Productopia | Now or Later

Just in time for the holidays, new Apple iPods were unveiled yesterday. The most significant changes affect the iPod nano, which now comes with a video camera. Also new is an FM radio; other MP3 players have had this feature for years. Lastly, a pedometer feature keeps track of your steps. Design-wise, the nano looks pretty much the same; the screen is a little taller and the colors are a bit shinier. If you already own an iPod, is the new nano worth the upgrade?

Is 3D the "next big thing" in home theater, and will it make all those shiny LCD and plasma sets on retailers shelves obsolete?

That's what some pundits, such as DVICE's Stewart Wolpin are speculating, though I'm not so sure.

Without a doubt, several manufacturers, most notably Panasonic, are taking 3D seriously The company recently announced a promotional partnership with movie maker James Cameron (of "Titanic" fame) for "AVATAR," a sci-fi film shot completely in 3D (using Panasonic equipment in part) and set to debut this December. In Panasonic's announcement, Cameron said "I believe 3D is how we will experience movies, gaming, and computing in the near future."