The 3-D Bio-Printer
There's already been a great deal of excitement about 3-D printing technology, but what about a printing system that can produce biological material? Biotech firm Organovo and instrument manufacturer Invetech have invented a device that uses two printheads: one sprays a gel that forms a sort of scaffolding for an organ; and another fills it in with living cells, essentially printing out tissue on demand. The printing tip can position cells with micron-scale accuracy, without waiting for a donor and without risk of rejection because the cells used are from the patients themselves. (Source: TIME)
story here.
Samsung to use 3D cinema glasses
Samsung and RealD have announced that they are jointly developing a new 3D display technology called RDZ that offers full resolution high definition 3D video and is compatible with the same 3D eyewear used in RealD 3D-equipped motion picture theatres. Toshiba is showing two models which do not need glasses.
This means that viewers can use the same passive glasses now in cinemas that employ the RealD 3D system. RealD and Samsung LCD Business will be demonstrating RDZ 3D displays at CES in Las Vegas. Some time ago, Sony said it will use RealD glasses for some of its 3D projection systems.
full post here
How Blu-Ray Could Speed up 3D TV Adoption
Remember the videotape format war between VHS and Betamax in the 1970s and '80s? When wide adoption of a new consumer packaged-media format is at stake, format launches aren't always smooth.
Blu-ray Disc is the latest example. It struggled out of the gate in 2006 while engaged in a fierce battle with HD DVD to become the high-def format of choice, a contest it won in 2008 when HD DVD conceded and manufacturers ceased production.
Now, just a year after its introduction at the 2010 Consumer Electronics Show, 3D Blu-ray is leading the charge to bring 3D -- the next frontier for packaged media -- into the home....
During 2010, 3D production workflows, 3D subtitling
systems, authoring systems and related processes
had to be developed in order to fill the content
pipeline.
In year two, consumers might begin to see more
sophisticated 3D menu design.
...
Read the full story by ETC reporter Carolyn Giardina here
Will 2011 Be 3D Blu-ray’s Year?
(Phil Lelyveld comment: this is an excellent overview/update of the state of 3D Blu-ray)
It started with the International Consumer Electronics Show and ended with Oprah.
2010 was home 3D’s coming out party, with every major consumer electronics company debuting 3DTVs and 3D Blu-ray Disc players, and roughly a dozen content owners taking the leap and releasing titles on 3D Blu-ray Disc. Research firm The NPD Group reported that 15% of Blu-ray Disc players sold during the important Black Friday weekend were of the 3D variety, and a full quarter of Blu-ray players available at retail by mid-November were 3D capable, according to the Blu-ray Disc Association.
...
London-based Futuresource Consulting estimated that 3DTVs accounted for nearly 5% of flat-panels sold in the United States for the year, and Jim Bottoms, director and co-founder of Futuresource, credited that to a quick 35% to 40% drop in initial 3DTV prices in major markets.
Full post here
David Fincher Says 20,000 Leagues Under The Sea Will Be In 3D
Since Avatar landed in late 2009, directors have been splitting into two camps: pro-3D and anti-3D. Some see the new technology as a storytelling device that helps visually enhance their films; others find it to be a distraction, a fad, and a gimmick. Now it appears that David Fincher has chosen his side. Speaking with Collider, the Social Network director revealed that 20,000 Leagues Under The Sea will be in 3D, saying, "I think it’s cool…when it’s done right." That said, when asked if the film would be his follow-up to The Girl With The Dragon Tattoo, he remarked, "I think that there’s a lot of movies that could be my next film."
Say what you will about 3D, 20,000 Leagues Under The Sea is most certainly a project that lends itself to the format (all one has to do is look at James Cameron's underwaterdocumentaries to understand that).
Read the full story here
2011 3D Feature Release schedule
Here is the most recent 2011 3D feature release schedule, as posted on Box Office Mojo here
The Green Hornet (in 3-D)
Sony
1/14/11
Sanctum (3D)
Uni.
2/4/11
Gnomeo and Juliet (in 3-D)
Mira.
2/11/11
Justin Bieber: Never Say Never
Par.
2/11/11
Drive Angry (in 3D)
Sum.
2/25/11
Mars Needs Moms (in 3D)
BV
3/11/11
Rio
Fox
4/15/11
Thor
Par.
5/6/11
Priest (in 3D)
SGem
5/13/11
Pirates of the Caribbean: On Stranger Tides (3D)
BV
5/20/11
Kung Fu Panda 2
P/DW
5/27/11
Green Lantern (in 3D)
WB
6/17/11
Cars 2
BV
6/24/11
Harry Potter and the Deathly Hallows (Part Two in 3D)
WB
7/15/11
Captain America: The First Avenger
Par.
7/22/11
The Smurfs (in 3D)
Sony
8/3/11
The Darkest Hour
Sum.
8/5/11
Spy Kids 4: All the Time in the World (in 3-D)
Wein.
8/19/11
Fright Night (in 3-D)
BV
8/19/11
Final Destination 5
WB
8/26/11
Untitled 3D Shark Thriller
Rela.
9/2/11
Piranha 3DD
W/Dim.
9/16/11
Dolphin Tale 3D
WB
9/23/11
The Three Musketeers (2011)
Sum.
10/14/11
Puss in Boots (working title)
P/DW
11/4/11
Happy Feet 2 in 3D
WB
11/18/11
Arthur Christmas (in 3D)
Sony
11/23/11
Hugo Cabret (in 3D)
Sony
12/9/11
Alvin and the Chipmunks: Chipwrecked
Fox
12/16/11
The Adventures of Tintin: The Secret of the Unicorn (in 3D)
Par.
12/23/11
Journey 2: The Mysterious Island
WB
2011
Samsung Tomorrow – light weight 3D glasses
You had to know that once LG sought a designer's inspiration for improving its 3D eyewear, Samsung too would be recruiting outside help with its three-dee goggles. Sure enough, Sammy has partnered up with Austrian design firm Silhouette to deliver what it claims are the world's lightest 3D glasses, weighing a measly 28g. Called the Tomorrow glasses.
Original story here
Brava 3DTV arts channel available in Europe
On November 22nd 2010, Brava3D started broadcasting through the ASTRA satellite system.
Brava3D is the first worldwide cultural channel broadcasting in 3D. The horizontal programming of Brava3D offers round the clock opera, ballet and concerts in Full 3D (1920 x 1080i) image quality and excellent Dolby (E) sound. From the Brava website: http://www.brava3d.com/
WWW.Stereoscopy.com highlighted this story today, but it was originally reported on Nov. 11, 2010.
CES: Hands-on with Toshiba’s glasses-free laptop prototype
3D was a megatrend across consumer electronics 2010, but its biggest hindrance to acceptance still lies with those awkward plastic glasses. The truth is, nobody really wants to wear them.
There is hope: the Nintendo 3DS will introduce glasses-free 3D gaming, and glasses-free 3D TV is on its way. But could glasses-free laptops be far behind?
We got an advance look at glasses-free 3D laptop technology in a custom-built Toshiba Qosmio laptop, and while the technology has its limitations, it's an impressive proof of concept that's surprising to behold.
Original story here