Explay's nanoprojector gets a little face time

While we were able to get a little hands-on time with Microvision's own minuscule projector earlier this month at CES, the folks over at TFOT were able to snag some face time with Explay's ridiculously small nanoprojector. This itty bitty source of entertainment was supposed to land right around this time, and although the latest form is still a prototype, it looks like solid progress is being made. The Israeli-based company showed off a design which featured a full-fledged PJ that was just marginally larger "than a cigarette box," and claims that the final product will be "around 20-cubic centimeters and around 5-centimeters in length." Essentially, Explay's unit utilizes "a combination of laser and LED light sources," otherwise known as an Advanced Spatial Light Modulator (ASLM), and in the time they had to view it in action, there were quite impressed. They noted the relatively low 320 x 240 resolution, but were satisfied with the image quality from one to two feet away, and praised its ability to remain in focus regardless of distance from the screen. The company has revamped its hopeful ship date, and now suggests that we'll see a finalized version on store shelves next quarter, and while pricing will indeed vary by production number, it should start "in the low $700 range." Click on through for a few more in-action snapshots, and be sure to hit the read link for the full skinny on this diminutive projector.

[Just E @ Jan 26th 2007 12:03AM]

That thing is insanely small, I have no use for it but I want two.

[Dustin @ Jan 26th 2007 12:32AM]

I could see the market for this being international business travelers. Lugging any projector larger than this in an airport ain't no fun...

..and in case you were wondering, the movie in the photos is "Spirited Away"

[John Doe @ Jan 26th 2007 1:04AM]

Yes because I don't know about you but when I'm in a room full of people and am ready to present a proposal, nothing screams impressive then a 20" image on the table top.

Seriously though. This is a toy. Pure and simple. However its a first gen product so some slack must be given to it. If they keep this up I would love to see what they might come up with by 2009\10.

[John Doe @ Jan 26th 2007 12:56AM]

Think DIY HUD in your car. Hmmm.

[lotofstaples @ Jan 26th 2007 1:01AM]

wait a minute, it's the end of january, their latest model is still a prototype, and they think it'll be in stores NEXT QUARTER? somebody is a bit off.

[Ryan @ Jan 26th 2007 1:29AM]

I would get four and have seamless four-display desktop projected on the screen at my desk.

Or laptop hacks that mount one inside the case, ditch the LCD and have a lightweight flip-up screen.

[Chris @ Jan 26th 2007 1:50AM]

yes because 4 of them gets you a whole 640x480... welcome to 1992.

this thing really needs to be a LOT smaller so it fits in a common smartphone, or have a LOT higher resolution. 800x600 at a minimum for traveling buisness people, you can't really read a power point at QVGA, and what else would it be good for?

[soopergooman @ Jan 26th 2007 5:02AM]

PORN!!!!!

[idk @ Jan 26th 2007 5:05AM]

I don't think that you are all getting this correctly. It's not an HD projecter made for replacing LCDs, It's a projector made mainly for Cell phones and PMPs.

I for one, will be buying one of these. When I want to show a video or picture to a bunch of people from my zune, they won't all be able to see it at the same time, or I just want to watch a movie on a bigger screen while away from my "bigger screens", I'll be able to just pull this out of my pocket, connect it, and then watch it on the ground, wall, or anything. I hope what they said is true, it will be far less than an average projector at launch, then drop significantly in the following months. most projectors are $700 or less, so I hope this means that it will be about $100 before 2008.

[Mark Nelson @ Jan 26th 2007 8:20AM]

I agree that while this is cute, it does need at least 800x600 resolution and a pretty long throw to be truly useful for presentations.

However, even at 320x240 rez, I'd buy it -- if it were 1/4 of its current size and 1/6th the price.

[Gordy @ Jan 26th 2007 11:43AM]

I can see Sony slapping this tech into their already "bursting at the seams/feature packed/button laden/buggy" laptops.

[nigel @ Jan 26th 2007 2:28PM]

700 for a 320 screen? i was thinking it'd be around $300!

[waggss @ Jan 26th 2007 2:59PM]

This is frickin cool but how many years until this is built into cellphone and media players?

[jon @ Jan 27th 2007 2:20AM]

notice how it's plugged to an ipod. think easy/cheap in-car tv for those little tuner cars that every high school kid wants. and it's portable, so you can take it to your bedroom to watch some podcasts by your bedside.

now just up to rez to at least tv qual and we're cookin.