What did I tell you!
Remember a couple of days ago I told you all about passive 3D HDTV and how LG was the next likely candidate to announce a passive 3D LCD HDTV?
It did, yesterday, the model series LW6500. While exact sizes and prices have yet to be announced – the company is probably saving those specifics for its CES unveiling – LG will start selling passive 3D HDTVs in the ever-popular "select markets" soon after the show. But Vizio's 65-inch passive LCD 3D HDTV is $3,700. Since LG is more of a premium brand, figure around $4,000 for the 55-inch model.
With top TV seller Vizio and LG in, passive 3D is likely to become the most talked about TV trend in the new year. You heard it here...nearly first.
LG's current LCDs come in 42- , 47- , 50- and 55-inch varieties, so expect some variant on these sizes for the LW6500s. The specs say these LED-backlit sets include "TruMotion 200 Hz," but since HDTVs are either 120, 240 or 480 Hz – this is the frame rate, how quickly the image is refreshed every nano second – I'm going to assume this is a typo and it should read TruMotion 240 Hz. (And one of these days, I'll do a post explaining why LED is not a new TV technology, but simply a better way to backlight good old LCD.)
Aside from the passive 3D advantages I cited in my aforelinked story (for instance, LG's glasses weigh a mere 16 grams, which is around half an ounce, and many – ahem – herb buyers know how leaf light a half ounce is), LG says its passive 3D sets will be "flicker free." Current active shutter glasses flick on-off 60 times a second, which more sensitive viewers actually may be able to detect, or at least be subliminally bothered by. It's that shuttering, combined with the continual eye/brain focusing needed for 3D, that creates those 3D viewing headaches.
But since passive 3D filtering is done in the seven-feet-away LCD TV itself rather than an inch away from your eyes in active shutter glasses, there ought to be less flicker and, therefore, fewer 3D headaches. LG claims LW6500 sets got a "Flicker Free" certification from Intertek and TĂ"V, supposedly "two of the most respected inspection and certification bodies in the world." But I've never heard of either, and I don't know how much they know about 3D flickering. I'll let you know when I see passive vs. active shutter sets and consult other platinum-eyed folks about flickering and how lower resolution passive 3D fare against full HD active HDTVs, quality-wise.
All the LW6500 models also are "smart" TVs – you have to buy a WiFi dongle or jack in an Ethernet connection to get access to LG's proprietary Web apps, including HuluPlus and YouTube.
Next candidate for passive 3D: I'm guessing JVC.
