OK, so CES is going 3D happy. There are a number of 3D TVs on show, as well as Samsung demonstrating their 3D camera, which will clearly work with their TV sets. I met someone last week who was saying the 3D is going to happen this year - she works in the field, so probably has some optimism on the subject.

Viewing 3D is a bit crappy at the moment:
• You need glasses with coloured/polarised lenses, or shutter goggles - a limitation for casual viewing. Anaglyph/poloarised lenses require that the head to be held horizontally (unless you are using circular polarising lenses, like they do in the cinema)
• Your display needs some kind if lenticular display, which only works if you are square on and not holding your head sideways

So far, this all feels “not quite ready” - it all looks good, but you have to be wearing something or using something that is a bit rubbish.

The burning question is - does Apple have plans in this area. The answer will doubtless be “yes”, but I bet it’ not quite yet. I reckon Steve is looking at the above devices and thinking that they are awkward, and hopefully he has his R&D folk looking for the right way to do 3D.

I know the person who's producing the worlds first 3D advert. 2010 is going to go 3D daft... for a while.
I'm still not convinced it's going to last until we can do away with the additional viewing goggles.
So all in all, I'd completely agree with your assessment.

It was suggested to me that 3D TVs would have to be curved to cater for normal home viewing for the 3D to work properly.

3D? WTF I haven't even gone HD yet, and I'm not alone in that so what's the [LIFTED] point in 3D?

Mark

I may have gone HD but I can't see the point of 3D yet - the displays simply aren't good enough yet.

Not to mention that Hollywood can barely come up with enough story to justify 2D, never mind 3D

You can bet your life though that the same people who rushed out to get HD TV's will rush out and buy new 3DHD TV's...

+1 for both comments. As some may guess, I like 3D, but the experience of wearing goggles for the duration of a film is too much. I was OK with the glasses for avatar, but I doubt my fragile nose would cope with the weight of shutter glasses for that length of time.

That and 3D will become a "standard" feature in next generation TVs, like HD has become. When you old SD TV finally packs in, you'll probably end up getting HD and 3D in one package, because you have little or no choice, unless you want a sub-15" TV for the kitchen/night stand.

Until the glasses disappear and the whole family can sit and watch it, I can't see it taking off.

Erm, I've seen 3D adverts already.

Watching the Flurry screensaver in 3D on a big enough screen could quite possibly be a very frightening experience.

Mark

Well I guess that was her then.
What were they for, incidentally?

TVs .

I am a tech early adopter in general and I'm not touching 3D with a bargepole, so I'm not sure who they're planning it sell it to, frankly.

Jon

There was one for Sky - advertising the fact that 3D would be coming to their HD service "soon".

Another was for cognac. That one is my favourite advert - it was the very first thing I watched in 3D.

There was a message saying "put on your glasses now" then a flat 2D screen with the bottle in it. After a few seconds it came out of the screen, hovered and rotated with some cool music. Then with some cool CGI it "burst" and shards of glass flew out everywhere, and drops of cognac went everywhere.

Seriously cool.

I think there were more, but they weren't very memorable.

I'll quiz her to see which one she did. This is going back to maybe August last year or something? I can't remember when she was talking about it.

Here is the advert I mentioned: http://www.tellyads.com/show_movie.php?filename=TA9955

Although I think that's a slightly different version - I saw it in the cinema, although I understand there is also a telly version.

That's not how I remember the advert anyway - I thought it was longer and more drawn out.