autostereoscopic

Is the glasses-free 3D laptop ready for prime time?

Stereoscopic 3D in televisions, PCs, and game consoles has alternatively hailed as an industry savior and blasted as overhyped and undercooked. But no matter which side of the 3D debate you fall on, everyone agrees that bulky active shutter 3D glasses are a major impediment to widespread adoption.

That's why we were so interested in the idea of an autostereoscopic laptop (which basically means glasses-free 3D). Using the laptop's built-in Webcam and eye-tracking software, a laptop can, in theory, keep the 3D image in sync by tracking the viewer's eye movements. We first saw this demonstrated at … Read more

What is 4K? Next-generation resolution explained

As if LED and 3D TV weren't confusing enough, in the last few months we have seen a new HDTV technology called 4K, or its official name, Ultra HD. It's being heralded as the next high-def, and judging by the show floor at CES 2013, manufacturers are lining up to bring you a new array of products.

But just as was the case with 3D, it's the hardware chicken before the software egg: there's no consumer 4K content available. Still, if you listen to the industry, it'll tell you it's the last resolution you'll ever need. So what is 4K anyway, and what makes it different from high definition?

Editors' note: This was post was originally published January 23, 2012, and has been updated several times thereafter with expanded information, most recently on January 17, 2013.… Read more

Sony takes another stab at glasses-free 3D TV

LAS VEGAS--Are you interested in 3D, but hate the glasses? For a second year in a row, Sony is showing off glasses-free 3D TVs at CES.

There are two displays here: a 24-inch LCD capable of 1080p and a 46-inch LCD with up to 4K resolution. Adjacent literature was at least truthful in admitting that the autostereoscopic 3D setup is showing at a "HD equivalent" quality. This is because the parallax barrier, which causes the 3D effect, effectively halves the resolution to ensure each eye is receiving separate images.

My observations of the 24-inch glasses-free 3D TV … Read more

Toshiba to ship glasses-free 3D TV to U.S. in early 2012 (exclusive)

Toshiba has confirmed to CNET that it plans to make a glasses-free 3D TV available to buyers in the U.S. sometime during the first quarter of 2012.

The set would be the first of its kind for the North American market, although Toshiba already has 55-inch glasses-free 3D TVs available for sale in Germany (the 55LZ2) and Japan (the 55X3). Both went on sale in December and retail for more than $10,000 in their home currencies.

A Toshiba representative told CNET that the U.S. version would be similar to those versions, but he couldn't provide additional … Read more

Hands-on with Toshiba's Qosmio F755 glasses-free 3D laptop, hitting US stores this month

Back at CES 2011, Toshiba's glasses-free 3D laptop wowed us, going on to win our Best of CES award for the Prototype category. We didn't expect the proof-of-concept hardware to work its way into a final product anytime soon, but apparently Toshiba had other ideas. The Qosmio F750 was previously announced in the U.K. for an August release, and now Toshiba's American arm has put a firm price and date on the U.S. version. Here, it'll be called the Qosmio F755, and will be available starting August 16, for $1,699.

Like the CES … Read more

DIY autostereoscopic 3D for just $5

Most companies charge a premium for 3D, but here's an inexpensive DIY alternative for just $5. All you need are transparency film, a regular 1,200dpi printer, and a monitor that's 24 inches or smaller. The idea is to print your own 3D filter (aka parallax barrier), which is cut to size and overlaid on a regular screen for glasses-free 3D playback. Software-wise, users will need to install iZ3D's 3D driver (with a 30-day free trial) and activate the interleaved mode under the vertical setting. Note that this will set you back $40 if you decide to keep it after the trial period. … Read more

iPont shows no-glasses 3D conversion tech

iPont, a Hungarian specialist in 3D technology, is showing a new device at CES 2011 that can convert 3D video data into signals needed by autostereoscopic 3D displays--the kind that don't use glasses.

The company doesn't plan to sell the converter box, but it does showcase its real business focus on 3D software and online services such as format conversion and distributing 3D content to digital billboards.

The converter box shows the company's technology for converting a variety of 3D data formats into a variety of output signals for 3D display. It can accept Blu-ray and YouTube … Read more

Toshiba to release glasses-free 3D TV this year?

As early as the end of this year in Japan, according to a report, Toshiba will release televisions capable of displaying 3D content that, unlike current models, do not require viewers to don special glasses.

The report in Japanese newspaper Yomiyuri was neither confirmed nor denied by Toshiba. Company spokesperson Yuko Sugahar said Tuesday only that Toshiba has such technology in the works.

The technology, known generically as autosterescopic 3D, was thought to be at least a few years away from commercial viability, according to industry sources CNET has spoken with, such as THX. According to the newspaper, the date … Read more

3D TV FAQ

(Latest update: February 17, 2011)

It's been almost a year since the first of the "new" 3D TVs hit the market, enabling their owners to watch 3D Blu-ray movies and 3D television programming as well as play 3D games. The technology behind these televisions is still relatively new, however, and still inspires plenty of questions.

In this newly updated FAQ I'll attempt to answer those questions as well as possible, incorporating my first-hand knowledge in reviewing numerous 2010 3D TVs, conversations I've had with industry experts, and reactions from readers.

This article is targeted toward people looking for an introduction to modern 3D TV technology. If you're an advanced reader just looking for the latest news your best bet is going straight to CNET's 3D TV resource guide.