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BBC: If 2009 was dominated by touch technology then 2010 looks set to be the year of 3D.

3D has been one of the biggest hits of the cinemas this year and it is likely to continue its stride into other mediums during 2010, experts agree.

TV manufacturer LG wants to sell nearly half a million 3D-ready TV sets next year as the World Cup kicks off in the format.

Meanwhile laptops and games consoles are also getting a 3D makeover.

Acer has already released what it is claiming is the world’s first 3D-capable laptop, and most agree it will be the first of many.

One critic likened the screen of the Acer Inspire 5738DZG to that of a 1960′s cinema “but in laptop form”.

Others have dismissed the 3D capability as a gimmick, but most agree that it will be the start of a glut of similar machines.

Acer has created its 3D effect by putting a polarising filter over the screen which splits images into separate streams. When combined with a pair of polarising glasses (and the laptop comes with a free pair) it allows users to view content in 3D.

Some movie trailers come preloaded on the laptop, while software called TriDef 3D can add a third dimension to PC games, DVDs and video footage with varying degrees of success.

Microsoft is watching developments in the field with interest. Julie Larson-Green, Microsoft’s vice president of user experience believes the technology will play a major role over the next decade.

“A 3D spatial camera inside a computer will offer a new way to interact with content. It will allow people to spatially organise things with older things farther away,” she said.

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Tech Digest: Acer may not be the first name you think of when it comes to home cinema, but for a bit of business use and some sneaky Wii gaming, the S1200 could be a decent bit of kit.

This DLP-based projector features Acer’s ColorBoost II technology for enhanced colours and picture quality, and has a brightness of 2,500 ANSI lumens and 2,000:1 contrast ratio.

It can also push out up to 1,680 x 1,050 resolution, so it won’t do a terrible job of high definition content. The projector has HDMI input.

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Slashgear: Acer are describing their new P5260i WiFi projector as for “professionals”, but we don’t see why people in suits should have all the fun. 

The XGA 1024 x 768 resolution unit features WiFi b/g-based technology that allows straightforward streaming of 720p/1080i high-definition video wirelessly rather than by a dull old cable. 

Video formats including MPEG1, MPEG2, MPEG4, WMV9, AVI, DivX, XviD, ASF and VOB are compatible with the projector, but if you’re a traditionalist there are D-Sub, DVI-D and HDMI inputs too. 

The P5260i uses DLP technology, boasts 2700 ANSI Lumens brightness and manages a respectable 2000:1 contrast ratio.

In fact the only downside is, thanks to the business leanings, the native aspect ratio is 4:3.  That doesn’t mean it can’t display a 16:9 picture, but it’ll be somewhat chopped down.  The P5260i is available now.

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NetworkWorld: Taiwan’s E-Ten Information Systems, is showing off three new handsets that run Microsoft Windows Mobile 6.1 at Computex, with all three set to launch after Acer’s proposed acquisition of the company.

E-Ten will launch two of the 3G touchscreen smartphones by the end of October, the X900 and DX900. The V900, which boasts mobile TV, will come out later, an E-Ten representative said.

Acer agreed to buy E-Ten earlier this year in order to add smartphones to its product lines. The company predicts smartphones will become as much as 10 percent of its revenue within the next few years.

Acer has said that its first branded smartphones will be out by the end of this year and will run Microsoft’s Windows Mobile OS.

The company has said it will finalize the acquisition of E-Ten in the third quarter, so by the end of September at the latest. That means the three E-Ten smartphones coming out later this year could end up being Acer’s first smartphones on the market.

All three of the new smartphones boast fast data download speeds via UMTS/HSDPA (Universal Mobile Telecommunications System / High Speed Downlink Packet Access), GSM/EDGE (global system for mobile communications / Enhanced Data Rates for GSM Evolution) Quad-band with built in GPS (global positioning system) as well as Wi-Fi 802.11b/g. They also carry 3-megapixel cameras and have functions specific to themselves.

The DX900, for example, can carry two SIM (subscriber identity module) cards, while the V900 offers mobile TV, FM radio and a TV-out slot.

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Electronista: Acer yesterday said it would acquire E-TEN, best known for its relatively successful Glofiish line of smartphones. The deal is described as worth more than €190 million and is primarily intended to help Acer explore “entirely new solutions” in the mobile world, according to the purchasing company. Both companies’ executive teams have approved the deal and say they expect the necessary government approval to clear by the summer of this year.

The buyout provides Acer with a quick entry into the cellphone market and significantly expands E-TEN’s influence, which (although supporting the US) has largely been limited to Europe and parts of Asia. E-TEN’s devices currently run Windows Mobile and often focus heavily on 3G Internet access over HSDPA as well as extras such as digital TV and GPS navigation.

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PC Advisor: Acer announced at Computex today that it is to sell a Ferrari PDA (personal digital assistant). The Acer Ferrari Windows Mobile PDA is the latest in Acer’s line of Ferrari-branded technology. The Acer Ferrari line includes laptop PCs and a monitor.

The black Acer Ferrari PDA has apple red trim and runs Windows Mobile software. It’s officially called the Ferrari Racing Personal Navigator, a reference to its built-in GPS (global positioning system). The Ferrari Racing Personal Navigator bears a strong family resemblance to Acer’s c500 PDA.

While the two Acer PDAs may look alike, they use different hardware under the hood, according to Acer. Detailed specifications were not available.

The Acer Ferrari PDA comes with special wallpaper that features Ferrari cars, and it offers special sound effects, such as the sound of a roaring engine, for various user actions, Acer said.

Other specifications include ALK CoPilot version 6.0 navigation software, a slot for an SD (Secure Digital) card, Wi-Fi and Bluetooth. The Ferrari Racing Personal Navigator PDA will first be available in Europe beginning during the third quarter of this year.

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Engadget: It looks like Acer has yet another GPS device destined for parts other than North America, with its new budget-priced V200 model apparently exclusive to France for the time being.

This one boasts a decent enough 3.5-inch QVGA display, along with the ever-present SiRF Star III GPS receiver, Samsung’s 300 MHz S3C2442XL processor, 64MB RAM, 64MB ROM, and an SD/MMC slot for expansion.

You’ll also get a a 512MB SD card preloaded maps of France courtesy of Navteq. Nothing too remarkable there, but Acer’s hoping the device will make something of a name for itself with its price, which comes in at just under the 150€ mark.

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