Watch Up 3D TVs 2010!!!

After all the hype prompted by the success of Avatar in cinemas and the flood of 3D technology unveiled at trade shows like CES 2010, 3D TV is finally becoming a reality in living rooms. All the major players are well and truly on the 3D bandwagon and they’re set to make a lot of noise to try and entice consumers on board too. To help you navigate the 3D waters as various companies spruik their particular brand of 3D technology we’ve taken a look at what's on offer, when it will hit shelves and how much it will cost.


Samsung

LCD

In a sign that 3D TVs will be a major battleground for manufacturers this year Samsung also announced its 3D capable C7000, C8000 and C9000 Series LED TVs will also be hitting store shelves in the US from this month. The rollout will begin with 46- and 55-inch models from the C7000 Series, followed by 46- and 55-inch models from the C8000 and C9000 Series appearing in April. May will see the availability of the Samsung UN-40C7000,40-inch C7000 model, while the biggest and best Samsung UN-65C9000 65-inch C9000 Series will be the last to arrive in July.

Samsung also plans to be the first to bring 3D TVs to the UK and other countries in Europe with models appearing in stores sometime this month in presumably roughly the same order as the US releases.

Prices range from US$2,000 to $3,300 for the C7000 Series, US$2,800 to $5,000 for the C8000’s, and US$6,000 to $7,000 for the C9000 Series. Samsung won’t be bundling any glasses with their 3D TVs, but has announced it will include a starter kit consisting of a 3D Blu-ray Disc of Monsters vs. Aliens and two pairs of Samsung 3D active shutter glasses with the purchase of a Samsung 3D-ready HDTV and Blu-ray player from March 21.

For those looking for a cheaper option Samsung is also releasing a non-LED LCD TV in the form of the 46-inch 750 Series, which will be available from May for US$1,700.

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Plasma

Although Samsung has been pushing its LED LCD TVs the company hasn’t abandoned plasma with six of the eight models in the company’s 2010 Ultra-Slim Plasma HDTV line being 3D-enabled. The 7000 and 8000 Series will both feature 50-, 58- and 63-inch screen sizes and will range in price from US$1,800 to $3,500 for the 7000 Series and US$2,100 to $3,800 for the 8000. All models and sizes are due to be available this May.

Along with the ability to display 3D content from a 3D capable Blu-ray player all of Samsung’s 3D HDTVs feature a built-in 3D processor that is capable of rendering 2D content into 3D in real time – although just how well this compares to native 3D content remains to be seen.

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Panasonic

Panasonic debuted the world’s first 3D Full HD Plasma Home Theater System at CEATAC Japan in 2008 and is aiming to sell the world’s first Full HD 3D (FHD3D) home theater system through a partnership with US retailer Best Buy. The system will consist of a 50-inch Panasonic VT25 plasma 3D TV, 3D capable DMP-BDT350 Blu-ray player and one pair of active shutter glasses. The retailer will be selling the system at a launch event at the Union Square Best Buy in Manhattan on March 10 with plans for several hundred Best Buy stores to have VT25 displays in the near future.

Panasonic’s VT25 series are FHD3D sets that provide full 1080p resolution to both the left and right eye and will be available in four screen sizes ranging from 50- to 65-inches.

The system is expected to sell for around US$3,000, while a 50-inch VT25 on its own is expected to cost around US$2,500. These prices represent a discount of close to 50 percent compared to Japanese prices recently announced by Panasonic and is designed to help the company achieve its target of selling one million 3DTVs worldwide this year.


Sony

Although Sony has said it will wait until June 10 to introduce its first 3D TVs in the US, (just in time for the World Cup), the company has just announced pricing and release dates for its first 3D TVs in Japan. The LX900, HX900 and HX800 series all share Sony’s new Monolithic design with the LX900 and HX800 series LED edge backlit and the HX900 series featuring LED epicentral backlighting with local dimming.

The HX800 series is made up of 40- and 46-inch screen sizes and will be released in Japan for 22 million yen and 28 million yen respectively. The HX900 series adds Intelligent MPEG noise reduction and a FeliCa remote control and comes in 46- and 52-inch screen sizes priced at 390 thousand and 470 thousand yen respectively (approx US$4,333 and $5,220).

To enjoy 3D on these models though buyers will have to shell out extra for a TMR-BR100 IR emitter (5,000 yen or approx. US$55) and TDG-BR50 3D glasses (12,000 yen or approx. US$133). This added expense is true for pretty much every 3D TV hitting the market and can add quite a chunk of change to the original outlay depending on the size of your family.... then again, they are no longer the cardboard and cellophane specs of the past. Sony claims its glasses are of a higher quality than the rest of the industry but expect third party glasses to flood the market in the not too distant future.

Luckily the LX series includes two pairs of 3D active shutter glasses, and comes with an IR emitter built-in, along with face recognition and a wireless network connection. Available in 40-, 46-, 52- and 60-inch screen sizes prices start at 290 thousand yen (approx. US$3,220) for the 40-inch model and continue up to 590 thousand yen (approx. US$6,555) for the 60-inch.

LG

LG has previously stated it is aiming to sell as many as 400,000 3D TVs this year on its way to 3.4 million in 2011. At CES in January the company announced its first offering would be the 47-inch LD360 due to hit store shelves in the UK in April. Now known as the LD920 the unit will now only be available for commercial use. There’s no news on why the LD360 was pulled from the consumer line-up but the fact the model used passive glasses and wasn’t 1080i capable may have had something to do with it. Whatever the reason LG has announced the Infinia LX9900 LED 3DTV that will use active shutter glasses and will be 1080p capable will be released in the UK in May.

The company has also previously stated a full line-up of 3D models would be unveiled in the second half of the year, which is kind of on the vague side. But an accidental leak from LG purportedly gives a few more specific details. The company apparently plans to ship 3D glasses in mid-April with a 3D-compatible LX9500 series, (which is supposedly the same as the LH9500 announced at CES), shipping in the second week of May. About the same time a second 3D-compatible series dubbed LX6500 will also ship. A 3D Blu-ray player, the BD580, will also ship in May.

But keep in mind none of this has been confirmed by LG with a spokesman for LG telling CNET, “We cannot confirm the specifics of products that haven't been announced."

Toshiba

Keeping up the vagueness Toshiba has only said its 3D TV range was in the making with a UK release date of Q4 this year, with full details not expected to be announced until September at IFA 2010.

Philips

As we covered recently, Philips 3D-ready 9000 series that will require a 3D upgrade pack consisting of two pairs of Active Shutter glasses and a wireless adapter is due out sometime this year. Screen sizes start at 32-inches (making it the smallest 3D capable TV yet announced) and range up to 46-inches.

Hype and Hope

There’s no doubt that the major manufacturers have pegged 2010 as the year for putting 3D TVs in people’s living rooms and competition looks set to be extremely fierce as each player attempts to stake a claim on its share of the market. With manufacturers like Panasonic and LG setting sales targets of one million units for this year and 3.4 million units in 2011 respectively, it remains to be seem just how big that market will be.

In their favor the 3D TV manufacturers may benefit from huge success of Avatar and the subsequent upswell in interest of 3D technology. This interest is set to continue with the number of 3D films coming out of Hollywood set to increase along with the introduction of 3D TV broadcasts – most notably with this year’s Football World Cup.

Also, the prices for 3D capable TVs aren’t completely out of the reach of the average consumer - something that isn’t usually the case with the introduction of next generation technology. Because TV manufacturers were able to make use of existing manufacturing facilities instead of building new ones has helped keep prices down.

On one hand, 3D is certainly creating a buzz. On the other, there’s a hell of a lot of TVs sitting in people’s living rooms that aren’t all that old. Sure, like it or not we’re a throwaway society but how many people are going to be willing to trash the big-screen HDTV that’s only a few years old.

For those who can't wait to get 3D into their home and have the cash to splurge, there's also the drawbacks of early adoption to consider - look at how many revisions to the Blu-ray spec there were. The more prudent among us might just wait until 2nd generation, but the push is undoubtedly on to get these sets into homes and 3D TV is here to stay.

About Toshiba 3D TVs ....

Hello, today I have a good news in Toshiba HDTV fan club that Toshiba is currently investigating developing 3D TVs which can be watched without the need for glasses that they had created a 21 inch auto-stereoscopic screen but Toshiba believe they've figured out a work-around for their 1280x800 resolution screen.

Toshiba has been leading the race in many technological advances of late, especially in the television industry. Having already created the Cell TV, a screen able to split into different segments to allow multiple image viewing, they have created a stir in Britain even though the product isn’t yet available. Meanwhile it seems they have been continuing with their research, developing glasses-les 3D sets which can be viewed from a number of angles.

Using a method called low-temperature poly-silicon (LTPS) and a multi-parallax design, Toshiba has not only created a screen which can easily be watched from a wide range of angles, but have solved darkening picture problems by using a “lens sheet to control reduction in surface luminance intensity, resulting in brightness comparable to standard 2D displays.”

By adding a lens sheet to scale back the luminance intensity and a "multi-parallax approach" to smooth images and widen the viewing angle. Toshiba still in the testing stages this one, with no price or consumer release date set. It remains however a mouth watering glimpse at the future of 3D TVs.

Gameing World in 2010!!!

The Gaming world in 2010 is catch up to Wii. Both Microsoft and Sony will introduce their own unique takes on motion controllers. Nintendo will attempt to move things in a different direction with the Wii Vitality Sensor.

Project Natal

Xbox introduce “Project Natal” that revolutionary interface for Xbox 360 ditches joysticks for an array of cameras and microphones that track your movements, recognize your face and respond to your voice

Natal really does track minute movements of your body, allowing you to swing your arms to whack things onscreen or grip an imaginary steering wheel to drive a virtual car.

Apple Tablet

Apple introduce Apple Talet or iPad that overgrown iPhone. You'll be playing stuff like Defense Grid on a big, roomy screen.

Sony Motion Controller

Sony announces the new device is like a Wiimote that can be tracked by an EyeToy camera. The PlayStation 3 will know where the controller is moving, but it will also be able to (for example) project your image onto the TV screen, then replace the controller in your hand with a virtual sword.

The combination of motion sensing and position tracking should make Sony's controller much more accurate than Nintendo's. But we haven't seen much more than tech demos yet, even though Sony says the motion controller will launch in the spring. "Ape Escape" and "Resident Evil" titles that use the controller are in the works.

Wii Vitality Sensor

Nintendo announcement  Wii Vitality Sensor, a device that plugs directly into the bottom port of the Wii Remote. The device itself is small and reads your pulse when you stick your finger in it but Vitality Sensor is old tech.

Nintendo will be the path of “relaxation games” similar to yoga but hasn't actually shown any such thing yet.

Nintendo's president recently named the Vitality Sensor one of the company's big products for 2010, saying that software would be announced in July. Our hearts aren't racing just yet.

Nintendo DSi XL

The Nintendo DSi XL  is scheduled to be released in the first quarter of 2010 in Europe.The DSi XL has bigger screens that 4.2-inch screens make your games pop with big, bold images, but make the unit itself much larger. You might not think you want this, but when you experience how much easier it is to play with bigger screens, you'll probably be hooked.

E-Readers @ CES 2010

eReaders at CES 2010

QUE™ proReader by Plastic Logic



Plastic Logic’s Que was probably one of the most eagerly anticipated ereaders at this year’s CES.
QUE is an essential tool for busy professionals, providing access to a dynamic ecosystem of content.
The display is quite good; newspapers look good on the Que. As you probably know by now, the Que display utilizes plastic rather than glass to create a shatterproof screen. Overall, the Que felt a bit too plastic to me. The bezel is a shiny acrylic or similar material, and I expect it to be very scratch prone. I think Plastic Logic would have done better to use a matte material.
The announced price of the Que ereader is somewhat stratospheric; $649 for a 4GB model with WiFi, and $799 for an 8GB model with both WiFi and 3G. At these prices it will probably be in pretty direct competition with the Apple iSlate.

Notion Ink Adam



Notion Ink’s Adam tablet is Android powered and is the first announced device to use Pixel Qi display technology. I really wanted to have a look at this, but the closest I could get was a non-powered demo in a glass case at the Nvidia booth.
According to an Nvidia booth-boy, the only working unit at CES was in the hands of Notion Ink Director Rohan Shravan, who was booked up giving private demonstrations with it. Liliputing.com was the happy recipient of one of these sessions and you can see their video and reviews.
Pixel Qi looks very promising. Engadget said in a post yesterday that they have been told that a manufacturer that “everyone is familiar with” will be announcing a Pixel Qi equipped device in 2010. Hmmm…wonder if the manufacturer alluded to has a name starting with the first letter of the alphabet and is named after a fruit or a river?

Irex



iRex is a Philips spin-off and we reported about iRex eBook readers already back in 2008 (photo). As reported in 2005 iRex makes their own ePaper. The company made some waves with the Philips Readius roll-up Phone.

Also at the Nvidia booth was an unpowered (or maybe just the batteries were dead) Irex DR800SG ereader. I couldn’t do much with it as it had no power, but I still think that the design has promise; an 8-inch screen in a package that is the same overall size as a Kindle with 6-inch screen.

Still no idea when this will be released. There were some rumors of a mid-January release, but Irex seems to have a history of setting release dates that don’t materialize. Best Buy is bringing the iRex DR800SG to compete with the Amazon Kindle but There is still nothing on website about the DR800SG.

Liquavista



Liquavista is one of the color display technologies that should be making its way into future ereaders. Liquavista is based on existing LCD manufacturing infrastructure. This display tech is capable of displaying color video while using very low power. It looks as though it won’t be integrated into an actual ereader that you can buy until possibly the end of 2010 or more likely early next year. Qualcomm has said that its Mirasol color display technology is on track to enter production in the fall of 2010, so it may be able to beat Liquavista to market by a few months, but of course we will have to wait and see.

The colors and video playback in the Liquavista reference designs displayed at CES were quite impressive. The display does look very paper-like.

iRiver Story



The Story ereader by iRiver has been selling in Asia and Europe, and is supposed to make it to the US this month.

iRiver is a Korean company best known for its portable music and video players. The Story is iRiver’s first foray into ereaders.

The Story has a chiclet style keyboard similar to the Kindle ereader. The display is a 6-inch e-ink screen. There is 2GB of internal memory plus an SD card slot. There should be an MS Office doc viewer as well as some sort of comics viewer. Adobe Digital Editions as well as non-DRM’ed epub should be among the supported file formats.

The Story ereader seemed to be solidly built, but other than the features noted above, there wasn’t anything that seemed to really differentiate it from the other ereaders out there. Refresh times and navigation seemed to be pretty much on par with other current ereaders. The price and availability has not been announced yet, but the Story was selling for about $290 in Korea. I don’t see this ereader being really competitive unless it is priced less than the Kindle or nook.

Dual-Screen “eReaders”



Both MSI and Asus have their dual LCD screened ereader concepts on display at CES, but these really seem like netbooks with two screens rather than ereaders. Perhaps if the screens were to use Pixel Qi they would be more viable as ereaders. As laptop/netbooks, however, both could be quite good. The two screens can work separately or together as one larger screen, or one screen can serve up a virtual keyboard.

enTourage eDGe

After Plastic Logic’s booth the enTourage Systems booth was probably the busiest ereader show at CES.

The Kindle Chronicles has a good CES interview and video of the eDGe in action.

My take is that while the eDGe with all of its study tools and bells and whistles would be good for students and their etextbooks or perhaps as a netbook replacement, it is obviously overkill for someone looking for just an ereader. It is rather bulky for reading in your bed or armchair. Also it appears that the eDGe ereader will be tied to enTourage’s ebook store for DRM’ed ebooks. Currently enTourage claims to have 200,000 ebooks in addition to the usual Google public domain suspects.

At a price of almost $500 the eDGe is more expensive than most netbooks as well. Still, it is the most interesting multipurpose “ereader” that I’ve seen yet. A lot of thought obviously went into its development, and the eDGe is capable of doing just about anything you would ask of it.

5 Google Affiliate Tips

Google may be sticking its toes into Affiliate Programs. They apparently are calling these CPA (Cost Per Action) ads, but what that means is that publishers get paid not for clicks but for some specific action at an advertiser's site: buying something, providing information, whatever. That's an Affiliate Program, Google is just naming it something else.

There is no doubt that Google affiliates rank as some of the most successful affiliates anywhere on the web.

Anybody who understands the real secrets behind the phenomenal rise of Google affiliates will be in a much better position to benefit and profit from it, whether or not they are current Adsense affiliates.

1. Google Affiliates Are Riding On The Most Dramatic Shift In The Advertising Industry In History

A few webmasters think that this Adsense and pay per click affiliate mania is a passing fad. All indications are that this is not the case. If anything mounting evidence points to one of the most dramatic and rapid shifts in advertising industry history. You can’t beat the deal to advertisers where they pay only for actual traffic to their website and more so when they can easily calculate their conversion rate on that traffic and predict their profit margin on the deal. This arrangement cannot be duplicated on TV or in any other offline media with so much precision and accuracy.
This means that advertising revenue will continue to shift away from other media and will move online at an even more rapid rate than is the case currently. And not just any online mediums like banner ads for example. The revenue will specifically shift to pay per click text ads. If you need some proof just look at the Google numbers in recent months, and most of it is being generated by PPC ad revenue.
What does that mean to a blogger or webmaster? It means huge and increasing profits as the number of advertisers grows and the competition between them for clicks grows fiercer.
It means that any expert in any tiny little niche will find it increasingly easier to make a good regular income from a low traffic targeted site with higher paying, more valuable Adsense keywords.

2. Google Affiliates Recognize That Content Is Not King, It’s Everything

Writers, or rather good writers are already enjoying a huge advantage as Google affiliates. Only well written content will attract quality traffic and only interesting engrossing content will keep that traffic coming back again and again. Only high-quality keyword rich content will keep a site high in search engine rankings and thus guarantee enough traffic to keep Google affiliate adsense earnings high.

3. Top Google Affiliates Are All Using The Blog Secret

Blogs were created for linking and everybody knows that links are closely related to traffic in two ways, firstly they generate traffic but more importantly, they help a site achieve high search engine rankings with usually opens the floodgates of traffic. Top Google affiliates are using this secret to keep those big fat Google affiliate Adsense checks arriving by special courier every month.
Most top Google affiliates have dozens of blogs loaded with the right keywords and engaging content. With just a little SEO (search engine optimization) skills, these new breed of high flying online professionals are able to get their sites to the top of search engine rankings. It is then minimal maintenance as they sit back and watch the traffic volumes flow to their blogs already loaded with Adsense ads. The result of all this is that the clicks happening at their sites shoots up and with it their Google affiliate Adsense earnings.

4. Google Affiliates Are Using The Secret of The Hook

In advertising it is called the hook. Journalists call it the angle or slant of the story. Both mean the same thing. It is all about picking up a subject and asking yourself, what aspect of it most interests your audience? If you answer that question accurately then your ad or your article will attract maximum interest.
Online this is becoming more critical by the day. Content that is not slanted to fit the interests and needs of you audience will not attract enough interest and this impacts on the traffic of your blog or site and ultimately on your Google affiliate adsense earnings.

5. Google Affiliates Are Always Looking To Supply Scarce Information

Have you noticed that the more scarce the information, the higher paying the Google affiliate adsense keywords related to that particular subject? If you haven’t I’ll bet that you’re not one of the top Google Affiliates. You can’t be.Top Google affiliates use this as one of their most valuable keys in opening the doors to their fat check monthly income. That’s why before they even find the right "hook," they usually ensure that they are dealing with the right subject and the right keyword. It means that even with a low traffic site, a Google affiliate can enjoy a very high monthly income.