Multiple sources who seem to know a thing or two about Apple’s third-generation iPad are claiming that the device will boast a 3D display. One “Hollywood insider” talking to RCR Wireless says the device is already in the advanced planning stages, and “the fact that the iPad 3 is 3D is a dead cert.”
She went on to say that the big film studios were currently running around like blue arsed flies trying to gear up to release plenty of 3D content in time for Apple’s next launch.
RCR reveals the story has also been backed up by a source at Foxconn – the factory that manufactures Apple’s devices – who have “spilled the 3D iPad beans” to several of their closest industry sources.
It’s hard to determine to reliability of these sources, but together with recent Apple patent applications surrounding 3D technology, it’s hard to dismiss claims that the company is developing a 3D-capable device.
Some of Apple’s research has been into devices that achieve 3D effects with the use of head tracking. A separate rumor earlier this year from Japanese blog Macotakara cited sources who claimed that Apple’s LCD supplier was working on a small 3D display panel for the iPod touch, which would use head tracking to provide 3D without glasses.
Apple’s touch devices have proven to be incredibly tough competition for handheld consoles like the Nintendo DS and the Sony PlayStation Portable; and many gamers are opting for Apple’s devices thanks to the stacks of functionality and extremely cheap software the iOS platform offers.
Nintendo’s latest 3DS console is the first device to offer glasses-free 3D technology, providing customers with an incentive to choose the handheld over Apple’s iPod touch. If Apple starts offering its own glasses-free 3D devices, Nintendo could be left scratching its head once again.
[via MacRumors]
Killian Bell is a freelance writer based in the U.K. He has an interest in all things tech and also covers Android over at CultofAndroid.com. You can follow him on Twitter via @killianbell.
30 responses to “iPad 3 to Boast 3D Display According Multiple Sources”
Awe, No Retina…what…c’mon.
Is it just me or is anyone else fed up of having 3D for the sake of 3D on everything?
I’m going to have to call bullshit on this one. If it’s anything like the 3DS then this would be a massive fail move. At least for a few more iterations of the product.
Shenanigans!
Motion tracking 3D and actual 3D are two VERY different things. Unless Apple have a proper 3D screen like the 3DS, we can’t talk about 3D without glasses.
3D doesn’t interest me at all especially on a computer. I would just like them to come out with a 16X9 format.
It’s “dead cert” that Apple would not furnish this information to random “Hollywood insiders”. The CEOs (and only the CEOs) of the major studios under tight non-disclosure agreements – maybe (so as to get them to encourage more 3D content behind the scenes), but to have it commonly known with high certainty almost a full year before release? The epitome of BS.
It’s not just you.
Existing 3D technology is crap, and yet it is insidiously infecting everything that has a display. Soon we’ll have 3D in microwave ovens.
No 3D please. Bring us retina display iPads instead.
They likely are looking into 3d. For like the ipad 8. They might ditch it by then and just have the patent to profit from the idea a little. But it is not likely an ipad 3 thing. THey have the retina display, better back light etc they can and likely will release first. Also before they get 3d on them they need to get true Blu-ray quality video. Plus 3d is a great schtick to sell discs and frankly I don’t see the studios allowing it anymore than they currently do BR. so any 3d is probably more for apps and especially games (quake with fear Nintendo, be careful you don’t Wii in your pants)
Exactly.
If anything perhaps they discussed the possibility of having imac and displays that could show 3d and someone maybe heard a mention of that and combined it with the talk of the patents and just went wild.
Say like something mentioned at NAB with the whole Final Cut preview.
Not really true. The existing 3d tech is actually very good. IF it is used correctly. That is the trouble. It is not.
Post production 3d is crap. If you want 3d, film it. Or skip it. If you insist on post 3d then you need to take not less than 2 full years (3-4 would be better) with a super def file (think like 4-5k filmed at 48fps or higher) to due the conversion very very slowly. Preferably do it only on those parts that actually benefit from the 3d like action scenes. And be sure to remove all shake from the scenes before you put on the 3d (that’s why you want the overage on the fps — more data for stabilizing). And then be sure to color correct the entire thing to make up for the polarized lenses. And have the balls to say that it looks like crap and not release it.
Warner Bros had this call with Harry Potter 7 and it was a good move. Pity Clash of the Titans, Last Airbender etc didn’t.
I have zero interest in a 3D iPad, and I dont think it is profitable for apple to follow what everyone else is doing.
That’s true, but that’s the recording side of things.
I was actually talking about the reproduction side: TVs and portable devices.
So this is what the person meant by saying that the iPad 3 would “be the one to make a song and dance about?” :/