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“The same 3D effects making money at the box office aren’t just coming to a theater near you. They’re coming home. Panasonic, Sony, Samsung, Mitsubishi, they are all getting into the 3D TV game. Within three to five years, we believe at least half of the people who buy a 50-inch or larger set will be buying a 3D set, and then it will accelerate.” (CNN)
Major home theater manufactures are claiming 3D technology could be available for the public as early as next year. Research firm GigaOM claims 46 million people will be watching 3D TV by 2013. But with a lot of money going into the development and launch of these products, media outlets are questioning if it really will take off or fall flat.
We’re looking at perspectives from the BBC, TechVi.com, CNN, blog NewTeeVee and The Sydney Morning Herald.
A common complaint among 3D viewers is that you have to wear strange looking glasses. A BBC correspondent looked into whether you’ll still need to wear glasses with the new 3D TVs.
“I’ve gotta say the 3D content I think looks just as good if not better. I don’t know whether that’s because of the U2 video or because of the screen, but it’s very impressive. This is the 3D monitor product. This is basically 3D television without the glasses, so there’s no glasses required. The 3D engine is within the product. So, it’s like those lenticular displays but I’ve got to say it doesn’t have the same effect as the other ones.”
Nate Lanxon from CNET UK talked to TechVi.com about that new LG television that doesn’t require 3D glasses. Lanxon’s not a fan.
“3D TV that you could watch without glasses, it was kind of like a giant moving hologram. The problem was that it was about as comfortable as watching like a music video after having a guy punch you in the head. It was essentially like a giant eyeball ache.”
TechVi.com talked to another journalist from Crunch Gear who also slammed the new technology but for a different reason, 3D gaming.
“One of the fun things about gaming is somebody can watch you play, but with 3D gaming nobody can really watch you play, so it pushes you even further into your little cocoon there.”
But regardless, CNN explains how the industry is still optimistic 3D TV’s will bring in the big bucks.
“TV prices are down and that means projected revenue are down about six percent worldwide, and that’s the first time that’s happened in the five years industry group Display Search has tracked the figures. The industry hopes 3D can turn things around, consumers after all would need new sets and new players for 3D movies.”
Tech blog NewTeeVee.com believes the industry is right on the money. Blogger Alfred Poor argues the demand for 3D TV is clear with the millions consumers pay to see children’s movies in 3D at the box office.
“An entire generation is growing up with the expectation that movies should be in 3-D, and if that’s the case, then why shouldn’t they get the same experience at home?”
The Sydney Morning Herald refutes that with a pessimistic outlook from research group Gartner. Gartner doubts consumers will bite.
“For the consumer home market, the 3D TV is likely to remain a niche product, not only because of the global recession, but also mainly because the technologies available are not ideal in terms of their ease of use, cost or practicality, let alone the range of available 3D content.”
Do you think 3D TV’s will take off, or are they more of a gimmick?
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