Best Buy reports slow 3DTV sales while Wedbush Morgan says it doesn't believe 3DTV will be widely adopted.

Reasons given include weak economies, consumers opting for other CE products (like tablets and smartphones) and lack of 3D content for TVs.

In its report the Financial Times also mentions the 2 most important factors-- prices and the inconvenience caused by glasses to users.

3DTV sales represent only 3% of global HDTV sales, with 4m units shipped in total.

Analysts expect success for Nintendo's 3DS though-- the handheld console does not require glasses to play 3D titles and movies on its 3.5" screens.

A smaller screen size and a single viewer holding the device at a fixed angles makes it easier for the format to work without glasses. Sharp is to launch an Android smartphone with a 3D display this month, while smaller-screened devices like tablets and laptops could come with glasses-free 3D displays next year.

More channels with 3D content could help TV sales-- major broadcasters are adding 3D channels. Hollywood plans the release of more than 50 3D titles next year.

Go Lack of Content Leaves 3D TV Sales Flat

Shopping search engine Twenga's Christmas survey shows 47% of Europeans do not want a 3DTV for Christmas.

The British (52%), Germans (52%) and Dutch (62%) in particular are not interested in 3DTVs.

Meanwhile the French (57%), Italians (69%) and Spanish (61%) hope to find some 3-dimensional cheer this season.

The main reason behind the general European reluctance towards 3D is price-- 32% of British, 36% of French, 39% of Italians and 48% of Spanish respondents find it too expensive.

Go Twenga Survey Finds Europeans Still Cautious of 3DTV

Many consumers resent wearing glasses to watch 3D content on TV, so Taiwan’s AU Optronics (one of the world’s biggest flat-panel producers) announces a glasses-less, all-angle viewing 3D panels.

AUO will exhibit at FPD International 2010 in Japan a naked eye 3D display solution: the 65" QFHD 4K2K lenticular lens 3D panel. Its proprietary technology resolves uneven brightness that occurs with conventional 3D displays, raising the resolution of a single viewpoint to high definition.

The 3D panel has brightness as high as 500 nits, with eight viewpoints. AUO says its image quality is suitable for commercial use, making the panel "the most eye-catching large-sized 3D public information display currently available."

The march towards bringing 3D without glasses to all displays from phones to large-screen TVs to commercial displays continues....AUO is not the first in the world to try this concept of glasses-less 3D viewing. Philips had the technology in a spin-off its High Tech Research Park ventures but closed it. Toshiba says it will sell glasses-free 3D TVs in Japan by the end of the year but analysts point out these are still relatively small screens and the image blurs if you are not facing head on.

Having acquired 10% of SuperD (a Shenzhen-based developer of ‘naked eye’ 3D technology), AUO claims its panels are the first in the world to have no deadzones: 3D images can be seen from any angle or distance.

AUO will also showcase the world's largest 71 inch HD 3D TV LCD panel in 21:9 Cinema Scope.

Go AUO to Exhibit Advanced 3D Display Technologies

The answer appears to be yes, Creative Channel Services (CCS) says. Its survey of store-level CE retail sales associates shows 80% are failiar or very familiar with connected TV.

More than 45% of retailers also feel customers will prefer to spend around $250 on a set-top box rather than a new internet-enabled TV, blu-ray player or home theatre system.

The top reason given on why consumers will invest in connected TV is "to have a unified multimedia experience"-- 53% of survey participants rate consumer interest as "very interested".

Streaming video rates 2nd (51%), web surfing 3rd (40%), using online applications 4th (35%) and listening to music 5th (34%).

When it comes to whether connected TV will replace customers' cable and satellite services, 53% of retailers feel it won't for at least another 5 years. 28% think it will in 3 years, and 22% say it will as early as in 2 years' time.

CCS says retail salespersons can drive the adoption of cutting-edge technologies and help move new products in consumers' living rooms.

A CCS consumer survey shows just 31% of customers familiar with the technology. Only 17% say they might purchase a connected TV solution in 2011.

Go CCS: 80% of Retail Salespeople Say They Are Familiar with Connected TV

Vogels' BaseCover fixes to an iPad’s back and comes with an aluminium receptor which connects to other mounts for walls, desks and cars.

For example, the WallMount is a small button mount which can be screwed to any wall. Once secured, the iPad can be fully rotated.

The TableStand holds the iPad on any surface in portrait or landscape mode.

The CarMount fixes to the headrest for use by backseat passengers.

The starter kit includes BaseCover and WallMount, and the other mounts sell separately.

Go Vogels Mount and Cover

Despite initial low interest levels, IPTV is reaching a point of critical mass, says Futuresource's latest report. Consultant David Watkins says analysis shows consumer usage growing as IPTV devices become more versatile and content range increases.

Futuresource's predictions show IPTV growing by 67% by 2014.

Competition comes from devices already proving easy access to entertainment and information – PCs, smartphones and tablets.

Manufacturers look for monetization models from content owners and online service providers. The current growing interest in TV app development follows the smartphone model, including micropayments.

With factors like screen size and image quality running out of headroom, connection creates added value via web services and interactive TV.

Go Futuresource's Predictions for IPTV