Fillion - Home theater and TVs

3D: Without Glasses Already?

Charles-Edouard Carrier — Thu, 13 May 2010 19:09:44 +0000

Three-dimensional screens are becoming more and more popular. But access to the 3D screen and glasses combo remains limited due to its very high price. Will the new technology soon be outdated? Sharp is already working on a three-dimensional screen that works without glasses!

Just recently, the Japanese company announced it was mass-producing LCD screens that are able to generate a three-dimensional effect without glasses. Currently, the lens has a processor that splits images in two, one for both eyes, which creates a 3-D effect. The Sharp offering is much more advanced.

A thin textured layer that redirects light in two different angles complements the LCD screen. Based on the hologram principle, Sharp explains that this layer acts as a “parallax barrier.” This thin film is contained between two transparent membranes. As the eye simultaneously receives two slightly different images, the human brain processes the information and creates the three-dimensional effect by overlaying them.

However, as with holograms, the angle from where the image is viewed is important. If the viewer is not watching the screen from the correct angle, the image will be blurred and not sharp.

The first prototypes have a 3-inch diagonal image. The Sharp laboratories are said to have developed screens that are as large as 15 inches.

Even though the technology remains limited to small screens, the countdown has begun. Soon, some mass-market televisions will likely feature this technology. In Japan, Sharp already sells mobile phones with 3-D screens.

Image source: JeuxVideo.fr

CES 2009: Sharp announces LCD televisions with integrated Blu-Ray players

Stéphane Dion — Sun, 11 Jan 2009 23:49:51 +0000

Not ready yet to purchase a Blu-ray player to replace your old DVD player? Don’t worry about it! Your next HD television set might well have one integrated in it already. Sharp has just effectively unveiled a new series of Aquos televisions with an integrated Blu-ray player on the side of the unit. The new televisions will be available in February and will come in 32″, 37″, 42″, 46″ and 52″ models.

The screens have a wide 176 degree viewing angle, 1080p resolution, and the 46″ and 52″ models are 120Hz. The suggested retail price for the smallest model is $1100USD. Check out the video and pictures below to find out more.

CES 2009: Sharp announces two new Blu-ray players

Stéphane Dion — Sun, 11 Jan 2009 22:45:40 +0000

Sharp announced two new Blu-ray players at the CES 2009. The BD-HP22U and BD-HP16U are third-generation players and have a retail price of $300 and $280 respectively.

Both players feature full HD 1080p digital output and are BD-Live capable. The BD-Live feature delivers additional content such as scenes not available on the disc, as well as other types of interactive content and even games, through an Ethernet-enabled Internet connection.

The new players support HDMI 1.3 and are practically identical, except for the HP22U which boasts 2GB of memory to store downloaded BD-Live content.

The BD-HP22U will be available in May and the BD-HP16U in March.