3D TV still the 'in your face' topic of discussion

THERE MAY have been a slight sense of déjà vu at CES as 3D content once again dominated discussions in Las Vegas.

Despite some wariness from consumers about the technology, it seems manufacturers aren’t willing to give up on winning them over just yet, with many saying they planned to expand their range of compatible products even further and predicting a rise in demand for the TV sets.

On the agenda were proposals for glasses-less 3D viewing, with several of the top manufacturers teasing plans for TVs that would allow users to ditch the 3D glasses for good. The need for glasses, which can be expensive depending on the type of technology adopted by each company, is often considered a drawback for consumers in adopting the technology.

On Tuesday, Toshiba confirmed it planned to market auto-stereoscopic TVs outside of Japan in its fiscal year 2011.

Sony also showcased some of the glasses-less 3D displays at its booth in the exhibition hall. However, the company said they were “future technology” and it did not have a timetable for their introduction to consumers.

Other potential future products were its 3D headset, which included a head-mounted display and headphones to immerse the user in the images, and a portable 3D DVD player.

Sony made it clear that 3D features prominently in its plans for the future.

“2010 was an important year for Sony with respect to 3D,” chief executive Sir Howard Stringer said. “We established ourselves as the industry leader because we do business across the entire 3D universe. 2011 begins the next phase of our 3D strategy, a year in which 3D becomes personal.

“3D is far more than a science fiction gimmick designed to make special effects dominate the storyline and bedazzle the viewers. 3D simply mirrors the experience of reality itself.”

Sony plans to allow consumers to create their own content through 3D-enabled video cameras, digital cameras and laptops.

LG meanwhile said it was planning a portable 3D enabled TV that uses auto-stereoscopic technology.

Rival Samsung announced plans to take 3D to computer displays and a home projector as the market expands. The firm also announced new LED TVs with its new Smart Hub system, an expanded range of 3D TVs, and previewed a 75-inch LED TV.

Panasonic is also counting on growth in the market. “Panasonic expects that 3D will gather momentum this year and will grow rapidly over the next three years,” Shiro Kitajima, president of Panasonic Consumer Electronics, said.

“We project that by 2014, TVs with 3D capability will account for 32 per cent of total TV sales.”

The company is also predicting stronger sales of IP-enabled TVs, with worldwide sales projected to more than double from the current 20 per cent to 42 per cent over the next three years.

Panasonic announced a revamped platform for its internet connected TVs, which will be known as Viera Connect. The company also plans to build a market that would allow consumers to personalise their devices with applications, and also open up the platform to developers.

Advancements in internet-connected TVs featured prominently among other manufacturers’ announcements.

LG on Wednesday unveiled plans to develop its platform further and said users who did not have the new Smart TV system embedded could use the Smart TV Upgrader to get the services. The device is a small set-top box that works with HDMI enabled TVs.

Samsung, meanwhile, said new apps would be available on its HDTV-based store that would allow users to have more personalised experiences with their TVs in areas such as music, movies and sports. “The consumer response to smart TVs has been nothing short of phenomenal,” Tim Baxter, president of Samsung Electronics America, said.

Sony’s Stringer said TVs were no longer passive devices and it was clear that consumers were ready for it, with a large number watching TV online. The company said it planned to expand some of its services, such as streaming music, to the US and Canada. It also said it would build on existing servicess.