During the CEATEC show in Tokyo last week, Japanese TV manufacturers showed off a wide variety of different 3DTV technologies.
Aside from 3DTVs, the companies showed off 3D movies and video games being displayed on large 3DTV prototype screens. Also at the show, some visitors wore custom glasses used to help depict 3D soccer balls and other floating objects flying around the expo floor.
In the future, Panasonic and Sony will be the first companies with 3DTV sets -- likely in early 2010 -- although other TV manufacturers are expected to release similar products throughout the next couple of years. 3D content will be extremely scarce at first, but movies and video games will first be targeted, then TV and other 3D material will become available.
Sharp and several other companies showed off new technology at CEATEC, but will wait until more content is available before marketing products on the open market.
To help accelerate content development, several 3D supporters have banded together to create broadcast and disc standards -- in an attempt to avoid a costly format war similar to the Blu-ray and HD DVD battle just a few years ago.
In addition, a 3D Blu-ray format also is likely, as a pairing of Blu-ray and 3D could be a dream come true for some consumers.
CEATEC proved to be interesting simply because the industry finally got to see which companies are ready to support 3D. Sony and Panasonic are obviously but at the forefront, but seeing Sharp and other companies show off prototype TVs that won't be ready for the market until more content is available is quite interesting.
I wonder if these companies want to see an official 3D format finalized before they begin sell 3DTVs.
