Yes, it's just an Epson viral-ish video, but that doesn't make the clip any less wonderful, as a gamer walks the streets, choosing any convenient building for his giant canvas (while surely getting paid for it). Eventually, as pico projectors become more popular and powerful, it'll be interesting to see how many of us torture the landscape with Tekken 6 matches, and just how authorities choose to respond. [Epson via RegHardware via Engadget]

Featuring a 7-inch LCD face, the Epson PictureMate Show is half digital photo frame, half small form photo printer. You can load images via USB or card reader, edit them using the display and then print them at a class-leading 5760x1440 dpi. The PictureMate Show is $300 and available now, but unless you're printing stuff you really don't want other people to see, I don't really understand the economics or convenience of mass printing at home. [Epson via Electronista]

I have to admit, I didn't have high hopes for these two machines. The first "budget" products in any category always seem to fall short, but in this case I was pleasantly surprised. Both the Vivitek H1080FD and the Optoma HD20, which use DLP technology, offered exceptional performance for the price, but one definitely stood out.

The Results...

The Vivitek takes gold almost every category.
Stack those results up (by weighting each gold medal with 3 points and each silver with 2), and you can see how it all adds up.

Winner: Vivitek H1080FD

While the Optoma HD20 and the Vivitek H1080FD are alike in many respects, the bottom line is that Vivitek pushed the envelope a bit more with picture quality, and provided more of those features that you might find in a pricier projector.

It's a shade bigger than the Optoma, and a little more than a pound heavier at 7.8 lbs, but it is still an extremely portable device (they even go so far as to throw in a carrying case). Both the Vivitek and the Optoma lack lens shift capability, so I had to set them up on this ghetto cardboard box on top of a card table configuration in order to deliver a straight, unobstructed picture to the wall. However, once things were set up and calibrated properly, the Vivitek offered up slightly richer colors and better overall contrast (5000:1) than the Optoma—although black levels and overall quality of the 1080p picture appear similar between the two devices. I also give the Vivitek an edge in the brightness department—especially when comparing the brightest modes. Still, after running through several 1080p video clips on both machines, I was really wowed by the overall image quality on these entry-level projectors.

As I mentioned earlier, the Vivitek brought a few features to the table that you usually find in pricier models. For one thing, it's extremely quiet—especially when compared to the Optoma. It also features more inputs/outputs than the Optoma, including S-Video, RS-232c connector and audio jacks (although it would be a crime to use S-Video). It even features a small 5W onboard speaker which aids in portability and ease of use for those who are looking for a simple, all-in-one solution. The speaker is basic, but I found it helpful in my temporary setup when I just wanted to plug and play.

There isn't much to complain about with regard to the Vivitek H1080FD, but I did notice that menus in the UI don't collapse, so you have to exit in order to get a full picture of your changes. However, the most troubling negative has to do with the $400 cost of a replacement lamp. The overall lamp life of the Vivitek and the Optoma are the same, but there is a $150 difference in the price of the replacement. Given the fact that there isn't a vast difference in performance between the two models, this expense could be a real dealbreaker for people who are looking to use their projector on a more regular basis.

Runner-Up: Optoma HD20

Sure, the runner-up in a contest of two is the "loser," but there's a lot to like about the Optoma. Right off the bat, you have to marvel at how small this thing is. At 12.76" x 3.82" x 9.21" and 6.4 pounds, users don't need to use the HD20 in a permanent setup. It can be easily stored and transported—but, again, the lack of lens shift means you might struggle to get an optimum viewing angle.

Granted, the HD20 isn't going to blow away enthusiasts who will settle for nothing less than the blackest blacks and whitest whites, but most of us will be more than satisfied with the clarity, color and contrast (4000:1). Overall lumen output wasn't quite up to snuff when compared to the Vivitek, but it was still considerably better than you would expect in a budget model in both bright and theater modes—easily allowing for a screen just under 100" in my living room to be comfortably viewable with ambient light.

Of course, the HD20 is not without it's flaws. First of all, excessive fan noise makes it sound more like what you might expect from buying a cheaply priced DLP. It's noticeable in Standard mode, but I was definitely distracted by it in Bright (users might also find the light emanating from the front vent to be distracting). I also found the UI to be well organized but fairly annoying to navigate, mostly because the remote isn't very responsive. I felt like I had to mash the button down to get a response.

Feature Comparison

But What If You Spend More?

OK, so what if you're willing to spend a bit more than $1000?

Epson's HC 8100 represents a price point in the entry-level market for consumers willing to pay extra for better 1080p performance. At $1600, the LCD-based 8100 is a big step up from the Vivitek and the Optoma. In my opinion, it is worth the added expense.

Simply put, it easily outstrips both of its cheaper competitors in just about every performance category. It also has some advantages that the others lack, many of which derive from the advantages 3LCD has over DLP. Brightness and color accuracy are better, no color wheel means no rainbow effect (for the people who suffer from that—you know who you are) and it has a high degree of vertical and horizontal lens shift, meaning you can put this thing just about anywhere and throw a clean image. However, it is literally twice as big and heavy as the Vivitek, which could make it unsuitable for some setups.

If you are concerned with the long term cost of ownership, the Epson is competitive in that area with a $300 lamp replacement cost (4000 hour lamp life in Normal and Eco modes) and a two-year limited warranty. So, in that sense, it could be cheaper to own in the long term than both the Vivitek and the Optoma, depending on your usage.

Verdict

If you have your heart set on 1080p, the good news is that you will probably be satisfied no matter which one of these projectors you choose—definitely an encouraging sign at these price points. That having been said, I think it is worth spending an an extra $600 for the improved performance of the Epson HC 8100.

However, if the HC 8100 isn't in your budget, there is no shame in going with the Vivitek—it will deliver a lot of bang for your buck. On the other hand, if you plan on using your projector frequently and the long term cost of ownership is a concern, the Optoma HD20 will be less expensive in the long run—and the choice might be further justified since there isn't a vast difference in performance. Perhaps the best news is that, within the next year, more 1080p projectors from the likes of Sony and Panasonic will be competing at these lower prices, too. If you are patient, it might be worth it to wait and see how the market develops. [Epson and Vivitek and Optoma]

The Gadget

What the hell is it? It's a $400 Wi-Fi printer all-in-one (yes, this includes fax). It has a touchscreen that includes a string of different branded widgets. The widgets do many things you can do on your cellphone or a computer, but they all center around printing. So you don't just order movie tickets, you print them out, along with weather reports, blank to-do lists, Google calendars, coloring book pages from Nickelodeon and Disney, news synopses from USA Today and coupons for everything from Hasbro toys to Yoplait yogurt.

The Price

$400. Count 'em. That's more than twice what most similarly classed all-in-ones cost.

The Widgets—and What's Missing

In case you're not picking up on this, regular Giz readers may not be the target audience. It's as much an arts-and-crafts hub as it is a don't-want-to-mess-with-a-computer resource, full of easy-access widgets that scream out "overworked mother of five," with barely anything for "twentysomething nerd." (Honestly, I can picture Kristin Wiig using this and making one of those weird smiles of surprised satisfaction.) Still, I was impressed by the diversity and wealth of resources this thing has—at launch.

Here's what it still needs though, and has the SDK to provide, so listen up, developers:

• Driving directions - Google Maps is included, but for now you can just print the actual maps. A note says that driving directions are coming soon, and that just isn't soon enough. Hurry!

• Boarding passes - Airlines widgets would be glorious: With all the emphasis on printing out boarding passes at home, how about a way to log into Delta or United and pull up your latest boarding passes?

• Email - I swear HP had some device that printed emails out for old people who didn't like computers but liked hearing from their grandkids. Why isn't that app on here?

• Epicurious - There's already a recipe widget, and you can already sift through nearly 600 dishes, but that's not satisfactory. Let's have proven content from the culinary maestros.

• Sesame Street - As a dad, I am impressed with all the coloring and crafts that you can do with this thing, but if there's no Elmo, someone's gonna cry.

The Performance

I realize I've used up most of your attention talking about the services, and that's because the printer itself works fine. I have criticized HP's color palette in the past, but ever since my Epson blowout, I have given up on trying to find "the best printer" in all aspects. Epson may still have the absolute best color representation, but here I found a printer that jumped onto my Wi-Fi network faster than anything I've seen from Epson or Canon, and soon started spitting out out perfectly usable snapshots—not just from my computer but from my iPhone, using HP's simple but effective iPrint Photo app. It's a quick printer, if you don't count the painfully long "one-time" ink initialization period or inkjet head calibration.

An odd, random note: In the gallery you may notice that it comes inside of an eco-friendly reusable bag. I was like, oh, I see, HP gets it, but then I noticed that inside that bag was another, plastic, eco-not-so-friendly bag. One or the other, HP. Pretty sure wrapping old-fashioned plastic inside newfangled recycled bags is like worse, not better.

The Verdict

Do I think you should spend $400 on this printer? Not for your bachelor pad, dorm room or group home, that's for sure. But do I think you and the rest of the fam chip in to get this thing for mom for Christmas? To quote one of the more famous moms of our time, "You betcha."

Possibly the easiest Wi-Fi setup experience I've had to date

Fast, decent print quality using HP premium print paper

Amazing diversity of widgets for printing coupons, coloring books, movie tickets and more

Designed for a full house, with kids in need of boredom relief, and parents in need of quick data and services—it's not for everyone

The $400 price is twice what other all-in-one printers in this class cost, so basically the widgets cost you $200

Launch was great, but there's a lot of fluff in the content lineup, and it's missing key applications that would make it a must-have appliance

If you can stand the drop from 1080p, the PowerLite 705HD still brings something to the table when compared to their 8100 model. Most notably, it's less than half the price. The 705HD is 3LCD-based, it delivers 2,500 lumens brightness, 3000:1 contrast and Component Video, S-Video, HDMI, and USB connectivity.

Epson also released the MovieMate 60—an all-in-one unit with a built-in DVD and speaker system. Of course, it seems pretty absurd to spending $700 on a 540p combo device with DVD given that much more future-proof technology exists at that price point. That having been said, keep in mind that 1080p projectors are starting to drop below the $1000 mark. If you are willing to spend a little extra money or put off the purchase for another year, you stand to get a lot more bang for your buck. Both of the projectors featured here will be available in October.

Epson PowerLite Home Cinema 705HD Offers Big Screen High-Definition Performance for Under $750

Versatile Home Entertainment Projector Delivers High-Quality Movies, Gaming and More

LONG BEACH, Calif. – Sept. 17, 2009 – Bringing affordable, big-screen home entertainment to households across the country, Epson today announced the new Epson PowerLite® Home Cinema 705HD. Available for $749.99, the Home Cinema 705HD joins Epson's award-winning line of 3LCD™ home theater projectors, providing families and first-time home theater enthusiasts with a versatile, high-quality 720p high-definition solution for a range of options – from movies and gaming, to broadcast TV and sports, to videos and music with an Apple® iPod.

The Home Cinema 705HD is designed to make home entertainment simple and enjoyable, and comes with a variety of consumer-friendly features and performance benefits for enjoying the big screen at home. The projector boasts 2,500 lumens of color and white light outputi to accommodate movie viewing or game playing in different environments – even daytime. It also features four pre-set color modes optimized for video, as well as HDMI connectivity and a USB 2.0 connection for sharing photos and slideshows. Featuring Epson's three-chip 3LCD technology and exclusive energy efficient E-TORL® lamp, the Home Cinema 705HD delivers bright, movie theater-like images and video with amazing detail and no possibility of color break-up or "rainbow effect."

"Whether you're watching your favorite movie with that special someone, or gathering family and friends to cheer on the home town team for the big game, there's nothing like the visual impact of viewing high-definition output on a 120-inch screen at home," said Marge Ang, senior product manager, Epson America. "The Home Cinema 705HD offers that experience to even more consumers with an affordable, easy-to-use, high-quality solution."

More About the Home Cinema 705HD

The Home Cinema 705HD features a sleek white, compact design that offers a range of options and performance, expanding its versatility for home entertainment needs:

* 3LCD Quality and Reliability – 3LCD technology for incredible color, amazing detail and road-tested reliability with no possibility of color break-up or "rainbow effect"
* Increased Brightness – Movie theater-like images with 2,500 lumens of white and color light output for brightness levels that are among the highest in this home theater category

* Big Screen Performance – Widescreen capability with 720p performance
* Easy Set-up and Installation – Epson Universal Mount and 1.2x optical zoom and Instant On, Instant Off® technology allows for no waiting time to start or shut-down projector

* Versatile Connectivity – Component Video, S-Video, HDMI, and USB Type A digital connections to share photos and slideshows
* E-TORL® (Epson Twin Optics Reflection Lamp): Provides optimum light uniformity and increased light output for screen sizes larger than ten feet with exclusive 200 watt high efficiency design; uses less energy for up to 5,000 hours of lamp lifeii

Availability and Support

The Epson Home Cinema 705HD will be available in October through online A/V specialty retailers, select retailers nationwide, and the Epson online store for an estimated street price of $749.99. The projector comes with the service and support only Epson can offer, including a two-year limited warranty with toll-free access to PrivateLine®, Epson's priority technical support, and free two-business day exchange with ExtraCareSM Home Service.

Go Big And Stay Home With New Epson MovieMate 60 All-in-One Home Entertainment Solution

Integrated Projector, DVD/CD and Stereo Speaker Unit Delivers Big Screen Performance

Just About Anywhere for Under $700

LONG BEACH, Calif. – Sept. 17, 2009 – Epson America today announced the Epson MovieMate™ 60, the lightest, brightest and most versatile offering in Epson's innovative line of "all-in-one" home theater projectors. By combining a high-quality, high-brightness projector, a CD/DVD player, microphone input, and stereo speakers in one portable unit, MovieMate 60 offers families and home theater enthusiasts an affordable, easy-to-use and versatile solution for home entertainment in any room of the house, in the backyard, or on vacation.

With MovieMate 60, consumers can enjoy their favorite DVDs, sporting events, TV shows, gaming consoles, and even karaoke up to 8 times larger than a 40-inch widescreen TV. MovieMate 60 features a bright, energy efficient lamp that delivers 2,000 lumens of color and white light output1, Dolby® Digital audio and big-screen image quality in a portable and convenient home theater solution. MovieMate 60 also offers easy plug ‘n play connectivity, including HDMI, allowing consumers to enjoy and share digital content from computers, camcorders, digital cameras, or MP3 players. With the performance and reliability of Epson's three-chip 3LCD technology and energy efficient E-TORL® lamp, the MovieMate 60 delivers home theater enthusiasts brighter, natural colors for years to come.2

"These days, families are looking for more affordable ways to entertain themselves and share good times," said Marge Ang, senior product manager, Epson America. "Whether watching a movie, hosting a gaming night or singing karaoke, Epson's unique MovieMate all-in-one projectors help bring families and friends together with a big screen entertainment experience anywhere – in any room of the house or in the backyard."

Epson MovieMate 60
The Epson MovieMate 60 features a sleek, compact design with a built-in handle and cushioned carrying case for portable convenience. Additional features and benefits include:

* Projecting a 16:9 widescreen 60-inch image from only six feet away or a 120-inch image from just 12 feet away
* Built-in progressive scan standard definition 540p resolution DVD/CD player
* Great sound quality using two built-in ten watt 5.1 Dolby Digital DTS® speakers
* Integrated microphone jack to allow for voice amplification – great for narrating a slide show, karaoke and more
* Compatible with Apple® iPod, Nintendo® Wii™, Sony® PlayStation® 3 and Microsoft® Xbox 360®
* New, brighter, energy-efficient E-TORL lamp with 2,000 lumens white and color light output to maximize brightness and uniformity so viewers can enjoy the projector even in well-lit rooms
* No additional cables needed for easy set-up and portable flexibility

Availability and Support

The Epson MovieMate 60 will be available in October through national resellers for an estimated street price of $699. The projector comes with the service and support only Epson can offer, including a two-year limited warranty with toll-free access to PrivateLine®, Epson's priority technical support, and free two-business-day exchange with ExtraCareSM Home Service.

[Epson]

The 3LCD-based 8100 features a contrast ratio of 36,000:1 and a brightness bump to 1800 lumens. It also includes a Dynamic Iris system that allows for frame by frame light control (up to 60 frames per second)—helping to smooth out movies with fast scene changes. Of course, the $1599 price tag doesn't quite compare to the new crop of sub-$1000 1080p projectors that are starting to hit the market, but Epson's 8100 does represent a second tier of affordability with specs that would probably have cost you at least twice as much a year ago. Of course the game is about more than just impressive contrast ratios, but even without a review these shrinking price points are encouraging. Expect the 8100 to arrive sometime in late October along with a $100 rebate offer that would bring the price down to $1499.

Epson Adds Two High-Performance 1080P Projectors to
Award-Winning Home Theater Lineup

Feature-Packed PowerLite Home Cinema 8100 and 8500 UB Offer Home Theater Enthusiasts Unsurpassed Image Quality and Affordability

ATLANTA (CEDIA Expo 2009, Booth 3353) – Sept. 8, 2009 – Epson America today announced two 1080p front projectors, the PowerLite® Home Cinema 8100 and 8500 UB, expanding its award-winning line of 3LCD™ home theater projectors. Featuring D7 technology for brilliant color and detail, and higher contrast, the Home Cinema 8100 reaches a 36,000:1 dynamic contrast ratio and the Home Cinema 8500 UB achieves an unprecedented 200,000:11. The Home Cinema 8100 and 8500 UB also offer the latest in real color reproduction capabilities for more natural and precise colors, delivering an outstanding viewing experience for home entertainment and AV enthusiasts.

With pricing of $1,599 (plus an additional $100 rebate at launch) and sub-$3,000, respectively, the Home Cinema 8100 and 8500 UB offer consumers affordable high-definition 3LCD home entertainment, delivering bright and natural color, crisp image detail, and unsurpassed light efficiency and reliability. These 3LCD projectors use an advanced, three-chip optical engine for brilliant color and image quality without the possibility of color break-up, unlike DLP projectors that generate images using a spinning color wheel with a white segment.

"Epson is committed to leading the market when it comes to home theater performance and value," said Marge Ang, senior product manager, Epson America. "These new models take advantage of Epson's latest technology to offer consumers the highest-performing1080p solutions available at their respective price points."

Epson Home Cinema 8100
The value-packed Home Cinema 8100 features an improved contrast ratio of up to 36,000:1 (double that of previous models) and higher brightness – 1,800 lumens color and white light output - for outstanding image quality in dark or lighted rooms. The projector's exclusive Dynamic Iris system contributes to the dramatic contrast improvement, allowing light to be controlled on a frame-by-frame basis at up to 60 times per second, making it ideal for fast-action movies with frequent scene changes. Designed for home entertainment and AV enthusiasts on a budget, this projector offers high-quality home entertainment for enjoying movies, video games, sports, and more.

Epson Home Cinema 8500 UB
Along with the latest D7 chip set, this high-quality projector adds Epson's C2Fine® and UltraBlack™ technology for superb black levels and vivid images. Further boosting black levels, the Home Cinema 8500 UB includes brightness of 1,600 lumens color and light output and new dual-layered auto iris technology, allowing for an impressive contrast ratio of up to 200,000:1. As a result, the projector controls light intensity more effectively, causing dark images to appear even darker and blacks to appear even richer and deeper.

The projector also features Epson's new Super-resolution™ technology to create a sharper, more detailed picture resolution ideal for broadcast signal noise reduction or enhancing the quality of poor DVD transfers. Super-resolution technology improves the resolution of a blurred image, allowing consumers to fully enjoy high-definition quality at all times. Epson has also added new real color reproduction capabilities, which delivers more natural and precise colors, allowing viewers to experience the true-to-life colors filmmakers intended.

To ensure sharp, clear images, the projector features Epson's 12-bit 3LCD driver technology and a built-in Silicon Optix HQV Reon-VX scaling and de-interlacing video processor. This processor reduces mosquito and block noise and augments multi-level contrast enhancement to further improve picture quality. The Home Cinema 8500 UB also features enhanced FineFrame™ technology resulting in smoother frame interpolation, sharper video quality and the elimination of judder.
Shared Features of the Home Cinema Line – The Home Cinema 8100 and 8500 UB share features designed to improve image quality and total cost of 3LCD projector ownership, including:

*
Cinema Filter: Delivers larger color space for improved color fidelity.
*
Fujinon OptiCinema™ Multi-Lens Optics System: Projects clean, precise edges with consistent image quality across the entire screen, expanding installation flexibility.
*
Pre-set Color Modes: Features seven color modes (Dynamic, Living Room, Natural, Theatre, Theatre Black 1, Theatre Black 2, x.v.Color) for optimal viewing in any environment.
*
E-TORL® (Epson Twin Optics Reflection Lamp): Provides optimum light uniformity and increased light output for screen sizes larger than ten feet with exclusive 200 watt high efficiency design; uses less energy for up to 4,000 hours of lamp lifeiii.
*
Advanced Dust Filtration System: Ensures efficient power use, reduced cool-down periods, lower fan speeds, quieter operation (only 22 db), and 98 percent efficiency for longer filter life.
*
Input Options: Features two HDMI 1.3a inputs with Deep Color support, high definition component video input, S-video input, composite video input, and VGA-type RGB input (D-sub 15).

Availability and Support
The Epson Home Cinema 8100 will be available in late-October and the Home Cinema 8500 UB will be available in November through authorized Epson projector dealers and select retail outlets, and come with Epson's industry leading service and support. Pricing for the Home Cinema 8500 UB will be released at that time. This includes a two-year limited warranty with access to Epson PrivateLine® priority toll-free support, 90-day limited lamp warranty, and free two-business day exchange with Extra CareSM Home Service.

Epson's Latest 1080P Pro Cinema Projectors Bring Custom Installers High
Performing
PowerLite Pro Cinema 9100 and 9500 UB Offer New Levels of Image Quality, Detail and Performance

ATLANTA (CEDIA Expo 2009, Booth 3353) – Sept. 8, 2009 – Epson America today announced two native 1080p 3LCD™ home theater projectors designed for custom installers and home theater buffs, the PowerLite® Pro Cinema 9100 and 9500 UB. These projectors feature the latest 3LCD chips with D7 technology for amazing color and detail, and significantly higher contrast ratios – the Pro Cinema 9100 achieves a 36,000:1 dynamic contrast ratio and the Pro Cinema 9500 UB attains an unprecedented 200,000:1 in its class . With professional-level color tools including ISF calibration and color isolation, the Pro Cinema 9100 and 9500 UB offer professional installers full-featured solutions.

Available for $2,599 and sub-$4,000 respectively, the Pro Cinema 9100 and 9500 UB offer state-of-the-art image quality and performance in each of their respective categories with enhanced color reproduction capabilities and 3LCD technology to deliver bright and natural color, crisp image detail and reliability. As Epson's flagship home theater model, the Pro Cinema 9500 UB brings several technology enhancements to the market, including a new dual-layered auto-iris to control light reduction rates, Super-resolution™ technology for enhanced picture quality and improved FineFrame™ technology.

"Epson understands the needs of the custom installation channel and is committed to providing high-quality products that meet the needs of dealers in today's competitive market," said Marge Ang, senior product manager, Epson America. "These latest Pro Cinema projectors have been packed with a range of value-add features and technology refinements that allow custom installers to build a customized high-performance, home entertainment system for their discerning customers."

Epson Pro Cinema 9100
The Pro Cinema 9100 offers a high-value, customizable home entertainment experience. The projector includes ISF Day and Night modes for switching between picture modes and lamp output, as well as Epson's Color Isolation system for fine-tuning of color saturation and hue without the need for blue and red optical filters, making set-up and calibration quick and simple. With a contrast ratio of up to 36,000:1 and brightness of 1,800 lumens color and white light output , this projector offers amazing big-screen image quality. Housed in a stylish black and silver design, the Pro Cinema 9100 features an exclusive Dynamic Iris system which contributes to the improvement in contrast. It controls light on a frame-by-frame basis at up to 60 times per second, making it ideal for fast-action movies with frequent scene changes.

Epson Pro Cinema 9500 UB
The flagship Pro Cinema 9500 UB offers custom installers the ultimate in image quality, combining Epson's C2Fine® and UltraBlack™ technology with 3LCD and D7 technology to produce superb black levels and vivid images. The projector also features a dual-layered auto iris to control light reduction rates more effectively, contributing to its astounding contrast ratio – up to 200,000:1. With brightness of 1,600 lumens color and white light output, the projector delivers deeper blacks and crystal clear detail.

Adding to its high-quality performance, the Pro Cinema 9500 UB features Epson's improved FineFrame technology for smoother frame interpolation, sharper video quality and the elimination of judder for viewing sports and fast-action movie scenes, and playing video games. Epson has also added new Super-resolution technology to sharpen blurry images or low-resolution pictures. This new technology is ideal for high-definition content, addressing broadcast signal noise reduction or improving the quality of poor DVD transfers.

The Pro Cinema 9500 UB also features new real color reproduction capabilities for more natural and precise colors, while Epson's 12-bit 3LCD driver technology and a built-in Silicon Optix HQV Reon-VX video processor and PW390 scaler ensure a smoother picture. It also includes pre-set color space selection to set color gamut according to geography and source material, a feature typically found only on high-end high-definition broadcast monitors. And, with an optional external anamorphic lens (available from Epson) and "vertical stretch" picture mode, the Pro Cinema 9500 UB enables anamorphic viewing without an external processor for a full theatrical image – projecting true 2.35:1 and 2.40:1 ultra widescreen images without the black bars above and below the picture.

Shared Features of the Pro Cinema Line – Epson's Pro Cinema projectors share a range of value-add features designed to further enhance performance, image quality and total cost of ownership, including:

*
3LCD Technology: Delivers bright and natural color, amazing detail and road-tested reliability; uses an advanced, 3-chip optical engine for full-time color without the possibility of color break-up.
*
Cinema Filter: Delivers larger color space for improved color fidelity.
*
Fujinon OptiCinema™ Multi-Lens Optics System: Projects clean, precise edges with consistent image quality across the entire screen.
*
E-TORL® (Epson Twin Optics Reflection Lamp): Provides optimum light uniformity and increased light output for screen sizes larger than ten feet with exclusive 200 watt high efficiency design; uses less energy for up to 4,000 hours of lamp life ; both models include a spare lamp.
*
ISF Certification: Allows installers and calibrators to fine-tune picture quality and match output with front projection screens.
*
Input Selections: Features two HDMI 1.3a inputs with Deep Color support, high definition component video input, S-video input, composite video input, and VGA-type RGB input (D-sub 15).
*
Installation Options: Includes ceiling mount, reversible front panel Epson logo for various mounting positions, rear panel cable cover to hide wires and cable hook to ensure connections remain secure.

Availability and Support
Available in October and November respectively, the Pro Cinema 9100 and 9500 UB can be purchased through authorized Epson projector dealers and select retail outlets. Both models come with Epson's industry leading service and support, including a three-year limited warranty with toll-free access to Epson's PrivateLineSM priority technical support, 90-day limited lamp warranty, and free two-business day exchange with Extra CareSM Home Service.

[Epson]

Priced at $3000 (the Leica M8 runs about $1000 more), the D1xG is an update to Epson's D1. It keeps the same 6MP resolution (the camera may or may not have a new imaging chip) but gains Adobe RGB colorspace support along with simultaneous RAW and JPG shooting on SDHC.

I dig the style, I just feel like if you're already spending $3000 on an impostor, why not just drop another thousand for the real thing? [Epson via Wired]

I have a crucial fax I need to send early tomorrow morning. Crucial. I need to print 15 pages of black-and-white legal contract, sign every single page, and then fax the shit. All of this is within the capabilities of the Artisan 800. But tonight, the thing printed 9 pages, then told me it had run out of Magenta. Yes, as in, a color I don't need at all to print 15 black-and-white pages.

OK, so I have a spare Magenta cartridge—whoo hoo! I pop it in there, and all is well, until page 11, when it says it needs me to replace... Light Cyan.

I have Light Cyan, too, so I put it in, and it says I need to replace Cyan. Well, there's already a new Cyan in there, so I pop it out because maybe it's just in there wrong. Turns out, someone in my household put it in without removing the safety sticker, and the printer waited like three weeks to tell me this. So I pull off the safety sticker, place it back in the printer, but no go. Artisan says it can't recognize Cyan. Nor can it recognize Light Cyan. Or Yellow.

Yellow? I hadn't even touched Yellow. Suddenly, it can't recognize half my ink cartridges, all of which happen to be completely full. I pop them out, put them back in again. Nothing.

I restart the printer twice, yanking plug and all. Same error.

I pull out all the ink cartridges, put them back in, restart the thing, and get the same beeping error for the same three miscreants.

Have you ever seen your wit's end? Cuz mine is hanging out all over the place at this point. I go to Epson.com to troubleshoot, and I get the following frightening message:

What they're not telling you is that pretty much any expensive-ass ink cartridge you remove for any reason may be rejected by the thing at any time forever more, so don't even think about popping the shit out once you've put it in there, most especially if the machine is categorically refusing to recognize it in the first place.

So I can't print another page, even though every indicator shows I'm full up to the damn gills on black ink. At the end of the troubleshooter, after I click "No, this did not solve my problem" three or four times, I read this obnoxious statement:

I'm not sure if you can see my middle finger from where you're sitting, Epson, but rest assured, it is extended and pointing in your direction.

Tomorrow, when I go to print and fax my documents at Kinko's, I'll be thinking of you, and I will be seething. But when I go to get a new printer, I'll be thinking of HP or Canon. Probably Canon.

The Epson Infineon is a 12th generation GPS transmitter/receiver built upon a 65nm manufacturing process. Just 2.8 × 2.9mm (or 25% smaller than any A-GPS on the market), it's still powerful enough to communicate with satellites indoors, tracking you to the Motel 6 before your loved one discovers you—living a second life in which you rent Motel 6 rooms just to hang out and watch bad cable alone. [News via Engadget]

When you connect a supported gadget, like in this case the Epson Artisan 800, you instantly see the icon with its shiny black case and colorful printout. There was no download, this stuff was already cached somewhere. The icon at first had a yellow alert badge, but after a quick troubleshoot wizard, the badge changed to a happy green check mark.

There are three components of Device Stage: An icon in Devices and Printers, an XML page with links to services and apps, and an icon in the taskbar with a nice tidy pop-up menu of device options.

The icon in the Devices and Printers page, which you can easily reach from the the Start Menu. If you can't find your device anywhere else, it will at least be here. If your gadget is not plugged in, its icon is slightly translucent. If it is, you see a clear shiny device. Click on the icon once, and a contextual ribbon at the top of the window changes to give you device specific options. (For the Epson all-in-one, it was "Start scan" "See what's printing" "Manage default printers" etc. For a mass storage device, it's "Browse Files" and "Safely Remove.")

Double-clicking the icon in the Devices page brings up the services page, essentially a webpage that lives in your computer, and can launch both websites and apps. The look and feel is developed by the device manufacturer, though I'm sure there's a nice Microsoft template if needed. As you can see from both its contents and the following, cool taskbar icon, this page is the sort of thing that would probably used most when the gadget is first bought, and forgotten about later.

The taskbar icon is the ooh-aah part of Device Stage. Right click it (or click and swipe upwards) and you get a series of "Tasks"—essentially a summarized version of what the big XML page offers, with some more specific commands too. Printers are pretty obvious, but it will be really fun to see what people can do with cameras and phones, not to mention totally specialized devices like a Slacker portable radio or a Chumby.

Speaking of Chumby, devices don't need to connect via USB. They can connect via the network or Bluetooth, and are given the same rich metadata treatment.

I did notice one thing in particular that probably won't be "fixed" in the final release: Even though the Epson menu offered all of the Artisan 800's functionality, some of the functions brought up error messages like the one you see below. I didn't run the install disc, and I am assuming that the .EXE apps that the launcher couldn't find were ones I needed to install from the Epson's CD. This makes sense: The richer the experience offered by the device manufacturer, the more likely it is that they will try to make you install more of their software. It's too bad that, as far as I know, you can't customize these jump lists, though, because I would love to see a pop up that only had the crap I care about.

Up top, I made a gripe about products only working if they're supported. If they're not supported, they get generic icons and you see the old AutoPlay pop-up from Windows systems past. In other words, it sucks—like this—when they're not supported:

Don't get me wrong. This isn't a complaint about how few gadgets are currently supported by Windows 7 Beta. The list is here, and it's small, but you know damn well it's going to get longer and longer and longer, every week if not every day.

What I am saying is that I have mixed feelings about what Device Stage will mean to consumer electronics companies. One one hand, companies would do well to stop messing around with their own silly proprietary crapware for say, alerting me when I need printer ink, or downloading the photos from my camera. The Device Stage interface, as you can see below, is an elegant way to facilitate those kinds of menial tasks.

On the other hand, though, I hate for this to become some kind of gear mafia. Back in the day, PlaysForSure's website listed a bunch of compatible music players, but it didn't list all of them. People going to the site would have been swayed to buy officially supported hardware, even if it wasn't the best. I am sure in this case that Microsoft will upload all of the content of all those who participate, but I would hate for people to be choosing devices just because of their ability to talk to Windows 7—an inferior printer, say, having a better Win 7 interface than a superior model.

The ideal solution is for all makers of decent gadgets pay some dude $50 to write the stupid XML code for it to appear in Device Stage—I'm told it's ridiculously simple to submit data. Then it would be a given that a hot new device will just show up. But will there be awesome gadgets that—because of inattentiveness on the part of their makers—end up looking like ass in Windows 7? The chances are good. [More Windows 7 at Gizmodo]

UPDATE: I received the Device Stage package for the Nikon D90 (what Steve Ballmer used to demo Device Stage at CES). Here's a gallery of screenshots from that, showing similar functionality. I did have some trouble getting it to load the user's manual, but that is probably something that can be fixed before the official Win 7 launch.

The 6500 uses Epson's “Crystal Clear Fine” D7 chip set to up the black levels and a Cinema Filter feature for improved color accuracy, and comes with HDMI 1.3a connectivity, 2.1x optical zoom and 4,000 hours of lamp life.

Also featured is a sweet HQV Reon-VS Video Processor and horizontal, vertical lens shifting—which lets you adjust the picture without having to move the actual projector. With 22dB of fan noise, you won't hear it whirring through your movies.

The 6500's price is set at $3000, pretty low for the feature set. By comparison, an Epson projector (the PowerLite 1080) from last year was the same price point for just a 12,000:1 contrast ratio and 588 lumens. Crazy what a year will change, eh?

The PowerLite® Home Cinema 6500 UB offers native 1080p resolution for an outstanding home entertainment experience. Delivering a superior contrast ratio of up to 75,000:1 with brightness up to 1,600 lumens, this high-performing projector features a new 3LCD™ D7 chip set from Epson with Ultra Black technology and a built-in HQV® processor and PW390 scaler for sharp, clear high-definition image quality at home.
Estimated Street Price
$2,999
Target Market
• Home entertainment and AV enthusiasts looking for the best performance, features and specs available in a home projector
Key Features
• Native 1080p (1920x1080) resolution
• Epson 3LCD technology with New “Crystal Clear Fine” D7 chip set and Ultra Black technology for superb black levels and extraordinary details
• Unprecedented contrast ratio of 75,000:1
• Built-in HQV Reon-VX Video Processor and PW390 video scaler
• FineFrameTM Technology provides frame interpolation for smoother and sharper video quality
• Superior video image quality with Opticinema™ lens (2.1 zoom ratio)
• Cinema Filter feature delivers larger color space for improved color accuracy
• Brightness of up to 1,600 white and color lumens
• New dust filtration system for increased efficiency
• Low fan noise of only 22dB
Additional Noteworthy Features
• Manual lens shift of 100 percent maximum up/down (vertical) and 50 percent maximum left and right (horizontal)
• 6 Color Modes – Dynamic, Living Room, Natural, Theatre, Theatre Black 1, Theatre Black 2, x.v.Color
• HDMI 1.3a connectivity with Deep Color support
• Zoom ratio – 2.1x optical zoom, manual focus
• Brighter 200W E-TORL lamp delivers high brightness using less energy for up to 4,000 hours of lamp life
• Dimensions – 17.7” x 15.4” x 5.7” (W x D x H)
• Weight – 16 lbs.
Warranty and Support
• 2-year parts and labor limited warranty, 90-day lamp warranty, Epson HomeService Program and Epson PrivateLine dedicated toll-free support

The Price: $300

The Verdict: So far, man is it awesome... for a printer/scanner/copier/fax machine, that is.

I know printers. Like intimately. For a few years, I'd get the newest ones and run a double-blind print quality test. I got bored because Epson would always win. HP accused me of letting personal taste get in the way of objectivity, to which I replied, "Call me back when you get the color blue figured out." (My phone has yet to ring.)

Anyway, when I heard about Epson's total revamp of its all-in-one, I was happy and scared. Epson might have been the champ at photo quality, but its printers weren't always the easiest to use. Besides, they were often slower than Canons or HPs. But the Artisan could have traded in print quality to improve speed (an old HP trick). And besides, the Artisan has Wi-Fi, a sure sign of future tech-support calls.

Happily, my fears turned out to be nonsense: Setting up the printer was easy (though I did follow directions carefully, which is not my standard MO). The wizard worked great on the Mac, and I easily added the printer's wireless profile and drivers to another Mac and a Vista PC afterward with the same install disc, all printing without a hiccup. You might say "Big whup!" but trust me, wireless networking set-ups often don't work as billed, especially across both Macs and PCs.

The new touchscreen interface is great, giving you plenty of soft options in plain English, rather than a few choices in terse one-word buttons. As you can see in the shots below, there are fixed contextual touch buttons in addition to the LCD, making the interface even more flexible. I especially like that the fax dial-pad is hidden away, so that if you use it, great, but if you don't, you won't feel like you're wasting part of your purchase. Speaking of fax, the 800 has a document sheet feeder built right in, crucial for multi-page faxes and useful for copying and scanning too.The print quality was amazing, as I anticipated. What surprised me was how damn fast this bugger is. I could get a gorgeous borderless 4x6 in under 18 seconds, and of course it could manage larger sizes fairly speedily too, including the elusive 8x10. (HP once told me that 8x10, which it didn't support, wasn't in demand by photographers; Epson has always had an 8x10 option.)

The one thing you're still gonna hate about the printer is that each ink cartridge is still the size of a matchbook and damn if you won't burn through them all too fast. You get a second (BONUS!) black cartridge in the box, but all that tells me is that Epson is embarrassed about its ink addiction. Other printer makers will try harder to solve the ink-deficit problem—Kodak sells printers for more money and ink for less—but inevitably that solution comes at the cost of good hardware and high-quality prints. Go with Epson if you want the best pictures and, in this case, the best all around use, but remember that you will pay for that satisfaction in ink. [Epson]

Yeah, that's candlelight only. Taken with the previous f/1.0 Noctilux, natch, so you could even swap it for an even smaller candle and still pull off the same shot, or try some insane depth-of-field bokeh effects. Awesome stuff, all for €8,000 ($11,260).

And now that you're in a tizzy about super-fast, super-expensive lenses, take a look at the incredible story of the custom Zeiss lens Stanley Kubrick demanded for candle-lit scenes in Barry Lyndon. It opened up to a crazy f/0.7. Well worth the read.

[Leica Rumors via Gadget Lab, Photo: lylevincent]

Epson America Unveils Industry's First 1080p Resolution Front Projector to Break $2,000 Price Mark

Epson Builds Upon Leadership Position as Number-One Selling Projector Brand Worldwide With New High-Performance, High-Value 1080p PowerLite Home Cinema 6100

DENVER, Colo. – Sept. 4, 2008 – Continuing its long-established leadership role as the number one selling projector brand worldwidei, Epson today announced the introduction of its latest 3LCD 1080p front projector, the high-performance, and high-value PowerLite Home Cinema 6100. Redefining the price-to-performance equation, the Home Cinema 6100 provides full 1920 x 1080 progressive high definition resolution at an amazing $1,999 price point, bringing the big-screen high definition home theater experience to an even wider range of consumers.

“Our goal is to drive the growth of the home theater market in a wide range of customer segments, bring incredible big-screen experiences to first-time home entertainment consumers and to the most discerning AV elitists,” said Rajeev Mishra, director, Projector Marketing and Development, Epson America. “The Home Cinema 6100 is especially ideal for home theater enthusiasts, delivering the optimal balance of quality, performance, ease-of-use, and flexibility at an outstanding value.”

At the heart of the Home Cinema 6100’s optical imaging engine is Epson’s latest-generation D7 high definition resolution LCD technology. Unlike projectors which use a spinning color wheel with a white segment, 3LCD technology delivers realistic, vibrant colors without the possibility of color break-up. This latest technology also provides substantially improved contrast, reaching an incredible 18,000:1 dynamic contrast ratio (a 50 percent improvement over earlier models) to deliver brighter and more accurate whites and darker blacks.

Another contributing factor to the Home Cinema 6100’s increased contrast is its exclusive Dynamic Iris system, which allows light to be controlled precisely on a frame-by-frame basis. This feature is especially ideal for projecting fast-action movies that involve quick changing scenes. This is largely due to the Dynamic Iris system’s ability to make automatic light output adjustments up to 120 times per second. The projector also features Epson’s exclusive Cinema Filter that delivers a larger color space for improved color accuracy and a more film-like image. Epson has also collaborated with Fujinon – the leading provider of precision optics to the digital film and HDTV camera industry - to develop this projector’s unique OptiCinema™ multi-lens system. This feature projects clean, precise edges with consistent image quality across the entire screen. It also gives users more options and flexibility in terms of where they wish to install the projector.

The Home Cinema 6100’s light source uses a newly-updated E-TORL® (Epson Twin Optics Reflection Lamp), an exclusive Epson design. Unlike off-the-shelf lamps, the ultra high efficiency E-TORL design provides optimum light uniformity and is rated at 200 watts (compared to 170 watts with earlier models). This enables the projector to deliver an incredible 1,800 lumens of white and color light output. It also allows the projector to be used with larger screen sizes (greater than ten feet diagonal), while still providing a bright, impressive picture.

A significantly improved airflow system in the Home Cinema 6100 contributes to more efficient use of power, reduced cool-down periods and lower fan speeds that result in quieter operation (only 22 db) than earlier models. The airflow system also takes advantage of an advanced air filtration system that achieves up to 98 percent efficiency which contributes to longer filter life.

The Home Cinema 6100 features numerous high definition inputs, including a high definition component video input as well as two HDMI version 1.3a digital inputs. An S-video input and a composite video input are also provided, along with a VGA-type RGB input (D-sub 15) to accept a wide variety of computer resolutions including high definition, bringing the number of HD-compatible inputs to four.

Stylishly designed, the Home Cinema 6100 features a white casing with silver accents and a reversible Epson logo on the front panel that can be reoriented for tabletop, shelf and ceiling mounting. An integrated cable hook ensures that connections always remain solid and secure, while an optional rear panel cable cover fully encloses the input panel to hide wiring.

Availability and Support
The Epson Home Cinema 6100 will be available in November through authorized Epson projector dealers and select retail outlets for an estimated street price of $1,999. The projector also comes with the service and support only Epson can offer, including a two-year limited warranty with toll-free access to PrivateLineSM, Epson’s priority technical support, and free overnight exchange with ExtraCareSM Home Service.

About 3LCD Technology
3LCD is the world's leading projection technology, delivering unbelievably bright and natural color, amazing detail and road-tested reliability. Using an advanced, 3-chip optical engine, 3LCD offers full-time color for brilliant quality images without the possibility of color break-up. 3LCD is based on LCD technology, which is used by leading manufacturers worldwide for the ultimate viewing experience in flat panel TVs and projectors. To find out why more users choose 3LCD than all other projection technologies combined and to get the latest list of leading companies offering 3LCD technology in their products, visit the 3LCD website at http://www.3LCD.com.

Epson Adds Two New Pro Cinema Projectors to Award-Winning Line for Custom Installers and Home Theater Enthusiasts
Epson PowerLite Pro Cinema 7100 and 7500 UB Projectors Give Installers Outstanding Package with Extraordinary Image Quality, High-Performance and Value-Add Features at a Superior Price

DENVER, Colo. – Sept. 4, 2008 – Epson America announces today at CEDIA Expo 2008 two home theater projectors designed to meet the expanding needs of both custom installers and home theater enthusiasts. The PowerLite® Pro Cinema 7100 and 7500 UB feature true 1080p (1,920 x 1,080 pixels) resolution using the latest generation 3LCD chips with D7 technology to deliver substantially higher contrast and brightness. These projectors also give professional installers the benefits of ISF Certification and other features that help ensure their clients’ projectors deliver the most brilliant image quality possible.

Epson, the number-one selling projector brand worldwidei, has packed the Pro Cinema 7100 and 7500 UB with advanced 3LCD technologies and impressive features to offer top-of-the-line projectors in each of their respective categories, sub $3,000 and sub-$4,500. Epson’s D7 high definition 3LCD technology is at the core of each projector’s optical imaging engine, delivering realistic and vibrant colors without the possibility of color break-up, unlike projectors that use a spinning color wheel with a white segment. This latest technology delivers significantly improved contrast, with the Pro Cinema 7100 attaining an 18,000:1 dynamic contrast ratio and the Pro Cinema 7500 UB reaching an industry unprecedented 75,000:1, resulting in brighter whites and darker blacks.

“Epson is committed to providing the custom installation channel with high-performing, high quality products that are designed to support enormously successful businesses,” said Rajeev Mishra, director, Projector Marketing and Development, Epson America. “The latest additions to the Pro Cinema home theater line allow installers to provide their customers with the greatest performance and quality combination available today.”

Flagship Epson Pro Cinema 7500 UB
Housed in a newly-designed sleek all-black casing, the flagship Pro Cinema 7500 UB features a host of technological refinements and upgrades to provide the ultimate at-home big-screen experience, including C2Fine ™ technology for visibly increased high definition picture detail, Epson’s exclusive UltraBlack™ technology, and new Vertical Alignment technology that together combine to deliver a new industry standard of deep blacks and impressive brightness and contrast.

For optimum picture detail with both movie- and video-originated content, the Pro Cinema 7500 UB also adds Epson’s new FineFrameTM technology to deliver substantially smoother and sharper motion pictures while eliminating judder. Additionally, Epson’s new 12-bit 3LCD driver technology provides a dramatically increased color gamut over 10-bit drivers, which translates into 68.72 billion available colors. This eliminates gradation artifacts to provide a much smoother, natural-looking picture. The Pro Cinema 7500 UB is also equipped with Silicon Optix’s HQV Reon-VX scaling and deinterlacing video processor for true four-field deinterlacing and scaling of 1080i HD signals, and features impressive noise reduction tools to eliminate mosquito and block noise, along with multi-level contrast enhancement and other picture improvement options. Typically found only on high-end high definition broadcast monitors, the Pro Cinema 7500 UB also features Color Space selection, which allows a user to select between the three industry color space standards – SMPTE-C for standard definition (Rec.601), HD (Rec. 709) for high definition, and EBU to match the European PAL video standard.

The Pro Cinema 7500 UB offers the ultimate widescreen high definition experience with anamorphic lens compatibility and “vertical stretch” picture mode. With an optional external anamorphic lens (available from Epson) , the viewer can use the Pro Cinema 7500 UB with a cinematic-sized front projection widescreen for true 2.35:1 and 2.40:1 ultra widescreen viewing, eliminating the black bars above and below the picture for a full theatrical image.

Full-Featured Epson Pro Cinema 7100
Featuring a stylish black and silver design, the new PowerLite Pro Cinema 7100 is a high-performing projector featuring native 1080p resolution, higher brightness of up to 1,800 lumens and superb contrast of up to 18,000:1. For easy set-up and calibration, the Pro Cinema 7100 offers ISF Day and Night modes which provide for easy one-button switching between picture modes and lamp output, as well as Epson’s Color Isolation system to allow for quick, easy and accurate fine-tuning of color saturation and hue without the need for blue and red optical filters.

Shared Features of the Pro Cinema Line
The Pro Cinema home theater projector line integrates a range of value-add features with high-performance and versatility, including:

*
Dynamic Iris System: Exclusive system makes automatic light output adjustments at up to 120 times per second – ideal for fast-action movies.
*
Cinema Filter: Unique feature delivers larger color space for improved color accuracy and a more film-like image.
*
OptiCinema™ Multi-Lens Optics System: Developed by Epson and Fujinon – the leading provider of precision optics to the digital film and HDTV camera industry – the OptiCinema lens delivers clean, precise edges with consistent image quality across the entire screen while providing users with more options and flexibility in terms of where they wish to install the projector.
*
E-TORL® (Epson Twin Optics Reflection Lamp): Exclusive and newly-updated 200 watt high efficiency light source delivers optimum light uniformity and increased white and color light output for larger screen sizes (more than ten feet diagonal); both models come equipped with a spare lamp.
*
ISF Certification: Suite of video calibration tools allow installers and calibrators to fine-tune picture quality and match output with front projection screens.
*
New Airflow System: Enhanced airflow system contributes to more efficient use of power, reduced cool-down periods and lower fan speeds that result in quieter operation (only 22 db); new system also takes advantage of an advanced air filtration system with 98 percent efficiency for longer filter life.
*
Input Options: Panel features high definition component video input, dual HDMI 1.3a digital inputs, S-video input, composite video input, and VGA-type RGB input (D-sub 15).
*
Installation Versatility: Installer-friendly features include a ceiling mount, reversible front panel Epson logo that can be reoriented for various mounting positions, included rear panel cable cover to hide wires from the input panel and an integrated cable hook to ensure connections remain secure.

Availability and Support
The Epson Pro Cinema 7100 is available in November and the Pro Cinema 7500 UB will be available in December through authorized Epson projector dealers and select retail outlets; pricing will be available at that time. The projector also comes with the service and support only Epson can offer, including a three-year limited warranty with toll-free access to PrivateLineSM, Epson’s priority technical support, and free overnight exchange with ExtraCareSM Home Service.

About 3LCD Technology
3LCD is the world's leading projection technology, delivering unbelievably bright and natural color, amazing detail and road-tested reliability. Using an advanced, 3-chip optical engine, 3LCD offers full-time color for brilliant quality images without the possibility of color break-up. 3LCD is based on LCD technology, which is used by leading manufacturers worldwide for the ultimate viewing experience in flat panel TVs and projectors. To find out why more users choose 3LCD than all other projection technologies combined and to get the latest list of leading companies offering 3LCD technology in their products, visit the 3LCD website at http://www.3LCD.com.

LONG BEACH, Calif., Aug. 26, 2008 (GLOBE NEWSWIRE) (PRIME NEWSWIRE) — Building upon its leadership position in the projector industry, Epson America Inc. today announced the Epson MovieMate(tm) 55, the latest model to join the industry's top-selling line of combo projectors(1). By combining a high-quality projector, a CD/DVD player and stereo speakers in one portable unit, Epson MovieMate 55 gives consumers an affordable, easy-to-use and convenient solution for home entertainment in the living room, on a vacation, and even outdoors.

Within moments, Epson MovieMate 55 allows consumers to view their favorite movies in larger-than-life sizes — up to eight times larger than on a 40-inch widescreen TV — by simply plugging the unit into an electrical outlet. Featuring a new brighter lamp and Dolby(r) Digital audio, MovieMate 55 delivers instant home cinema on-the-go. Consumers can enjoy watching DVDs and playing video games when connected to Nintendo(r) Wii(tm), Sony(r) PlayStation(r) 3 and Microsoft(r) Xbox 360(r) videogame consoles. They can also play music from MP3 players and videos from an Apple(r) iPod(tm) on the big screen. For even more versatility, MovieMate 55 plays photo slideshows from photo CDs and USB flash drives and can connect to a PC or Mac to show content from the computer. With 3-chip 3LCD technology and E-TORL(r) lamp, consumers will experience brighter, natural colors that pop off the screen.

"Epson is the world's number one selling brand of projectors(2) because Epson listens closely to its customers' needs," said Rajeev Mishra, director, Projector Marketing and Development, Epson America. "Epson MovieMate projectors can transform any space into a home theater environment. Anyone can enjoy the simple setup, transport and operation of these easy to use and portable projectors."

More about the Epson MovieMate 55

Weighing only 8.3 pounds, the Epson MovieMate 55 features a sleek, compact design with a built-in handle and cushioned carrying case for portable convenience. Additional features and benefits include:

* Projecting a 16:9 widescreen 60-inch image from only six feet
away or a 120-inch image from just 12 feet away

* Built-in progressive scan standard definition (480p) DVD/CD
player

* Great sound quality using two built-in 8 watt 5.1 Dolby Digital
DTS(r) speakers

* Compatible with Nintendo Wii, Microsoft Xbox 360, Sony PS3, and
Apple iPod

* Integrates a new, brighter E-TORL lamp with up to 1,200 lumens to
project light more efficiently, maximizing brightness and
uniformity across the entire screen throughout the lamp's life
— White light output: 1,200 lumens
— Color light output: 1,200 lumens

About 3LCD Technology

3LCD is the world's leading projection technology, delivering unbelievably bright and natural color, amazing detail and road-tested reliability. Using an advanced, 3-chip optical engine, 3LCD offers full-time color for brilliant quality images without the possibility of color break-up. 3LCD is based on LCD technology, which is used by leading manufacturers worldwide for the ultimate viewing experience in flat panel TVs and projectors. To find out why more users choose 3LCD than all other projection technologies combined and to get the latest list of leading companies offering 3LCD technology in their products, visit the 3LCD website at http://www.3LCD.com.

Availability and Support

The Epson MovieMate 55 will be available in October through national resellers for an estimated street price of $699. The projector also comes with the service and support only Epson can offer, including a two-year limited warranty with toll-free access to PrivateLine(sm), Epson's priority technical support, and free overnight exchange with ExtraCare(sm) Home Service.

EPSON AMERICA INTRODUCES “ARTISAN” – NEW FLAGSHIP LINE OF PREMIUM INK JET ALL-IN-ONES THAT COMBINE POWER AND PERFORMANCE WITH SLEEK AND CHIC STYLING
The Artisan 800 and Artisan 700 are Advanced Yet Easy to Use All-in-Ones That Enable Users to Express Their Creativity in Virtually all of Their Printing Tasks

Epson America Inc. today introduced the Artisan 800 and Artisan 700, two new all-in-ones that are likely to become the envy of the industry based on their superb performance, highly sought-after features and stylish piano black finish. The Artisan series is perfect for the modern household where many users can share a single product and fits well in a living room or home office environment.
“The Artisan series basically gives users everything but the kitchen sink in terms of features
and performance,” said Steve Semos, product manager, consumer ink jets, Epson America Inc.
“More importantly, these benefits enable users to express their creative side in ways never before
imagined. At Epson we’ve built our reputation on giving our customers the industry’s best image
quality, and this flagship line is a key milestone in that tradition.”Beyond its creative applications, the premium Artisan 800 features Wi-Fi, Fax, an Automatic Document Feeder (ADF), and Ultra Hi-Definition photos. Its elegant 7.8” smart touch panel and 3.5” LCD lights up only the buttons necessary that brings essential controls to users’ fingertips for easy selecting, copying, enlarging, rotating, cropping, and printing photos all without a computer. The Artisan 800 also has the exclusive ability to turn photos or drawings into
personalized coloring book pages and make personal notepaper with a photo as a background.

Epson provides additional value to Artisan customers with its new Epson Preferred
SM program, which includes a two-year limited warranty, toll-free telephone support, access to the
exclusive MyEpson.com Web site that features a series of online tutorial videos, and more Registered Artisan owners also receive, free lifetime phone support with no additional charges, even
beyond the warranty. Both the Artisan 800 and 700 feature six-color Ultra Hi-Definition Claria ink to create
vivid, true-to-life photos with smudge, scratch and water resistance, as well as fade resistance up to
four times longer than photo lab prints

Working in tandem with Claria ink, the “smart nozzles” in Epson’s exclusive MicroPiezo print head with DX5 technology deliver up to five ink droplet sizes, as small as 1.5 picoliters, producing smooth gradations, accurate skin tones and sharp, grain-free prints.
Both models feature Epson’s auto photo correction technology. This intuitive feature allows
users to preview corrections on the built-in LCD to ensure the very best prints, rescuing photos that
they might have otherwise passed over or discarded. Users can also remove red eye from their
photos automatically.
Other useful features on the Artisan 800 and 700 include turning plain paper into college-
ruled, wide-ruled and graph school paper, and creating photo layouts with various size photos on a
single sheet of paper. Users can even print and copy images directly onto ink jet printable CDs and
DVDs.
Both Artisan models complete printing tasks faster than competitive printers in their class,
producing prints and copies in black and color in up to 38 pages per minute (ppm), 4” x 6” photos in
as fast as 10 seconds,and an 8” x 10” in as fast as 50 seconds

The Artisan 800 adds full-featured, high-speed fax with a 30-page Automatic Document Feeder for copying, scanning and faxing stacks of documents effortlessly. Standing a mere 5.9” tall in a sleek, compact design with an easy-to-view tilt 2.5” LCD, the Artisan 700 offers outstanding features and functionality inherent in the series for everyday printing, copying and scanning, making it the ideal solution for a range of personal and creative needs that don’t require faxing. Additional features and performance in the Artisan series include:
• Full-Featured Scanning and Copying: The Artisan 800 features 4800 dpi resolution (48-bit
color) and the Artisan 700 features 2400 dpi resolution (48-bit color), for high quality scanning
of images and documents with brilliant clarity and accuracy. Both all-in-ones also offer
standalone, one-touch color and black and white copying with a wide range of easy-to-use

Epson Announces New Artisan Series options such as the ability to scan to a computer, memory card or USB flash drive, easy photo reprints and enlargements up to 400 percent, and a convenient fit-to-page printing feature. They even offer background removal for crisp, clean copies of text documents. Both models include
OCR software for converting documents into text users can edit.

• Standalone Photo Capabilities: Both Artisan models have card slots that are compatible with
all popular memory card types for printing photos without a computer or transferring files to or
from a computer. Plus, users can print directly from a digital camera or mobile phone with the PictBridge connection. Additional photo printing options include print-by-date, custom picture
packages, photo index sheets, and passport and photo IDs.
• Restore Faded Photos: Both Artisan all-in-ones can easily restore color to old, faded photos
with or without using a computer.
• Creativity Made Simple: Included software allows users to create and print personalized
CDs/DVDs, greeting cards, elegant invitations, beautiful photo calendars, photo books, and
more.
• Shared Use at Home: Wi-Fi and Ethernet networking are built in for sharing with all users in
the home. An optional Bluetooth photo print adapter is also available for printing from cell
phones and other mobile devices.
• Flexible Paper Handling: Both models print borderless photos in popular sizes, including
4” x 6”, 5” x 7”, 8” x 10”, and letter. They also feature a paper cassette with two paper trays
that eliminate the need to switch between plain and photo paper. In addition, two-sided printing
is built-in and can be automated with an optional duplexer
• Smart Ink System: The Artisan series feature convenient individual ink cartridges that can be
changed in as little as five seconds and replace only the color needed. In addition, innovative
technology conveniently combines color inks to produce black when black ink is low to extend
printing. Cartridges are available in two sizes to match users’ printing needs.

Artisan Series Pricing and Availability
With an estimated street price of $299.99 (Artisan 800) and $199.99 (Artisan 700), these
products offer an array of features, benefits and services that consumers have never before
experienced.

HIGHLY-ANTICIPATED EPSON ENSEMBLE HD HOME CINEMA SYSTEM NOW SHIPPING TO U.S. DEALERS

New High Performance, Fully-Integrated Home Theater System Transforms Virtually Any Room Into a State-of-the-Art Cinema Experience

LONG BEACH, Calif. – July 7, 2008 – The Beijing 2008 Summer Olympics are just around the corner, so it's a popular time for consumer electronics customers to invest in new HDTVs and digital surround sound systems to enhance their viewing time at home. What many of these consumers may not realize is that enjoying their favorite Olympic sport with the addition of a lavish home cinematic screening room is no longer a luxury reserved for the ultra-rich.

Epson America Inc. today announced that it is shipping a new, fully-integrated high-end home entertainment solution – the Ensemble HDTM Home Cinema System – to dealers and installers nationwide. Recently selected as a finalist for CEDIA’s Best New Product Award, this uniquely designed system is engineered to transform virtually any living room or family room into a dual-purpose living and entertainment area without compromising space or the room’s decor.
The Ensemble HD Home Cinema System features an attractive contemporary design and comes with virtually everything required for proper installation and maximum performance. Elements include:

—Choice of Epson PowerLite® 3LCD (three-chip) high definition multimedia projector with either true 1080p native resolution (1,920 x 1,080 pixels) or a more affordably priced 720p option
—Unique 100-inch motorized screen that quietly lowers and retracts within the unique front channel ceiling mounted speaker system
—Audio/video controller with integrated upconverting DVD player
—Newly engineered Atlantic Technology speaker system and a proprietary 150-watt subwoofer containing all 5.1 channels of amplification
—Universal remote that controls the entire system including the motorized screen
—Every audio, video and power cable needed to complete the installation while maximizing performance (including HDMI)
—Unique wire management track system that hides all of the included cables from the site of users
—All necessary mounting brackets

“The Ensemble HD delivers more than just a perfect combination of high-end audio and video components,” said Rajeev Mishra, director, New Ventures Group, Epson America. “It redefines the essence of the term ‘complete home cinema solution,’ but more importantly gives customers a system that’s easy to operate, easy to integrate into any room, easy on their eyes, and even easy on the wallet.”

The Ensemble HD projects crystal-clear high-definition, widescreen video that puts you in the middle of the action. The projector features advanced Epson 3LCD technology for rich, vibrant colors and superb, fast motion images. State-of-the-art optics ensure bright, distortion-free images from corner to corner so none of the action is missed. The system’s colossal, 100- inch screen, over four times the size of a 50-inch big-screen TV, truly brings your movies, TV and video games to life.

The Ensemble HD Home Cinema System is available for a suggested retail price of $6,999 for the 1080p system, and $4,999 for the 720p version. For more details about Ensemble HD, please visit www.ensemblehd.com.