by Oliver Amnuayphol
Seems like 3D TV is everywhere these days: Panasonic recently released their Full HD 3D plasma line with the 2010 V series and is on a US 3D tour; Samsung followed with a 55-inch LED-backlit LCD set, the UN55C7000; and Sony expects to have their sets available by June. Of course, you'll need some 3D software to enjoy all the in-yer-face goodness, so all the major manufacturers mentioned above are promising compatible Blu-ray spinners as well. In fact, Panasonic recently released a $2890 combo package including 3D glasses, their TC-P50VT20 set and a compatible Blu-ray player at Best Buy and the bundle quickly sold out in a week. Both Onkyo and Pioneer have recently announced 3D compatible receivers, and others are developing more hardware solutions as I write. But that may just be because they have to: 3D transmission requires the new HDMI 1.4 spec (and just when you thought HDMI 1.3 was all you needed!) unless you have a late gen PS3, for which Sony is promising 3D capability with a firmware upgrade. For a full primer on 3D tech, check out the great Home Theater mag article here.
Just why consumers are adopting the technology so early is
anybody's guess: So far, only two recent theatrical titles and two DirecTV channels are slated for near future release and broadcasting respectively--Cloudy with a Chance of Meatballs and A Christmas Carol for the former (middle of 2010), and ESPN and Discovery for the latter (by 2011)--so either Best Buy stocked very few 3D bundles, or lots of people are genuinely excited about 3D. Still, the future does seem promising for 3D: Avatar in 3D is breaking records left and right in the theaters, so it's only natural to assume a good number of folks will want the 3D experience in their own homes. Nevertheless, until we see solid numbers of availability and sales of 3D video gear, it's really all speculation at this point. Will the 3D revolution save packaged media and TV profit margins like the video industry hopes it will? Only time, and consumer's pocketbooks, will tell. Stay tuned.
Movie Releases for This Week.
DVD: Sherlock Holmes; Alvin and the Chipmunks: The Squeakquel; An Education; 3 Idiots; Deadliest Catch: Season Five; The Baader Meinhof Complex; The Killer.
Blu-ray: Sherlock Holmes; Alvin and the Chipmunks: The Squeakquel; An Education; 3 Idiots; The Baader Meinhof Complex; The Killer; Collateral; The Protector; The Diary of Anne Frank.
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