“With the 3D enabled camera’s and the software, even the local Kenyan content developers will be able to capture images in 3D and edit them” /

Sony Gulf FZE, a subsidiary of Sony Corporation, has launched a range of 3D-enabled products including 3D television, movies, music, sport and PlayStation games in Kenya, entering an increasingly crowded market that is betting on the revolutionary TV as the next hit in the electronics industry.

The maker of Bravia flat TVs is hoping 3D models will make up 10 per cent of more than 25 million LCD TVs it aims to sell in the next year.

Osamu Miura, Managing Director, Sony Gulf holds high hopes of a shift to 3D as it will likely give a boost to many of its business operations, which range from TVs, digital cameras and Blu-ray DVD players to video games.

“3D technology in home entertainment is an immersive phenomenon. Unlike the 3D entertainment of the past, which were characterised by objects coming towards the viewer, the emphasis has now shifted to adding an element of depth,” said Mr Miura.

The entry of Sony in the market comes a month after Samsung, LG and Toshiba launched their 3D products for the mass market in Kenya, setting the stage for competition, a move that could herald a price war.

Sony also launched a 3D game software and 3D enabled Camera’s in a bid to enhance the creation of 3D content.

“The main challenge in the sales of 3D enabled devices in the East African region and the world over has been the lack of relevant content to watch. But with the 3D enabled camera’s and the software, even the local Kenyan content developers will be able to capture images in 3D and edit them,” said Rajeev Pallippamadam, Chief Representative, East Africa operations, Sony.

Many TV makers hope the new technology will be just as big a boost for the electronics industry as was the transition to colour TVs from black and white.

However, some analysts noted many consumers have only just unboxed new high-definition TV screens, making them unwilling to spend on another upgrade any time soon.

“The Kenyan market is yet to fully experience the LCD TV’s and they may be unwilling to move this fast to the next technology. The prices are also prohibitive, especially at a time when most consumers are still grappling with the transition to digital TV,” said Moses Simiyu, a Technology expert.

Sony will be retailing the 40-inch, 46-inch and 54-inch models at Sh229,995, Sh329,995, and Sh399,995 respectively including two pairs of 3D glasses, over 52-per cent premium above their latest regular LCD TV with a comparable screen sizes.

Samsung’s 3D LED TV sets are retailing at between Sh180,000 and Sh250,000 for the 46-inch and 55-inch sizes respectively, while LG’s LX9500 47-inch model is Sh400,000.

The need to use 3D active glasses to enjoy the full effect of 3D technology has been cited as the other barrier to the uptake of 3D technology.

Current 3D-capable televisions in the market require viewers to wear glasses that act as filters to separate images to each eye to create the illusion of depth.

A model poses next to a Sony 3D television set during the launch in Kenya. Sony Gulf FZE has unveiled a range of 3D-enabled products in the country. Fredrick ONYANGO

A quick survey by Business Daily revealed that most 3D glasses are retailing at about Sh2,000 in the Kenyan market for consumers who want more than the two pairs that are bundled with the purchase of the 3D TVs.

By PAUL WAFULA

source: http://www.businessdailyafrica.com/-/539444/1050804/-/12mwyipz/-/

“If you look at whether people are willing to wear glasses, we found an 80 per cent willingness level for games and Blu-ray movies…”/

Analysts predict that the new game Call of Duty: Black Ops will break sales records when it’s released on Tuesday, but another group is watching and hoping the first-person shooter will aid a home invasion of a different sort: helping to push sales of 3-D TVs.

Last month, Activision, the game’s publisher, announced that Black Ops will arrive 3-D ready for the PS3, Xbox 360 and the PC. It’s likely that only a small fraction of the game’s millions of players will take advantage of the enhanced depth, but with a dearth of 3-D content, the addition of a blockbuster game can only help the emerging technology.

Last year’s record-selling Modern Warfare 2 managed to move more than 18 million copies worldwide. Analysts expect Black Ops to match that game, putting it the rare strata of entertainment that generates more than $1 billion in sales.

Black Ops is the seventh in Activision’s Call of Duty series and the third designed by developer Treyarch. This Cold War instalment features missions set in Russia, Cuba, Laos and Vietnam.

Scaling sheer icy cliffs, piloting a Russian Hind helicopter or a stealth plane, and interrogating an enemy combatant and forcing him to literally chew glass are just some of the experiences in store for fans as the game is released at midnight on Tuesday.

It’s the last of this year’s big shooter games to be released in the blockbuster holiday season, following Halo: Reach and Medal of Honor.

Manufacturers and industry analysts are watching to see if Black Ops helps push 3-D TV sales during the holidays.

At a local Sony media preview event in early October, a walk-through of two levels of the game showcased how good the game’s 3-D support looked. The effect was subtle, but it did add something to the game’s already visceral experience.

“This is actually a big deal. Call of Duty will sell a lot of units and if people sample the 3-D that would obviously be a positive,” said Neil Schneider, executive director of the S-3D Gaming Alliance.

“When it comes to the acceptability of 3-D content, especially for glasses-dependent technology, which all of it is, gaming is absolutely critical.

“According to the Entertainment Software Association, over 50 per cent of adults play games, so this is a critical early adopter market for in-home 3-D. We need gaming to be the seed.”

Schneider hopes that manufacturers will use the game to showcase 3-D in stores. “They talk and speak of gaming, but they rarely demonstrate it. I haven’t seen much gaming content (in stores). I see mostly sports and film.”

Some studies, including a recent Nielsen survey, say that many people view having to wear glasses as a barrier to accepting 3-D, but Schneider’s group did a recent study with gamers whose preliminary findings show gamers are more willing to wear glasses than other groups.

“If you look at whether people are willing to wear glasses, we found an 80 per cent willingness level for games and Blu-ray movies,” Schneider says. “But it drops significantly for sports viewing and traditional broadcasting.”

The effect of 3-D is subtle in Call of Duty: Black Ops, but it does add to the game’s already visceral experience.

by Raju MudharEntertainment Reporter

source: http://www.thestar.com/entertainment/article/887746–call-of-duty-black-ops-may-help-push-3-d-tvs