Cable companies would like you to believe that a 3D TV Set Top Box will provide everything you need to watch 3D TV. They will of course charge you more for it, but lets take a closer look at what they are really offering and what you will need to watch 3D programming.
Before we begin, a quick note. This article will focus on 3D TV set top boxes, below are some additional 3D articles that may be of interest.
3D TV Set Top Box With interest rapidly growing in 3D TVs and 3D content we are now starting to see 3D TV set top boxes. These boxes are very new so vary a bit in what they offer and the features that will be adopted as mainstream are still being determined but here is what is being offered. Some boxes provide the ability to convert 2D TV to 3D which is then called a 3D TV set top box, however you are not really getting true 3D. This is likely what the cable companies will offer first as there are not a lot of true 3D channels available and people are anxious to obtain 3D content. This also does not put a strain on the companies data network since they are sending traditional 2D content to the cable box which is doing the conversion. True 3D content will require the companies to send a lot more information to the users home putting more strain on their already busy networks.
3D TV Channels At this time Direct TV has announced it will be rolling out three 3D channels. These are true 3D channels and will of course require a set top box. This is the type of 3D content that you really want and hopefully this will serve as an example that forces the cable companies to follow along. There are already rumblings that they will, however there is more easy money in the approach mentioned in the previous paragraph. Likely the 3D channels will follow but it will be some time.
3D TVs Having a 3D TV set top box will not allow you to watch 3D TV without the proper equipment. You will still need a 3D TV and 3D glasses. Some companies may push technologies that claim to allow 3D TV on regular TV, but do not be fooled this will be a unpleasant experience at best as the 2D TVs do not have the refresh rates and processing to truly provide the 3D experience. It will be low quality if it works at all and anyone that has experienced true 3D will likely be very disappointed.
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