Panasonic reveals HDC-SDT750 3D camcorder, is super proud of itself (updated with video)

Source: http://www.engadget.com/2010/07/27/panasonic-reveals-hdc-sdt750-3d-camcorder-is-super-proud-of-its/

Never mind the extensive leaks, Panasonic, you've got a right to be proud about the HDC-SDT750. After crowing about its end-to-end 3D experience, Panasonic has finally made its HDC-SDT750 camcorder official, which looks like it will be the first of its kind to hit the market. Sure, this is just a baby step: the 3D mode is enabled by snapping on an included 3D conversion lens that splits the image in twain to be recorded as right and left images by the standard 1080p sensor. That means each side will only be 960 x 1080, so you can't quite shoot Avatar in your backyard just yet, but it should look fine on standard 3D televisions. Unfortunately, you can't do much more with the 3D video right now other than pump it out over HDMI straight from the camera -- at least with the 3D stills that you can snap you can load them onto an SD card and play them off of AVCHD-compatible Blu-ray players. Still, these are exciting times to be alive, and you can always shoot in 2D with the no-doubt great 3MOS camcorder underneath (which seems to be very similar to the HDC-HS700) while you wait for the rest of the planet to catch up. The SDT750 will be out in October for a hefty $1,399 asking price. PR is after the break.

Update: The "after the break" lounge has now also been enriched with some video of the SDT750's official unveiling [Thanks, Jan].

Gallery: Panasonic HDC-SDT750 press shots

Continue reading Panasonic reveals HDC-SDT750 3D camcorder, is super proud of itself (updated with video)

Panasonic reveals HDC-SDT750 3D camcorder, is super proud of itself (updated with video) originally appeared on Engadget on Tue, 27 Jul 2010 22:01:00 EDT. Please see our terms for use of feeds.

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Panasonic will offer interchangeable 3D lens for Micro Four Thirds by year's end

Source: http://www.engadget.com/2010/07/27/panasonic-will-offer-interchangable-3d-lens-for-micro-four-third/

Like Panasonic's new 3D-capable HDC-SDT750 camcorder but don't want to shell out $1,400 for a brand-new kit? Get a load of this Micro Four Thirds lens. That's right, Panny's just announced an interchangeable 3D lens that affixes to the standard Lumix G-series mount, meaning any of the company's new sub-DSLR shooters could see in stereo with a firmware hack update. Sadly, compatible models are still "to be announced" and even the lens pictured above is just a prototype, but we won't have too long to wait for the real deal -- the Japanese manufacturer says it'll be on sale by the end of the year. Press release after the break.

Continue reading Panasonic will offer interchangeable 3D lens for Micro Four Thirds by year's end

Panasonic will offer interchangeable 3D lens for Micro Four Thirds by year's end originally appeared on Engadget on Tue, 27 Jul 2010 22:52:00 EDT. Please see our terms for use of feeds.

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Microsoft Street Slide: it's electric! (video)

Source: http://www.engadget.com/2010/07/28/microsoft-street-slide-its-electric-video/

Remember the first time you used Google Street View? Amazing, right? Thing is, traversing a busy urban street in a 360-degree photographic bubble can be disorienting, especially when searching for a specific address or business. So check this: Microsoft Research has developed a rather nifty solution it calls Street Slide. Zoom out of your panoramic bubble and the street is presented as a dynamic, multi-perspective "strip" giving you an instant visual summary of the surroundings -- similar to viewing the entire street from a distance. Fortunately, Microsoft took advantage of what would otherwise be the unused letterboxed screen above and below the strip to add navigational and informational aids like clickable business logos and building numbers. Pretty impressive, and Microsoft is already working on taking Street Slide mobile with an iPhone port, and no doubt a version for the upcoming Windows Phone 7 series of devices. Unfortunately, don't expect this to be released anytime soon as the team has only processed about 2400 panoramas so far covering just 4 kilometers of streets. Check the video after the break, you'll be glad you did.

Continue reading Microsoft Street Slide: it's electric! (video)

Microsoft Street Slide: it's electric! (video) originally appeared on Engadget on Wed, 28 Jul 2010 02:03:00 EDT. Please see our terms for use of feeds.

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Toshiba's latest Cell Regza LCDs are Slim, but don't go calling them 2D

Source: http://www.engadget.com/2010/07/28/toshibas-latest-cell-regza-lcds-are-slim-but-dont-go-calling/

Ready to climb Mount Fuji and see what the next top Japanese TV will look like? Toshiba has just outed its trio of flag-bearing displays for this fall: the Cell Regza Slim 55XE2 and 46XE2, and the full-bloodied 55X2. Inch-based dimensions are already given in their model names, but you'll also want to know they offer 240Hz refresh rates, 1,000 nits of brightness and 9,000,000:1 dynamic contrast ratios on the chunkier X2 (augmented with local backlight dimming), and a 2D-to-3D conversion technology that'll translate your stale old 2D imagery into bodacious triple dimensionality. You're also keeping the 3 terabytes of storage and the capability of time-shifting up to eight channels at a time from the older model, though you're no longer limited to a hard cap of 26 hours per channel. Connectivity is also rich, with options for DLNA and/or up to eight HDDs, while jacking in a Blu-ray recorder will permit you to record straight to the optical media the same way you can do to the Regzas' own storage. All these goodies won't come cheap, however, as the flagship 55X2 will retail for a well-rounded million Yen ($11,430) in late October, to be preceded by its Slim siblings with prices of ¥700,000 ($8,000) for the 55-inch and ¥600,000 ($6,858) for the 46-inch earlier that month. Full press release after the break.

Continue reading Toshiba's latest Cell Regza LCDs are Slim, but don't go calling them 2D

Toshiba's latest Cell Regza LCDs are Slim, but don't go calling them 2D origina! lly appe ared on Engadget on Wed, 28 Jul 2010 02:58:00 EDT. Please see our terms for use of feeds.

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Indesit unveils smart-grid washer, thumbs nose at GE

Source: http://www.engadget.com/2010/07/28/indesit-unveils-smart-grid-washer-thumbs-nose-at-ge/

General Electric may have a host of smart appliances in the works, but looks like one Indesit may beat it to the punch -- at least on the washing machine front. The Italian home appliance firm just unveiled a ZigBee-compatible washer at the Freescale Technology Forum in Florida this week, capable of communicating with the smart grid and then timing its loads according to variable electricity cost. We can't find a single detail beyond that, except that it uses one of Freescale's ZigBee radio chips, and that this particular washer appears to be destined for Indesit's Hotpoint-Ariston label with the company's Aqualtis auto-detergent dosage technology built right in. We can tell you're on the edge of your seat. No word on pricing or availability, and no, we don't know if it will tweet when your load is done. Press release after the break.

Continue reading Indesit unveils smart-grid washer, thumbs nose at GE

Indesit unveils smart-grid washer, thumbs nose at GE originally appeared on Engadget on Wed, 28 Jul 2010 03:52:00 EDT. Please see our terms for use of feeds.

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