Toshiba unveils glasses-free 3D TV

MANILA, Philippines - Toshiba now has a glasses-free 3D TV, the REGZA GL1, which will come to market in Japan late this month and in other markets next year.

Toshiba says it’s the world’s first glasses-less 3D TV specifically designed for personal use. There are two models: a 20-inch 20GL1 and a 12-inch 12GL1.

Toshiba estimates the global market for LCD TV to grow from 142 million units in 2009 to 200 million units in 2012. As of last March, Toshiba sold 10 million units worldwide and is now eyeing sales of 1.2 million units in the ASEAN market next year.

At present, Toshiba holds the No. 2 position in the market with 30 percent share, said Shigenori Tokumitsu, Toshiba vice president for visual products.

The current 3D TV is based on active shutter glasses that deliver separate images to the left and right eyes. However, the market wants TVs that deliver the 3D experience without dedicated glasses, said Tokumitsu.

Toshiba’s REGZA GL1 employs an integral imaging system and a perpendicular lenticular sheet to display smooth, natural images, Tokumitsu explained. The result is precise rendering of high-quality 3D images whatever the viewing angle is.

The 20GL1 integrates a high-definition LED backlit LCD panel specially designed for glasses-free 3D that offers approximately four times the pixels of a standard Full HD panel. It also integrates the CELL REGZA Engine designed for 3D capability without glasses.

“With our 3D technology we are aiming for impressive reality. By that we mean 3D TVs that can be viewed without any need for special glasses. This is our solution in pursuit of reality and I am pleased that we have succeeded to be the first in the world to introduce a glasses-free 3D TV,” said Tokumitsu.

Aside from the glasses-free REGZA GL1, Toshiba also unveiled a new 3D LED TV series for the ASEAN market along with the so-called Power TV series.

The WL700 series of slim LED TVs, which will be available in 46-inch and 55-inch models, was designed with the help of Europe’s Jacob Jensen Design who gave the series a minimalist look that combined glass and metal in a slim 22-mm profile and a bezel-free screen.

Using a so-called meta-brain premium chip, the WL700 series features an upscale 3D resolution based on complex algorithms to bring images that are close to HD quality for both 3D and 2D images.

Toshiba’s Power TV family includes the world’s first LED TV with integrated battery backup. Made with Third World infrastructure conditions in mind, the model with a standby rechargeable battery should be useful to people living in areas with unreliable power supply. When fully charged, the TV can run up to two hours on battery.

The Power TV also features Auto Signal Booster and Auto View. The former helps improve the TV’s signal to improve the reception in areas with weak TV signal, while the latter optimizes picture settings according to ambient lighting condition for better viewing and lower power consumption.

In addition, Toshiba unveiled the 55ZL800, its new flagship LED TV for key ASEAN home entertainment markets. The 55ZL800 features Toshiba’s newly developed CEVO Engine, a high-performance, multi-processor platform that delivers sharp, realistic 3D images and sound.