Dialling up 3D

Smart phones have expanded into the third dimension, and if the HTC EVO 3D is anything to go by, it's made them a whole lot more fun. The EVO 3D allows you to enjoy 3D photos, video and games - and all without the need for special glasses.

The secret behind the phone's ability to create three-dimensional perception is the use of parallax barriers in the display. The parallax barriers send different image information to your left and right eyes, thus triggering your brain to perceive images in clear depth with layers.

To create the 3D effect, photos or videos are made using two different images for the left and right eye. As a result, the EVO 3D comes with two separate lenses.

The gadget shoots 3D photos with up to 2 megapixel resolution, but hit the switch near the shutter button and you can start taking normal 2D photos and video with up to 5 megapixel resolution.

The 3D photos captured by the phone can be watched only on the phone. Upload them to a social network like Facebook and they will automatically convert to 2D photos, with a resulting loss of sharpness. So, if you want to shoot photos for sharing on social networks, you are advised to shoot them in 2D.

However, 3D video clips can be watched on 3D-ready TVs, though these require the special glasses that come with the TV sets.

During the test we found that 3D photos captured by the phone then viewed on the screen were sharp and clear. With the screen held at the right angle - an important requirement - the images sprang to life in different layers of depth.

The 3D video clips were also clear, with depth layers. The EVO 3D can also stream YouTube clips: at one point this reviewer found himself at the end of a sword, thrust out from one of the websites' specially created 3D videos.

I also enjoyed playing 3D games on the phone. "Spider Man 3D" and "Need for Speed 3D" ran fast during the test, with graphics displayed in clear layers of depth. Even the games' menus popped up in 3D.

Technology innovations aside, the HTC EVO 3D is a powerful machine. The engine is a 1.2GHz dual-core Qualcomm Snapdragon processor while steering comes courtesy of the Android 2.3.4 operating system.

HTC has also bolted its Sense 3.0 user-interface on top of the OS, making the phone easy and intuitive to use.

Under the large and bright 4.3-inch screen with 540 x 960 pixel resolution, it has 1 gigabyte of active memory (RAM) and 1 GB of internal storage, expandable with a microSD card.

The phone also functions as a premium portable music player, with a 3.5mm stereo audio jack to use with your choice of headphones. I tested its capabilities with top-of-the-line Sony headphones and the results were impressive. Great for enjoying songs on the go, the HTC Sense active lock-screen displays the album cover, song title and play control buttons while ensuring that the other functions of the phone are locked. The lock-screen also allows you to easily access your mail and SMS messages, or switch to phone use.

Unfortunately, the HTC EVO 3D does not support TrueMove's 850MHz 3G, so I had to test it on the TrueMove EDGE system. Even so, I managed to check my Hotmail and Gmail accounts, synchronise my contact list and read and update my Facebook status without problems.

To download applications and watch YouTube clips, I needed to connect to TrueMove wireless hotspots or my home router. This done, the clips and applications downloaded speedily.

The HTC EVO 3D is selling for Bt19,900.

         Key specs:

Platform: Android 2.3 with HTC Sense

CPU: 1.2GHz dual-core

Qualcomm Snapdragon processor

Display: 4.3-inch 3D touch screen with 540 x 960 pixels resolution

Memory: 1 GB RAM

Storage: 1 GB internal, expandable with a microSD card

Cameras: Rear camera: 5 megapixel 2D photos, 2 megapixel 3D photos; Front camera: 1.3 megapixel

Video recording: 2D/3D videos with up to 720p resolution

Network: HSPA/WCDMA: 900/AWS/2100 MHz;

Quad-band: GSM/GPRS/EDGE: 850/900/1800/1900 MHz

Size: 126mm x 65mm x 12.05mm

Weight: 170 grams with battery

3D freebies

The first 2,000 purchasers of an EVO 3D get free 3D downloads of the film "The Green Hornet" and the games "Spider Man", "SIM City" and "NFS" (Need for Speed).