Acer launches new HD Ready 3D projector, the H5360

 

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Posted on 12 Jan 2010 at 10:10

We've barely entered 2010, yet our prediction of this being the year when 3D TV finds its way into our homes is already becoming a reality. Panasonic, Sony and Samsung have already announced 3D TVs at CES, and now Acer has launched its first 3D HD projector, the H5360.

It follows hot on the heels of LG, which unveiled the "world's first" full HD 3D projector just last week. Acer itself is throwing money at 3D - it has already launched a 3D laptop plus the GD245HQ 3D monitor.

The H5360 is a DLP projector with a native 720p resolution (1,280x720) and a brightness of 2,500 lumens, which should be bright enough for use is relatively well-lit rooms. It also has a 3,200:1 contrast ratio and colour compensation for non-white walls.

The three-dimensional experience is made possible by Nvidia's 3D Vision technology that can transform the flat surface of your living room wall into a 3D screen thanks to a combination of a PC with a compatible graphic card (a GeForce 8800GT or better) and special 3D shutter glasses.

The 3D shutter glasses' two lenses are synchronised with the PC. Every image is rendered twice, once for the right eye and once for the left, so that it is offset in relation to its ‘double’. The graphics card sends this information to the H5360, which works at a frequency of 120 Hz and shows even-numbered frames to the left eye and odd-numbered frames to the right eye. The 3D glasses open and shut each lens in sync with the projector, fooling your brain into thinking it's seeing a 3D image. The battery-powered glasses work via a special infrared transmitter.

The H5360 is available to buy now from www.oyyy.co.uk for £521 including VAT. That doesn't include the price of the shutter glasses, which cost around £100. This is our biggest gripe with 3D - you need a pair of glasses for each viewer, and it isn't possible to watch without shutter glasses on as you'll see a rather blurry image. Currently it's very difficult to find extra pairs of glasses on sale in the UK, and they cost $149 per pair from Nvidia's US website.

Author: Jim Martin