Ces 2010

[JonFo]

CES 2010 is wrapping up today, so what have you seen that caught your eye as truly drool-worthy or a significant advance?

 

[JonFo]

For me, it was the new 3D Projectors.

With my drool-worthy, lust-filled favorite being the dual JVC 4K2K projectors:
http://www.bigpicturebigsound.com/CES-JVC-DLA-RS4000-4K-Projector-x-2-3D.shtml

That setup costs a cool $350K. But you could charge admission to see movies

 

[Jimna]

question, do you have to wear the glasses to watch 3d movies with that projector?

if so i wouldnt want it after seeing Avatar this weekend. by half way through the movie i was annoyed, by the end i couldnt stand them.

will they be needed for 3d tvs as well?

 

[Feltran]

question, do you have to wear the glasses to watch 3d movies with that projector?

if so i wouldnt want it after seeing Avatar this weekend. by half way through the movie i was annoyed, by the end i couldnt stand them.

will they be needed for 3d tvs as well?

What didn't you like about the glasses? If it's that they were uncomfortable, there will be better ones available for the living room (for a cost, of course).

There are 3D TVs that don't require the glasses, and consumers right now seem to think that sounds like a better idea, but I'm not sure it's any more practical. First, content needs to be filmed differently for glasses-3D and glassessless-3D, so both formats aren't going to catch on. Second, the type of 3D TVs that don't require glasses not only require you to sit directly in front of the TV, but also at a specific distance. Living rooms aren't designed to meet the dimensions required by 3D TVs...

 

[JonFo]

question, do you have to wear the glasses to watch 3d movies with that projector?

if so i wouldnt want it after seeing Avatar this weekend. by half way through the movie i was annoyed, by the end i couldnt stand them.

will they be needed for 3d tvs as well?

Yep, so far the majority of 3D systems require some form of shutter or polarizing glasses.

I hear you on the discomfort. This will be one area where the manufacturers will compete.

Remember that when TV first arrived, people complained about the 30Hz shimmer of interlaced B&W TV.

It might take a few years, but my guess is that once they can refresh each eye at about 120Hz, it really will not be a problem.

Also, expect a huge market in prescription 3D-compatible eye-wear.

All new toys to play with: I can foresee my 120Hz refresh-rate, auto-dimming, auto-ranging prescription glasses in about five years.
They will track eye-movement (to detect focus), lighting conditions and sense IR from 3D so I can at one moment look at the TV, the next read my remote or look at someone and it will auto-adjust. they will even darken automatically in sunlight


But yeah, between now and then, 3D is going to be an expensive and bumpy road.

 

[twich54]

I just got off the phone with Ken (Kenscolick) who is @ CES. He visited the M/L room and took notice of a new speaker that was dubbed "101" appeared to be Spire 'type' maybe an 'X' version ?? who knows, Ken says they were somewhat 'tight lipped' ??? regardless, this is the sub 10k speaker that has been rumored.

Ken will post more upon his return.

 

[Audiophiliac]

I did not see too much that was super exciting. I am not huge on the new 3D kick. We will see if consumers catch the bug and push for it. I do not even own a BluRay player yet. However I might look into the newly announced Denon S-5BD combo BDP/AVR. Nice compact package with network streaming and digital USB iPod input. Spendy little bugger though.

The most interesting piece that I think was shown at CES was the PS Audio PWD Network Bridge/Digital Lens/iPhone control app. I know I have mentioned it here before, but this is probably going to end up the best or real close to the best digital music streaming device out there. And the price is not ridiculous. I do not know the cost of the Bridge, but at $3k, the PWD is a slick unit itself. After finding out that their iPod Touch/iPhone app can not only control their PWD but also any SONOS device and most UPnP servers, it got even more exciting! Imagine a house full of SONOS zones with a PWD/Bridge in the main listening area with complete control at your fingertips.

Seems the A/V department at CES was kind of slim this year. 3D taking most of the spotlight. Some HTIBs, some new BDPs, the first HDMI 1.4 devices, and a few new TVs. Nothing groundbreaking IMHO. CEDIA will likely be pretty big though.

 

[Jimna]

What didn't you like about the glasses? If it's that they were uncomfortable, there will be better ones available for the living room (for a cost, of course).

i simply found them uncomfortable and annoying. i dont wear glasses normally, and as the movie progressed i found them to deter my enjoyment factor. i cant imagine an extended sesson at home, say a football game and then a movie, it would drive me nuts.

as someone who goes into the general publics house everyday and sees what they have upgraded this far, i say its a fleeting idea that wont see widespread success. 3/4 of the public still doesnt have a flat screen, and of the 1/4 that do they buy the cheapest thing at walmart. asking people to buy into yet a new pricey TV that further requires expensive glasses for all in the family to watch along is foolish, and what if company visits?. so will it really pan out without the mainstream public buying into the idea? and all this is aside from the fact that folks like me will be put off just by the glasses alone...

look at music, people dont want bigger and better, they want smaller, faster, and cheaper. quality is a dieing value of last century.