Toshiba grabbed a lot of headlines with its ZX900 Series CELL TVs. The most exciting feature of this set is its 3D capabilities. According to Toshiba the set can convert regular 2D television programming and movies into 3D, via its onboard TriVector 2D to 3D Technology which handles the conversion in real time. If the CELL name of its Engine for multimedia processing sounds familiar to you, it’s because it’s the same type of processor as the Playstation 3 uses. The CELL TV range will be available in the US later in the year in 55" and 65" guises.

 

Toshiba also showed off a prototype TV which, like the Xbox 360 with Project Natal, can be operated without a remote control. You simply control it with gestures for example waving your hands in the air to bring up and make your way through the 3D menu system. Controlling the level of the volume and fast forwarding movies are also done via gestures.

 

Not to be outdone by Toshiba, Samsung also put forth its own 3D TV sets, with its LED 9000 series of TVs being super stylish and wafer thin. Samsung are also keen to provide a solution to you missing out on a couple of minutes of your favourite show, for trivial things like going to the loo. They showcased a remote control with a TV screen and speaker built-in, so that you can take the remote with you and still see every minute of the Super 14 final while answering nature's call. It will come free with Samsung’s C9000 high-definition 3D TVs, but will also be sold separately to be used with other models. 

 

Though these 3D sets do require that your wear special glasses for you to be able see the images in 3D, TLC displayed a 3D TV that doesn't require any headgear. Their set simply incorporates the frames that the glasses use into the actual TV set eliminating the need for them. 

 

Televisions weren't the only 3D equipment on display, with Panasonic also introducing a full high-definition 3D camcorder. Although 3D video recorders have existed for a while, used to make movies such as Avatar, this is the first one aimed at the consumer on the street. This twin-lens camcorder weighs under 3 kg and saves its video recordings onto SD/SDHC memory cards. It will probably still only be used by professionals though with a $21 000 (about R155 000) pricetag.