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Live from Amazon's phone announcement in Seattle!
Look, Amazon didn't exactly hide the fact that today's mystery product announcement would be its long-rumored 3D phone. But with the exception of the occasional picture, the company did a decent job of keeping its new handheld device out of the public eye. Now Amazon's ready to show off the new Kindle Fire phone (or whatever it ends up being called), and we're here to bring you the news as it happens. Enjoy!
LG Optimus 3D Max launches in Europe, won't be coming to the UK
For those that still keen to dabble with the world of 3D we've got some good and some bad news. While the Optimus 3D Max has made its first arrival in Europe, launching in Germany today, it looks like the phone won't be docking at British ports. A spokesperson at LG told us there were currently no plans to bring the device across to the UK, although its L-style series and the quad-core flagship, the Optimus 4X HD, look set to receive wider adoption. The Optimus 3D Max is the brutally carb-free version of LG's original 3D phone, now lighter and thinner but still gnawing on last year's Android Gingerbread. Pricing hasn't been announced for Germany, but LG tells us that it will be on the premium end of the smartphone scale, with pricing dependent on carriers. You get the full view of the hardware and its three-dimensional chops in the press release after the break. Active shutter glasses not required.
Samsung: We're still not into 3D smartphones
By now you may have already seen a handful of "leaks" on Samsung's imminent Galaxy S III, but if you ask us, they all smell like a cruel prank on anticipating fans. As far as we're concerned, the only reliable tidbits so far are the GT-i9300 and GT-i9308 codenames (the latter likely a TD-SCDMA variant for China Mobile) on Samsung's support page; along with murmurs from executives about a certain quad-core chipset and a release date. Funnily enough, we just received the following statement from Sammy who's probably not too happy about some of the speculations out there: Although Samsung Electronics is constantly exploring new technologies for our mobile devices, we have no immediate plan to include displays featuring 3D technology in our upcoming smartphones.So there you have it: the upcoming Galaxy S III, along with its new siblings, definitely won't feature a 3D display; and you can certainly forget that 4-inch 3D handset we heard about last February. Unless, of course, LG can convince its Korean buddy to think otherwise.
Optimus 3D Gingerbread update coming, world shrugs, stares wistfully at Ice Cream Sandwich
So we thought an update was coming last month, but like those three-dimensional phantasms the Optimus 3D is capable of conjuring, it appears it wasn't really there. LG now plans to lump the 2D to 3D app convertor, camera upgrades and some more nuggets into its feet-dragging Gingerbread upgrade, starting this month. Alongside 3D video editing and automatic image-stabilization, the customized version of Android 2.3 will unleash a speedier HSPA+ connection boosting maximum download speeds to 21Mbps, and "advanced copy/paste" -- something we're very excited about. LG also promises longer music playback from the upgraded 3D phone, with the software refresh pegged to start on carrier-unlocked handsets in Europe next week, rolling out elsewhere in time for the new year. While LG will be bringing the ICS upgrade to its Optimus 2X, it has remained tight-lipped on the dual-camera'd stablemate -- that's probably not a good sign.
LG Optimus 3D app converter starts roll-out this month, why settle for only two dimensions?
LG's 2D to 3D app converter will finally arrive on the Optimus 3D (AKA the Thrill 4G) this month. In order to play nice with it, apps and games need to be using OpenGL. The converter is packaged inside the company's maintenance release for the 3D smartphone and will be available on European handsets any day now, followed by a gradual global roll-out over the next few weeks. You can expect to find a few more tri-dimensional nuggets, including 3D video editing and the ability to view 3D video in 2D. LG says that it will also add Dolby Mobile sound and automatic image-stabilization for 2D video-capture. But, we're more interested in that app converter -- we want those furious fowl to really pop out at us.
LG developing slimmer Optimus 3D handset, might be ready for 2012
The LG Optimus 3D certainly isn't the slimmest smartphone we've ever seen, but it looks like the chunky handset is about to get seriously streamlined. In an interview with Pocket-Lint, LG developer Dr. Henry Noh confirmed that his company is working on a thinner version of its 4.3-inch phone, hinting that it may be ready for release by next year. Noh didn't offer specifics on dimensions, but acknowledged that the current version, at 11.9mm (0.47 inches) thick, definitely isn't the "sexiest phone on the street" -- something he hopes to change. "Eventually, we want to make it so that having the 3D won't necessarily mean that it's going to be thicker," Noh explained. "That's going to be a differentiating factor that comes for free to the user." Doing so, he claims, could help LG's glasses-free 3D device distinguish itself from its 2D competitors: "These days, all the phones look the same. They have a huge screen - 4.3-inches is normal these days - and next year they're moving even larger. And they have a fixed number of touch buttons. They're the same thickness. They have the same camera. And even the same OS. It's so boring." Of course, it remains to be seen whether or not this strategy actually pans out, but it's definitely something we'll be keeping an eye on.
LG Thrill 4G will arrive on September 4th, AT&T confirms
Following a series of delays and setbacks, it looks like the Thrill 4G will indeed be coming to AT&T on September 4th. The carrier confirmed the date late last night, in a tweet promising that LG's glasses-free 3D handset will make our world "come alive." Back in July, AT&T confirmed that the US version of the Optimus 3D would officially sell for $99, though that could very well vary across retailers. Hit up the source link to find out more, on AT&T's product page.
LG 3D Game Converter adds depth to regular 2D games
Spoiler alert! Instead of waiting to surprise people at IFA this week, LG has released details of its new 3D Game Converter for the Optimus 3D early. The software arrives as part of the October maintenance release, promising to take any OpenGL game that runs in landscape and convert it to 3D. Around 50 games will come with pre-optimized settings -- the rest you tweak yourself. Open any game up in the app and it will try to split the foreground and background and recombine both in 3D. Feel your eyes crossing and a headache setting in just by thinking about playing this way? No worries, they're all still playable in 2D as well. Mouse on past the break to find the press release, which LG rather thoughtlessly only released in 2D. [Thanks, Eddie]
LG Optimus 3D review
Cilantro might be the most polarizing thing on this planet. Some people can't eat a fish taco without it, others cry frothy tears of dishsoap at its mere mention. The same may well be true of the LG Optimus 3D (known as the Thrill 4G in the US). We already felt a little torn about the device when we first got our hands on it back in February. Sure, it packed some extra heft and, ahem, Android 2.2.2. But its stupor-inducing, 3D display (combined with some truly poignant marketing) was just enough to whet our appetites. Plus, after having already scarfed down a bowl of HTC's EVO 3D, we were more than a little keen on tasting LG's take on the glasses-free 3D recipe – a young and intriguing smartphone genre. Now that we finally have, we're ready to tackle a question for the ages: dishsoap or delicacy? %Gallery-128699%
HTC EVO 3D torn down, three-dimensional magic revealed (video)
So, it turns out that when you crack open the EVO 3D, pixie dust doesn't pour out of the thing -- disappointing, sure, but such is life. Thankfully, there are some interesting things to look at, however, like the dual-core processor and, of course, the cameras that let you take all of those awesome 3D shots of your pets. Wanna see more of the magic? How about a seven minute teardown video shot with a cameraphone? It's not quite the manner of pro teardowns we're used to seeing from the folks at iFixit, but there is a certain joy in watching a guy excitedly tear open his new toy. For the rest of you, we don't recommend trying this at home -- but if you do, definitely upload it to YouTube. Video after the break.
Motorola patent application offers new option for 3D cellphones
Flip phones may be somewhat on the outs these days (at least among those demanding the latest and greatest), but they may well be the key to future 3D cellphones -- at least if this Motorola patent application is any indication. The basic idea is actually a fairly simple one: you'd see a regular 2D image on the screen when the cover is open, but when it's closed you'd be able to look through the transparent lid and see the images with a "three dimensional appearance." As you can probably figure out, that screen would be a touchscreen that takes the place of a keypad, and another illustration also shows that the same idea could be applied to a slider phone. Of course, what the illustrations don't show is how effective that three dimensional appearance would actually be, although it seems like it could give Motoblur a whole new meaning.
