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HP working on new holographic 3D display technology for smartphones and tablets

HP Envy Spectre XT Review hp logoDid you think 3D screens on smartphones were a thing of the past? Yep, so did we, but Hewlett Packard thinks differently, as it has revealed an alternative take on the technology which it hopes will transform the market and make it a success. Deep inside one of its R&D labs, HP is hard at work on this new type of the next-next generation small 3D screen, which will operate without the need for special glasses. Instead, the 3D effect will be generated by the screen itself. By using “nano-patterned grooves” etched into the display’s surface, light is projected in many different directions all at once to provide the illusion we’re seeing a 3D object.

It’s an evolution of the technology used on the Nintendo 3DS’s screen, but instead of only being viewable by the person sitting directly in front of the device, HP’s system sends light and color out in 14 directions – the 3DS splits light into just two directions – so multiple viewers will be able to see the 3D image. Not only that, but the image will be viewable from different angles and directions, and will sit, “above” the screen, giving it an almost holographic style. The technology is built-in to a regular LCD screen, which should mean its relatively economical and simple to produce, and the early versions being tested now measure half a millimeter thick.

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The picture generated will be less Avatar and more Star Wars, as according to David Fattal, the author of the research paper on the technology, the image created by the screen can be likened to the famous scene in latter movie, where R2-D2 projects an image of Princess Leia for Luke and Obi-wan. He admits it won’t have quite the same degree of, “pop” as in the film, but the overall effect is similar.

However, HP’s clever screens are still a long way off becoming mainstream, and there are a few problems with creating suitable content for the screen to display. For example, as images can be viewed at all angles, any live action video would need to have been shot with 64 cameras, making it something of a logistical nightmare. For this reason, early content will be digitally created, and Fattal speculates it’ll be used for displaying 3D models, viewing two different content sources at the same time, or using 3D maps.

HP’s tech is still only in the very early stages and is described as a proof of concept, so don’t expect this to be a headline feature on a smartphone released any time soon. Still, if it’s anything like described, it has the potential to make handheld 3D devices actually worth considering.

Andy Boxall
Andy has written about mobile technology for almost a decade. From 2G to 5G and smartphone to smartwatch, Andy knows tech.
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Jeep just pulled the wraps off the all-new Compass EV, and while it’s an exciting leap into the electric future, there's a catch—it might not make it to the U.S. anytime soon.
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Let’s start with what’s cool: the new Compass EV is packing up to 404 miles of range on a single charge, a 74 kWh battery, and fast-charging that gets you from 20% to 80% in about 30 minutes. Not bad for a compact SUV with Jeep's badge on the nose.
There are two versions: a front-wheel-drive model with 213 horsepower and a beefier all-wheel-drive version with 375 horsepower. That AWD setup isn’t just for looks—it can handle 20% inclines even without front traction, and comes with extra ground clearance and better off-road angles. In short, it’s still a Jeep.
The design's been refreshed too, and inside you’ll find the kind of tech and comfort you’d expect in a modern EV—sleek, smart, and ready for both city streets and dirt trails.
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Plans to build it in Canada were recently put on hold, with production now delayed until at least early 2026. Some of that might have to do with possible U.S. tariffs on Canadian and Mexican vehicles—adding a layer of uncertainty to the whole rollout.
According to Kelley Blue Book, a Stellantis spokesperson confirmed that the company has “temporarily paused work on the next-generation Jeep Compass, including activities at” the Canadian plant that was originally meant to build the model. They added that Stellantis is “reassessing its product strategy in North America” to better match customer needs and demand for different powertrain options.
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That’s a shame, because on paper, this electric Jeep hits a lot of sweet spots. Let’s just hope it finds a way over here.

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Charlie Cox singles out his least favorite Daredevil: Born Again episode
Charlie Cox in Daredevil: Born Again.

Daredevil: Born Again season 1 was largely reconceived after the 2023 actor and writer strikes. Dario Scardapane -- a veteran of The Punisher series on Netflix -- was brought in to be the new showrunner and he made a lot of changes to the series that were well-received. However, there's one episode that Scardapane didn't really change at all, and it happens to be the least favorite episode of Daredevil: Born Again's leading man, Charlie Cox.

During an appearance on The Playlist, Cox noted that he wasn't very fond of the season's fifth episode, "With Interest," which was a largely standalone episode that featured his character, Matt Murdock, in a bank during a hostage crisis.

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Amazon's self-driving vehicle unit, Zoox, has issued a voluntary safety recall after one of its autonomous vehicles was involved in a minor collision in Las Vegas. The incident, which occurred in April 2025, led the company to investigate and identify a software issue affecting how the robotaxi anticipates another vehicle’s path.
The recall, affecting 270 Zoox-built vehicles, was formally filed with the National Highway Traffic Safety Administration (NHTSA). Zoox said the issue has already been addressed through a software update that was remotely deployed to its fleet.
Zoox’s robotaxis, which operate without driving controls like a steering wheel or pedals, are part of Amazon’s entry into the autonomous driving space. According to Zoox’s safety recall report, the vehicle failed to yield to oncoming traffic while making an unprotected left turn, leading to a low-speed collision with a regular passenger car. While damage was minor, the event raised flags about the system’s behavior in complex urban scenarios.
Establishing safety and reliability remain key factors in the deployment of the relatively new autonomous ride-hailing technology. Alphabet-owned Waymo continues to lead the sector in both safety and operational scale, with services active in multiple cities including Phoenix and San Francisco. But GM’s Cruise and Ford/VW-backed Argo AI were forced to abandon operations over the past few years.
Tesla is also expected to enter the robotaxi race with the launch of its own service in June 2025, leveraging its Full Self-Driving (FSD) software. While FSD has faced heavy regulatory scrutiny through last year, safety regulations are expected to loosen under the Trump administration.
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