scott’s Experience
Marketing Manager
Aussie Hi Fi
(Marketing and Advertising industry) !!!
Try lying down on a couch & watch 3d TV with your 'special' glasses on - doesn't work obviously. If I want to kick back & watch telly or a movie, I don't want to have to concentrate on having my eyes horizontally aligned to get the effect.
The facts... are and arn't... sort of...
This thread was good until the chemtrails fans got on to it.
The advertisers never said you need two TV's... maybe if making such a claim, some evidence of such advertising would be appropriate. Otherwise, that just the rumour mill getting its word out again.
You dont need "active glasses"... Avatar didn't need them -> the technology is called circular polarisation (www.reald.com/). Old school Green/Red still works for 3D, it didn't magically disappear. Other tech exists which doesn't require any glasses: www.3d-tvbuyingguide.com/3dtv/microsoft-3d.html
You do get headaches if the shutter rate is too slow -> shutter technology was available in the mid 90's, but the shutter speed was slow and the resolution was too low. You can also get headaches using Green/Red, as the technique requires you head exactly vertical - being slightly tilted does weird things with your brain. Since 3D vision is relatively new to the masses, we wont see the true effects for many years eg: hardware.slashdot.org/story/10/06/26/2059205/3D-Displays-May-Be-Hazardous-To-Young-Children
Obviously you need latest tech in cables, to support the highest resolution displays + 3D.
The good (shutter glasses or circular polarization) 3D TV's need at least 140Hz refresh rate to get above the flicker rate detectable by most of the population - some people need a higher rate. High-end TV's have previously had refresh rates around 100-120 Hz -> they needed an upgrade to handle the faster refresh rates. So it is true that 3D TV's are just high-end 2D TV's, but the classification of "high-end" is a moving target.
Its true that there isn't much content and that there isn't standardised 3D tech. Eventually there will be, until then dont be the guy who got suckered in to buying HD-DVD, Beta, etc.
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 ?
I hate 3D TV I hope it dies again like it has before.
It looks like ****. It hurts my eyes. Try watching a fast scene in HD, its just a blur.
If you want to watch rugby and soccer in 3D then try attending a real game, and f*** off so that channel 9 doesnt have to keep showing these stupid low-panning camera angles to enhance the 3d effect.
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.
