iPad 3D: tablet makers look to a 3D future

The iPad is going 3D. And you can take that to the bank.<br/><br/>It's just a matter of time - and it could happen sooner than you might think. As an army of rival tablets bear down on Apple's golden child, 3D is increasingly looking like its best next step.<br/><br/>The internet began buzzing with speculation about the iPad 3 even before Apple closed the doors on the iPad 2 press launch. With Jobs & Co understandably keeping mum on what's to come, the rumour mill has run amok ever since. So we'd thought we'd add some conjecture of our own.<br/><p style="text-align: center;"><img alt="iPad 2" class="aligncenter" src="http://cdn.mos.techradar.com//Review%20images/TechRadar/Gadgets/tablet%20snaps/TTB01.ipadintro/4x3.ipadintro.main2-420-100.jpg" width="420" /></p><br/><strong>THIRD DIMENSION:</strong> <em>Is Apple planning to introduce 3D with the iPad 3? From a naming point of view it would make a lot of sense</em><br/><br/>Read on and we'll argue why the time is right to make the iPad 3D, how the display tech might work, and recap what's Apple's principal rivals are already doing in 3D space.<br/><br/><strong>Next generation 3D display</strong><br/><br/>Speculation about the iPad 3 principally focuses on its display - and with good reason. It's the most obvious upgrade Apple can make to its tablet.<br/><br/>Currently, the iPad 2 has a 1024x768 resolution screen. But Apple can do better.<br/><br/>The Retina Display used by the iPhone 4 has no obvious dot structure and offers crystal clear text. That's because its pixels are just 78 micrometres wide.<br/><br/>This so-called Retina Display has given Apple a visible advantage in the mobile phone market and it could well do the same in the increasingly congested tablet arena. Bringing Retina Display technology to the iPad would quadruple its resolution. Hints of a 1536 x 2048 pixel standard are already beginning to emerge, with Apple's Newstand app supporting both 1024 x768 and 1536 x 2048 resolutions.<br/><br/>But even a Retina Display isn't a big enough deal to keep the iPad 3 ahead of the competition. It's common knowledge that world's biggest screen manufacturers are fast-tracking autostereoscopic 3D technologies. They see 3D as a driver both for hardware sales and content, but all know full well that consumers would rather not wear 3D goggles if they don't have to.<br/><br/>Unfortunately producing large screen auto-3D is difficult. Every plane of depth you create robs the screen of resolution. To bring out a large no-glasses display you have to use a next generation 4K2K panel - that's 8 million pixels give or take. Today's 1920 x 1080 Full HD screens are 2 million pixels. So to produce a no-glasses 3D panel requires four times the resolution as a flat picture - which is exactly the same PPI bump that Apple's 78 micrometers pixel technology allows. Could this technique be used give the iPad no-glasses 3D? The numbers seem to add up.<br/><br/>Adding fuel to the three dimensional fire was a demonstration by panel maker CPT (Chunghwa Picture Tubes) at the recent Display Taiwan show (which ran June 14 - 16).<br/><br/>On its booth CPT was showing a 3D touchscreen display shoehorned into an iPad case. The display was not autostereoscopic; you had to wear passive 3D glasses to see the demo still images. CPT was saying nothing about the exhibit, but given how cool the end result looked we like to think it's a clear indicator of things to come.<br/><br/>So what are Apple's rivals doing?<br/><br/>LG has already shown its first 3D tablet. The Optimus Pad has an 8.9 inch 15:9 display, with 1280 x 768 resolution. Unlike the Optimus smartphone, it's not autostereoscopic - it requires you to wear 3D spex. Still, the advantages of its 3D functionality are clear. The Optimus pad, which runs the Android 3.0 Honeycomb OS, has dual 5MP cameras for 3D photography and camcorder stereoscopy. 3D footage can be viewed on the tablet or squirted out to a 3D TV.<br/><br/>Meanwhile, over at Computex, Asus has just unveiled the Eee Pad MeMo 3D. This Honeycomb alternative sports a 7-inch parallax barrier no-glasses 3D display with a resolution of 1280 x 800. As a point of difference it bundles a stylus, so you can use it as a digital notepad. However, Asus is banking on 3D games, movies and photos to be a big draw.<br/><p style="text-align: center;"><img alt="Eee memo" class="aligncenter" src="http://mos.futurenet.com/techradar/classifications/computing/mobile-computing/Tablets%20and%20touchscreens/Eee%20Pad%20MeMo%203D-420-90.jpg" width="420" /></p><br/><strong>ABOVE:</strong> <em>The Eee Pad MeMo</em><br/><br/>HTC has already gone glasses-free 3D with the HTC Evo 3D smartphone. Next step: a 3D HTC tablet? Not really a big leap of the imagination is it?<br/><br/><strong>The home entertainment angle</strong><br/><br/>The pressure to take tablets into the third dimension will be compounded as the slate market shifts on its orbit and becomes part of the living room entertainment experience.<br/><br/>All the major 3D TV vendors are planning home entertainment tablets, positioning them as secondary, personal TV devices. Soon content will flow seamlessly from one to another - and with all decent tellies soon offering 3D compatibility does it really make sense to keep tablets two dimensional?<br/><br/><strong>The expert's view</strong><br/><br/>Sky's Chief Engineer and 3D evangelist Chris Johns has no doubt about the potential, and user appeal, of auto-3D. "I don't think the technology is there for bigger sets," he told us when we ambushed him at a DTG tech briefing, "but I can't see it being very long before the major tablet manufacturers are delivering some form of 3D offering that you can download to."<br/><br/>The man from Sky believes that auto-3D is destined to become the de facto way of watching 3D on smaller screens.<br/><br/>"When I first saw the Nintendo 3DS screen I was wowed," he admits. In fact, Johns was so impressed by Nintendo's parallax barrier screen that he offered Ninty codec support, plus 3D content if needed.<br/><br/>"It'll be interesting to see how Apple reacts to the increasing number of mobile products which are adopting auto-3D," he told us pointedly.<br/><br/>Indeed it will.

iPad 3D: tablet makers look to a 3D future

The iPad is going 3D. And you can take that to the bank. It's just a matter of time - and it could happen sooner than you might think. A...

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Amazon mount charm offensive on major record labels

<img src="http://cdn.mos.techradar.com//classifications/computing/internet-and-broadband/images/amazon-logo-200-200.jpg"/><p>Amazon is reportedly 'aggressively' courting the four main music publishers to be part of its online music store, but the chairman of one of Sony's music publishing companies has accused the retail giant of mounting 'another land grab'.</p><p>Amazon launched its iTunes competitor on Tuesday, but the music scuttlebutt is that major music labels were left a little nonplussed by the lack of warning.</p><p>However, according to the Wall Street Journal, who have spoken to 'people familiar to the matter' Amazon is now mounting a speedy charm offensive to win back the key player in the music industry.</p><p><strong>Major labels</strong></p><p>The four major labels are Sony Music Entertainment, EMI Group, Warner Music group and Universal Music Group – and a successful music store would need to have the majority if not all of them on board to become a genuine challenger to Apple's hugely popular, and also widely disliked, iTunes. </p><p>However, at least one section of Sony is not happy with Amazon, with the managing director of Sony/ATV Music Publishing (the joint venture involving Michael Jackson's estate) making his feelings clear.</p><p>"This is just another land grab," Martin Bandier told the WSJ. "I can't make it any plainer than that. It's really disrespectful, and of course we are considering all of our options."</p><p>Via <a href="http://online.wsj.com/article/SB10001424052748704530204576232953460633190.html?mod=googlenews_wsj">Wall Street Journal</a></p><img border="0" height="1" src="http://rss.feedsportal.com/c/669/f/9809/s/13c6d0e3/mf.gif" width="1"/><div class='mf-related'><p>Related Stories</p><ul><li><a href="http://rss.feedsportal.com/c/669/f/9809/s/13c6d0e5/l/0L0Stechradar0N0Cnews0Caudio0Cradioplayer0Elaunches0Ein0Ethe0Euk0E939290A0Dsrc0Frss0Gattr0Fall/story01.htm">Radioplayer launches in the UK</a></li></ul></div><div class='mf-viral'><table border='0'><tr><td valign='middle'><a href="http://res.feedsportal.com/viral/sendemail2.html?title=Amazon+mount+charm+offensive+on+major+record+labels&link=http%3A%2F%2Fwww.techradar.com%2Fnews%2Faudio%2Famazon-mount-charm-offensive-on-major-record-labels-939300%3Fsrc%3Drss%26attr%3Dall" target="_blank"><img border="0" src="http://res3.feedsportal.com/images/emailthis2.gif" /></a></td><td valign='middle'><a href="http://res.feedsportal.com/viral/bookmark.cfm?title=Amazon+mount+charm+offensive+on+major+record+labels&link=http%3A%2F%2Fwww.techradar.com%2Fnews%2Faudio%2Famazon-mount-charm-offensive-on-major-record-labels-939300%3Fsrc%3Drss%26attr%3Dall" target="_blank"><img border="0" src="http://res3.feedsportal.com/images/bookmark.gif" /></a></td></tr></table></div><br/><br/><a href="http://da.feedsportal.com/r/98747322812/u/49/f/9809/c/669/s/13c6d0e3/a2.htm"><img border="0" src="http://da.feedsportal.com/r/98747322812/u/49/f/9809/c/669/s/13c6d0e3/a2.img"/></a><img height="1" src="http://feeds.feedburner.com/~r/techradar/allnews/~4/GxE-culs8jE" width="1"/><br /><p><a href="http://feedproxy.google.com/~r/techradar/allnews/~3/GxE-culs8jE/story01.htm" rel="nofollow" target="_blank">Article</a></p>

Amazon mount charm offensive on major record labels

Amazon is reportedly 'aggressively' courting the four main music publishers to be part of its online music store, but the chairman ...

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Sharp investing $1.2b in expanding smartphone LCD production, Apple fingered as the major client

<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjJv2MtmPSZi7YyRQD-xNhER_D8FlVLGTudCU9vAW76svJ85YWPNhkD2gnUuWQyBzFdRKHOFjYR0ieC8RW_vb78hV3EHRibkejIXzMZNg-0-UOLEeW6Hpnwq7aPlEJqFBGXCo-XechM4NY/s1600/is03-iphone-4-02-sm.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" height="212" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjJv2MtmPSZi7YyRQD-xNhER_D8FlVLGTudCU9vAW76svJ85YWPNhkD2gnUuWQyBzFdRKHOFjYR0ieC8RW_vb78hV3EHRibkejIXzMZNg-0-UOLEeW6Hpnwq7aPlEJqFBGXCo-XechM4NY/s320/is03-iphone-4-02-sm.jpg" width="320"></a></div><br> Apple's practicing its self-imposed rule of supplier polygamy this week and Japan's Nikkei is telling us all about it. It started off on Monday, when we learned that Toshiba's throwing down some cash to build a new smartphone display production plant, with Apple as the key investor and subsequent consumer, and today we're hearing pretty much the same story, only with Sharp playing the role of Japanese producer to Apple's hardware whims.<br> <br>

Sharp investing $1.2b in expanding smartphone LCD production, Apple fingered as the major client

Apple's practicing its self-imposed rule of supplier polygamy this week and Japan's Nikkei is telling us all about it. It started o...

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Windows Phone 7 to get second major update in February

<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"></div><div style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img src="http://cdn.mos.techradar.com//classifications/gadgets/phones/mobile-phones/Windows%20Mobile/Windows7_startscreen_web2-200-200.jpg"> </div><br> <br> <iframe align="left" frameborder="0" marginheight="0" marginwidth="0" scrolling="no" src="http://rcm.amazon.com/e/cm?t=latesttecompu-20&o=1&p=8&l=bpl&asins=B004AYPDM2&fc1=000000&IS2=1&lt1=_blank&m=amazon&lc1=0000FF&bc1=000000&bg1=FFFFFF&f=ifr" style="height: 245px; padding-right: 10px; padding-top: 5px; width: 131px;"></iframe>Microsoft is set to unleash two new <a href="http://draft.blogger.com/post-edit.g?blogID=3630952467398438450&postID=3698499034658385540">Windows Phone 7</a> updates in the New Year, with more phone functionality to be announced at Mobile World Conference.<br> CEO Steve Ballmer is expected to take the stage at <a href="http://draft.blogger.com/post-edit.g?blogID=3630952467398438450&postID=3698499034658385540">CES 2011</a> in Las Vegas in January to show off new WP7 functionality, which includes the ability to cut and paste.<br> Ballmer is now also set to show off another major update in February at Mobile World Congress.<br> <br>

Windows Phone 7 to get second major update in February

Microsoft is set to unleash two new Windows Phone 7 updates in the New Year, with more phone functionality to be announced at Mobile Wor...

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The 3 Major Security Issues of Your Ecommerce Solution

<br /> <p>Website security of your online store keeps your customers satisfied and secure, safeguarding your investment. It also helps to maintain a steady growth of business. A secure website is trusted by customers who feel safe to divulge their personal and credit card details. There are many reasons to give website's security priority in your online store business.</p><p>Here are some major reasons that should help you realize the necessity of security for your online shop:</p><p>1. Networks and servers of service providers may be vulnerable to attack by "malware". This is referred to malicious software, a family of harmful applications, which may come in various forms and inflict major damage. It is not only an issue for your computer and your website, malware can damage entire network; server may get seriously infected and classified data from server, including that from your site may be lost or damaged. Before buying host packages, make sure that the host is equipped with proper technology to survive and defend attacks by malware like viruses, spyware and Trojans.</p><p>2. Another dreaded kind of attack can be from cyber criminals that exploit the route of botnets. Such attacks faced by hosting networks are referred to as DDoS (Distributed Denial of Service). In case of such attacks, the network is flooded by illegitimate requests. Once the network gets flooded it slows down and the genuine traffic cannot access the server or your website. This is the most oldest and difficult type of attack where hacker manipulate an unsuspecting server to launch attack. Make sure that web host you are signing with, has the capability and technical knowledge to protect your site in case of such attack.</p><p>3. With spread of ecommerce solutions, millions of transactions are done over the web, often involving huge sums of money. This makes the internet a happy hunting ground for hackers, who are on prowl to hack classified personal data like credit card number or bank account details. As owner of online store it is your responsibility to safeguard details of your clients from hackers. It is imperative to take proper security measures and update your systems at regular intervals. A fraud or case of stolen data may damage your credibility, not to mention the legal hassles.</p> <br /> <br /> <br /> <br /> <br /> <br /><br /> <p>For more info on this and other <a href="http://www.1automationwiz.com/shopping-cart-software.htm" target="_new">ecommerce cart</a> and other ecommerce solution topics please visit: <a href="http://www.1automationwiz.com" target="_new">http://www.1AutomationWiz.com</a></p> <br />

The 3 Major Security Issues of Your Ecommerce Solution

Website security of your online store keeps your customers satisfied and secure, safeguarding your investment. It also helps to maintain ...

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Marshall headphones "Major" and "Minor" images released

<a name="6965166147971833263"></A><br /><P><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjGG6BX9XCo6uNQIraYcS1uRRHQkTtcsdOu0KqRJSELQWFbDAhWBIvJyg-N8TCVp9o1mmIPhYrRqi06RFbRIrhydXQOQQe15i9qNBBGa4_pi-xnunNl45hmq_1Zg1TygmhUuYBZ2gZMsrk/s1600/marshall-headphones.jpg" imageanchor="1"><img border="0" height="243" src="http://technologyforum.x10.mx/image//marshall-headphones.jpg" width="400"></A></P><br /><P>We have been teased with their boxes previously and now, they've <a href="">unboxed</A> them, literally, for our visual consumption. The headphones are available as either "Major" for $100 and "Minor" for $50. We're still to know how they fare but from the looks alone, they're gorgeous. More images after the cut.<a name="more"></A><BR><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgXb3goyPfIsbaDTmDjpYd3jko4U2up2ocCfRh9xpEK_sv3QQQX0mWl94WJBOdGW5ltRDBbqDZgh2iFtMFEgi6yLJsHOe4w3QpLHeuq5DUVweLPqYMFCJ10UCUr1sw7m25bk_AbTlUyX7g/s1600/marshall-major1.jpg" imageanchor="1"><img border="0" height="400" src="http://technologyforum.x10.mx/image//marshall-major1.jpg" width="347"></A><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEj2K_-7pJOdZ_UXE9bkyVlUPx5XN30rR6FOodKnq5mfkZpDYS0TEATiypXsDgestDV_2zNMr2Bs3X70UzGLXuEXJDAEtg8-kW1wcWJcLuuLKnJ_csexWli5n_vne1KSijDidd90cIdyMTk/s1600/marshall-major2.jpg" imageanchor="1"><img border="0" height="321" src="http://technologyforum.x10.mx/image//marshall-major2.jpg" width="400"></A><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEiEt0YqSXRVA_M6poTBJuUhyFabByfea-gP-hViNeo1RzodTQmt0Ra3Ab5Ls2MHj9UxM69xZ3eo7jP5VyzNELK9fwb95li-QXwJtu8ikHcgaEY1jt3pht2rOEJkHfr1O-K64iMEe0LNa8c/s1600/marshall-minor1.jpg" imageanchor="1"><img border="0" height="400" src="http://technologyforum.x10.mx/image//marshall-minor1.jpg" width="356"></A><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgt8xUnkFcj6uzJY2PNgnjTix2FmfJK46Ulj0Tln3tb7maZKoQgvEpepgMSv__Urs7qzSC5uQIgIIVkIZMu4GYF4-j5xbBT38sVVi9nZTnSfxpLLSzEoMA5GVnzsvdBJ0TC0GnRmfpiJAU/s1600/marshall-minor2.jpg" imageanchor="1"><img border="0" height="275" src="http://technologyforum.x10.mx/image//marshall-minor2.jpg" width="400"></A><BR><BR></P>

Marshall headphones "Major" and "Minor" images released

We have been teased with their boxes previously and now, they've unboxed them, literally, for our visual consumption. The headphones ar...

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BBC: iPlayer on BT Vision is a 'major advance'

<img src="http://cdn.mos.techradar.com//classifications/home-entertainment/tv/images/btvision_iplayer_listing1EE-200-200.jpg"><br /><P>The BBC has given an insight into its decision to offer the <a href="http://www.techradar.com/news/television/bt-vision-to-offer-bbc-iplayer-catch-up-service-907316">iPlayer on BT Vision</A> – suggesting the partnership represents a 'major advance'. </P><br /><P>The success of the iPlayer on Virgin Media's cable service and on both PS3 and Wii have been proof that consumers are keen to watch catch-up TV on their traditional television sets. </P><br /><P>And a partnership with BT now means that the iPlayer will be accessible through the BT Vision IPTV service. </P><br /><P><STRONG>Connected audience</STRONG></P><br /><P>"Opening BBC iPlayer on TV to such a large connected audience represents a major advance in our effort to bring the full BBC iPlayer experience to TVs, <a href="http://www.bbc.co.uk/blogs/bbcinternet/2010/11/bbc_iplayer_on_bt_vision_under.html">blogged TV iPlayer product manager Gideon Summerfield</A>. </P><br /><P>"Already, nearly a third of all TV programmes enjoyed through BBC iPlayer are watched using TV-connected devices including games consoles, set-top boxes, disc players and connected TVs. </P><br /><P>"This is all the more enjoyable when the experience is accessed from the same remote as the TV, as is the case with BT Vision."</P><br /><P><STRONG>Presentation framework</STRONG></P><br /><P>The BBC blog also outlined the technology that was used to bring the service to BT Vision. </P><br /><P>"BT Vision's set-top boxes use the Microsoft Mediaroom IPTV platform to deliver TV on demand alongside TV broadcast over Freeview, added Summerfield. </P><br /><P>"Last year Microsoft added a technology to this called Presentation Framework (MSPF) to let IPTV network operators add extra services delivered over the Web. </P><br /><P>"We partnered with Pushbutton to build the BBC iPlayer app on BT Vision using this technology. You'll see the experience is pretty slick!"</P>

BBC: iPlayer on BT Vision is a 'major advance'

The BBC has given an insight into its decision to offer the iPlayer on BT Vision – suggesting the partnership represents a 'major advan...

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