Dolby and Royal Philips said at NAB this week...

Dolby and Royal Philips said at NAB this week that their glasses-free Dolby 3D specification will be adopted by Cameron Pace Group for its 3D video production process. According to a news release, the three parties believe that glasses-free 3D presentation in the home “can be improved” through implementation of the Dolby 3D format, which can apply to content and displays, including TVs, smartphones and tablets. In addition to eliminating the sometimes troublesome glasses from the 3D landscape, Dolby 3D doesn’t require a viewing “sweet spot,” allowing viewers to experience 3D regardless of sitting position, the companies said. Meanwhile, following DTS’ announcement Monday that Fairlight would support the DTS Multi-Dimensional Audio (MDA) audio authoring format as part of an effort to “avoid a format war” for next-generation content creation and cinema playback, Dolby told us it doesn’t believe the MDA proposal for a “single interchangeable file format addresses the broader needs of exhibitors or studios.” During the development phase of Dolby Atmos, feedback from mixers, studios, distributors, exhibitors and directors indicated Dolby created a “a compelling technology platform that meets the broad needs of the market, including the need for interoperability,” Dolby said, saying it’s committed to standardizing the way different system components work together. Dolby has given the industry “detailed technical specifications” surrounding packaging, security, audio/video synchronization, and streaming from digital cinema servers, a Dolby spokesman told us. Dolby Atmos provides the “right balance of openness with the power, flexibility and control that the industry needs,” and it “minimizes complexity by integrating seamlessly with existing workflows for creation, delivery and playback,” he said. Dolby sound engineers in the field can ensure performance levels and address the needs of stakeholders, something a standards body couldn’t provide, he said. Dolby will continue to work with third parties who want to integrate Dolby Atmos into their products and systems, and it is working with industry groups, including NATO (National Association of Theatre Owners) and UNIC (Union Internationale des Cinémas), to share expertise while the evaluation of potential open standards continues, he said.