Samsung went on the record at this year’s CES as saying it will work on reducing the price of 3D entertainment in 2011 by “by more than two thirds”, and that plasma will be part of its display offering for at least another ten years, so LCD/LED won’t be the only choice when for 3D flat panel viewing.

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Samsung’s D7000 3D TV with a 0.2 inch bezel.

In fact, by the end of this year, 3D will be integrated into more displays from the big manufacturers, as well as models from second-tier brands and no-names out of Chinese factories, a development that will make the technology more affordable to many budgets.

And it’s certain that we’ll be wearing glasses to enjoy 3D during 2011, and some time to come, although they will be look smarter fit better. Universal shutter glasses are likely to appear, with models from the likes of Monster (the cable company) marketing eyewear in the US that promises to work on any brand of 3D television. They’ll cost around $200, though.

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Vizio is one of two companies looking at passive 3D technology, but it’s not yet known if these TVs will go on sale in Australia.

The handful of passive 3D displays at CES, namely from LG and Vizio, introduces to the lounge room the possibility of super-cheap 3D eyewear of the type used in cinemas. In fact, you can use those that come with your passive 3D TV in the cinema, though it’s unclear if the relationship will work the other way.

Autostereoscopy – 3D without the glasses – is still a long way from reality for big screens (more than 40 inches), however, as the technology provides only a very narrow angle of view. It will, however, find a home in small screen devices, such as video game consoles or mobile phones.

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Toshiba’s small-screen autostereoscopic Regza TV.

Working within the limitation of the technology, though, is Toshiba, which is expected to introduce glasses-free small-screen 3D tellies into overseas markets this year.

Content is still the number one problem plaguing 3D delivery because there just isn’t all that much to watch. Experts have suggested there will be over 1,000 hours of 3D content available by the end of this year, but the truth of it remains to be seen.

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“Gran Turismo 5” is one of a handful of available 3D titles. Look for more later this year.

Video games are part of the main push in 3D, and the HD gaming systems are what will drive this. Forget the Nintendo Wii for the moment because it’s just not powerful enough; instead, look to Sony’s PlayStation 3. This year’s top-tier action title “Uncharted 3” has been planned as a 3D release, joining available games such as movie tie-in “Tron: Evolution” and the long-awaited racing game “Gran Turismo 5”.