What's new in 3-D

NEED NEW nudges to dive into a 3-D TV?

Almost all of Chicago blows up in the sci-fi spectacle "Transformers: Dark of the Moon" (Paramount), just out in 3-D form. Also new, "WWII in 3D" (A&E Networks) using stills and movies shot by the Nazis.

"A Very Harold & Kumar 3D Christmas" (Warner Bros., out Tuesday) is the most amusing use so far of the new technology.

The Royal Opera House's "Carmen in 3D" (Opus Arte) represents a most classy "first of breed." German rockers the Scorpions "Get Your Sting and Blackout - Live in 3D" on Feb. 21 from Sony Legacy.

Academy Award-nominee "Hugo" brings its special mix of 3-D and early movie magic to the home screen on Feb. 28, same day "Puss in Boots" pushes through the fourth wall (both from Paramount).

Sony CEO Howard Stringer used CES time to reassert corporate support for the 3Net channel (in partnership with Discovery and IMAX) and ESPN 3D, and said 3-D moviemaking is spreading worldwide.

Panasonic has renewed its commitment to the n3D channel (like 3Net, a DirecTV exclusive) and will sponsor 200 hours of the 2012 Summer Olympics from London in 3-D, likely on Comcast and DirecTV.

With TV manufacturers finally agreeing to standards, third-party makers could bring active-shutter 3-D glasses down to $30 by year's end. XPand's next-gen models, coming midyear, start at $59.

- Jonathan Takiff