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Fujitsu shows off 3D-enabled desktop PC, Lenovo prepping 3D laptop?
We're not sure there are any PC makers not working on 3D-enabled desktops and laptops at this point, but it looks like we can now add two more to the watch list: Fujitsu and Lenovo. Of the two, Fujitsu is by far the most forthcoming, as it's actually now showing off an all-in-one desktop PC that not only packs a 3D LCD, but a built-in 3D camera that will let you capture 3D images and video that can be viewed with the included 3D glasses. What's more, while the prototype on display is decidedly boxy and bolted down, Akihabara News is reporting that it will hit Japan before the end of the year. Details on Lenovo's offering are decidedly light by comparison, with DigiTimes only reporting that the company will release a 3D-enabled laptop using polarized glasses sometime in the third quarter of the year, with Wistron said to be providing the display panel.
Sharp busts out world's first 3D HD camera for mobile devices
Oh yeah, things just got real. Sharp has announced an industry first today, with its 720p-recordin' 3D camera module. Intended for mobile devices like smartphones and point-and-shoot digicams, this miniature wonder will be sampling in July and hitting mass production before the end of the year. Not much else is known about it at this point -- we can guess it'll cost a pretty penny when it debuts -- but Sharp has penned an effusive press release, which you may explore just past the break.
Sony EX3 prototype 3D camcorder spotted, destined for retail channels? (update: we've got specs)
Well what do we have here? We've just been handed a picture of what we're told is Sony's EX3 prototype 3D camera, with changeable lenses and a penchant for capturing life in the third dimension. That's unfortunately all we really know at this point, but if this two-eyed beaut does go to market (and we hear that it most certainly will), it looks like Panasonic's 3D camcorder will have some healthy competition. And hey, we're all for having more options. Update: A trusted source just chimed in with some specs, and it's looking like Sony's basically just crammed the guts of two PMW-EX3 studio cams into a single shell for this prototype. That's not a bad thing: behind those proprietary hot-swappable lens cartridges are the same two three half-inch CMOS eyeballs that stream 4:2:0 MPEG-2 video at 1080p to SxS memory cards at 35Mbps per eye, or send uncompressed 4:4:4 footage over a new pair of HD-SDI outputs. Our source was pretty excited about how close together those eyes were, too -- he whispered something about an industry-first 1.5-inch interocular distance, before vanishing into the darkness without a word on price or availability. Update 2: The EX3 has three CMOS chips, not two. [Thanks, The Advanced Kind]
James Cameron convinces NASA to use 3D camera on next Mars mission
What do you do once you've broken your own record for the world's highest-grossing picture film? Well, you go offworld, of course. James Cameron, in his infinite benevolence and multidimensional wisdom, has convinced NASA bigwigs not to forgo the inclusion of a high-res 3D camera on the Curiosity (aka Mars Science Laboratory) rover, which is set to depart for the red planet in 2011. Budget overruns had led to the scrapping of the autostereoscopic idea, but the director-man -- who has been involved with this project for a good few years now -- felt the results of the mission would be far more engaging if people could see them in 3D. Hey, if he can make us watch the Blue Man Group reenactment of Fern Gully, don't bet on Cameron failing to make extraterrestrial rubble interesting with his 3D voodoo.
DXG's 3D View sacrifices HD, but makes 3D video recording pocketable
It's not a trade that we'd ever willingly make -- dropping to standard definition for the sake of some 3D shenanigans, but DXG is offering you the choice anyway. The budget cam maker has just announced its 3D View stereoscopic shooter, which interestingly comes with a separate 7-inch LCD display (800 x 480 resolution) for playing back your recorded footage without requiring glasses -- thanks to some parallax barrier magic. We might be tempted to spend the $400 this package costs just to get a preview of what the Nintendo 3DS -- based on the same spectacle-free technique -- might look like, but retail availability isn't expected until June, which is just that tiny bit too far out for our limited attention span.
OptiTrack mixes motion capture with a virtual camera for delicious, Avatar-esque results
We knew virtual camera systems are starting gain traction, particularly in the world of cinema and within James Cameron's little set of toys, but it's pretty wild to see one in action. NaturalPoint is showing off its OptiTrack motion capture system at GDC, a budget-friendly multi-camera setup (if $6k is your idea of budget-friendly), but it also has a prototype of sorts of its upcoming virtual camera system. The camera's orientation and movement is actually tracked in the same way a motion capture suit is, and if you're in the same tracking space as a motion capture actor you can do "real" camera work with a live 3D rendered preview of the action. The shoulder-mounted camera has controls for virtual tracking and dolly moves, along with zoom, and has zero problem delivering that shaky handheld look that's all the rage in visual effects these days. There's no word on much this will retail for, but despite the fact that we have absolutely zero use for it we totally want one. Check out a video of it in action after the break. %Gallery-88029%
Boeing announces compact, energy-efficient 3D camera
Yes, even the military has gone 3D. Helping it in that endeavor is Boeing, which has just announced a tiny new 3D camera that's one-third the size and consumes one-tenth the power of comparable 3D imaging systems. While it will also be made available for commercial use, it seems like military will be first in line to use the cameras, with Boeing noting that it's potential applications including "mapping terrain, tracking targets and seeing through foliage," and adding that it's already testing the camera on unmanned aerial vehicles. The biggest drawback to the camera at the moment is that it's only able to take 3D still images, but Boeing says it will "soon" add 3D video capability as well. Details are otherwise pretty hard to come by, as you might expect, and pricing is no doubt best left unsaid. [Thanks, Graham]
Sony confirms plans for consumer-friendly 3D cameras
If you had any doubt that Sony was getting all hot and bothered by the prospects of 3D everything in the very near future, a recent interview with Digital Photography Review should settle that. Masashi Imamura, President of Personal Imaging and Sound at Sony, said that the company is focused on tackling the third dimension on every front, and while we already know it is meeting the needs of Hollywood, with cameras like the HFC Comfort-3D and the HDC-F950, now comes the focus on Joe Consumer, specifically referencing Fuji's Real 3D W1. Of course, we're also expecting something a little higher end from the company, with earlier talk of 3D Alphas, but first-things first, and while Mr. Imamura didn't see fit to tell us when to expect a consumer-friendly 3D shooter, we can't imagine it'll be long now.
Weber State University shows us how to shoot 3D in HD for $250 (video)
There are plenty of ways to shoot the next groundbreaking 3D masterpiece, and for those with considerable bankrolls Panasonic's P2 is a good choice -- but, at $21,000, forgive us for looking for inexpensive alternatives. The Scientific Analysis and Visualization Initiative at Weber State University has crafted a very simple solution relying on a pair of Kodak Zx1 pocket HD cameras. They're simply bolted to a piece of L-shaped aluminum bar by machine screws spaced at 6.5cm to more or less equate to the distance between your eye holes. It's an elegantly simple solution and, at just $250, a deliciously cheap one too -- especially considering those cameras are over $100 each. The results are good, which you can see for yourself in anaglyph (red/blue) format below.
Ikonoskop teases A-cam3D to shoot 1080p RAW video in stereo
We don't know much about this thing, Ikonoskop is only teasing the bare minimum of specs, but while we don't expect to be able to afford it, the upcoming A-cam3D is certainly an object of lust. The company has cut its teeth on a $10k 1080p RAW camera, the A-cam dII, and now it's taking that same tech into the realm of 3D. The new 6 pound unit (including battery and memory) will be able record to 25 or 30 fps in individual RAW sequences, has a TBD pricetag, and will be built on order. [Thanks, Mark]
LG's 55-inch 3DTV is 3D (photo) ready too
Taking 3D pictures with Fujifilm's 3D point and shoot is pretty easy -- even if ultimately unsatisfying -- but if you need a place to display them, LG has that covered. Tucked away in its booth was a demo of "the world's first 3D camera compatible HDTV" dutifully taking SD-card stored snaps and putting them on the big screen. Not an entirely complex process, but we figure if a better reviewed 3D camera makes it to market, you might appreciate picking up the right HDTV for the job. %Gallery-82626%
3D camera breaks world record with 158 lenses
Sure, there are viable commercial options for taking photos in three dimensions, but if you really want to capture 3D images (and you happen to be attached to a major university) you can always go the route of Associate Professor Ishino Youzirou and company. The camera that they developed at the Nagoya Institute of Technology sports 158 lenses arranged on an 18.5-inch aluminum arc frame. The school's combustion engineers will use it to study irregular flames -- all the while content in the knowledge that they've entered the Guinness Book of World Records for building the camera with the most lenses. This is certainly safer than Youzirou's other attempt to enter the Guinness book, Most Live Rattlesnakes Held in the Mouth (the record for that, by the way, is ten).
Fujifilm Finepix REAL 3D W1 now shipping to soon to be disappointed consumers
Well, partner, are you the sort to ignore woefully bad reviews and plunk your hard-earned cash down on expensive gadgets anyway? Buck up, because here's your chance. Fujifilm's Finepix REAL 3D W1 may not have impressed the critics -- or, really, anyone, apparently -- but it's now shipping into the hands of consumers who can't be bothered to read such things. MSRP for the camera is $599.95, while the 3D digital viewer will go for $499.95. Finally, if you're still into the whole prints on paper scene, you'll have to wait a few weeks until the company's SeeHere.com goes live, then pay a whopping $6.99 per print. Hey, nobody said the future of imaging would be cheap.Update: SeeHere.com is indeed live as we speak.
Fujifilm Finepix Real 3D W1 slammed in early review, company responds point-by-point
Akihabara News' early review of the Fujifilm W1 3D Camera pretty much laid everything out from the get-go with its headline, "The worst camera ever made: the review." It assuredly caused more than a few raised eyebrows, not the least of which from Fujifilm itself. In an interesting and welcoming move, the company invited the publication to a face-to-face meeting -- not for some physical redemption, mind you, but to address all the points of disappointment. There isn't a lot said to alleviate concerns, and the common thread among all replies is pretty much that this is a new field that currently caters to a very small niche, and there's gonna be speed bumps for time to come -- in other words, better luck next time. Still, it's somewhat refreshing to see a major company tackle the subject head-on and in public view -- now if only we could make this an industry-wide trend. Read - W1 3D camera review Read - Fujifilm's response
Fujifilm's FinePix Real 3D W1 camera and Real 3D V1 picture viewer detailed, can do 3D movies as well
Not that it wasn't official when Time featured it early last week,but now Fujifilm's now rolled out the proverbial red carpet for its FinePix Real 3D W1 camera, with a press release providing more details about both it and the Real 3D V1 8-inch picture viewer. Some of more notable features on the W1 -- aside from being the touted "world's first 3D imagine system," of course -- is a 3x optical zoom, a 3D LCD system for on-camera viewing, Dual Capture Shooting Mode for taking two shots simultaneously with different settings, and just to be perfectly clear, the ability to shoot video in three mind-blowing dimensions. Additionally, the two lens can be used for some more creative, but decidedly old-fashioned 2D photography. As for the V1 display, it's got a 3D / 2D LCD panel with 800 x 600 resolution, supports playback of 3D pics and movies, and supports SD / SDHC. No word on what the resolution / card support is for the camera, but for now we're gonna guess it's at parity with the frame. If you're wanting physical 3D prints, Fujifilm says it'll be providing that service, doing the prints in-house and send them your way. Actual printers for purchase will come once a sustainable market exists (assuming that happens). The W1 camera and V1 frame are listed with a September 2009 launch date, as we previously heard -- price is curiously listed as TBA, but since Time already let slip a $600 estimate, take that as your ballpark estimate for the interim.
Microsoft almost definitely planning motion-sensing 3D camera for Xbox 360
If shots from the barrel of Mr. Blurrycam just aren't legitimate enough for you, how's about corroboration from The Wall Street Journal? A breaking report has confirmed that Microsoft is indeed "developing a new videocamera for its Xbox 360 videogame console that will allow players to control games with the movement of their bodies," or at least that's the good word from the all-too-supposing "people familiar with the matter." It's noted that unlike Nintendo's Wii, the Microsoft camera won't require gamers to "hold any hardware in their hands to control in-game action," but in the same vein as The Big N, it seems as if the device will debut at E3 only to sit around in a lab for a year before shipping to consumers. Boo.[Thanks, Chuck]
CompoBank's prototype 3D digital camera and digiframe
Sure, it's not the first 3D camera we've seen 'round these parts -- and it sure ain't the wackiest -- but it looks like CompoBank of South Korea is diving headlong into three dimensional imaging with the release of both a camera and a 7-inch digiframe, sometime in late 2009 or thereafter. The company's prototype 3D digital camera features a parallax barrier 3D display, which uses two pictures to assemble the image, and an anaglyph format option (for those who prefer the old school red/cyan glasses). Parallax 3D images can be viewed on the digiframe, which boasts an 800 x 480 screen resolution and a function to convert pictures and video files from 2D to 3D. The company plans on making its products compatible with Fujifilm's 3D camera and display systems, which should also see the light of day sometime this year. There's no word yet on a release date, except that it will be this fall "at the earliest." Check out that fine camera after the break.
Mgestyk Fusion: the Force is 6-degrees strong with this one
Everyone and their grandma loves the Wii. But even Nintendo's new dual-axis MotionPlus struggles in 3D space due to limitations presented by the sensor bar. Mgestyk thinks it can do better by marrying its interesting gesture processing technology to the sensor data received from devices like the Wiimote. Mgestyk Fusion replaces the sensor bar with a 3D camera and image processing to translate yaw, pitch, roll, forward/back, right/left, and up/down motions from the Wiimote connected to a PC over Bluetooth. Sure, it seemed to work reasonably well at slaying clones in the video, but we're more interested to see how it holds up to the live scrutiny of a public demo when it makes an appearance at the Montreal International Games Summit next week. Until then, you'll have to feed your awkward, down-in-the-basement, lightsabering fantasies with the clip posted after the break.
Fraunhofer's Kolibri Cordless sensor snaps 3D images on the go
Sure, it might look like a Viewmaster 3D from your childhood, but this here stripe projection 3D sensor from Fraunhofer IOF is so much less exciting. The concept is simple enough: the Kolibri projects a stripe pattern onto the subject, and then the two "eyes" capture slightly distinct angles of the image to compose a 3D model of the object based on the deducted geometry. The technology has been available for a while, but this is apparently the first device to cram it into such a small and portable form factor. Yeah... we'll stick with the Viewmaster.[Via About Projectors]
Stanford researchers cram 12,616 tiny lenses into a 3D camera
With the megapixel race already past the point of noticeable benefit to consumers, it looks like the next camera arms race will be the number of lenses your rig sports -- a team at Stanford is working on a 3D camera that uses 12,616 micro-lenses to generate high quality 3 megapixel images with self-contained "depth maps" that measure the distance to every object in the frame. The system works by focusing each lens above four different overlapping sensor arrays, which work in concert to determine depth -- just like your eyes. Unlike similar systems, the Stanford rig is able to use that data to create a depth map without lasers, prisms, or even complex calibration, which will allow the team to shrink the tech down to compact and cellphone camera size. Once it's ubiquitous, the teams says depth map information can be used to do anything from enhancing facial recognition systems to improving robot vision, but there's still a long way to go -- the team has just started trying to work out how to manufacture the system.
