Our TV experts are continuing to test the 3D TVs we’ve been telling you about for the past week. Though we haven’t completed our in-depth tests yet, we’re seeing some performance differences between the models. All three sets—Samsung’s 46-inch 7000- and 8000-series LCD TVs, and Panasonic’s 50-inch VT-20 series plasma—produced compelling, realistic three-dimensional images, but they didn’t look identical.

Step into our video lab to learn more. See for yourself how the TVs differed, and which looked best. We’ll keep you posted as we complete our tests and have even more detail to share.

Combing through hundreds of blog posts and news articles daily, Dirk Klingner, our technology-trend watcher, sifts through the noise to bring you the tech news most important to consumers. If you have a tip on a story you want to share, leave a comment below.

Facebook Kicks Off Implementation Of QR Codes (TechCrunch)

… Facebook appears to have started enabling users to generate custom two-dimensional QR codes. From the looks of the screenshot embedded above, there are two types of QR codes: a personal barcode or a “status QR barcode”. This also seems to appear on Facebook Fan Pages.

Intel Intros 40-GB SSD For $125 (ChannelWeb)

Intel signaled its intent to lead the entry-level SSD market with the introduction of a 40-GB SSD with a price of only $125. Intel on Monday unveiled its X25-V Value SATA solid state drive (SSD), a new line aimed at the netbook, notebook, and desktop PC market.

The cappuccino car that runs on coffee… so will you have to use the filter lane? (MailOnline)

A car that runs on coffee is unveiled today - but it certainly won't take the grind out of commuting. And at between 25 and 50 times the cost of running a car on petrol, the invention won't please any motor industry bean-counters either.

PayPal Launches Revamped iPhone App, Teams With Bump For Phone-Tapping Money Transfers (TechCrunch)

PayPal has just launched an upgraded iPhone application that adds new features and includes a facelift that’s meant to help instill a greater sense of security. And it also brings with it big news for Bump Technologies, the startup that lets you exchange information simply by tapping smartphones together: Bump is now prominently featured in the PayPal iPhone application as a quick way to initiate transactions.

Lighter side: Pomplamoose cover Lady Gaga's "Telephone" in a VideoSong (PomplamooseMusic)

In response to the National Broadband Plan presented to Congress today by the Federal Communication Commission, Joel Kelsey, a policy analyst with Consumers Union (the nonprofit parent company of Consumer Reports) released the following statement.

We commend the commission for the goals and the vision in this plan to bring affordable, high-speed Internet access to all Americans. The U.S. has fallen behind other countries, both in terms of how many people have broadband and the speed of those connections. This plan seeks to knock down the biggest obstacles to bringing high-speed Internet to more people at a reasonable price. This is the first step in a long process. The commission has laid out a lot of important questions the government must answer to put us on the right path, and we look forward to working with the commissioners and Congress on the road ahead.

In its own statement today, the FCC detailed its vision for the American broadband network [PDF] by 2020. Among other goals, the plan calls for promoting competition in the broadband market and closing certain "broadband gaps." Those gaps include the 100 million Americans who currently have no broadband access at home (especially in rural areas and among "vulnerable" populations) and the shortage of broadband spectrum for mobile devices.

—Nick K. Mandle

Starting today, get ready to hear a lot (more) about access to high-speed broadband, whom should control the broadcast airwaves, and the role of the federal government in regulating both.

The Federal Communications Commission is scheduled to send its long-awaited National Broadband Plan to Congress, a move that will further propel issues mostly discussed among the telecom industry, advocates, and regulators into the political arena.

[Update: Watch live streaming of the FCC's presentation of the National Broadband Plan to Congress through 12:30 pm EST.  Read the entire plan for yourself here.]

In the executive summary [PDF] on today's report, the FCC reaffirmed that universal access to broadband will be the plan's top priority. Plan goals include that "every American should have access to robust broadband service," and that 100 million residents should have access to speedy service of at least 100 and 50 megabits per second for download and upload, respectively.

The summary also outlines plans for further subsidies to wire rural areas for broadband and the New York Times reports the plan will include "a controversial auction of some broadcast spectrum to free up space for wireless devices, and the development of a new universal set-top box that connects to the Internet and cable service."

The plan is likely to trigger furious debate, including lobbying from industry representatives and responses from consumer advocates, including Consumers Union, the parent company for Consumer Reports.

—Paul Reynolds

Daily electronics deals, courtesy of The Consumerist:

• HP, TigerDirect, Best Buy: Best Prices on the Best PCs of 2010 - as selected by Geekie Gadgets
• Buy.com: 1TB External Fantom Hard Drive $80
• HP.com: HP Photosmart C4680 Color All-in-One $70 shipped
• OfficeMax: Acer Aspire 5732Z 15.6-inch Windows 7 $399.99 + free shipping
• Amazon: Dell Inspiron Mini 10 Netbook w/ digital TV tuner $299.99 + free shipping
• Amazon: Slingbox PRO-HD $229.99 + free shipping
• Buy.com:  Panasonic TC-P46S1 46-inch 1080p Plasma HDTV $762 + free shipping

• Buy.com : Linksys Dual Band Wireless-N Gigabit Router (Refurbished) for $63.24 w/ Free Shipping
• Buy.com : Grace Digital Outdoor Wireless Speaker System for $69.99 w/ Free Shipping
• Microsoft Store : Acer 10.1” Netbook 1.66GHz w/ 1Gb Memory + 250GB Drive for $269.10 w/ Free Shipping
• Target : Sceptre 32" LCD 720p HDTV for $299 w/ Free Shipping
• Amazon: Tony Hawk Ride with Skateboard Bundle $77.54 + free shipping
• EA Store : Dante's Inferno Divine Edition PS3 Game for $31.99 w/ Coupon M93SW4PQQ2 w/ Free Shipping

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and recommended, in our Ratings of retailers for computers and other major electronics (both available to subscribers). Price shouldn't be your only criterion. Be wary of lower-priced deals that seem too good to be true, and check return policies for restocking fees and other gotchas.

For general buying advice for many of the products on sale above, check out our free Buying Guides.