3D at CES 12024

Every year, an increasing number of 3D devices are introduced at CES, and a most of them are available for purchase in the following months, instead of being just prototypes.

Apple

The Apple Vision Pro wasn’t presented at CES, but people are talking a lot more about the Vision Pro than any other device at the CES.  Apple stole the show without even attending to it.

Apple decided to announce the release date of the Vision Pro just before the show, along with some other details, and the internet discussions pivoted to the Apple’s device.

The launch date is February 2nd, and it will feature an impressive amount of 150 3D movies initially, which contrasts with the Disney+ App, who insist on showing their 3D movies in 2d on a distracting animated 3D scenery (check out the latest news).

Apple also has announced spatial games with Game Room, which will allow users to play classic games in a new way. What the Golf?, and Super Fruit Ninja, will be among the first available. Popular games like NBA 2K24 Arcade Edition and Sonic Dream Team will be available, but in 2d.

Vision Pro will also introduce Apple Immersive Video, the new entertainment format pioneered by Apple that allows playback of 180-degree, 3D 8K recordings captured with Spatial Audio. Users can also enjoy educational interactive experiences, such as encountering dinosaurs in the room.

Kandao

Kandao, which already has one of the best consumer 3D cameras for video, presented a professional 8K 180 3D camera, the Kandao VR Cam. This camera comes with streaming software that makes it easy to make live streams in 3D and record at the same time. The camera supports Power over Ethernet.

Also featured at the show was the award-winning Kandao Obsidian Pro, (sorry for the long list of specs:) 12K 12bit raw video 4:2:2 360 3D recording, 8 APS-C lens, 8K 360 live-streaming, This tool is ideal for virtual productions… Recognized as TIME’s Best Invention of 2022, the Obsidian Pro pushes the boundaries of image quality and sets new standards for virtual reality content creation. It integrates a high-speed SSD disk to properly manage such a quantity of data!

Leia  

The brand that every year launches the majority of the consumer 3D devices. This year, Leia showcased their LeiaSR™ technology (formerly known as Simulated Reality). One part of the stand was reserved to show Stereoscopic 3D Games designed for their LeiaSR core. From high-octane first-person shooters to strategic simulations, consumers will witness the seamless integration of 3D into some of their favorite games, setting a new standard for display entertainment.

Acer SpatialLabs notebooks, were available at the stand, along with impressive 8K 3D monitors that were playing a racing game that was not specified (we suspect it was Project Cars 2). According to Leia, the monitor is an 8K panel -in 2d-. This implies that, in the case of multiview technology, the resolution could reach 1440p per eye, which is a significant milestone for multiview technology. Furthermore, in the case of eye-tracking, the resolution could surpass 4K per eye, which is equally impressive for glasses-free technology. The SR Pro 2 is intended as a Development Kit, not the final product.

But also, secretly (no pictures allowed), they showed a phone with a glasses-free 3D display. Even as 3D cuts resolution in half, the picture was clear, and the 3D effect easily adjusts while moving the head, without fading. It was also plenty deep, rather than just layering on mild depth.

At the stand, there was also an exclusive first-look at LeiaPix.com’s new 2d→3D video conversion feature. 

Acer

Acer is bringing more LeiaSR technology to yet another laptop, coming out next month for around the same price as a 15-inch M2 MacBook Air: $1399. It’s pretty affordable for a 3D notebook. Acer introduced its SpatialLabs 3D tech a while back on a ConceptD laptop for creators, and then later to the Predator Helios 300. Those laptops are a whopping $3,500 and $4,000, respectively. This is the first time we’ve seen a SpatialLabs laptop in this price range, which opens up the platform to more artists, developers, and creatives. But there’s no mention of TrueGame technology (which is becoming a potential substitute for the still great NVIDIA 3D VISION technology).

But they also have a gaming monitor designed for TrueGame 3D Gaming: the Acer Predator SpatialLabs View 27. A 27-inch 4K 160Hz monitor. Asus’ gaming monitor even lets you ditch headphones since it has its Immerse Audio beamforming. Experience fluid gameplay on a 27″ Ultra HD display at 160Hz, enhanced by G-Sync and Free-Sync, even when the lights are turned down low. Thanks to TrueGame, you can leap into 3D gaming with just one click, no complex setups. Play as long as your heart desires with automatic 3D focus that delivers a comfortable gaming experience. There are already many games supported, and new game profiles are added monthly.

Acer SteamVR Bridge enables developers to tailor content for viewing on Acer SpatialLabs Pro devices. With this patented controller, creators of virtual reality applications, from virtual tours to artistic experiences to educational content, get an exciting way to share their work in an immersive, goggle-free format. Acer SteamVR Bridge underscores our unwavering commitment to supporting immersive experience developers seeking realistic experiences and unlocking new dimensions of creativity and engagement. In addition, creators using NVIDIA Omniverse can now view content on Acer SpatialLabs Pro devices through the Acer SteamVR Bridge, expanding visualization options during the design, development, and deployment phases.

No more VR creators constantly interrupting their workflow by putting on and taking off the headset.

Samsung

Samsung also showed off a 3D monitor. This isn’t a product — not yet, at least — but a bit of technology that Samsung is showing off early. It’s the aptly-named Samsung 2D/3D monitor right now. The monitor works with eye tracking. They showed the game Lies of Pi. No word if it is using Simulated Reality or proprietary technology.

Looking Glass

The Looking Glass Go, is small, and features a strange 9:16 aspect ratio (not allowing landscape orientation), it is intended for multiple viewers at once, and is a sort of tiny digital picture frame. The 3D effect isn’t as deep, but the viewing angle is wider, stretching up to 60 degrees. More impressively, Jellop’s AI processing can extrapolate 3D models from 2d images, allowing any photo to be uploaded for display on the device. Photos taken on modern smartphones will be even more convincing, since the Looking Glass Go will be able to use the image’s own depth data as it converts it to 3D.

It’s portable like a phone, but it doesn’t include any integrated battery, you need to provide an external power source, and giving the forced vertical orientation, we found that case uses are too limited for 3D enthusiasts/creators, even if they do 3D photos in portrait orientation.

The Looking Glass Go is up for pre-order on Kickstarter for $250, and can also plug into a laptop or phone to display animated content, including a 3D avatar for ChatGPT.

Brelyon

Brelyon offers a futuristic holographic display that allows focusing different distances even while recording it in 2d. The Brelyon Fusion: Brelyon Fusion is a pioneering 3D display that offers an 8K resolution. It’s designed for desktop use, providing an incredibly high level of visual detail and clarity, incorporating the latest advancements in computational rendering and lightfield expansion. This combination enhances the overall viewing experience, making it more immersive and realistic.

One of the standout features is its ability to support surround video conferencing. Using Synthetic Aperture technology, users can engage in video calls with an expansive view, all without needing to wear a headset. In addition to visual enhancements, Brelyon Fusion also integrates spatial audio, further enhancing the sense of immersion. The advantages of Brelyon’s Fusion technology extend to applications like flight simulators and product design, where an immersive view from a seated position is essential.

Sony

In partnership with Siemens, Sony revealed that they are building a non-PlayStation, standalone MR headset focused on 3D modeling and art, with a Spatial mouse controller, divided into different elements for each hand. The video ad seems to be another HoloLens competitor, but incorporating some ideas from the Apple’s Vision Pro.

Nimo

And another brand, is launching their own Spatial ecosystem, more focused on copying the Vision Pro, but in a lighter glasses (and we hope in a cheaper final price.). They only showed traditional 2d PC programs for productivity, but they support 3D images in theory, let’s hope you could use 3D elements in the programs. The system consists of a pair of glasses, and a control unit with its own operating system.

This year has many new and exciting products. Again, the most interesting ones are from Leia (and Acer), which means they will probably arrive this year, and also is a guarantee of a good 3D ecosystem.