Thinking of buying a new 3D TV set for Christmas 2010? You can’t have failed to notice these new gadgets in stores. Though the technology is still very new, it’s been predicted that the 3D TV market is going to grow by 300 times within the next 9 years. If you’re not sure what 3D TV is all about, or how to go about buying the right television set for your needs, then here’s a guide to all the essentials.

How Do 3D TVs Work?

3D technology makes it appear as though the images on screen are literally leaping out at you – shown as three-dimensional pictures rather than the standard 2D we are all used to. 3D basically works by showing two slightly different pictures at once: one for each eye. The way they are displayed on one screen makes them look blurry, which is why we need glasses to get the full effect.

Note that there are other options besides a 3D TV set: laptops and 3D monitors.

What Do You Need To Buy With Your 3D TV Set?

Unfortunately, not all 3D television sets come with the glasses that you’re going to need to be able to watch 3D television and movies – so check whether you’ll need to buy these separately.

Aside from the glasses, you’ll also need a Blu-Ray player that has a 3D encoder, and you may need an HDMI cable to connect your television to your cable box or DVD player. When buying movies for your new set, remember that there are two types of 3D movie available: older 3D and modern full HD 3D movies. The latter will have the Blu-Ray 3D logo as an indicator.

3D Videogames

There is no better way to experience 3D than in a video game, which is why so many manufacturers are now putting together 3D games. If you watch Blu-Ray discs through your Playstation 3 then you’ll be able to install a firmware upgrade that’ll allow you to watch 3D Blu-Ray discs, and play your games in 3D.

Is It Worth Buying A 3D TV Set?

3D television sets are very new, and only just becoming a feature of our households. For this reason, the releases will be limited at this time. However, you may have noticed that more and more movie theatres are showing movies in 3D, and these will soon be available to buy on 3D Blu-Ray discs.

As for 3D television content, an increasing number of providers are producing channels that will be viewable in 3D, with the number growing every day. Not to mention the fact that 3D is also making an impact in the gaming world.

So, while 3D television is still a new technology, it may be worth buying if you’re the kind who likes to stay right on top of technology. And you’ll still be able to watch 2D programming while you’re waiting for more 3D releases. There’s no denying that watching movies on a 3D TV set adds a whole new dimension to your viewing pleasure!

When you’re buying a 3D television, there’s no getting around the fact that you’ll need 3D TV glasses to watch anything in 3D. Most television sets will come with some glasses, but you’ll probably want to buy some more for additional viewers. Here’s a quick guide to what you need to know about the glasses, and how to make sure you get the right type for your television.

Do I Need Glasses To Watch 3D Television?

There is a 3D method known as the “Parallax Barrier” that will not require 3D TV glasses to view the full picture. This uses liquid crystal placed in front of the television screen to achieve the effect in the eyes of the viewer. Unfortunately, this can only be seen when you’re in a very specific position in front of the television screen, and is costly to use, so televisions are still using glasses at this time.

Active Shutter Glasses Vs. Polarized Glasses

3D televisions generally make use of one of these two types of glasses. Active shutter glasses are powered by batteries to link them to an emitter in the 3D TV set that controls shutters within the glasses. This happens so fast that you won’t even notice.

Polarized glasses are the kind of glasses used at movie theatres. They let the eyes see the offset images, but without the use of flashing shutters. These don’t require any power, but they aren’t used in home television sets as they would require huge television screens to work properly.

Standalone 3D TV Glasses

You don’t even have to buy the television set if you want to watch 3D movies – you can also purchase high tech 3D glasses that will display the movies inside them. As expected, these will cost a lot more than standard 3D glasses, but you’ll be able to take them anywhere!

How to Buy The Right 3D TV Glasses

When you purchase your active shutter glasses, you’ll need to make sure that they’re the same brand as your HDTV set, otherwise they won’t work properly. You’ll also need to check their battery requirements to ensure you keep them powered up and ready to use.

How Many 3D Glasses Will You Need to Buy?

Not all 3D television sets even come with 3D glasses but, when they do, there are usually only a limited number of pairs. This may be suitable for couples, but if you want to watch 3D movies with the whole family then you’ll need to buy a pair of 3D TV glasses for each and every viewer. If not, the picture will simply look blurry to them.

With all this talk of 3D TV sets for Christmas 2010, many people are desperate to find out how they can play 3D games on the TV and on the PC. 3D gaming can create experiences that most of us have never thought possible, and for many it’ll be available right away. Here’s a quick guide to everything you need to know about 3D gaming.

How To Play 3D Games On The Playstation 3

If you’re into your console games and want to experience the latest technology then you’re going to need a Sony Playstation 3. And, no – you won’t need to buy a new console to experience the new 3D capabilities!

All Playstation 3 systems are already equipped to be able to handle 3D games, thanks to a firmware update that was downloadable for free earlier on in the year. If you haven’t already, make sure that your Playstation console is up to date when you connect it to your new 3D TV. There’s absolutely no charge for this service! Of course, you’re going to have to have a 3D television to display the games properly.

Sony are even giving away Playstation 3 games and demos with some of the 3D capable television sets. Some of the demos and full games include:

* WipEout HD,

* PAIN,

* Super Stardust HD,

* MotorStorn Pacific Rift.

For the very best gaming experience, Playstation 3 3D games can be combined with the new controller – Playstation Move – to experience gaming in a completely new way. One of the latest Move games, “The Fight: Lights Out”, will also be available in 3D.

And, if you want to watch 3D movies on your PS3, another firmware update is available to allow you to do just that!

nVidia 3D Glasses

nVidia’s 3D Vision gaming system either comes with just the 3D glasses and infrared transmitter, or with a 3D monitor if you don’t yet have one. The whole system will allow you to play 3D games on your PC.

This works in exactly the same way as 3D on your TV – a slightly different image will be delivered to each eye, which the glasses will let you see in 3D. Some of the main features of nVidia’s glasses include:

* A wide viewing angle for 3D,

* Excellent operation for 3D and 2D gaming,

* Adjustable fit.

There are already a wide number of games ready to be played with this technology – just look for games that carry the nVidia 3D logo and you’ll know that they will display perfectly with your new hardware.

If you remember back to the first time 3D was introduced to the gaming world, you may be skeptical about how much it can really add to your experience now. But 3D has come very far in the last few years, which we can all see in its popularity in movie theatres. When you play 3D games it really will change the experience forever.

The newest release by Microsoft of the Xbox Kinect is set to change the way we play games. Instead of needing a separate controller, you ARE the controller yourself! The unique Kinect sensor bar will detect the way that you move, translating that to the way characters move on screen.

However, one of the biggest questions with such a huge new software development is “will Kinect work with the old Xbox 360?” Microsoft has only recently released the new upgraded Xbox 360 Slim, which has caused many people to ask whether they need to buy the upgraded console to play Kinect.

The simple answer: Kinect will work on all Microsoft Xbox 360 consoles, new and old.

How Kinect Connects to the New Xbox 360 Slim

Among the number of upgrades given to the new Xbox 360 Slim is the fact that it’s “Kinect ready”. But what does this mean exactly? All it means is that the new Xbox has a correctly sized port on the back which will allow you to plug the Kinect in when you buy it separately or as part of the Xbox 360 Slim and Kinect bundle.

Do You Need to Buy A Kinect Adaptor Cable?

If you have the old Xbox 360 model, then you’re probably wondering what kind of cables you’re going to need to connect the Kinect. The good news is that the Kinect will come with everything you need in the box to set it up – you’ll just need to plug it in a separate power jack to make sure it’s all working properly. The sensor will require 175MB of memory to work properly.

What About Additional Kinect Accessories?

Despite the fact that you may not need to buy a connector for your new Kinect, you may still be interested in a number of accessories designed to enhance the experience.

Microsoft plan to release a wall mount, TV mount and floor stand for the Kinect to make it fit into your living area more seamlessly. If you need to reposition your Kinect/ Xbox 360 then you may also want to take advantage of the Kinect extension cable, which provides an extra ten foot range. This is priced at around $50.

As you can see, Kinect is ready to work on all Microsoft Xbox 360 systems. With such a simple setup, using only one component, you’ll be up and running in no time at all!