Sony’s 3D TV lineup for 2010 are hitting the street.  There are a couple of important points to note.  While all of the models below are capable of displaying 3D content, not all 3D TVs will come packaged with glasses and the ability to sync 3D signals with those glasses.

The 3D integrated XBR-LX900 features a built-in 3D sync transmitter and two pair of active shutter glasses.

The 3D ready XBR-HX909 and KDL-HX800 series offer the option of adding the 3D sync transmitter and glasses at an additional cost.

Sony 3D TV Availability

Sony XBR-HX909 52″ 3D Ready HDTV

Sony KDL-HX800 40″ 3D Ready HDTV

Sony KDL-HX800 46″ 3D Ready HDTV

Sony KDL-HX800 55″ 3D Ready HDTV

Sony XBR-LX900 3D HDTV

Sony BR100 3D Sync Transmitter (for 3D Ready HDTVs)

Sony BR100/B Active Shutter 3D Glasses (for all Sony Bravia 3D HDTVs)

More details in the press release below.

Sony 3D TV Press Release

SAN DIEGO, June 9, 2010 – Sony today announced that its 3D capable BRAVIA® HDTVs are now available for pre-sale at Sony Style stores and that its new integrated Blu-ray 3D™ devices will hit retail shelves beginning this July.  Additionally, the company released a free firmware update that activates Blu-ray 3D capability for previously announced Blu-ray Disc models including the BDP-S470 and BDP-S570 players and the BDV-E570 and BDV-E770W home theater systems.

Sony now offers consumers the most diverse line of 3D capable home entertainment products including 19 BRAVIA® HDTVs, Blu-ray Disc players and theater systems, and audio/video components that offer various levels of performance and features.

Sony will support the 3D launch with an integrated marketing campaign featuring NFL quarterback Peyton Manning of the Indianapolis Colts, and Grammy® and Emmy® award-winning Jive/Sony Music artist Justin Timberlake aiming to deliver consumer education and eliminate 3D confusion.

“3D is revolutionizing the entertainment industry and only Sony is involved in every stage of the ecosystem,” said Chris Fawcett, vice president of Sony’s television business.  “Leveraging deep 3D expertise from the company’s theatrical and professional groups, Sony products are optimized to offer the best possible 3D home entertainment experience.”

BRAVIA 3D HDTVs

Focusing on that high quality experience, Sony’s 3D capable BRAVIA HDTVs incorporate a frame sequential display with active-shutter glasses that work together with Sony’s proprietary high frame rate technology reproducing smooth, full high-definition 3D images.

The line-up includes the 3D integrated BRAVIA XBR-LX900 HDTV, which features a built-in 3D sync transmitter and two pair of active shutter glasses and the 3D ready BRAVIA XBR-HX909 and KDL-HX800 series 3D ready models which offer the option of adding the 3D sync transmitter and glasses at an additional cost.

The line features screen sizes including 40, 46, 52, 55, and 60-inches and ranges in price from around $2,100 (KDL-40HX800) to about $5,000 (XBR-60LX900).

Consumers who purchase and register one of the new 3D BRAVIA models will receive a copy of Sony Pictures Home Entertainment’s Blu-ray 3D™ title Cloudy With a Chance of Meatballs as well as Blu-ray 3D title Deep Sea.  The sets will also include a PlayStation® Network voucher enabling 3D BRAVIA purchasers to download stereoscopic 3D gaming experiences on the PlayStation3 (PS3™) System (sold separately).  The titles include PAIN (partial game) and MotorStorm®: Pacific Rift (demo) and full game downloads of WipEout® HD and Super StarDust™ HD.

BRAVIA XBR-LX900 Series Integrated 3D HDTVs

The full HD 1080p (1920 x 1080) BRAVIA XBR-LX900 series features integrated 3D functionality and includes the 60-inch XBR-60LX900 for about $5,000 and the 52-inch XBR-52LX900 for about $4,000.

The Monolithic Design, Edge LED backlight models also feature integrated Wi-Fi® (802.11n) for an easy connection to broadband home networks to access Sony’s BRAVIA Internet Video Platform and BRAVIA Internet Widgets, as well as Sony’s new premium video service, Qriocity.

BRAVIA XBR-HX909 Series 3D Ready HDTVs

The XBR-HX909 series is 3D ready with the addition of Sony active shutter glasses (about $150 per pair) and sync transmitter (about $50), both sold separately.  The models feature full HD (1920 x 1080p) and Sony’s Intelligent Dynamic full array LED backlight. The Monolithic Design concept models include the 52-inch XBR-52HX909 for about $4,000 and the 46-inch XBR-46HX909 for about $3,500.

Sony’s Intelligent Dynamic LED backlighting improves contrast and dynamic range by local dimming that controls the LED backlight level by area so that detail is maintained in the dark areas, while other areas are driven near peak brightness. The models also include an RS-232c I/0 terminal for custom installation applications.

BRAVIA KDL-HX800 Series 3D Ready HDTVs

Also 3D ready (with the addition of Sony active shutter glasses and sync transmitter, sold separately), the BRAVIA KDL-HX800 series features full HD 1080p (1920 x 1080) and utilizes a Dynamic edge LED backlight with local dimming for improved contrast and dynamic range.  The series includes the 55-inch class (54.6-inches measured diagonally) KDL-55HX800 for about $3,400, the 46-inch KDL-46HX800 for about $2,700, and the 40-inch KDL-40HX800 for about $2,100.

Blu-ray 3D Players

Available in July for about $300, Sony’s Blu-ray 3D BDP-S770 model offers built in Wi-Fi (802.11n) for easy access to Sony’s BRAVIA Internet Video platform and Qriocity.

Additionally, Sony’s BDP-S470 and BDP-S570 Blu-ray Disc players can be upgraded to play Blu-ray 3D with a free online firmware update that is now available.  The update also adds Digital Living Network Alliance (DLNA®) compatibility to the models.

Blu-ray 3D Home Theater Systems

Also available this July for about $800, Sony’s new full HD 1080p 5.1 channel Blu-ray 3D capable home theater system (model BDV-HZ970W) features wireless capabilities via the included USB wireless LAN adapter (802.11n) allowing for easy access to the BRAVIA Internet Video platform and Qriocity.

The model also offers two HDMI inputs with 3D pass-through, HDMI repeater function, and a universal remote.

Sony’s BDV-E570 and BDV-E770W Blu-ray theater systems can now also be upgraded to Blu-ray 3D with the free firmware update.  The update also adds DLNA compatibility to the units.

Unique to all Sony Blu-ray Disc players, users with an iPhone® or iPod® touch device can control the players using a free app called “BD Remote” which can be downloaded from the Apple App store. The app, will also be available soon for Android™ devices, allows the device to function as a remote control that includes the ability to access a Blu-ray Disc’s details such as jacket artwork, actor, and production information as well as search for additional video clips online.

3D Capable Home Audio Components

Sony also recently announced 3D capable home audio products including the STR-DN1010 audio/video receiver, the HT-CT350 and HT-CT150 3.1 channel sound bars, and the HT-SF470 5.1 channel home theater system.  The models offer consumers flexible solutions to round out the Sony 3D experience and meet the demands of 3D home entertainment.

Additionally, Sony will add 3D capability to the previously announced STR-DH810 and STR-DH710 AV receivers through a firmware update later this month.

The Panasonic Viera VT25 Series of 3D plasma TVs should be arriving on store shelves soon.  There will be 4 models available ranging from 50″ to 65″ screens.

Panasonic Viera ??TC-P50VT25

• 50-inch class (49.9 inches diagonally)
• SRP $2,599.95
• Available week of May 3, 2010 (Check availability at Amazon.com)

Panasonic Viera TC-P54VT25

• 54-inch class (54.1 inches diagonally)
• SRP $2,999.95
• Available week of May 3, 2010 (Check availability at Amazon.com)

Panasonic Viera TC-P58VT25

• 58-inch class (58.0 inches diagonally)
• SRP $3,399.95
• Available June 2010 (Check availability at Amazon.com)

Panasonic Viera TC-P65VT25

• 65-inch class (64.7 inches diagonally)
• SRP $4,299.95
• Available June 2010 (Check availability at Amazon.com)

Samsung has announced the global launch of its Full HD 3D LED TV effective March 9, 2010.  In its first series of new 3D products, Samsung is launching LED TVs, Blu-ray players and 3D active glasses.

The 3D capable 46” and 55” Samsung LED C7000 TVs should be available in March 2010 at initial retail prices of $2600 (model # UN46C7000) and $3300 (model # UN55C7000), respectively. Check availability:

Samsung UN46C7000 46″ 1080p 240Hz 3D LED HDTV

Samsung UN55C7000 55″ 1080p 240 Hz 3D LED HDTV

The Samsung BD-C6900 is a 3D Blu-ray player, which should be available in March 2010 at an initial retail price of $399.99.  Check availability for the Samsung BD-C6900 on Amazon.com.

Additionally, the Samsung HT-C6930W is a new Blu-ray player and home theater system combo unit with 3D capability, which should be available in April 2010 at an initial retail price of $899.99.

For a limited time, consumers will receive a free 3D Starter Kit with the purchase of a Samsung 3D HDTV and either the Samsung BD-C6900 3D Blu-ray Player or the HT-C6930W 3D Home Theater System highlighted above.  Included in the kit is a 3D version of “Monsters vs. Aliens”® and two pairs of Samsung 3D Active Glasses.

More details below.

Samsung Press Release

NEW YORK–(BUSINESS WIRE)–Samsung Electronics Co., Ltd., a market leader and award-winning innovator in consumer electronics, today made another stride toward redefining the home entertainment experience by officially announcing the world’s first-available Full HD 3D LED TV and full lineup of 3D home entertainment products to consumers worldwide. Samsung also announced today the expansion of its strategic alliance with DreamWorks Animation SKG, Inc. (Nasdaq: DWA) to feature an exclusive offering of the Company’s beloved Shrek film series – which to date has grossed over $2 billion in worldwide box office – in its entirety in 3D for the first time ever.

To make 3D TV more accessible for consumers globally, Samsung unveiled a promotional program where everyone who purchases a 2010 Samsung 3D TV and 3D Blu-ray Player or Home Theater System will receive a 3D starter kit that includes two pairs of Samsung 3D active glasses and a first time, feature-length 3D Blu-ray version of DreamWorks Animation’s 2009 release, Monsters vs. Aliens (exclusive to Samsung products). Additionally, during the second half of 2010, the most successful animated film franchise of all time – DreamWorks Animation’s Shrek film series – will be available in 3D Blu-ray for Samsung home solutions.

“Samsung has been the number one company in the global TV market for four straight years, and we remain committed to leading the market by deploying new categories of entertainment like Full HD 3D LED TVs, on which consumers around the world will be able to enjoy their favorite content, including DreamWorks Animation’s Shrek franchise, in their homes,” said Boo-Keun Yoon, President of Visual Display Business Unit at Samsung Electronics. “With the widest range of options for 3D home solutions ever, Samsung continues to lead the home entertainment industry by liberating 2D content to 3D, and creating new, immersive experiences for consumers.”

“It is an incredibly exciting time for the industry at large, as we continue to see the proliferation of 3D in theaters globally at unprecedented rates and now – thanks to Samsung’s innovation leading the charge – the capability to deliver a truly premium 3D experience for consumers in their homes. We are thrilled to be able to offer audiences the exciting opportunity to bring the world and characters of all of our Shrek movies home with them this year in 3D,” said Jeffrey Katzenberg, Chief Executive Officer of DreamWorks Animation.

The news was delivered at Samsung’s Full HD 3D LED TV global launch press conference held in New York City today, one of several global events this week created by the company to invite influencers and consumers to enjoy all the capabilities of Samsung’s 3D technology leadership.

Global Product Availability

Samsung will launch the broadest line of 3D home entertainment products in 2010. Its 3D TV lineup includes the LED 7000/8000/9000 Series, LCD 750 Series, and the Plasma 7000/8000 Series. Available this month are the 3D capable 46” and 55” LED C7000, with the remaining 3D TVs rolling out over the next several months. Samsung is delivering 3D the way it was meant to be watched, combining the Samsung BD-C6900 3D Blu-ray player or the Samsung HT-C6930W 3D Blu-ray integrated home theater system, stylish 3D active glasses and movie in Blu-ray 3D. The result: Full HD with lifelike depth and color clarity at home.

First to Market Full HD 3D LED TV Raises Bar for TV Excellence

This year’s premium LED TV models, the C7000, C8000 and C9000, feature Samsung’s Real240Hz™ refresh rate technology and Samsung’s proprietary built-in 3D processor that is compatible with major 3D format standards. Samsung’s 3D technology and a faster panel optimized for 3D work together to deliver an immersive viewing experience. When not in the 3D mode, you’re back to watching one of the best performing HDTVs on the market with the push of a button.

The LED TVs come with Internet@TV connectivity which includes the world’s first HDTV app store, Samsung Apps, allowing users to download and view applications on their TV screens. The 3D LED TVs are also the highest performing and most eco-conscious HDTV products Samsung has ever released, all exceeding the more stringent EnergyStar 4.0 guidelines.

Taking the Wonder of 3D to people’s home

In the US, Samsung is launching a holistic marketing campaign under the name “Dedicated to Wonder,” a high-profile marketing effort that includes television advertising and the first 3D Cinema advertising (Spot?) for a consumer electronics brand. Samsung assembled an elite production crew, including the Oscar-winning director of photography, Mauro Fiore, and is bringing the wonder of the 3D experience to life with this new marketing campaign. New commercials will begin hitting the air this week, highlighting Samsung’s 3D technology and the wonder it brings to the home entertainment experience.

Samsung’s in-store display plan is also key to exposing consumers to the technology and educating them on the value of 3D. Samsung’s internal research shows that while awareness of 3D technology is high, less than a third of consumers have had any experience with it. For this reason, Samsung is strengthening marketing activities in an effort to make it easier for consumers to experience 3D. In 2010, consumers can expect to experience this immersive experience in more than 5,000 stores across the nation. Displays will start being deployed later in the month.

About Samsung Electronics Co., Ltd.

Samsung Electronics Co., Ltd. is a global leader in semiconductor, telecommunication, digital media and digital convergence technologies with 2008 consolidated sales of US$96 billion. Employing approximately 164,600 people in 179 offices across 61 countries, the company consists of seven independently operated business units: Visual Display, Mobile Communications, Telecommunication Systems, Digital Appliances, IT Solutions, Semiconductor and LCD. Recognized as one of the fastest growing global brands, Samsung Electronics is a leading producer of digital TVs, memory chips, mobile phones and TFT-LCDs. For more information, please visit www.samsung.com.

About DreamWorks Animation

DreamWorks Animation creates high-quality entertainment, including CG animated feature films, television specials and series, live entertainment properties and online virtual worlds, meant for audiences around the world. The Company has world-class creative talent, a strong and experienced management team and advanced filmmaking technology and techniques. DreamWorks Animation has been named one of the “100 Best Companies to Work For” by FORTUNE® Magazine for two consecutive years. In 2010, DreamWorks Animation ranks #6 on the list. All of DreamWorks Animation’s feature films are now being produced in 3D. The Company has theatrically released a total of 18 animated feature films, including the franchise properties, Shrek, Madagascar and Kung Fu Panda. DreamWorks Animation’s three feature film releases in 2010 are How to Train Your Dragon, Shrek Forever After and Megamind.

HDI Laser 3D HDTV Crew

HDI is a startup that is taking a different approach to refining the 3D viewing experience.  They’ve put together a 100-inch laser screen that displays 3D video in true 1080p HD.  Additionally, the HDI laser-based display has a 1080 hertz refresh rate, which means the video signal actually refreshes over 1000 times per second.

More on HDI’s philosophy and developments in the news release below.

HDI 3D Laser HDTV News Release

September 3, 2009 – Los Gatos, California – Research and design firm HDI Ltd., announces the release of its laser-driven 3D projection display technology with a Greater Than High-Definition Resolution. Among the first products to emerge from over three-years of intensive R&D is HDI Ltd’s 100-inch diagonal 2D/3D Switchable Dynamic Video Projection Display that derives its stereoscopic 1,920 x 1,080p image quality from two RGB laser-illuminated Liquid Crystal on Silcon (LCOS) micro display imagers. HDI’s 2D/3D Switchable Dynamic Video Projection Display, at a mere 10-inches thick, draws 80% less power than existing 2D flatscreen plasma monitors of the same size, and HDI projection displays are anticipated to have a street price potentially 60% less than current 2D flatscreen plasma displays.

Previewed over four months to several dozen invitation-only observers, early reports indicate an enthusiastically positive consensus. Says HDI Ltd., co-founder Ingemar Jansson, “We believe our patented technology is the only one offering the visual quality consumers will demand in order for 3D to become a permanent fixture in home entertainment any time soon.”

Jansson chose to announce HDI’s new technology after learning several months ago of another company preparing to offer consumers a cable channel with 3D content through technology viewers already say is visually “5 on a scale of 10.” Continuing, Jansson says, “Offering people disappointing, cheap 3D virtually guarantees yet another false start for 3D in the home. Ultimately, that’s going to set the entire entertainment industry back – again.” Jansson even has a term for over-hyped 3D technology that disappoints consumers: “We call it ‘two and a half D,’” he quips.

Comments like these indicate HDI’s technology yields considerably more enthusiasm than the others that are vying for the home theater market. Stressing that HDI’s technology will be considerably more than affordable to create a mass market, Jansson claims, “It costs $4 billion to get a large screen plasma or LCD plant on line. Our technology will require five percent of that investment to produce HDI 2D/3D Switchable Dynamic Video Projection Displays in quantity.”

But what about 2D? According to HDI’s chief scientist Edmund Sandberg, HDI’s current technology easily enables 2D playback at a resolution higher than current HD standards. “We’ve already achieved effective resolution of 1,080p per eye resolution for 3D with deep color saturation that looks incredible in a well-lit room,” Sandberg claims. “In 2D mode, by slightly overlaying the two pixel arrays we’re getting an effective pixel resolution of around 3k, which is 50% greater than today’s digital cinema resolution. No one else is even close to that,” Sandberg states as a matter of fact.

Because Jansson is in talks with a number of entities representing Hollywood, gaming, home theater, medical, and national defense, his silence regarding pending deals is understandable. The one thing he isn’t silent about is the so-called “3D Explosion” hyped in a March 2009 issue of Time Magazine (http://bit.ly/1aivNu).

Jansson concludes his remarks with a warning and a promise. “If the early adopters in the home theater market experience 3D as the cheap trick, as described in the March 2009 Time Magazine article, 3D demand is going to be killed off for years. We have too much invested to let that happen without a fight.”

Alioscopy develops 3D TVs that don’t require glasses.  However, Alioscopy is currently focused on commercial, rather than consumer, applications of this technology.

In Alioscopy’s latest move, they’ve developed a template-based User Generated Content platform that allows users to drag and drop content for no-glasses 3D creations in real-time.

More details in Alioscopy’s news release below.

Alioscopy No-Glass 3D News Release

AMSTERDAM–(BUSINESS WIRE)–Alioscopy® USA, a 3D visualization technology provider, today premiered a new User Generated Content (UGC) tools platform for its Autostereoscopic ‘No-Glasses’ LCD displays. Located at the Autodesk booth (RAI Amsterdam Booth 7.D21), Alioscopy is showing IBC show attendees how its new template-based User Generated Content platform allows its customers to create and/or edit 3D content easily on any template, adding or removing information in real-time for ‘attention-grabbing’ autostereoscopic ‘no-glasses’ 3D results.

Powered by Ignition, a real-time interactive engine from Applied Ideas, Inc., the User Generated Content platform allows any Alioscopy customer to create or add text, 3D models, and even 2D video for instant playback and display on pre-created Alioscopy-ready templates. The benefits of being able to add and remove 3D or video content and information to an Alioscopy 3D template allows customers to take creative control—in real-time.

“Alioscopy is constantly offering its customers a way to create and edit autostereoscopic 3D content quickly and efficiently,” said Philippe Roche, CEO of Alioscopy USA. “Along with our preferred content producer and template programs, the User Generated Content tools are a strategic way for us to help our customers further extend their ability to quickly create, customize and edit their own 3D autostereoscopic 3D content.”

The User Generated Content platform features an easy-to-use palette of 3D objects in a non-intimidating environment so artists can edit or create high-quality and eye-catching autostereoscopic content in real-time. By adding text, photos, and/or video, customers can realize a much faster and cost effective solution over waiting for an artist or agency to provide final work.

“We realized that the development process for any 3D environment can be intimidating—and autostereoscopic 3D adds a further dimension to that process,” said Dr. Kenneth Maffei, CEO of Applied IDEAS. “We wanted to create easy-to-use tools so customers can achieve their creative ideas by directly generating or modifying their own 3D content for playback within an intuitive and interoperative interface,” added Maffei.

Learn More

To learn more about Alioscopy, the autostereoscopic 3D process, or how to join the Preferred Content Producer community program, visit: http://www.alioscopyusa.com.

Panasonic Develops World’s First
3D Full HD Plasma Theater System*

Human beings feel the 3D impression because each of the left and right eyes recognizes different images. Panasonic’s system comprises a 103-inch plasma television and a BD player that plays back BD onto which 3D images, consisting of left- and right-sided 1080p full HD images, are recorded. By wearing active shutter glasses that work in synchronization with the plasma television, the viewer is able to experience 3D images formed with twice the volume of information as regular full HD images, and enjoy them together with high quality surround sound. This system enables full HD signal processing on each of the left and right images in every process — recording, playback and display.

Previous consumer 3D display systems have encountered many different problems, including reduced vertical resolution caused by a 3D display method that divides the scanning lines between the left and right eyes, and picture quality degradation caused by pixel skipping that results from the squeezing of two (left and right) screens’ worth of full HD images into one screen’s worth of data capacity for image storage and transmission. Until now, there has not been a system capable of displaying the equivalent quality to original master of Hollywood 3D movies.

Panasonic has developed the following technologies for realizing the new system.

1. Plasma display: The performance of Panasonic’s plasma panels, whose self-illumination allows for excellent video response, has been brought out to the fullest extent in the development of a 3D driving system that displays the left and right images together as full HD images.
2. BD: Using the optical disc technology cultivated by Panasonic over many years, and the authoring technology developed by Panasonic Hollywood Laboratory (PHL), it has been possible to record 3D images — consisting of respective left and right 1080p full HD images — onto a single, standard BD.
3. BD player: Panasonic has developed a technology to decode and play back the left and right full HD image data recorded to the BD in real time.
4. 3D images: Panasonic has produced 3D contents that allow the viewers to experience fascinating 3D images, including dynamic images of athletes at the Olympic Games, and animated movies by Hollywood. These contents will be shown in a special theater set up in the Panasonic booth in Hall 3 at CEATEC JAPAN 2008.

Panasonic will work to promote the 3D system by standardization of 3D format at Blu-ray Disc Association (BDA), with the cooperation of the Hollywood studios and consumer electric companies which are members of BDA, in order to allow consumers to enjoy 3D images in the comfort of their own homes.

* World’s first system to create true-to-life 3D images by providing full HD images to left eye and right eye, as of September 22, 2008