News Stories

CEDIA Highlights – Three 3DTVs

12.28.2011

[Philip Lelyveld comment: three good, brief, in-depth technical reviews of 3D TVs]

[3DTV.com]

The CEDIA trade show has been over for months, but you’d be surprised how often what shows up there pops up again at the CES (Consumer Electronics Show) just 100+ days later. Any trade show has the potential to be overwhelming, but for those looking for ways to watch 3D at home, this was one big candy-store to press your face against the glass (bad pun, yes). For someone in the trade, everything is fair game, but for a consumer looking to get the best 3D at home, there were three displays that stood out. Here they are.
Mitsubishi WD-92840 Projection TV
We left out the size in the name above because we wanted to tease it. Is it a large display? Yeah it’s big, for sure it’s big because it’s 92-inches! And for sale — it’s not a display sized to attract attention or grab bragging rights that nobody is going to buy. Cheap? No, but compared to what a 52-inch cost just a few years ago, not so bad (street price is below $4500). Does it do 3D? Of course it does. And for those who don’t care for the hassle or stress of using a front projector (or needing a screen), this gives you one heck of a big picture so that the 3D can function as it should, despite where you are seated. Technology uses a DLP (digital light processing) chip for a bright image, as opposed to a LCD panel, but it’s still thin compared to what you would expect. Active liquid crystal glasses so you’re getting the highest resolution of 3D from this Full HD 1080p display, and besides a 16-speaker audio system, you get the niceties of Internet streaming and Bluetooth audio streaming too.
Epson Powerlite Pro Cinema 6010
I’m very familiar with the Powerlite series and these LCD-based front projectors are solid performers. The short-throw lens makes adapting them to the owner’s environment easier than most and the latest models improve on the lag that 3D imaging can cause with some game material. But as regards viewing 3D it’s good all the way. Why? Partly because the projector is bright so the initial drop in levels due to 3D aren’t noticeable. And partly it’s due to the solid build and sensible controls found here. It doesn’t hurt to be using active 3D glasses either, a huge contrast ratio and a split screen mode for watching two video sources simultaneously (for those who want such a thing). THX certification means something too.  And the under-$3500 price tag is inviting.
LG 55LW6500 LED-LCD HDTV
Okay, it’s not the largest Full HD 1080p display at 55-inches, but not everyone can go super-big in their bedroom anyway. The LCD panel is thin for sure, and 3D stands out without the need for being dead on toward the screen, because “passive” technology provides the third-dimension. This also allows for 4 pairs of lightweight 3D glasses to be brought along at less than a $1500 price tag. Motion blur is obviated through fast image processing, be that 3D or 2D, and the internal 2D to 3D converter is a nice addition. Internet accessibility and easy self-calibration and light sensor technology gives you the best image possible for the environment you are in.

First 3D TV channel set to air (China) – 2 stories

12.28.2011

[Eastday]

China’s first 3D TV channel will start a trial run on January 1, a spokesman from the State Administration of Radio, Film and Television said. After the test-run stage, the channel will be officially put into operation during Spring Festival later in January.

The satellite channel will offer 3D programs daily from 10:30am to midnight. Producing the 3D channel’s content will be China Central Television, Radio and Television Beijing, Radio and Television Shanghai, Radio and Television Tianjin, Radio and Television Jiangsu Province and Shenzhen Television Station.

The programs will include animation, sports, documentaries, TV dramas, entertainment and live broadcasting of big events such as CCTV New Year’s Gala and the London 2012 Olympic Games.

To watch the 3D programs, consumers need to buy a 3D TV set and install Capable TV’s high-definition set-top-box. The channel will charge no viewing fees during its early phase of running.

…

Read the full story here: http://english.eastday.com/e/111228/u1a6280365.html

———————

[Wall Street Journal]

In a move that may cause headaches — real ones — for millions of people, China is about to launch a 3D television channel. That has the government sounding nearly as excited as any Hollywood executive exploiting 3D to make extra bucks.  …

So will 3D TV flop in China, or is it just crazy enough to work? On one hand, China’s growing class of wealthy consumers may be a receptive audience. Such TV sets are already selling faster than the dearth of 3D content would suggest. IHS iSuppli analyst Kathleen Zhang estimates there were more than five million 3D TV sets shipped in China this year, and that shipments next year could reach around 12 million units.

But the key may lie in how good the 3D content on TV is, and how quickly that content expands. (3D-TV owners can also make full use of their sets by investing in 3D DVDs and a capable player, but even the rich may balk at buying too many pricey 3D movies.)

So far, the people buying 3D sets aren’t making much use of the bundled glasses. They’ve been willing to buy the 3D sets because their prices aren’t too far off from TVs that are 2D-only, and they may be able to make use of the extra function in the future, Ms. Zhang says.

China’s new 3D channel will initially have just four-and-a-half hours of new content each evening, …

Read the full article here: http://blogs.wsj.com/chinarealtime/2011/12/28/chinas-latest-tech-dream-3d-tv/

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Specification for Naming VFX Image Sequences Released

ETC’s VFX Working Group has published a specification for best practices naming image sequences such as plates and comps. File naming is an essential tool for organizing the multitude of frames that are inputs and outputs from the VFX process. Prior to the publication of this specification, each organization had its own naming scheme, requiring custom processes for each partner, which often resulted in confusion and miscommunication.

The new ETC@USC specification focuses primarily on sequences of individual images. The initial use case was VFX plates, typically delivered as OpenEXR or DPX files. However, the team soon realized that the same naming conventions can apply to virtually any image sequence. Consequently, the specification was written to handle a wide array of assets and use cases.

To ensure all requirements are represented, the working group included over 2 dozen participants representing studios, VFX houses, tool creators, creatives and others.  The ETC@USC also worked closely with MovieLabs to ensure that the specification could be integrated as part of their 2030 Vision.

A key design criteria for this specification is compatibility with existing practices.  Chair of the VFX working group, Horst Sarubin of Universal Pictures, said: “Our studio is committed to being at the forefront of designing best industry practices to modernize and simplify workflows, and we believe this white paper succeeded in building a new foundation for tools to transfer files in the most efficient manner.”

This specification is compatible with other initiatives such as the Visual Effects Society (VES) Transfer Specifications. “We wanted to make it as seamless as possible for everyone to adopt this specification,” said working group co-chair and ETC@USC’s Erik Weaver. “To ensure all perspectives were represented we created a team of industry experts familiar with the handling of these materials and collaborated with a number of industry groups.”

“Collaboration between MovieLabs and important industry groups like the ETC is critical to implementing the 2030 Vision,” said Craig Seidel, SVP of MovieLabs. “This specification is a key step in defining the foundations for better software-defined workflows. We look forward to continued partnership with the ETC on implementing other critical elements of the 2030 Vision.”

The specification is available online for anyone to use.

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