Home theatre gets serious | Text : Elizabeth Kerr |
Along time ago in a galaxy far, far away … Well it was San Diego and it was only summer 2009. Filmmaker James Cameron, the man that brought us Avatar and a whole new cinematic movement, regaled audiences at Comic-Con International with his vision for the future of entertainment — despite the fierce debate has since sprung up about the viability and artistic merit of 3D filmmaking.
Cameron explained it like this: “People have to look at it as a 3D ecosystem. If Lord of the Rings and Titanic are available in 3D, that sends a signal all the way to the consumer electronics manufacturers to make the screens, make the modifying Blu-ray players … So then studios start to think, ‘Oh … I can think about home revenue as well.’ Then the whole ecosystem has to be taken into consideration. When you announce [a] project you will have to think about the devices that are built. It’s a self-propelling loop, and fortune favours the bold.”
It would appear the prophecy is fulfilling itself. A few months later in January 2010, Sony, LG, Toshiba and Sharp among others all showcased 3D televisions at the International Consumer Electronics Show in Las Vegas. As an added bonus Panasonic unveiled the future of wedding and bar mitzvah home video: A US$21,000 3D camcorder. All this tech is redefining what an average living room could look like in as little as three years.
To that end Korean electronics giant Samsung is first out of the gate. Regardless of reports coming from Mainland China about a glasses-free 3D unit already on sale there, Samsung is the first globally branded manufacturer to release a product into the market. A quick scan of mid- and high-end electronics retailers in Hong Kong shows that its convertible C8000 and C7000 3D LED models are available for pre-order, starting at just under HK$ 22,000 — including two pairs of active shutter 3D glasses.
A sales representative at AV Life in IFC claims pre-sales are relatively brisk and shoppers with general questions about the latest in boob-tube technology are common. It helps, of course, that there’s a matching 3D-capable Blu-ray player available too. But with high definition broadcasting and HD TVs just becoming the norm, how likely is it that 3D will catch on quickly? So far, there’s only one DVD available in Blu-ray 3D — no surprise, it’s Avatar — making a 3D television’s most notable feature moot.
Sounds like the ‘80’s CD argument all over again: Without anything to play, it will take years to catch on. That’s not necessarily the case, thinks Wander Bruijel, Philips’s Director of Global Product Public Relations. “We believe all the necessary pieces of the puzzle are falling into place,” Bruijel states. “Initial signs of consumer demand are starting to show based on the popularity of 3D theatrical box office releases and initial broadcast offerings.” Like Samsung, Dutch manufacturer Philips is ready to meet demand from consumers who want to be the first to go 3D at home.
How long it will truly take 3D TV to catch on with consumers is still a guessing game. The question becomes one of whether or not standard television units will go the way of the dinosaur. 3D TV and Blu-ray will likely become a standard feature on high-end technology, but Bruijel explains, “We are in the early stages of the technology’s development. We believe that there will always be an ongoing interest from consumers to enjoy normal 2D content.” But there’s no harm in being ready with a choice. Just think: you could put your old 24-inch 2D clunker in the library with the other antiques … Like the turntable.
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