<![CDATA[Gizmodo: ti]]> http://tags.gizmodo.com/assets/base/img/thumbs140x140/gizmodo.com.png <![CDATA[Gizmodo: ti]]> http://gizmodo.com/tag/ti http://gizmodo.com/tag/ti <![CDATA[Google Chrome OS Partners: PC and Chip-Makers, but Not Dell, Sony, or Toshiba]]> The image associated with this post is best viewed using a browser.Google released a partial list of their Chrome OS partners, and it includes most of the big boys you'd expect, from all sectors of the computing world, from full-featured PCs to netbooks to handhelds, plus Adobe for some Flash support.

The full list: Acer, Adobe, ASUS, Freescale, Hewlett-Packard, Lenovo, Qualcomm, Texas Instruments. Google is quick to note that it's a partial list, but we can see a range from primarily small-form computer makers like ASUS to bigger PCs like HP and Lenovo, and the addition of Qualcomm and TI means they've got low-powered chipset makers on board. Adobe is an interesting pull—can we expect heavy use of Flash in the OS's core?

The biggest name that's missing is Dell, although smaller PC makers like Sony and Toshiba are also AWOL. We're not sure what Dell is doing to leave them out of the equation: They make pretty popular netbooks and Chrome OS could be as big a boon for them as anyone else. We'll keep you updated on future Chrome OS developments. [Chrome Blog via Engadget]

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<![CDATA[Archos Event Invitation Unsubtly Hints at Rumored Android MID]]> On its own, it's a stretch: the invite is green and vaguely Android-y, and there's a faint rectangular device in the background, therefore Archos must be working on an Android MID! Right? Well, they are.

Or, at least that's what Texas Instruments, the guys who are apparently making a good portion of the device's guts, told everyone back in February. A recap of the MID, which is said to have voice capabilities:

What is known is that the device will have a five-inch screen, support HD playback, have a 10mm thickness and support Flash

Flash support stands out as a bit curious, but recent rumors about flash support in leaked builds of Android could explain that away. In any case, we don't have long to wait: the event is scheduled for June 11th. [Slashgear via Pocketables via Android Community]

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<![CDATA[New Pico Projectors Offer DVD-Quality Resolution]]> Guess which version is the second gen DLP Pico projector. (Hint: It's the smaller one on the right that's better in every way.)

There's really nothing exciting about micro projectors now other than where they can go. And TI's second generation projector is a promising step to mobile media "is that HD in your pocket?" nirvana. 20% smaller than the first Pico (and, maybe more importantly, 20% thinner as well), the new Pico projects an 854x480 (DVD quality) image with a contrast ratio of 1000:1. The missing spec is, of course, probably the most important one—brightness.

Still, how cool is that picture? Really cool. OK? Really cool. [TI via bbGadgets]

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<![CDATA[Samsung MBP200 Pico Projector Has a Mini Screen Stand]]> The Samsung MBP200 has a limited 480x320 res, but has a built-in media player, LCD screen and includes a tiny stand that can turn a piece of paper into a screen. A baby screen!

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.

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<![CDATA[The Microchip Turns 50 Today, Here's the Original]]> 50 years ago today, Texas Instrument's Jack Kilby demonstrated the first working integrated circuit, or microchip. It's a crude conglomeration of just five components, but it was also proof that a circuit could be miniaturized by housing all of its components on one piece of semiconductor material, allowing all these parts to work together without laborious (and technologically infeasible) manual connections. In essence, it's the electronic wheel captured in first eureka. [Wired]

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<![CDATA[TI Builds Pico Projector Into BlackBerry Curve]]> Texas Instruments has expressed its intention to build its LED Pico tech into mobile devices before, but this is the first well-implemented example to be properly demonstrated. Crunchgear got a brief go on the Frankenberry, and it looks like it works just fine. While the small clip doesn't totally assuage our fears that such a system will produce poor images, the respectable projection size and apparent brightness are both promising for such an early prototype. [Crunchgear]

UPDATE: As reader have pointed out, this is not a functioning Blackberry, rather a Pico projector built into a Blackberry shell.

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<![CDATA[TI Intros Industry First Lamp-Free DLP Projector]]> Hot on the heels of the Optoma pico-projector that uses a TI chipset, TI itself has announced the "industry's first home-theater lamp-free projector." It uses a PhlatLight LED illumination source instead, and a Brilliantcolor chipset to give a 1080p display. This makes it capable of a 50% bigger color gamut than traditional projector tech (that's over 200 trillion colors!) and a contrast ratio that can go up to 500,000:1. The lamp-free bit is the part that will interest consumers: as well as not requiring expensive new bulbs, the LEDs consume far less power so you'll pay for less electricity if you're a heavy projector user. Apparently "multiple DLP customers" are expecting to launch projector products with the tech late this year. [Digitimes]

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<![CDATA[Optoma To Launch "World's First" Pico Projector in 2008]]> Optoma is winning the race to build the world's first pico-projector, the near-mythical mini projector that can throw up a display much larger than the source device's—think iPods, digital cameras and smartphones—screen. Optoma's pico will use the DLP chipset, support composite video quality and run on Li-ion batteries. The projector will make it to market later this year in Europe and Asia, before coming stateside in 2009. No word on pricing, press release after the jump. [Optoma]

Optoma Introduces World's First Pico Handheld Projector
Based on Texas Instruments' DLP Pico® Chipset, Features Sleek Design and Extreme Portability

LAS VEGAS, NV (June 18, 2008) – Optoma, a leading manufacturer of award-winning digital projection and display devices, introduces the first Pico projector based on the DLP Pico chipset. Smaller than most smart phones, this new micro-portable projector fits in your palm and is the ideal companion to ultra-portable media devices such as iPods®, PDA's, smart phones and digital cameras.

When connected to an ultra-mobile device, the four-ounce Optoma Pico Projector allows users to share photos and videos, and enjoy a far better visual experience with an image that is up to 100 times larger than the small screen of the source device.

"The Pico Projector is the next step in sharing visual media for today's ultra-mobile consumers. Fitting in your shirt pocket, the Pico Projector can display pictures, videos or any content from a mobile media player or smart phone" says Jon Grodem, director of Product Management for Optoma. "Optoma's Pico breaks free from the limitations of the 2 or 3 inch displays found on today's mobile devices. This category defining projector creates a new benchmark for sharing content-on-the-go."

Optoma's Pico Projector utilizes the latest LED technology resulting in a colorful and vivid image. The small and powerful unit is based upon DLP technology assuring the highest possible contrast.

"The handheld Pico projector represents the latest advancement in the mobile device display industry. We view the Pico projector as a completely new and exciting market – one which dramatically expands the reach and potential of projection products into new end user applications," says Dr. William Coggshall, founder and president of Pacific Media Associates.

The product will be first shown at Texas Instrument's InfoComm 2008 booth C909 and will be available in limited distribution in Europe and Asia in late 2008, with a worldwide launch in 2009.

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<![CDATA[Fruit-Powered Chip Promo Vid Shows Why Geeks Don't do PR]]> Being of a scientific persuasion myself, I couldn't help but chortle at this promotional video for the TI MSP430 Ultra Low Power microcontroller unit. Sure, the neat little device sucks really low current and is used in a wide range of gizmos like smoke detectors and the recent amazing Audeo voiceless translator. We talk a lot about alternative power sources here on Giz, and since these guys demo the chip's low energy needs by doing the old "fruit-powered" trick, I applaud them. But, dear Adrian and Kevin, you need to hire a better script-writer and actually drink the martinis you mention as power sources if you're going to get people revved-up about a specialized silicon chip! [YouTube— Thanks Lindsey]

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<![CDATA[Mitsubishi 80-Inch MegaView Best Bet for Battlestar Bridge]]> How well equipped is your command center? Mitsubishi is currently trying to woo customers to its 80-inch 1400x1050-pixel VS-80PH40U "MegaView Wall" display. My guess is that Mitsu may see it as the last market for DLP rear-projection sets, now that everyone is pulling out. Though Mitsu isn't talking prices yet, the extra bright, front-accessible screen could well be a fairly affordable way to line the whole CIC with dynamic data monitors (DRADIS showing incoming Raiders, comms waveforms, FTL drive status, etc.), not like Mayor Mike Bloomberg's single, solitary, donated 103-inch 1080p Panasonic plasma. [Mitsubishi via SlipperyBrick]

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<![CDATA[Meridian's Latest 1080p Projector Is One Bad MF10]]> How much contrast does one man need? Meridian's MF10 1080p projector is said to deliver 30,000:1, and for the low-end-automobile sticker price of $15,000. (Too bad it's not scalable: I'll settle for 10,000:1 for $5,000—or hell, a 30:1 for $15.) This projector doesn't use the more common lower-end engine based on TI's DLP chip, but a three-chip system based, like Sony's SXRD, on an LCD derivative called "liquid crystal on silicon." In this case, it's JVC's D-ILA technology. Each chip has the 1920x1080 resolution, and manages red, green or blue. There's a motorized lens with 2X zoom capability for smaller rooms, but who are we kidding? If you can afford this, you're gonna have a room big enough to do it justice. [Meridian]

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<![CDATA[Texas Instruments Chip Turns Cellphones Into Projectors, Pocket Goatse WMDs]]> It's like a can of Pringles falling from the sky in Barcelona today. Texas Instruments has a pair of new mobile chips—one gives cellphones enough GFX juice to record HD video, while the other will power integrated pico projectors. Big pics popping out of tiny phones. The suit-and-tie function would be Powerpoints sans bulky computers, while more deviant minds might raid Chen's private tubgirl collection to terrorize large groups of people. [Reuters]

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<![CDATA[Giz Explains: Why We're Psyched for Silverthorne]]> Silverthorne is a teeny processor built on the 45nm process (like the much-ballyhooed Penryn), designed for UMPCs, subnotebooks, mystery Apple products and any other smallish gadget that needs real crunching on an ultra-lean power diet.

It's about as powerful as the first Pentium M chips (Banias), but while those idled at 5W and averaged 24.5W, this little guy sips as little as 0.1W in its idle state, with peaks up to just 2W on the 2GHz model. It's really cheap to pump out too, tapped for the $200 OLPC at one point.

It comes in a couple different flavors up to that 2GHz version. To get athletic performance—it's a full-fledged x86 chip, not a half-baked cutdown—out of an anorexic processor, Intel worked all kinds of design mojo, like a new quick-wake deep sleep state. It's still a bit too hungry for smartphones, though. So, while it's a neat piece of silicon, as Ars says, it's still got a ways to go, especfially with stiff competition from ARM and TI. But that's a good thing.

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<![CDATA[iPhone Manufacturer Foxconn Signs Up for Pico Projector Tech]]> Texas Instruments announced that Foxconn, sweatshoppy manufacturer of the iPhone, iPod nano, Macbook Pros, Nokia and Sony Ericsson phones has agreed to use cellphone-appropriate Pico Projectors in future products. We wouldn't say this means an iPhone with a projector inside is coming, since it's not clear Foxconn does any design, but it does let the imagination of some fanboys go a little bit wild. Let those mental unicorns loose, dudes. [Foxconn on Wiki]

UPDATE: Motorola is getting their pico projector from Microvision, a TI competitor.

DLP® Products Shows New Developments in Pico-Projection Three manufacturers announce support for DLP powered projection in mobile devices DALLAS - October 3, 2007: DLP® Products from Texas Instruments (TI) (NYSE: TXN) today demonstrated the second-generation pico-projector prototype at the SID (Society for Information Display) Mobile Display Conference in San Diego. DLP Products announced that three technical manufacturers, Foxconn, Sypro Optics and Young Optics, plan to design and build mobile products that utilize DLP Product's pico-projection technology. DLP pico-projectors, either as standalone projectors or as integrated components in mobile devices, will provide consumers and business professionals with the flexibility to share video and graphic content in a larger way. Building on the DLP pico-projector first shown at CTIA in March, DLP Product's second-generation prototype demonstrates significant advancements in form factor and picture quality from the earlier model. The streamlined prototype is thinner and smaller, which allows easier integration in many mobile devices such as cellular phones, digital cameras and portable media players. DLP's latest prototype is in the form factor of a contemporary slim cell phone, measuring in at around 10 millimeters in thickness, with no fan or other moving parts. DLP has enhanced picture quality of its smallest projector, the pico, by incorporating the first ever speckle-free solution, which delivers a clear and crisp image using the same DLP display technology that consumers have come to know from DLP HDTVs and projectors. Products powered by DLP pico-projector technology, will enable viewers to watch pristine images and video clips on most surfaces with an image the size of a standard piece of paper (8.5 x 11 inches). "The DLP pico-projector technology has serious potential to redefine the mobile display viewing experience," said Frank J. Moizio, Manager of Emerging Markets Business, TI DLP Front Projection. "Today there are approximately 1.4 billion mobile devices with screens that are less than 3.5 inches; our innovation opens the opportunity to have information and video displayed in a much more compelling way - without compromise to the size of current mobile devices." Foxconn, Sypro Optics, and Young Optics bring years of world class manufacturing and innovative design expertise to this new mobile device projection market space. Working together with end product companies and brands, these manufacturers will make compelling integrated and standalone products that are truly mobile, a reality. "As a leader in the cell phone design industry, Foxconn is a keen judge of concepts that will elevate the market. DLP's pico-projector is highly innovative and will help us differentiate our design in the market," said Boris Hsieh, General Manager Digital Projection Business Unit, Foxconn. "We are bullish on our projections of the market opportunity for mobile devices that improve on the viewing experience. With help from DLP, Young Optics plans to deliver a superior mobile product design to the global market," said Claude Hsu, Executive Vice President, Young Optics. "We highly value the pico-projection innovation and foresee new revenue opportunities in the near future as a result of our product development with DLP," said Hans-Joachim Stohr, Director of Business Development and Sales, Sypro Optics GmbH. Key benefits of DLP projectors include: smoother images with no "screen door" effect; crisp and clear presentation of fast motion video; vibrant colors created by its BrilliantColor™ technology; and proven reliability across all facets - picture reliability over time (no fading, yellowing or color decay over time as compared to other display technologies), overall performance and dust-resistance. For more information on DLP and DLP products please visit www.dlp.com.
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<![CDATA[Texas Instruments's New DarkChip 4 Helps DLP Get Up To 30% More Contrast Ratio]]> Although DLP is a cheap way to get into large-sized HD sets, it has worse color saturation, worse contrast and is generally worse looking when compared to LCD or Plasma. Texas Instruments' DarkChip 4 is supposedly going to "deliver 30% or more increase in native contrast ratio depending on the application," which spells good news for DLP lovers starting in 2008. We'll try and get some hands-on time with this at CEDIA to see just how good it looks.

Denver, CO - September 6, 2007: DLP® Products from Texas Instruments (TI) (NYSE: TXN) today announced the introduction of a new chipset, DarkChip™ 4, that furthers the position of DLP as a leader in picture quality and contrast ratio. The new chipset is reported to deliver 30% or more increase in native contrast ratio depending upon the application. All DLP product lines, including DLP HDTVs, DLP 1-chip projectors and DLP 3-chip projectors currently feature products with various chipset iterations of DarkChip technology. The new DarkChip4 will be available in a number of products in 2008.

"Using our current DLP chipsets, our customers have built some of the most competitive Home Theater products in the market, all with excellent picture quality," said Lars Yoder, vice president, DLP Front Projection Business Unit at TI. "We are proud to introduce the next generation of the DLP chip for future product implementations. It will provide our customers even more flexibility for designing projectors that can meet the needs of a wide range of markets."

The DarkChip 4 process was first developed for the high brightness and contrast picture quality requirements of the digital cinema industry, of which DLP Cinema® is the founder and uncontested world leader. The contrast improvements from DarkChip 4 are achieved by advances in mirror design lithography and other proprietary process changes.

DLP uses a streamlined optical system that efficiently reflects light to the screen, resulting in a stunning viewing experience - crisper whites, ultra-rich blacks and images that "pop" on-screen, making it ideal for unforgettable presentations or movies. DLP-based products are known for their native contrast ratio levels which ultimately sets minimum product contrast ratio level for all scene content. Native contrast ratio also sets the "black level" of the system.

"We are constantly searching and innovating new ways to create simply the best HDTV experience. The better the native contrast performance our mirrors can deliver, the more images will jump of the screen," said Adam Kunzman, DLP HDTV business manager. "This breakthrough, combined with our other innovations, vibrant colors, high resolution, clarity and digital imaging, gives our customers a competitive and unique advantage in the marketplace".

At CEDIA (booth #620) DLP is showing multiple demonstrations, of the capabilities of the new chipset innovation. The DLP DarkChip™ 4 Theater features a 3 chip, 1080p DLP projector featuring the new chipset producing trillions of colors combined with a native contrast ratio of 15,000:1. Additionally, there is a demonstration of a DLP HDTV with DarkChip 4 and LED illumination with a native contrast performance beyond 100,000 to 1.

For more information about DLP technology and select product demonstrations with the new DarkChip 4 chipset, visit DLP at booth #620 on the show floor at CEDIA.

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<![CDATA[Three Concept Video Projectors for Gaming More than All White]]> These three objects are all video projectors that go by the name of Trisha, Dane and Trey. They are the fruits of a collaboration between Texas Instruments, Ignition, DLP and a trio of students on a Masters program in video game development at Southern Methodist University. See them after the jump.

08.07_userdesigned_01.jpgThe designs of Trisha Swanson (her design is the one sporting a bit of custard on it), Dane Munkholm, whose projector is the most retro of the three and Trey McCool (is it just me or does his look like something that fell off a stormtrooper?) all made the cut, with TI making up working prototypes of their machines in time for CES. Well done, ks. [UberGizmo via Core 77]

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<![CDATA[TI's Mini Movie Projector: Not Everything is Big in Texas]]>

A few select journalists got a flash at this year's CES, but no photos were allowed—until now. Texas Instruments is showing off its Pico, a DLP projector that is chiquitito enough to be incorporated into the bottom of a cellphone.

The 1.5-inch gizmo, which contains three lasers, a DLP chip capable of driving widescreen TV images, and a power supply, can be used to beam DVD-quality video onto a wall or a screen, giving you a bigger image than anything you'd find on even the biggest smartphone LCD screen. Two more pics of a nekkid Pico and its DLP chip after the jump. Oh, and need I say that the phone is obviously phake?

TI demos its movie projector in a phone [CNet News]

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