[Consumer Electronics Daily]

Polaroid, Haier and Sony were among several manufacturers demonstrating glasses-free 3D TVs at their CES booths, but the technology still left CE executives unimpressed and doubtful it’s anywhere near ready for prime time, according to those Consumer Electronics Daily polled at the show.

Polaroid Chief Technology Officer Jon Pollock typified others when he conceded that the technology still had a long way to go and that his company had no specific plans yet to bring it to market.  The main “challenge” with glasses-free 3D remains the limited “viewable area,” said Pollock.  A viewer watching content on such a display can only be a short distance away for the 3D effect to work and must be positioned pretty much directly in the center of the screen.  …

Read the full story here: http://consumerelectronicsdaily.com/Content/Glasses-free-3D-TV-fails-to-impress-at-CES.aspx

[BleedingCool]

Phil McNally is the head honcho of Dreamworks’ stereoscopic works, bringing his knowledge, passion and intelligence to bear on their 3D works. He’s a real flag waver for the notion of stereo filmmaking, but he’s also very balanced and well reasoned in his discussions of the format. He’s one of my movie maker heroes.

You can see why for yourself by watching this hour-long interview with McNally by Home Theater Geeks – or, if you’d rather, you can download an mp3 audio version.

Watch the video here: http://www.bleedingcool.com/2012/01/29/informed-engaging-hour-long-discussion-of-3d-filmmaking-genuine-expert/

[HD Guru 3D]

If you’ve been wondering how 3D projects can go forward with the high expense of 3D right now, question no longer with a recent announcement.

Empire Post Media, Inc. announces that it has secured funding to begin a concerted effort to create and develop new 3D TV projects that will complement the company’s first television series, “Journey Beyond”.

According to Empire CEO Peter Dunn, this funding will allow the company to develop up to 10 new projects, which, if successful, will add to the company’s revenue stream and bottom line. “The Company’s strategy is to select content opportunities that are positioned to take advantage of the increasing number of platforms for 3D content, including international television, Internet delivery, mobile applications and other digital distribution formats,”  …

Read the full story here: http://hdguru3d.com/funding-for-3d-projects-come-to-life/

[WhatHiFi]

The latest TV sales figures for the North American market show Samsung and LG opening up a huge lead over their Japanese rivals in the 3D LCD market. Almost three quarters of the market is now sewn up by the two Korean companies, while the likes of Sony and Panasonic have seen their shares tumble.

In the first quarter of last year, the combined 3D market share held by LG and Samsung was 56%, but in the final three months of 2011 that rose to 73%.

Meanwhile the combined market share of the Japanese manufacturers, including Panasonic, Sharp, Sony and Toshiba fell from 43% in the first quarter of the year to just 25% in the last three months, according to market research company NPD.

In the overall flatscreen market, which also includes 2D models, the Korean companies had a 34% share in October-December last year, while the Japanese share slipped to 24%.  …

However one significant figure shows how fast LG is catching up with its Korean rival in the 3D TV market, thanks to its commitment to the less expensive ‘passive glasses’ film-type patterned retarder (FPR) technology.

Samsung’s last-quarter 3D market share in the States was 46%, down slightly from its 48% in the first three months of last year, while LG’s share of the same sector surged from 8% in January-March 2011 to 27% in the last three months of the year.

Read the full story here: http://www.whathifi.com/news/usa-samsung-and-lg-boost-3d-lcd-market-share-as-japanese-rivals-tumble

[Twice]

The popularity of 3D photography may soon get a boost from a new 3D camera and photofinishing system that was unveiled at International CES by Hong Kong-based LO3D.

The company is covering all phases of professional and consumer digital 3D photography, ranging from specially developed cameras to a 3D photo lab processor. 

The 3D cameras include a three-lens consumer (six lenses in a professional version) point-and-shoot model, which will ship bundled with an 8-inch glasses-free 3D digital photo frame. 

For those who want hard-copy 3D prints, LO3D also introduced an all-in-one photofinishing processor. The processor, which is intended for photo labs, will produce lenticular 3D prints from both LO3D’s cameras as well as traditional twolens 3D cameras. It will also perform conventional 2D photo processing for multipurpose production requiring limited floor space. …

The LO3D photo processor uses traditional chemicals, but the company has developed a special multilayer printing paper to produce images from its three- and six-lens cameras. 

The developing process is said to be very easy and fast. 

The LO3D paper uses a lenticular plastic that is part of the media, eliminating the need to laminate the back as occurs with more traditional 3D printing methods.  …

The all-in-one processor will sell for $75,000. The three-lens 3D camera will be sold as part of a kit with the 8-inch digital photo frame for a $300 suggested retail.  …

Read the full story here: http://www.twice.com/article/479716-LO3D_Launches_3_Lens_3D_Camera_System.php

[3D Focus]

George Lucas first started considering the idea of converting the entire Star Wars series into 3D between the production of episode II (2002) and episode III (2005). After a tender process, conversion specialists Prime Focus (The Immortals, Wrath of the Titans) were selected who leveraged the skill of thousands of artists across India, the UK and America to convert the classic to 3D frame by frame.

Supervising the conversion process was ILM visual effects supervisor John Knoll who was one of the visual effects supervisors for Star Wars Episodes I, II and III.

Unlike episodes II and III, Star Wars Episode I was captured on 35 mm film. For its 1999 release, the film footage was digitised for the inclusion of 2000 visual shots before being colour timed and re-outputted to film. For the 2012 3D re-release, the artists used the original film-out tapes and re-timed the movie digital. According to ILM, the resulting picture, in both 2D and 3D, is the best it has ever been.

ILM say “George Lucas wanted to present Episode I in a naturalistic stereo style, as if the movie had been shot in 3D. He did not want to include gimmicks, …

Read the full story here: http://www.3dfocus.co.uk/3d-news-2/3d-film/survey-star-wars-3d-to-be-a-hit-plus-3d-conversion-secrets/7141

[I need my fix . com]

Paramount announced today that Martin Scorsese’s Hugo will be available on DVD, Blu-ray and Blu-ray 3D on February 28.  …

The Academy Awards will be held on Sunday February 26, a mere two days before the dvd release date.  …

HUGO Blu-ray/DVD Combo Pack

The HUGO Blu-ray is presented in 1080p high definition with English 7.1 DTS-HD Master Audio, French 5.1 Dolby Digital, Spanish 5.1 Dolby Digital, Portuguese 5.1 Dolby Digital and English Audio Description and English, English SDH, French, Spanish and Portuguese subtitles. The DVD in the combo pack is presented in widescreen enhanced for 16:9 TVs with Dolby Digital English 5.1 Surround, French 5.1 Surround, Spanish 5.1 Surround and English Audio Description and English, French, Spanish and Portuguese subtitles. The combo pack includes access to a digital copy of the film as well as the following:

Blu-ray
-Feature film in high definition
-Shoot the Moon (The Making of Hugo)
-The Cinemagician, Georges Melies
-The Mechanical Man at the Heart of Hugo
-Big Effects, Small Scale
-Sacha Baron Cohen: Role of a Lifetime

DVD
-Feature film in standard definition

HUGO Blu-ray 3D/Blu-ray/DVD Combo Pack
The HUGO Blu-ray 3D/Blu-ray/DVD combo pack includes all of the above, plus a Blu-ray 3D presented in 1080p high definition with English 7.1 DTS-HD Master Audio, French 5.1 Dolby Digital, Spanish 5.1 Dolby Digital, Portuguese 5.1 Dolby Digital and English Audio Description and English, English SDH, French, Spanish and Portuguese subtitles. The Blu-ray 3D includes the feature film presented in high definition and 3D.

…

See more details here: http://www.ineedmyfix.com/2012/01/30/hugo-gets-a-dvd-release-date/

See the original press release here: http://www.prnewswire.com/news-releases/nominated-for-11-academy-awards-including-best-picture-and-best-director-hugo-debuts-on-blu-ray-3d-blu-ray-and-dvd-february-28-2012-138317964.html

[audio engineering society, UK]

25th AES UK Conference: Spatial Audio in Today’s 3D World
in association with the
4th International Symposium on Ambisonics and Spherical Acoustics

University of York
Heslington, York, YO10 5DD, UK

Sunday 25th March – Tuesday 27th March 2012

The AES 25th UK Conference: Spatial Audio in Today’s 3D World and 4th International Symposium on Ambisonics and Spherical Acoustics is a joint event being staged by the AES British Section and the Music Research Centre at the University of York. It will be held on 25th­-27th March 2012 at the University of York’s Music Research Centre and Ron Cooke Hub.

This conference and symposium is devoted to the current state-of-the-art and recent advances in spatial audio and spherical acoustics, with emphasis on its application to audio and music practice.

After careful consideration, the review panel has selected 15 papers and two workshops from almost 40 submissions. There will also be an invited keynote and a selection of posters on display during the session breaks. A list of confirmed papers, workshops and posters can be found here. The remaining titles will be published as soon as the authors have confirmed their participation.

The conference takes place in the Rymer Auditorium, part of the University of York’s Music Research Centre, on Monday 26^th and Tuesday 27^th March. A pre-conference event (included in the registration fee) is planned for mid- to late-afternoon on Sunday 25^th. More details about this will be published shortly.

See more information here; http://www.aes-uk.org/uk-conference/25th-conf-spatial-audio-in-todays-3d-world/

[Cinescopophilia]

Sony have worked on a short music video that has used binaural sound to give a very nice rich 3D sound with wonderful dramatic complete depth and volume. Pop your headphones on for the 3 videos as Sony take you on ride showing you what it is like to be a member of the band and explain to you the technology that is used to capture and share the experience of being there using 3D cinematic sound.

See the three videos here: http://cinescopophilia.com/sony-working-on-binaural-3d-sound-in-cinematography/

Sony’s binaural sound is explained further here: http://www.sony.net/Products/vpt/tech/index.html

[Philip Lelyveld comment: A good overview of 3D TV and technology out of South Dakota.]

[Sioux City Journal]

Gather your family and friends for 3-D gaming parties, 3-D movie nights, 3-D sports viewing get-togethers and other events with a 3-D high-definition TV from Dakota PC Warehouse.

The biggest trend in home entertainment today, 3-D technology gives the appearance of objects jumping off the screen and into the family room just like it does at the movie theater.

An increasing number of video games, movies and TV programming are being released in 3-D, showing that the technology is here to stay.  …

“It’s a very personal thing. The majority find the 3-D experience they get here is better than at a movie theater. The 3-D feel is a different experience depending on where you are in the theater. When you watch 3-D at home, you get an experience that is more consistent,” he said.

In addition to high-definition 2-D and 3-D televisions, Dakota PC Warehouse is the place to buy Internet TVs, laptop and desktop computers, computer components, hardware, software, gaming systems, digital cameras and tablets. They offer delivery, installation and setup of most TVS, and repairs by qualified technicians. They also service any computer brand.

…

Read the full story here; http://www.siouxcityjournal.com/advertorial/at_home/three-d-technology-is-here-to-stay/article_b594a710-ea13-559e-b90c-bdb20eccfa20.html