By admin on November 9, 2011
People who have pre-ordered the HMZ-T1 from Sony have apparently been experiencing considerable delays. According to reports, Sony have seen much more demand for the wearable HD device than was expected. This might be plausible when you consider that earlier in the year Sony hadn’t even intended to sell the Personal 3D Viewer as a commercial product. There is also believed to have been logistical issues at a factory in Thailand which is contributing to the holdup in shipments. Reading some of the forums, I have seen people saying that they have received several emails from Sony pushing back the arrival date of the headset.
Since I posted the news of Amazon taking HMZ-T1 pre-orders, the item has been marked as “currently unavailable” on the Amazon site. Rather than being an Amazon issue, it sounds like Sony are struggling to keep up with the demand. Let’s hope they can sort this problem out sooner rather than later!
Posted in HMZ-T1, personal 3d viewer |
By admin on October 26, 2011
The HMZ-T1, the Head Mounted Display by Sony has been released early at Harrods, London. It is still on pre-order on Amazon and other stores but Harrods, the upmarket London store, has received some early copies of the new 3D headset.
Sony’s HMZ-T1 has two 0.7 inch (diagonal 18.0mm), tiny HD color OLED displays (1280 x 720), which give the impression of a 750 inch 3D cinema screen.
It’s an unusual idea, made all the better thanks to simulated 5.1 surround sound being built into the headsets.
“The Personal 3D Viewer really is a new way to experience films and games in three dimensions,” said James Forrester of Home Video, Sony UK.
“Our goal was to recreate the cinema experience, in an immersive, personal headset. The clarity of sound and picture that the Personal 3D Viewer is able to deliver makes it just like a mini-cinema that’s just for you.”
I can’t find an official price for the official UK release but it is widely expected to retail at around £500. A US release is also said to be coming very soon. Already tried out the HMZ-T1? Tell us what you thought in the comments section!
Posted in HMZ-T1, news | Tagged 3D headset, HMZ-T1, personal 3D viewer, price, release date, UK |
By admin on October 21, 2011
Stereo 3D you say? Here’s an informative breakdown of the possibilities for the HMZ-T1 from 3D Vision Blog.
Originally it seems that Sony considers this device to be mostly used as an alternative of a 3D HDTV for playing games on the company’s 3D-capable PlayStation 3 console and/or for watching Blu-ray 3D movies with it and a dedicated Blu-ray 3D-capable video player. But as 3D content expands there will be much more possible uses for this device for watching not only stereoscopic 3D content, but for 2D as well and one of these is PC gaming of course, including in stereo 3D as well. Thanks to the use of an industry wide standard such as HDMI 1.4a you should be able to easily connect the device to your computer and use it for 2D or 3D gaming as both AMD and Nvidia do offer stereoscopic 3D support for gaming in stereo 3D with HDMI 1.4a device. I have no information yet if AMD will support the device for sure in stereo 3D mode, but they should, and as far as Nvidia goes, it should get supported in the 3DTV Play software soon after the device becomes available on the market. So good news for PC gamers into stereo 3D gaming, and apart form games you should also be able to watch 3D videos and browse through 3D photos, maybe even watch TV in 3D and so on.
Cool. I hadn’t even considered 3D photos or 3D TV.
More reaction from StarKnight:
I’ve already tested it too at Sony United that took place in Milan last month. The device is amazing and gave me a positive impression but there are also some drawbacks:
- Weight: Almost all of its weight is on the front which lay on your nose. For short periods it’s ok but after one hour it might become a little problem.
- Reflections: In light rooms some rays of light tend to reflect on the internal lens. However I have found that wrapping a dark sheet of paper around the holder effectively blocks them.
- Portability: You can not simply plug an HDMI cable in the visor and power it with batteries. You need to use AC and the external box supplied with the visor. No problem if you intended to use in a room but if you wanted to use it while travelling by car/train/plane (with a portable HDMI device like my LG Optimus 3D) it could by quite problematic.
- Quality: Quality is superb. Contrast and dark colors are the best I’ve ever seen. Resolution in only 720p but fine for every situation. At SU I’ve tested 4 of them each connected to a different stereoscopic source: a Sony notebook, two PS3 with twho different games and a PS3 playing the 3D BD of “Open Season”. Of course they were all absolutely crosstalk-free. However I’ve noticed a small blur effect at the edges of the screen area (for both eyes). You can regulate the binocular distance according to the size of your face but you con not get rid completely of that defect. The central area of the screen is always on-focus.
My opinion is that after all it’s a good device but it is far from perfect. I hope that Sony or other producers will improve such devices since they are so far the only crosstalk-free solution for stereoscopic vision.
So far most people who have tried the Personal 3D Viewer (including me) seem to be liking it.
P.S: HMZ-T1 now available for pre-order on Amazon
Posted in HMZ-T1 |
By admin on October 19, 2011
Not too many details posted on their site yet, but Amazon (.com) is now taking pre-orders for the Personal 3D Viewerthrough their site. I’ll probably go with them because of the free shipping.
More reactions to the HMZ-T1 below:
Dr. David J. Susilo (Amazon Reviewer) :
Guys, here’s my personal take of this item thus far from (total) of 3 hours playing with the unit at the Sony Store:
1. It’s EXTREMELY EASY to put this unit on, take it off and putting it on again.
2. Playing 2D materials, both 16:9 and 21:9, the screen appears to be slightly larger than when they’re playing 3D. Why? I don’t know
3. Using QTEC FPD blu-ray, it shows no visible colour shift between 0 IRE to 100 IRE test pattern
4. There is slight red push but not the point of distraction.
5. I played 24p movies, and the display seems to play it properly, there is no OSD shown on the prototype HMZ-T1 so I don’t know whether it’s doing 2:3 pulldown properly or doing 5:5 or 3:3.
6. For the demo HMZ-T1, it seems like there is no MotioFlow/CineFlow activated, no video-look at all
7. Both static and motion resolution shows approx 700 lines (according to the QTEC FPD blu-ray).
8. The black level is amazing although I can still see that it’s not completely black. With brightness control I’m pretty sure that the black level can be brought down a bit more.
9. White is very close to calibrated white (warm-ish white) without noticable clipping.
This reviewer gives some more helpful information about the HMZ-T1
on the Amazon site.
Dougie B (Amazon Reviewer)
I’ve tried a number of head-mounted displays (HMD’s) at stores, trade shows, etc, and the one thing I they never get right is the fact that the screen feels like it’s an inch away from your eyeball, and it causes strain.
While on vacation in Tokyo I went to the Sony Showroom and was pretty impressed when I demoed it. There is a real feeling of depth as to to where the screen was – it felt like I was sitting in the middle row a big-screened (but not quite IMAX) theater. Of course, you can say that’s no different than sitting six feet away from 60-inch flatscreen, but your eyes can tell when you’re sitting that close to something.
They showed the trailer for The Amazing Spider-man, and the resolution did seem slightly lower than what I would see in a theater (it’s 720p as opposed to 1080p), and at least once I saw some trails in the picture when the action went pretty quickly. That said, during the first-person sequence at the end, I did feel it in my stomach. The 3D was there, but not too noticeable. I don’t know if that was because the device or if parts of the movie were shot in 2D and later converted to 3D.
As of this writing, I’ve only seen it priced for Japan at around $800. This will be awfully tempting, but I haven’t made my mind up yet. It’ll also be interesting to see what people will do with this for virtual reality software, whether it be with a head tracking mouse or a Kinect hack.
As I said before, I agree about the usage of the Spiderman movie. I think Sony could have chosen a better movie to show off the 3D more but despite that I still thoroughly enjoyed the experience.
Posted in HMZ-T1 |
By admin on October 2, 2011
I have now tried out Sony’s Personal 3D Viewer several times. I have to say that I am really impressed with the way Sony have gone with this product. While I was waiting in line today I overheard someone say “I’m starting to get sold on 3D technology after that!” My thoughts exactly. This product will go some way to changing the way we look at (no pun intended) 3D.
The Experience
In the viewing room, two Sony employees politely showed me how to put the headset on. To be fair, it was easier than it looked although it took me a while at first to adjust the display. The Personal Viewer was a lot lighter than I had expected and once it is on I forgot it was there. If there’s one take away from this review, it’s the 3D Viewer really does make you feel as if you are sitting in a movie theater! I sat back to watch the 3 minute sample clip and was blown away at how realistic it was. The only thing missing was the popcorn and rude people talking in the back row.
The 3D is striking but subtle
I guess it may have just been the particular 3D film (Spiderman) I was watching, but unlike many other 3D products (3D glasses come to mind), the Personal 3D Viewer doesn’t scream “THIS IS 3D!” The 3D experience is a lot more subtle and blends with what you are watching to the point where you forget it is 3D. In my opinion this is how it should be. That said, I definitely got a rush Spiderman jumped from the top of the skyscraper at the end of the sample clip. Great entertainment!
What about games?
Unfortunately, Sony were only offering the Spiderman sample when I tried out the Viewer. I hope they will do a gaming demonstration soon. Can you imagine playing Street Fighter on a 3D cinema screen? Now THAT would be amazing!
With a few exceptions, I think gaming in general tends to be a lone activity so this product seems a good bet for gamers. So far, head mounted displays have only made a small impression but the Personal Viewer should mean we will be talking about them a lot more in the future. Many movies are already going 3D but I wander how the gaming industry might react to the seemingly unlimited possibilities offered by a 3D headset. Virtual reality games? More adult-oriented games? I’m excited to see where this goes.
UPDATE: Now available for pre-order!
Posted in HMZ-T1, review | Tagged head mounted display, HMZ-T1, personal 3D viewer, review |
By admin on September 10, 2011
The Japanese public today got their first look today at the Sony Personal 3D Viewer, although they had to wait for it. We had to wait 8 hours to see Sony’s new 3D headset which is scheduled for a November 11 release across Japan. See pictures below for the scenes as we played the waiting game at the flagship Sony Store in Ginza, Tokyo. In the end, I got just 5 minutes to try it out. Initial impressions and review coming soon!
8 hour wait to see Sony's Personal 3D Viewer
UPDATE: Now available for pre-order!
Posted in HMZ-T1, news | Tagged 3D, 3D headset, HMZ-T1, Japan, personal, personal 3D viewer, Tokyo, viewer |
By admin on September 9, 2011
Personal 3D Viewer US release date confirmed for November 2011
So there you have it. Sony has now named a price and (approximate) US release date for the highly anticipated HMZ-T1 Personal 3D Viewer.
They didn’t give an exact date, but said in an official statement that the HMZ-T1 will be released in the US for $799 USD in November 2011, which probably means it will closely follow the Japan release.
Sony also confirmed that HDMI input will be compatible with Blu-Ray media players, PCs and game consoles (including, of course, the Playstation 3). There is as of yet no information regarding the UK release date or price.
On a personal note, I will be attending the showing at the Sony Building in Ginza tomorrow from 11am. Can’t wait to see this thing for myself!
UPDATE: Now available for pre-order!
Posted in HMZ-T1 | Tagged 3D gaming, HMZ-T1, Japan, personal 3D viewer, price, release date, US |
By admin on September 7, 2011
I just heard from a friend that Sony’s Personal 3D Viewer will be on show for the public this weekend in Tokyo. I will definitely go check it out so watch this space for updates!
Meanwhile, I have been reading more about the HMZ-T1 and have seen some criticism of various points such as its price, weight and appearance. Here are my thoughts.
Too expensive?
OK well this is the biggie. I admit that $800 sounds a lot for a wearable 3D movie screen. This might put some people off but the quality and uniqueness of this product stands out for me. I know many people who spend $1000s on headphones, iPads and various gadgets so there’s definitely a demand out there.
You can only use it alone
Another criticism of the HMZ-T1 is that you can’t watch it together with others. Then again, more people are living alone these days so it’s a big market Sony can target. I know this to be true here in Japan. Also, even those that live with family might see this as a good solution for not bothering others around them. Personally, I don’t see the HMZ-T1 as a movie theater replacement. There will always be room for going out to watch films on the big screen with friends. I see this is as more of a chill-out product for winding down at home after work. In the future, I expect Sony will improve this aspect so people can sync the same content to multiple Personal 3D Viewers. This would work well for multiplayer 3D gaming, for example.
Weight
The HMZ-T1 is reported to weight in at 350g. Is this heavy? I can’t really tell without first trying it out for myself. I’ll let you guys know soon!
Goofy looking?
Some people seem to think it looks a little too Star Trek. Maybe I’m just a hopeless geek, but I think it’s kind of cool and futuristic looking. Again, it’s not as if I would be walking around with it in public. In fact, Sony advises against this for safety reasons!!
So there you go. The HMZ-T1 definitely has some weak points but this will be the first generation of Personal 3D Viewers. I’ll let you know (with pictures!) how Saturday goes.
UPDATE: Now available for pre-order!
Posted in HMZ-T1 | Tagged 3D gaming, HMZ-T1, Japan, personal 3D viewer, price, release date, weight |
By admin on September 5, 2011
The Sony HMZ-T1 Personal 3D Viewer is one of the best new products I have seen in a long time. Funnily enough, I’ve never been a huge fan of 3D TVs or films. Avatar was pretty good in 3D as have been some other movies but the Personal 3D Viewer has impressed me. I am confident this revolutionary product will alter the way we view and enjoy entertainment.
What’s the big deal?
OK, so as with more “traditional” 3D products, you still have to wear the 3D glasses BUT the difference with the HMZ-T1 is that the glasses are the screen! No more shuffling to find the best place on the screen to see the 3D. As Mr Jobs would say, “it just works”! There could be many different applications too. Fully 3D immersive, surround-sound gaming and 3D movies are just some of the possiblities for this device.
When is the Release Date?
The official release date for the HMZ-T1 in Japan is November 11 2011. I live and work in Tokyo so I’ll definitely be pre-ordering myself one to try out..lucky me!!
How much does it cost?
The HMZ-T1 will cost 60,000 yen in Japan which works out at around $800 due to the strong yen. There have been no details released yet though regarding pricing in other countries.
UPDATE: Now available for pre-order!
Posted in news | Tagged 3D gaming, HMZ-T1, price, release date |
By admin on September 3, 2011
Posted in news | Tagged HMZ-T1, HMZ-T1 preview, personal 3D viewer |
