3D TV Reviews Blog

Wednesday 8 February in London

Star Wars fans, listen up, we’ve managed to use the Force to convince the powers that be to give us two tickets to an advance preview screening of Star Wars: Episode I – The Phantom M…

Wednesday 8 February in London

Star Wars fans, listen up, we've managed to use the Force to convince the powers that be to give us two tickets to an advance preview screening of Star Wars: Episode I - The Phantom Menace 3D at London's Empire, Leicester Square.?

Yep, that's right, thanks to Microsoft and the fact that Kinect Star Wars is coming in Spring 2012,?two lucky winners will be able to see the new version of the film next Wednesday (8 February) two days ahead of the official UK box office opening.

All you have to do is follow us on Twitter (@pocketlint) and retweet this or any other story on the site with the hashtag #starwarskinect?to be in with a chance of winning.

The competition will be ending this Sunday (5 February) so you've got to be quick. Tickets will be posted recorded delivery to the winner first thing Monday morning.

Just think, by this time next week you could have seen one of the must-see films of the year.

May the Force be with you!

UPDATE: This competition is now closed.?

Tags: Star Wars Home Cinema Competitions Microsoft Microsoft Kinect

Win Star Wars: Episode 1 - The Phantom Menace 3D preview tickets originally appeared on http://www.pocket-lint.com on Sun, 05 Feb 2012 16:06:00 +0000

Less than ?250

Has the bottom fallen out of the 3D smartphone boom? Supermarket Asda certainly thinks so (or perhaps it doesn’t, see update at bottom) as it is offering one of last year’s superphones, the HTC Evo 3…

Less than ?250

Has the bottom fallen out of the 3D smartphone boom? Supermarket Asda certainly thinks so (or perhaps it doesn't, see update at bottom) as it is offering one of last year's superphones, the HTC Evo 3D, for under ?250.

"It’s a blockbuster phone at an amazingly low price," said James McMurrough, Asda’s mobile phone expert. "We’re constantly amazed at the features that are being built into the latest phones - and it’s incredible to think that one of the latest Hollywood techniques is now available at such a low price."

We think that's a nice way of saying: "We don't think anyone really cares if their smartphone has 3D capabilities so we're going to have to smash the price if we're to shift all the units we've got out the back". Although this is our interpretation of course, Asda in no-way said this.

Luckily, the Evo 3D is more than just a one-trick pony though. This smartphone stallion can juggle multiple apps at once and it comes with a well-developed 2D camera and camcorder. It’s fast and simple to use, makes the most of the HTC Sense interface, and only rarely lets the awkwardness of Android show through. Forget the patchy 3D tech - even without it this impressive high-end Android phone is worth a second look.

The HTC Evo 3D uses parallax barrier 3D tech, so no glasses are needed. It boasts a 4.3-inch qHD display, packs a 1.2GHz dual core Qualcomm processor, 1GB RAM and 1GB of internal storage. It's got dual 5-megapixel cameras on the back for 3D shooting and a 1.3-megapixel front facing camera.

It's ?249.99 at Asda and is available at that price now. It runs Android 2.3 now but Ice Cream Sandwich is on the way.

Update: The supermarket giant has contacted Pocket-lint to say that it would argue that, by reducing the price, it is bringing the 3D technology to a wider market which, it says,? would accelerate adoption.?

"The other important point is that Asda are offering the HTC at this price from the outset," said a spokesperson. "It's not reducing the price to clear stock (thought they clearly expect it to sell well)."

That told us then.

Tags: Phones HTC EVO 3D HTC Asda

HTC Evo 3D hits the bargain bucket at Asda originally appeared on http://www.pocket-lint.com on Tue, 24 Jan 2012 16:34:00 +0000

CX2 leaked

We knew that LG would be releasing a second version of their Optimus 3D handset, because LG’s Dr Noh told us so in September of last year.?
Now images and details have found their way onto Pocketnow.com,…

CX2 leaked

We knew that LG would be releasing a second version of their Optimus 3D handset, because LG's Dr Noh told us so in September of last year.?

Now images and details have found their way onto Pocketnow.com, following the appearance of the new LG X3 handset on the same site.

The LG Optimus 3D 2, codenamed the CX2, is indeed a slimmer device judging by the images - just as Dr Noh had teased. It is said to be under 10mm thick, which should make it all the more pocketable.

Internally it is reported to offer a 1.2GHz TI processor, which sticks to the same supplier as the original Optimus 3D. The screen sits at 4.3-inches, offering a resolution 800 x 480 pixels, but said to offer the Nova technology that the Optimus Black did. This is a super-bright 700nit display, which should help visibility in bright sunlight, as well as giving the 3D a boost.?

But this resolution of screen does set it behind most rumoured flagship rivals, so it's really the 3D side of things that makes the handset stand out. The cameras look to be staying at 5-megapixels each and it's said to be launching on Gingerbread, which will no doubt be a disappointment for Android fans.?

Some, of course, might question LG's approach. With Nvidia powering some devices, Texus Instruments in others and different quality and types of display, there doesn't seem to be much parity between the models. The Optimus 3D is something of a niche phone and nothing suggests the upgraded model will be any different.

Again, with Mobile World Congress a month away, we can expect to see all LG's phones confirmed soon enough. It looks like we now know about a replacement for the Optimus 3D and the Optimus 2X.

Read

Tags: Phones Mobile phones LG LG Optimus 3D 2 Rumours MWC2012 LG Optimus 3D Max

LG Optimus 3D 2, a thinner 3D Android phone incoming originally appeared on http://www.pocket-lint.com on Mon, 23 Jan 2012 16:16:00 +0000

Shows market for handheld gaming

The president and CEO of Sony Computer Entertainment believes that the success of the Nintendo 3DS proves that there is a market for handheld games consoles, thereby justifying the …

Shows market for handheld gaming

The president and CEO of Sony Computer Entertainment believes that the success of the Nintendo 3DS proves that there is a market for handheld games consoles, thereby justifying the launch of the PS Vita next month (in the UK).

Speaking to the US PlayStation Blog at CES last week, and reported by Eurogamer, House said: "Normally we don't really reference the competition a lot when we talk about the PlayStation business, but in this case it's perhaps a little salutary that the sales of the 3DS - you know, having the advantage of releasing a little bit ahead of us - have been exceedingly good."

"I think that shows that there is, in general, a lot of demand for a gaming primary portable device, which is how I would describe Vita," he added.

"But you know, our device in contrast has just so much more to offer. What I think we've done is point to a market that really has started out with potentially casual games that are on other devices, but now wants a deeper, a better or more premiere gaming experiences."

He also believes that the launch line-up for when the PS Vita hits the UK on 22 February is very strong, and will help sales of the device pick up after its post-Christmas Japanese slump. The titles are, he said, "comfortably the strongest line-up we've had for any platform launch."

Read

Tags: Sony Gaming SCE PS Vita Nintendo 3DS

PS Vita: Sony boss salutes Nintendo 3DS (video) originally appeared on http://www.pocket-lint.com on Fri, 20 Jan 2012 16:06:21 +0000

CES 2012: The future has arrived

What has always seemed the stuff of pie in the sky will be coming to your home within weeks. 3D printing has been around on an industrial level for a while, but now a company called…

CES 2012: The future has arrived

What has always seemed the stuff of pie in the sky will be coming to your home within weeks. 3D printing has been around on an industrial level for a while, but now a company called 3D Systems has come up with a version for the home called Cubify that can be yours for $1,300 by the end of Q1 2012. Pocket-lint went hands-on with the very thing at CES to find out exactly what it's all about.

The Cubify printer itself is a decent size with much of the bulk taken up by the round cartridge on the side that looks rather like the magazine of a 1920s Thompson machine gun. Sadly, it's just the one cartridge at a time that you can load, meaning that printing has to be of one colour at a time. In terms of the material used, it's an ABS plastic resin that's heated up and liquefied as it travels to the print head. It is set down in a series of lateral layers, one built on top of the other, cooling and setting as it does so.

The designs themselves are currently supplied by the Cubify site where you can download around 1,000 different ones, stick them on a USB key and into the printer. If you happen to be a dab hand at 3D CAD packages, then you can also create your own and even upload them to the community.

In the near future, however, even design novices should be able to enjoy tailor making their own bits and pieces. The company demoed the idea of using the Kinect, essentially a 3D scanner, as an input device. Currently the limitations are in the quality and resolution of the image which is where the idea of teaming up with the people behind the Lytro camera comes in. The files from those pictures would have everything Cubify would need and in plenty of detail too. Expect some movement here some time in the near future.

3D Systems is just waiting for the sign of from the FTC in the States before Cubify printers start shipping. Cartridges will cost $50 a go and, to give you some context, you'll get around 10 chess piece sized objects out of each one at a cost of $5 in materials to print. Arrival on the shelves of the UK and Europe should be pretty much at the same time.

Sure, there are plenty of limitations and this won't suddenly mean that we start printing TVs and cars at home, but what you can make with ABS at the moment is a decent start.

Tags: Printers 3D Printing Cubify CES2012 3D Systems

                       

Cubify 3D home printer pictures and hands-on originally appeared on http://www.pocket-lint.com on Wed, 18 Jan 2012 10:28:00 +0000

CES 2012: 3D home movie action

Over in Vegas at CES 2012, Toshiba announced its first full HD 3D camcorder, the Camileo Z100 and Pocket-lint was on hand to give it a spin.
The dual-lens system on board allows the …

CES 2012: 3D home movie action

Over in Vegas at CES 2012, Toshiba announced its first full HD 3D camcorder, the Camileo Z100 and Pocket-lint was on hand to give it a spin.

The dual-lens system on board allows the camcorder to capture 3D at Full HD via two, 5-megapixel backside illuminated CMOS sensors. It also features a glasses-free 3D monitor to enable you to see what you're recording without the need for bulky glasses. This monitor isn't as clear as the one on the 3DS but it did the job of letting you know what you were recording and what sort of 3D action you were grabbing.

Toshiba also claims that the backside illumination allows this camera to capture 3D in any lighting conditions, even if light is less than optimal. The footage we nabbed on the trade show floor looked pretty good played back on the Tosh 3D TV on display and the lighting in the LVCC is shoddy at best.

The Z100 also features an 8x optical zoom which works even during 3D shooting. For 2D, there's an electronic zoom that can magnify the image by 120x. For those shots, an electronic image stabiliser will help to even out the inevitable camera shake. Video recording can perform face tracking, to keep people in focus, while still shots also benefit from smile detection. Still photos can be shot up to 16 megapixels.

The camcorder can handle SD cards up to 128GB (with SDXC). There's both HDMI and USB sockets, in their smaller, mini form factor. The built-in 2.8-inch screen is also touch-sensitive, so menus are simpler and easy to navigate.

We found the screen pretty responsive to the touch and the build quality of the Z100 to be good. It feels pretty light in the hand; weighing 285g and measuring in at 120 x 54 x 62mm.

The Camileo Z100 will be available in the UK from Q2 2012, no word on pricing just yet.

Tags: Camcorders CES2012 Toshiba 3D Cameras Toshiba Camileo Z100

                             

Toshiba Camileo Z100 3D camcorder pictures and hands-on originally appeared on http://www.pocket-lint.com on Mon, 16 Jan 2012 09:43:00 +0000

Says new patent

Apple iOS-powered devices could be getting a new 3D graphical user interface according to patents recently filed by the company.
The new UI should be capable of rendering advanced 3D environments as…

Says new patent

Apple iOS-powered devices could be getting a new 3D graphical user interface according to patents recently filed by the company.

The new UI should be capable of rendering advanced 3D environments as well as, and get this, detecting hovering hand gestures. This means no more sticky fingers on the iPhone screen should you fancy browsing the news while eating ice cream.?

The first time information about Apple's 3D GUI appeared was all the way back in 2009 and involved head tracking tech. 2010 then saw 3D graphical user interfaces starting to make an appearance on iOS devices.?

The "sensor based display environment" works by taking readings from the gyroscope and sensors, translating them into movement on the screen. Think of it like an imaginary viewfinder that controls what the iPhone displays on its screen.?

Don't forget that a lot of these Apple patents never make their way to market. This 3D tech, however, shows how Apple is looking at different ways to make significant changes to iOS.?

Traditionally Apple has done relatively little to alter the fundamentals of iOS, particularly the way that applications and the home screen are handled. Who knows, this could mean a significant shift in what Apple does with iOS 6, which we imagine is a long way off right now.

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Tags: Apple Patents ios 3D

Apple devices to get a 3D user interface originally appeared on http://www.pocket-lint.com on Fri, 13 Jan 2012 11:05:00 +0000

CES 2012: Full HD 3D

Toshiba has announced its first full HD 3D camcorder, the Camileo Z100. The dual-lens system allows the camcorder to capture 3D at 1080p via two, 5-megapixel backside illuminated CMOS sensors.
…

CES 2012: Full HD 3D

Toshiba has announced its first full HD 3D camcorder, the Camileo Z100. The dual-lens system allows the camcorder to capture 3D at 1080p via two, 5-megapixel backside illuminated CMOS sensors.

The camcorder also features a glasses-free 3D monitor, to enable you to see what you're recording, as you're recording it, without the need for bulky glasses. Toshiba also claims that the backside illumination allows this camera to capture 3D in any lighting conditions, even if light is less than optimal.

The Z100 also features an 8x optical zoom, which works even during 3D shooting. For 2D, there's an electronic zoom that can magnify the image by 120x. For those shots, an electronic image stabiliser will help to even out the inevitable camera shake. Video recording can perform face tracking, to keep people in focus, while still shots also benefit from smile detection. Still photos can be shot up to 16 megapixels.

The camcorder can take SD cards up to 128GB (with SDXC). There's both HDMI and USB sockets, in their smaller, mini form factor. The built-in 2.8-inch screen is also touch-sensitive, so menus are simpler and easy to navigate.

Tags: Camcorders CES2012 Toshiba Toshiba Camileo Z100 Cameras

         

Toshiba Camileo Z100 full HD 3D camcorder announced originally appeared on http://www.pocket-lint.com on Tue, 10 Jan 2012 17:18:00 +0000