Living on the edge 0
Panasonic Viera VT25 series 3-D HDTV
OK, let's get this out of the way up front: You don't need a 3-D TV.
You don't really need a high-definition TV, either. In fact, you don't need a television, period. Read a book, ride a horse, climb a mountain. The gadgets will always be there, you're not obligated to keep up with them.
That said, if you're the kind of person who loves to live on the high-tech edge and craves the latest gear as soon as it comes out, you've probably been very curious about 3-D TV. I know I have.
With Samsung, Sony and Panasonic all now offering 3-D HDTV sets in Canada (and LG, Sharp and Toshiba introducing their own offerings in the coming months), 3-D television is getting a lot of buzz. Some think it's a gimmick, or a ploy for manufacturers to sell new, pricier TVs. Others think it's the future of home entertainment, and that sooner or later all movies, TV and video games will be in three dimensions.
At long last, I've had the chance to test out a 3-D TV in my own living room, unsupervised, under real world conditions. And I have to say, I think I'm siding with Team 3-D Is The Way of the Future.
My 3-D TV innocence was given up to the Panasonic Viera VT25 series, the company's flagship line of plasma HDTVs. With a Panasonic TC-P54VT25 (which carries an eye-watering retail price of $3,499.99) on loan in my nerd lair, I got down to the business of living la vida 3-D.
Before we even take the 3-D features into account, it must be noted that this is one sweet, sweet TV. Where plasma TVs in general, and the VT25 in particular, really excel is with deep blacks and true-to-life colour, which are the things I demand from an HDTV. The VT25 has the best picture I've seen on any television, period. Throw in a boatload of extra features, like THX picture settings and online features (watch YouTube clips directly on your TV!), and it's golden.
And the 3-D? Well, things get a bit trickier here. First you need a 3-D video source, and since we don't have any 3-D channels in Canada just yet, that means you're looking at a 3-D Blu-ray player, or 3-D video games.
Pairing the VT25 with the Panasonic DMP-BDT350 Blu-ray player ($599), which plays DVDs, regular Blu-rays and 3D Blu-rays (of which there are only a handful right now), I donned the pair of battery-powered active shutter glasses included with the VT25 (extra sets are $150 a pop) and watched the adorable Cloudy With a Chance of Meatballs. The 3-D effects were solid; similar to what you'd see in the theatre, albeit without the impact of watching it on a two-storey screen. The demo disc included with the 3-D Blu-ray player itself was very cool as well - particularly the women's beach volleyball footage, yowza - showing off what Panasonic calls "Full HD 3-D", meaning each eye is receiving a crystal clear 1080p image.
Flipping over to my PlayStation 3, I tried out five games that are currently 3-D-enabled. Some, like Super Stardust HD, MotorStorm: Pacific Rift and PAIN were especially fun in three dimensions, and I can almost see 3-D games being a bigger draw than 3-D movies. (As an added bonus, the PS3 will act as a 3-D Blu-ray later this fall, once a free online firmware update comes out.)
Remember, though, that 3-D home technology is still in its infancy. It's fun to watch these movies and play these games, but 3-D content will be very sparse for some time to come, and the prices for all this gear are currently sky-high.
That's why if you decide to go the 3-D route, you need to first ensure the TV you're choosing is a great HDTV, full stop. And Panasonic's flagship display makes a killer first impression, whatever dimensions you favour.
Panasonic Viera VT25 series 3-D HDTV
Price: $3,499.99 (54-inch model)
Verdict: Though the price may cause hearts to stop, the picture quality and excellent 3-D capabilities will make gadget-lovers' heads explode. In a good way.
Kinect to battle Wii
Limber up those joints and loosen up that wallet - Microsoft's answer to the Nintendo Wii is on its way.
Kinect, the much-talked about motion-sensing peripheral for the Xbox 360, will allow folks to play games using nothing but their bodies, whether they're kicking at virtual balls or holding an imaginary steering wheel to control an on-screen car.
Kinect will hit Canadian stores Nov. 4 at a price of $149.99 for the sensor device and a copy of the mini-game collection Kinect Adventures. Microsoft will also be offering a bundle that combines the Kinect sensor, Kinect Adventures and the new Xbox 360 4 GB console for $299.99. We're already sweating.