With this announcement, Sony will pip several rivals to the post in terms of concrete 3D news. Sky has been talking about a 3D channel avaialble on its Sky HD platform at some point next year, but it is not clear whether the company is able to create the conditions for sufficient hardware to exist in order to view it.
Howard Stringer, Sony chief executive, will announce the news at the Berlin IFA technology show later today. He will aannounce plans to make Sony's Blu-ray payers, PS3 console and Vaio laptops all compatible with the new 3D technology, as well as manufacturing a whole new range of 3D flatscreen TVs.
Sony's approach to 3D technology still has many issues, as Stringer is expected to admit, to iron out. There is still the risk of another destructive format war, if other manufacturers choose to pursue the technology in a different way.
Sony's approach involves 'active shutter' technology for its 3D glasses, as opposed to the 'polarisation' glasses preferred by some industry players. Sony claims its technology has the advantage in the home, as it makes 3D more effective from a wide range of viewing positions, instead of one 'sweet spot'.
Sony has suffered heavy losses recently, and this move will be seen as an attempt to once more take the initiative with an innovative new technology. Sony will be hoping movie releases such as James Cameron's Avatar – launching at the end of this year – will significantly whet the public's appetite for 3D
Meanwhile, Sony has also announced plans to outsource its American LCD TV production to a Taiwanese company, which will take over the Sony TV plant in Tijuana, Mexico.
