A model wore 3-D glasses to see the images on Sharp’s 3-D TV during a demonstration in Tokyo.
(Koji Sasahara/Associated Press)
Sharp will sell 3-D TVs in US
A model wore 3-D glasses to see the images on Sharp’s 3-D TV during a demonstration in Tokyo.
(Koji Sasahara/Associated Press)
TOKYO — Sharp is trying to play catch-up in 3-D TVs with powerful rivals Samsung and Panasonic with displays the Japanese electronics maker says are brighter and clearer.
Osaka-based Sharp Corp., which makes Aquos brand liquid crystal display TVs, initially played down the urgency of selling 3-D TVs, questioning whether consumers wanted them. But with 3-D growing hotter not only with Hollywood releases but also flat-panel TVs for living rooms, Sharp is switching gears.
Yesterday, the company promised 3-D TV sets this summer for Japan, and before March 31, 2011, for the United States, Europe, and China. Sharp said it will disclose prices and other details next month.
Sharp also said it had several original cutting-edge technologies to make its 3-D TVs brighter and produce more vivid color, especially yellows. The sets still require special glasses.
Another technology makes the images flash faster than existing 3-D TVs.
The change is meant to reduce the flickering or blurring characteristic of 3-D TVs because different images are being sent to the right eye and left eye to create the illusion of depth.
Shigeaki Mizushima, group general manager, said shoppers walking into any electronics store will spot out the superiority of imagery on a Sharp 3-D set compared to those of rivals.
“Our product shows a far brighter image,’’ he told reporters. “The difference is going to be clear to anyone. Brightness is just so easy to understand.’’
Sharp has been financially resilient compared with Japanese rivals such as Sony Corp.
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