LG 3D TV line to debut in May
Freeview HD and internet connectivity on board too
LG will release its 3D TV range in May, the company said today. The line-up will comprise a pair of LED TVs and a Blu-ray Disc player.
The tellies are both part of LG's 32mm-thick LX9900 series, part of its micro-bezel Infinia range. Two sizes are planned: 47in and 55in. Both will feature 400Hz frame interpolation technology, LED array backlighting - 864 on the 47in set, 960 lights on the 55in telly - a 10m:1 contrast ratio, two 10W "invisible" speakers, and four HDMI 1.4 ports.
LG's LX9900: loaded up for 3D HD viewing
Both sets will incorporate Freeview HD receivers, along with Bluetooth and Wi-Fi - the sets feature LG's NetCast internet-on-TV technology - wireless connectivity, DLNA support and USB 2.0 ports for DixX HD, MP3 and JPEG playback.
The LX9900s use active-shutter 3D technology, so punters will need suitable glasses which, LG admitted, will not be bundled with the TVs.
Since the screens are premium products, they'll command a sufficiently hefty price as it is, and forcing buyers to cough up even more for 3D glasses will strike many people as a cynical move. Presumably, LG believes early adopters with wallets capacious enough to cope with a 47in or 55in high-end TV and a Blu-ray player to go with it won't balk at the cost of a couple of pairs of 3D specs.
That's in marked contrast to Samsung which, earlier today, said it will bundle two pairs of active-shutter glasses with its 3D TVs.
Skinny or what?
LG's 3D BD offering is the BX580. It's expected to retail for around £350. The 47in LX9900 will set you back up to £3000, the 55in model £4000.
We're still waiting to hear what LG plans to charge for its active-shutter glasses. ®
COMMENTS
Been happening for years
HD TV without the high definition has been shipping for a long time now. They call it HD "ready".
3D glasses
But won't all "3D" TVs require glasses while they remain simply stereographic TVs, rather than true 3D? Real 3D TV would involve holograms which is a whole new and expensive technology to worry about.
Yes - BUT
Why do most electronic shaver manufacturers now include a "cleaning station" - so you can pay for additional cleaning solution.
Plain old red / green glasses don't cost much = low margin. Same for the "Real 3D" polarising ones - very low margin.
On the electronic shutter glasses, a margin of 35% minimum will yeild quite a bit of extra cash.
This is another Betamax / VHS gambit - 1st to get most market share wins - no one want to have several sets of glasses - Sony / Panasonic / LG / Samsung should start working on an "industry" standard now. Unlike that gambit where the US porn industry drove VHS to win, I don't think 3D porn is going to determine the winner in this case.
3D=fail
saw my third cinema film in 3D this week and confirmed to myself that I won't be seeing any more. Wear an uncomfortable pair of glasses that reduce the colour depth to get a 3D effect that makes my eyes physically hurt and gives me a headache.
I can't help thinking a lot of companies are going to lose a lot of money on this.
3d in the home with expenseive shutter glasses? Really? How often are they going to get broken? How long do the batteries last? I just can't see it somehow. Maybe for gaming but not for sitting down to watch general TV/
Lenticular is here and works, why glasses?
I saw a demo of a lenticular 3d tv the other day, works great. Shutter glasses TVs will have a *very* short shelf life.
