We’ve seen plenty of 3D movies hitting the silver screen, and also television manufacturers are pushing 3DTVs and Blu Ray players that support 3D, but has 3D really taken off? Well, the only number we have to refer to is 3.5 million.

If that’s the number of a new laptop or smartphone or even camera, then that’ll be awesome, but that’s not the case here. That’s the number of 3D Blu-ray discs sold in the US, and half were included in the box with a Blu-ray player, which doesn’t sound very good indeed. Those numbers are based on an IHS Screen Digest estimate, tallying US sales beginning in June of 2010 and ending last month, though many larger titles didn’t make their debut until later in the year.

Still, if those results are even in the ballpark of official (unreleased) numbers from BD distributors, then things really aren’t looking up for 3D. With fewer than 100 titles even available on Blu-ray, however, we’re not really surprised that discs aren’t exactly flying off the shelves.

Obviously, as a growing number of movies are filmed in 3D we’ll see BD title availability increase as well, but with the technology’s lackluster beginnings over the last year and no sign that consumers are ready to spend more to embrace that new dimension, 3D may continue its slow crawl toward the mainstream for some time to come. If only we have the numbers for the international market.

SOURCE via TG Daily

We have heard that Apple has been testing prototypes of their MacBooks powered by ARM processors, but it seemed that it’s not as simple as we think. According to the ever-present “source with knowledge of the matter,” Taiwanese chipmaker, TSMC is gearing up to supply Apple with its next generation mobile processors.

Wait what? But we thought it’s supposed to be ARM? This round of speculation also comes just one year after TSMC began construction on its new $9.3 billion foundry, and teamed up with ARM — the brains behind Apple’s A5 processor.

Well, according to the apparently credible anonymous source, TSMC has already begun trial manufacturing on the chips and “has got all the authorization and details ready.” As you may already know, Apple’s current supplier of its A5 CPU is Samsung, and relations between the two have been rocky (at least in court). Of course all parties have declined to comment, which lands this report squarely in the grapevine for now.

SOURCE via Reuters

With Android outselling Apple’s iOS devices by a lofty margin, we’ve been asking every automaker when Android connectivity will finally come to cars. Automotive supplier Harman International has answered the call with its latest infotainment system, which integrates the Android Open Accessory Protocol to allow users to connect their Google-powered smartphone or tablet and control their devices through the head unit, steering wheel buttons or voice commands.

By adopting and implementing the Android protocol, Harman’s systems have access to user’s music, movies and navigation apps, along with SMS and email functionality. Other integrated apps – particularly nav and POI programs – are already available, including Harman’s own Aha Radio app, which allows users to hear Facebook and Twitter updates, get customized news feeds, listen to podcasts, traffic and weather alerts and Internet radio streaming.

The protocol currently supports Android 3.1 running on tablets and 2.3.4 on smartphones, and the first automaker to bring the system into their vehicles is set to win big. And not just with geeks.

Our world has changed a lot, and we know that. We used to write on papers, send slow mail, and travel by rocky paths, but now people uses tablet for schools, and send emails, and travel by high speed bullet trains. But what’s funny is this news. Kids used to dream of becoming doctors, engineers, well probably some will say Indiana Jones and Rocky Balboa. But the peeps these days are slightly different, in a big way.

Apparently being a presenter on the hit TV BBC show Top Gear is the dream job of nearly a third of British men isn’t surprising in the least. After all, what red-blooded male wouldn’t relish the opportunity to drive the very latest (and often enough, the very fastest) automobiles every single day of their lives? And who wouldn’t love to travel to the most distant and beautiful places on the planet while acting out a slew of ridiculous stunts all involving cars, trucks or motorcycles? And, naturally, who wouldn’t want to be paid good money to do it? Read more…

Having a hard time juggling your full-cast reproduction of Harry Potter masquerade Twitter accounts? No worries, the firm just sent out an update to its Android app that will let you switch between multiple accounts with ease. It’s almost magical. Not saddled with the burden of weaving a complex narrative across multiple online identities? That’s okay, there’s something here for everyone; this update includes push notification, updated home screen widgets, and assorted bug fixes. Version 2.1.0 is live today, but only if you’re on Android 2.1 or higher.

SOURCE via Twitter

Sony’s latest Android tablet looks fluidic and futuristic, but that’s not the only product taking this ‘unique’ design. The company’s latest CMT-CX5 “HiFi” system sure is a looker, and could easily be mistaken as the lovechild of its S2 tablet and B&W’s Zeppelin, although slightly bigger.

This made for iPhone rig packs 40 watts of RMS power in its modular design with removable speakers, and can also be wall-mounted if you’ve cluttered your bookshelves. To get the jams flowing, you’ll find an iDevice dock, CD player, USB and aux-in ports, as well as FM and DAB / DAB+ radio tuners; Sony’s also added in its Dynamic Sound Generator X-tra processing, if you want to give your music a slap of vibrance.

You’ll be able to pick up the CX5 in either black or white from the UK beginning in August, although pricing remains to be seen.

The latest creation from modder extraordinaire Benjamin J. Heckendorn is something that shouldn’t happen at all. This mash up of an Xbox 360, Maker Faire-provided Arduino board and a Sony CD changer lets gamers play their entire collection without ever needing to leave the couch again. Totally redefined the couch-potato-gamer. The latest episode of The Ben Heck Show takes viewers through the build process in a bit under 19 minutes, but leaves the device still needing a bit of polish in the end. Sponsor element14 is offering motivated viewers a chance to with this and finish it off properly as they see fit, removing the hassle of L.A. Noire disc swaps once and for all without buying a PS3. The video can be found after the break.

Read more…