Panasonic sets out to bring "3D Full HD" to Blu-ray by 2010
By Donald Melanson 
posted Feb 9th 2009 5:13PM
posted Feb 9th 2009 5:13PM
Panasonic was already well on board the 3D bandwagon when we caught up with them at CES, and it looks like the company is now set to really blow things out, with it today announcing the opening of a new 3D authoring laboratory at its Panasonic Hollywood Laboratory in California. That, it says, will help it bring so-called "3D Full HD" to Blu-ray by 2010, and it'll apparently be working directly with various studios to ensure that 3D FHD (as the company seems to be calling it) becomes an actual standard of some sort for high-def 3D. In terms of actual products, it looks we could be seeing some of the systems that were on display at CES, including a Plasma 3D Full HD home theater system, as well as a 3D-ready digital projector with a 380-inch screen, although that is apparently intended solely 3D FHD picture evaluation at the lab. Let's all just hope they offer tours.
[Via About Projectors]
[Via About Projectors]
Look, I enjoy some 3D stuff but most of it is gimmicky at best. I do look forward to seeing some of this technology but I worry about the logistics of it all. As it is right now, to watch a movie properly in my home I need to have a good TV, good sound system, and good source players. Add 3D into it and now I have to buy glasses for everyone?
Much of the 3D effect relies on the colors of the glasses being properly matched to the colors of the display. This is one of the reasons that 3D in theaters often sucks. The cheap glasses are not exactly the right colors for the displayed image. I think this will be compounded in trying to set up a properly calibrated home theater. Will I need to adjust my display colors to match the glasses? Some glasses will obviously be better than others. Am I going to be out $100 per pair of glasses for every member of my family so that we can all see the same quality image? How do I keep my five year old from rubbing popcorn butter on the lenses?
Lots of issues in trying to go 3D. I wish there was a good alternative without the glasses. That would be much better.
The same way you keep your 5yr old from rubbing popcorn oil on your plasma/lcd... or your DVD's/BD's... or your remote control...
But yeah, I agree, it will be interesting to see how they plan on advancing 3D in a practical manner. Color me skeptical for the time being.
@Deez,
I understand your answer about the same way I keep him from touching the TV screen, etc. But, you have to admit that this is very different. Great parenting can only go so far. In the end, you will have to buy glasses specifically for your children if you want to keep yours nice.
The best child in the world is going to touch something he is wearing. Further, he is going to have friends over and they are going to watch movies.