Getting a 3D phone ?

Well, well... so the LG Thrill 4G finally hit the streets in the U.S. and you are really starting to wonder if you should become part of this whole 3D thing, which looks so interesting, yet so vague at the moment. What can we say - your hesitations are very reasonable. On one hand, viewing images or video in 3D on your phone, without the need to wear special gear is nothing short of cool, but on the other, this kind of entertainment has been known to quickly wear off with many users out there. That's why we think that before you decide to jump the gun and head to the store, you should be completely aware of what the purchase of a “3D phone” will bring you.

By “3D phone”, we mean a phone like the just-released LG Thrill 4G for AT&T, or the HTC EVO 3D for Sprint – i.e. one with a glasses-free 3D display and a dual-lens camera, which will allow you to shoot your own stereoscopic photos and videos. Naturally, before anything else, it is highly-advisable that you first read our reviews, which cover the 3D, as well as all the other aspects of these smartphones:

• LG Thrill 4G

  LG Thrill 4G for AT&T

• HTC EVO 3D

In both reviews, you can check out some 3D image and video samples that we made using the handsets, in order to give you an idea of what content you'll be able to create and enjoy. That's actually very important, since, as you're probably aware, 3D content as a whole is pretty scarce at the moment, meaning that you'll be largely dependent on what you can produce with your own handset. And when you have a glasses-free 3D display, you'd want to use it, right? Still, if those samples couldn't give you enough idea, here are some more posts, where you can enjoy our prominent 3D-photography skills:

• LG Optimus 3D (Thrill 4G) camera samples – here you can download a number of image samples, as well as watch a 3D video taken with the Optimus 3D – the EU variant of the Thrill 4G.

• Taking 3D video with the HTC EVO 3D – a detailed look at the EVO 3D's camera interface and demonstration of 3D recording.

HTC EVO 3D for Sprint

But wait! Before one gets a 3D phone, shouldn't they first learn how 3D is done? Of course! And you bet we've made sure to have a pretty good explanation of that glasses-free 3D magic right here, waiting for you:

Finally, it's understandable that you might be worried about the eventual adoption of this technology. After all, who would want a consumer product that no one else has? We all know that such a scenario would translate into lack of support from both manufacturers and developers. What we think on the matter is that most probably, 3D in phones won't reach a state of mass market adoption, but there will still be a decent niche for such products.

So, now that you're fully aware of what you'll be getting by purchasing one of these hot handsets, do you see yourself as a true fan of 3D? Will this be a feature that you'll use more than a few times? Feel free to sound off in the comments below!

$8 Million iPad 2 Features Diamonds, Dinosaur Bone

Looking for the perfect dalliance to indulge in whilst lounging in your opulent villa? Might we suggest a rousing game of Angry Birds — played on your solid gold iPad 2, encrusted with diamonds and boasting shards of real, live (well, dead) T-Rex bone?
This beauty can be purchased via the website of Stuart Hughes, proprietor of “exclusive elite gadgets,” for a mere $8 million.
I think I’ll just hold my horses until the iPad 3 comes out. I hear that one contains bits of brontosaurus, and that’s my favorite dinosaur.

New iPad Rental Service Targets Travelers

 

Name: Flying Connected
Quick Pitch: iPad, smartphone, GPS and mobile broadband rentals for individuals.
Genius Idea: Catering to travelers by delivering to airports or hotels.

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The Internet makes it easy to rent books, movies, high fashion, kid stuff and pretty much anything. But most iPad rental services don’t rent to individuals. Unless you own a business, it’s still easier to rent a speedboat than an iPad.
Flying Connected, an electronics rental site that launched in New York City last month, aims to make it easy for individuals to rent electronic companions for their trips.
Rental prices on the site vary depending on the renters’ choice of insurance package, accessories and pre-loaded media. The company’s most popular item, the iPad 2, can be rented for $18 to $28 per day. For a small fee, it will deliver a device to an airport or hotel in New York City.
Founder Zalmy Raskin says that he’s targeting travelers for a couple of reasons. First, traveling with mobile electronics that require a data plan, like a smartphone or an iPad when it’s not connected to the Internet, is a pain.
“Even if you have it with you, there’s always the frustration of when you turn it on you can’t using without roaming charges,” says Raskin, who moved to New York from London a few years ago. “You’re on payphones. It’s frustrating.”
Raskin thinks that domestic travelers might also find use for his service — whether they’d like to take a new device for a trial whirl, avoid lugging a laptop on a business trip, or view movies and other media on the plane.
The just-launched startup’s clientele is still small in both the national and international travel departments, but it hopes to partner with car rental companies and smaller hotel chains to grow its user base by offering a discount to their customers.
If the concept takes off, building a customer base through these partners could prove less of an issue than keeping up with one. Maintaining an inventory of expensive electronics won’t be cheap, and the startup is bootstrapping its efforts.
Raskin has devised a plan that he hopes will help it keep up. Anyone who agrees to lend their device to the company for a period can keep a percentage from rentals and keep their device after the deal ends.
Is that a deal that you would take? Would you ever rent an iPad or another electronic device for a trip? Let us know in the comments.

Motorola Droid Bionic Now Available on Verizon

The time has come: Motorola’s long-expected Droid Bionic is now available in Verizon stores.
The latest 4G Android smartphone to come from Motorola’s workshop was originally slated to hit the market in Q2 2011, but alas, it was not to be. It has a 1 GHz dual-core CPU, 1 GB of RAM, a 4.3-inch 960×540 pixel screen, and an 8-megapixel camera as well as a 2-megapixel front cam for video chats.
The device costs $299.99 with a two-year contract or $589.99 if you’re not the contract-signing type.