Computer
Cowboy

Sony's new OLED HMD

I have always wanted an HMD, this new 3D OLED HMD looks awesome!

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3D Demo ISO's from Blazin3D

I found out about Blazin3D over on the 3D central sub-forum of AVS Forum. Blazin3D makes 3D Blu-ray documentaries of cool stuff in Japan. I offered to host his demo ISO's for him since he didn't have a good host. He currently has three movies available, Hirado 3D, Fukuoka Custom Car Show, and Marine World 3D. I have viewed the Hirado 3D demo on my projector and it looks very good. I am excited to get all three of the full discs when I get some extra cash.

3D on the cheap with DLP

3D is back in a big way. Not only are 3D movies back in the theaters, 3D technology and content is now available in the home. The technology isn’t exactly new. Passive polarized projection has been used in IMAX 3D theaters for years. The same technology has become more mainstream in RealD equipped theaters. The other big passive viewing technology is Dolby 3D. The Dolby technology is based on Infitec’s dichroic filters. Most of the technology in the home is based on active shutter glasses. Interesting enough shutter glasses aren’t new either. I played with active shutter technology back in Y2K using an nVidia Riva card paired with a CRT display and Wicked3D drivers. It is no secret that movie studios are using 3D to boost box office revenue… and it is working. It is also no secret that the consumer electronics industry is using 3D technology to try and sell more HDTVs and 3D blu-ray players.

New 3D HDTVs are still fairly expensive but 3D DLP projectors are fairly cheap. An Acer H5360 720P projector can be had for about $500. The great thing about DLP projectors like the H5360 is first and foremost the price, but there are other advantages as well. DLP based 3D exhibits no noticeable crosstalk. 3D LCD TVs are often plagued by crosstalk also known as ghosting. There are some tradeoffs, the downside to cheap DLP projectors the notorious rainbow effect and the lower resolution. Every 3D LCD HDTV I have seen is 1080P, the cheap 3D DLP projectors I’ve seen are 720P or less. Another thing to consider is source material. 3D HDTVs for the most part work natively with 3D Blu-ray players. Most 3D DLP projectors work with a computer as a source. That is not to say that you can’t play 3D Blu-ray on a cheap DLP projector, you can, but you need the right computer hardware and software to do it.

I would love to have a my 3D in full 1080P but for now I am quite happy with my cheap Acer 720P projector paired with my laptop and nVidia’s 3D Vision kit. Using the Acer projector in conjunction with Peter Wimmer's Stereoscopic player and a DIY anamorphic lens I am even able to watch CinemaScope 3D Blu-ray without letterboxing.

Using the computer to deliver 3D content to the computer has other advantages. I can view raw footage from my GoPro 3D Hero cameras in full color 3D. I can view YouTube 3D content. I can view Google Earth in 3D. If I was into games I could also play games in 3D.

If you already have a powerful computer with an nVidia graphics card I would highly recommend the Acer H5360, it is an affordable high quality way to put 3D in your living room now. Eventually the prices will come down on full 1080P solutions, but for now 720P DLP is great.