It doesn't take a pair of stereoscopic glasses to see that 3D is the next big thing, which is why Future Publishing is launching a single online source for all the hottest 3D news, views and reviews at 3DRadar.co.uk .

Dealing with all things 3D and aggregating content by some of the biggest names in magazines and online including T3, Total Film, Home Cinema Choice and What Satellite, as well as all the 3D news and features from TechRadar, 3DRadar will be launching in early June.

AV giant Panasonic will serve as the launch partner for the project, which is headed up by Steve May – Editor in Chief of Future's Consumer Electronics portfolio.

Panasonic

"We're delighted to be working with Future on this important project," said Panasonic's general manager of communications, John Dixon.

"3D is an epoch making technology which is going to change the way we view TV forever.

"Panasonic leads the industry in the 3D process end to end, from image capture to display on our award winning 3D TVs.

"Future's engagement with home entertainment fans creates a perfect partnership to communicate this new technology."

Film, gaming and tech

Pat Eggington, Group Publisher of Future's consumer electronics portfolio, added: "Future already creates a wealth of content about 3D across multiple websites and 3DRadar allows us to bring our consumer electronics, film and gaming coverage together with all-new editorial from Steve May and his team to create Europe's largest 3D resource.

"This is an appealing site for both enthusiasts hungry for knowledge, and commercial partners with products to sell.

"With key brands now launching their 3D TV ranges, new 3D content announced daily and consumer interest growing, the time was right to launch 3DRadar."

You can check out the site when it launches at http://www.3DRadar.co.uk.

Consumers will likely see 3D LCD TVs that don't require people to wear polarised glasses out on global markets by 2015, according to a Taiwanese research group that showed off an early version of such a device this week.

Taiwan's Industrial Technology Research Institute (ITRI) displayed a 42-inch glasses-free 3D LCD TV this week, and the company can currently make them with screens as large as 65 inches, according to Stephen Jeng, director of ITRI's 3D System & Application Division.

The technology is considered vital to getting 3D into more people's living rooms. Analysts say most people don't want to wear polarised glasses to watch 3D TV, and many balk at the price, up to $200 per pair for some of the glasses. The high price might make a person think twice about hosting a World Cup party with friends.

Jeng says ITRI's technology will be used in digital signs and 3D digital photo-frames initially. The main issues for glasses-free 3D TV are broadcasting, availability of content, and eye safety, he said. Small quantities of glasses-free digital signage and 3D photo frames are already available on the market, he said, but may yet take a year or two to take off.

The glasses-free 3D LCD TV on display from ITRI this week showed pictures of objects that ITRI's software converted into a 3D image. The image was blurry and the technology appears to still be a long way from being ready.

The research group is using parallax barrier technology to create the 3D effect on the TV. The TV was branded Chi Mei, from Chimei Innolux, but Jeng said the company gave ITRI a regular LCD TV to use for the show and that ITRI added its 3D technology to the set on display. Chimei Innolux is not making glasses-free 3D TVs.

A number of companies are working on glasses-free 3D TVs, mainly in Japan and South Korea.

The 3D TV concept took off early this year at the International Consumer Electronics Show in Las Vegas as most major TV makers, including Samsung Electronics, showed off sets that are 3D-capable, meaning people can use them as regular high definition (2-dimensional) TVs or as 3D TVs.

The global 3D TV market this year will likely reach 6.2 million units, according to market researcher Displaybank, with sales growing to 33 million units by 2012.