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3d posts

ST-Ericsson's U8500 platform gives your next smartphone wicked 3D powers

by Darren Murph posted Nov 4th 2009 @ 5:31PM

It's one thing for ARM to develop a potent GPU meant to add impressive 3D capabilities to devices that were previously forced to run the likes of "Snake," but it's another thing entirely to see a platform and semiconductor company come forward and take it one step closer to the mainstream. ST-Ericsson has done just that with its U8500 platform, which is the first to integrate ARM's Mali-400 graphics processing unit into a solution that can be easily fitted into future phones. Think your iPhone 3GS GPU is mighty enough? Hop on past the break and mash play -- it'll make those fancy water reflections you're currently drooling over look downright ugly.

[Via B4Tech, thanks Chris]

Continue reading ST-Ericsson's U8500 platform gives your next smartphone wicked 3D powers

Nokia patent app reveals dreams of pressure-sensitive multitouch interface

by Darren Murph posted Oct 24th 2009 @ 6:49PM

Nokia's no stranger to the patent application process here in the United States, and while we've certainly seen some strange ones emanating from its R&D labs, this one looks like something that should be implemented on the double. Explained as a "user interface for controlling an electronic device," the multitouch solution would essentially allow you to pinch, zoom and rotate objects as usual, but it would also employ an array of pressure sensors in order to give your motions a sense of severity. If executed properly, one could theoretically envision the use of a strong push to simulate a double tap (for example), or as a means to activate a secondary function that generally requires another button press or the use of a 'Function' key. Hit the read link for all the mumbo jumbo, but be sure to keep your expectations within check. Or not.

[Via UnwiredView]

Nokia's 3D N810 Internet Tablet caught on blurrycam

by Joseph L. Flatley posted Sep 2nd 2009 @ 3:21PM

We can't say that the idea of stereoscopic displays on cellphones ever really appealed to us -- more than anything, it sounds like the recipe for a nasty migraine. But provided a company figures out how to do it right (and without the silly glasses) true 3D could lead to some pretty interesting interface design, to say the very least. With Sony singing the technology's praises at IFA this morning, it's fitting that Nokia is showing off one such number at Nokia World in Stuttgart today. According to Pocket-lint, the N810 Internet Tablet shown above has been outfitted with a "special screen" made by a "secret third party manufacturer" and displays 3D content to the naked eye. Sure, we're pretty skeptical that 3D will be a hit (or even stop being lousy) any time soon, but who knows? There seem to be a few companies out there who think that it could pull them out of their doldrums.

[Via The Raw Feed]

New cable brings iPhone, 3D support to Vuzix eyewear

by Ross Miller posted Apr 2nd 2009 @ 7:38PM

We know your pain, Vuzix users. You hop on the subway just trying to enjoy a little in-your-face action before the workday begins, and within minutes the accusations and stereotypes start flying. "Look, it's Geordi La Forge!" "LeVar Burton, what's good?!" "Can I try my Zune on that?" Depressing, really. Unfortunately for you, Vuzix's latest cable will not make any of that any more sufferable, though it will enable you to use your existing eyewear with Apple's iPhone and enjoy the spoils of side-by-side, interlaced and anaglyph 3D content. Said cable will be bundled in with the company's iWear AV230XL, though existing customers will definitely want to snag the standalone version for $39.95. The full release is after the break.

Continue reading New cable brings iPhone, 3D support to Vuzix eyewear

3DeeShell autostereoscopic iPhone skin now available to order

by Donald Melanson posted Mar 26th 2009 @ 6:26PM

Intrigued by Wazabee's promise of 3D images on an iPhone without the need for goofy 3D glasses? Then you'll no doubt want to head on over to the company's website post haste, as its 3DeeShell iPhone skin is now finally available to order for the not so low price of $49.99. In addition to adding an extra dimension to a currently limited number of apps (Wazabee provides three itself), the skin also serves a protective shell that you can leave on your iPhone at all times, with the autostereoscopic lens able to slide out to prevent unwanted headaches or hallucinations during non-3D use. Of course, the apps and lens will also work just fine on an iPod touch, just don't expect a very snug fit from the case.

[Thanks, Cob]

LG Arena KM900 hangs onto limelight, reveals multitouch capabilities

by Ross Miller posted Feb 10th 2009 @ 2:21PM

At this rate, LG isn't gonna have any secrets left about the Arena KM900 when it takes the stage for its Mobile World Congress press conference on Monday. The company's released a few more snippets via its Korean site, chief among them being multitouch capabilities for image and web page zooming. Other details include a dedicated multimedia chip and designations for each of the four sides of the interface's 3D cube: phone, widgets, shortcuts, and multimedia. One of our favorite lines, which is almost certainly made funnier by the machine translation, is that this UI is the culmination of 100 years of interface research. We'll have more on the KM900 -- assuming they don't reveal everything before then -- next week in Barcelona.

[Via Unwired View]

Samsung S8300 and updated TouchWiz UI previewed

by Ross Miller posted Feb 9th 2009 @ 8:32PM

While we've gotta wait until Barcelona to see Samsung's Ultra Touch S8300 slider for ourselves, a handful of outlets have already played around with a preview unit, complete with the TouchWiz UI makeover. It's not the slimmest of touch phones, measuring 110 x 51.5 x 12.7 mm, but props are given to the 8 megapixel camera and OLED touchscreen, unsurprisingly, as well as the simple drag-and-drop widget menu and three separate home screens for micro-app organization. Other than some of the icon graphics and the aforementioned menu updates, the UI is largely unchanged from its previous form. The lack of WiFi is gonna ruffle a few feathers, but the HSDPA will probably assuage some of that pain. Hit up the read links for impressions and video -- with any luck, we'll be getting our own hands-on time at next week's Mobile World Congress.

Read - Mobile-review
Read - GSMArena
Read - Stuff.tv

Samsung's TouchWiz UI getting a MWC makeover

by Thomas Ricker posted Feb 9th 2009 @ 4:31AM

With Mobile World Congress around the corner, Samsung is prepped to launch the latest version of its increasingly impressive, finger-friendly TouchWiz UI. Already spotted on the Ultra Touch S8300 slider, the interface has been fitted with new 3D-effects eye candy, enhanced haptic feedback, and new gesture and voice controls. A new widget dock allows you to more easily manage an increased variety of downloadable widgets while Samsung's new Photo Contact feature provides better integration of your photos and contacts with what appears to be face recognition technology. We'll know more after getting our hands on with the UI at WMC next week -- an event that's shaping up to be the biggest cellphone show in years.

[Via I4U]

LG Arena (KM900) pops official, brings along 3D S-Class UI

by Darren Murph posted Feb 8th 2009 @ 10:16AM

Rather than waiting for the KM900 to get lost amongst hundreds of other handsets set to vie for attention at Mobile World Congress, LG has decided it best to go ahead and make its newest touchscreen handset official a few days early. The so-called Arena, which will take the crown as LG's "flagship phone for 2009," is hoping to wow onlookers with its dynamic 3D S-Class user interface. According to Dr. Skott Ahn, president and CEO of LG Mobile: "The direct, intuitive and dynamic S-Class UI will be unlike anything that has appeared on a mobile phone before." We're not quite sure we believe all that just yet, but there's little doubt this bugger will be keen on multimedia. Other specs include integrated Dolby / DivX technology, support for HSDPA 7.2Mbps, WiFi, Assisted GPS and "far more" amenities that should be uncovered in Barcelona. Excited yet?

[Via UnwiredView, thanks Staska]

KDDI au announces Spring 2009 collection

by Sean Cooper posted Jan 31st 2009 @ 1:46PM

Japan's KDDI au wows with the timely delivery of one of its signature seasonal line changes. Spring 2009 looks to be off to a stunning start with OLED displays, 8-plus megapixel cameras, one-seg TV, 3D display, and just about every wireless connectivity option we can dream up. As per, these are all candybar-style sets with the notable exception of the sliding Sony Ericsson Cyber-shot S001 (black phone above) and the two-way Hitachi H001 (purple phone) above. We've created a gallery for each so hit the read link for the complete rundown.

Continue reading KDDI au announces Spring 2009 collection

Hitachi H001 with 3D display leads up KDDI au's Spring 2009 lineup

by Chris Ziegler posted Jan 29th 2009 @ 1:49AM

So KDDI's latest lineup of new phones features the usual array of 8.1 megapixel cameras, wide VGA displays, one-seg TV tuners, and teleporters, but one particular handset stood out: Hitachi's Wooo H001. The dual-hinge flip's claim to fame -- well, besides the bizarre color scheme -- has to be the stereoscopic IPS display that presumably uses the same parallax barrier method shown off by the carrier late last year. The phone will happily serve up 3D-ified versions of various UI elements and mobile TV content, and when you start to get woozy (or Wooozy, as it were), just flip a switch and you're back to the reassuring flatness you're used to. It'll launch in three colors in April, and naturally, you'll have to be in Japan to get it.

[Via Akihabara News]

Toshiba Matsushita Display teases handheld, high res, no glasses 3D

by Richard Lawler posted Jan 6th 2009 @ 4:27PM

We swore we wouldn't fall for tech demos of Toshiba Matsushita Display's sexy optically compensated bend LCDs and their CRT-like ultra wide viewing angles and high refresh rates ever again but by adding autostereoscopic 3D (read: no glasses necessary) we're falling in love all over again. By adapting a 3D film for use with 3- and 9-inch displays, this year's CES demo promises simultaneous 2D and 3D viewing on the same display in high res. How close is OCB's curved, rather than horizontally or vertically aligned liquid crystal approach to reality? Your guess is as good as ours but for now we'll wait for some eyes-on time and throw it on the wait-and-wait-and-see heap with SED and the rest.

Infosys develops 3D cellphone cameras, projectors

by Nilay Patel posted Jun 21st 2008 @ 8:52AM

We've seen a couple handheld 3D devices, but Infosys just announced that developed a chipset capable of capturing and projecting 3D holograms from ordinary cellphones, and that it hopes to take the tech mainstream by 2010. The system captures a series of 2D images from normal cameras and uses them to develop 3D holograms, projecting received images using a laser projector and micro optical elements. Infosys also had a patent granted on the system required to transmit 3D data over normal telecom networks without clogging them up -- the data is transmitted unprocessed, and the chipsets at either end do the heavy lifting. There's no word on what devices this stuff might appear in, but we're wondering what that laser system is supposed to project onto -- or if we'll have to take up smoking to get our 3D on.

[Thanks, Bucky]

Researchers use cameraphones as 3D mice, foresee interactive ads

by Darren Murph posted Jan 22nd 2008 @ 8:16AM

For what it's worth, marketing firms have been encouraging folks to interact with billboards and the like with their cellphones for some time now, but prototype software developed by gurus in the UK has enabled a cameraphone to control a desktop computer. As expected, the application enables users to "move and manipulate onscreen items simply by waving a handset around in front of a [display]," but giving mobile owners a second-rate 3D mouse is just the beginning. There is promise for it (or something similar) to one day be used in more public settings, but while it's still locked inside the house, we'll probably just continue using our entirely more comfortable Wiimote for any atypical mousing exercises. Hit up the read link for a video demonstration.

[Via NewScientist]

AMEX Digital intros G-Plus GPS phone with 3D display

by Darren Murph posted Nov 8th 2007 @ 5:11PM

Just in case a GSM handset with a relatively sleek exterior, integrated GPS chip and a very sexy selection of color options weren't enough to pique your interest, how's about we throw in a 2.4-inch 3D display? Truth be told, we're just as in the dark as you when it comes to deciphering exactly what "3D display" means in this scenario, but we're hoping that it has more to do with 3D maps and less with gaudy goggles. Regardless, the candybar-styled handset boasts tri-band GSM connectivity, up to 2.5-hours of talk time (200-hours in standby), an embedded GPS antenna, QVGA panel, USB connectivity, a 1.3-megapixel camera, integrated media player, miniSD expansion slot and a couple of built-in games to keep you busy. Regrettably, AMEX Digital wasn't kind enough to dish out pricing or availability deets, but it looks like you can phone 'em up if one of the mobiles pictured above just climbed to the top of your must-have-at-all-costs list.