LG bets on 3D TVs to boost sales
LG Electronics India is betting on 3D televisions to boost sales in home entertainment segment that contributes around 30 per cent of the company’s business in India.
“We are targeting business worth Rs 1,000 crore from 3D TVs and aim to consolidate our position in the Flat Panel TV segment with 30 per cent market share,” said L K Gupta, Vice President (Marketing), LG India. It currently has a 25 per cent share in Indian flat TV market.
See the full story here: http://www.business-standard.com/india/news/lg-bets3d-tvs-to-boost-sales/187076/on
Virtual reality’s time to shine: Hands-on with the Oculus Rift
After decades of virtual reality headsets that failed to live up to their somewhat sci-fi promise, it wouldn't have been a shock if developers and gamers cast a jaded eye toward the Oculus Rift Kickstarter campaign. Sure, the Rift boasted of crucial improvements to optics, head-tracking, and design issues that have held back previous similar headsets, but it was still an unproven prototype in a sector that has seen its fair share of failure. Now that the campaign has brought in nearly $2.5 million by selling development kits to nearly 10,000 game developers around the world, though, it seems that the time for a truly mass-market VR headset might finally be at hand. ...
What the Rift lacks in resolution, though, it makes up for in incredibly smooth head tracking, an area that seems to have become an absolute obsession for the Oculus team. While I was perfectly satisfied with the way my view updated seemingly immediately as I looked around virtual rooms, Iribe said he'd like to get the refresh rate on the final consumer units down to the "single digit milliseconds," rather than the 15- to 30-millisecond rates on the current display. "That's what we're pushing on.
See the full story here: http://arstechnica.com/gaming/2012/09/virtual-realitys-time-to-shine-hands-on-with-the-oculus-rift/
DIY lab equipment, courtesy of 3D printing
Imagine a world where lab workers can create their own custom equipment in-house, using either their own designs or ones they've downloaded. A glimpse of that world appears in today's issue ofScience, provided by 3D printing, the relatively low-cost fabrication technique where ceramics, polymers, and other materials are deposited in layers to build up a three-dimensional shape.
A commercial centrifuge for biology labs may cost hundreds or thousands of dollars, but today's issue of Science describes a printed alternative. The DremelFuge is simply a power tool attachment that holds centrifuge tubes. It costs only a little more than the Dremel drill that powers it, once the 3D printer is paid for.
See the full story here: http://arstechnica.com/science/2012/09/diy-lab-equipment-courtesy-of-3d-printing/
Katy Perry and ’50-Foot Cheerleader’ Featured in 3DFF 3D Film Festival
3DFF, the all-digital festival of film, music and interactive offerings, will kick off Sept. 20 with an opening pre-show program that will showcase the world premieres of Katy Perry’s “Wide Awake” music video in 3D and Foster the People’s hit single “Pumped Up Kicks” from the 3net original music series From the Basement.
A complete list of films can be found at www.3DFF.org.
See the full story here: http://www.hollywoodreporter.com/news/katy-perry-3dff-3d-film-festival-370455
To 3D Or Not To 3D: Pick The Right Resident Evil: Retribution Ticket
Read the full review here: http://www.cinemablend.com/new/3D-Or-3D-Pick-Right-Resident-Evil-Retribution-Ticket-32979-p2.html
THE WORST 3D FILM EVER (or just social marketing)
[Philip Lelyveld comment: this looks like a marketing campaign instead of a review/commentary. From the trailer, it looks like a moderately cute sex farce.]
Bad movies are as old as the movie industry. Stereoscopic 3D movies fans have seen a lot of not-so-good 3D films... But there will be no dispute about the "Worst 3D Film Ever" awarded to the Polish movie "Kac Wawa". Even the poster -visible here- is worth a "Worst Poster Award"...
See the full story, and a link to the full movie, here: http://www.stereoscopynews.com/hotnews/3d-movies/3d-blockbusters/2670-the-worst-3d-film-ever.html
Nanoengineers Can Print 3D Microstructures in Mere Seconds
Nanoengineers at the University of California, San Diego have developed a novel technology that can fabricate, in mere seconds, microscale three dimensional (3D) structures out of soft, biocompatible hydrogels. Near term, the technology could lead to better systems for growing and studying cells, including stem cells, in the laboratory. Long-term, the goal is to be able to print biological tissues for regenerative medicine. For example, in the future, doctors may repair the damage caused by heart attack by replacing it with tissue that rolled off of a printer.
Read the full story here: http://www.pddnet.com/news/2012/09/nanoengineers-can-print-3d-microstructures-mere-seconds
Fox signs on for Dolby’s Atmos sound system
Dolby Laboratories is making inroads into changing the way films sound at the megaplex, with 20th Century Fox joining Disney as the second major studio to support the company's new Atmos audio platform.
"Taken 2" and "Chasing Mavericks" will be the first Fox pics to have their soundtracks engineered for Atmos. Studio also will outfit its Zanuck Theater post-production facility with Dolby Atmos tools. It typically costs $30,000 to retrofit an existing facility with the technology.The Fox deal is significant for Dolby as a sound system battle is quietly tuning up inside the world's movie theaters. Dolby hopes the Atmos rollout will help it control a larger share of the in-theater surround sound biz as it competes with rivals like Barco, Immsound, Iosono and Illusonic 3D, which are also promoting new systems to exhibs, especially as more theaters make the transition to digital projection.
Read the full story here: http://www.variety.com/article/VR1118059051
Rising Popularity of 3D Content Drives the Global 3D TV Market
The global market for 3D TVs is projected to exceed 200 million units by 2018, primarily driven by increased consumer interest, falling prices of 3D TVs, and the introduction of 3D standards. Other growth drivers include soaring demand for digital media entertainment, growing penetration of high-bandwidth broadband services among households, and rapid proliferation of Internet enabled devices such as smart TVs, smartphones, and tablet PCs.
Major players in the global marketplace include AU Optronics Corp., Chimei Innolux Corporation, Hyundai IT Corporation, LG Display Co. Ltd., LG Electronics, Inc., Panasonic Corporation, RealD Inc., Samsung Electronics Co. Ltd., Sharp Corporation, Sony Group, VIZIO Inc. among others.
See the full story, which is PR for a market research report, here: http://www.electronics.ca/presscenter/articles/1887/1/Rising-Popularity-of-3D-Content-Drives-the-Global-3D-TV-Market/Page1.html