It looks like Samsung is going to be the first to market with 3D TVs in 2010. Samsung is running and gunning with 40-inch, 46-inch and 55-inch Full HD 3D TVs with active 3D glasses, the production of which began earlier in January 2010.
While this is an exciting move on the part of the electronics giant, it remains to be seen whether it will be good for the industry due to the lack of standardization across the 3D technology. The general consensus at CES 2010 seemed to be that Summer 2010 would be when we could hope for some solidarity and standarization among 3D content and hardware providers. Regardless of that notion, however, Samsung is marching full steam ahead now.
Get the full scoop in Samsung’s press release below.
Samsung 3D TV Press Release
SEOUL, South Korea–(BUSINESS WIRE)–Samsung Electronics Co., Ltd, a global leader in display technology and digital media, announced today that it has become the first company to commence mass production of panels for 3D LED TVs and 3D LCD TVs.
“Samsung Electronics aims to lead the global 3D TV panel market in pioneering panel mass production for 3D LED and LCD TVs.”
“Recently, 3D displays have captured the industry spotlight,” said Wonkie Chang, president of the LCD Business at Samsung Electronics. “Samsung Electronics aims to lead the global 3D TV panel market in pioneering panel mass production for 3D LED and LCD TVs.”
The company began producing LED and LCD compatible panels for 40-inch, 46-inch and 55-inch full-HD 3D TVs using ‘3D Active Glasses’ this month, employing Samsung’s exclusive true 240Hz technology.
Samsung’s true 240Hz technology delivers full-HD viewing in 2D, and also smooth, natural, full-HD 3D images that can vividly capture rapid movements.
By incorporating true 240Hz technology, operating at 240 frames per second, Samsung’s panels deliver a more lifelike picture with alternating left and right eye images through the use of 3D Active Glasses technology.
Samsung has reduced the response time of its LCD and LED panels by 20 percent to less than four milliseconds, eliminating any interference between left and right eye images. With this improved response time, Samsung is able to achieve natural 3D images and also deliver 2D pictures capturing rapid movement with exceptional clarity.
Samsung’s new 3D Active Glasses technology first blocks the left and then right lens, causing a momentary lag when images are shown to each eye to achieve more lifelike 3D images. The term, ‘3D Active Glasses,’ was selected as an official term by the Glasses Standardization Working Group of the Consumer Electronics Association (CEA) earlier this year.
The polarized glass method previously used in 3D glasses produced separate images for the left and right eyes, resulting in half the resolution of two-dimensional pictures as only half of the screen can be viewed through each polarized filter. Brightness was also lowered because of the polarized filter.
According to a market research firm, DisplaySearch, the 3D display market is expected to grow from $902 million in 2008 to $22 billion in 2018. The 3D TV market is expected to expand to a $17-billion market, with sales increasing from 200,000 units in 2009 to 64 million units in 2018.
{ 3 comments }
I am one of those people who bought one of Samsung’s 3D “future” ready LED DLP’s back in early 2008. It seems like now the new standard will not be compatible with the older “future” ready TV’s. I know Mitsubishi will have an adapter which will make there older 3D DLP’s compatible with the new standard. Will Samsung be doing the same thing?
These units are very impressive, we finally have 3D in full color without the red/green glasses. However I see it taking many years before becoming mainstream as so many have purchased screens not 3D ready, we need a stand alone universal converter to bring us all up to speed without re-buying whole systems. The manufacturer that can pull that off will have huge sales numbers.
It doesn’t look like Samsung will make a converter for their older “3D-Ready” sets, however, it has been confirmed that the Mitsubishi 3DC-1000, expected to go on sale late spring 2010 for under $100, will work with the Samsung sets as well as the Mitsubishi TVs. I have a Samsung HL-61A750 set myself, and I am checking the web daily to see when this thing is released. While our older sets will be compatible, they will only do 1080i instead of the full 1080p of the new standard. For me, that is not a big deal, it may be a bigger deal for others. The last part of the puzzle will be what 3D glasses are compatible with this converter. I am hoping I can use Samsungs new glasses (they are inexpensive, look ok, and most importantly, I can buy them at cost!)
The most exciting thing for me is that with my existing TV set and my existing PS3, all I have to do is get the adapter and glasses and I am all set for 3D!
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