Toshiba glasses-free 3D TV at CES to be improved, ship Q1
updated 04:00 pm EST, Fri January 6, 2012
Toshiba 55ZL2 sequel pegged for US
The 55-inch Toshiba glasses-free 3D TV being shown at CES next week isn't just a direct port of the ZL2, the company explained Friday. The set outlined to CNET would be "similar" to what Europe and Japan have, but it wouldn't be the same. It would be "much further along" than the prototype seen at CES 2011, a spokesperson said.
The sets would skew towards the "big" size. If like the ZL2, it would use a nine-area system that steers many small lenses to create the stereoscopic 3D effect for multiple people, without having to reduce the viewing angles. The method has to calibrate based on the number and position of people before watching.
The existing set displays natively at 4K (3840x2160) in 2D and drops down to 720p (1280x720) in 3D.
Toshiba is promising a relatively quick release and hopes for the TV to be on the market in the first quarter, before the end of March. Pricing hasn't been given out, although Toshiba may be keen to get below the $10,000-plus price of the ZL2 to appeal to the US.
