Sony HMZ-T1

CreAtiv3

CreAtiv3

CreAtiv3

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Anyone else been following the Sony HMZ-T1?

Sony are preparing to release the HMZ-T1 Personal 3D Viewer, a wearable display that promises an immersive 2D and 3D viewing experience.

The HMZ-T1 is equipped with two 0.7-inch (diagonal) Ultra-Small High Definition Color OLED Panels. Sony says that the device can deliver a 720p (1280 x 720) HD image. For the 3D portion of your viewing program, the Personal 3D Viewer displays an independent HD picture to each eye, promising a more natural 3D image and no crosstalk.

Of course, the device doesn't deliver that image all on its own. It needs to be tethered to a processor, which can connect to just about all of your favorite HDMI-enabled devices. This is a Sony product, so naturally, the company wants you to pair the product with Blu-ray (2D and 3D) and gaming applications. Once everything is hooked up, all you need to do is slip the HMZ-T1 device right onto your head and slide the integrated earphone pads over your ears.

Sony says that the viewing experience is similar to watching a 150-inch screen from 12 feet away (or a 750-inch virtual screen, virtual viewing distance approximately 65-feet away). It also has virtual surround signal processing technology built in, to deliver audio that should be the acoustical equivalent of a 5.1-channel surround-sound system out of the integrated headphones.

Sony plans to start selling the HMZ-T1 Personal 3D Viewer in November, just in time to stuff a few stockings. Expect the device to be priced around $799.
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Specs:
Display Technology: OLED
Display Resolution: 1280 x 720 (per eye)
Refresh Rate: 0.01 ms
Horizontal FOV: 45°
Diagonal FOV: 51.6°
Video Input: Proprietary (Video + Audio + Power)
Video Modes: Standard / Cinema / Dynamic / Custom
Video Adjustments: IPD
Video Input: HDMI 1.4a Compliant
Video Passthrough: HDMI 1.4a Compliant
Video Output: Proprietary (Video + Audio + Power)
Cable Length: 3.5m
Headphone Type: (2) Foam Covered Audio Drivers
Mass: 420g
Dimensions: 210mm × 126mm × 257mm (including headband)
Estimated Street Price: ~$799 (USD)
Availability: 2011-11
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Early heads on and previews:
TweakTown: Hands On With Sony's HMZ-T1 Personal 3D Viewer
CNET: Hands-on: Sony HMZ-T1 head-mounted 3D OLED display
TomsGuide: Sony's HMZ-T1 Specs Go Stateside in November
GamingUnion: Sony Give HMZ-T1 3D Visor US Release, Price
ZDNet: Sony hopes the next TV you buy you'll wear around your head
geek.pikimal: Sony Continues to Peddle Virtual Headcrab

It may well end up being no more than a gimmick but ill be preordering one as soon as its available this side of the pond. :rolleyes:

What are your thoughts?
 
I'm certainly watching this one. Apart from not being 1080p, it sounds about perfect for movies. For gaming, a wider field of view and head tracking would be preferable. For movies, it has about the same FoV as a standard lens, so should give the correct perspective for 3D. Any bigger and you would want to be moving your head around, which of course would have no effect except to make you feel nauseous. I can't wait to try one out.
 
I believe UK release is the beginning of December and Sony UK are taking pre orders for 799.99.

That's about 100 notes more than I was hoping :eek:
 
Yeah i kepy my eye on this since i first heard of it a while back as i've been considering which 3D solution i'd like for a while.

If this had DVI input with 1080 res, so capable of 3D at 1080 @ 60fps, i would have been all over it and taken this instead of my 3D monitor.

Does look like it will be pretty cool though. Price is a bit too high mind.
 
I've been using an LG W2363D monitor since they came out and I've been largely unimpressed on the 3D side of it due to crosstalk and poor colours and tinting that comes with TN panels. The only reason I stuck with it is the response rate is fantastic.

I'll place my pre order this evening. If its not quite what I was expecting I guess it'll go back via DSA.
 
I think I'll wait for the 1080p, 60 degree FOV version when it comes out at £500. 2013 maybe? I expect they'll release a new version to compliment the PS4... with head tracking and all that gubbins.
 
Anybody testing this out - eagerly await your feedback. It's a bit unconventional for me to want to review myself but I'll consider it. I haven't got any Sony contacts at present though so I'll have to dig around.
 
Mines on preorder and not expected until the 2nd week of December. Hearing positive things so far but there have been reports of users saying they could see the pixel/cell structure of the screens.
Ive not had a chance to test one yet but may have to plan a detour to Harrods later this month...
 
Sounds interesting, im still pondering this for gaming on the xbox360 and the odd blu ray film.

just wondering how much better it will be than my 50" plasma i currently game on..

would love to try it first also..
 
Kept an eye on this myself since CES, really like the concept. Will probably wait til the 2nd generation at least though before considering a purchase. Mainly so they can iron out the initial problems :)
 
A new hands on preview and video over here from the LA Times

Looking good although this is the first mention of motion sickness I've heard about so far.

I tried it out for about 20 minutes and I was surprised at how much I actually enjoyed watching a 3-D trailer for the new "Amazing Spider-Man" movie (the trailer was on a Blu-ray disc) and playing Gran Turismo 5 in 3-D on the PlayStation 3 into which the headset was plugged.

Frankly, the idea of having a small TV set in front of my eyes was one I thought I wouldn't enjoy at all. But, in my brief time with the TMZ-1, the experience was novel, enjoyable and not bothersome as I expected. The picture was clear, the 3-D was crisp and colors were bright. I'm not a big fan of 3-D TVs -- the glasses can be uncomfortable and the picture often looks dim. So far, this was a different experience altogether.

A few colleagues who also gave the headset a shot weren't as impressed and described a slight feeling of "car sickness" from playing Gran Turismo with the headset on. This isn't a product for everyone based on experience alone, not to mention that $800 price tag.

I'll have to reserve any final judgments on the HMZ-T1 before Sony sends over a review unit and I can put the device through its paces, watch a full-length film or two and play more PlayStation games.

It should be noted though, that the HMZ-T1 can display 2-D and 3-D video in 720p high-definition and features two tiny 0.7-inch OLED screens (one for each eye) and a set of headphones pumping audio in 5.1 surround sound into your ears.
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The 720p is my only doubt...

edit: perhaps this thread would be better suited to the Home Cinema & Hi-Fi category?
 
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