Nikon launches my Picturetown 3D

26/10/10

3D image conversion service that enables viewing of high-quality 3D images without specialized eyewear on a dedicated 3D digital photo frame

Nikon Corporation and Nikon Imaging Japan Inc. are pleased to announce the launch of my Picturetown 3D, a new 3D imaging service that offers 3D image conversion over the Internet for viewing of 3D images on a dedicated 3D digital photo frame.

my Picturetown 3D is a service for registered members that offers a 3D image conversion service available from Nikon's my Picturetown, an online image sharing and storage service, and supports viewing of 3D images without specialized eyewear on the new NF-300i 3D digital photo frame. The primary services offered are as follows.

Loan of an NF-300i 3D digital photo frame
3D image conversion of still images stored on my Picturetown
Viewing and sharing services for 3D image utilizing my Picturetown functions
Distribution of 3D contents (still photos and movies) with my Picturetown

These services not only allow users to view their photos in dynamic 3D format, but also enable the sharing of 3D images between NF-300i 3D digital photo frames.
What's more, the Android mobile operating system has been adopted for the NF-300i 3D digital photo frame, enabling the inclusion of functions other than simple image viewing, including a calendar, a clock and display of weather information. my Picturetown 3D is only available in Japan.

Service overview
Name: my Picturetown 3D
URL: http://3d.mypicturetown.com/
Application for service: Begins October 26, 2010
Service launch: Early in December, 2010
Fee: ¥1,995* (tax included) per month or ¥19,950* (tax included) per year

* With sign up by my Picturetown free account members. Gold account members able to utilize 2GB or more of storage space will be charged an additional fee for their Gold Account (beginning at ¥350 per month including tax).
* Up to 3 images may be converted to 3D at no additional charge. ¥300 per image (including tax) will be charged for conversion of 4 or more images.

Development background
With the extreme popularity of a number of 3D movies recently, consumer focus has been concentrated on stereoscopic devices such as 3D televisions. Similarly, the digital photo frame market has been expanding greatly. Nikon, which has continued to pursue ways of enjoying digital photos with its Internet service, my Picturetown, is well aware of these changes in the market and takes this opportunity to offer another new way of enjoying digital images.
With current 3D technologies, there are limitations on stereoscopic viewing, most commonly resulting in the need for specialized 3D eyewear to view images or movies in 3D. Recognizing this inconvenience, Nikon has developed a 3D digital photo frame that enables high-quality viewing of both 2D and 3D images, at the same resolutions, without specialized eyewear. In addition, a 3D image conversion service is also offered via the Internet, allowing for the simple conversion of photos taken with standard digital cameras and eliminating the need for any specialized photography equipment.

Primary my Picturetown 3D features
1. The NF-300i 3D digital photo frame for enjoying high-quality 3D images without specialized eyewear
A lenticular display* and horizontal double-density pixel system have been adopted for the LCD panel, enabling stereoscopic viewing without specialized 3D glasses. This makes playback of bright, high-quality 3D images at the same resolution as 2D images possible for enjoying 3D images without specialized eyewear Naturally, playback of standard 2D photos and movies is also possible. 3D and 2D photos can be downloaded from Nikon's image sharing and storage service, my Picturetown, using wired or wireless LAN for display on the NF-300i.
The NF-300i 3D digital photo frame will not be available for sale, but loaned only to registered members of the my Picturetown 3D service.

* A system in which a lenticular lens consisting of an array of countless long, thin cylindrical convex lenses is attached to an image display LCD.
These lenses distribute the left eye image and right eye image, creating a stereoscopic image.

2. 3D image conversion service and distribution of 3D contents with my Picturetown
In order to display 3D images on the NF-300i 3D digital photo frame, users must request the conversion of 2D images stored on my Picturetown to 3D. Once registered with the my Picturetown 3D service, members may convert up to 3 images per month to 3D (4 or more images may be converted at a charge of ¥300 per image). Older digital photos can also be converted to 3D by uploading them to my Picturetown and using the 3D image conversion service. Nikon also plans to distribute movie contents including a 3D image gallery and 3D short movie clips so that members may easily enjoy 3D imaging.

3. Viewing of special Magnum Photos contents for a limited time
Special contents based on the concept of reproducing scenes professional photographers viewed through the viewfinder will be available through February 2011. Images of "TOKYO", captured by Magnum Photos photographers, can be viewed in 3D. The my Picturetown 3D service will allow users to experience the excitement and feel of unique, once-in-a-lifetime moments in 3D.

4. Advanced NF-300i 3D digital photo frame application
The Android™ mobile operating system has been built into the NF-300i 3D digital photo frame, enabling playback of 3D images and standard 2D images and movies with a dedicated my Picturetown 3D application that provides collaboration with my Picturetown. In addition to basic image viewing functions, including display of images stored on my Picturetown and playback of slideshows created from these images (3D images included), as well as display of distributed contents such as the Nikon 3D Gallery, the dedicated my Picturetown 3D application also supports use of a calendar, a clock, display of weather reports and a news reader function. In addition, simple Web browsing is also possible from the Android™ home screen.