Toshiba Reveals Word's First Glasses-free 3DTV

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Time to ditch your active shutter glasses and go glasses-free?

3DTVs have been threatening to take over our living rooms for the last year or so. However, many believe the technology is simply too young to bother investing in just yet and one of the biggest deal-breakers for people is definitely the glasses you have to wear to enjoy this new tech at home. However, with the arrival of the Nintendo 3DS, manufacturers are embracing glasses-free solutions and today, at IFA, Toshiba unveiled what it's claiming is the world's first glasses-free 3D television. Dubbed the Toshiba ZL2, this TV serves up up face tracking, Resolution+, Auto-calibration, 2D to 3D conversion and smart TV features in a 55-inch package.

- 139.7cm (55”) Glasses-Free 3D TV - Quad Full HD (3840 x 2160) resolution display - Face tracking technology via integrated camera - 2D to 3D conversion with depth control - Built in Wi-Fi, DLNA® and Windows 7 compatibility - Freeview HD ready tuner - Resolution+ and 3D Resolution+ - Toshiba Places - YouTubeTM, BBC iPlayer - Personal TV - Remote control operation via iPhone® - AutoView ambient light sensor - Built-in subwoofer - USB HDD Video Recording - Auto Calibration - 4x HDMI, 2x USB - REGZA-LINK (HDMI CEC)

Toshiba hasn't provided a price or a concrete release date, but don't expect it to be cheap. It's thought to be arriving in Europe in December of this year, so perhaps we'll also see it in the States before the year is out. Toshiba's German press site also mentions that it will cost €7,999, which equates to more than $11,000. Yikes! We'll keep you posted on any information regarding local pricing and availability.

Jane McEntegart

Jane McEntegart works in marketing communications at Intel and was previously Manager of Content Marketing at ASUS North America. Before that, she worked for more than seven years at Tom's Guide and Tom's Hardware, holding such roles as Contributing Editor and Senior News Editor and writing about everything from smartphones to tablets and games consoles.

68 Comments Comment from the forums
  • captaincharisma
    and you suckers who bought a 3DTV the first year they came out when you knew something like this was eventually coming couldn't wait for it why?
    Reply
  • Kamab
    Do these use micro lens arrays?
    Reply
  • cloakster
    captaincharismaand you suckers who bought a 3DTV the first year they came out when you knew something like this was eventually coming couldn't wait for it why?
    Cuz this is another 2 years away before it becomes affordable.
    Reply
  • nicodemus_mm
    So is this the MS Word 3DTV? "Toshiba Reveals Word's First Glasses-free 3DTV"
    Reply
  • beardguy
    Warning: May serious eye problems up to and including blindness.

    Seriously though, we saw what happened with the 3DS. This can't be good for your eyes. 3D in general in it's current state is a fad that will hopefully die. Until they can produce a true 3D technology (IE, not on a flat screen!) I'll pass.
    Reply
  • beardguy
    *May cause
    Reply
  • sgtopmobile
    OH MY GOD 3840 X 2160??!?!?! i am so getting this as soon its released for gaming and hometeather, my family will LOVE IT, i just hope it is released before Q2 2012 AT LEAST
    Reply
  • jlats26
    finally a TV with a resolution about 1920x1080.....about friggen time. Still no info on how the achieved the glasses free on such a large screen....parallex barrier technology?
    Reply
  • jlats26
    ABOVE*
    Reply
  • Parsian
    Good to see it is a 4K TV and future proof sort of.
    Reply