Dolby’s Glasses-Free 3D May Be Worth Waiting For
Dolby’s technology, which it’s working on in collaboration with Philips, delivers the first glasses-free 3D I’ve seen which isn’t dreadful. Actually, it’s much better than I thought TV-sized no-glasses 3D could be — crisp and blur-free at any viewing angle. The depth of field is fairly shallow, but that’s almost a virtue: It leads to a subtle 3D effect that doesn’t feel too gimmicky. And I say all this despite the fact that I’m on record as not really liking 3D TV.
So is Vizio’s pleasing glasses-free 3D the same thing as Vizio’s pleasing glasses-free 3D? Yes and no. I spoke with Dolby’s Roland Vlaicu, who explained to me that Vizio’s 3D TV does incorporate Dolby technology. But Dolby thinks that its technology will benefit from a better 4K, 3D-capable display panel than Vizio used — so Vizio’s prototype isn’t an official Dolby 3D TV, like the hand-built one I saw in San Francisco.
See the full story here: http://techland.time.com/2013/01/17/dolbys-glasses-free-3d-may-be-worth-waiting-for/
Architect aims to 3D print an endless house
[Philip Lelyveld comment: for those who remember World Fairs, the precursor of this was Habitat at Expo 67 Montreal.]
Dubbed the Landscape House, Ruijssenaars has designed the building to be “one piece,” which could be a little misleading. Rather than a 3D printer creating a building in one go, separate pieces will be printed out, which will then interlock and create the full structure. Each piece is planned to measure in at 19.6 x 29.5 feet (6 x 9 meters), and printed with the large D-Shape 3D printer, which is said to be able to build full-size sandstone buildings “without human intervention.”
The design for the 3D printed house looks like a möbius strip, with “floors transforming into ceilings,” which is why it is sporting the “endless” description.
See the full story here: http://www.geek.com/articles/geek-cetera/architect-aims-to-3d-print-an-endless-house-20130117/
3D TV is dead, replaced by 4K, says BBC controller
Writing in TV trade publication Broadcast, Harrison says "everyone has finally accepted that 3D TV is dead," with the glasses being reserved for gaming and the cinema. So what'll take its place? 4K, aka Ultra HD, Harrison reckons.
4K is more important because it's not a gimmick, Harrison says. He adds it'll soon have more of an impact on the TVs we buy.
"We are years away from being able to make and transmit in 4K, yet it matters far more than 3D ever did: it enables manufacturers to focus on making bigger, better, normal TVs," Harrison says.
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He was also excited about smart TVs, saying they "just stopped being stupid."
Google TV is the most compelling offering, Harrison reckons. But while it's "brilliant" for audiences and producers, he says, it's "scary" for broadcasters.
See the full story here: http://www.techradar.com/news/television/hdtv/3d-tv-is-dead-replaced-by-4k-says-bbc-controller-1125721
Time Warner Cable, Netflix at odds over ‘Super HD,’ 3D
In order to get higher-quality HD visuals and 3D content through Netflix, cable providers must sign up with Netflix's Open Connect. And Time Warner Cable doesn't like that.
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"While they call it Open Connect, Netflix is actually closing off access to some of its content while seeking unprecedented preferential treatment from ISPs," the spokesperson told Multichannel. "We believe it is wrong for Netflix to withhold any content formats from our subscribers and the subscribers of many other ISPs. Time Warner Cable's network is more than capable of delivering this content to Netflix subscribers today."
Netflix's Open Connect is a free service that allows ISPs to directly connect their networks with the streaming provider's CDN. By doing so, Netflix can eliminate third-party CDNs that deliver its videos to ISPs, thus saving the company money. Netflix also argues that Open Connect will improve video delivery to customers.
That improvement to video delivery allows Netflix to offer its Super HD programming -- a higher-quality 1080p -- and 3D to customers.
See the full article here: http://news.cnet.com/8301-1023_3-57564467-93/time-warner-cable-netflix-at-odds-over-super-hd-3d/
Emily Carr’s S3D Centre and The International 3D Society Host 3D[FWD] Conference Focused on the Business of 3D
Emily Carr’s S3D Centre and The International 3D Society will host 3D[FWD], a conference focused on the business of 3D, on January 24 and 25 at the Vancity Theatre. The conference brings together leaders from a cross-section of industries, such as healthcare, advertising, entertainment, and digital media to explore the impact of 3D technology in today’s marketplace and for the future.
Leaders and innovators in 3D from Hollywood, London, and Canada, including an Academy Award winner, will showcase, discuss, and debate some of the latest developments in 3D, and explore how the 3D transformation will affect business. With more than 50 major 3D movies scheduled for release in 2013, millions of 3DTV sets being sold in the global marketplace, and an abundance of stereoscopic consumer products to be launched, it is an opportune time to learn how 3D can be used as a powerful business tool.
Topics to be covered include Storytelling in 3D, Canada’s Evolving 3D Landscape, Finance and Content Licensing, Post Production, 3D Conversion, and Advertising and Marketing in the 3D Space.
See the full story here: http://3droundabout.com/2013/01/9088/emily-carr’s-s3d-centre-and-the-international-3d-society-host-3dfwd-conference-focused-on-the-business-of-3d.html
Audi, Bang & Olufsen, Fraunhofer IIS team up for 3D auto experience
The folks at three of the biggest names in auto and/or audio have come together this month to bring on a beast of a system for the Audi Q7 for 2013. Bang & Olufsen have partnered with Audi as well as Fraunhofer IIS to bring on a “3D sound experience” for the next generation of Audi vehicles. FraunhoferIIS, if you did not know, was the “main” inventor (as they say) of the MP3 and is an innovator of next-level audio experiences top to bottom – as any average Joe would tell you.
See the full story here: http://www.slashgear.com/audi-bang-olufsen-fraunhofer-iis-team-up-for-3d-auto-experience-14265179/
Still emerging (for now): The 3D printers of CES 2013
No 3D printer vendor had a cavernous booth at CES. Only MakerBot held a press conference, but it was only a low-key presentation on the show floor, not some over-produced auditorium-filler.
And yet, every time I walked by a booth owned by a 3D printer manufacturer, the crowds were there in force. People are clearly excited by 3D printing here, and they had a variety of examples to learn about at the show.
I checked in on all of the major 3D printing vendors here at the show. Here's what I saw.
3D Systems, Afinia, FormLabs, MakerBot, Stratasys
See the full story here: http://ces.cnet.com/8301-34445_1-57563395/still-emerging-for-now-the-3d-printers-of-ces-2013/
Five 3D Cameras Capture Panorama Images
"DIVE into World Heritage 3D,"exhibited by Panasonic at Digital Content EXPO 2013, is a system for creating panoramic images by shooting with five 3D cameras, then showing the images using five high-definition plasma display panels.
" In collaboration with UNESCO, we photographed seven world heritage sites around the world. The purpose of these images is to allow people to have an experience like they'd have if they went to these sites in person. 3D cameras used to be very large and difficult to handle. In the last two years they have gotten much smaller, and devices like these 3DA1 (the AG-3DA1 3D camcorder) are now available. We shoot footage using five of these cameras together. The system also includes small, high performance VCRs tethered to the cameras."
See the full story here: http://www.diginfo.tv/v/12-0192-n-en.php
Netflix rolls out Super HD and 3D streaming to specific ISPs
Called Super HD by Netflix, the ability to stream content in 1080p is limited to a consumer’s Internet Provider. By visiting the launch page, consumers will be able to immediately see if their ISP is part of the Open Connect group. In order to stream 1080p content, the software requires a minimum Internet connection speed of at least 5Mb/s. Netflix representatives recommends 7Mb/s for the highest quality version of the 1080p high definition content.
Regarding 3D titles, Netflix has made a variety of documentaries available to stream in 3D as well as Immortals starring Man of Steel’s Henry Cavill as well as Mickey Rourke. According to Netflix representatives, the company is going to monitor the amount of people streaming content in 3D and will make the decision to expand the volume of 3D titles later in the year. In addition, Netflix is considering making 3D titles available to international audiences.
See the full story here: http://www.digitaltrends.com/home-theater/netflix-offers-super-hd-3d-streaming-to-open-connect-isps/
See the Netflix press release here: https://signup.netflix.com/MediaCenter/Press
Netflix "Open Connect" Delivery Network Gains Widespread Global Acceptance
Cablevision Most Recent Major Provider to Join Open Connect
New Super HD and 3D Video Formats Available on Open Connect
Jan 8, 2013
HERE’S A RECAP OF GLENN BECK’S AWESOME NEW 3D PRINTER: THE IMPLICATIONS AND WHAT HE PLANS TO MAKE
“This is Napster. This is Napster for physical things,” Beck said, comparing the capabilities of the printers to the music pirating website that for a short time allowed users to illegally download music they hadn’t paid for.
During the program, the MakerBot replicator 2 was printing a miniature shark, the standard object it makes as a test print to show you that everything is working properly. The team scanned the skull that sits on Beck’s desk for 3D printing and a gun as well.
“Not a working gun,” Beck pointed out. “But you can make weapons with this. You can make anything with this. This is going to be highly, highly regulated. This changes everything. There are no patents anymore.”
See the full story here: http://www.theblaze.com/stories/2013/01/09/heres-a-recap-of-glenn-becks-awesome-new-3d-printer-the-implications-and-what-he-plans-to-make/