By Kim Yoo-chul
Three-dimensional (3D) imagery has become an integral part of the digitally-driven world as almost all new high-tech gadgets now contain some 3D features.
One of the biggest glitches in achieving the 3D world is the need for glasses, necessary to watch 3D images.
Customers have complained of the hassles and awkward nature of wearing the special spectacles.
But Korea's consumer electronics giant LG Electronics claims users of its first tablet PC, dubbed the G-Slate with an 8.9-inch touch-sensitive screen, will be able to watch 3D high-definition video footage without glasses.
LG is the first to offer 3D viewing images on tablets. No official announcements have so far been reported from LG’s biggest cross-town rival Samsung Electronics or even Apple.
"The tablet is designed to shoot and play 3D video clips in high definition, which can be watched without the help of the customized glasses," LG spokesman Yoon Won-il said on Sunday.
However, Yoon declined to comment on whether or not its next tablet models will use glasses-free 3D technology as LG needs more time to review customer appetites before making further decisions.
"With the available technology, we can come up with glasses-free 3D features for small-sized screens like those for cell phones or tablets," an LG executive told The Korea Times while asking not to be named.
LG said that the G-Slate, which will go on sale via T-Mobile USA starting next month, will run on Android 3.0, or Honeycomb, and feature a Tegra2 processor, 2-megapixel front-facing camera for video conferencing and the capability of 3D video playback.
LG and T-Mobile said that the G-Slate will herald the era of G-something devices.
LG's Yoon said the tablet will be showcased during the upcoming Mobile World Congress (MWC) exhibition, the world's biggest telecommunication-related fair, in Barcelona, Spain.
The release comes after LG, whose product portfolio ranges from televisions and handsets to home appliances, was jolted into action in an era of sophisticated gadgets like Apple's iPad and Samsung's Galaxy Tab.
LG is still looking to launch more similar items to narrow the widening market gap with the two above-mentioned leaders, which have savored the first-mover advantage.
"It's true that LG was late in producing tablets. But our heavy betting on Android-based tablets will help us gain a better position to effectively compete with the present leaders," said the LG executive.
He added that Apple's grip on the market shows signs of loosening due to the "Android attack."
Apple shipped 14.8 million iPads last year, while Samsung just surpassed the 2 million mark of its Galaxy Tab. LG’s Park declined to comment on its sales target for tablets.
End customers have shown mixed responses to the release of the G Slate.
"Personally, I am not sure of LG’s imminent success in tablets. But, the G Slate seems to be ideal in terms of screen size compared to 7- and 10-inch tablets. For me, Apple’s 10-inch iPad is a bit heavy to carry around," said Song Hye-won, a 33-year-old office worker in Seoul.
"The technology-enhanced G-Slate sounds like as if LG is taking performance very seriously. But customer satisfaction is the key," he said while taking issue with the rising return rates of the Galaxy Tab.
"Who knows if LG will face the problems seen by Samsung? If realized, it will be another big blow to LG."