3D Progams

3D Systems Sponsors T-Splines 2011 Design Contest

3D Systems Corporation announced today that it is sponsoring T-Splines, a leader in innovative 3D design software, in an exciting contest that encourages product designers, jewelers and architects to create and make in 3D. Read more…

Nvidia Releases Web-Streaming 3D Vision Video Player Technology

Last month, Nvidia announced major changes to its consumer 3D Vision kit for adding stereoscopic 3D capabilities to home PCs, including a lower price and longer battery life. But 3D Vision owners may soon have even more content to sample, as Nvidia announced today that it is making its 3D Vision video player technology freely available to Web developers, with the intention of simplifying the process of creating Web sites that stream 3D content to 3D Vision–equipped PCs.

The technology comes by way of a special plug-in Nvidia has developed for the open-source Microsoft Media Platform Player (MPP) Framework v2.5 (formerly known as the Silverlight Media Framework). The plug-in supports active-shutter 3D glasses, and is based on the same technology used on Nvidia’s 3DVisionLive.com 3D Web community. The framework includes full support for both IIS Smooth Streaming and Microsoft Playready DRM.

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With little 3-D content to see, fans create their own

3-D television sets might be one of the newest innovations to hit the living room. But a funny thing happened on the way to the 3-D home revolution: There’s very little to watch in 3-D on those pricey TVs that cost upwards of $2,000.

Only a handful of 3-D movies have hit the cineplex. Even fewer are available on Blu-ray discs, for which you also need a 3-D Blu-ray player. And just two 3-D cable and satellite channels have launched, with one more in the wings for 2011.

What are dedicated 3-D lovers to do? Make their own 3-D content, using makeshift camera set-ups.

With sales of 3-D sets projected to grow from 3.2 million this year to 90 million in 2014, according to researcher DisplaySearch, the industry is counting on early adopters. They range from professional photographers and videographers looking to show they’re on the cutting edge to attract business, to dedicated amateur videophiles having fun with their cameras and computers.

A host of new tools make this process easier, including the world’s first consumer 3-D video camera from Panasonic, along with a 3-D lens accessory that fits onto a conventional 2-D Panasonic still camera. Roxio Creator and Sony Vegas offer software to both produce and edit in 3-D. Creator also lets you convert 2-D photos and video into 3-D.

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ESPN 3D faces an uncertain future

ESPN admits it’s unsure about the future of 3D TV programming, but will commit for at least another year. Will it finally catch on, or is 3D just not welcome in the home?

After all the hype, it may be that there was little substance to ESPN’s 3D coverage. In an interview, the company’s own director of technology
, Jonathan Pannaman admitted in a press conference in Europe that the sports network has not seen a clear return on investment. Even so, ESPN isn’t quite ready to give up on it.

But halfway through its year trial, shouldn’t there be some indication of whether or not it will succeed? Is there really no way to tell how well its newest flagship feature is doing? Maybe ESPN just isn’t ready to admit defeat. Or maybe the network is just really confused – as Pannaman added, ESPN is “still not sure what makes sense” when it comes to its 3D broadcasting decisions.

With the amount of money and attention ESPN has thrown at 3D, being in “not sure” territory is dangerous.

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The future of Korean 3D content

“By 2014, the performance content market in Korea, China, and Japan will reach $100 million USD in revenue. If we utilize the high popularity of Hallyu singers and actors, I believe that Korea can take the lead in 3D content.”

Kim Heung Su is the director of SK Telecom’s 3D performance business and is spending his busy days watching the performances of Korean singers. His job involves turning these live performances into 3D content and showcasing them in theaters. His first project was completed last month with a 75 minute video of Wheesung’s new album, titled “Live In 3D Wheesung: It’s Real.” The movie played in 30 different theaters country-wide, highly impressing fans and fellow singer Baek Ji Young alike. After attending the preview, she commented, “It gave me goose bumps. Can you turn my album into that, too?”

However, the movie has only managed to pull in $40,000 USD after taking nearly $1 million USD in production expenses.

- Is there marketability in this?

“We believe that the audience is just not used to it yet since it’s the first time we’ve shown it. Regardless, this is only the beginning. After presenting it in theaters, we can sell it to internet and satellite broadcasting companies. In the future, we are planning to create content specifically for cell phones. Once we expand with idol singer concerts and other famous musicals, the situation will look a lot better.

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3D TVs Are Here, but Nothing?s On

When you shop for a new TV, every salesperson in your zip code will try to sell you a 3D TV. But 3D TVs can cost up to $700 more than similar 2D-only models from the same vendor, not counting the $150 glasses and the 3D Blu-ray player. Is 3D TV worth it? Here’s what you should know before you buy.

Imagine this: You set up your brand-new 3D television in your living room, pull out the glasses, press the power button…and then what? Depending on your cable provider, you may have two or three 3D channels. DirecTV has ESPN 3D, a channel for videos shot to demonstrate 3D capability, a 3D movie channel, and a 3D video-on-demand channel. Comcast carries only ESPN 3D and a special channel for events broadcast in 3D. Because 3D broadcasts are uncommon and 3D movies are scarce, your broadcast TV options are pretty slim.

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World’s First 3-D Broadcast Nationwide for All TVs in Full Color

The Rachael Ray Show, along with 3-D Vision, Inc., (both based in New York), are taking a major step forward in the exploding 3-D TV market. On October 29, “Rach’s Halloween Bash in 3-D” will be broadcast to millions of viewers with 3-D Vision’s revolutionary new 3-D process called “FullColor 3D™”. The Rachael Ray show is the first to use this revolutionary 3-D process in a commercial TV broadcast (sponsored in part by Sarah Lee).

The show will be viewable in full-color and in 3-D on all existing TV sets, 2-D and 3-D, thanks to a new type of 3-D glasses which will be given away to over 2.4 million viewers in the October 25 issue of TV Guide Magazine. Gene Dolgoff, 3-D Vision’s CEO, commented, “It’s gratifying to begin commercial application of our unique 3-D technologies with the forward-thinking innovators at the Rachael Ray show.” Joe Freed, the Co-Executive Producer of the show said, “We’ve been dying to make a 3-D show for a long time and are excited to be working with 3-D Vision! We are looking forward to seeing how they bring this opportunity to life!”

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ESPN announces Buckeyes and Badgers in 3D

ESPN has announced plans to televise the No. 2 Ohio State Buckeyes Oct. 16 matchup at the No. 20 Wisconsin Badgers in 3D.

This Saturday’s Ohio State game against Indiana in Columbus, Ohio will also be shown in 3D.

The kicker is you’ll need a computer or TV with 3D hardware built-in (3D TV’s start at $1,700), along with some 3D glasses which go for about $150.

ESPN 3D will feature approximately 13 college football games this year, including the 2011 BCS National Championship game on Jan. 10. in Glendale, Ariz. You can view a complete schedule at http://espn.go.com/3d/schedule.html.

source: http://network.yardbarker.com/all_sports/article_external/espn_announces_buckeyes_and_badgers_in_3d/3372801

BBC 3D Olympics moves closer to reality

The BBC has said that is looking to video both the opening and closing ceremonies of the London Olympics in the 3D format. However, the corporation has emphasized that while it intends to capture the Olympics in 3D, this is not committing to their transmission.

Last week, the BBC’s head of 3D and HD Danielle Nagler told the 3D Masters Conference that in addition to the ceremonies selected events from the 2012 Summer Olympics would also be included.

“The BBC is considering a small number of 3DTV editorial experiments in the lead up to the 2012 Olympics. These experiments will be undertaken with editorial and technology partners to explore the creative potential of the new format, evaluate the different technology options and help us contribute to the standardisation process,” a BBC spokesperson told Broadband TV News.

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Discovery Europe licensed for 3DTV

Discovery Channel has received a licence from the UK communications regulator Ofcom for a potential 3D channel. The award of the Digital Television Programme Service (DTPS) licence to Discovery Communications Europe Limited is made in the July list of newly licensed television services.

A spokeswoman for Discovery Communications Europe confirmed to Broadband TV News that the broadcaster had been issued with a licence, but said there was nothing further to announce.

Earlier this year, Discovery Communications, Sony and Imax announced plans to launch a 3D television network in the United States. A launch is scheduled for early 2011.

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