DirecTV and public broadcaster WNET-TV, are teaming up to provide the U.S. debut of “Treasure Houses of Britain” in 3D. The series will premiere Saturday, March 26 at 8 p.m. ET/PT on DirecTV’s n3D channel. The series comprises five, one-hour episodes exploring some of Britain’s most tony estates.
“This is the first time that WNET has collaborated on a project shot in 3D, which showcases public media’s continued journey toward the future of television programming which our viewers have come to expect,” said Neal Shapiro, president and CEO of WNET. “We are excited to work with our friends at DirecTV, who will provide viewers an opportunity to experience this great series.”
Don’t toss those old TVs! Distribute 3D content to dozens of legacy HDTV sets — even models that predate 3D — with the new 3D Manager from Just Add Power.
If you’re thinking about trashing your customers’ old legacy HDTV sets just to get a 3D picture … think again.
Instead, you might want to sell them the 3D Manager from Just Add Power, one of the original developers of HDMI-over-IP. The new solution, introduced at theElectronic House Expo last week, turns virtually any HDTV with an HDMI port into a 3D-enabled display.
I interviewed JAP principal Ed Qualls before EHX 2011 and the solution sounded pretty good. As described, the technology could potentially save clients thousands of dollars, protecting their initial investment and making the integrator look like a star.
But I was skeptical … until I experienced the 3D Manager at the show.
3D for the Whole House of Building
Consumers currently have access to multiple 3D sources including Blu-ray, satellite, PS3, Vudu, cable and others. But most households have only one or two (or zero) 3D-capable displays in the house.
This is especially the case in commercial facilities such as sports bars.
The 3D Manager works with the full range of 3D broadcast standards (frame packing, side-by-side, top-and-bottom) to deliver a frame-sequential 3D experience with the matching 3D Glasses.
The 3D Manager includes these three pieces:
1. Discover Encoder
This pass-through device converts the 3D source content to a 1080p or 720p signal compatible with practically any existing HDTV or projector. Using the RS-232 interface, the custom installer is able to dynamically control various functions such as frequency (60Hz/120Hz), scaling, color processing, noise reduction and EDID response.
2. Synch Nodes with IR Emitters
These pass-through devices, based on JAP’s HDMI-over-IP technology, are needed for each room that wants the benefit of 3D video. However, a standard switcher may be utilized instead. “We have already gathered that the Atlona switches will work for sure,” says Qualls.
3. 60/120 Hz3D Glasses
These active shutter LCD glasses work in conjunction with the Synch Nodes and Emitters.
My Impressions of 3D Manager
Not only did the 3D picture look great on some “old fashioned” HDTV sets shown at EHX, but the underlying technology had some nice surprises.
First, JAP demonstrated its solution using the 60Hz frequency. I think 120Hz and 240Hz may have met their match when it comes to 3D.
Personally I found a couple of reasons why 60Hz may be better than the higher rates, starting with adjustment times. My eyes seemed to adjust much faster and more comfortably with the lower range.
Also, overall comfort was much better. 60Hz means breaking the video down to about 30 frames per second for each eye, which is much easier on the eyes.
How about a BIG issue with traditional 3D: Crosstalk. With JAP’s solution, crosstalk was less bothersome than it tends to be with traditional 3D implementations.
Finally, the 3D Manager addresses EDID challenges that have previously made it difficult to distribute 3D content to multiple displays.
Normally, once a source sees a 2D display in a single or shared use, the 3D functionality is turned off.
Some companies such as Atlona have overcome this challenge by memorizing or adding custom EDID on the switch side.
JAP’s approach is different. The EDID on the 3D Encoder — which is the first device in the chain to the source — is set to be recognized as a 3D-ready display. This allows full 3D distribution to all HDTVs because each 3D source essentially sees a 3D-ready display before the switching.
And don’t worry about maxing out the network. Even with a consumer-grade router, the system can deliver 3D content to dozens of TVs — scores of them with an enterprise-grade router.
The best news about 3D Manager? You don’t have to worry about investing in 3D-capable TVs that may employ proprietary 3D formats that are not interoperable across TVs, encoders and glasses.
With the 3D Manager, any HDTV with HDMI can be a 3D TV. Integrators and consumers will be happy. Manufacturers … probably not so much.
Or so I thought. During EHX, the product caught the attention of Sim2 EVP Alberto Fabiano, who saw great possibilities after visiting the JAP booth — despite the fact that Sim2 would like to upgrade existing customers to brand new shiny 3D projectors.
Pricing and Availability Just Add Power sells only through the custom installation channel. As such, there is no “retail” price for the 3D Manager and related components.
Having said that, a kit with one encoder, two synch nodes with two IR emitters, and four pairs of 60/120 Hz 3D glasses might sell for less than $5,000 — a bargain for consumers or commercial enterprises with existing high-performance projectors and displays.
The product currently is set to ship in June. A few changes to the product are underway, such as less intrusive emitters. Qualls and I discussed a one-gang in-wall model.
The glasses may get a stylish upgrade, as well. Think Oakley. Literally.
Joe Whitaker works with The SoHo Shop, a custom integration firm in St. Peters, Mo., and proprietor of C4Central.com, a forum for Control4 dealers and enthusiasts. Resident Control4 Expert, Custom Electronics Reviewer, Random Thinker, and Retired Chief MMA Instructor for world famous Steve Doss.
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.
