3D and T2 the highlights at the ANGA digital expo

With Astra having just launched a 3D demo channel, 3D is predictably the next big thing at this year's ANGA Cable - the annual digital TV get together where new kit is often launched and the odd channel too.

For those those who don't have a 3D TV yet (we suspect that's 99.9 per cent of readers) the Astra channel's features an odd mix of concert footage featuring unknowns and cheesy clips including happy children frolicking in a field.

It looks mighty impressive from a technical standpoint, which is why most manufacturers seem to be using it to show off the 3D capabilities of their receivers.

Sky's software provider of choice, NDS, is also getting in on the 3D action, showing off solutions for displaying onscreen graphics and subtitles during 3D broadcasts in a manner less likely to cause disorientation or nausea.

Part of the presentation include clips of Star Wars parts III and IV, rendered impressively in 3D, which reaquainted us with our inner child though when we'll see it in cinemas is another matter.

Also on the NDS stand is Oona, the codename for a new EPG which makes use of trendy widgets to attractively display programme info and add advertising.  Another neat feature was the ability for broadcasters to compile lists of football highlights on the fly, which can be accessed by net-connected boxes while the match is in progress.

On the receiver front, most products here are already on sale, though Humax is showing off its Humax Fox HDR-FOX T2 Freeview HD PVR for the first time.

Dream Multimedia has also announced the Dreambox DM 800 HD SE, a new version of its PVR-ready HD receiver with a larger case to avoid overheating, DVB-S2 tuner, and twin Smart Card reader. It's due for release in August.

On the pro side of things, meter maker Promax is displaying the TV Explorer HD+ which adds such unique features as DVB-T2 measurement and Dolby Digital Plus detection.

Televes meanwhile is demo-ing Coax Data, which as the name suggests is a method of sending network data together with TV signals, over existing coax installations.

Also on the distribution side, Global Invacom's impressive-sounding Super Plus Combiner or SPC4f allows for four Sky boxes to be controlled independently via RF and includes TV Link support.