3D Blu-ray Technology

In mid-December 2009, the Blu-ray Disc Association reported that the means of displaying 3D Blu-Ray content at 1080p had been formalized. Does this mean everything you own is obsolete? No - not everything, anyway. As with any consumer electronics product that makes a break with the past, there are valiant attempts at backward compatibility. Of course, to avail yourself of all the great new features, you need to think in the other direction - how to best go forward and, for some at least, how to do so at minimal cost. The best advice in the latter area is, of course, always to wait a bit after the initial introduction, as prices go down with time.

The new 3D specification uses what is called Multiview Video Coding, a variation of H.264 HD, for upgrading and enhancing the visual experience. The MVC approach presents separate image sequences to each of your eyes, in 1080 lines presented "progressively" (1080p, as opposed to 1080i for "interlaced"), and manages to accomplish this with only 50% more disc real estate. You will have to wear the polarized 3D glasses, of course, but you should get a viewing experience comparable to a watching a 3D movie at your local cinema barn.

The basics
You don't have to destroy your present audio/video gear, or even sell it on eBay. The 3D discs will work just fine in your current DVD player, although you're going to get flat 2D images. If you have a Blu-ray player and an HDTV right now, they will handle the new 3D Blu-ray discs just fine. In fact, you don't even need a dedicated Blu-ray player, as the Sony PlayStation 3 (PS3) has plenty of power to process the two 1080p streams used in the new spec. However, you will need a firmware upgrade to do this, and Sony won't be any more specific than to say it will be during the fiscal year ending March 31, 2011.

Some commentators have publicly doubted that the promised firmware update will allow 3D at full resolution. A Sony representative told CNET Tech News at CES 2010, and quite firmly, that consumers will get "full 1080p resolution to each eye," but others submit that full 3D 1080p resolution needs version 1.4 of the HDMI (High-definition Multimedia Interface) - and the PS3 currently sports HDMI 1.3. Still, it's the one existing player of any kind for which a 3D update has been announced, so far.

The view from your seat
Unless you bought an expensive stereoscopic TV - available at the high end of the Samsung, Sony and other product lines - or a similarly capable laptop or monitor (also pricey), you will have to get a new HDTV. Most middle-range sets just don't have the display properties required for the new spec. When you do upgrade, you can choose from any kind of display, from LCD and plasma to OLED, because the 3D encoding does not require a certain display type or technology. The BDA press release made it clear that the discs don't care about the kind of 3D technology, either.

As CES 2010 came to a close in January, four new 3D players were announced - the Samsung BD-C3900, Sony BDP-S770, Panasonic DMP-BDT350 and Toshiba BDX3000. Sony announced a new home-theater-in-a-box (HTIB) system equipped with a 3D Blu-ray player, the BDV-HZ970W, while Samsung mentioned a similar "box" product without a specified model name. The only one with dual HDMI outputs is the Panasonic, which means you can use it with AV receivers supporting the last HDMI spec, 1.3, since you will send the high-res 3D video straight to the display and the audio to your receiver. This is the way to go if you don't want to buy a new HDMI 1.4 receiver.

When?
The only remotely precise release date announced by any manufacturer is "the summer of 2010" for Sony's first 3D model, and pricing has not been discussed by anyone. Viewing requires active shutter 3D glasses and some TV manufacturers are bundling them with new sets, which some player manufacturers may do, as well. Otherwise, you're looking at a going rate of about $100. As far as movie titles go, the pickings are still slim - Sony promises "Cloudy With a Chance of Meatballs" by (once again) summer 2010, Disney will release "A Christmas Carol" by 4Q 2010 and Dreamworks reports that "Monsters vs. Aliens" will be available "in 2010." That's about it, and that's how it will go for a while, until enough players are sold.

The tech review and consumer electronics sites are just now starting hands-on testing of these products, and until full reviews are published you can't really be completely certain about any of specifications, claims or promises. Once these 3D Blu-ray players start hitting the store shelves, you will be able to decide whether the new technology is for you - and your wallet.Vinpower Digital.com has almost any type of dvd copier on the market today, as well as other formats. We have the expertise to help you at every stage of planning to enhance your optical disc duplication. Visit online today.