Ready for projectors to get really,
really small? Enter aptly-named
Microvision's latest contender in its
ongoing attempt at mini-projector domination; a plug and play "pico" projector that aims to take mobile devices to slightly larger vistas. The handheld, stand-alone projector -- mysteriously code-named SHOW -- is based on the company's PicoP display engine, and is capable of projecting a 12-inch to 100-inch, 848 x 480 WVGA image for up to 2.5 hours on a single charge. The SHOW is clearly aimed at the emerging market of media-rich mobile devices, though aside from the projector itself, the company has plans to embed its PicoP chip in
other consumer electronics, promising a future of blinding, surprise projections the likes of which never imagined. Of course,
as we've seen it'll have some competition, particularly from Texas Instruments, which seems to have this concept on lock. The SHOW will apparently be available for manhandling at CES this year, and you can bet we'll be getting our grubby mitts all over it.
Reader Comments (Page 1 of 1)
Shane @ Jan 2nd 2008 11:14AM
I have not been able to find any specifications on brightness...If this actually works in anything other than total darkness it could be a cool little innovation.
Adam @ Jan 2nd 2008 11:47AM
The brightness really depends on the projected image size. Smaller projections are easily visible in a well lit room (think of using a laserpointer in a bright room, easy to see even from far away.) The larger the image size, the darker the room needs to be.
Elliot @ Jan 2nd 2008 7:18PM
Last i heard from PicoP is that this thing produces a whopping 20 ANSI lumens. So dont go expecting to project that 100" image onto the whiteboard at school whilst the teacher isn't watching.
Speddy @ Jan 2nd 2008 11:21AM
Is that a Microvision projector in your pocket, or are you happy to see me?
Kurt MacD @ Jan 2nd 2008 11:22AM
12-100 foot picture on a 2.5hour charge?? I call shenanigans honestly..
Milt @ Jan 2nd 2008 11:43AM
It is very true (I am invested in this company:MVIS)
It is a totally new display technology - using NO hot power-intensive bulb. This is done using solid state (silicone chip) generated lasers (red, blue, and green) and one tiny (MEMS) mirror that shoots the images with perfect focus.
It is the future of displays - think big screen tv - to go - and can you imagine an iPOD in 2009 with one built in?!!! ?
Adam @ Jan 2nd 2008 11:48AM
Not feet - inches, stupid. Honestly. 12 to 100 inches...only 1 to 8 feet.
Don @ Jan 2nd 2008 11:46AM
inches... not feet
mmh @ Jan 2nd 2008 11:48AM
Yeah......! I can already see the things people might project onto the blackboard in class.
ohng @ Jan 2nd 2008 12:48PM
It's a projected image. I don't really think the projected image really cares whether inches *or* feet. There's no question that it'll be more dim 100 feet away than 100 inches away, though.
Kurt MacD @ Jan 2nd 2008 2:42PM
Woops inches yes, and @ Milt:
I really want to see how much of an image you can get out of lasers, for the size and complexity of it all I can't see how the prototype could put out more than a 640x480 image for that size, even that would be impressive if it had 16 bit colour.
Flashpoint @ Jan 2nd 2008 11:30AM
If this thing supports USB flash drives, you could use this to display pron on the walls instead of having people peek at those crappy lil LCD screens on PMP's.
Or, you could hook it to your laptop so everyone could see your Myspace ;-/
entropyman @ Jan 2nd 2008 11:46AM
@Kurt Mac D-
it is probably a LED light source, 2.5 hours on a palm sized L-Ion is not that unbelievable, in fact it probably has some pretty high powered ones or the projection would most likely be more like 4-6 hours, either way so long as it has an adapter as well and comes out in the $100-$250 range (or lower) it will be pretty cool
Adam @ Jan 2nd 2008 11:51AM
Not LED - but laser light source. How else would it need NO FOCUSING - that's right it's always focused.
MrBill @ Jan 2nd 2008 12:29PM
When are they going to have one of those things in my Blackberry? That would be much more useful than the camera.
Mitch @ Jan 2nd 2008 2:19PM
If this thing is so wonderful why are we skirting all around the tech? How many lumens and what's the resolution? If this was solid the company would be all over reporting this. Give us some facts.
PEZ @ Jan 2nd 2008 12:33PM
I cant think of any immediate use of this except for plastering porn (or HALO) along side a white moving truck on the highway. But, thats a good enough reason as any, I guess.
chrisaroz @ Jan 2nd 2008 12:38PM
Hook it to a smartphone, iPod, Zune, etc... and watch movies while on the go. Or better yet, family vacation slideshows WHEREVER you are!!
jay tran @ Jan 2nd 2008 12:40PM
ah news about this was a while back but yes we will be seeing these in high end motorola media phones as they have a partnership with microvision
Homeboy @ Jan 2nd 2008 12:56PM
Great, now I will be able to watch short clips in the dark while I'm taking a dump in the bathroom. I hope it has a headphone jack or a built in speaker.
Richard @ Jan 2nd 2008 1:03PM
Maybe I could use this on an airplane. I could prject my movie on the back of the seat in front of me. Me likey.
Goreged Bushed @ Jan 2nd 2008 1:22PM
How well will this work as a heads-up-display in my car is what I want to know.
helloseth @ Jan 2nd 2008 2:57PM
Microvision is working on HUDs for cars too. microvision.com
silverblackvoid @ Jan 2nd 2008 1:38PM
great! now i can watch p0rn on my bathroom door while taking crap!
insertAlias @ Jan 2nd 2008 3:13PM
Thank you for that...lovely...comment...
silverblackvoid @ Jan 2nd 2008 3:47PM
@insertAlias:
ha ha! thanks man.
Owen V @ Jan 2nd 2008 2:30PM
does anybody know what the inputs are?? VGA, DVI? HDMI seems a bit overkill for the resolution.
Is there a projector profile in Bluetooth, if not there sould be now.
Elliot @ Jan 2nd 2008 7:18PM
the big thing i hope this gets implemented into is laptops.
if you could have a second screen projected onto the desk beside your laptop then that'd be a real productivity winner, especially if it was coupled with something like the touch sensors on those virtual laser keybaords (they might actually have a use after all!)
john smith @ Jan 2nd 2008 8:52PM
Bottom line is when a device of this size can replace a $1000+ LCD TV I'll buy it. May need a decent dalite screen or other. A light projector is just shy of paying for a theatre ticket.
Ruggy @ Jan 3rd 2008 1:23PM
Solid state RGB lasers against XY scanning mirrors. Beams modulated rather than filtered. The only limits on resolution will be the modulation bandwidth and the X scanning speed. I've been waiting for someone to make this since 1981.
I can hardly wait to hack this unit. I'll add holes to the case allowing much higher powered external lasers, as well as controls for attenuating the scanner deflection if it doesn't already have the latter.
Video onto clouds, vacant billboards, warehouse walls, and best of all: revive that neighborhood drive-in theater which has been sitting there vacant for decades. Just add a Ramsey FM modulator kit, and invite your entire town to the movies.
And how come all the fun is illegal nowadays? Our parents never had that problem!
Jim S @ Jan 24th 2008 11:51AM
You can check out a video of their new product the SHOW here - http://dl.tv/2008/01/ces_2008_microvision_show_proj.php
How many uses for this can you think of? Projecting a presentation for work, watching movies in while traveling, replacing your TV at home with this. Seriously, you know they are going to make a TON of adapters for the SHOW.
Watch - this amazing piece of technology is going to be HUGE.
mohammad sallak @ Mar 26th 2008 3:54PM
I ALWAYS IMAGENED A DEVICE LIKE THIS AS A MOBILE PHONE,RADIO AND TV LCD, I CAN WATCH ANY TIME I WANT AND WWHAT I WANT.