[Honla via GadgetGrid]

The projector reaches its small size in part by using proprietary optical parts, including a prism lens exclusively made for it. Nippon Signal also swapped a diode pumping solid state (DPSS) laser for a much tinier semiconductor laser to display greens, reduced the dimensions of the MEMS scanner and optimized the layout to fit within its lilliputian confines. As you can see, the image quality is passable—not even close to movie theater quality, but colors are bright and the resolution is good enough for, say, an impromptu Power Point presentation.

No word on when this will be available to the masses, but Nippon Signal says it plans on commercializing the prototype soon. [Tech On]

Jun 18, 2008 18:00

Samsung Launches Sleek, Sophisticated Palm-Sized DLP Projector for Professional Mobility

Bright LED Lightweight Projector, the P400 Pocket Imager Defines Style, Performance and Functionality for Today's Busy Professional

LAS VEGAS —(Business Wire)— Jun. 18, 2008 Samsung Electronics America, a subsidiary of Samsung Electronics Corporation, a world-leading supplier of professional LCD and PDP display products, today announced the P400 pocket imager that defines style, performance and functionality for today's busy professional. The P400 and the full line of Samsung's projectors will be on display during InfoComm at the Samsung booth, C2417, in the Central Hall of the Las Vegas Convention Center from June 18 - 20.
The P400 Pocket Imager allows professionals the ability to easily transport and display information without compromising picture quality. Ideal for road warriors, field sales representatives, business executives and traveling entrepreneurs, the new Pocket Imager provides a creative and dynamic solution that is now both easier and less expensive to utilize. The lightweight, palm-sized DLP projector fits conveniently into a road warrior's computer bag or luggage and sets up in seconds. The P400 also features Samsung's sleek, sophisticated industrial design with a glossy black finish.

The Samsung Pocket Imager is small enough to take anywhere and can project images from a variety of sources, including computers, DVD players, video game stations and digital cameras. Utilizing DLP technology, the P400 has a native resolution of 800 x 600 SVGA. In addition to the 1,000:1 contrast ratio, the pocket imager has 150 ANSI lumens for a crisp, clear 30"-40" diagonal image even in a well-lit office setting, and RGB, Composite-In, S-Video, audio-in (RCA L/R) rear inputs for optimal functionality.

The P400 features 1-watt (x2) built-in speakers for convenience. Measuring in at 5 inches wide by 3.7 inches deep and 2 inches high, the 1.9-pound pocket imager is both light and portable. Plus, by utilizing LED with a lifespan of up to 30,000 hours, there is no projector lamp to replace. Other offerings included with the P400 Pocket Imager include a remote control, power cables and a sliding lens cap that protects the projector lens without worrying about it falling off or losing it during transit.

"We continue to push the boundaries in digital signage and projection and are thrilled to launch the P400 as it expands Samsung's growth into projection mobility for the various environmental application demands," said Christopher Franey, Vice President of Sales and Marketing, Samsung Electronics America Information Technology Division. "The pocket imager's versatility proves to be an ideal digital signage solution for early technology adapters, mobile professionals and style-conscious enthusiasts."

Like all Samsung displays and projectors, the P400 pocket imager is backed by a one-year limited warranty on labor and parts, as well as toll-free technical support for the life of the projector.

The P400 Pocket Projector is currently available for $749 ESP through Samsung resellers and distribution channels, which can be located by calling 1-800-SAMSUNG or by visiting http://www.samsung.com. Samsung Power Partners receive special promotions, lead referrals, training and technical support, as well as collateral and marketing materials. To find out more about becoming a Samsung Power Partner, visit: http://www.samsungpartner.com.

[Samsung and Electronista]

RGB liquid crystal shutter protection system
LCD Panel: 1.3 inch x 3, Aspect Ratio 4:3
Pixel Count: 786,432 (1024 x 768) x 3 ; Total pixels 2,359,296
Color Control Device
Light source: 330 W NSHA Lamp
Screen Size: 31 to 400 inches (projection distance differs by lens)
Full color (1.07 billion colors) *when in using with video
Brightness: 7,000 ANSI lumens
Contrast Ratio: 2200:1
Scanning Frequency
Horizontal: 15-100KHz, Vertical: 48-100Hz, Dot Clock: 180 MHz or less
Displayable Resolution
RGB Signal
1024 x 768 dots (1920 x 1080 resizing display possible)
Video Signal
800 TV
Computer Input/Output
Digital DVI-I x 1 (HDCP Compatible)
Analog RGB input x 2; Mini D-sub 15-pin, BNC input 5-pin
Video Input
Video input x 3;
BNC terminal (Y/Video-Pb/Cb-Pr/Cr)
RCA terminal (Y/Video-Pb/Cb-Pr/Cr)
S-video
Video Output
Analog RGB x 1; Mini D-sub 15-pin*3
Audio Input/Output
Input: Stereo mini-jack x 2
Output: Stereo mini-jack
Control Ports, etc.
Control port: D-sub 9 pin; USB type B*4
Wired remote control connection
PJ Net Organizer connector
Operating Temperature
5 ~ 40
Power Source: AC 100V(±10％), 50/60 Hz
Power Consumption: 484W (Standby:28W)
Dimensions: 370.0 (w) x 187.0 (t) x 439.9 (d) (including protruding parts)
Weight: 11.4kg (without lens)
Main Accessories
Wireless remote control (AAA battery x 2)
Removable power cord
Back-up power adapter
USB cable
Mini D-sub 15-pin connecting cable
Operating manual
Customer service contact list
Warranty
PIN code label
Lens mounting hardware
Light-shade plate x 2
Spacer x 3

One piece of "meh"ness about the LP-XP200L, though: you'll have to buy the projection lens separately. [Sanyo]

From the photos of the phone at the Tianjin Mobile Phone exhibition you can see it's a chunky candybar with the pico-projector beneath a lens on the top end. Apparently it's a 640 x 480 resolution projector with manual focus, a picture size up to 30-inches and the battery can give it about two hours of projection time. The LED light source must generate a fair whack of heat, since the phone is punched full of holes at the projector end, presumably so that it doesn't collapse into a molten heap of parts.

Pretty interesting, but really, you've got to laugh at the phone's UI: looks like OS X, doesn't it? Though this looks like a real product, there's no info on whether we'll see it outside China's borders. [163.com]

[Aving USA and Displayblog]

For now though, the execution doesn’t seem great. The staff at PC Perspective, who were the first to lay eyes on the device, couldn’t tell much about the exact specs of the projection unit but judging by the photo below (and the capabilities of other miniature projectors) the images won’t exactly be dazzling. The camera is also built into the top of the bezel, which creates two pretty big chunks of wasted space. Speculative reservations aside, built-in projection capability could have serious potential in the business world, so ASUS may be on to something.

[PC Perspective]

Kiss her on the cheek when you slide into bed and she'll bury her face in the pillow. Hmmm, that sounds wrong. She moves into a spoon position if you're on your side, and snuggles up beside you when you're on your back. Cute.

There are, however, two drawbacks to Drew's invention, which he was showing off at NYU's Interactive Telecommunications Program Spring Show at Tisch School of the Arts: first, she's only 2D, and second, she's fully clothed. Some guys may want to wait for version 2.0. [New York Magazine]

The projector demo was cool, because it's the first product Pioneer branded Kuro but didn't build itself. It was pretty impressive, though to be honest, there was no immediate comparison. Still, see for yourself: [Pioneer 2008 Kuro Launch on Giz]

If you want to take the home theater out of the darkened theater room into a large open space, either of these models has the power to do it. If you have a big back yard and a knack for careful installation, they would be perfect for setting up an outdoor theater; though at 300" you might want to be a little careful what you watch. While there are no HDMI ports, both models offer D-Sub 15 and DVI-D as well as Composite and S-Video.

Lack of HDMI connectivity might scare some people away, but DVI-D is comparable in quality. If you want to run a seriously powerful system from an HTPC, either of these models could be the ticket. The only problem is the price, at $6,495 for the PLC-ET30L and $4,495 for the PLC-XT21/L, buying these would be a tad difficult to justify. I won't buy either of these models, but it never hurts to dream big. Oh, and don't forget to remember the $3,833 for the screen. [Sanyo via Oh Gizmo!]

As well as automatic keystone correction and automatic input signal detection, the XW60 has an adjustable color mode for projecting onto different surface colors, and there's no cool-down cycle thanks to its easy-off function, which means you can just unplug it and shove it back in the cupboard straight away. Available in April, the PLC-XW60 will cost $795. [AVING]

The newest feature for the IN83 is its ability to project a 2.35:1 Cinemascope/widescreen aspect ratio, which allows the project to hook up to any video source since no external scaler is needed. Aside form the new aspect ratio, the following specs are a nice upgrade. The contrast ratio has been bumped up to 5,000:1, from 4,000:1, and can produce a maximum contrast ratio of 15,000:1. And the IN83 now has a max of 1,600 ANSI lumens, up from 1,500. The unit also packs Pixelworks DNX 10-bit video processing.

WIth a $500 price increase over its older sibling, the IN83 will be available later this month for $5999. If you have been interested in the IN82 and don't mind layin' down a few extra hundreds for a slight increase in performance, the InFocus IN83 is right up your alley. (Although 1080p projectors have been dipping below $3000 lately.) [InFocus via Electronic House]

As projectors are not included in your standard cellphone, there is no way to project a keyboard on an external surface. Nokia plans to use the phone's display to show the QWERTY keyboard, while the camera and sensors pick up finger position and relay that information back to the screen in real time. Inputs of sounds, or vibrations from fingers tapping, will also be translated into certain on-screen gestures. We have to give Nokia the good effort award, but it sounds awfully far-fetched. Hey, technology didn't get to where it was today by not challenging the status quo. We just think Nokia is challenging it in the wrong way. (Yes, there is a wrong way.) [Unwired View]

When pressed for details, they kept repeating their mantra about laser being the "purest light source," but from what we could see, we think it must have something to do with hot-looking dancing girls, frickin' lasers, smoke and maybe even mirrors. We were taking shots of the TVs, but all these women kept getting in our way. Oh, well.

At any rate, testing showed good video quality at around 50 inches, and it managed to get in the neighborhood of the advertised 100-inch range. Plus, the video proves you can project decent images onto someone's back. So, if you can find someone with a seriously huge ass with a thing for white pants, you can have your own mobile theater.

Microvision to Unveil Handheld 'Plug-and-Play' Pico Projector for Mobile Devices That Delivers a Home Theater-Sized Viewing Experience

Ultra-thin laser projector prototype with connectivity to mobile phones, PDAs, PMPs, digital cameras and laptops to be displayed during CES 2008

REDMOND, Wash.—Jan. 2, 2008—Microvision (NASDAQ:MVIS), developer of light-scanning technologies for display and imaging products, will unveil at the Consumer Electronics Show (CES) in Las Vegas next week an advanced prototype of the first handheld, battery-powered, 'plug-and-play' projector based on the company's single micro-mirror laser scanning display technology.

Code-named SHOW™, Microvision's stand-alone pico projector intended for mobile device applications, is powered by the company's proprietary ultra-miniature PicoP™ display engine. Microvision will preview the PDA-sized, fully self-contained, battery operated, full-color laser projector to select global OEMs, mobile carriers, content providers, development partners and members of the media.

SHOW connects directly to laptops, mobile phones, portable media players (PMPs), digital cameras and other mobile devices to project large, high-resolution images and video onto any surface. The images projected can range anywhere from 12 inches (30 cm) to 100 inches (2.5 m) in size depending upon the projection distance and are always in focus. The production version of the device is expected to offer approximately 2.5 hours of continuous battery life, sufficient to watch a full-length movie without a need for recharging.

Microvision says that SHOW can project a widescreen, WVGA (848 X 480 pixels), DVD quality image — offering a very different experience from the tiny 2-inch display solutions available today on various portable devices. Designed for viewing high-quality projected images in a variety of controlled lighting environments, SHOW offers more than five times the resolution compared with competing miniature projectors that typically only offer QVGA resolution (320 x 240 pixels).

At the heart of SHOW is Microvision's PicoP display engine, measuring close to 5 cc in volume and approximately 7 mm thick (approximately the size of a thin mint chocolate candy). Microvision envisions the PicoP display engine being used not only in stand-alone accessory products like SHOW, but also embedded directly into mobile consumer products.

"Consumers want better display solutions that will enrich their experience in watching TV, videos and movies, in playing games, and in browsing the web from their cell phones and other mobile devices," points out Alexander Tokman, President and Chief Executive Officer of Microvision. "While mobile multi-media subscription services are on the rise, handset manufacturers, content providers and service providers view tiny cell phone displays as a barrier to stronger consumer adoption of their products and services. With Microvision's SHOW you could view and share everything ranging from YouTube videos, MSN newscasts, and Google search results to PowerPoint presentations, feature-length films, and family photos in a large, full-color, hi-resolution format instead of a 2-inch, QVGA display."

I'm particularly keen on the Harry Porrter DVDs stacked up next to the unit. [Yanko]

At $169, how bad could it be? Answer: horrible, and not even worth that. Perhaps you've heard of the "screen door effect" that's common with low-end LCD projectors. A screen door would be a blessing compared to this. Watching this felt more like being behind the bars of a jail cell than having a screen door in front of us.

After that initial shock, it was time to run some of our projector test patterns, playing them back at the native resolution of this little monster, which is supposed to project video at 920x240 pixels, but we're still not really sure whether that was what we are looking at or not. It's probably closer to a cellphone-like 320x240.

We popped up a white test pattern, and with our precision light meter, measured the lowest light levels of any projector that has ever graced (or sullied) our Midwest Test Facility. At the center of the screen, it was putting out a pathetic 120 lumens, and even that was profoundly uneven, with 70 lumens on the right side of the screen, 80 on the left, and 90 up top. There are dim light bulbs that are much brighter than this. Unless the room was completely dark, we could hardly see an image at all. We didn't realize the term "candlepower" was going to be taken literally here.

What about contrast ratio? Well, there wasn't any. We projected a white chip chart with numerous degrees of white down to light gray (see a shot of the projected chart in the gallery below), and you can hardly tell the difference between any of the chips. It was the worst contrast ratio, or lack thereof, we've ever seen.

We tried watching a DVD, and from the very beginning, it was some of the worst video we've ever encountered. For example, the FBI warning at the beginning of the DVD was not legible at all. It looked like hieroglyphics.

Games fared no better, looking as pixelated as any video could ever possibly be. And don't think we're just being projector snobs here, even though that's exactly what we are. Going into this review, we realized the low price of this projector, but didn't expect the quality to hit such a low point. The projector even smelled bad, like mildew, and made way more noise than we could bear if we wanted to concentrate on watching a movie or playing a game.

The upside? It looks kinda cool. But for $169, not cool enough. If this is a toy aimed at kids, it's not going to work. Even the most bleary-eyed numbskull kids would smell a rat, wondering why a Santa was punishing them. If you have a bad little boy in the house, this might just be the perfect gift. [Senario]

Bonus joke: What did Rong say when his brother's wife called? Rong Yong. Ha ha.

[PopSci]

BRAVIA VPL-VW60 · Combines the advanced features and technology associated with the legendary QUALIA 004 with the sleek form factor made popular by the VW50 projector. · Improved Native Contrast combined with Iris Delivers 35000:1 Contrast Ratio · New panel alignment adjustment insures precisely aligned R/G/B images. · Exclusive All Range Crisp Focus (ARC-F) glass lens optimizes SXRD panel performance. · Improved auto iris brightness with variable manual setting. · HDMI with x.v.Color (wide color gamut) capability. · BRAVIA Theatre Sync · Available this fall for about $5,000 BDP-S500 · Full HD 1080/60p with 24p True Cinema video output · Dolby Digital TrueHD/DTS-HD Master bitstream out via HDMI · Uncompressed multi-channel liner PCM · BD-ROM/DVD/CD playback · BRAVIA Theater Sync · DVD upscaling to 1080p via HDMI · AVC-HD with x.v.Color output · Available this fall for about $700

The better native contrast ratio and the dynamic iris that help it do a total 35k:1 contrast ratio. And a new piece of glass (ARC-F, or All Range Crisp Focus) can be paired with the optional Anamorphic lens adapter. The HDMI port supports wide gamut color, and I don't know why, but there's ethernet in this thing.

BRAVIA VPL-VW200 · Combines the advanced features and technology associated with the legendary QUALIA 004 with the sleek form factor made popular by the VW100 projector. · Three separate newly developed high frame rate (120FPS) SXRD 1080P panels with both black frame rate insertion and motion interpolation modes. · Improved Native Contrast combined with Iris Delivers 35000:1 Contrast Ratio · New panel alignment adjustment insures precisely aligned R/G/B images. · Exclusive All Range Crisp Focus (ARC-F) glass lens optimizes SXRD panel performance. · Optional external anamorphic lens with new zoom mode. · High output Xenon cinematic lamp maintains ideal color temperature characteristics. · Improved auto iris brightness with variable manual setting. · HDMI with x.v.Color (wide color gamut) capability. · Supports multiple system control protocols. · Built-in Ethernet network connectivity. · BRAVIA Theatre Sync · Available this fall for about $15,000

A lot of this improvement is because of the new .7-inch 1080p LCD panels Epson started cranking out in volume a couple of weeks ago, and now these chips are showing up in actual projectors introduced by Epson, Mitsubishi and Sanyo. The chip and processor combo is offering quite a bump in performance, offering 12-bit color with 68.7 billion colors, instead of the 10-bit color of before, with a mere 1.1 billion colors. Jeez, that's a lot of colors either way.

Epson says that its DeepBlack tech keeps any light from leaking through the projector's LCDs, thus raising the contrast ratio from 12,000:1 up to a more impressive 50,000:1. Yeah, right. But still, that's much better than before. Also helping things along is an automatic iris that adjusts 60 times per second. On top of all that, the company raised the projector's brightness by 30% without needing a brighter bulb, and it now cranks out a claimed 1600 lumens. That's a lot of light for a home theater.

This is going to be good. The crazy thing is, we were really impressed with the Epson Powerlite 1080, and its specs are not nearly as impressive as this latest model. Best yet, word on the street has this projector selling in the States for not much more than $3000. Wow. This will be one to watch. We'll be looking for it at CEDIA this week. [Impress]

Measuring 15.4 x 11.7 x 5 cm and weighing 750 grams, the DLP projector represents around 130 per cent of the NTSC color gamut. Optimized for 800 x 600 SVGA resolution at a standard 4:3 aspect ratio. It can project images ranging in size from 15 to 80 inches.

The HS101 can connect to computers, DVD players, cable or satellite boxes, as well as PDAs, digital cameras or phones with DMB/DVB-H capabilities. Costing 799 ($1091), it will be available in the US, although as yet there is no release date.

Berlin, Germany, August 30, 2007 —- LG Electronics (LG), a major player in the global flat panel display market, announced the worldwide launch of its first palm size projector, the
HS101. The DLP projector uses a highly efficient LED light source and is among the smallest
projectors available at a mere 15.4 x 11.7 x 5 cm and 750 grams. This pint-size projector
provides full size specs, delivering the best contrast ratio and color representation in its class.

"Industry experts told us it would be impossible to make such a small projector with a 2,000:1
contrast ratio and 100 ANSI lumen output. We've obviously proven them wrong with the
HS101," said Havis Heewon Kwon, head of LCD TV Division, LG Electronics.

The projector can also represent approximately 130 percent of the NTSC color gamut. This,
combined with the HS101's high output and contrast ratio, make this projector's images crisp,
clear and amazingly vivid. The projector is optimized for 800 x 600 SVGA resolution at a
standard 4:3 aspect ratio. It is capable of projecting images ranging in size from 15 to 80
inches, depending on the size of the room and the ambient light.

The environmentally friendly LED light source used in the HS101 is rated to last over 20,000
hours, far longer than traditional light sources that use bulbs. It also eliminates the need for
warm-up time, meaning that the RoHS compliant projector can be running at full power within
two seconds.

Connectivity is another of the HS101's strengths. It includes Digital Video, D-Sub and DVI
inputs allowing users to connect computers, DVD players, cable or satellite boxes and even
portable devices such as PDAs, digital cameras or phones with DMB/DVB-H capabilities. This
projector is ideal for both business and personal use.

"The HS101 is a remarkable combination of portability, versatility and reliability. It is small
enough to fit in the same bag as a laptop, can easily be connected to a wide variety of devices
and has an amazingly long lamp life," said Mr. Kwon. "I can see this not only in boardrooms
but also in classrooms, living rooms and many unexpected places. I recently took a tester
model to a family gathering so that everyone could share pictures from our digital cameras."

This sleek black projector with soft-touch keypad will be available across Europe as well as in
the United States, Central and South America, the Middle East and Africa, with a retail price
of 799 euros.