14 DAY TRIAL // By now, knowing all the 3D-capable monitors that have been unleashed or previewed over the past several months, it can be assumed that most, if not all, end-users have become quite well acquainted with the rather quick rise of the 3D market. However, such displays have not become as widespread as they could, mostly because they still rely on the ever bulky 3D glasses. A viable, no-glasses 3D solution for larger displays has not yet surfaced, however, and display makers don't exactly seem to be in much hurry to make one either, if a recent Digitimes report is to be believed.
Digitimes sources speculate that the 3D TV market might develop after the same blueprint as the LED-backlit TV market. Soon enough, polarized 3D TV panels will supposedly drop in price, and the technology is expected to become mainstream in 2011. On the other hand, even in spite of aggressive promotion of active shutter technology, such 3D TVs are still too pricey, or so sources say.
Whether for marketing reasons or more complex ones, three major makers of liquid crystal display TVs, namely Sony, Samsung and LG, are considering investments into one of these two types. The first two have already unleashed active shutter solutions which, while more expensive, are better overall than those powered by passive polarization in terms of brightness. LG will supposedly stick to the passive polarized field. Prices of this latter type of TV will supposedly drop quite quickly once demand grows enough for makers to attain economies of scale.
LED TVs did not take off at first either, when Sony became an early adopter, because of overpricing. Then, Samsung released edge-type models that remedied this problem. According to Digitimes, such a turn of events is possible on the active shutter 3D TV market as well.