Invite Blog

LG Electronics unveiled its new versatile 2010 video projector series, including CF3D, the world’s first Full HD, 3D Single Lens Type Projector, at the International Consumer Electronics Show this week (Booth #8205).

“Consumers are continuously looking for creative new solutions for both entertainment and business video display needs, and LG projectors provide the versatility and portability options for multiple applications,” said Jeff Dowell, vice president, business solutions, LG Electronics USA. “Whether customers desire compactness and portability for presentation use, or theater-like performance for a home installation, LG has the right solution.”

LG’s versatile CF3D is the world’s first Full HD Single Lens Type 3D Projector featuring an amazing brightness rating of 2,500 ANSI-lumens and a high contrast ratio of 7,000:1. This model also features TruMotion 120Hz for smoother images – a technology previously only seen on flat panel HDTVs.

LG’s CF3D enhanced technology gives consumers a more life-like viewing experience. Incorporating both Dual Engine and 3D Auto Picture Calibration technology, the CF3D offers superb color correction to help ensure images are displayed naturally. HDMI upscaling on the CF3D reduces on-screen color banding, providing smoother tonal transitions and more subtle gradation between colors. Specifications include:

• 0.61-inch SXRD(TM)
  
• Full HD 1080p (1920×1080)
  
• 3D Auto Picture Calibration
  
• Dual Engine
  
• 2 HDMI 1.3, USB Input
  
• ISFccc
  
• Real Cinema

The price is expected to be in the $10,000 range.

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On the heels of this week’s announcement between IMAX Corporation, Discovery Communications and Sony Corporation to create a cable television network devoted entirely to 3D content, IMAX announced that it is developing its first IMAX(R) 3D digital camera. The initiative marks the Company’s continued move to explore new growth opportunities that capitalize on its leadership in 3D entertainment technology. IMAX expects its first prototype to be ready by early 2010, with the goal of an official launch in 2011. The new IMAX 3D camera is planned to be a component of a suite of IMAX-branded products and services available to studios, partners and filmmakers for use in production of premium 3D content.

The benefits of the IMAX 3D camera are expected to include:

• Proprietary, differentiated content for the IMAX(R) theatre network.
  
• Increased content for the Company’s planned joint venture 3D TV Network.
  
• Lower production costs, due to the elimination of expensive film stock.

“Just as the advent of digital became the catalyst for evolving our film-based projection system, we believe the prominence of 3D is the catalyst for evolution of our 3D camera,” said Richard L. Gelfond, CEO of IMAX Corporation. “While our priority remains growing our theatre network and delivering the premium out of home entertainment experience, we always strive to be at the forefront on emerging industry trends, be it the roll out of digital projection or the proliferation of 3D content and distribution. As we move forward, we will insist that any new potential venture be consistent with our brand, provide new revenue streams, and look for attractive rates of return, including through licensing and otherwise.”

“This initiative is an important step in our strategy to make The IMAX Experience(R) more accessible to consumers and more viable for filmmakers,” added Greg Foster, Chairman and President of IMAX Filmed Entertainment. “Given the significant amount of 3D content being developed over the past 12 to 18 months, requests from filmmakers for an IMAX 3D digital camera, consumer appetite for The IMAX Experience and this week’s joint venture announcement for the 3D television network, we believe the timing of this initiative could not be better.”

Among the key areas of focus for IMAX’s exploration of strategic brand extension plans will be:

• 3D in-home entertainment technology, including television, home theatres and additional consumer products.
  
• Digital re-mastering and conversion of movie and television content using our proprietary technology to include both 2D, 3D and high-definition formats.
  
• Increased post-production opportunities.
  
• Partnering with leading technology, studio, programming, content and consumer electronics companies to enhance awareness of the IMAX(R) brand and IMAX technology, and build on the company’s reputation for innovation and excellence.

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Hong-Kong-based Scuba Network Ltd. is now offering an aluminum housing dpecially designed for the Fujifilm FinePix 3D W1 Camera. The housing is individually tested to 10 bar (90m / 300 ft.), with a recommended working pressure of 60 meters.

For more information, see http://www.10bar.com/infoSheet/3DW1/3DW1.htm

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As more movies, television shows and games move toward the total Stereoscopic 3D (S3D) experience, S3D is generating unprecedented excitement and interest at the 2010 International CES in Las Vegas this week. StudioGPU announced that The Third Floor, a leading Hollywood previsualization studio at the forefront of S3D development whose credits include Beowulf, A Christmas Carol, Avatar, and Alice in Wonderland, has integrated StudioGPU MachStudio™ Pro for real-time interactive workflow in its 3D and S3D film and games previsualization pipeline.

MachStudio Pro real-time 3D workflow and rendering software allows artists, designers, engineers, directors, and technical directors (TDs) to work with 3D lighting, camera views and multi-point perspectives in an interactive non-linear fashion for real-time high fidelity views as they will appear in the final rendered format.

“Finding MachStudio Pro was like finding the Holy Grail,” says Chris Edwards, founder and CEO of The Third Floor. “You can literally convert previs assets or final assets and port them to MachStudio Pro to create a real-time light sculpting experience. As the previsualization pipeline evolves people are trying to figure out how to compete in a global marketplace,” continues Edwards. “We see MachStudio Pro playing a key role in the future of virtual cinema.”

“We are pleased to see companies such as The Third Floor embracing MachStudio Pro to improve 3D and S3D previsualization content development,” says David Koenig, CEO, StudioGPU. “With MachStudio Pro, the artists at The Third Floor have the advanced real-time tools for 3D previsualization at their fingertips, which allows them to deliver the vision to their clients long before the cameras start to roll.”

The Third Floor has delivered previs for a number of high-profile S3D films, including James Cameron’s Avatar, Beowulf and Journey to the Center of the Earth. With support for real-time stereoscopic 3D lighting and rendering on the desktop, MachStudio Pro plays an important role in the previs strategy at The Third Floor.

“Shooting S3D requires an entirely new filmmaking language that is still being developed. Filmmakers need to plan stereo shoots even more carefully than 2D shoots, to insure that their depth choices will work in continuity. We use real-time tools like MachStudio Pro to help directors, cinematographers and editors preview their S3D decisions in advance of the shoot, explains Edwards.

“With MachStudio Pro, we can effectively deliver previs to inspired directors, cinematographers and creators. We are moving into a golden age of filmmaking,” continues Edwards. “One that will enable filmmakers to leverage visual effects to enhance their stories, not upstage them.”

The Third Floor helps filmmakers and game developers realize their creative visions with highly detailed previsualizations that show how to achieve the desired end result before filming begins. For more details about The Third Floor, please visit http://www.thethirdfloorinc.com

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According to the U-DECIDE Initiative, a well received study of modern gamers, 93% of survey respondents want to see game developers support stereoscopic 3D technology. The industry answered by starting development of The S-3D Gaming Alliance (S3DGA), a non-profit corporation that is 100% focused on making stereoscopic 3D gaming possible through standards, education, and product adoption.

“We need an industry-wide standard for S-3D gaming, and S3DGA has the drive and experience to push this forward. All developers and manufacturers should participate,” said Habib Zargarpour, Senior Art Director for Electronic Arts Inc.

“S-3D gaming content is available on PC and console, gamers are great viral marketers, and our industry needs to reach out to the early adopters first. Our industry needed a qualified voice, so S3DGA was formed to properly leverage and develop this market,” said Neil Schneider, S3DGA’s Executive Director and Spokesperson.

Neil Schneider is best known for his pioneering work on Meant to be Seen (http://www.mtbs3D.com), the world’s leading website focused on stereoscopic 3D gaming and entertainment.

S3DGA’s current members include LG Electronics, Blitz Games Studios, RealD, Next3D, DDD, Jon Peddie Research, Sensio, TDVision Corp, iZ3D, and more.

Advisory board members include Habib Zargarpour, Senior Art Director for Electronic Arts, Andrew Oliver, CTO and Co-Founder of Blitz Games Studios, and Neil Trevett, President of the Khronos Group & VP of NVIDIA Mobile Content.

S3DGA wanted its first board to be comprised of people without vested interests until there is a member driven nomination or election process. The initial Board of Directors includes:

Syd Bolton, Interim S3DGA President, is also the Curator of the Personal Computer Museum in Brantford, Ontario. A seasoned expert in gaming and gaming history, Mr. Bolton has been featured on The Space Channel, MuchMusic, Custom PC, Games Magazine, and more.

Mark Fihn, S3DGA Vice-President, is the publisher of Veritus et Visus. A top analyst and consultant, his company publishes a well respected 3D newsletter that features columns written by top industry executives and pioneers.

John Merritt, S3DGA Treasurer, is the founder of the Stereoscopic Displays & Applications Conference, the oldest stereoscopic 3D conference in the world. Mr. Merritt is a leading consultant on matters of S-3D quality and immersive experience.

“I really believe that 2010 is the year that 3D will hit at home with consumers more than ever, and having this alliance is more critical than ever to ensure everyone is on the same page,” said Syd Bolton, S3DGA’s President.

The interim Standards Division Chair is Keith Elliott.

“When we are talking about standards in gaming, it’s not just about passing a left and right image to the display – that’s easy. Game developers also need to speak the same language, quality and compliance expectations need to be set, and lots of compatibility politics are going to surface very quickly I’m sure. We wanted a strong people person to head this up, and this individual’s previous work had to be well known. We found that person in Keith Elliott,” Schneider explained.

Keith Elliott is one of the key inventors of the low-cost stereoscopic display architecture used in over two million 3D DLP® high-definition (HD) televisions. This high-speed “checkerboard” layout grew popular by offering high-quality 3D HD video at the lowest cost possible. In gaming, it is already supported by DDD, iZ3D, NVIDIA, and multiple game engines. As Director of New Business Technology for the HDTV group at Texas Instruments (TI), Keith was involved in the development of the infrastructure needed to support a wide roll-out of 3D content to the home consumer. He also directed TI’s systems engineering team that delivered DLP technology to HDTV manufacturers around the world. He is currently a founder and technology consultant for Screen’s Edge, LLC.

S3DGA’s next official meeting takes place at the 3D Gaming Summit in April, 2010. S3DGA is the conference’s event sponsor, and all content makers and technology enablers are encouraged to participate. Visit http://www.3dgamingsummit.com for more information.

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ViewSonic and SENSIO announced a joint collaboration today to expand consumers’ options for 3D entertainment in the family room. As a part of this initiative, ViewSonic will bring SENSIO’s stereoscopic 3D technology to display lifelike 3D movie content on its VOT550, VOT530 and VOT132 PC minis and its full line of DLP 120Hz / 3D ready projectors, including the new PJD6531w announced today at the show. With these new advancements, consumers can bring the 3D viewing experience that is starting to become more common in the movie theaters into their own family rooms. Additional 3D-enabled ViewSonic display devices are expected to be available in the future, including monitors, TVs, and projectors.

“We are pleased to collaborate with ViewSonic on the development of multiple new SENSIO enabled 3D devices. Our format distributes content to multiple platforms: displays, monitors, and projectors. SENSIO’s solution fits ViewSonic’s requirement to use one format to deliver content to many platforms,” says Nicholas Routhier, SENSIO’s President and Chief Executive Officer. “This collaboration adds to the tremendous momentum we see going into CES 2010 and brings us one step further to becoming the de facto 3D standard.”

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XpanD, the world leader in active-shutter 3D glasses for cinema, video, gaming and other applications, has introduced the new X102 Series DLP-Link Active 3D glasses to the global projectors market. These state-of-the-art 3D view glasses feature an active-shutter design based on XpanD’s revolutionary, patented “pi-cell” system, in which a specialized, fast-switching liquid crystal cell provides rapid, stereoscopic shutter action to deliver alternate right- and left-eye images.

The X102 Series DLP-Link Active 3D glasses are universally compatible with 3D-ready television sets and single-chip DLP projectors, which utilize the Texas Instruments DLP Digital Micro-mirror Device (DMD) technology to generate the left and right eye views required for stereoscopic imaging. Combined with a sleek, fashionable style, the new X102 Series DLP-Link Active 3D glasses will give home theater enthusiasts, educational centers and professional presenters the ultimate 3D experience.

XpanD’s new X102 Series DLP-Link Active 3D glasses were created based on extensive research and development working as the world’s market leader in personal 3D viewing. Features include rugged construction with built-in flex points, a lightweight and stylish form factor that can be comfortably worn with eyeglasses, a modular design to accommodate both adults and children, environmentally friendly diodes, and a power-saving auto on/off mechanism.

XpanD’s light-efficient technology delivers the brightest possible picture, producing the most enjoyable viewing experience. XpanD’s DLP-Link is completely compatible with the DLP technology’s synchronization between left and right eyes. The 3D technology performs at 60 frames per second per eye (total 120 FPS). This high video frame rate eliminates flicker, which is typical of other stereographic display systems. XpanD’s active glasses technology enables maximal resolution per eye, unlike passive systems that decrease the display resolution to 50 percent. Using XpanD’s 3D DLP-Link glasses, the DLP 3D projection system offers exceptional color fidelity and superior picture depth.

“XpanD’s new X102 Series DLP-Link 3D glasses are optimized to create superior quality at a cost-effective 3D viewing experience,” says XpanD CEO Maria Costeira. “Built on the success of the X101 generation 3D glasses, the new X102 Series product will secure XpanD’s position in home theater at the same level we currently enjoy with our market dominance of the global 3D cinema market.”

“DLP-Link 3D DLP projectors will be widely available in the near future,” says XpanD Chief Strategy Officer, Ami Dror. “Currently, there are approximately ten models available for sale with a beneficial pricing structure, and we expect to see nearly 40 new models in the first quarter of 2010. The vast majority of DLP projectors manufactures have accepted the DLP-Link 3D technology, and the low entry cost will allow people to build cost-effective 3D theaters—it will also allow professionals to embrace the power of 3D. The architect can showcase designs in stereoscopic 3D, professors can show stereoscopic 3D models of ancient cities, and models of the human body, corporate presentations can be done in stereoscopic 3D—the applications are truly unlimited. This is a simple, low cost, high-quality stereoscopic 3D for the masses and the first steps in the 3D revolution outside cinema exhibition.”

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Beverly Hills-based 3D technology provider RealD said that it has signed agreements with Sony, JVC, Samsung, Toshiba, Panasonic, and DIRECTV, around support of its RealD format on new, 3D televisions. RealD said the agreements include supporting its stereoscopic RealD format on Sony LCD TVs, JVC LCD monitors, Samsung 3D TVs, Toshiba REGZA LCD TVs, and Panasonic’s 3D VIERA TVs. The firm said a number of those deals also include work with RealD to develop both active shutter glasses and passive glasses compatible with those 3D televisions. Financial details of those agreements–some of which have previously been announced by the firm–were not disclosed. All of those manufacturers are making a major push this year at CES around their 3D television sets and services, and related content and services. RealD is a major provider of 3D projection technology into the movie theater market.

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ViewSonic and SENSIO announced a joint collaboration today to expand consumers’ options for 3D entertainment in the family room. As a part of this initiative, ViewSonic will bring SENSIO’s stereoscopic 3D technology to display lifelike 3D movie content on its VOT550, VOT530 and VOT132 PC minis and its full line of DLP 120Hz / 3D ready projectors, including the new PJD6531w announced today at the show. With these new advancements, consumers can bring the 3D viewing experience that is starting to become more common in the movie theaters into their own family rooms. Additional 3D-enabled ViewSonic display devices are expected to be available in the future, including monitors, TVs, and projectors.

“We are pleased to collaborate with ViewSonic on the development of multiple new SENSIO enabled 3D devices. Our format distributes content to multiple platforms: displays, monitors, and projectors. SENSIO’s solution fits ViewSonic’s requirement to use one format to deliver content to many platforms,” says Nicholas Routhier, SENSIO’s President and Chief Executive Officer. “This collaboration adds to the tremendous momentum we see going into CES 2010 and brings us one step further to becoming the de facto 3D standard.”

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THX Ltd. and SENSIO Technologies Inc. have partnered to integrate SENSIO® 3D video processing flags with THX® Media Director™, a technology designed to simplify the home entertainment experience. THX Media Director will provide TVs featuring both SENSIO® 3D video processing and THX Media Director with the ability to select appropriate 2D and 3D playback settings automatically, resulting in a seamless, high quality 3DTV experience for consumers.

THX and SENSIO will demonstrate THX Media Director at SENSIO’s CES 2010 booth #20931 in the South Hall of the Las Vegas Convention Center (LVCC).

“The introduction of 3D in the home will reshape how we experience movies, TV programs and digital downloads. 3D brings with it new playback modes, user interfaces and an added layer of complexity for consumers,” said Rick Dean, senior vice president at THX. “THX Media Director provides for a seamless 3D experience, as well as metadata to support a wide range of 2D images and home audio formats.”

THX Media Director enables SENSIO and its consumer electronics partners to showcase signature 3D playback features and settings, while simplifying the user experience. THX Media Director technology uses metadata to describe the creative and technical characteristics of 2D and 3D content to TVs, AV receivers and other home theater playback devices. Acting on the metadata, THX Media Director-enabled TVs can trigger the appropriate playback settings for SENSIO® 3D video processing, or resume 2D playback, without requiring user intervention.

“The integration of SENSIO’s flags into THX Media Director brings us yet another step forward in creating a simple SENSIO® 3D ecosystem for consumers. We are offering multiple SENSIO compatible products in the market today and with THX Media Director, consumers will enjoy the benefits of SENSIO® 3D without requiring them to constantly reach for the remote control”, said Nicholas Routhier, SENSIO’s President and CEO. “We are very pleased to announce this collaboration with such a prestigious partner and we look forward to working with THX on other 3D related solutions which will benefit consumers.”

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