One of the problems facing 3D enthusiasts is what to do about the glasses. Besides being expensive and manufacturer-specific, they also are uncomfortable for people who already wear glasses. Doesn't the bridge of your nose have enough to do?
THX and BluFocus are getting together to "build an ecosystem of services to address the technical challenges of 3D post-production," a press release says. Their certification program will address a/v quality, artistic fidelity, viewer fatigue, and interoperability of discs and players.
This is another one of those bad news, good news stories. The bad news is that the Federal Communications Commission has caved in to the movie industry's demand to disable the component video interface on high-def devices. The good news is that the studios can use this so-called selectable output control only under very specific circumstances, to protect fresh video on demand titles.
Rafe Needleman of c|net has a problem with 3D. He's a self-described "flat viewer" and thus can't see 3D effects even if they work fine for most other people. And he's not alone. Four to ten percent of the population has the same problem, "depending on which expert you ask."
Peter Jackson's Lord of the Rings trilogy, arguably the greatest sfx fest in movie history, will finally get a high-def release next year. Unfortunately, there's a catch. The Blu-ray disc release will use only the shorter cut shown in theaters.
It's official: Comcast is buying NBC Universal. And already predictions are surfacing as to how this will change the media landscape in online video and other areas.