Sony Previews 3D Laptop

Sony unveiled a prototype of a 3D-enabled Vaio laptop at the IFA consumer electronics conference in Berlin this week, which it said will be available in the spring of 2011. The 16-inch screen laptop will use similar technology to Sony's Bravia TVs, company officials said. Users will be able to switch between 2D and 3D with the touch of a button. Active-shutter glasses will also be provided to separate what the right and left eyes see. The HD model will offer viewers an extra clear, sharper picture through the use of black frames inserted between color images to separate them, the company said.

The 3D laptop will have extremely fast response LCD screens displaying up to 240fps for better 3D imaging than other products on the market, the Japanese-based electronics giant claimed. The Vaio on display also included a Blu-ray drive and LED backlight.

Sony's press event at the conference was heavily focused on 3D. The electronics company also said that some existing Playstation 3 and Blu-ray players will be made 3D-compatible, along with several game titles and a new, 3D home video projector called the VPL-VW90ES. The same active-shutter glasses used for the Bravia TVs and for the new Vaio 3D laptop will also work on the VW90ES, which features an upgraded SXRD 240Hz panel that minimizes image distortion, the company said. Old movies can also be watched on the projector since it will have the capability to take 2D video and simulate 3D images, Sony said.

"The launch of our first 3D home projector marks the latest step in Sony realizing its 3D World vision," said Jonathan White, director B2B, Sony Professional, in a statement. The projector will be released across Europe in November, Sony said.

Additionally, Sony CEO Howard Stringer said during the conference that plans are in the works to launch their own 3D TV channel with children's programming, movies and other content such as natural history and science. The company is also planning the release of some 3D movies, including another "Spider-Man" sequel and "Men in Black" sequel.

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