Gizmodo: mini projectors

The 3M MPro120: It's About Time Pico Projectors Grew Up

John Herrman — Wed, 26 Aug 2009 15:54:19 EDT

3M pitching the MPro120 mini-projector as a "second generation" piece of hardware. For them, that means it's the first with the new MM200 projection engine. For everyone else, it could mean the first truly decent pico projector.

The last 3M pico experiment, the MPro110, was a mixed bag: Passable image quality was tainted by poor build quality and low battery life, and the overall experience, while promising, just wasn't quite there yet.

The MPro120 is a replacement for the MPro110, and on top of the verifiably awesome image quality from its liquid crystal on silicon imager, it multiplies battery life by a factor of six to four hours, pushes the life of its 12 lumen lamp to 20,000 hours, and adds stereo speakers, while hanging onto the prior product's 640x480 resolution and $350 price tag. Another difference: Assuming 3M's tightened up their hardware quality, people might actually buy one this time around. The MPro120 is due to land on September 1st. [3M]

COMING SOON TO A POCKET NEAR YOU: THE MPRO120

3M's New Handheld Projector Set for September Launch

ST. PAUL, MINN. (August 26, 2009) – This fall, Hollywood's biggest blockbusters are coming to a pocket near you! Less than a year after launching the MPro110 - the handheld digital projector that won the "Grand Award" in the gadget category of the Popular Science 2008 Best of What's New Awards – 3M announced today the September debut of the MPro120, the newest member of the MPro family. The MPro120 provides improved functionality, increased portability and an expanded feature set.

The MPro120 is the first projector to incorporate 3M's MM200 projection engine, the next generation of the MPro family. As announced at the 2009 Consumer Electronics Show, the MM200 engine uses an advanced liquid crystal on silicon (LCOS) electronic imager and boasts enhanced image quality with a full color gamut. The MPro120 provides users with a robust battery life of two to four hours (depending on brightness setting) - enough to watch a full-length film – and, in full brightness mode, achieves a brightness of 12 lumens. Featuring an integrated flip stand, tripod, stereo speakers and a variety of input cables, the MPro120 is ready to use "out-of-the-box" with a wide range of today's most popular video output gadgets. And, as with its predecessor - the MPro110 - the MPro120 will be the ideal projection solution for laptops and netbooks. Available optional accessories include an adapter cable for Apple® products, component video cable and car charger.

"Following the success of the MPro110, the MPro120 will further reinforce 3M's leadership position in the development and implementation of advanced projection technologies," said Mark Colin, general manager, 3M Projection Systems Department. "The functionality of the MPro120 represents technical achievements that were manageable only by the long-term commitment to research and development that is 3M's hallmark."

The MPro120 will be on-sale September 1 with an estimated price of $349. Optional accessories are sold separately.

3M's Pocket Video Projector First to Hit Shops, 30th September

Kit Eaton — Mon, 15 Sep 2008 05:12:00 EDT

Back in May we brought you some more data on the upcoming 3M pocket video projector, but only guesses on its release date: now we know it's September 30th. The palm-sized MPro110 has a VGA and composite video input, so it'll be good for either your laptop or portable gadgets with video-out. It's got manual focus, but no speaker—but for most purposes I guess you won't miss that. The guys at PopSci liked it, noting that it's pretty basic but projects nicely onto walls, desks, paper and people in a variety of lighting conditions. We'll have to wait to closer to the launch to hear more details, but the gizmo is set to cost $359. [PopSci via TheEarthTimes]

18 Super Small Projectors

Sean Fallon — Wed, 30 Jul 2008 19:00:00 EDT

We have been hearing about mini /pico projectors for a long time now but so far, nothing has made it to store shelves. However, there is no doubt that this technology will be an important part of many of our mobile devices in the near future—which is why there is no shortage of concepts out there. OObject has collected 18 of these potential products, including our own look at Microvision's Pico Projector at CES. [OObject]

3M's Mini-Projector Mystery Company Turns Out To Be Samsung

Sean Fallon — Tue, 13 May 2008 16:25:00 EDT

Back in March we learned that 3M would partner with a "leading consumer electronics company" in an attempt to be the first to market with a mini mobile projector. After months of speculation, 3M's CEO George Buckley has revealed that the mystery company in question will be Samsung. He also revealed that the price point for the device would be between $200-$400, which is $100 less on the low end than the previous estimate.

We also know that 3M is still planning on launching the device later this year, but it is unclear whether or not this device would be available as a stand-alone product or whether it will be integrated in Samsung devices. Although, given the interest in applying this technology to cellphones, integration into Samsung products seems likely. [Twin Cities via About Projectors]