We all love the 3D theatre experience, but the glasses can be a pain, so finding glasses-free 3D products can be important. It’s a good thing we watch movies in the dark because we look ridiculous. The glasses themselves are not only uncomfortable, but when using them with home theatre systems they can easily become lost or broken. When will we be able to enjoy 3D without having to wear these ugly spectacles?
Manufacturers are currently racing to bring the first eyeglass-free 3D technologies to the American consumer market. The scientific name for this technology is called “autostereoscopy.” Several types of products featuring autostereoscopic displays will soon be in stores, including cameras, cell phones, camcorders, smartphones, game systems, and laptops. Here are a few that are expected to be available this year.
Nintendo 3DS
Expected to launch later this month, this glasses-free 3D game system features not only a 3D screen, but also stereo cameras that enable you to take your own 3D photos. The package will include several new interfaces, including motion and gyro sensors, and the Circle Pad: a round input device. There will be a control allowing you to fine-tune the 3D effects to suit your personal preference. The Nintendo 3DS will be able to detect WiFi networks in range so you can exchange game data with other 3DS systems online. It is expected to retail for around $250 USD, and 20 different games will be released within a few months of the launch date, including:
- The Legend of Zelda: Ocarina of Time 3D
- LEGO StarWars III: The Clone Wars
- Madden NFL Football
- Resident Evil: Mercenaries 3DS
- Ridge Racer 3DS
- The Sims 3
- Star Fox 64 3D
LG Optimus 3D Smartphone
This phone was unveiled at this year’s Mobile World Congress technology show in Barcelona. It features a 4.3” autostereoscopic display and dual-core 1 GHz OMAP4 processor, both groundbreaking technologies for smartphones. Similar to the Nintendo DS3, the Optimus includes a five megapixel camera that will allow you to take your own 3D pictures and videos. It will be powered by Google’s Android 2.2 Froyo, but you’ll be able to change to Gingerbread 2.3 if you prefer. It is expected to hit the European market later this year. The release date and pricing information for American consumers have yet to be announced.
Gaming Laptop Asus ROG G53
American gaming enthusiasts are still anxiously awaiting the release of this laptop in the states, which was unveiled at last year’s Computex show. It was released in Europe late last year, but has yet to reach the US market. While you’re playing your favorite game, this laptop is actually keeping an eye on you, thanks to its advanced eye-tracking system.
This technology monitors where you are in relation to the 15-inch screen, thereby delivering a glasses-free 3D experience from any angle. This laptop is powered by an Intel i7 2.66 GHz processor, and comes bundled with a NVIDIA GeForce GTX 560M graphics card, 120 Hz LED-backlit display, and up to 16 GB of DDR3 memory. European models ranged in price from €1,899-2,199 (approximately $2,650-3,100 USD).
The above items allow you to enjoy 3D games and movies easily since they are glasses-free 3D products.