Filed under: Peripherals, Portable Audio, Portable Video

There are a few 3D devices that somehow manage to buck the “gimmick” stereotype and show a bit of promise, but Neovision Labs’ iFusion is definitely not a peripheral that we can take seriously. Doing the 3D realm more harm than good, this PMP add-on appears to be nothing more than a clear, acrylic screen protector; however, a flurry of less-than-reputable claims state that the simple LCD covering allows for “lifelike 3D images” to pop out of your handheld without the need for 3D goggles. The catch (there’s always a catch) is that the media you play must be anaglyphic in nature, meaning that it’s pre-encoded with 3D goodness. The “autostereoscopic” apparatus supposedly brings that atypical content to life without the need for special glasses, and doesn’t affect normal (read: 99.9+ percent of your files) media whatsoever. If you’re still curious, and don’t have a sneaking suspicion of being duped on this, the iFusion will be available for the iubi Blue and Microsoft Zune sometime this fall for an undisclosed price.

[Via DAPreview]

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BOLD MOVES: THE FUTURE OF FORD A new documentary series. Be part of the transformation as it happens in real-time

Filed under: Displays

NTT DoCoMo is looking to unveil a svelte 3D portable display system at the upcoming CEATEC in Japan, but unlike the traditionally uninspiring three-dimensional products we’ve seen (and even the not-so-gimmicky variety), DoCoMo’s device operates sans the red-tinted glasses. Working in conjunction with associate professor Yasuhiro Takagi of the Tokyo University of Agriculture and Technology, the megacorporation has developed a 7-inch “3D display system” that makes images and video appear as if it’s “leaping out from the screen.” This rendition also allows viewers to experience the illusions from angles other than front and center, as onlookers can view the action within a 60-degree horizontal angle or 30-degree vertical angle without losing the wow-factor. An embedded camera senses the position of the viewer(s), and then intelligently beams the images through its lenticular (single-convex) lens attached to the front of the screen. While no word on pricing or availability outside of the CEATEC expo has been given, we can definitely envision this becoming an excellent tool to keep those mischeveous kids occupied for hours, but us grown folk will probably just hold out for the 110-inch version.

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SPONSORED BY: BOLD MOVES: THE FUTURE OF FORD A new documentary series. Be part of the transformation as it happens in real-time.

Filed under: HDTV, Home Entertainment

As part of its “extensive” coverage of this year’s International Meeting on Information Display in Korea, AVING has a brief write-up on a 42-inch LCD monitor from LG that can switch between 2D and 3D modes at the touch of a button. And by “brief write-up,” we mean just that; it’s literally a one line mention of the HD-capable set, with no explanation as to how it performs this amazing feat. We suspect that the company has been working with Philips and implemented its WOWvx 3D technology, which provides auto-stereoscopic images without the need for those silly-looking, 50’s era blue and red glasses. There’s a good chance that this monitor will be on display again at CES, though, in which case we promise to provide you with the full deets (or at least a post containing a little more of the technical jargon that you love).

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It used to be that you’d be burned at the stake if you tried to perform such brazen acts of witchcraft, but since that is no longer the case, feel free to give the EZ3D Picture Frame from DigiGear a try. The picture frame works in conjunction with DigiGear’s software that plays dress up with your digital pictures. After a few alterations, users print out the picture onto ordinary paper and mount it onto the EZ3D Picture Frame. Your pictures are now 3D! Or so we’re lead to believe. Short of actually seeing this in-person, we’re acting on blind faith, but that hasn’t stopped us before.

The degree to which this works is, again, hard to make out from low quality JPEGs posted on DigiGear’s Web site, but at least its $29.95 price tag won’t break the ol’ piggy bank. – Nicholas Deleon

Product Page [DigiGear via The Red Ferret Journal]

Filed under: Features, Gaming, Peripherals

 

If you purchase a Novint Falcon later this summer, your geekier friends may feel an unusual mixture of amazement and envy when they first see it. Where, they will wonder, did you score that Star Wars prop? When you break it to them that your new input device was not actually used in the iconic science fiction movie (despite sharing part of its name with Han Solo's ship), they may be a bit disappointed, but only until they use it

 

The Novint Falcon is one of the most promising PC interface peripherals to come along in years. The forward-facing base of the device resembles a half-sphere from which sprout three robotic arms that protrude and meet at a small vertical mount near its center. The mount can accommodate a variety of different controllers, one of which is a small doorknob-like grip. Novint explains, however, that others might include, for example, a trigger.

The three arms enable three degrees of freedom, enabling PC users to naturally and fluidly navigate a 3D virtual space such as a basketball court, checkerboard or galaxy. With just a few minutes of usage, one can easily see how the controller would be a natural for god games and real-time strategy games, and it could be the controller of choice for Spore, Will Wright's forthcoming spin on evolution. Novint also caters to professionals needing to manipulate simulations, but one wonders what a native 3D spatial interface to the PC might look like were the Falcon to be embraced as the mouse was by the Macintosh development team.

Were the Falcom simply one of the most intuitive 3D controllers ever produced, that would be appealing enough, but the product also incorporates sophisticated haptics or advanced force-feedback. Navigate into a wall and the controller will stop. Navigate through dense, bumpy or slick services and you'll feel it slow down, vibrate or "slip." The Falcon could even generate a realistic "pull" as I tossed a virtual ball attached to a virtual rubber band around the screen. When I asked Novint if it was concerned about the haptic patents held by Immersion Corp. that have caused problems for Sony and its Dual Shock controller; a company executive was unfazed, claiming that Novint's patents were filed nine years before Immersion's and that its product operated in 3D as opposed to 2D.

The Novint Falcon is designed to sell for about $100 but will be closer to $150 at its debut as the company starts to build manufacturing scale. Much like Nintendo's Wii controller, games will have to be designed with it in mind in order to get its maximum benefit. Other than that, its only disadvantage is its desk real estate which, while larger than your average gamepad, is comparable to that of a steering wheel. If Novint can build developer support for its innovative controller, its Falcon should land on shelves only for a short time before flying off them.

Ross Rubin is director of industry analysis for consumer technology at market research and analysis firm The NPD Group and a contributing editor for LAPTOP. Views expressed in Switched On are his own. Feedback is welcome at fliptheswitch@gmail.com.

Filed under: Games

Square-Enix has announced that the excessively-titled Dirge of Cerberus: Lost Episode - Final Fantasy VII will be available exclusively for Amp’d handsets this summer. It’s already the most popular 3D mobile game in Japan, taking place shortly after the events of Final Fantasy VII, and thrusting you in the role of one Vincent Valentine who, you guessed it, must save the world from evil. The mobile version is being timed to coincide with the August release of Dirge of Cereberus: Final Fantasy VII for the PlayStation 2 and will initially be single-player only, although Square-Enix promises to let you get your multiplayer fix at a later date. And if you aren’t lucky enough to have Amp’d service, or if fancy 3D graphics just aren’t your thing, you can always grab an NES emulator and bust out some classic 8-bit Final Fantasy — although we can’t say Square would approve.

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Filed under: Misc. Gadgets

Yeah, you could read Engadget's extensive guide on how to shoot and make your own anaglyph 3-D images, or you can snag a Komamura Horseman 3D with stereo lenses, which was apparently quietly spotted at PMA last month. It's apparently due get the whole real-world-release treatment this summer, so even though we rarely, if ever, do analogs -- and believe you us, we do wish it was digital because really, we can't actually even imagine buying ourselves an analog at this point -- we know there are some out there who'd be stoked to have one. And the rest of us, will just have to wait for a digital mod or back. And an importer.

[Via The Online Photographer and Gear Life]

Filed under: Displays, Wearables

We love 3D, who doesn't? We'll stop at nothing to get that third dimension, you know? We put up with anaglyphs, crazy glasses, polarized glass, but ColorLink's ColorComb eyepieces (yeah yeah yeah) have an angle on the Z-axis we've never seen taken before (no no no). Their new stereoscopic 3D headgear uses those already-on-the-market six-color LED backlit LCDs to simulate 3D, and can also be used like Sharp's dual-angled screens to enforce privacy or display multiple virtual-optical screens. They also had a 17-inch SXGA 3D monitor they announced, but we aren't yet clear whether that uses the same backlit LED panels necessary for taking advantage of their ColorComb. We know, we know, wearable 3D anything will never be the same as the taunting help me Obi Wan we've been chasing for nearly 30 years, but for now we'll takes what we can gets.

[Via Let's Go Digital]

Filed under: Handsets, Multimedia, Samsung

What, did you think Samsung was just going to call it a day after showing their lil’ stereoscopic AMOLEDs a few months back? Heck no, we all knew those things were going to find their way into prototype handsets with all due haste. Sure enough, the Korean manufacturer chose the home-turf Korea Electronics Show to unveil a swiveling clamshell sporting a 320 x 320 example of their 3D tech. Samsung itself is the first to point out that it thinks it can succeed with mobile 3D where others have failed (read: NTT DoCoMo), thanks to the unusually high resolution (and diminutive size) of its new display and a commitment to creating content. If everything goes as planned up in those R&D labs, look for AMOLED-based handsets to hit the market come the second half of 2007.

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BOLD MOVES: THE FUTURE OF FORD Step behind the curtain at Ford Motor. Experience the documentary first-hand.