Sony, the Japanese based electronic giant is boosting up 3D TV technology. It states that its 3D TV sales would account for 40% of its total sales in the year 2012. Digitimes.com claims that the company is expected to ship 2.5 million 3D LCD TVs by March 2011. It also avers that Sony wants to become the leader in 3D television market. 3D TV seems to be a crucial tool for the company to boost its average sales price and to bring profitability.

Harvey Norman, an Australian retailer has said recently that TVs are the most important sellers, but they made little profits in recent times. Aggressive competition prevalent in this arena diminishes price and profit. Sony anticipates increasing 3D TV sales by 10% of its entire LCD TV sales. Nearly, 25 million LCD units have been shipped.

Kenji Sakai, Sony’s (Taiwan) managing director, said to Digitimes.com that the share of shipment is expected to rise to 40% in the next financial year. Kenji is very much interested in making Sony the most prominent seller in the 3D market. Sony is establishing 3D technological hubs to increase the fame of 3D TVs. Kenji also told that it is expected that Sony’s outsourcing orders would 50% of its entire LCD TV sales in the financial year 2010. Sources indicated that the outsourcing share value would touch $15 billion in the financial year 2010. The reputation of 3D TVs is somewhat strange, as the 3D content is not sufficient. The first prototypes announced reveal that the consumers would stay away in group.

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The new annual holiday gift guide has been introduced by the editorial staff of Electronic House.  One entire section has been devoted to 3D gifts.  Check these 3D holiday gifts of 2010.

1. Despicable Me Blu-ray 3D Combo Pack - $49.98
   The first one is one of the biggest 3D movie of the year – ‘Despicable Me’.  The movie can be watched by then entire family.  It is a 3D movie and you will need 3D glasses to watch this movie.  It has 3 mini movies inside the main movie pack.
2. JVC DLA-RS40 / DLA-X3 Projector - $ 4,495
   This projector offers two HDMI 1.4 ports and can support Blu-ray and 3D transmission.  You need to buy separate glasses to view 3D movies.
3. LG BX580 3D Blu-ray Player - $299.99
   This device will offer you both 3D and high definition playback along with integrated Wi-Fi.  You can use attach it to NetCast service of LG to get Netflix, YouTube, Pandora, VUDU through your remote control.
   Today all the new movies are coming on Blu –ray and it can be used for the long term.
4. FujiFilm W3 3D Camera -  $499.99
   Now you can create your own movie content with the help of this camera.  With the help of this camera you can shoot not only 3D photos but also 3d HD video.  The camera has two 10 magapixel CCD sensors and two 3x optical zoom lenses.  Even 2D pictures and videos can be taken by the same camera.
5. Step Up 3D - $49.99
   This is a 3D movie and unless people see this movie, they may not appreciate it.  Tell your friends to watch this movie before giving comment.  Though this movie looks better in the theatres, you can enjoy it at home with same enthusiasm.
6. Sony PlayStation 3  - Starts from $299.99
   This is one of the most popular gift since last 4 years.  The change in this year is it is updated with the system software 3.5 which gives you 3D viewing.  Today maybe there are few games available for 3D but they are surely going to be more in the future.  Till then you can play 2D games, Blu-ray disks and blu-ray movies.
7. Call of Duty: Black Ops  $59.99
   This is the most awaited game of this year as it is in 3D.    It can be played on the 3D HDTVs as well as 3D PCs.
8. Avatar Blu-ray 3D
   This all time favourite movie can be free for you along with many new 3D televisions sets.

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Well, all that might just be changed soon by the Italian Broadcasters and Technology Consortium. So what are they trying to achieve? Well, basically they’re combining both the left and right 720p frames into a single 1080p broadcast frame. This is then transmitted in such a way that the 2d televisions only pick up one part of the frame, while the 3d televisions have access to both parts, and will then do their overlaying magic to give you your 3d broadcast.

While this “backward compatible” technology will save a lot of money, it also means that standard HDTVs (not 3D enabled), will only get half the image data streamed, essentially making it half the quality.

The technology is being looked into by the standards commissions, but it might be a while before we see it hit the mainstream.

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Pioneer’s Blu-ray players are now available for purchase. The line of blu-ray players include BDP-430 , BDP-41FD and BDP-43FD. In addition to the Blu-ray 3D compatibility, the main updates include streaming from YouTube, WI-Fi adaptability with optional dongle and Netflix and Pandora. Pioneer’s iControl AV remote app is also available. BDP-430 is available for $299 and BDP-41FD is available for $399. If you want to bring the BDP-43FD to your home, you need to spend $499.

Pioneer Electronics Inc. commences shipping its Blu-ray 3D players, which will increase the delight of passionate movie watchers. The players recreate a high-tech theatrical experience in the comfort of your own home. These Blu-ray players were recently unveiled at the 2010 CEDIA EXPO. The line includes two Elite models and Pioneer BDP-430. They provide unsurpassed audio and picture quality. Fast load times, Wi-Fi ready, streaming compatibility and iControlAV app are some other useful features.

Pioneer Blu-ray players are built with superior quality audio and video reproduction. The new line provides perfect 3D video via the new HDMI standard. It allows the high data transfer rate, which is important for a Blu-ray 3D format. Pure Cinema technology of Pioneer transforms standard definition video sources to high quality 1080 p. This delivers crystal clear, sharp images with reduced image noise. Moreover, 36-bit deep color support helps to provide precise color and high quality color reproduction.

The 3D models give support to the hottest audio formats like Dolby TrueHD and DTS HD Master audio. Pioneer technologies boost the audio experience, which is vital to enjoy a fully immersive 3D experience. These models make use of the Precision Quartz Lock System for problem free reproduction of Blu-ray disc, DVD and CD content.

If you have connected to an Ethernet or wireless connection via the AS-WL200 wireless adaptor, you can access content from streaming services like YouTube, Pandora and Netflix. These models are Wi-Fi ready. It comes with an optional adaptor for a wireless connection to BD live content, home networks, streaming content services and auto notification of firmware updates.

Continue Mode, an enhanced feature, allows users to resume watching Blu-ray discs easily. If the disc is not removed before turning the power off, you can resume playback at the place you have left.

Pioneer’s iControlAV App converts iPhone and iPod touch devices into a comprehensive functioning remote control. When you connect the players via Ethernet, the app lets you control basic functions of the players. iControl AV App is available for free from the iPhone and iPod touch App store.

Pioneer BDP-430 is available for around $299. BDP-41FD that boasts of an RS-232 port carries a price tag of $399.

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Samsung’s passion for making the world’s thinnest Blu-ray player has not faded away. It has now declared its plan to trim things down further with a 23mm thick Blu-ray player. It will be unveiled at CES 2011. With the information we have got so far, we guess that it will be able to play native 3D content and transform 2D to 3D. It will be available in a wall mountable metallic structure. It will come with the YouTube, Twitter and Facebook. We haven’t received pricing and availability details. However, CES is to be held next week. We can wait that long.

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In 2010 CES we saw 3D TVs from all the consumer electronic giants and if you think 2011 will be without any new technology then LG is giving us another surprise by launching mobile 3D TV in CES 2011.  The new model from LG can be viewed while on move and will support 3D video playback.  The model can be views even if the vehicle is speeding 125MPH.  Currently the device does not have any product name and nothing has been disclosed about its portability.  Looks like meant for people who are travelling by the bullet trains   of Japan where speed is high.

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If you want to know what LG is up to for the CES - 2011 then they are going to show glasses free 3D display of Smartphone and tablets.  It is 4.3 inches touch screen WVGA and the pixel resolution is 480x800.  The device can be used for 3D display on video.  You can play games also without using glasses.

It has used the applied parallax barrier technology along with the light blocking slits on the front panel.  This shows different things to your left as well as right eye. This gives you the required 3D effect.

The display gives the variety of angles and free images as well as the straightness of the barriers.  LG is going to reveal all its facilities with LG Optimus Android tablet.  LG needs the auto stereoscopic display to differentiate its tablet which is like iPod.

Image Credit: thecoolgadgets.com

SONY has introduced new series of Bravia for its 3D products.  The earlier series had models like EX723, EX523 and EX320 now the new series will have CX523 and CX32D.  The CX series is meant for its 3D product.

Sony’s EX320 was known as the best small screen that is full HD.  It was ideal for the kitchen and bedroom.    Now the new product will have brighter and clearer 3D pictures than before and it is meant for the full family and for the living room.

The new range is wireless LAN ready, can connect with the optional USB Wi-Fi adapter.  This can be used for the wire free connections for internet.  This is meant for the advanced technology.  It has an optional camera along with microphone which can be used when you are on the internet mode.  For free voice over calls this can be the best technology.  Skype is at its best here.  Now you will be able to chat with family and friends on a big scale.

It also has direct recording facility to USB and DLNA and new X Reality image processor.  According to the Sony officials this technology can even show you low quality picture with the high quality picture.
Sony’s EX series was the popular one and they believe that customer will definitely go for this new series as 3D is the future of TV industry and today or tomorrow everybody will need this technology in their living room.

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Toshiba is ready for CES 2011 with their new auto stereoscopic 3D technology.  This time they have bigger screens then their previous 20 inch offerings.     They displayed their two models at CEATEC one is of 20 inch and another is of 12 inch.  They got big crowd of people who were interested in their glass free 3D television.  Company is expecting same kind of response at CES -2011 as they have the same product with bigger screens and few improvements here and there.

According to the President, Mr. Masaaki Oosumi , last they showed their TV to the general public around three months ago and three months definitely  long period and people are expecting some major changes .  There will be definite change in the screen size and autosterescopic technology will take some time before it clears all its hurdles.

Nintendo is coming in the market with its small screen without glasses but according to Toshiba big screen without glasses will take more time.

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If you check last year’s 3D TV sale then the industry has not gained much as per the expectations.  LG has their own reasons for that.  According to them we can change the picture upside down by some corrective actions.  First one is less material for 3D viewing which will reduce as more and more people are coming forward for producing 3D pictures and second and more important is unavailability of the Passive 3D glasses instead of active shutter glasses which are expensive as well as heavy.  They describe it as FPR – Film Pattern Retarder.  FPR can make your 3D viewing cheaper as you need passive 3D glasses to watch the thin film over the LCD.

Out of all the three reasons LG is taking immediate action against the second one that is replacing the active shutter glasses.  They have stopped manufacturing active shutter glasses.  This should be the beginning of the FPR.  They are going to introduce this in the USA by this April. 
LG gave demo of the same technology in the press conference arranged by them at CES-2011 and most of the press people felt the competition is with 6Hz, 120Hz and 240Hz which most of the motion demos TV manufacturers used.  If we compare it with Samsung 3DTV with active shutter glasses then it was full of crosstalk and jittery.  FPR was quite free moving and easy.   LG was defensive about the claim from others saying FPR is not complete HD as in FPR each eye receives only 540 lines as against in HD that receives 1080 line.  LG refuse to accept it and said that even FPR is full HD as it receives total 1080 lines.

LG further claims that their new technology is at par with the HD and there will not be any reduction in the brightness of the 2D matter.  LG maybe more aggressive about FPR but there are more people who are talking about FPR and FPR can be the flavor of 2011 as there are some other companies like Vizio, Philips who have already started bringing FPR in the market.  Vizio has already supplied TVs to Wal-Mart or Sam’s club.

The next step is wait for the general public’s reaction to this new change as the price of the TV will increase because of the FPR.

Image Credit: ces2010.t3.com