Many big names have started entering into the networked media player segment to display what their product can perform in home entertainment business. For those, who have not heard about Networked High Definition media player, here is a small brief about what this gadget can achieve at your home. Hold on...I'm not talking about the software media player you get along with Windows/Linux or Mac, but the real hardware player just like your Bluray/DVD/CD player. Read on...
Networked HD Media player is similar like a Bluray/DVD player which can play almost all popular formats of Audio & Video files on your HDTV or the standard CRT Tv. The prime ability of these networked media players is to stream your collection from your personal computer or a standalone NAS harddisk server or Internet through wired LAN cable or Wi-Fi (though there are limitations). In simple layman's language, functionally it is more similar like your home computer and very smaller than your Laptop and can be used by anyone who don't require any computer knowledge.
In a nutshell, some of the features that a networked media player can do are as described below.
1) Ability to play any type of Video files like AVI, MPEG, MPG, VOB, MP4, MKV, FLV, MOV, ASF...the list goes on...you name it it should be there in the list of supported file formats.
2) Plays any type of Audio files like WAV, MP3, FLAC, AAC, OGG, AC3, DTS...you name it!
3) Streams from your PC/Laptop, NAS, Internet and displays on your HDTV or normal standard CRT TV.
4) Can be networked via wired LAN or Wi-Fi options.
5) You can view photos and supports mospt popular file formats like JPG, JPEG, GIF, PNG, BMP etc.
6) You can even view TXT, HTM, HTML files, design your own 3rd party applications like jukebox based on html etc. for movie/music/photo categorisation.
7) Supports full High Definition media upto 1080p with Lossless High Definition sound in either Dolby True-HD or DTS-HD formats in 7.1, 5.1 etc. depending on the source material.
8) Can automatically create a jukebox for easy navigation of your collection by scraping data from internet and showing as movie posters with thumbnails for easy use. Some players have in built software pre-installed while others may need 3rd party installations.
9) Can be interfaced with your computer and other third party applications designed for your media player can installed.
10) Very compact, light weight and sits perfectly in your equipment rack with less foot print.
Now I hope you would have got a feel of what we are taking here....So, lets see a few popular NMT players who are already flooding the market.
1) Asus
2) D-Link
2) Popcorn Hour
3) Seagate
3) WD TV
4) Xtreamer the list goes on...(I would have missed some popular/reputed brands which doesn't mean to hurt users that they are not good)
OR
5) HTPC (Home Theater Personal Computer)
Personally, I have a Popcorn Hour A-110 bought 3½ years back and satisfied with its capabilities. I also have assembled a HTPC when I felt that my current popcorn Hour A-110 had some limitations. I could have bought Popcorn Hour C-200 or the latest A-300. But, the drawback in these hardware media players are that they cannot be upgraded in terms of memory/cpu etc except for Harddisk/optical drive options.
"I would personally recommend for a layman, a simple user interface networked media player which doesn't require one to learn greek/latin. For others who are always on the verge looking for latest capabilities the HTPC is the best choice (software and little hardware knowledge required)."
A separate article on HTPC would be discussed soon...
Yes, big companies Hitachi, LG, Philips, Samsung, Toshiba (in alphabetical order) are researching and have even developed prototype models of small size screens of 3D HDTV without the need of 3D glasses. LG has demonstrated that passive 3D glasses have its own advantages and less eye fatigue when compared to Active shutter 3D glasses. And further to this, they have even launched the glasses less models 3DTVs.
Currently, the market is overflowing with 3D HDTVs and the prices are gradually reducing day by day due to market demand. Entertainment can't be better without 3D invading our homes and making life easier. Hitachi, LG, Philips, Samsung, Toshiba (in alphabetical order) have gone a step ahead and it is still in developement stage of research where viewing 3D content without the help of any glasses or you may call as 3D glasses. Toshiba have launched their prototype small screen size 3DTV without glassess, I should say "Glassless". You can see below the promotional video of Toashiba showcasing their range of 3D HDTV without glasses.
But they're expensive too, reportedly commanding a $1400 + price for the 12 inch REGZA 12GL1 3D TV which comes with just 466×350 resolution. The REGZA 20 inch steps in with a higher resolution and will cost nearer $2900. Larger screen models are expected to be priced proportionately higher in the early stages of availability. Don't worry about that, when technology stabilises the prices are going to drop as we have always seen until now.
Aside from the price, one other drawback of the new models is the need to sit close to the screen to get the 3D effect - users need to sit within a 40-degree range directly in front, and must also sit two feet in front of the 12-inch 3D TV and three feet in front of the 20-inch. This issue of positioning became even more apparent during the demos at CES 2011 of Toshiba's larger screen prototypes which have only three 3D viewing angles, though reports suggest that the 3D effect was impressive as long as you were in the right spot to get it (Toshiba had floor positions marked out). There was a problem with general image sharpness, despite the high resolution of the display. Resolution is a problem because the need to show multiple perspectives uses a significant number of pixels.
These issues can be expected to be ironed out by the time these larger models go on sale, and with Toshiba building in 2D and 3D capability they may gain an early advantage in the market. Clearly though, effective high quality 3D TV without glasses has some way to go. The Taiwanese flat panel TV producer AU Optronics announced in late 2010 that they had developed prototype no glasses 3D displays that can be viewed effectively from any angle, though these are similar to the Toshiba efforts whereby the 3D effects can so far only be delivered on small screens.
Courtesy: Cnet on Sony demonstration
On the above is CNETTV's video of the Sony no glasses 3D TV prototype model, as demonstrated at CES 2011. Sony used a wide viewing angle to showcase its capabilities, proving that viewers did not need to stand directly in front of the TV. However, the presenter mentions during the report that it's unlikely to be seen commercially any time soon.
So What Are The Different Technologies That Deliver 3D TV Without Glasses Solutions?
Parallax Barrier Technology
Parallax barrier 3D TVs work by using tiny lenses which are integrated into the TV screen - layered liquid crystal displays. Each layer contains small stripes that hide specific pixels so that some can only be seen by your left eye, while other pixels can only be seen by your right. The result is the two images our eyes need to see to send a 3D image to our brains. With the lenses being built into the screen, there's no longer a need for 3D glasses. The biggest drawback is that parallax barrier only works if the viewer remains in the same spot, hence the reason why the early Toshiba sets are on the small side. Screen brightness is also a possible problem.
Lenticular Lens Technology
Another method of delivering no glasses 3D TV is by the use of lenticular lenses , which are shaped and designed so that a different image is displayed to each eye depending on the viewing angle. This is achieved by building small lenses on to the display screen and then refracting the left and right images that are emitted. This gives slightly less reduction in brightness than parallax barrier displays and a wider range of viewing angles.
Head Tracking 3D Technology
Head tracking works by using a webcam that locks on to a viewers eyes and adjusts the images sent from the display as the viewer moves so they see in 3D. Clearly this only works for one viewer at a time and seems best employed with small screen devices such as mobile 3D TVs or laptops. In fact a Toshiba 3D laptop has already been demonstrated using this technology.
The 3D TV Box
The 3D TV Box is another recent development in 3D TV without glasses technology. The Hungarian company have demonstrated a Tridelity 65 inch LCD 3D autostereoscopic 3D combined with the prototype version of the Box. The technology works by taking a standard 3D image and transmitting it to the Box to be displayed. The 3D TV Box takes the image and projects it on to the TV display at the same depth you see when using 3D glasses on most 3D sets, and can take content from Internet, satellite, cable or any other services that currently offer streaming 3D content solutions.
There were some limits in viewing angles, which is to be expected, but in general the technology offers no worse results than any others seen so far and in fact does offer an improvement in quality to the extent that the depth of imaging at least equalled that achieved with glasses. There was an added bonus achieved in brightness because lasses are not being used.
The MIT Massachusetts Institute Of Technology Solution
Known as the HR3D development, this concept was first shown at at the SIGGRAPH Asia graphics conference in 2010. The technology works in similar fashion to the double LCD layer used in the Nintendo 3DS. Researchers at MIT have demonstrated a prototype where the top LCD can display an image which is customised to the one shown on the bottom layer.
The Disadvantages Of 3D TV Without Glasses
For parallax barrier viewing to work, one of the drawbacks is that the angle from which you watch the screen and your distance from the screen can be critical. So, to get a full and high quality effect you need to be sitting directly and squarely in front of the TV at the optimum viewing distance.
When will mass produced 3D TVs without glasses be available?
This is a difficult one to answer at this point. The 3D TV manufacturers are still working on perfecting the method, though it's likely to be some time before the technology is advanced enough to create massed numbers at an affordable price.The first no glasses sets are also on the small side, though advance reports from the Consumer Electronics Show 2011 suggest a number of the manufacturers have prototype models under development. Sony in particular plan to show glasses free 3D TVs in both LCD and light emitting diode models.
One thing is for sure, the current boom in the interest in 3D TV in general is already fuelling the need to develop no glasses 3D TV. If the major manufacturers want to hold an advantage over their competitors, it'll be critical for them to be looking at the best ways to deliver.
What does the future of no glasses 3D TV hold?
With the arrival of the first commercially available Toshiba sets, the precedent is already set for the development of bigger screen 3D TVs which use parallax barrier or lenticular lenses. Major manufacturers are already displaying prototype larger screen models. If they can deliver these commercially at a reasonable price, and with the same quality that you get from TVs that require active shutter glasses, then the predicted explosion in the acceptance and uptake of 3D viewing, whether for TV or for 3D games, may well be guaranteed.
There are a couple of other developments to be aware of. One is the potential of sets that contain tiny cameras which track the viewers position. These would adjust the emitted images so that the viewer is always in a sweet spot, relieving the need for keeping in a specific position or at a certain distance when watching. In fact, one of the latest prototype 3D laptops from Toshiba already uses this technology by use of a built in webcam which locks on to your eyes when you approach the screen. Further development is needed as at this stage it does not deliver the same quality as you get with active or passive 3D glasses.
Further future potential lies in holographic technology which of course begins to take us away from viewing images on a screen and starts to focus on the objects viewed, bringing us into the realms of science fiction - the real thing played out right in front of you. This is a little further away!
If 'with glasses 3D TV' is a problem, why are the manufacturers still introducing new models?
No single topic is causing as much debate on 3D TV related websites, forum threads or blog discussions as the 3D TV without glasses issue, and it's clear that those of us who are not ready to accept the need to wear 3D glasses are in the vast majority.
This might elicit a question over why the manufacturers are still announcing new 'with glasses' models. The obvious answer - and one that indicates a great future for 3D entertainment in general - is that they are so convinced of the potential for mass acceptance of 3D TV in the future that they are prepared to lose money now to position themselves with a competitive advantage later. That said, although recent reports indicate flat sales, 3D TVs are selling and general public interest is high.
So, affordable 3D TV without glasses is definitely on the horizon, if maybe a mid to distant one, with the promise of a whole new era of home entertainment.
