Cheaper 3D glasses for your TV coming soon

Cheaper 3D glasses for your TV coming soon

Manufacturers of 3D television sets will soon be selling lighter and more affordable 3D glasses this year similar to those worn by moviegoers. TV makers are blaming the current heavy 3D glasses for the dismal sales of 3D television sets last year.

They said they need to replace some older 3D TVs with newer models which are more compatible with the lighter glasses, but will not take the initial 3D TV sets out of the market completely.

Korean electronics giant Samsung said it sold just one million 3D television units last year, significantly lower than their forecast of between 3 and 4 million sets. The initial models to hit the market were not bestsellers and companies hope that refining the technology will help them sell more 3D TV sets this year.

LG Electronics Inc. launched its improved 3D sets on Wednesday in time for the Consumer Electronics Show (CES) in Las Vegas. A 47-inch and a 65-inch model with the cheaper and lighter 3D glasses will soon be sold on retail stores, LG said. There will be four pairs of the light glasses for each TV set unlike one or two heavy pairs that come with current models. A standalone pair of 3D glasses can cost as much as $100 today.

"We're meeting consumers' needs by eliminating some of the pain points," said Tim Alessi, LG Electronics USA director of new product development. "It's going to be the most comfortable viewing experience, just like going to the movies."

Vizio Inc. also announced that it is selling a 65-inch TV set with the new kind of 3D glasses.

Posted by Melanie Mendoza on Thursday January 06 2011, 2:36 AM EST. Ref: AP. All trademarks acknowledged. Filed under Featured News, Shopping. Comments and Trackbacks closed. Follow responses: RSS 2.0