Computer graphics company NVIDIA debuted and demonstrated its new NVIDIA 3DTV Play at the Panasonic “Touch the Future” tour in Los Angeles, Chicago, and New York today (March 15).
Panasonic has teamed up with NVIDIA for the new software that allows any computer-based videogame to be displayed in stereoscopic 3D. It is expected to be available around June at a price point anticipated at less than $50.
The debut was part of Panasonic’s kickoff off a five-week 15-city tour of new 3D and HiDef products. 3DHollywood.net /HollywoodInHiDef.com spoke with Panasonic exec Jeff Samuels about the tour in L.A. at the Hollywood and Highland Theater (video below) and with a rep from Nvidia which has partnered with Panasonic to deliver any videogame in 3D on Panasonic displays (separate video below).
Story continues below the following videos.
Panasonic’s full 1080p HD 3D TVs and Blu-ray players are available now exclusively at Best Buy stores via Magnolia Home Theater.
The total combined SRP of the Panasonic Full HD 3D Plasma Home Theater System components is $2899.99. The system consists of a 50-inch class Panasonic VIERA VT20 Plasma 3D HDTV (TC-P50VT20 – SRP $2,499.95) which includes one pair of Panasonic 3D Active Shutter Lens Eyewear (TY-EW3D10U), and the Panasonic BDT300 3D Blu-ray Disc Player (DMP-BDT300 – SRP 399.95). Additional pairs of 3D eyewear will be available with an SRP of $149.95. The individual components of the system will also be sold separately.
A schedule of the next cities on the tour is below and at the Panasonic web site and Panasonic’s website of 3D products.
— By Scott Hettrick
Tour Dates & Locations
3/15 – 3/17 New York Penn Pavilion – 401 7th Ave at 33rd St
3/15 – 3/17 Chicago Tribune 445 – 445 S. Michigan Avenue
3/15 – 3/17 Los Angeles Hollywood and Highland – 801 Hollywood Boulevard
3/20 – 3/22 Boston Copley Place – 2 Copley Place
3/22 – 3/24 Detroit Detroit Opera House – 1526 Broadway
3/22 – 3/24 Scottsdale Fashion Square Mall – 7014 East Camelback Road
3/25 – 3/27 Philadelphia King of Prussia Mall – North Gulph Road
3/29 – 3/31 Minneapolis IDS Tower – 80 8th Street South
3/29 – 3/31 San Francisco One Market Plaza – 1 Market Street
3/31 – 4/2 Washington, DC Union Station – 50 Massachusetts Ave, NE
4/6 – 4/8 Dallas Grapevine Mills Mall – 3000 Grapevine Mills Parkway
4/6 – 4/8 Seattle Top of the Market – 93 Pike Street, Suite 307
4/7 – 4/9 Atlanta 595 North – 595 North Ave, NW Atlanta
4/12 – 4/14 Houston The Warehouse – 4108 Dupont Street
4/15 – 4/17 Miami Ice Palace – 59 Northwest 14th Street
Here are highlights from the official Panasonic media release:
The Panasonic Touch the Future Tour features hands-on demonstrations of Panasonic’s 2010 cutting-edge products and features including Full HD 3D Plasma Home Entertainment Systems, flat panel VIERA Plasma, , LCD and LED HDTVs; Blu-ray Disc Players, Home Theater Systems; and LUMIX Digital Cameras and Camcorders. Highlights of the Tour include:
* Experience VIERA Full HD 3D Home Theater – Visitors to the Panasonic Touch the Future Tour will be able to experience the world of 3D for the home with Panasonic’s award-winning Full HD 3D Home Theater System featuring the VIERA VT25 Full HD 3D Plasma TV, the BDT350 3D Blu-ray Disc Player and Panasonic Active Shutter Eyewear. Panasonic Full HD 3D Home Theater Systems are now available at select Best Buy Magnolia Home Theater stores.
* See the World’s First Commercial 3D Television Channels – Panasonic will be the exclusive presenting sponsor of DIRECTV’s new HD 3D channels set to debut in June 2010. Demonstrations of the channels, which will deliver movies, sports and entertainment content from some of the world’s most renowned 3D producers will be on display at Panasonic Touch the Future Tour events. DIRECTV’s HD 3D channels, powered by Panasonic, will offer a 24/7 3D DIRECTV Cinema and pay per view event channel focused on movies, documentaries and other programming, a 24/7 3D DIRECTV On Demand channel and a free 3D entertainment channel featuring event programming such as sports, music and other content.
* Test Drive 3D Gaming – Computer graphics innovator NVIDIA will debut NVIDIA 3DTV PlayTM, a software solution that allows consumers to connect their GeForce® GPU-powered desktop or notebook computer to new 3D TVs, for the ultimate in big screen 3D gaming action. For the launch of 3DTV Play, NVIDIA is teaming up with Panasonic on the Panasonic Touch the Future Tour, where visitors can test drive 3DTV Play-based PCs running on Panasonic’s new VIERA® Full HD 3D TVs.
* Connect with Skype-enabled HDTVs – Panasonic and Skype are taking VIERA HDTVs to a whole new level of connectivity in 2010 with Skype on Your TV. Visitors will see demos about how select Panasonic 2010 VIERA HDTVs will enable you to place free Skype-to-Skype voice and video calls, make calls to landline or mobile phones at Skype’s low rates, receive inbound calls via a user’s online Skype number, access Skype voicemail, participate in voice conference calls with up to 24 other parties.
* Explore and Share with VIERA CAST IPTVs – Explore Panasonic’s VIERA CASTTM enabled HDTVs which give owners access thousands of television and movie titles, share photos and videos with family and friends, make video calls, listen to their favorite musical artists, and stay up-to-date with the latest sports news and information. In 2010, VIERA CAST-enabled HDTVs will feature wireless connectivity and add new features such as Netflix®, Twitter™, Skype™, Pandora®, and Fox Sports to an existing list of features which includes Amazon Video On Demand™, Google’s YouTube™, Picasa™ Web Albums, Bloomberg and weather services.
* Capture Your Memories – Learn about the intuitive features on Panasonic’s range of easy- to-use Camcorders and LUMIX Digital Cameras. See how simple it is to take great photos and videos and share the with family and friends right on your HDTV and online via VIERA CAST. Tour visitors will also be able to meet professional photographers from the LUMIX Digital Photo Academy to learn tips on how to take the perfect picture. Visit www.panasonic.com/future for specific dates and times to meet professional photographers in each city.
* Join the Full HD 3D World – Panasonic’s Touch the Future Tour Sweepstakes* will award one lucky visitor (18 years of age or older as of 3/15/10) in each of the 15 cities on the Tour a Full HD 3D Home Theater System featuring a Panasonic Full HD 3D VIERA Plasma HDTV, Panasonic 3D Blu-ray Disc Player and one pair of Panasonic Active Shutter Eyewear.