Britain’s Queen Elizabeth goes 3D for Olympics tribute

Britain’s Queen Elizabeth will use her traditional Christmas Day message, filmed in 3D for the first time, to pay tribute to the world’s athletes for delivering a “splendid summer of sport” at the London Olympics.

In her personal address to the nation, the monarch will pay tribute to the competitors’ “skill, dedication, training and teamwork”, her office said on Monday.

The 86-year-old head of state provided an Olympic highlight when she made a surprise comic turn with James Bond actor Daniel Craig in a short film for the opening ceremony.

“In pursuing their own sporting goals, they gave the rest of us the opportunity to share something of the excitement and drama,” she will say, according to advance extracts.

Queen Elizabeth missed a church service at her country retreat on Sunday due to a cold, Buckingham Palace said. Her message was pre-recorded and will go out as expected.

It comes at the end of a landmark year for the royal family.

Queen Elizabeth marked 60 years on the throne with the Diamond Jubilee celebrations and her grandson Prince William and his wife Kate are expecting their first baby.

Prime Minister David Cameron issued his own Christmas message in which he talked of Britain’s “extraordinary year”.

“We cheered our queen to the rafters with the Jubilee, showed the world what we’re made of by staging the most spectacular Olympic and Paralympic Games ever and - let’s not forget - punched way above our weight in the medals table,” he said.

The first Christmas broadcast was given by Queen Elizabeth’s grandfather George V in 1932. It has become a Christmas Day tradition for many families to watch it together after lunch.

Artist brings 3-D pavement art to Grand Canyon

Uninspired by modern art, Kurt Wennerset out to learn how European masters made architecture soar and figures float in ceiling frescoes.

What started off as two-dimensional chalk and pastel art on the streets of Rome decades ago, mimicking what Wenner saw in Renaissance classicism, morphed into an art form of his own — one that makes objects appear to rise from or fall into the ground in three-dimensional pieces. His latest piece unveiled just outside the Grand Canyon has visitors perched atop spires and starting down a winding trail that seemingly plunges into the depths of the massive gorge.

The piece, “Grand Canyon Illusion,” certainly is puzzling to the eye, blending the visitors who pose in it with a scenic, infinite backdrop. It’s the first semi-permanent display of Wenner’s work in North America and one that he hopes will help take pavement art to a higher level.

“You can do everything from fine art to publicity to a drawing demonstration or performance to what eventually is going to be a permanent form of art,” said Wenner. “It isn’t really in a box. It doesn’t limit you to one particular venue. I’m not stuck with the gallery world or the publicity world. I can choose where I want to go with it.”

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Origin PC claims its EON17-X3D is the world’s first laptop to sport two graphics cards in SLI mode.

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Pirate Bay to Offer Downloads of Real, Physical Items

Downloads do not have to be just files, they can be physical objects.

The Pirate Bay just announced a new category “Physibles”, which will allow users to download 3D printer files that will deliver physical objects as long as you own a 3D printer.

“We believe that the next step in copying will be made from digital form into physical form,” a blog post at The Pirate Bay states. “We believe that in the nearby future you will print your spare parts for your vehicles. You will download your sneakers within 20 years.”

At this time, there is not much in this category that can be downloaded. And there is quite some work to be done until, as the guys over that The Pirate bay envision, that you can download your lunch.

3D printers are not as expensive anymore as they once were. For example, MakerBot’s MakerBot Replicator was launched at CES earlier this month. The device is available for $1749 and features a build volume of 1.3 gallons using ABS and PLA materials.

Editor’s Note: Tea, Earl Grey, Hot, anyone?

Macedonian firm creates Hollywood magic

A special effects firm in Macedonia is making a name for itself in Hollywood. CNN’s Atika Shubert reports.

Urbee 3D printed car goes on display in Canada

An environmentally friendly car, partly made using 3D printing technology, has gone on show.

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