Sony has announced the release of the original HMZ-T1 device, which some call a portable 3D cinema, while others call it a stereo 3D head-mounted display. The solution is an alternative to conventional TV and entertainment systems. According to the developers, the effect of the virtual display is comparable to watching a movie on a 750-inch screen from a distance of 20 meters.
The HMZ-T1 is a very personal gadget and is intended for personal use. The stereo TV is based on two 0.7-inch (diagonal 18 mm) panels with LED backlighting (OLED) and a resolution of 1280x720 pixels.
The advantages of OLED panels are high contrast, rich colors and high matrix response times (0.01 ms). This allows you to display high-quality video without jerking and blurring, even if it is sports or other dynamic scenes.
The recently announced Sony α77, α65 and NEX-7 cameras use the same panels (0.5-inch diagonal) as the electronic viewfinder.
The HMZ-T1 also features the Dual Panel 3D Method - each eye has a separate panel that displays HD-resolution images for the left and right separately. Thus, the user can see a three-dimensional picture without crosstalk.
By using lenses, the developers managed to increase the viewing angle up to 45 degrees, which is comparable to watching movies in a cinema hall. Sony assured the public that the effect of using the HMZ-T1 is the same as watching a movie on a 750-inch display at a distance of 20 meters. In addition, engineers paid attention to the fight against distortion and aberrations. Thus, the viewer can read subtitles in small print and enjoy the effect of high-quality 3D.
Sony has developed and implemented in the HMZ-T1 a solution that allows you to maximize all the advantages of OLED, to achieve bright colors, high contrast.
The HMZ-T1 stereo helmet is designed to cover the user's maximum field of view (approximately 200 degrees). An additional feeling of immersion in the world of cinema is given by complete isolation from external stimuli - light, extraneous sound.
Sony's portable 3D cinema is also equipped with a sound system that supports Virtual Surround Technology (5.1-channel sound). Designed specifically for headphones, Virtual Surround Technology creates the sound of a full-fledged speaker system with speakers placed throughout the room.
The user is given four environment modes to choose from. In addition to “Standard”, you can select “Cinema” for watching movies, “Game” for virtual battles and “Music” for listening to music.
Using the control buttons, you can adjust the sound volume, perform standard operations (play, pause, rewind).
The stereo helmet is equipped with a sensor, thanks to which the device automatically turns off when the user removes it from the head.
With a plug-in module (Processing Unit), you can connect a disc player or game console to the HMZ-T1. An HDMI port is provided for this. It is possible that users will be able to connect mobile devices to the helmet.
The developer has introduced age restrictions on the use of the product in order to avoid health problems for users. Sony strongly discourages the use of the HMZ-T1 stereo helmet by persons under the age of 15. Also, experts advise to refrain from watching movies using the device when shaking or in motion (auto, for example).
Sony plans to enter the Japanese market with a new product in the first half of November. The HMZ-T1 will cost $780. On the shelves of stores in other countries, a portable 3D cinema will appear towards the end of the year.
The dimensions of modern TVs are growing at an unheard of pace - the models presented at the last CES 2013 exhibition are already very close to the picture that could previously only be obtained with the help of a projector, and more “popular” diagonals have already shifted to the range of 40-60″ - a couple of years ago such figures looked like something transcendental. But, as you know, the appetite comes with eating, and even these screens eventually seem not so big - "whether it's a picture in IMAX ...". Sony offers its own version of a cardinal solution to the issue - personal 3D glasses, the virtual screen in which looks much larger than any TV.
Equipment
The package includes goggles that are actually put on the head, a processor unit, an HDMI cable, headphones that can be connected separately, light-protective pads that block the user's peripheral vision, and a reference guide.
Design
There is nothing much to discuss about the design of the processor unit - it is simple and functional, an ordinary black metal box the size of an average media player, with ventilation holes both above and below, and with the necessary set of HDMI connectors.
But the glasses themselves (called the “main unit” in the instructions) are, of course, of much greater interest. They look somewhat futuristic, a person in these glasses immediately begins to resemble science fiction films of past years - the white band encircling the head looks very unusual, but quite impressive. By the way, the use of white plastic led to the fact that fingerprints on the body of the glasses are absolutely invisible - a very successful decision by the manufacturer, especially considering how black gloss would look after just a couple of viewing sessions. Apparently, for the same reason, all surfaces made of black plastic are made matte - although touch marks appear on them, they are not at all so noticeable.
In work
HMZ-T2 is already the second generation of 3D glasses from Sony - compared to the previous model, HMZ-T1, they have become 20% lighter (now the main unit weighs 330g - also more than decent, but still better than before ), plus the manufacturer switched to using separately connected in-ear headphones (the Sony MDR-EX0300 model is included in the kit, but if desired, the user can replace them with any others if the sound of the bundled ones does not suit him for any reason, since they are connected to glasses with using a regular mini-jack).
The image is formed using two OLED screens with a diagonal of 0.7″ each and a resolution of 1280x720 pixels, while the viewing angle is as much as 45⁰.
Connecting the system is quite simple. The processor unit is connected by an HDMI cable to the video signal source (if it has only one HDMI output, and the user still wants to be able to watch video on the TV, you can use the HDMI pass-through mode by connecting the processor unit to the TV with a second HDMI cable and selecting in the settings corresponding mode; it is worth noting that in this case, the video signal can be displayed only on one device - either glasses or a TV). After that, the main unit is connected to the processor unit using a cable with an HMD connector rigidly fixed in it - and on this, in fact, the process of connecting the system can be considered completed, it's time to move on to the next step - putting on glasses, which for the first time will cause much more questions.
Before putting on the goggles, they should be adjusted in such a way that their weight is evenly distributed between the back temples and the pressure bar above the goggles (called the “head support” in the instructions) - experience shows that this is the main difficulty for the average user, who first puts on system as ordinary glasses, and, of course, the entire mass of the block (and this, we recall, a third of a kilogram) lies on the bridge of the nose, which immediately becomes unwell from this. Fortunately, the adjustment process is discussed in sufficient detail in the instructions, so an attentive user should not have any particular problems with it. We note right away that light-protective “curtains”, although they are recommended for use only if the background light interferes with viewing, will be useful in any case (especially the lower one, which is attached over the entire surface of the glasses, including the notch under the bridge of the nose), since at the same time they act as a kind of soft pads between glasses and head.
After switching on, it is necessary to perform the initial adjustment, the main ones in which are setting the optimal distance between the screens (using two levers at the bottom of the unit that adjust the interocular distance in the range of 55-72 mm), as well as checking the alignment of the screens (there are no settings in this test, if the display is incorrect, contact the service center).
Changing the settings is carried out using the on-screen menu, a four-way ring joystick with a central button is used for control. Here you can adjust the brightness, contrast, color temperature, select one of the picture modes (standard, cinema, game) and a number of other parameters familiar from the system menu of a modern TV. The menu also configures the operation of the 3D mode (auto-detection of a three-dimensional signal and manual selection of the type of stereo pair) and sound (Surround mode, adjustment of high and low frequencies, correction of desynchronization of audio and video signals, selection of the type of headphones - in-ear or overhead, etc.).
We first connected the Sony HMZ-T2 to a Popcorn Hour A-300 media player and tested how the glasses handled video. As expected, the image had noticeable graininess (nevertheless, 1280x720 resolution is not enough for such a diagonal), plus it looked blurry at the edges, but overall it was quite pleasant - good color reproduction, rich and bright picture. The virtual screen formed by the glasses can be roughly compared to a 60″ TV, which you look at from a distance of 2 meters - the visible image almost completely covers the field of view and really creates the impression of a cinema.
When viewing 3D, no ghosting or other specific artifacts were observed, the volume of the scene was perceived well, although in terms of depth the image is purely subjective and inferior to that which can be obtained on a conventional TV with shutter glasses - for example, objects did not “fly out” in special 3D demo clips ” directly into the hands of the viewer, but stopped one and a half meters from him (of course, the figure is conditional and only characterizes the subjective perception of the video). But thanks to the use of a pair of Sony HMZ-T2 screens, the problem of shutter glasses is completely devoid of, namely, image flicker. In this regard, they are more like polarized glasses, but again, without their inherent drawback - an interlaced picture, especially noticeable from a short distance. One could say that Sony HMZ-T2 is the ideal option for viewing 3D, if not for one "but" - the supported resolution is only 1280x720 pixels. Let's hope that the next generation of these glasses will be able to see the real Full HD 3D.
After the movie show, the glasses were connected to the Sony PlayStation 3 and Microsoft Xbox 360 game consoles. The overall experience was similar to watching a video, but now the resolution of 720p did not create any special problems - the Xbox 360 has this "native" resolution, and many PS3 games also are not in FullHD. The 3D mode on the Xbox 360 was not recognized in the game Gears of War 3, the glasses showed the usual horizontal anamorphic stereo pair in 2D mode - I had to manually set the corresponding parameter in the glasses settings. But on the PlayStation 3, the activation of 3D in Gran Turismo 5 was immediately recognized, and the glasses switched to 3D on their own - it seems that it’s easier for the two Sony devices to agree among themselves.
Results
After a face-to-face meeting, the glasses make a better impression than one might expect. Huge virtual screen diagonal, good image quality, eye-friendly 3D, the ability to view in any position, even lounging on the couch - all this speaks only in favor of the Sony HMZ-T2. Unfortunately, this solution also has drawbacks - the mass of the device is still too high, and its screens strain your eyesight more than a regular TV, so you won’t be able to watch Avatar or Titanic without interruptions. A wired connection also adds to the inconvenience (by the way, the mass of the main unit indicated in the specifications, 330 g, does not take into account the weight of the wire, which is quite massive in itself). Plus, it is immediately appropriate to note that the Sony HMZ-T2 does not have diopter adjustment - so people with not perfect vision will have to wear them over regular glasses or use contact lenses. In other words, this model is in no way suitable for the role of the only video display device in the house and can only serve as an additional one, in addition to the main TV, and it will turn on from time to time, for relatively short sessions - for playing on the console, watching a particularly spectacular blockbuster, etc. .d. But for such a scheme of use, it, unfortunately, is too expensive - for this money you can buy a good TV, albeit with a much smaller diagonal.
Notify when available
Sony HMZ-T3 Specifications:
- Two mini OLED screens
- 3D support
- Resolution: 1280 x 720
– Distance between eyes: 53.0 - 76.7 mm
– Field of view: 45 degrees
- Virtualphones 7.1 virtual surround sound
— Protection from external lighting
-HDMI
Sony HMZ-T3 features
is a device that can truly be called "personal". No one will see what is shown on the display except you. This is the third generation in the family. virtual reality helmets from SONY HMZ. Although it is worth noting that the gadget cannot boast of built-in sensors for simulating a 360-degree view, they will not be able to provide full-fledged virtual reality, it is rather cinema glasses. And the name fully justifies itself, since the main purpose of the device is to watch movies, including three-dimensional ones.
The lack of diopter adjustment makes it impossible to use the helmet in games. Of the minuses, it is also worth noting a noticeable load on the neck and head, but it only appears after a long viewing. But despite this, there are several advantages. First of all, this connectivity to mobile devices. Having an MHL adapter, you can easily connect glasses to your smartphone and tablet and enjoy watching your favorite movie, regardless of location. The good effect of the 3D cinema will save money on going to the cinema, and the compact size will make it possible to use the helmet with medical glasses.
The updated Sony HMZ-T2 is a customized headset with HD video and 5.1 channel surround sound (Virtualphones Technology). With these glasses you can watch videos in both 2D and 3D format. They have two independent TruBlack OLED screens with a diagonal of 18 mm. and a resolution of 720p (1280 x 720 pixels), which provide a high response speed of 0.01 milliseconds. OLED screens offer high contrast ratios and deliver vibrant, rich colors. The weight of the helmet has been reduced by 20%, now weighing 330 grams, which provides additional comfort for the user and the ability to wear the device for longer without feeling tired.
The personal display can be adjusted for you to make it even more comfortable to use. Now the Sony HMZ-T2 3D glasses deliver a surround sound experience with virtual 5.1-channel audio. Added the ability to connect your own headphones with or without a headset to your Personal Display if, for example, you need to use the built-in microphone to chat with friends while playing online.
In addition, the device with two OLED displays suppresses interference and noise that may occur during 3D video playback, the headband adjustment system and the distance between the optical centers of the lenses (interpupillary distance) adjustment system are improved, which allows you to adjust and securely fix the position of the screens. depending on the individual features of the structure of the face of each person.
Peculiarities:
Choose from four different surround modes - Clear, Standard, Cinema, Game or 2ch
Built-in controls - view menus and change settings using the controls on the VR headset
Clarity of view with adjustable lenses
Specifications:
Screen: OLED panel x 2
Display resolution: 1280 x 720
Weight:
- helmet - 330 g
- controller - 600 g
Screen aspect ratio: 16:9
Color gradation: RGB (24bit)
Viewing Angle: 45 degrees
Virtual image size: 750 inches at 20m
Dimensions:
- 210mm x 196mm x 110mm (individual module)
- 180mm x36mm x168mm (CPU)
Length of cable: 3.5 m (between individual module and processor)
Equipment:
Headphones
AC cable
HDMI® cable (1.5m)
Getting Started Guide
Manual
Warranty Guide
And these are not some sophisticated 3D glasses for watching three-dimensional movies. It's a lot tougher!
I'm delighted about this device ... Sony HMZ-T1 helmet is very suitable for watching Dreambox broadcasts. Now you have a personal 3D cinema Sony HMZ-T1 in your home ... and no need to look for a 60-inch TV.
In fact, although this device is worn more like glasses, inside there are two 0.7-inch (18 mm) OLED panels with a resolution of 1280x720 pixels.
Which provide a three-dimensional picture when watching movies and computer games or viewing from other picture sources.
The creators of the device gave it the name "Personal 3D Viewer", which can literally be translated as a personal 3D viewer.
This is a really curious gadget, equipped in addition to displays, and a pair of headphones that simulate class 5.1 sound.
But…
The goggles themselves are lightweight, but they come with a massive block (weighing a kilo or so). A power cable leaves the unit, you need to connect HDMI to it, and, in the end, glasses are connected to it.
After an hour of viewing, a red mark remains on the forehead, which is probably the way it should be.
The rubber strap on the back of the helmet or Sony HMZ-T1 glasses is also adjustable, I would still call this miracle a helmet.
Yes, and another strap nearby, in theory, it should lie on the back of your head. I had to not fasten it, otherwise it was impossible to put the device in place.
According to the developers, the owner of such a device can rotate his head 45 degrees.
At the same time, obtaining additional viewing angles of the image (corresponding user experience), and the design itself provides a 3D image viewing similar to viewing in a cinema with a 750-inch screen from a distance of 20 meters.
In order for you to have a rough idea of the device and its capabilities, I recommend that you read the instructions.
About watching movies through Dreambox, the impression is this:
If you turn off 3D, then it's very funny to watch, I note the good sound quality in the headphones, the volume is enough, the sound surrounds from all sides.
The image with the correct fit on the head is clear, the impression is as if you are watching a big TV.
Very big!
It probably didn’t work out for me with 3D, I don’t like films in this format either, because it’s some kind of violence against the brain and eyes. Or maybe you need to get used to it ... otherwise the insanity from impressions is standing side by side.
But…
In truth, everything is perceived in a completely different way, different and very curious sensations. I can’t call it a loud expression “immersion in another reality”, but there is something similar, probably due to the fact that the picture is close and literally from all sides.
But this is for an amateur ...
Perhaps such a thing could be the most desirable addition to a Blu-ray player or PlayStation. And the most interesting thing is that with the Sony HMZ-T1 you can also watch satellite broadcasts on DREAMBOX ... Fortunately, even on NTV +, there are 3D broadcasts.
However, there is always a choice ... you can watch in HD quality and regular programs in comfort without disturbing others.
