Explay intros oio nanoprojector, plans to launch in 2008

Explay is apparently trying to ensure that its micro-projector doesn't become just one of the crowd, as it's trying to outdo the competition by showing off its oio at SID 2007. While we'd seen offerings from Explay before and even heard whispers of a 2007 launch, it looks like it'll be next year before the oio hits the hands of the general public. Nevertheless, the firm was off parading its accomplishment in Long Beach, California, dubbing its minuscule PJ the "first truly mobile and fully operational nano-projector." Of course, we're sure more than a few outfits would love to disagree on that very point, but Explay went on to praise the oio's ability to function in a variety of locales from a "dimly lit bar to a bright office." Notably, it sounds like the company will be aiming for more dollars than those held by mere gadget freaks, as the oio marketing team will be targeting "medical, security, and even artistic" fields whenever Explay can get these things out of the door. Click on through for a closeup of the oio itself.

[Photo courtesy of Explay]

[John Doe @ May 23rd 2007 6:47PM]

Yah too bad there is NO way in hell that first picture will be remotely accurate anytime in the near future. When it ships you will prob need to be within 2-3 feet of the projection surface. and it will be an image half the size of what we are seeing there.
I love advertising material. The people who create these things must be Sci-fi fans because it always is rooted in the same reality as Sci-Fi.

[paloooz @ May 23rd 2007 6:58PM]

Yeah, and the picture shown...

I didn't know it was possible to project "darkness" ...

The darkest possible image from a projector is the darkness of the screen it is being projected on. A lighted room means that the darkest possible image is that white wall.

[Scott @ May 23rd 2007 7:22PM]

paloooz, based on your statement then each and every projector screen is not displaying any dark colors whatsoever, since they are almost universally of a light, reflective material. I agree that the displayed picture is most likely a photoshopped marketing dream, however what you're stating is not supported by the empirical experience of millions of movie goers... daily.

[jp @ May 23rd 2007 7:08PM]

Where are the A/V ports?

[BatteryAcid @ May 25th 2007 6:43PM]

There will probably be a dogle that plugs into the projector. thats what they do with most micro products and PMPs

[Frank T @ May 23rd 2007 7:30PM]

Actually paloooz was completely correct. He wasn't saying that you can't project dark colors on a white screen, you just can't light a screen so it appears bright white and then project black on it somewhere in the middle, because "projecting" black is really projecting nothing at all.

[paloooz @ May 23rd 2007 7:49PM]

When you turn the lights off in a room, the screen looks dark, which is why it looks black in a movie theatre.

Do you honestly think it's possible to project darkness?

[Lee Roy Brandon III @ May 24th 2007 2:18AM]

I project darkness all the time... my shadow.

[JJ @ May 23rd 2007 9:28PM]

Wow. Can anyone think of a more romantic scene than watching Jon Stewart together?

[David Susilo @ May 23rd 2007 9:49PM]

what is the native resolution on this thing? Why is there no input for this thing at all?

[John H @ May 24th 2007 12:20AM]

Like that woman is going to hold her arm like that for an hour of "The Daily Show." Please.

[Jeremy W @ May 24th 2007 1:21AM]

Good thing she won't have to, since the Daily Show is only a half hour long.

[treetrunk @ May 24th 2007 4:39AM]

Lol at projecting darkness...

It's very simple. When you project an image you're shining a light at something through some medium (LCD, film, shadow puppets...) which selectively blocks and allows through the light. The darkest your projected image can ever be corresponds to letting through no light at all. If you shine "no light at all" at a wall, it stays whatever brightness/colour it was in the first place. Try it and see- get a wall, and shine nothing on it. Therefore, as was correctly pointed out, the darkest a projected image can ever be is the darkness of the screen its projected on. Unless you've invented a "beam of dark", in which Dr Evil might be interested.

[Pedro @ May 24th 2007 8:15AM]

> Explay intros oio nanoprojector

I'm sorry, I don't speak Pig Latin.

[Ed @ May 24th 2007 10:47AM]

I have actually seen this in action in the CES in Vegas. It was still in prototype phase, but you could project about 2-3 feet away and it was always in focus (I think it's the laser source that keeps it sharp). By the way, the image shown here is obviously simulated/photoshopped, so there's no need to speculate on projecting darkness...

[palehorse @ May 24th 2007 5:31PM]

Just imagine when every cell phone has this function, and people start watching video everywhere they go! Urban areas will be INSANE with moving video being displayed on nearly every surface! We'll have to have laws preventing video in certain areas... and....and... oooOOOOoooOO

/sensory overload

ps: it is pretty cool though!