Considering the amount of coverage that 3D is getting with most of the big-name companies promising 3D enabled HDTVs, hardly anyone has considered a 3D approach that doesn’t involve silly glasses.

It’s nice to see that Sony is thinking one step ahead of the competition with this new concept 3D display. See that cute little character who appears to be trapped in a lava-less lava lamp? Well, the viewer of this character can walk around this cylinder and see it from every angle, with no funky glasses required.

This 3D prototype is a stereoscopic, 24-bit color image that measures about 96 x 128 pixels. I’m guessing we’ll see this at CES in January of next year, but until then, I am wondering what is the “master plan” behind this.

Is it so that we will have holograms like Princess Leia’s iconic “help me, Obi-Wan Kenobi” message from the original Star Wars? I certainly hope so. I wouldn’t mind talking to someone who was a tiny hologram in front of me, but I think that our current mobile phone culture has eliminated the need for land-line holograms.

Perhaps it is to make some new form of entertainment. Can you imagine watching a movie, and then watching the same movie at a different angle? I suppose if it was a 3D experience, it would make a difference, but we are talking about a whole new form of entertainment that doesn’t exist as yet.

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Considering the popularity of musical video games like Guitar Hero, Rock Band, DJ Hero, and all of their imitators, gamers everywhere are believing that they can play music. Of course, there is more to music than just hitting buttons at the right time, but that isn’t the issue. My point is that if you are going to play the music for a game, then you might as well play it loud.

This is the reason why Altec Lansing has created the Stage-Gig amplified speaker. It can connect with any gaming console, and has a 6.5 inch woofer for 40 watts of ear-splitting sound power. There is a volume knob there to control the extra blast, and, just in case you are wondering, the knob don’t go to 11. Of course, the user has the option of making it even louder because the Stage-Gig has RCA outputs for extra speakers.

The best thing of all is that it is portable. After all, a lot of gamers are often taking their instruments with them on tour (that is, over to a friend’s house). As a result, video game accessory companies are making backpacks and tote bags specifically designed for Rock Band and Guitar Hero. I suppose that gamers that go on the road will be able to travel light with the Stage-Gig’s easy to carry handle.

The Altec Lansing Stage-Gig is planned to hit store shelves in early November for about $99.95.

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