IFA 2011: Toshiba to launch 55in glasses-free 3D TV in December
Well, it's what you tell us you've been waiting for, and the big news from Toshiba is that it will launch the world's first large-screen, glasses-free 3D TV in Germany this December.
Release dates in other European countries, including the UK, are still to be confirmed.
There's no price as yet – don't expect it to be cheap– but Toshiba claims its 55ZL2 will allow up to nine viewers to watch in 3D simultaneously without glasses, using built-in face-tracking and the firm's proprietary CEVO engine.
Using an array of lenticular lenses – a first in such a large screen – Toshiba's engineers say they have been able to calculate multiple viewing points from stereoscopic images.
The glasses-free 3D technology is based on the stereoscopic principle of simultaneously delivering a picture for the left eye and another one with a small offset for the right eye, which are then 'superimposed' on the viewer's brain to create the 3D effect.
The set also displays 2D content in four times (Quad) Full HD resolution of 3840 x 2160 pixels.
Additional features include access to the Toshiba Places web portal for smart TV functionality, support for HbbTV (Hybrid broadcast broadband TV), USB connectivity and auto picture calibration.
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Comments
3D is still in the early stages as applied to flat screen technology. The public may have a take it or leave it attitude at the moment but when technology improves-and that will mean no glasses it will become the natural way to see TV.
I'm sure if we turn the clock forward 20 years, it will be quite normal and people will wonder what all the fuss was about.
Fine, but again my comments are being interpreted as more combative than they actually are. At no point in any of my posts below did I state that I don't like 3DTV. As I say, I'm entirely ambivalent about the technology.
I was merely pointing out that 3DTVs have failed to sell in anything like expected quantities, as evidenced by numerous consumer reports, and that glasses are not the only gating factor to 3DTV adoption. You might offer anecdotal evidence to the contrary, but your experiences are not representative of the wider data.
Strappedforcash it does not matter to me just because i work for a outlet that sells a well known brand.If i dont like a product i say i don't it may have caused some raised eyebrows,but we need to embrace new tech.I own a 3d tv and granted i mainly watch 2d content but it makes it all the better when i do watch 3d content.And just to note that we shift a lot of 3d ready tvs and thats when we give people the choice of a 3d ready tv or a 2d tv.
All of which is fair enough. I think my comments are being misinterpreted. I'm not denouncing 3DTV. In fact, I'm entirely ambivalent about its possible merits or shortcomings. The fact remains that the public haven't taken to it en masse. And since you're an employee of a large conglomerate and consumer electronics manufacturer, you're hardly likely to criticise their products. Anyway, I reiterate, I'm not being negative, I'm simply pointing out the obvious. If the situation changes and the public go crazy for 3DTV, I'll draw attention to that instead.
I just think that sometimes there are too many negative comments,just think of everything that has happened over the years with technololgy.its all there to enrich our lives,and make everyday living a help.so you might not like 3d but 95% of 3dtvs that i have given demo's to customers to have brought one and been more then happy with what tvs can do.we have had people saying that they not bothered about(until they saw the content).and lets not forget that 3d tvs display 2d to great effect.
What exactly would this sorry state of affairs be?
"We'd be watching 380 line TV..."
Can you imagine. People would be diving off buildings...
What exactly would this sorry state of affairs be?
We'd be watching 380 line TV...
EDITED BY MODS - please don't attack other members
"Without all the new innovations then it would be a sorry state of affairs."
That's quite a bizarre statement. What exactly would this sorry state of affairs be?
Besides, I wasn't being negative. I was simply pointing out the reality of the situation. As demonstrated by lacklustre sales for the best part of two years, 3DTV has failed to capture the public imagination. That's not my negative or prejudiced opinion, it's an empirically verifiable fact.
If it suits you more I could make things up? Never have consumers been so excited by a technology. 3DTV sales have broken all records in terms of market penetration. Consumers are beating down retailers doors to get their hands on one.
Is that any better?
built-in face-tracking Big brother is watching what you watch with who.
Why be so negative?,really is no need to be-
tech gathers so much pace its a good place to be.Without all the new innovation's then it would be a sorry state of affairs.
All of which presupposes that consumers are actually invested in the idea of 3D television. While glasses-free technology may remove one gating factor, there are many others.