Nintendo's 3DS games console allows 3D gameplay without the need for silly glasses

It’s not just televisions and video cameras that are going 3D – gaming is joining the trend too. It’s a natural move because many games are trying to simulate a 3D environment anyway.

Sony already has a taster collection of 3D games available for PlayStation 3 owners, while Microsoft is promising 3D titles for the Xbox 360 from early next year. However, playing them requires a 3D TV and a pair of 3D glasses. Nintendo’s 3DS – its next hand-held console – delivers 3D games without the need for glasses.

Nintendo will only say that the 3DS will be released by March 2011 but the company showed off some demos earlier this week and the titles being prepared look superb.

The games don’t burst out of the screen quite as much as you expect 3D to do but there’s a very strong impression of depth. On titles such as Mario Kart this makes it much easier to judge distance, while Metal Gear Solid: Snake Eater 3D uses the technology to create some truly immersive jungle environments.

Nintendo’s Wii is unlikely to get a 3D update so a lot rests on the 3DS. On the evidence so far, Nintendo have got it right.

Best cameras for video/ 3D Everywhere

July 30, 2010 (WPVI) -- More and more people are using their digital cameras to shoot video.

These days almost every camera has that capability, according to NPD, a market-research firm.

The final episode of the TV show "House" was shot not with a $100,000 film camera, but with a digital SLR camera that costs less than $3,000! It's the Canon 5D Mark II. Granted, it was outfitted with professional lenses and other equipment. Consumer Reports' testers say it's a fine camera, but how about the video quality of less expensive point-and-shoots?

Consumer Reports rates the video quality of digital cameras. Some point-and-shoots do a much better job than others, both in bright light and in more-challenging low-light scenes.

It turns out that you don't have to pay a fortune to get a digital camera that shoots decent video. A good choice is the Canon PowerShot A495. It's a Consumer Reports Best Buy, at $130.

It shoots video in standard definition. If you want a camera that shoots high-definition video, it will cost you more. Consumer Reports says a good choice is the Canon EOS 7D, which costs around $1,800.

3D Everywhere

When it comes to 3D, movie theaters, move over. Major League Baseball is just getting into the act. And there was plenty of fanfare around this summer's World Cup broadcast in 3D. DirecTV has recently launched several 3D channels. Beyond TVs, 3D is popping up in all sorts of products.

At Consumer Reports' labs, 3D games are creating quite a buzz. Video games are just one of many 3D products now on the market. There are also 3D laptops. But Consumer Reports' tests on the Acer Aspire 5738DG-6165 show the 3D effects aren't very exciting and the viewing angle is very limited.

But Consumer Reports' Terry Sullivan says the Fujifilm FinePix Real 3D W1 3D point-and-shoot camera is more promising. It is pricey at $600, but it shoots 3D photos and videos. Sullivan was impressed that you can watch 3D video on this camera without needing to wear special glasses. But you have to shoot it horizontally, not vertically. However, Consumer Reports says take a pass on the camera's $500 3D digital frame. Tester Rich Fisco saw double images and experienced eyestrain.

And what about those latest 3D TVs being tested at Consumer Reports? They include a 63-inch plasma from Samsung and a 40-inch Sony LCD. Testers are still finding that plasma is a better technology for 3D. And bigger is definitely better for 3D's immersive experience with movies and video games.

Consumer Reports' advice: If you're looking to buy a high-end TV right now, go ahead and get one that's 3D. Top rated are the Panasonic VT-20 and VT-25 series, which start at about $2,500. But be aware that there are other expenses, such as additional glasses, which cost more than $100 a pair. And you'll need a 3D Blu-ray player for movies, which costs $200 to $400

Disney Interactive Media Launches New TRON App for iPhone and iPod Touch

Tron is a 1982 action science fiction film produced by Walt Disney Picture with Jeff Bridges as the protagonist hacker Kevin Flynn and Bruce Boxleitner, Cindy Morgan and David Warner in supporting roles. Tron was one of the first movies to make extensive use of any form of computer animation, and is celebrated as a milestone in the computer animation industry.

To be released this December 2010, 'TRON: Legacy' is a 3D action-packed adventure set in a digital world unlike anything captured on the big screen. Jeff Bridges returns as Kevin Flynn and Garrett Hedlund plays his son Sam Flynn. The film will be presented in Digital 3D, IMAX 3D and RealD 3D.

Find Solutions for Enterprises, SMBs & Service Providers at the INTERNET TELEPHONY Conference and EXPO West, October 4-6, 2010. Los Angeles, CA.

Find Solutions for Enterprises, SMBs & Service Providers at the INTERNET TELEPHONY Conference and EXPO West, October 4-6, 2010. Los Angeles, CA.

Find Solutions for Enterprises, SMBs & Service Providers at the INTERNET TELEPHONY Conference and EXPO West, October 4-6, 2010. Los Angeles, CA.

Find Solutions for Enterprises, SMBs & Service Providers at the INTERNET TELEPHONY Conference and EXPO West, October 4-6, 2010. Los Angeles, CA.

Find Solutions for Enterprises, SMBs & Service Providers at the INTERNET TELEPHONY Conference and EXPO West, October 4-6, 2010. Los Angeles, CA.

Find Solutions for Enterprises, SMBs & Service Providers at the INTERNET TELEPHONY Conference and EXPO West, October 4-6, 2010. Los Angeles, CA.

Find Solutions for Enterprises, SMBs & Service Providers at the INTERNET TELEPHONY Conference and EXPO West, October 4-6, 2010. Los Angeles, CA.

Find Solutions for Enterprises, SMBs & Service Providers at the INTERNET TELEPHONY Conference and EXPO West, October 4-6, 2010. Los Angeles, CA.

The new TRON app released by DIMG will allow users to 'Enter the Grid' by checking in at the show via their phone's GPS system. Movie fans can also visit the ComiTRON located on aisle #3712 at the Comic-Con and opening the app from there, they will receive an exclusive 'golden ticket' to the Studio's offsite ComiTRON event, revealing information about the event's location and timing.

The TRON app is free for download and once installed on the iPhone and iPod Touch, users can play the classic Tank game from the Tank arcade, view the trailer of the movie Tron: Legacy and view pre-sale order info for the Tron Evolution videogame from Disney Interactive Studios. As the movie premiere date nears the app will also get updated and include additional video, music and free and premium games.

Stephen Saiz, director of marketing at Disney Interactive Studios has exclaimed that they are excited to provide a unique and continually evolving mobile experience that will provide fans the opportunity to dive into the world of TRON in anticipation of the film's premiere in December. Comic-Con is the perfect place to launch the new TRON app, which was created specifically for enthusiastic fans as a way for them to jump into the ComiTRON action.