Sweeting the pot for movie-lovers seems to be the goal of Samsung, and while they’re at it, it seems that they may be ensuring that active 3D technology remains the industry standard.  Those interested in what all the hype is about can get a great package.  You’ll get two sets of battery-powered Samsung 3D specs, all of the Shrek movies re-mastered in 3D, and vouchers to get your mitts on Shrek Forever After  and Megamind, both on Blu-ray 3D. 

With all of the battles raging on regarding active and passive 3D technology, Samsung seems to be recruiting new fans by offering them a great package at a reasonable price.  Samsung has long been known for quality 3D experiences, so there’s no better way to prove your clout than by bringing new consumers into the fold.

Few movies are better in 3D than digitally animated flicks, so you’ll likely get hours of entertainment from this package.  Priced at $349.99, it seems a bit steep at first, but the inclusion of the battery-powered 3D glasses and popular titles puts it in a very reasonable realm.  Interested in 3D? Give the Megamind 3D package from Samsung a look.  You may never go back to 2D movies…

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What in the world were we thinking?  I mean, 3D glasses actually looked cool in the ‘50s, but then we started taking steps back.  With so many rocking goofy looking 3D specs, there’s no doubt that fashion wasn’t taken into account in the design process.  Sure, we’ve gotten into active 3D technology, but even the passive models being released don’t seem to care about the clunky feel.  Shouldn’t watching movies be comfortable?  Come on guys…

A picture from a film festival in 1951 shows that 3D specs have regressed.  Despite our best efforts, we seem to swing and miss every time someone tries to design a new set of glasses.  Sure, we aren’t rocking the red/blue lens, paper frame 3D glasses of the ‘80s, but something has gotta give.  In fact, I’d wager that 3D fans would sacrifice a bit of performance for some glasses that are actually comfortable to wear.  Have you been to an IMAX 3D feature, lately?  The glasses are awful, and while we can gawk and swoon over the technology that’s flashing across the screen, there’s simply no getting away from the fact that the glasses are pretty burdensome.

When 3D movies in the ’50s were showing off better 3D glasses designs, we have a problem.  In fact, if something doesn’t change soon, I’m hitting the panic button.  Scratch that – consider it hit.

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When ASUS released their last line of monitors, many were impressed.  It only makes sense that when they displayed the new Designomodels, they kept true to the design.  With 22-, 23-, and 24-inch displays available, the color accuracy and 178-degree viewing angle prove to be quite impressive when put to the test.

There were some things we’d have liked to see with the 3D versions, but ASUS didn’t agree apparently.  Sure, they added an integrated IR transmitter for NVIDIA 3D Vision, but for the most part, the new models don’t seem to be much different from their previous 3D monitor models.  The integrated transmitter is something many had been calling for, however, so we’ll see if that’s enough to move the new line off the shelves.

Prices have yet to be released, but the previous lines were fairly reasonable, so unless they absolutely blindside us, you can expect the prices for the new line to be close.  With 1920 x 1080 resolution, the new ASUS Designo line should generate some interest from price conscious consumers.

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So, you don’t like the 3D thing, huh?  No problem.  Just go to the electronics store and pick up a flat-panel unit without the technology.  Wait, what’s that?  Oh, there aren’t really many options these days that don’t have the 3D capabilities.  Ah, well…you held out as long as you could, right?

This is the position many consumers are finding themselves in, even if they don’t really dig the 3D movement.  Now, that’s not saying that you can’t pick up a great unit and simply not use the 3D.  That’s obviously what you’ll need to do, however…

If you want a Smart TV, you’ll need to suck it up and take the 3D package with it.  You don’t have to use it, but it’s going to be there.  Think of it as being “bundled”.  With so many television manufacturers realizing that the 3D landslide is simply too massive to stop, they’re including the capabilities in every new unit that comes off the line.

For the coming year, early numbers indicate that nearly ¾ of all new televisions will be 3D enabled.  Lucky for us, the technology has gotten quite affordable, which honestly should help stem a lot of the criticism.  Sure, 3D is fun, but many couldn’t justify buying the necessary equipment to enjoy it.  Now, there’s isn’t much of a choice.  If you want that top of the line unit, you’ll have to endure the pain of knowing it’s 3D ready.  Is it the 3D that really gets you tied up in knots, or the fear that you’ll try it, absolutely love it, and then admit to all of your tech friends that you caught onto the craze a little late?  Well, now you’ll be able to figure it out…

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There’s little doubt that Samsung’s new UND6400 will become a hot item when it comes to LCD 3D units, but there are a few drawbacks when considering the new design.  Let’s consider what’s incredible about it, first.  We absolutely love the unit’s design as the sleek appearance and nearly unnoticeable bezel makes the UND6400 one of the best looking units available.  Those that don’t dig on the 3D movement can save a few bucks by looking into the UND6300.  But, that’s neither here nor there for our purposes…

We aren’t thrilled about the price, however, as despite being a great option, it seems a bit overpriced in terms of similar units.  As many will notice when the full line comes out, it seems that Samsung is banking on the fact that consumers are looking for sleek designs to fuel their purchases.  Performance-wise, the UND6400 holds up, so there’s little issue there, but the non-existent framing border and stand should lure quite a few over despite the price tag.

Picture qualities aren’t bad at all when using 2D and 3D content, so there’s little concern there, and when it comes to edge-lit LED LCD units, you probably won’t find better on the market.  If you’re looking to upgrade, this could be a good unit, though if you’re wanting to get the flagship unit, get ready to forgo that bathroom remodel or that return trip to grad school.  It’s going to set you back for a bit, that’s for sure…

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The LG Optimus Pad hasn’t been much of a secret, as once the 3D capabilities were rumored, there was no quelling the buzz that took hold of the market.  With so many still salivating over the iPad 2, the LG Optimus Pad brings the 3D revolution to tablets in a sense.  We won’t be getting the glasses-free 3D experience just yet, but the unit does ensure that there will be some healthy competition for Apple in the newly emerging tablet market.  That’ll keep ‘em pushing, and we all love that.

The North American market will know the unit as the T-Mobile G-Slate, and the Andriod 3.0 honeycomb tablet will allow you to shoot 3D videos through rear-shot cameras.  The LCD is an 8.9-inch screen with 1280 x 768 WXGA resolution.  1 GB of RAM comes standard, but when you handle the unit, you may be a bit let down.

Relatively unimpressive in the physical sense, there’s no doubt we’ve seen things like this before.  I guess you have to crawl before you walk, right?  The iPad 2 garnered so much hype because of its thin design, and the LG Optimus doesn’t do much to unseat the current ruler of the tablet kingdom.  Thicker and heavier than the iPad 2, the Optimus doesn’t deliver much with the size as it didn’t feel any sturdier than the thinner Apple rendition.

The 8.9-inch design seems to play on the perfect medium between your smart phone and your iPad.  iPad’s come in just under 10 inches, so holding the smaller tablet may make things a little easier.  LG had better hope that consumers agree as it seems that they’ve centered their press release design around this key aspect.  So, the screen is large enough to watch videos but small enough to tote around.  Will it stick?  Who knows, but when the new generation of 3D tablets begin hitting the market, LG will need to keep up.

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There’s no doubt that Toshiba caught a bit of attention at CES when they showcased their Satellite L Series laptops.  Now that they’ve made their US appearance, Toshiba is making sure the entire world knows about the line by releasing new models in Europe, the Middle East, and Africa. 

The L730 and 735 have a smallish 13.3-inch screen, while the 750 and 755 offer up a 15.6-inch window.  For those that simply need as much viewing space as possible, the L770 and 775 have a 17.3-inch screen, and with announcements made regarding the 3D capabilities now being ushered in for the laptop line, expect these to become quite popular worldwide.

You can connect you L series to your 3D capable television via HDMI, convert certain content from 2D to 3D, and immediately begin enjoying the new push in streaming 3D content.  Consumers have the option of getting a unit with an Intel Core i3 or i5 processor, and triple or quad-core power. 

A 1.3 megapixel webcam and Nvidia GeForce 315M card with 1GB of video memory should get gamers interesting in the line, as well.  Details are still hazy regarding an official release and pricing, but once this information gets to us, we’ll get it to you.  In the meantime, take a gander at the L-series and start licking your chops...

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As if webcams and VoIP technology weren’t delivering enough, you will now be able to check out your friends in 3D when chatting via your laptops.  Toshiba has announced that the ne P770 and P775 laptops will have 3D webcams and will have 3D playback capabilities.  This shouldn’t come as a surprise as many tablets and laptops are now developing and releasing 3D capable units, but the 3D webcam should excite many Skype users.

The new P-series line is proving that Toshiba plans on staying on top of their game.  The P755 and 759 are 15.6-inch designs with the P770 and 775 coming in at 17.3-inches.  In addition to the P-series, Toshiba has been showing off their new L-series notebooks.  AMD processors power some impressive units, and gamers will be happy to learn that Nvidia graphics hardware is available on certain models.  Pricing has yet to be released, but expect these models to be available this month.

Now that we’ve covered some of the specs, I want to revisit this 3D webcam idea.  When webcams are standard 3D, we’ll all begin looking forward, and you know what that means, right?  You guessed it...holograms.  We recently covered some hologram technology that has been making headlines, and there’s bound to be a company out there working my hologram camera-ready laptop.  Isn’t there?  Please?  Ok, I’ll be patient, but this has been coming for some time.  We’re excited to get our hands on the new Toshiba releases, and see what these 3D cameras can do for our Skype experience!

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The BD-HDW series has been announced by Sharp Japan.  Those looking to upgrade their Blu-ray recording units will have three different models to choose from.  Featuring an incredibly sleek design, all of the models have an HDMI interface and USB port.  Further, DLNA support and Wi-Fi or Ethernet connections will ensure that all of your streaming content is conducive.  All of the following units are 3D-enabled:

BD-HDW80

Priced just under $1,300, the BD-HDW80 is the cream of the crop when it comes to the new Sharp line.  With a full terabyte of HDD, there’s no doubt that this unit will hold its own for quite some time.

BD-HDW75

A slightly lighter version of the HDW80, the 75 offers up 500 GB of space and is priced a bit lower ($1,060).  The features remain the same, and if you’re willing to sacrifice a bit of space, the power involved with this model should be attractive.

BD-HDW73

The economical (relatively, of course) model of the new Sharp line will land you 320 GB of space, but many of the same features. 

Panasonic’s release of the BD-RE XL rewritable Blu-rays won’t be lost on those looking into upgrading to Sharp’s new Blu-ray recorders.  All of the new models are compatible, and with an announced release to the Japanese market, expect more details to emerge shortly regarding global details.

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Sports fans everywhere have been salivating over the idea of watching their sports in 3D.  To show that there are huge steps being made, ESPN aired the Masters Tournament in 3D for the second consecutive year.  Were you watching? 

ESPN 3D’s producer Phil Orlin pointed out the depth perception involved, proving to fans just how useful 3D sports can be.  The ability to judge distances and follow putts on a 3D green makes for great television, and it’s obvious that fans are starting to notice.  After airing the popular Major tournament from Augusta last year, ESPN decided to follow it up again, to show advancements made over the last year, and let fans know that they’re serious about bringing this technology into the fold.

With so many sports enthusiasts out there, this can be a great opportunity to solidify 3D sales to another viewing demographic.  Will it stick?  ESPN sure thinks it’s going to, and with so many viewers, there’s no doubt that fans everywhere have been paying attention.  Well, if you caught it, what did you think?

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