With an integrated DVD player (remember when they were all the rage?) it's very much styled at those who'd want to slip a copy of Hannah Montana inside. Images are thrown up in a 50-inch diagonal, and while it won't impress Mr Home Cinema Buff, it might just keep his children happy for a few (quiet) hours. Available now for £159.99 (around $260), it's from the guys who came up with one of the first pico-projectors. [Firebox]

Rodger Cleye set out to make damn sure kids in his neighborhood had a fun halloween this year. Candy, you see, if a cop-out. The best adults are the ones who make robots. Every child knows this. Rodger knows this too, which is why he built the Robo Theater, a five-mph, remote-controlled projector with a five-foot screen.

And candy is part of the problem, people: what kids need now is a motivation to get out and exercise, even if that exercise involves slowly wandering around the cul de sac, watching Ice Age 3, kept alert by the slight but always present threat of becoming a pedestrian fatality. [Hacked Gadgets]

The HypnosEye throws up a few red flags right out of the gates: Instead of connecting to your iPod or iPhone's dock connector of video-out, it simply magnifies your screen, like your math teacher's old overhead projector. This means it'll project almost anything portable with a screen, which is fantastic! This also means that, since the only light source is the backlight on your device's screen—this thing isn't even powered—the image quality shown above is probably pretty close to accurate. Charming incapability: in!

The HypnosEye can be imported for about $80, which isn't a terrible deal, assuming you'll be doing most of your projecting in perfect blackness. Stuck inside a white-satin-lined coffin, buried unusually deep, at night? Get the HypnosEye! Happen to be on the dark side of the moon during at the beginning of its cycle, in a tent, with a projector screen handy? Get the HypnosEye! Etc. [Technabob]

When separated, the keyboard communicates with the screen via Bluetooth, and can act as a keyboard (duh), microphone, speaker, and game pad. It also serves as a remote control when the pico-projector is used.

Apparently the F-04B's 12.2-megapixel camera takes "nice pictures for a phone", but the touchscreen could do with being a little more responsive.

The phone was first shown as a prototype at CEATEC 2008, but Akihabara News says that Fujitsu and Japanese carrier, DoCoMo, have "officially" announced it as the Separate Keitai F-04B. No word yet on what OS it runs, availability, or pricing (inside or out of Japan). Definitely a unique idea. [Akihabara News]

CHATSWORTH, CA. — October 20, 2009 –SANYO, one of the world's largest manufacturers of LCD and DLP projectors, announces the release of a new two-lamp projector, the PLC-XF1000, which features the exclusive QuaDrive™ optical engine for exceptional color reproduction for brighter capacities, 12,000 lumens brightness, 4000:1 contrast ratio, and the proprietary Active Maintenance Filter (AMF) for increased reliability.

The high brightness, two-lamp PLC-XF1000 projector is the second SANYO model to be equipped with their proprietary QuaDrive optical engine. Unlike conventional 3LCD (red/green/blue) systems, the QuaDrive includes an additional color control device that allows the PLC-XF1000 to automatically control the amount of yellow light in the image, producing higher luminosity with improved color accuracy and clarity.

The demand for even brighter projectors continues to come from the field as systems integrators are asked to install video displays in extremely large venues such as convention halls, conference rooms, auditoriums and houses of worship with high levels of ambient light. It is also especially well suited for the digital signage market where high resolution is in demand. However, as brightness levels increase on traditional 3LCD projectors, there is a reverse effect in color reproduction. Colors become noticeably washed out, lacking vibrancy and realism.

SANYO's innovative QuaDrive technology provides a solution for these specific cases, providing new projectors capable of extremely high luminosity without the trade off in color accuracy. The PLC-XF1000 is rated at an extraordinary 12,000 lumens, the highest brightness available in 100V AC projectors. Coupled with the impressive high contrast ratio of 4000:1, the PLC-XF1000 is capable of generating clear and color-rich images that are more vivid for cases where brightness and high resolution become primary installation factors.

The PLC-XF1000 is equipped with two high-output 330-watt lamps, improving light efficiency and achieving the industry's highest brightness of 12,000 lumens. It uses a basic 100V AC electrical outlet for ease of use and installation convenience.

The QuaDrive optical engine uses an inorganic panel for increased reliability contributing to the projector's outstanding 4000:1 contrast ratio for improved image depth, resulting in a 3D-like appearance. With the incorporation of three mirrors and SANYO's two-lamp combining technology, the overall color uniformity is significantly improved resulting in richer high definition images. The new design allows the PLC-XF1000 to produce the same brightness with two lamps as previous models did with four.

Maintaining projectors in the field can be costly and time-consuming. The integration of SANYO's exclusive Active Maintenance Filter (AMF) system enables filter cartridge replacement intervals of approximately 11,000 hours because a single cartridge contains a filter roll that is equal to 10 individual filters.

Installation is also simplified with key SANYO features such as the Power Vertical/Horizontal Lens Shifting and Power Zoom/Focus functions, which enable easy projection adjustments without changing the projector's position. These power-driven systems can be easily operated with the supplied remote control, which is especially convenient when the projector is installed on the ceiling or wall. Moreover, the projector can be installed in virtually any location, due to versatile setup positioning functions like the Vertical 360-degree Tilt Angle and a Center Lens Design. There are ten optional lenses available for use with the PLC-XF1000, ranging from short to long-focus choices.

Other features include a mechanical shutter, which can completely block projection light, convenient for presenters making presentations on stage, easy stacking grooves for placing a back-up unit on top of the main projector, and a built-in MVP expansion-slot system that enables the addition of SANYO's network and uncompressed HD data wireless transmission boards.

SPECIFICATIONS
• Resolution: 1024 x 768 (WUXGA)
• Aspect Ratio: 4:3
• Brightness: 12,000 lumens
• Contrast Ratio: 4000:1
• Uniformity: 90%
• Projection Lamp: NSHA 330W x2
• Screen Size: 40"-600" distance varies based on lens type used
• Input Terminals: DVI-D (HDCP), RGB D-sub 15-pin (input and output), RGBHV/Y/VIDEO, Pb/Cb,Pr/Cr (BNC x5), S-video
• Control: RS232C (in)/ D-sub 9 x 2 (out)
• Dimensions: 21 (W) x 10.55 (H) x 30(D) inches
• Weight: 60.1 lbs (excluding lens)

Like all new SANYO products, the PLC-X1000 conforms to the EU RoHS Directive. It will be available from the beginning of December 2009 for an MSRP of $24,995.00, (excluding lens).

Brian first took an R2-D2 shaped cooler and modified it to make it look more realistic. He then gutted the consoles to rearrange the controllers inside so all the ports could face in the right direction. That still left enough space inside to place a projector and a sound system. Quite a feat.

I can see Dreamcast, Playstation, SNES, and Nintendo Ultra64 gamepads, but what are the rest? [PopSci via The Force]

• HP announced that they are shipping the Photosmart Premium today, the world's first web-connected printer. We saw the printer a while ago, and were impressed with it's ability to print images and documents from the web without having to interface with a computer at all. The device presents thumbnails of content from Flickr, Google Maps and other web services for you to browse through, then the printer grabs the full-res image and spits them out on paper.

It seems like it could be a pretty cool idea when combined with the App Studio idea HP is exploring, and hopefully developers can come up with some pretty nifty time saving applications. Whodathunk there'd be a day where even printers have their own apps? It's yours for $399. [Press Release]

• Dell released a thin-and-light addition to their Inspiron lineup today with the 14z and 15z. The "z" denotes that the models feature Intel CULV processors inside, and as a result are thinner and weigh less than their non-z brethren. The size of each falls more in line with the dimensions of the Inspiron 11z Dell released last month, albeit with larger screens. Unlike the 11z, though, the 14z and 15z both feature optical drives.

The addition to the line could be great for anyone looking for a notebook with a larger screen that still gets great battery life, but personally if I'm going to be buying anything with a CULV processor in it I would want it in a more portable form factor. Anyone interested can grab the Inspiron 14z starting at $649, or the 15z starting at $599. [ Crunchgear]

It'd be irresponsible to try to glean too much from a promotional video like this, where some, but not all, of the images have been simulated but I live dangerously: I'm going to say those images, as you'd expect, look a little washed out, despite most of them projecting at well below the claimed 40-inch max. And where's the video projection? That's the coolest part!

You can sit through the whole video to get a pretty broad spec rundown, and peruse the press release here. Or you can just wait until your Spring 2010 Hammacher Schlemmer catalog comes through the mail slot. This'll be on page 73, in the sidebar, next to the inflatable litterboxes. [Crunchgear]

The specs and pictures we saw yesterday were dead on, though we didn't know much about the three other models: The S70, a 12.1MP shooter with a 3.5-inch capacitive touchscreen; the "lightning-fast" S640 (fast startup and shutter lag); and the budget S570. The S1000pj is actually significantly cheaper than we though, but still wallet-draining at $430. Full presser below. [Nikon]

NIKON INTRODUCES FOUR NEW COOLPIX CAMERAS OFFERING SUPERIOR PERFORMANCE, DESIGN AND INNOVATION

Nikon Continues to Lead in Innovation with a New Touch Camera and First Compact Digital Camera with Built-in Projector*

MELVILLE, NY (Aug. 4, 2009) – Nikon Inc. continues its tradition of innovation, design and performance with the introduction of four new COOLPIX Style Series compact digital cameras. Building on the success of Nikon's previous touch-screen models, the ultra-stylish COOLPIX S70 features an enhanced interface and organic light-emitting diode (OLED) display technology for a new user experience, housed in a stylish, camera body. The COOLPIX S1000pj features the world's first built-in projector, which enables consumers to share their images and videos in an all-new fun way. Additionally, the COOLPIX S640 and COOLPIX S570, leaders in speed and affordability, respectively, complete the new smarter, cooler, simpler COOLPIX line.

"These latest Nikon COOLPIX digital cameras reflect hallmarks of the COOLPIX line: performance, design and innovation," said Bill Giordano, general manager marketing, COOLPIX for Nikon Inc. "With new features such as a built-in projector and new touch controls for viewing, shooting and zooming, these COOLPIX cameras will appeal to users of every level."

The Nikon COOLPIX cameras incorporate Nikon's world-class NIKKOR lenses, delivering accurate detail and brilliant color, as well as Nikon's EXPEEDTM digital image processing concept, which ensures high-quality pictures with stunning color and sharpness. A new enhancement to Nikon's Smart Portrait System that helps create beautiful portraits includes an all new Skin Softening feature designed to both smooth and even skin tones. Other COOLPIX features include Vibration Reduction (VR) Image Stabilization, minimizing blur that may appear in pictures, even in low-light or unsteady conditions; and Scene Auto Selector, which automatically recognizes the shooting situation and adjusts camera settings accordingly.

NEW COOLPIX S70 FEATURES SUPERIOR STYLING AND OLED TOUCH-SCREEN INTERFACE

Built on the success of Nikon's previous touch-screen models, COOLPIX S70 features Nikon's newly developed 3.5-inch Clear Color Display and a new generation of touch-screen controls that offer an enhanced shooting and playback experience. In addition to its photographic technology and stylish dual-texture design, the S70 captures stunning HD-video at 1280x720 pixels (720p).

New to the COOLPIX line, OLED technology offers the benefits of vivid color reproduction, sharp contrast and the absence of afterimages. The capacitive touch-screen provides an immediate response at the lightest touch of the display for a fun and intuitive feel to every camera operation. For example, using the Touch Shutter feature, users can have a completely "button-free" experience and focus on and photograph a subject by simply touching it on the camera's display. The touch-screen also makes viewing and retouching images more fun and efficient. With the swipe of a finger, users can scroll through images and use a pinching motion with two fingers to zoom in or out on displayed images, switching between thumbnail and full screen views. Additional new touch-screen controls include on-screen sliders for adjusting brightness and Scene Effect Adjustment, which offers controls specific to the scene mode in use.

The COOLPIX S70 features 12.1 megapixels; a 5x wide angle zoom NIKKOR lens; ISO 6400***; 5-way VR Image Stabilization System; Subject Tracking; Scene Auto Selector Mode; Nikon's Smart Portrait System and an ultra-stylish design.

The S70 will be available in September 2009 for $399.95 MSRP in a choice of colors and textures including Red & Red, Champagne & Beige, Black & Black, or Champagne & Light Brown.

NEW COOLPIX S1000pj FEATURES WORLD'S FIRST BUILT-IN PROJECTOR, YOUR PERSONAL THEATER ON THE GO

Providing consumers with new exciting ways to share images, the COOLPIX S1000pj transforms photo-sharing into a multimedia experience. With the touch of a button, users can project images and videos as large as 40 inches, and with the camera's unique slideshow function, playback pictures with music, effects and creative transitions. Additional features of the S1000pj include: 12.1 megapixels; a 5x Wide Angle Zoom-NIKKOR Glass Lens; ISO from 64-6400***; a 2.7-inch Wide Angle LCD display; 5-way VR Image Stabilization System; Subject Tracking; Scene Auto Selector Mode; Nikon's Smart Portrait System and movie mode.

The COOLPIX S1000pj will be available in Matte Black, in September 2009, for $429.95 MSRP.

NEW COOLPIX S640 IS SLEEK, FAST AND FULLY-LOADED WITH ENHANCED SPEED CAPABILITIES

For consumers who never want to miss a moment, the all-new COOLPIX S640 is Nikon's performance leader in the S-Series lineup. High performance features include ultra-fast auto-focus, the fastest start up time in its class** of a mere 0.7 seconds and short shutter release time lag. Additional features of the S640 include: a slim, stylish all metal body; 12.2 megapixels; a 5x Wide Angle NIKKOR lens; ISO from 100-6400 at full resolution; a 2.7-inch Clear Color LCD display; 4-way VR Image Stabilization System; Subject Tracking; Scene Auto Selector Mode; Nikon's Smart Portrait System and movie mode.

The COOLPIX S640 will be available in September 2009 for $249.95 MSRP and will be offered in various colors including: Calm Black, Velour Red, Precious Pink, and Pearl White.

NEW COOLPIX S570 OFFERS ADVANCED TECHNOLOGIES AT AN ECONOMICAL PRICE POINT

Where style meets simplicity, the new COOLPIX S570 is ideal for entry-level consumers looking for a carefree shooting experience. The S570 features 12.0 megapixels; a 5x Wide Angle Zoom-NIKKOR Glass Lens; ISO 3200 at full resolution, a bright 2.7-inch LCD Display; 4-way VR Image Stabilization System; Scene Auto Selector Mode; Nikon's Smart Portrait System and movie mode.

The COOLPIX S570 will be available in September 2009, for $199.95 MSRP and will be offered in various colors including Black, Red, Blue, and Pink.

The Coolpix S1000pj is the first digital camera with a built-in projector that lets users project photos or movies clips on any flat surface at up to 40 inches in size. A handy projector stand is included, as is a remote control that can be used to operate the projector, release the shutter, and more. This model features an effective resolution of 12.1 megapixels and a 5x Zoom-Nikkor lens with 28mm (equivalent) wide-angle coverage, along with a similar image stabilization system to the Coolpix S640.

Although a release date is still up in the air, the S1000pj is expected to drop sometime in the near future for an RRP of $699 AUD or $587 US. That's all well and good, but is this even a good idea? It's kind of a throwback to the days when your grandfather would bust out the projector and show home movies in the attic (while wearing a sweater and clenching a pipe between his teeth no doubt). It seems a little redundant to me when you can easily view the files on tv or computer screen, but then again, I was never one for torturing relatives with pictures from my vacation. Check out PhotoReview for details on the entire lineup. [PhotoReview via Nikon Rumors]

The job was not easy: Admirable mom Patti Deni wanted the 98-inch StarGlas60 screen to be aligned straight with the ceiling of her kid's bedroom. Above the bedroom, Stereo Advantage—an audio/video specialty company in Williamsville, NY—had to place a NEC video projector and projection mirrors. In total, the whole solution weighted more than 300 pounds, so they had to make a new reinforced ceiling frame to support it.

According to this laudable woman, her son spends a lot of time playing and editing his own videos, which now will include a YouTube time lapse of him progressively getting fatter and fatter while he plays in bed, and his brain liquifies into a puddle of green goo. [Electronic House]

It's got a 640x480 resolution, so it probably won't look all that good at 70 inches, which is why they recommend 40 tops. Also, at 10 lumens, you'll be lucky to get 30 inches in a dark room.

The whole thing is rechargeable and has VGA and RCA inputs as well as a dock connector. Look for it to drop in September. [PhoneSuit]

This diminutive 0.49 x 0.59 x 0.19-inch box projects footage from HDMI at 1,280 x 768 resolution for 30,000 hours thanks to LED lighting. There's no word on price or availability.

Oh, but we don't recommend you buy the thing. Sharpness alone is only part of the equation, and with no brightness or contrast ratio listed, those measurements can't be good. We're really just posting this to light the fire under Dell, Samsung and the like. Forever Plus is doing it, why can't you?? [Forever Plus via Engadget]

I know that having an extensible display won't mean a thing for many people. If you can have a 30" 16:9 display, why have it adjusted to only 20" 4:3? Well, if you are as anal as I am, you will do it to watch Casablanca with no black letterbox side bands, for example. I can also imagine people adjusting the size for smaller workplaces, but maybe the most useful thing would be to sightly bend it to have an enveloping effect at its largest size.

Having a built-in, low-cost mini-projector to display icons over the desk is a touch of genius. I hate having the dock icons jumping or any other graphic overlay on my work screen, but visual alerts are necessary and useful. Having a simple mini-projector built in the display—to show simple alerts over the desk or the background wall—would be absolutely perfect. [Petit Invention via Oled Display]

Scheduled for release next month at a pre-contract price between $400 and $500 (or $100 w/contract), the Logic Bolt is a GSM handset with a 320x240 touchscreen, 3MP camera, 4GB storage and MicroSD expansion. Using a bundled adapter, the phone can accept VGA and RCA inputs, passing the signal on for built-in 640x480 projection (or it can obviously play any preloaded media straight from the phone). The battery can only last 2 hours in projection mode, so a second battery comes bundled with the phone.
As you can see, the projection quality doesn't exactly dazzle, but in all fairness, these shots were taken under the less ideal bright conditions of the show floor.
Manufacturer Logic Wireless hopes to release a CDMA/WinMO version of the phone in the next four months, and they're planning a 2.0 version of the product with QWERTY and possibly Android by the end of 2009.

The LCD is 2.2 inches across and 320x240 pixels, and the player itself is compatible with images, office docs and video codecs like DivX, Xvid, WMV9 and flavors of MPEG. It uses the Texas Instrument DLP for its projection.

Samsung Telecommunications America (Samsung Mobile) today announced a new mobile phone accessory, the award-winning* MBP200 Pico Projector. The Samsung MBP200 is the ultimate wireless accessory, offering advanced features designed to enhance the mobile experience.
Compact and lightweight, the portable MBP200 can connect to mobile phones and laptops and by utilizing the DLP(R) pico chip from Texas Instruments it allows users to transform their traditional two inch screen to a 50-inch viewing screen allowing others to share in the video experience. In addition, users can easily transfer files and project content independent of an attached source via the microSD card slot. The MBP200 has a simple shape and design with touchpad controls on the right side of the device for easy navigation and a 2.2-inch QVGA LCD screen which allow users to view content privately.
Samsung's MBP200 offers the latest entertainment features and independently supports standard Microsoft Office and PDF formats for display. With the MBP200, users can listen to music and create playlists, as well as view video, pictures or PDF, PowerPoint, Word or Excel files.
The Samsung pico projector delivers a superior picture from a mobile device and is powered by a miniaturized version of the same imaging technology found in DLP HDTVs, home theater projectors and large-scale cinema houses. The unit can accommodate a range of projected image sizes - from an 8 1/2 x 11 standard sheet of paper to a large 50-inch screen. For added convenience, the MBP200 comes with a small screen holder with a telescoping pole hidden inside, which can instantly turn a standard sheet of paper into a screen to view movies, document files or pictures. The 3.5mm standard jack allows users to enjoy their own headphones or speakers, or the built-in external speaker allows the MBP200 to play audio directly from the device.
Samsung MBP200 Pico Projector Specifications

Features File viewer, picture viewer, music player, video player
Projection Panel HVGA (480*320)
LCD 2.2" QVGA(320*240)
Audio Output 3.5 mm Standard Stereo Earphone Jack
Storage microSD slot (up to 16 GB)
Picture Viewer JPEG, GIF, Animated GIF, MBP
Music Player MP3, WMA, OGG, AAC, WAV
Video Player Video CODEC: DivX, Xvid, WMV9 Simple Profile, MPEG-2, MPEG-4; Audio
CODEC: MP3, AAC, WMA
File Viewer Adobe PDF (.pdf)
MS PowerPoint (.ppt)
MS Word (.doc)
MS Excel (.xls)
Text (.txt)
Size/Weight 107.3 x 48.8 x 19 mm / 160 g

The MBP200 will be available later this year. For more information about the MBP200 and Samsung's entire line of mobile phone accessories, please visit www.samsung.com/newsroom.

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

It looks like it's designed for classrooms but there's nothing in the specs that'd disqualify it from being a pretty decent home theater projector. And at the stated sub-$1000 price when it's released this month, it's hard to find too much fault with it. The above picture is not the PG-F255W, but a model in the same line that looks pretty similar. [Press Release via Engadget]