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Was 3D TV actually poo?

Linus Tech Tips@LinusTechTips3.3M viewsMay 14, 202221:26
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Check out the AMD Radeon RX 6000 Series Graphics Cards at lmg.gg 3D TV was poised to be the NEXT BIG STEP FORWARD for home entertainment, but as quickly as the zeitgeist began, it disappeared. What happened? Was at home 3D really that bad? To find out, we take a look at two 3D Displays using the two most prevalent technologies. The Active 3D PlayStation 3D Display and the Passive LG OLED Signature G6. Discuss on the forum: linustechtips.com Buy Avatar: geni.us Buy Titanic: geni.us Buy How to Train Your Dragon: geni.us Buy Tron Legacy: geni.us Purchases made through some store links may provide some compensation to Linus Media Group. ► GET MERCH: lttstore.com ► AFFILIATES, SPONSORS & REFERRALS: lmg.gg ► PODCAST GEAR: lmg.gg ► SUPPORT US ON FLOATPLANE: floatplane.com FOLLOW US --------------------------------------------------- Twitter: twitter.com Facebook: @LinusTech Instagram: @linustech TikTok: @linustech Twitch: twitch.tv MUSIC CREDIT --------------------------------------------------- Intro: Laszlo - Supernova Video Link: youtube.com iTunes Download Link: itunes.apple.com Artist Link: soundcloud.com Outro: Approaching Nirvana - Sugar High Video Link: youtube.com Listen on Spotify: spoti.fi Artist Link: youtube.com Intro animation by MBarek Abdelwassaa @mbarek_abdel Monitor And Keyboard by vadimmihalkevich / CC BY 4.0 geni.us Mechanical RGB Keyboard by BigBrotherECE / CC BY 4.0 geni.us Mouse Gamer free Model By Oscar Creativo / CC BY 4.0 geni.us CHAPTERS --------------------------------------------------- 0:00 Intro 1:28 Brief History of 3D 3:32 How RealD 3D works 4:40 The TVs 6:00 PS3D Display / Active 3D 9:14 SimulView 11:07 LG Signature / Passive 3D 15:22 A Detour 16:01 Reacting to 3D Movies 17:26 How 3D Content works 18:36 Problems with 3D 19:46 3D LIVES ON! 21:15 Outro

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The video critically examines the rise and fall of home 3D television, tracing its hype from the late 2000s to its abrupt decline by the mid-2010s. It begins by framing the era as a marketing frenzy that promised immersive depth but ultimately faded from mainstream living rooms. The hosts ground the discussion in historical context, noting early stereoscopic concepts, the limitations of red and cyan 3D, and the switch to polarized light for real 3D experiences. They emphasize that the home 3D boom faced fundamental challenges around cost, content availability, and viewer comfort, which contributed to its demise. The episode juxtaposes two major 3D technologies: active shutter glasses used with the PlayStation 3D display, and passive polarization used with the LG Signature G6 OLED, highlighting how each approach affected brightness, depth, and usability. The hosts also explore conceptually how 3D content is produced and delivered, including issues with frame rates, synchronization, and the need for specialized content to fully realize the effect. The discussion shifts to practical testing, with on-screen demonstrations and live reactions to the two TV setups, including SimulView on the PS3D display, which promised a split-screen multiplayer experience without sacrificing screen real estate. They analyze the trade-offs of each system, such as battery-powered glasses, potential flicker, brightness loss, and the higher costs associated with active glasses. The LG passive approach is shown to offer stronger brightness and more family-friendly viewing, albeit with its own caveats around resolution, viewing angles, and occasional ghosting. Throughout, the hosts argue that the combination of production difficulty, distribution costs, and consumer fatigue doomed at-home 3D to a short-lived heyday, while acknowledging that niche enthusiasts and certain current projectors still retain some 3D capabilities. The video ends by reflecting on whether 3D might ever experience a revival, considering new content formats and potential technological advances, before plugging sponsor products and hinting at related explorations of visual technology. In sum, the piece uses hands-on demonstrations and historical context to conclude that home 3D did not die solely because of content, but because the practical burdens outweighed the perceived benefits in everyday consumption.

Topics · technology · consumer_electronics · home_theater · video_games · film · media_history

Questions answered

What were the two main at-home 3D technologies discussed, and how did they differ?
The two main technologies were active 3D using shutter glasses with the PlayStation 3D display and passive 3D using polarized light with the LG Signature G6 OLED. Active 3D required powered glasses and tended to have brightness and comfort drawbacks, while passive 3D used polarization with lighter, cheaper glasses and generally better brightness but potential image depth limitations.
Why did home 3D fail to become mainstream despite initial hype?
Home 3D failed due to a combination of high hardware costs, limited content libraries, comfort and headache issues for users, brightness losses with active systems, and the logistical burden of multiple glasses and synchronized displays. Content distribution costs and a lack of standardized formats also hindered widespread adoption.
What is SimulView and why was it significant for local multiplayer?
SimulView is a feature of the PS3D display that allows two players to see different content using split frames without reducing the overall screen size, enabling local multiplayer on a single screen. It promised a novel shared-screen experience but required compatible games and hardware.