3D TV; Must-Have Gadget or Modern Gimmick?
3D TV is the latest idea to move out of the lab and into the home. At the beginning of this month, Rupert Murdoch's Sky TV launched Europe's first 3D television channel, showing 14 hours of content daily. So far, this has been selected films and Premiership football matches, following trials of the service in pubs across Britain.
Just like when you see a 3D film at the cinema, you need to wear special glasses. But gone are the plastic blue and red specs you pay more for at the flicks. The new generation of 3D TV uses sleek, futuristic-looking glasses. They're not cheap, at around £100 ($158) a pair, but are of course more sturdy and reliable. The old glasses will still let you see in three dimensions, just not as well.
However, the cinema is a place where, over the last few years, people have become accustomed to picking up a pair, sitting down to watch the film and looking a bit silly. The living room is a whole new arena - are people ready to adapt?
Where is the market for non-fictional 3D content on TV? I've seen one or two films marketed as "3D." One was Coraline, Henry Selick's computer-animated adaptation of the Neil Gaiman novel. I remember a few things seemingly coming out of the screen towards me, which I presume is scary for children. But is it entertaining? Does it add anything to the plot, or is it just a gimmick? I think the latter.
Warner Brothers announced last week that the planned 3D release of Harry Potter and the Deathly Hallows Part One had been canceled as the studio was unable to ready it in time for the November release. As such, the film will only be seen in cinemas in 2D. Part Two, to be released in July next year, will also be in 3D.
Continued on the next page
Follow Technorati