iZ3D LLC 22-inch 2D/3D Monitor Drops to $399, Becomes the First Mainstream 3D LCD

[malware]

iZ3D LLC, designer, marketer and enabler of advanced 3D visualization systems, has been quietly but actively promoting the adoption of 3D display technology since 2007. Now the company's breakthrough approach, widely hailed by users as delivering a premier 3D experience, is being priced to make it affordable to casual and enthusiast gamers.
Effective December 1st, the manufacturer's suggested resale price for the company's 22-inch widescreen switchable 3D/2D monitor will be $399.00. The new price has already been reflected at various online e-tailers with plans for availability at in-store retailers to be disclosed in the coming weeks.




"3D isn't new but our approach to it is. We're pioneering new 3D with active programs in display and glasses design, stereoscopic 3D software drivers and media players, 3D players groups, events, and networking, 3D content certification and enablement, and system solution partnerships," stated Thomas Striegler, CEO of iZ3D LLC. The price change, which makes our solution more affordable than ever, is just the latest 3D milestone we've crossed as the leader in this new frontier," he added.

iZ3D premiered its first generation 17-inch 3D monitor in 2006. Improvements in the technology, design, and in-house software drivers converged in 2007 with the release of the 22-inch widescreen model. While critically acclaimed and hailed by customers, the initial price of $999 was beyond the reach of most gamers.

The new $399 solution price, roughly the price of 5-10 games, includes:

-- 22-inch widescreen switchable 3D/2D monitor
-- iZ3D output and anaglyph output drivers
-- 3 pairs of passive linear polarized glasses
-- All power and video cables
-- Quick start guide
-- 1 Year warranty
-- Technical Support
-- Free membership in iZ3D's upcoming 3D gaming league

iZ3D also offers the 22-inch monitor in six special edition custom-painted models created by Smooth Creations. These models, available only at www.iz3d.com, were commissioned at the request of customers that wanted their 3D monitors to stand out at LAN parties and grab attention. The custom-painted monitor price has also been reduced to $549.00.

The iZ3D Solution
The iZ3D solution includes a widescreen monitor, viewing glasses, and software drivers. iZ3D developed this unique technology to create an adjustable viewing environment that delivers 3D without the eyestrain, spatial disorientation, or headaches commonly associated with other 3D approaches.

The 22-inch monitor, which is optimized for 3D viewing, can also be easily toggled into a 2D mode when required for productivity applications or email. In 3D mode, viewers see bright, sharp 3D images or video simply by installing the software driver and wearing any of eight iZ3D passive polarized glasses. New or existing PCs equipped with a dual-output video card easily power the display.

Monitor Specifications include:
-- 1680 x 1050 resolution
-- Up to 170-degree 3D viewing angle
-- 5ms response time
-- 700:1 contrast ratio
-- 16.7-million colors
-- 300 nits

Most PC games released in the last five years, including many of the most popular multiplayer online, first person shooter, and role-playing games, have already been designed for 3D displays. iZ3D's optimized driver unlocks the third (depth) dimension of these 3D-ready games to allow gamers to finally play them as they were written -- in 3D.

Source: iZ3D

[jbunch07]

Ive always wanted to see how these 3d screens look...

[OnBoard]

Originally Posted by jbunch07

Ive always wanted to see how these 3d screens look...

If you live anywhere near these places you can:
http://www.iz3d.com/t-neexperienceit.aspx

Quite nice price compared to the previous and the advantage that it works on both green and red team. Not like those stereo glasses that worked only on other.

Game support is good too, I'm sure some will end up on x-mas wish list or self presents
http://www.iz3d.com/t-supsupportedgames.aspx
http://www.iz3d.com/t-usergames.aspx

edit: review
http://www.xbitlabs.com/articles/mon...play/iz3d.html

[lemonadesoda]

Request for review. Somebody here on TPU need to review this thing. My concern is that with polarised glasses, the refresh will be an effective 30Hz or 36Hz, or the effective resolution is halved. And the contrast ration of 700:1 (without glasses) will be much worse once you get the glasses on.

[Sasqui]

Originally Posted by lemonadesoda

Request for review. Somebody here on TPU need to review this thing. My concern is that with polarised glasses, the refresh will be an effective 30Hz or 36Hz, or the effective resolution is halved. And the contrast ration of 700:1 (without glasses) will be much worse once you get the glasses on.

Yea, I second the review request!

If you've been to a digital theater lately, they use the same basic technology. I think because it still is throwing out the same number of frames/sec (albeit to one eye at a time), there really isn't noticable sacrifice in preceived response. Or at least the immersion in 3D outweighs it!

I've seen about 8 digital films so far in 3D (including IMAX at NASA) and it never ceases to amaze me.

[OnBoard]

Originally Posted by lemonadesoda

Request for review. Somebody here on TPU need to review this thing. My concern is that with polarised glasses, the refresh will be an effective 30Hz or 36Hz, or the effective resolution is halved. And the contrast ration of 700:1 (without glasses) will be much worse once you get the glasses on.

Review is in my post above yours. Refresh is 60hz and contrast is not an issue, but brightness that goes to half in 3D. But LCD are so overlybright anyways, so it's a good thing :P

[meaintsmart]

Hmm...many people on Newegg says that it doesn't support SLI or CrossFire or 64 bit systems...
http://www.newegg.com/product/produc...82E16824859001

[Wile E]

Meh. When they build it around a VA or IPS panel type, I'll think about it. They can keep their Tn-film trash.

[qwerty_lesh]

are they using cheap panels to keep the price down or have allways just used cheap ones?
for a 3D screen you would expect them to use IPS or somthing..

[lemonadesoda]

Originally Posted by OnBoard

Review is in my post above yours. Refresh is 60hz and contrast is not an issue, but brightness that goes to half in 3D.

It was a rubbish review. The writer had no understanding, and gave no explanation, on how the 3D works. How exactly do you polarise the TFT output? You either need TWICE the pixels, one with H and one with V polarisation, OR, half the pixels are H and half V which means true resolution is HALF in 3D.

That causes a number of issues:

1./ The PC/GPU has to render two frames (left and right) for each "game frame". That means the actual framerate is halved, OR
2./ You have to halve the resolution
3./ AND, there will by a sync problem. If you cant keep framerates above 60Hz (see his screenshot, they were around 40 in crysis), then you will get a very annoying schimmering as the left and right eyes are out of sync.
4./ If 2, then there is a risk of stripey or out of focus display (similar to interlacing effect)

LIKE I SAID - a proper review is needed. Someone who understands the technology and knows what they are talking about.

[OnBoard]

lemonadesoda: did you really read it? It's in the first page that the screen has 2 LCD layers, one making the image and another only polarization for every pixel. Don't know if it was the best review, but I got the idea of the screeen from it.

To cut it short, the adjustment of the angle of polarization with the second matrix from 0 to 90 degrees changes the distribution of light from the first matrix between the right and left eyes. Thus, two things are needed to create a stereoscopic image on the iZ3D:

* The pixels of the first matrix show the total of the images for the left and right eyes.
* The pixels of the second matrix define what percent of light from each pixel of the first matrix comes to the left and right eye respectively.