LG TV sets lead new tech wave
LG would also consider launching 3-D projectors, and possibly mobile phones with 3-D screens here in the future.
By Kenny Chee,
mypaper | Photo: LG Electronics | 21-05-10
THE 3-D heat is on.
Many stereoscopic 3-D products with eye-popping visuals have hit shelves here, and even more can be expected in the future. What offerings are the latest and greatest on the scene? First up is LG Electronics, which launched the first full Light Emitting Diode (LED) 3-D TV, the Infinia LX9500, last Friday. It begins retailing next month, but customers can start pre-ordering the set now at LG Electronics retailers. Besides giving viewers a 3-D viewing experience, other 3-D features include the ability to play 3-D camera footage on the TV without going through conversions with a computer.
The 3-D goggles can also be charged by connecting them to the TV. LG isn’t a newbie on the scene. Last month, Samsung began retailing the first 3-D TV in Singapore, the LED 7000. And Sony will retail its Bravia LX900 3-D TV in July, while Philips expects to launch 3-D-ready TV sets in Singapore in the fourth quarter. Both LG and Samsung are selling their 3-D TV sets bundled with 3-D Blu-ray players and two pairs of 3-D glasses with a price range of $4,000 to $8,000 for 40- to 55-inch TV sets. LG and Samsung said that this bundling gives consumers a holistic 3-D experience to enjoy 3-D Blu-ray movie discs.
If you’re baulking at the price, consider that, a year ago, some LED TV sets of similar screen sizes were priced even higher than 3-D TV sets today. And if you’re wondering what a 3-D TV offers, precisely, know that many major retailers have 3-D viewing booths where one can don the pre-requisite 3-D glasses and check out the visuals. Courts, for example, has booths showcasing its Samsung and Sony offerings. To make 3-D even more enticing, Samsung has reportedly teamed up with Avatar director James Cameron and his crew, who will film music videos in 3-D that will be used to promote Samsung’s 3-D TV sets.
With many latching onto the trend (an estimated two million 3-D TV sets will be sold by Samsung alone this year) more 3-D offerings are on the horizon. Mr Arthur Huang, chief operating officer for LG Electronics Singapore, said the Korean company intends to introduce more versions of 3-D TV sets in the second half of the year. He said LG would also consider launching 3-D projectors, and possibly mobile phones with 3-D screens here in the future. “3-D is becoming a new consumer viewing experience and any imaging-related product can potentially display in 3-D,” said Mr Huang.
Already, there are 3-D notebooks on sale from Acer and Asus that can convert 2-D game images to stereoscopic 3-D. Fujifilm is selling a 3-D digital camera and hopes to begin rolling out 3-D photography printing services in July. Software developer Ganeshram Dharmaraja, 26, is interested to try out the new 3-D products in the market now. “I’m considering getting Fujifilm’s 3-D camera. It can take not just 3-D photos but 3-D videos, too. That’s very unique,” he said.
[email protected]
