The 3D they are touting now is a bit different than the Red/Green glasses you had to wear in the past.
The main problem is that the TV will have to be able to handle a 120Hz frame rate, and sync the action of active shutter glasses.
The other solution that is even more expensive is two panels on top of each other, with polarization, they only need the passive polarized glasses like those used in for instance RealD 3D cinemas.

The older BD players apparently can't handle the bandwidth either, though that may just be the manufacturers way of getting people to buy new hardware.

What I don't get though is that to handle the bandwidth of 3D you need the new HDMI 1.4 if I recall, yet Sony have assured us that the PS3 will be able to handle 3D BD's via firmware updates alone, even if it's HDMI port is only a 1.3a.

The 1.4 HDMI spec will mean replacement of just about everything in the chain. You gotta love capitolism.
JJK

The 1.4 HDMI spec will mean replacement of just about everything in the chain. You gotta love capitolism.

...and spelling!

Still happily watching 4:3 analog SD on a 24 year old TV here. No interest or desire to upgrade as long as it keeps working.

I guess i'm not a very good capitalist.

I'm with Chienworks here. 4x3 and happy. The problem I have with 3D is that it is not TRUE 3D until I can focus anywhere in the image that I want. Right now, the camera/director tells your eyes where to focus. This is where I get a headache because I like to watch the surround and background activity. On 2D, my mind accepts the blurriness, but in 3D my eyes cross and eventually get a headache.

Just my own quirkiness.
Dave T2

ha! jokes on them: I'm not upgrading my stuff anyway! :D

I finally bought my first HDTV a bit over a year ago so I won't be upgrading for a very long time.
Let me add that it was really nice to see the Canadian women and men beat the competition for gold medals on a 52" LCD TV during the 2010 Olympics.
Much better than on my old 27" 4:3 CRT :-)

Mike

Switching to my new 52" LCD HDTV a little over a year ago was the best move I made in terms of my enjoyment in watching Hi Def programming. I just love it!
So much so that I refuse to watch TV unless the show/program is in HD. (This may be because SD on a HD set looks pretty crappy)

Regarding 3D, It will be a very long time for me to go out and purchase a 3D TV, unless they have one that does NOT require any type of special glasses to watch.


I know 3D right now is the "in-thing" but I still feel it is a fad that will slowly disappear again, with the exeption of feature films, where I think it could have some staying power.

When you invite your friends over to watch some TV will they have to bring their own 3D glasses?

Ted

JJKizak, if you own a PS3, you're should be ok! ;-) Sony has announced that the PS3 will support 3D, if I remember correctly. The question, how many versions of 3D software will it support. Sony's own LCD sets will supported, but have many "other" versions........ PS3 sales will probably determine that. ;-)

apit34356, you are right, the PS3 will support 3D BD.
As for various software "versions", that is not really an issue if I understand it right. The 3D is not a part of the BD specification, and HDMI 1.4 was brought out specifically to handle that signal, how the TV makes use of that signal is not something the BD player should worry about.

Actually, Sony is "releasing" the 3D firmware update about the same time Sony's new 46" 3D display will be available. The two are "tuned" to push the viewing experience. But the 3D software issue is far from being "absolute". Since almost all BD players run a virtual java "world" and most displays are update-able, the outcome shouldn't hurt most 3D buyers.......... just who collects IP fees will be interesting. Everyone's friend, Cameron, has some good ideas that push viewing experience over ease of reproducing 3D, its not cheap compare to "others" but cheesy is not in his vocabulary. ;-)

Good news for early BD players, Sony is trying to put in place a deal to let individuals who bought Sony's early BD players to upgrade to new, more capable models, possibly 3S players. ;-)