7 common 3-D TV questions

KIM KOMANDO SAYS :
You saw Avatar and Alice in Wonderland come to life in 3-D at the theater. Soon, you'll be able to enjoy a high-quality 3-D experience at home.
But be forewarned: This is an evolving technology. Your equipment could be obsolete sooner than you expect.

Manufacturers are starting to roll out 3-D televisions and Blu-ray Disc players. However, we are very early in this game. There are no quality 3-D broadcasts, although ESPN plans them in June. On DVD, Cloudy With a Chance of Meatballs is due out soon. That's it for selection.


TECH TIPS: Ask Kim

When I say quality, I'm talking about 3-D Blu-ray technology. This was used in Avatar and Alice in Wonderland. But home users will have better glasses. So home technology will be as good as — or even better than — the theater experience.

Some home 3-D is available today through current equipment. For that, you wear colored glasses. It's a passive system, and it's second-rate.

Personally, I wouldn't jump into 3-D today. But some people just can't wait. So, learn the basics, at least. Store clerks may not understand the technology differences.

Here's what you need for an active, 3-D Blu-ray setup.

Can I use my current TV?

Um, no. You'll have to buy a new 3-D television. In fact, if you bought a 3-D-ready TV in recent years, you're not ready. You'll still need a Mitsubishi 3-DC-1000 converter box. The technology has evolved. The converter boxes run about $100.

Panasonic and Samsung are selling 3-D TVs today that work without converters. They also show 2-D (today's current standard) television. No glasses are required for 2-D.

Expect to pay about 15% more for 3-D over a comparable 2-D television.

Do I need to wear glasses?

Yes. Without glasses, the picture will look blurred. The TVs rapidly alternate two images — one for each eye.

Shutters within the glasses open and close in synchronization with the television. This is the "active" part of 3-D. The alternating images create the illusion of depth.

The glasses work wirelessly and require batteries. Glasses should be matched to the television brand. (Theaters use passive, colored glasses, not shutters. Colored glasses are much, much cheaper, though not as effective.)

Do I need a new Blu-ray player?

With one exception, current Blu-ray players can't handle active 3-D content. However, 3-D players can display 2-D (standard) discs. (Are these movies now or what?) So, you'll only need one player.

The exception will be the Sony PlayStation 3. Its firmware will be updated in June. Then, it will play active 3-D.

Other manufacturers could release firmware updates for current Blu-ray players. However, none have announced such plans.

What else will I need?

Cables. The high-definition standard cable is HDMI. There are several versions; any will work in most cases. However, 3-D includes much more data, and requires HDMI 1.4 cables.

If you're using an audio-video receiver, you may need one with 3-D pass-through capabilities. Some older receivers could work, although synchronizing video and audio can be a problem.

Cable and satellite customers will probably need new set-top boxes for 3-D broadcasts.

Is 3-D equipment expensive?

You'll pay an extra $500 or so for the TV and Blu-ray player. HDMI 3-D pass-through receivers start around $300.

You'll need glasses for everyone in the family. They're $100 to $150 per pair. Manufacturers may include glasses with 3-D TVs.

What content is available?

About 20 3-D titles will be released in 2010. The Shrek series will be available later this year. Avatar may be available by year's end. Titanic isn't due out in 3-D until 2012.

ESPN 3D launches in June. In its first year, it will air at least 85 events. Sony, Discover and IMAX will launch a dedicated channel next year.

Some manufacturers say their players can convert 2-D movies to 3-D. Samsung, Sony and Toshiba make this claim. The quality of the conversion remains to be seen.

What else should I know?

People with stereo blindness will not be able to see 3-D. Content will appear in 2-D. They may experience eye fatigue and headaches.

Stereo blindness is relatively uncommon. If you've never watched a 3-D movie, watch a demonstration in a store. Find out if you have stereo blindness before buying.

Kim Komando hosts the nation's largest talk radio show about computers and the Internet. To get the podcast or find the station nearest you, visit www.komando.com/listen. To subscribe to Kim's free e-mail newsletters, sign up at www.komando.com/newsletters. Contact her at gnstech@gannett.com.