Blu-ray boys finish 1080p 3D spec

[metalqueen]

Blu-ray boys finish 1080p 3D spec
Compatible with old players, kind of
by Tony Smith

The Blu-ray Disc Association has completed its specification for standardising the inclusion of stereoscopic 3D content on its optical discs.

The material will be presented in resolutions up to and including 1080p. Crucially, the BDA said, it doesn't depend on any specific 3D technology - active-shutter or polarised lens - or display type.

The spec also details how 2D content can be played back on 3D-capable players. It provides a way existing players can take the 3D content and display it in 2D form at 1080p, which will allow Hollywood to release 3D movies in place of 2D version without pissing off the installed base - assuming it doesn't charge a premium for the material, of course.

Read the whole story here: http://www.reghardware.co.uk/2009/12/17 ... y_3d_spec/" onclick="window.open(this.href);return false;

[tallguy]

Finally! It will be so nice to have some decent production quality movies to watch in passive S3D at home other than Spy Kids 3D and Shark Boy and Lava Girl. I'm eager to see which titles hit the shelves first.

[winlonghorn]

Blu-ray boys finish 1080p 3D spec
Compatible with old players, kind of
by Tony Smith

The Blu-ray Disc Association has completed its specification for standardising the inclusion of stereoscopic 3D content on its optical discs.

The material will be presented in resolutions up to and including 1080p. Crucially, the BDA said, it doesn't depend on any specific 3D technology - active-shutter or polarised lens - or display type.

The spec also details how 2D content can be played back on 3D-capable players. It provides a way existing players can take the 3D content and display it in 2D form at 1080p, which will allow Hollywood to release 3D movies in place of 2D version without pissing off the installed base - assuming it doesn't charge a premium for the material, of course.

Read the whole story here: http://www.reghardware.co.uk/2009/12/17 ... y_3d_spec/" onclick="window.open(this.href);return false;

Awesome news! Great work BDA and Congratulations! It sounds like you will have a real winner here and I really am looking forward to 3D in my home this coming year! I was waiting for this, but for PS3 to be able to play it just adds icing to the cake! That is huge when it comes to affording 3D Blu Ray!

[Kimber]

This is great news especially since I own a PS3

[Silversurfer]

about time, now lets start this thing already.

[koshien]

This is really great news!
But I was wondering...some movies are 40-45 GB in blu-ray...what is going to happen with the 50%+ storage needed?
Extra content can be delivered through bd-live, or on a second disc, but will we get worse bitrate with some movies?!
Would it not have been better if they had chosen to make blu-ray 3D compatible only with hdmi 1.4 and 100-200 GB blu-ray discs (too bad for ps3... but hey....)?
Also, I read on other topics that an mtbs3d member says not even hdmi 1.4 can deliver 1080p per eye...so, what's up with blu-ray 3D via ps3's hdmi 1.3?
I am a bit confused right now, but I just hope we will get the best quality possible

[Neil]

Hi Guys,

I'm really surprised that nobody took notice of the last paragraph in the MTBS BDA story, especially because we have never put out rumour or innuendo before.

For fun, anyone want to venture a guess as to what is being discussed and/or hinted at? The ramifications of this? If correct, we'll have the full answer at CES and lots to discuss, I'm sure!

Regards,
Neil

[cybereality]

Let me guess: The PS3 is going to have special software that will convert *ANY* Blu-Ray movie into 3D?

[Neil]

Was Cybereality right?

[youtube-hd]http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=-DGFuHC75aY[/youtube-hd]

(the end is the best!)

Just kidding. We shall see! Any other theories?

Regards,
Neil

[BlackShark]

The sony PS3 is an extremely important product for Sony because it is present in millions of homes. It has become Sony's central consumer technology hub : almost every single new Sony product offers connectivity or share features with the PS3.
Sony also claimed for years that the PS3 was expansive because sony invested heavily in the hardware to make it viable longer than the X360.
It was the first promoter of FullHD console gaming, where Microsoft aimed initially only for 720p, and was the trojan horse for the BluRay disc.

Thanks to the CPU decoding of BluRay discs on the cell processor and all the image treatment and scaling performed via software, the PS3 offers a lot more flexibility compared to other hardware.
I have absolutely no source and not enough technical knowledge about the PS3 but my guess is that the PS3 hdmi 1.3 port can be firmware upgraded to support the 3D features of hdmi 1.4 : which would allow the transmission of FullHD 3d images to the display (instead of only having the current checkerboard/interlacing trick) and i have a lot of hope that computer graphics cards with hdmi 1.3 ports also could be upgraded to support the 3D features of hdmi 1.4. It's just standardizing a bunch of protocols after all, the bandwidth is already there. (Dimitryko won't be happy : if RGB doesn't fit, just subsample, no-one will freaking see the difference)
But Sony does not want to release anything before they are ready to sell their nextgen 3D TVs... I also have a great fear that sony may try to make some of it's 3D PS3 content exclusive to Sony brand TVs

[koshien]

I'm really surprised that nobody took notice of the last paragraph in the MTBS BDA story, especially because we have never put out rumour or innuendo before.

For fun, anyone want to venture a guess as to what is being discussed and/or hinted at? The ramifications of this? If correct, we'll have the full answer at CES and lots to discuss, I'm sure!

Wow, I actually didn't notice it...
Well, I'll make a guess...don't know if this is technically possible, but....the use of the ethernet port as an hdmi 1.4 port

[koshien]

I also wonder...will this standard be compatible with autostereoscopic WoWVx or Alioscopy technologies?
I am so excited, so many questions, so few answers

[BlackShark]

I also wonder...will this standard be compatible with autostereoscopic WoWVx or Alioscopy technologies?
I am so excited, so many questions, so few answers

The press release clearly states that it is display agnostic.
The Player must be able to decode stereo-1080p video, then it's up to the player to do whatever it wants with the images to send them to whatever display it wants to support.

In other words :
is it compatible ? yes
will any bluray3D player work ? no
And since no hardware manufacturer cares about alioscopy and philips wowvx screens, these companies will have to make their own bluray 3D players.

[DmitryKo]

if RGB doesn't fit, just subsample, no-one will freaking see the difference

Unlike games which do require 120 Hz, 3D Blu-ray will most likely be coded at 48 Hz (2 x 24), so certainly any HDMI 1.3 device capable of 1080p60 does have the bandwidth to play it back. HDMI 1.4 only defines the necessary video resolutions and timing and probably some auto-discovery mechanism, and I'd suggest HDMI 1.3 devices can be made compatible with a firmware update or a new driver.

don't know if this is technically possible, but....the use of the ethernet port as an hdmi 1.4 port

No, it is not possible. 100 Mbit Ethernet is only abut 3000 Mbit/s (3 Gbit/s) short of having the required bandwidth.

[Jadentheman]

So does this mean people don't have to buy HDMI 1.4 for FullHD per eye 3D!!

Sweet!!

[DmitryKo]

So does this mean people don't have to buy HDMI 1.4 for FullHD per eye 3D!!

I don't think you will have to buy a HDMI 1.4 graphics card just to connect your brand new stereoscopic 3DTV to your PC and watch 3D Blu-ray movies. I'd imagine the real problem would be getting proper OS and driver support for all these stereoscopic video formats (EDID timings etc.), judging by the many problems people are having with HDMI connections on their video cards, but hopefully it will be much smoother this time around.

As for consumer devices, Playstation3 (a HDMI 1.3 device) will certainly get 3D Blu-ray compatibility as we were told.

[Jadentheman]

But will it be FullHD per eye as we assume it would be?

[BlackShark]

According to the press release, the specs only stipulate that the dual-1080p video must be decoded by the player. But from then it's all up to the player/TV to decide what to do.

[Jadentheman]

Cool I just needed to hear this!! I am think about getting a PS3 anyway for gaming purposes and blu-ray but FullHD 3D and soon in 2010 with PS2 backwards compatibility, I think it's time to spend a worthwhile $300. But not now

[DmitryKo]

Cool I just needed to hear this!! I am think about getting a PS3 anyway ... with PS2 backwards compatibility

The current PS3 Slim does not feature PS2 compatibility; older PS2 and PS3 titles will not get automatic 3D stereo anyway, from all that I know.

[BlackShark]

Cool I just needed to hear this!! I am think about getting a PS3 anyway for gaming purposes and blu-ray but FullHD 3D and soon in 2010 with PS2 backwards compatibility, I think it's time to spend a worthwhile $300. But not now

The PS3 will get FullHD3D "decoding" capability, but for transmitting the image to the display, resolution and screen compatibility is completely unknown.

I also second what Dmitryko said :
The PS3-slim does not feature the PS2 backwards compatibility mode.
So if you want 3D, just don't buy a PS3 yet...

... is you just want a PS3... well, get one and enjoy the current games (in 2D) the system has somme pretty good ones... they are just 2D.

[Okta]

I think its about time the noobs bin their ps3 and silly consoles and just have media/gaming pc's hooked up to their TV. It would save endless bs.

[GordoSan]

I think its about time the noobs bin their ps3 and silly consoles and just have media/gaming pc's hooked up to their TV. It would save endless bs.

Because making home video standards is a bad thing. Riiiight. I guess I'll be a noob for life then. Both consoles work fine as a media server and are way cheaper than a PC equivalent. Its just my take, but its also the broader opinion out there.

[Okta]

I think its about time the noobs bin their ps3 and silly consoles and just have media/gaming pc's hooked up to their TV. It would save endless bs.

Because making home video standards is a bad thing. Riiiight. I guess I'll be a noob for life then. Both consoles work fine as a media server and are way cheaper than a PC equivalent. Its just my take, but its also the broader opinion out there.

It is way behind the times when you think about it and a relic of not having a pc in every home. Why all this talk about making 3d blue ray ps3 compatible? The ps3 and Xbox 360 are surely at the end of their short life cycle and due for replacemnt with the next fad?

[cybereality]

Why all this talk about making 3d blue ray ps3 compatible? The ps3 and Xbox 360 are surely at the end of their short life cycle and due for replacemnt with the next fad?

Actually the PS3 is probably going to be around for a lot longer than you think.