Panasonic says it will win home 3D race

PANASONIC CLAIMS it will be first across the line with a 3D home entertainment system that it plans to launch in late spring, although it could be a photo-finish, as Sony is working to similar timelines.

At an event in Munich this week, Panasonic unveiled new products spearheaded by the VT20, a full HD, 3D plasma TV, initially available in 50 and 65-inch screen sizes, bundled with two pairs of active shutter glasses.

The DMP-BDT300 3D Blu-ray player will also go on sale supported by around 15 3D Hollywood titles, expected to increase to over 30 by year-end. Other 3D content will include an as yet unlaunched dedicated Sky channel, although the launch date is still to be confirmed, and 3D games now in development.

Sony will launch 3D LCD TVs and Blu-ray disc players, and upgrades to some existing Blu-ray decks and PS3s, to make them 3D-compatible.

No prices were announced by Panasonic, but only a modest premium is expected for the 3D functionality. According to Bill Foster, a trends analyst with Futuresource Consulting, the 3D chips only cost around $20 (€15). He expects active shutter glasses to hit a $99 (€73) price point.

Foster backed Panasonic’s assertion that plasma sets are better for 3D than some LCD screens because they avoid “crosstalk” ghosting.

Because of technical constraints, broadcast and satellite channels will use inferior 3D technology to the full HD supported by Panasonic and Sony, but all variations are compatible thanks to industry-agreed standards. However, it is still unclear whether one manufacturer’s Blu-ray player and active glasses will work with another’s TV set.

Consumer appetite for 3D in the home is unclear. The assumption is that success at the cinema will translate to the living room.

Foster believes there will be rapid adoption after a slow start, driven by event-based broadcasts such as football matches or concerts, rather than end-to-end entertainment.

In a separate announcement, Panasonic expanded its internet TV services. Twitter and Skype video have been added to the “walled-garden” of web content on its Viera Cast TVs, accessed from a homepage as long as the set is connected to broadband. An optional keyboard is available if you want to tweet on your TV. For the Skype service, a €170 box containing four microphones and a video camera plugs into the TV and is perched on top of the screen.