Santa Clara,
Calif. – As the 3D specification
for the Blu-ray Disc format nears formalization,
said Wednesday that it is preparing to
bring 3D video entertainment to the home in a big way this year.
The company will offer a complete 3D ecosystem, consisting of
active-shutter glasses, hardware support for multiple displays including 120Hz
projectors, 120Hz DLPs, 120Hz LCD TVs, and new 1080p 120Hz LCD monitors from
Acer and others, as well as support for more than 400 games.
The company said it also recently extended its ecosystem to
netbooks.
Nvidia noted that LCD display
manufacturers are preparing 3D-Vision-ready, 1920-by-1080, 120Hz 1080p LCDs for
introduction in 2010. Acer is expected to be one of the first to market with 3D
LCD monitors, including the forthcoming GD245HQ and GD235HZ models that are
positioned for gaming, videos and other home entertainment uses, including
viewing 3D Blu-ray content.
Consumers will have the ability to view videos and
photographs from the new devices and others using Nvidia’s 3D glasses, the
company said.
Nvidia handles MVC-AVC decoding in hardware on their graphics
processors (GPUs). Among other things, the company said the codec will be used
to encode Blu-ray content in 3D.
Nvidia said the system will enable a 3D experience in the
home that is “equal to or better than what is offered in movie theaters today.”
Meanwhile, the company said it is working to make the 3D
system affordable, citing as an example an Nvidia 3D-enabled GeForce GT 240 GPU
graphics card that is now shipping for a $99 estimated street price. The step-down
3D GT 220 card is offered at a $79 estimated retail.
Nvidia said it also plans to enable Web plug-ins for 3D
Vision that will allow users to upload and share 3D photos, stream videos and
browse Web sites in full 3D.
Other partners working with Nvidia EcoSystem technologies
include the following:
·
ArcSoft, which is to offer its TotalMedia
Theatre software solution for viewing 3D Blu-ray
titles using Nvidia support;
·
Corel, which
working with Nvidia has developed a
prototype of its WinDVD playback software with 3D Blu-ray Disc support;
·
CyberLink, which
is working with Nvidia 3D Vision for its
PowerDVD Ultra software for BD playback on PCs; and
·
Roxio, which is
demonstrating 3D Blu-ray playback with GeForce GPU decoding in the Roxio
CinePlayer BD for PCs Roxio CinePlayer BD.
Nvidia said it will be
demonstrating 3D Blu-ray playback running on Nvidia GPUs and Nvidia 3D
Vision technology at International CES Jan. 7-10 in South Hall booth 35912.
