LG and Sky have announced an extension to their 3D partnership, with the satellite giant formally endorsing LG's 3D televisions for its soon-to-be-launched Sky 3D channel./

The partnership will see both LG and Sky launch a marketing campaign around the first 3D channel available to consumers in the UK, when it launches on October 1.

Stephen Gater, Head of Marketing LG Home Entertainment Company, commented: "Making 3D technology a genuine reality in people's homes relies on the pairing of great hardware and compelling content. Our partnership with Sky recognises just this.

"Together we are committed to educating consumers about our full 3D TV range and demonstrating how they can best view the new content that will available to them in the home."  read more »

Nvidia has announced its latest family of Fermi laptop graphics chips this week, balancing support for 3D with decent battery life.

Nvidia's new GeForce 400M series of graphics chips will be used by a number of major laptop manufacturers including Acer, Asus, Dell, Lenovo, Samsung and Toshiba.

Switchable graphics

All of those aforementioned brands will bring out laptops with Nvidia's 'switchable graphics' Optimus technology, to allow users to switch effortlessly (in the background) between the graphics chip on the motherboard and the more powerful discrete (but power-hungry) discrete graphics chip when needed.  read more »

Philips' Cinema 21:9 LCD TV was certainly unique. As it was the only telly with a 21:9 aspect ratio, for (rich) people wanting a true in-home cinema experience from a TV it has been the obvious choice.

However, it wasn't perfect. It used old-school CCFL backlighting, which meant contrast levels and the handling of motion did not match up to Panasonic's plasmas or even Philips' own 'LED Pro' Direct LED TVs.

And of course, it wasn't 3D capable.

This has all changed though, with the launch of the 58-inch Philips Cinema 21:9 Platinum Series TV. It's a couple of inches bigger than last year's 56-inch model, although due to the bezel being slimmer, the actual size of the TV has not changed.  read more »

Toshiba has announced its first 3D LED television, with the Regza WL768 series offering that the company describes as the "very best home cinema experience".

Toshibas' Regza WL series is available in 40-inch, 46-inch and 55-inch sizes and boasts Active Shutter 3D technology along with 'Intelligent 3D'.

"Launched to coincide with the availability of commercial 3D TV content in the UK, the range has been designed to offer the very best home cinema experience, with premium Toshiba features providing advanced 3D viewing," states Toshiba.

Broadcast content

"Viewers can enjoy broadcast content in incredible 3D, while new Blu-ray 3D players provide the ability to enjoy films in a completely new way," it continues.  read more »

Digital TV standards body the DVB has set technical standards for the first generation of 3D TV broadcasts.  read more »

German public broadcaster ZDF has echoed the BBC's caution about 3D TV, saying it's too costly and complex.  read more »

Pan-European sports broadcaster Eurosport is preparing to launch a 3D channel but won't say where it will be seen.  read more »

Following Sony's IFA 2010 press conference earlier this week, the consumer electronics giant has revealed its first 3D Vaio laptop.

No official word yet from Sony on plans for a commercial release, but we've reached out to Sony UK and expect to hear more on that front very soon.

A Sony rep at IFA said that he expects the new Vaio should arrive at some point early in 2011.

HD 3D at 240fps  read more »

Sony CEO Sir Howard Stringer has described the adoption of 3D as being 'faster than predicted'. Speaking at a pre-IFA press conference, he said that after its best three months in the last few years, Sony was ready to 'drive innovation which is the lifeblood of our relationship with the consumer.'  read more »

Sharp has announced the arrival of its first 3D Blu-ray player, the BD-HP0S.

The player is a smart-looking machine, which brings wireless LAN functionality – we're suspecting for BD Live capabilities – and is a slimeline device which has been designed to stand vertical.

The 3D Blu-ray player compliments Sharp's first foray into 3D, with the Quattron 3D TV - both of which were announced at IFA 2010.

Best picture

Sharp is promising that the BD-HP0S delivers "the best picture quality in both 3D and 2D."

But TechRadar will be the judge of that when it gets a hands-on with the device later today.  read more »