What you see before you is either the deranged rantings of a lunatic, or the second generation of LG’s Optimus 3D, erm, 3D smartphone. Currently codenamed “CX2,” the handset’s packing a new NOVA autostereoscopic display for better brightness, an unnamed 1.2GHz dual-core TI CPU and an NFC module. What isn’t changing is the dual five-megapixel cameras, the 8GB storage or the display’s size or resolution. Our biggest gripe with the device was its heft, but if the rumors are true, it’s slimmed down from 12mm to 10mm: making it significantly more pocket-friendly. Our palms are sweating in anticipation as Mobile World Congress inches ever closer to revealing the truth.
Let’s say you live in the UK and want the HTC EVO 3D – you can check out that cool deal with a two-year carrier contract we talked about 10 days ago. Or you may want an unlocked device, sans any commitments toward mobile operators? Good news – now you can get the glasses-free 3D screen-equipped smartphone from the online wing of ASDA, which is selling it for 249 GBP (about $388).
It’s a true bargain, considering the European version of the EVO 3D was announced only 6 months ago. Actually it’s amazing how quickly smartphone prices drop these days, something all of us love.
Aside from the mentioned 4.3-inch 3D display, HTC’s baby also comes with two 5-megapixel cameras on the back (for recording 3D video), front-facing camera (for video calls), HSPA and Wi-Fi connectivity, GPS, Bluetooth, an array of sensors and a microSD memory card slot.
So what do you say? Like the deal? If so proceed to this page where you’ll get all the details.
If you thought Google TV was nifty, how about having full-blown Android running on your living room telly? In 3D? Well, that’s just what a Russian company called IconBit is aiming to deliver.
IconBit launched four set-top boxes at CES last week, each of which runs Android 2.3 Gingerbread (with the potential to upgrade to Android 4.0 Ice Cream Sandwich in the future) and outputs everything to your TV via HDMI. Not only that, but all can be controlled with a Wii-style gesture remote – the idea being that you can have a “tablet-style experience” on a big screen.
The entry-level IconBit box is called the Toucan Nano and features a 1GHz processor, 256MB of memory, Chrome and Dolphin web browsers (with Flash support), Dolby Digital audio and connectivity via Ethernet, USB 2.0, HDMI and SD slot. It’ll cost $99 (£65) or $159 (£104) with the gesture remote. The Toucan W is much the same but with Wi-Fi (no price given as yet).
The third box, the XDS7 3D, features HDMI 1.4, lossless Dolby and DTS sound, USB 3.0, Android and Linux OS, a faster processor and, yes, the ability to play 3D movies. The fourth, the XDS100 3D, is similarly specced but looks a tad more stylish and comes with 3TB of hard disk storage built in. There are no prices or UK release dates given for these boxes, but we’ll keep an eye out for more news.
This is the WikiPad: a 3D, glasses-free tablet that’s serious about gaming and is gunning for some of the market share that Nintendo’s 3DS has. Its spec sheet ticks all the right boxes, packing in technology two years in the making.
The WikiPad is 8-inches of tablety goodness that will come with a gaming dock to turn it into a serious gaming machine. It’ll run on Android 4.0 (Ice Cream Sandwich), which means that it can access all the best titles on the Android app store such as GTA III, alongside the Android client for OnLive.
The gaming dock gives the thing proper control thanks to a full compliment of controls arranged much like the Wii U controller. There’s also HDMI out and expandable memory up to 64GB. The best feature is the 3D though, which – like the Nintendo 3DS – doesn’t require you to don any glasses.
Sharp demoed similar tech in 2010, saying that 3D tablets of this ilk were just a year away. The wait’s been a bit longer than that, but we suppose that’s the time it takes to do 3D on an 8-inch display properly. The WikiPad is set to launch in the Spring.
Toshiba has announced a new Toshiba 7200 (and 6200) Smart TV that is truly the best that the company has come up with in terms of software, design, and image quality (at least, on paper). First, it is obvious that the design has gone to the next level as you can see it with the ultra-thin bezel, which Toshiba calls “bezel-less” design. I used to think that thin bezels did not matter so much, until I tested a TV with ultra-thin bezels. Now, the thick bezels seem very distractive… If you have a chance, check those out. Internally, the TV is capable of 240Hz, which is not really a record, but usually anything above 120Hz is a bit hard to notice. The extra framerate is usually used to smooth out motion (sometime too much, but you can tweak it), and provide fast 3D framerate. Note that Toshiba is using passive 3D, which means that glasses can be very cheap (<$15). In terms of absolute image quality, purists tend to prefer active 3D, but it requires more expensive glasses that need to be charged.
Toshiba’s Smart TV is DLNA, so it can stream from countless home media servers and other devices that it connects to, thanks to the built-in WiFi. The company has also added a number of “smart” features, like media guides, web browsing – which all are “classic” smartTV apps. Toshiba Tablets owner can also control this TV with their integrated infra-red (IR) controller. The DLNA tablet can also “push” content to the TV.
While HDTV is a very tough business, it’s nice to see Toshiba improve so much in just one year. The “bezel-less” design is a great idea, and we will play with the user interface when we have a chance.
Interested in getting your hands on an affordable 3D camera to record the festive season? Well, look no further as Vivitar has unveiled the ViviCam VT135 and the 790HD. The former is a point-and-shoot camera while the latter is a video recorder that’s pictured above.
Starting with the VT135, the point-and-shoot camera features a 12.1MP image sensor with a 5x digital zoom and a 2.7” display at the back. Next up will be the 790HD which a 5.1MP video recorder with 4x zoom and a 2.7” display at the back. Both devices will be able to capture and record in 3D, so if you want those holiday photos and videos to stand out, either the VT135 or 790HD could be considered.
The good news is that both the VT135 and 790HD will cost $99 each, so if you’re interested in picking up either device, they will be available from your local Target store.
If you’re in the UK and looking to get your hands on a new tablet, you have some options under £200 ($320). Storage Options, UK, has just launched a brand new Android tablet called the Scroll Excel and is said to be the UK’s cheapest tablet that can handle 3D content. It features a 7″ display, a 1GHz processor, 512MB of RAM, 4GB of internal storage, a microSD card slot (up to 32GB), and Android 2.3 Gingerbread.
What makes the Scroll Excel is its ability to output 3D content – while its own display can’t show you 3D visuals, you can connect the tablet to a 3D TV or monitor via HDMI output to enjoy all your 3D content on the big screen. That tablet will also be preloaded with WildTangent’s Android Games Service which lets people try premium games for free after a short video.
If you’re keen on purchasing the Scroll Excel, the Android tablet is up for pre-order now and will be shipping out in time for Christmas. The tablet will cost £129.99 ($208).
This week its been revealed that Apple’s newest investment into its in-house-built Google Maps application is 3D mapping firm C3 Technologies. This is the second business Apple has purchased in the same vein, the first being Poly9 – C3 having been purchased and shut down by its buyer this summer, that buyer now confirmed by 9to5mac to be Apple. C3 is in the business of creating photo-realistic models of our modern city environments using declassified missile targeting methods previously part of aerospace and defense company Saab AB. Thusly this situation is about to get hardcore.
Have a look through the images and video bits in this post and feast your eyes, ladies and gentlemen, because we’re likely not that far away from seeing our world as 3D as we’d see it in real life, but virtually controlled from your handheld device – your iPhone, in this case. Have a look at C3 Technology’s official company description to see its potential power:
C3 Technologies is the leading provider of 3D mapping solutions, offering photo-realistic models of the world for search, navigation and geographic information systems. Since 2007 when it was spun out of the aerospace and defense company Saab AB, venture-backed C3 has redefined mapping by applying previously classified image processing technology to the development of 3D maps as a platform for new social and commercial applications. The Sweden-based company’s automated software and advanced algorithms enable C3 to rapidly assemble extremely precise 3D models, and seamlessly integrate them with traditional 2D maps, satellite images, street level photography and user generated images, that together are forever changing how people use maps and explore the world.
According to the source speaking with 9to5mac, C3 Technologies CEO Mattias Astrom, CFO Kjell Cederstrand, and lead Product Manager Ludvig Emgard are each part of Apple’s iOS division. In addition, the rest of the C3 team that formerly worked in Sweden, the same place as the original C3 company and now named “Sputnik.” Thusly what we must assume is that this acquisition is slightly different from what Apple did with Siri which retained its name through its re-release on the iPhone 4S. In 2009 Apple purchased a mapping group called Placebase, and with that and these two 3D mapping groups, we must assume that Apple is set to launch their own mapping solution separate from Google maps.
AND back in April of 2011 during the so-called tracking scare, Apple released the following bit of info:
“Q: What other location data is Apple collecting from the iPhone besides crowd-sourced Wi-Fi hotspot and cell tower data? A: Apple is now collecting anonymous traffic data to build a crowd-sourced traffic database with the goal of providing iPhone users an improved traffic service in the next couple of years.” – Apple
So that’s a 3D Apple-generated mapping service with the ability to give you traffic feedback as well. Sound nice for a feature inside iOS 6 and the iPhone 5? Cool beans! Until then, have a look at our iPhone 4S review as well as our full review of iOS 5. Fully 3D maps on the horizon!
While we’ve had access to Adobe’s Flash Player 11 in beta form for months, the company announced it will finally get official, along with Air 3, next month. Among the many new features included are support for accelerated 2D and 3D graphics with a claimed 1,000 times faster performance than Flash Player 10 and Air 2. That’s enough to enable “console-quality” gaming on both computers and connected TVs and on mobile devices (Android, iOS, Playbook) with a pre-release version of Flash 11 (a production release you can take on the go is expected in “the near future”). Other new options include allowing developers to package Air 3 along with their apps in a single install, HD video quality on multiple platforms including iOS, DRM for video rentals, 64-bit support and more. Check out Adobe’s pitch to developers with a press release and demo videos after the break, including a look at the hit iPad game Machinarium which was built with its tools.
Nothing beats the head banging bliss of being in the front row of a concert, but if you left your Mötley Crüe t-shirt at home today, you may want to check out this new 3D audio technology from KDDI Labs. By reducing the amount of characteristics required to map a sound field, KDDI has made it possible to fry your eardrums three dimensionally on a smartphone. Since the virtual sound is recorded with multiple mics, users can move around the gig in real-time to hear music from any angle. Using the software, (and hopefully soon, a web-based app), virtual concert goers can cut out certain vocals or instruments, making it perfect for a mobile karaoke inferno. Rock out to the video after the break.
