According to a report the company is planning to make available glasses-free 3D TV to US consumers during the first quarter of 2012. It would be the first device of its kind in the American market, and will be similar to sets from Toshiba in both Germany and Japan.

These were released back in December in respective countries, and the 55LZ2 retails for over $10,000 in their currencies. A Toshiba representative has revealed that the US version would be similar to what is available in the two countries, but couldn’t reveal the model numbers or screen sizes, except that they will be big.

Both the versions found in the European market and Japan use the 55-inch 4K resolution screens, but in 3D mode this is limited to an effective resolution of 1,280 x 720 pixels. Toshiba is set to showcase an improved prototype at CES 2012 on Sunday in Las Vegas. It is thought there are some differences between the model that were shown at last year’s show.

Would you get a glasses free 3D TV if the price was right?

The survey was carried out by YouGov earlier this week and gained their results from almost 3000 interviews. Out of those interviewed subjects they found that 41% think 3D is just a gimmick. The survey also revealed that the many of the subjects were reluctant to have an opinion on the matter, as Reg Hardware explains the British public is happy to sit on the fence when it comes to making a decision.

Most of the survey’s findings were split right down the middle, suggesting that the subjects were either uninterested in 3D or just unimpressed and not swayed either way. A large percentage of the subjects revealed they would prefer if the technology did not require 3D glasses, but at 51% again it is hardly conclusive. 40% stated they did not care either way.

Those that were actually in favor of the technology only accounted for a minority percentage according to the YouGov survey, with 19% saying it gives movies a boost and 22% saying how their cinema-going experience is actually improved with the technology. Another large percentage of the subjects, 47%, thought that 3D makes the movies worse or did nothing for them. Despite this and despite the extra cost, 47% said that given the choice they would choose 3D over 2D. Check out the link above for more results from the survey.

What do you think of these relatively inconclusive findings? Are you impressed by 3D technology?

Toshiba has showcased its new 3DTV at the IFA event in Berlin, and according to Electronista the set combine’s glasses free 3D with a display of 3,840 x 2,160 resolutions. It is not the first glasses free TV, but it is the first of this size that doesn’t need active shutter 3D glasses.

The ZL2 uses face-tracking technology instead, and can also convert 2D content to 3D. It promises to allow viewers to enjoy 3D images in a variety of positions around the screen, and to offer up to 9 different viewing positions. The unit detects viewer’s faces and adjusts the lenticular lenslets that create the 3D effect as needed.

Stereoscopic concept is used to provide two offset images to each viewer. Content is up scaled to 4K resolution via the TVs CEVO engine and Toshiba’s Resolution+ image enhancement tech. There is also an Auto Calibration feature that has a USB connected measuring sensor to achieve it.

Owners will also have the Toshiba Places feature that allows users to access the likes of YouTube, Facebook, and the BBC iPlayer. Multiple users can have their own settings on the TV thanks to the Personal TV option.

Users can also control the set from their smartphone thanks to Wi-Fi and a free remote control application for iOS. Owners can also record content to a connected USB drive via the recording option. There is a built-in Freeview HD tuner, and is also DLNA and Windows 7 compatible. You will find four HDMI ports, two USB port, and a built-in sub-woofer supplements the speakers.

The ZL2 is thought to be hitting Europe towards the end of 2011, but no information on pricing or release dates for the rest of the world have been announced. Would this set make you decide to finally get a 3DTV?

What Hi-Fi Sound and Vision are reporting that you can pick up a 42-inch 3D TV for only £499, and even better each set comes with four sets of 3D glasses, and each extra pair costing only £19.99. The unit will use LG’s passive 3D technology and has some useful features considering the price.

You can also get a 47-inch model for £699, and each unit comes with two HDMI sockets, an EPG, and a USB input which will allow owners to record onto a connected device. Director of Cello was at first unsure about the 3D market, and how good 3D content was.

But mentioned the fact that now that Sky has a 3D channel which consumers who already subscribe too can get for no extra cost, makes “ownership of a 3D TV even more appealing”. You will be able to pick one of the new TVs up later this month from retailers such as Marks & Spencer and EBuyer.

The prices for these new sets are pretty impressive especially as you get four sets of 3D glasses with them, which can normally push up the price of 3D TV ownership quite substantially. Add the fact they will us LG technology could mean a reasonable experience without a to high of an outlay.

Will the price of the Cello range tempt you to buy a 3D TV?

During the first three months of this year saw demand for the company’s 3DTV sets grow strongly, according to an article on What Hi-Fi Sound and Vision. These profits will offset the loss making mobile phone arm of the company, which is the first time in nine months LG have shown an operating profit.

This news is in contrast to rival Samsung, who are blaming a slump in sales of its LCD TV sets for a drop in profits. Mobile phones sales meanwhile are more successful for Samsung. LGs cell phone division has shown signs f improvement though with loses halved over the previous quarter.

Many consumers have so far been put off buying a 3DTV set due to the high cost of purchasing extra sets of 3DTV glasses. This may be about to change as we climb out of recession and the technology improves and gets more affordable.

Have you been tempted to purchase a 3DTV yet?

Patrick Goss from TechRadar is reporting that ESPN’s coverage between super rich Manchester City and Stoke City, will be shown on Sky 3D. The game on May 14th will also be shown on ESPN and ITV and in 3D in pubs across the UK.

Sky 3D is currently available to householders who subscribe to Sky’s World package, and have access to a 3DTV. ESPN’s Murray Barnett said “ESPN is extremely proud to have been at the forefront of the development of 3D sports coverage, and are very excited to work with other companies like Sky that are leading the way as well“.

This sort of announcement continues the push into the 3DTV by manufacturers and media companies. But some consumers have been reluctant to embrace the technology due to price and the need for multiple sets of glasses. As prices drop and technology improves more people will be tempted to take the 3DTV plunge.

Have you got a 3DTV yet?

An article over at WhatHiFi.com is reporting that Panasonic have teamed up with Xpand 3D to create a new M-3DI standard for active shutter glasses. Other companies getting behind the new standard include Hitachi, Mitsubishi, Funai Electric Co, amongst others.

Licensing of the new M-3DI technology starts next month, and to begin with it uses infrared to send signals from the 3D screen to the eyewear. But radio communication hasn’t been ruled out sometime in the future.

For the time being we will have to wait and see if other 3DTV heavy weights such as Samsung, Sony, and LG decide to join the scheme. But LG have recently decided to stick with passive 3D technology so we may have to wait sometime before a genuine standard is fully achieved.

We have reported before 3DTVs have not really been the success that the manufacturers would have hoped, but as prices come down and technology improves more people may decide to jump on to the 3DTV bandwagon.

Have you bought a 3DTV yet?

Before the Nintendo 3DS device comes out on the 25th, retailer Best Buy has been looking into what the UK’s thoughts are on the technology. According to an article on TechRadar by Marc Chacksfield, of the 2,000 people surveyed 48% still think 3D technology is too expensive. But that didn’t stop 70% of people who have had experience with the technology enjoying it.

Most of this experience was not sitting in the home watching a 3DTV, only 16% had watched 3D on a TV at home or someone else’s home. Head of Home Theatre and Entertainment at Best Buy UK, Rob Wilkins, said “We want to demonstrate to customers that everyone can get the most out of their technology to live a fuller, richer, faster, digital life.”

Best Buy is hoping to convince consumers that 3DTV is not overly expensive, and have found that prices are similar to HDTVs. We reported last month that 3DTV sales made up only a small portion of flat screen TV sales in the UK.

Have you been put off buying a 3DTV? If so what was the reason?

The thought comes from the movement in the Playstation game market as many games are seeping into the 3D market and more and more have begun incorporating the use of the Playstation Move controller since its release. The art director for Battlefield 3 said “Of course we look at what the others are doing, at the same time, we’re looking at what we can improve.”

You can see a list of PlayStation Move compatible games here and a list of 3D PS3 games here, as you can see DICE (EA Digital Illusions CE) has not released a game with 3D visuals or Move compatibility yet, therefore it is about time that such a formidable game developer started offering games which support two of gaming’s latest technologies.

Other games such as the recently released Killzone 3 support 3D and feature Playstation Move compatibility, therefore those of you who have paid out for Sony’s motion controller and a 3DTV will be looking for new releases which will utilize their new goodies, but does Battlefield 3 need to offer these features?

[poll id="325"]

Now Move is something that I do think will work, I am not saying that 3DTV will fail – I just think that the technology still has a way to go yet. Having said that, consumer electronic makers are already working on glasses-less 3D TV, something that will make those who already have to wear glasses happy.

Joel Taveras from DualShockers spent some time playing with Virtua Tennis 4, and although he did not want to say how much better it was playing this on the PlayStation Move than it was with playing Wii Sports tennis on the Nintendo Wii, you can tell that it was.

Having played with the Move, I can say that the response is much better than the Wii – Sony has had a lot longer to perfect their new system; let us just wait and see what Nintendo offer of one they launch the Wii 2.