3D Vision Blog

With the first wave of new 3D-ready hardware getting ready to hit us anytime now a lot of people seem to have doubts if they should get to be first in the line or wait until the summer to see how will things work out with more hardware available. One of the major concerns people are currently having is regarding HDMI 1.3 and HDMI 1.4 specifications and should they wait more to get hardware supporting the new specs or go for the first available devices that all seem to have 1.3 hardware. For example the new C7000 line of Samsung 3D-ready HDTVs or the new Blu-ray 3D players from Sony that seem to have HDMI 1.3 support. We know that HDMI 1.3 can be used to transport stereo 3D content, but since there is not standardization for it everyone can have different approach that will offer support for hardware coming from just one brand. In HDMI 1.4 specifications the stereoscopic 3D support has been standardized meaning that all hardware using it should be able to communicate with each other so you will not have to stick just to one brand of hardware producer to ensure compatibility…

This brings me to the case of PlayStation 3 console with HDMI 1.3 that is expected to receive a software update to bring stereoscopic 3D support. We’ve already got confirmation that the software update for the console will add support for the S3D features from HDMI 1.4 specifications as this is possible to be done with just a software update. Of course adding all the new features introduced with 1.4 specifications of HDMI is not possible with just a simple software update, but in the case of stereoscopic 3D support it can be done so that the different brands of 3D-ready TVs should be able to understand that the console is sending them 3D content and display it accordingly. That is of course if these new TV sets use HDMI 1.4 or at least also have their software updated so that the HDMI 1.3 hardware will be able to “understand” the Stereoscopic 3D part of 1.4 specifications. So this brings things back to new 3D-ready hardware being equipped with HDMI 1.3 specifications, which means that these can be using the older specifications hardware, but with software that can accept and interpret S3D content coming from HDMI 1.4 or other updated 1.3 devices. However don’t mistake that all of the new 3D-ready hardware will follow the path that Sony did decide on for the PlayStation 3 console to make it stereo 3D compatible with just a firmware update. It is possible that some hardware producers will stick to normal HDMI 1.3 specifications and use some other sort of processing for the S3D content,something that is still Ok, but will limit general compatibility with other hardware from other brands. So in the end it will not hurt to be extra careful if you want to be one of the earliest adopters of the new line of 3D compatible hardware as this might as well turn out to be quite an expensive experiment for you.

- If you want to download the 3D portion of the HDMI Specifications 1.4

It seems that Sony is constantly working on creating a full ecosystem of stereoscopic 3D-ready products and it will not just provide us with a new range of 3D-ready TVs (BRAVIA LX900 series) and the software update to add S3D support to their PlayStation 3 cConsole, there will be much more. The Sony BDP-S570 Blu-ray Disc Player, announced at CES, for example will be the first of the company’s devices capable of playing 3D Blu-ray Disc movies with no firmware upgrade. It should be available in March with a price of about $250 USD and Amazon is already taking pre-orders with a release date announced as March 9th. If you are looking for a new more affordable Blu-ray 3D Disc Player, you’ll have another choice with Sony BDP-S470 Blu-ray Disc Player which will be ready to play Blu-ray 3D Disc movies on a 3D enabled TV after a firmware upgrade. This one is also expected in March with a price of about $200 USD and again it is already available for pre-order at Amazon with an expected release date of March 16th. Completing the “3D picture”, the range of Sony Home Cinema products recently announced at CES including the BDV-E370, BDV-E870, BDV-E970W, BDV-F500 and BDV-F700 will all also offer 3D-ready status, but they will require firmware update for the Blu-ray 3D support. With all that said, you should also not forget that the first Blu-ray 3D movie titles are not going to hit the market anytime before summer along with the compatible 3D TVs from Sony and other brands, so you should consider if you want to be prepared with a 3D-compatible player early…

It seems that Sony is planing to include the much anticipated 3D support for their PlayStation 3 console in the upcoming firmware update version 3.20. Or at least there are such hints coming from from some leaked pictures of the 3.20 firmware that seems to be already in the hands of some developers. The current firmware version for PlayStation 3 is at 3.15 with still no official release date of the anticipated version 3.20, but it is expected this to happen before the official summer release of the first 3D-ready HDTVs from Sony. Prior to having a compatible 3D-ready high-refresh rate HDTV, along with the required active shutter glasses (the preferred tech for all upcoming 3D TVs) there is no point in having this feature available on the console. Also, it seems that the much anticipated Blu-ray 3D support for the PS3 console will require an additional firmware update that is supposed to be available at a later time, after the summer release of the firmware with 3D gaming capabilities, but most likely before the end of the year.