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A report claims that Amazon is creating a number of devices, including two smartphones and an audio-only device said to be designed for streaming. Though there are little in the way of details for the gadgets, one of the two phones is said to use a screen capable of showing 3D images without the need to wear special glasses.
A new 3D printer from botObjects is said to be the first in the world to perform full color 3D prints on a desktop. The ProDesk3D aims to improve existing 3D printing products aimed at end users, such as the MakerBot range of devices, by offering a desktop printer that is touted to combine high accuracy with a mature physical design, as well as simplifying the 3D printing process.
Nokia has started up its Music+ subscription service in the United States, after launching in other territories in January. The subscription, costing $4 per month, expands on the existing free Mix Radio service on Lumia devices by offering an unlimited number of track skips for mixes, and allowing for downloads of multiple mixes. The audio quality is said to be eight times that of the free tier, and provides the option of allowing higher-quality streams to be played over a Wi-Fi connection compared to a lower quality over a mobile network.
Many of the headlining products at CES have focused on 3D display technology, but Samsung introduced a new NX-series camera/lens pairing that enables consumers to record their own 3D videos and stills—from a single lens. Electronista took an early look at the new NX300 camera, which now serves as the NX flagship, along with the 3D prime lens.
Panasonic has outlined its 2103 Viera lines of LCD and plasma HDTVs, with a wide array of options available for future TV buyers. A total of 32 televisions have been detailed by the company, divided equally between plasma-based and non-plasma, and have been split into five plasma screen series and seven LED-based LCD display ranges.
PrimeSense, a company that works on motion-sensing technology and helped Microsoft bring the Xbox 360's Kinect to market, is set to reveal a new embedded 3D sensor. The Capri 1.25 will be shown off at CES in January, and is said by the company to have a small form factor and relatively low cost compared to other 3D-sensing devices.
Staples is going to offer 3D printing to model designers in some of its European stores from early 2013. Called Staples Easy 3D, the office retailer will allow customers located in the Netherlands and Belgium to print out full-color objects from their own files, and then to either pick them up from a local store or have them shipped to their address.
A manufacturer of 3D printers is suing Formlabs and crowdfunding site Kickstarter for an alleged patent infringement. The suit claims that the Form 1 3D printer infringes on a US patent owned by 3D Systems relating to stereolithography, and comes less than a month after the printer finished its highly-successful Kickstarter funding drive.
E-on Software today announced the formal unveiling of its upcoming Vue 11 product line, scheduled for release in November. The company is offering professional users under a maintenance contract a download of the pre-release version of Vue 11 xStream and Infinite, the latest production-driven version of its professional solutions for the creation, animation and rendering of natural 3D environments.
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A new 3D printer has more than quadrupled its initial target on its first day on Kickstarter. The Form 1 from Formlabs had an original target of $100,000, and currently stands at over $400,000 with 29 days of the Kickstarter campaign left to go. Instead of the extruded plastic used by other low-budget printers such as the Makerbot Replicator, the Form 1 opts to use Stereolithography (SL).
Sony has named a date and price for its Personal 3D Viewer in Japan. The HMZ-T2, announced at the end of last month and replacing the HMZ-T1, will reach Japanese retailers by October 13th for 70,000 yen ($900) and will be shown off to members of the public visiting the Tokyo Game Show later this year.
Sony has revamped its Personal 3D Viewer with the new HMZ-T2 model. While we at Electronista appreciated Sony’s first generation Personal 3D Viewer (HMZ-T1), it was not without its shortcomings. The revisions for its second generation address perhaps the greatest weakness of its predecessor by shaving its weight down by a substantial 20 percent.
Today's deals from DealNN include price breaks on HDTVs, iPods, and more. Tigerdirect.com today has lowered the cost of the refurbished LG 47-inch Widescreen 3D LED HDTV, complete with four built-in HDMI ports, maximum image resolution of 1029 x 1080, 16:9 aspect ratio, and 7,000,000:1 dynamic contrast ratio. Currently featured at DealNN, the HDTV has now dropped to $679.99 after rebate, and offers savings of up to $720.
Technology company Dimenco is demonstrating its new 23-inch 3D gaming monitor at the SID show in Boston. The display, using Dimenco Dynamic View, shows off a glasses-free 3D image, last seen being used by Nissho for a 52-inch screen about a year ago. The patent-pending technology is claimed to allow for up to 28 different viewpoints of the screen without any extra eyewear instead of a single fixed point for viewing as in typical stereoscopic 3D screens.
Apple, which has been working and gaining patents for 3D and face-recognition technologies for several years, was awarded another one yesterday for a novel way of creating 3D models out of two-dimensional data. The work in this area started in earnest when Apple purchased Swedish firm Polar Rose in 2010, and has wide implications for commercial applications. One application could be for future iOS or Mac security logins.
Google has further enhanced its use of WebGL to now add more 3D perspective to buildings seen on its MapsGL project, an alternative version of Google Maps (which received the improvement in March). The improvements now add a "parallax" view that allows users to pan around buildings and see them from different angles while still in overhead view. The buildings become translucent in order to avoid obscuring roadways or other landmarks while panning, and are most noticeable on taller buildings.
Sony announced Tuesday that all owners of its Digital Cinema 4K products will be able to apply a software upgrade to their projectors that will improve the frame rate for video playback. The upgrade will improve image quality both in 2D and 3D content, raising the maximum frame rate from the standard 24 frames per second (FPS) to 48FPS for 2D content and 60FPS for 3D content.
Autodesk has released a demo version of Maya 2013, originally released earlier this month, which is now available for 64-bit Intel Mac users running Snow Leopard (10.6.5 or higher) or Lion with a certified graphics card. The new version introduces numerous changes to the program, but has met with some criticism from users, who complain that Maya is not keeping up with the pace of changes set by competing programs such as Blender and Modo.
Hot on the heels of the day's earlier release of OS X 10.8 Mountain Lion (Developer Preview 3), Apple has released a new beta of the forthcoming Safari 5.2 as well as a preview of programming tool Xcode 4.4, reports AppleInsider. Both updates bring noticeable new features to the programs, but both are only for developers and require an Apple Developer account to access. Safari gains SVG filters and other improvements, while Xcode now supports 3D documents.
Flush with success from its iOS product line, Autodesk is expanding its presence on the Mac platform by releasing a "technology preview" version of Inventor Fusion, its first 3D direct modeling software for the Mac. Users can open and edit 3D models from other programs and incorporate them into new or existing designs, including those from AutoCAD and other Autodesk programs.
E Frontier and Mirye Software are teasing features of the next version of Shade, the two companies' 3D rendering, modeling and animation program. The new version, called Shade 13, is accessible through Shade X, an early-access channel for paid subscribers. So far, the companies have offered sneak peeks at three new features: advanced irradiance caching, real-time gamma correction and a sky-generation feature.
A patent has been awarded to Apple for "Image Capture Using Three-Dimensional Reconstruction," a method that may improve upon existing 3D imaging devices such as still and video cameras by overcoming the weaknesses of the two main types of 3D sensors already in existence. As outlined in Apple's patent application, currently devices can approximate depth but can't accurately reproduce 3D geometry, while other sensors are better with shapes but bad with depth.
Microsoft has filed a patent application for a "laser-scanning virtual image display," which is described as a compact display system that can be built into glasses, helmets or goggles. Head-mounted displays are not new, however the patent application describes a method for projector-based presentation rather than placing a small LCD panel directly in front of each eye.
At the Consumer Electronics Show in Las Vegas last month, Panasonic showed off its new lineup of camcorders for 2012. With the arrival of the new models imminent, the company has announced pricing for its range of consumer and prosumer HD camcorders, ranging from $1,200 down to $250. The top of the line is represented by the 3MOS sensor-using HC-X900M, while other models offer full HD, 3D and even a waterproof design.
The BBC has reportedly committed to broadcasting some of the London 2012 Olympics Games in 3D. Events to be aired in 3D include the Olympic Opening Ceremony, the closing ceremony, the men's 100m final, and the nightly highlights program, among others.
Sony is attempting to reinvigorate consumer interest in its 3D products in Australia by introducing 3D lending libraries in its Sony Center stores. The new Sony 3D Library offers users who own 3D-capable TVs the opportunity to loan 3D digital imaging products including video cameras, as well as 3D movies and 3D games. The first of its kind program is offering users the opportunity to try the items out for three days free of charge and is available to customers regardless of whether their 3D TV is a Sony Bravia or otherwise.
Architects can take their designs to the next level, creating fly-throughs that offer physical simulation of light, reflections, time-of-day adjustability, water and sky renderings to achieve extremely realistic presentations based on Google SketchUp drawings with e-on Software's LumenRT 2, now available for Mac and Windows. The plug rendering solution for SketchUp uses an entirely new rendering engine that brings Vue environmental technology to design drawings.
HP is among the many companies embracing 3D technology, and its 2311gt monitor aims to make the technology an affordable upgrade. The 23-inch monitor works as a standard 2D display, or as a 3D panel when combined with passive 3D glasses. In our full review, we will see how the company’s passive 3D technology stacks up against pricier active-shutter tech.
LG showed off a range of new products this week at CES, including a number of new TVs. Electronista took an early look at the company's 2012 lineup, which includes many 3D models and a 55-inch OLED flagship that stunned the crowds with its extreme contrast ratio and color saturation.
Toshiba has announced that it will show off several upcoming products next week at CES, including a waterproof tablet and a large glasses-free 3D TV. Aside from the waterproof tablet, which also offers wireless charging, the company will show off a different model that integrates an OLED display.
Westinghouse has announced that it will formally unveil its 2012 television lineup next week at CES in Las Vegas. The forthcoming offerings will include an expanded size range from 19 to 70 inches, including LED-backlit and traditional CCFL-based models, along with 3D-capable TVs and a thin bezel design.
LG is currently teasing new 3D home theater systems that the company plans to show off next week at CES in Las Vegas. The products include three separate packages, each pairing the one of the company's Cinema 3D televisions with different bookshelf speakers, towers, subwoofers and center channels.
LG has disclosed additional details surrounding an 84-inch 3D TV that is expected to arrive on the market sometime next year. The panel is capable of displaying 4K content with 3840x2160 resolution, though it also displays in standard 1080p resolution.
Completing its line of Vue 10 offerings, E-on Software has now issued the Personal Learning Edition (PLE) and trial versions of its Vue 10 3D landscaping and digital nature creation programs. The PLE edition allows users to try out and learn Vue 10 Infinite and xStream indefinitely, while the trial version of Vue 10 offers users a chance to work with Vue 10 Esprit, Studio or Complete with some limitations for 30 days.
Samsung has announced that its Smart TVs finally have been paired with support for YouTube videos in 3D. The service was first noted earlier this year at IFA, where Samsung claimed it would have exclusive access to YouTube 3D videos for a short time.
Mirya Software has updated its 3D modeling, animation and rendering cross-platform program Shade to version 12.1, bringing with it a new FBX exporter, which allows users to export static and animated models to all major 3D applications and development tools. Poser users can also directly import Poser scenes (using Poser 9 or Poser 2012). The update also incorporates many user-requested fixes and improvements.
The SpaceMouse Pro is debuting at the Autodesk University conference in Las Vegas this week, a new 3D mouse for professional 3D software users. The mouse features a six-way sensor, ergonomic design, an on-screen display that provides visual feedback on function key programming, a total of 15 tactile buttons (including five QuickView keys for 3D view angles), intelligent function keys and a controller cap that "flies" around 3D models.
Barely a month after the last major update, Avis Nocturna has upgraded its 3D terrain rendering program TerraRay to version 6.0, bringing with it a 25-50 percent performance gain thanks to an optimized renderer, which also now fully utilizes 64-bit processors. The new version also features volume-based cloud rendering, new rock presets and a new algorithm to generate them, a new grass algorithm and other various improvements.
The Vue 10 product line, the top-end products of which were made available to its professional customers as a pre-release six weeks ago, is now shipping for the company's 3D Enthusiast and 3D Artist markets. The new releases run from the free starter application Vue 10 Pioneer and associated theme packs all the way to Vue 10 Complete, which lets artists create fully animated eco-systems with terrain, plants and sky.
The USPTO has awarded Apple a patent on 3D object-recognition technology that goes well beyond the current face recognition already included in apps such as iPhoto and the iOS 5 camera application, allowing a device to "build" a 3D face or object by analyzing the curves, contours and shadows of a 2D image. Such technology would give Kinect-like detection and recognition capabilities to cameras such as those found in iOS and Mac devices.
Computer-aided design (CAD) software maker Autodesk is promoting new technology the company has recently acquired by pushing out two new programs -- one of which is currently exclusive to Mac -- that take designs or photographs and help turn them into viable 3D models for either computer use or physical objects. Joining the company's earlier 123D and 123D Sculpt are the new 123D Catch (for Windows) and 123D Make (for OS X), Architosh reports.
LG has introduced a new projector, the CF3DAT, that will be headed to customers in the company's home country of Korea. The projector features Cinema 3D technology, enabling users to view 3D content in HD resolution when wearing inexpensive polarized glasses rather than relying on more expensive active-shutter frames.
Artlantis 4 has been released, featuring a much-improved rendering engine, as well as many other quality and performance improvements. The update features and improved method for working with multiple objects and an average rendering time that is twice as fast as the previous version. There are also productivity improvements and (in Artlantis Studio) support for iVisit 3D panoramas. Additionally, the company has released five libraries of 3D rendered vehicles.
TerraRay 5.1 is an update to the affordable 3D landscape generator program from AvisNocturna, now adding new post-processing effects such as depth of field, depth tint and bloom filters as well as a new "natural erosion" tool to simulate water erosion. The app's rendering times and live preview have also been made significantly faster, with improved terrain detail, and more sample scenes and materials to work with have been added.
Google has incorporated WebGL into Google Maps. The improved app, Google MapsGL, leverages computer-based hardware 3D graphic acceleration to provide richer visuals and animations. The functionality, availabile as a beta, initially will be supported on Chrome 14+ or Firefox Beta.
Sony has reportedly sent a letter to theater owners notifying them that it is planning to stop paying for 3D glasses. The studio currently foots the bill for supplying 3D glasses to moviegoers, however the policy is estimated to cost the company approximately $5 million to $10 million for the most popular global releases, according to a Hollywood Reporter report. Even the cost for smaller films is said to reach $1.5 million to $2 million, or approximately $0.50 for each ticket sold.
OptiTex, in partnership with DAZ 3D, has announced a version of its Dynamic Clothing Engine for Mac that leverages the 64-bit nature of OS X as well as a corresponding update for the Windows version to enable 64-bit operation. The plug-in is used with DAZ 3D to allow users to apply dynamic clothing sets to figures created in the program, and user can easily alter fabrics, garment sizes and style variations.
Smith Micro has launched a new version of its popular 3D human and animal figure creation app Poser, now at version 9, and Poser Pro 2012. Both programs let users create and animate 3D characters, using 3GB of included content and 70 pre-set figures to customize. The new version offers Vertex Weight Map Rigging support, subsurface scattering and rendering performance improvements, with Poser Pro gaining Collada support and a fully 64-bit rendering engine.
As Businessweek notes, it took Autodesk, the 3D and CAD software company best known for its industry-standard software AutoCAD -- nearly 30 years to build up a customer base of 12 million customers. But a single iPhone app -- the $2 Sketchbook Mobile, released almost exactly two years ago -- has increased the company's user base by almost 60 percent, bringing in seven million new users. The company also saw a 14 percent rise in revenue.
Nemetschek Vectorworks has announced their 2012 product line, which includes Vectorworks Architect, Renderworks, Fundamentals, Spotlight and new Landmark and Designer editions. The new versions have over 100 performance usability improvements, including significant speedups when navigating or switching between viewports and design layers, Lion compatibility, enhanced 3D modeling, improved IFC support, an instant access Push-Pull tool and more.
