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Panasonic, Best Buy double down on 3D TV

Panasonic has announced its first 3D TV bundle available exclusively at Best Buy stores, featuring a plasma TV and 3D-compatible Blu-ray player. The bundle will cost $2,900 for a 50-inch TC-P50VT20 TV (a $2,500 value by itself) and 3D-compatible DMP-BDT300 Blu-ray player ($400), and also include one pair of 3D glasses (model TY-EW3D10U, $149). The Panasonic bundle and TVs will be "sold exclusively at select Best Buy stores via Magnolia Home Theater," according to Panasonic. The 50-inch model will be followed by 54-, 58-, and 65-inch versions later this year, though pricing has yet to be determined.

If the TC-P50VT20 sounds different from the TC-P50VT25 model that was CNET's Best of CES pick earlier this year, that's because it is--albeit just slightly. The two models are nearly identical: the VT25 has minor external styling differences (different color bezel) and includes an RS232 port and ISF calibration mode not found on the Best Buy version, but it's slightly more expensive. (See an early hands-on evaluation here.)

To drum up excitement for the 3D launch, the companies held a joint press event at the Best Buy store in Manhattan's Union Square. Immediately following the press conference, the first bundle was sold to customers Brad and Ashley, a couple from Manhattan's Upper West Side. (The timing of the sale had been pre-arranged by Best Buy beforehand.) With New York sales tax, the total came to about $3,100. Immediately afterward, they were bombarded by questions and interviews from the large group of media who had shown up to document the event.

In the end, despite the hype, this wasn't the first 3D TV actually sold in 2010.… Read more

Test-driving the Garmin-Asus Nuvifone A50, M10

BARCELONA, Spain--It's no secret that we weren't huge fans of the Garmin Nuvifone G60. How could we be when half of the product (the smartphone half) barely worked? So when we heard that Garmin-Asus would be showing off its latest Nuvifone models, the Android-powered Nuvifone A10 and Windows Mobile-based Nuvifone M10, at Mobile World Congress 2010, we didn't have the highest of hopes. However, after getting some hands-on time with the devices, we may just be changing our mind.

To start, the hardware is much improved. Both the Nuvifone A50 and M10 have sexier, slimmer designs that … Read more

Miniscule media player

To a certain extent, all media players are the same; they play audio or video, and the only thing that really differentiates them from one another is their features and interface. Unfortunately, uAmp has absolutely nothing going for it where either of these is concerned.

We will never understand why software designers create interfaces that are festooned with tiny buttons and text. Not only was it virtually impossible to decipher words and symbols on uAmp's interface, but also the buttons were so small that we had difficulty even clicking on them. The program offers several different skins, but we … Read more

Garmin-Asus announces Nuvifone M10, A50

Much like last year, Garmin-Asus got a head start on Mobile World Congress 2010 and introduced two new additions to its line of GPS-enabled smartphones, the Nuvifone M10 and the Nuvifone A50.

Promised since 2009, the Garmin-Asus Nuvifone A50 is the company's first Google Android device and features all the usual Google and Android services, including Google search by voice, Gmail, Google Maps, YouTube, and Android Market. In addition, the A50 offers Microsoft Exchange support for e-mail, calendar, and contacts.

Of course, as a Garmin device, the handset will ship with the company's navigation software, complete with maps, … Read more

Buggy video converter

There are a lot of video file converters out there, and most of them are quite similar, allowing users to convert videos between different file formats. Unfortunately, the only thing that sets Leap Free All to AVI MPEG4 WMV MOV FLASH Converter apart from the competition is the fact that it doesn't work very well.

We had high hopes when we first opened the program. The interface is clean and intuitive, with large graphical buttons. We were excited to see that the program also includes a YouTube downloader, and we decided to try that first. We were disappointed to … Read more

VZ Navigator 5.0 hits the streets

On Monday, Verizon Wireless released VZ Navigator 5.0, a new version of its location-based service that brings enhanced navigation tools and more social-networking aspects to the app.

Available starting today on a select number of phones, VZ Navigator 5.0 now offers stranded motorists roadside assistance, so the driver can send his or her position to a dispatcher who can then route help to the location. Another new aspect of the software is Facebook integration. With this feature, users can make status updates right from VZ Navigator with the option to include their location.

Other new features of the … Read more

Retro boom box JVC RV-NB50 Kaboom adds iPod compatibility

LAS VEGAS--We've seen a handful of iPod boom boxes with retro styling--the Lasonic i931 and Altec Lansing Mix iMT800 come to mind--and now JVC is joining the party with the RV-NB50 Kaboom.

This newest Kaboom keeps the CD player, FM radio, and tubular design of the earlier Kaboom model (first launched in 1998), but it adds the requisite iPod dock and line-in port. The Kaboom can also play back digital audio files from USB drives. JVC throws in a shoulder strap too, so you can blast the Kaboom's 40-watt speakers on the go. The unit will be available … Read more