3D Effect: Is Anyone Talking about Video Quality Anymore?

This is a key point of differentiation between tv-based 3D and 3-chip 3D projector based 3D.  No, 3-chip 3D projectors probably won’t be available to most of the population, myself included. But in regards to the experience of 3D, when it’s seen on the right projector, the experience is nothing less than stunning. 

All 3D is not alike. Delivering the highest quality experience possible should be the manufacturers’ goal, regardless of the medium.

Two quick comments:

Regardless of 3D most of the TVs had pictures that were so over-processed that they made real/film images look more like video or even animation.  I found it very discouraging.

On the other hand, Joe Kane was showing some of the best video and film I have ever seen and had some very compelling arguments for what is going wrong with this particular aspect of our industry.

My comments were more directed at the messaging, such that 3D is the asterisk, not the main message.

I’d like to see a display ad that says in large print:

*Oh yeah, the 3D is great too.

That’s a great idea for an ad campaign and some display manufacturer should grab it!

btw, there were some great new displays at the show and, for me at least, 3D was nothing more than an interesting footnote on what’s really happening in the video arena.

It’s worth noting that the faster refresh rates that make full frame sequential 1080p 3D possible on flat panels also make for better 2D pictures.

Sharp QuadPixel quietly stole the show (in terms of displays).  By day 2 1/2 I was hearing a lot of “3D is cool but seems kind of gimmicky” booth comments. QuadPixel should be Sharp’s ticket to a much needed boost in market share.

Julie, I see your point now.  I assumed that if someone saw a good-looking 3D demo on a tv or projector screen, they’d automatically know that 2D content viewed on the same medium would look at least that strong.  Sometimes we get a bit too close to the technology and overlook the larger picture.  Great insight, thanks.

Will all of you please just cut the 3D crap and stay focused on the business at hand… Deliver the best HD TV’s, Blu Ray players, and broadcasts money can buy, and leave 3D to the amusement parks.

We are at least a decade away from having a real 3D infusion into this marketplace. Presently, too many people are interested in how many apps their iPhone can perform before they even make the jump/investment into a Blu Ray player.

Doesn’t anyone remember when a clients’ disposal income was all spent on computers instead of A/V equipment 10 years ago? What the hell do you think is going now?

Is 3D cool? Absolutely! Is anyone going to buy it at this stage of the game or any time soon? No Way. Grow up and smell the HDTV!!!!

and the winner is . . . the real world! 3D may be coming but viable, you can watch it any day of the week, any hour of the day HDTV is here now, with loads of content to satisfy every taste.

Dave Stevens said:

“Will all of you please just cut the 3D crap..
we are at least a decade away from having a real 3D infusion into this marketplace.”

Dave, since when did people ever let reality intrude on fantasy ?  Seriously though, I’m sure we’ve both seen an absurd amount of hype over the years but I think this may break new records in terms of ridiculousness.

I felt like pretty much everyone posting comments here until I watch Avatar. Now my perception on the matter has completely changed. Now I want 3D home and so did most of the people leaving the theater.

I listened to people talking after the Avatar show and kept hearing words things like “that was amazing”, “that’s how I want to watch TV”, and “I can’t wait to get 3D at home”.

It’s nice to see people get excited about new technology finally.

David,
Thank you for being one of the few people who gets it!

This industry constantly trips over itself and sometimes doesn’t realize the damage it creates by the public possibly delaying purchases because they think, (in this case), that 3D is just around the corner.

IMO, the industry should be concentrating/focusing on improving what is presently in front of us… HDTV & Blu Ray. There are so many more things such as HDMI compatibility problems between components that need to be addressed and fixed right now before we take the next leap.

I still have clients who can’t get a grip on throwing out their Toshiba HD DVD player that they spent big bucks on only to have to purchase/replace it with the winner of the format war, Blu Ray.

After a 1/3 of a century in this business, I’ve been through the Beta vs. VHS, Reel to Reel vs. L Cassette, 8-Track vs. Cassette, Vinyl vs. CD, Divx vs. standard DVD, and HD vs. Blu Ray format wars.

It’s no wonder to me the public doesn’t trust us or want to wait and see if what their purchasing today is still current for tomorrow. Apple changes/upgrades their iPhones & iPods before the client can take it out of the box. LCD TV’s have gone from a 60Hz refresh rate to 120, and now to 240. Windows 95 to 97, 97 to XP, XP to Vista, and Vista to Windows 7.

I guess the point I’m trying to make is not one of these formats was ever perfected and the public was well aware of it. So what does this industry do? Re-label the older technology with cooler names and higher numbers to try to assure the public that they will no longer run into the problems they had with their older equipment.

I’ll say it again, “Cut out the 3D crap!!!” All of you working on this technology should stay in your Bat Caves for the next 10 years and let us know when you have a working affordable product… and this time, “No F’n excuses for why it doesn’t work in every home application.

I second that eMotion! Pimping a technology that’s not yet “ready for prime time” only confuses consumers and makes many of them hesitate before buying. Remember the sluggish player and software market during the HD versus Blu-ray war? Learn from it.

Sergio said:

“I felt like pretty much everyone posting comments here until I watch Avatar.”

My disagreement with you Sergio is that you are letting your enjoyment of a film allow you to get involved in a lot of overblown hype.  I saw Avatar too and I also thought it was an amazing/new experience.

However the reality is that:

1. There is NO content!  It’s going to take 10 years before there is any significant amount of content.

2. It has yet to be proven that people have the slight interest in watching 3D in the home, wearing funky glasses, on a regular TV!  And don’t tell me it will be great for people with big screens because it cannot succeed in the marketplace unless the people with regular TV’s watch it.

I say again, this is the most overblown and ridiculous hype I have ever seen.

“Nobody ever went broke underestimating the taste of the American people.” H.L. Mencken