Toshiba Sells 3-D TVs Without the Glasses

TOKYO, Dec. 23, 2010— -- Toshiba began selling in Japan the world's first 3-D television that doesn't require the use of special glasses to view 3-D images.

The 12-inch TV sets hit store shelves Wednesday at 119,800 yen, roughly $1,400.

Many shoppers in Tokyo stopped by electronics stores to see the 3-D images for themselves, while mulling the price tags.

"A lot of the customers are curious about the quality of the 3-D images," said Hideki Kawase, a spokesperson for electronics retailer Labi in Shibuya. "They're stopping by to watch TV, but they're not buying just yet because of the cost."

Unlike 3-D TVs that create the illusion of depth by utilizing glasses which act as filters to separate images between each eye, Toshiba's screens use processing technology to produce the 3-D images.

The Regza GL1 allows users to view normal TV programs in 2D and 3-D.

Only the 12-inch version is available to customers now, but Toshiba plans to release its 20-inch model on Christmas day and a 40-inch model next year.

The relatively small TV models could deter some customers away from buying them, for now.

"I want to watch on a big screen," a 47-year-old man told AFP. "I'll wait for another year before buying it."