3M to showcase a micro-projector for handheld devices at CES

The idea of stuffing a tiny projector into a handheld device isn't a new one -- we've seen a couple different takes on the idea -- but it looks like it might be hitting the mainstream soon, as 3M has announced plans to demo a half-inch wide projection unit at CES that can put up a 40-inch image. The LCoS projector is about the size of a wireless headset, according to 3M, and tops out at VGA resolution -- which seems adequate, given the QVGA resolution of most handhelds. Apparently we'll be seeing devices with the projector built in later this year, and hopefully we'll get a chance to play with a couple at CES -- you'll know as soon as we do.

[Robert @ Jan 4th 2008 2:49PM]

thats a good idea a new generation of mobile tv

[Richard Lai @ Jan 4th 2008 5:51PM]

You mean mobile porn?

[DespoticWolf @ Jan 4th 2008 6:09PM]

mobile porn? where?... no more will i be shackled by the chains of my desktop or small screens

[Mickey Jones @ Jan 4th 2008 9:32PM]

I already have a micro-projector. At least that's what my wife calls it. Hey!

[Robert @ Jan 5th 2008 1:20PM]

ahh the wonders of technology to be able to bust one off on the train home :D

[bob sakamano @ Jan 4th 2008 2:50PM]

pretty sweet,

they should make a little white screen that you can bring down on your dashboard so you can watch tv on your front windshield instead of paying attention to the road

[martin @ Jan 4th 2008 3:05PM]

cool!

[Nomore Monitor @ Jan 4th 2008 3:13PM]

That's just scary.

[msheeley @ Jan 4th 2008 3:17PM]

I'm not someone who goes out and buys new gadgets once they hit the market, but if this one is under $225 I will be the first in line!

[Norock @ Jan 4th 2008 6:10PM]

don't hold your breath... projectors are never that cheap, even if they suck. :\

[Sean Ermey @ Jan 4th 2008 3:20PM]

someone please make an iphone dongle with one of these in it.

[FIR3BRDRACR @ Jan 4th 2008 3:31PM]

if i hear iPhone one more time...im seriously going to my nearest apple store to vomit on the floor

[FK @ Jan 4th 2008 3:45PM]

iPhone

[FIR3BRDRACR @ Jan 4th 2008 4:37PM]

hmhhm...bleah!!!!
you did it...
shall i take pictures?

[Wwhat @ Jan 4th 2008 6:32PM]

Well yeah, you can't make a video since your iphone doesn't do video.

[TIMMAH! @ Jan 4th 2008 3:22PM]

I think it's a great idea for the mobile professional. You could project a monitor display on any flat surface. Could mean new ultra thin form-factors for laptops if you don't have to include a LCD display (and probably better battery life since you're not having to power a large backlight for the LCD.)

[Wwhat @ Jan 4th 2008 6:34PM]

The same surface has to be lighted, just with a more concentrated lightsource, poweruse would end up being the same I'm guessing.

[DaW @ Jan 4th 2008 3:24PM]

i want one !

[ColonelSmith @ Jan 4th 2008 3:54PM]

........ But, will it blend?

sorry, had to do it

[silverblackvoid @ Jan 4th 2008 4:06PM]

the question is - why you had to do it?

[Eric @ Jan 4th 2008 4:55PM]

Will you blend? That's what I'd like to know.

[SteveMB @ Jan 4th 2008 5:50PM]

Will you blend?

[ColonelSmith @ Jan 4th 2008 11:39PM]

Possibly? lol I like it when the red water comes out

[ug @ Jan 4th 2008 4:09PM]

Needs more cowbell.

[ug @ Jan 4th 2008 4:16PM]

It's LED based rather than laser-based. I don't think it's going to be bright enough.

[James @ Jan 4th 2008 4:33PM]

and you thought that it was annoying when people used red lasers in a movie theater. Wait until everyone has one of these in their phones.

[rip @ Jan 4th 2008 5:01PM]

Make it holographic and slap it in an R2 unit and I'm all over it.

[kevjohn @ Jan 4th 2008 5:32PM]

Is that a micro-projector in your pocket or are you just ever-so-slightly happy to see me?

[Max @ Jan 4th 2008 5:34PM]

I predict that within five years, tiny projectors in handheld devices will be the bane of high school teachers everywhere.

[whatsdamattau @ Jan 4th 2008 6:41PM]

40" from that tiny-ass thing? What's the light source? The sun? Your room has got to be really, REALLY dark in order for an LED to do it justice at 40"

[LukeA @ Jan 4th 2008 7:26PM]

If it's a Cree XR-E or a Luxeon Rebel or high-bin K2 TFFC, it should be fine.

Depending on current, each of those LEDs can put out over 200 lumens.

[thethirdmoose @ Jan 4th 2008 8:40PM]

Its a frickin layzor

[ColonelSmith @ Jan 4th 2008 11:40PM]

I'm chargin muh Laysah

[MattyG @ Jan 4th 2008 7:17PM]

help me Obi-Wan Kenobi, your our only hope

[Ed @ Jan 5th 2008 4:24AM]

Oh yes. I can't wait for the new MPP (mobile porn platform) myself.

A small utility closet, broadband enabled phone, A2DP headset, and I'm off to the races!!!!!!!!

fap, fap, fap, fap :)

P.S - ANYBODY that thinks this is not going to be a 90% mobile porn platform is delusional. I bet you thought the Internet was mostly used for business too :)

P.P.S - DUMP your stock in any company that provides porn to hotel rooms. Now that you have this, businessmen will just project free poon onto the ceiling with one hand and, ummmm, you know ... with the other.

[Jim @ Jan 5th 2008 8:29AM]

What will be the next minimised product? may be dvd player? You guys believe?

[XiXiDu @ Jan 5th 2008 9:01AM]

I don't get why not more effort is put into combining mobile units with such glasses as shown in a recent engadget article:

http://www.engadget.com/2008/01/03/lumus-opticals-loe-based-glasses-get-pictured/

Would make more sense to me as micro-projectors, unless they can beam the image directly onto your retina. After all you have to find a surface, proper brightness conditions and you often don't want other people to glance at your pictured data.

[RumSlush @ Jan 12th 2008 12:46PM]

You really need to see the Microvision PicoP projector. Smaller, Brighter (lasers) and bigger picture. Ready to be embedded now!