Optoma DLP Pico projector "coming soon" to US

The last time we saw it, Optoma's tiny Pico projector was being launched in Japan, and now it's finally been officially announced for the US. If by chance you've forgotten, the PK-101 has a 480 x 320 resolution, 9 ANSI lumens, a 1000:1 contrast ratio, gets up to 2 hours of battery life and has a 0.5 watt speaker. The most important feature of the projector of course, is its miniscule size (51 × 105 × 17-mm / 120g), which, we admit, is really, really, small. We don't have an exact release date, but we're assured that it's "coming soon" and that it'll run you about $400.

[Via About Projectors]

[ZaxCG2 @ Nov 24th 2008 3:46PM]

Neat concept... now who the crap is going to buy this?

[bangladeshiluv @ Nov 24th 2008 3:53PM]

guerilla projectionists will buy this to project propaganda like "HOPE", "PEACE", and "No on 8" onto freeway walls and sides of buildings.

[Jon Acheson @ Nov 24th 2008 5:18PM]

Not really, I don't see this having much more range than an ordinary flashlight. You shine up up against the side of a building, and you'll get... nothing.

[rock99rock @ Nov 24th 2008 3:47PM]

Even if the "screen" was 1 foot across, that 480 x 320res would be pushing unbearable.

[ZaxCG2 @ Nov 24th 2008 3:49PM]

It'd look good if you were... um... standing far away! :D

[Pretol @ Nov 24th 2008 8:05PM]

320 signal is better than most non-hd tv programming... It's pretty close to dvd quality... Most DivX files are encoded lower than that...

As far as resolution goes, it should be decent for video watching from the iPod. However the whole 9 lumens is the number that you should be a lot more concerned about

[rock99rock @ Nov 25th 2008 2:40PM]

"320 signal is better than most non-hd tv programming"

If by "most" you mean standard definition broadcast pre-1972, then yes. If not? Don't speak when you speak of which you do not know.

[Mile @ Nov 24th 2008 3:49PM]

GNFNR!!

[Lowest Ranked @ Nov 24th 2008 4:32PM]

CDGBIC. DYHAI?

[Erb @ Nov 24th 2008 3:52PM]

Anyone else notice that this won't work with the new ipods, but conveniently forgets to mention that?

http://www.ilounge.com/index.php/news/comments/apple-locks-tv-out-in-new-ipods-breaks-video-add-ons/

[Taylor @ Nov 24th 2008 4:09PM]

Is that still true? That article is from over a year ago. I wonder if that may have been changed back? I'm not sure why they would do that, but it's possible.
-Taylor

[Steph @ Nov 24th 2008 3:56PM]

Someone's got downloadable content on the mind. It's not a DLC projector... it's a DLP projector. =P

[LauraJune @ Nov 24th 2008 4:28PM]

Ha! Thanks.

[Lowest Ranked @ Nov 24th 2008 4:33PM]

Still says DLC in your Title tags and URL.

[robjennings @ Nov 24th 2008 3:58PM]

These mini projectors could actually be useful for casual or impromptu presentations with small groups of people. Sometimes I would like to throw up a few screens for emphasis at a meeting but it's not worth dragging around both my notebook and regular projector. It might work when combined with a smartphone and some kind of presentation player software.

[Fusion Fuzo 05 - Mr Professional @ Nov 24th 2008 3:58PM]

NICE

[BJ is Gooder @ Nov 24th 2008 4:09PM]

Fusion Fuzo likes it. If none of you were aware - this now means that you HAVE to like it. Begin the campout for when it's released. The Fuzo has spoken. It will be a top seller.

(Yes, FF, that was sarcasm. I know you're not always good with these things...)

[ZaxCG2 @ Nov 24th 2008 4:26PM]

The Professional has spoken. It must be good!

Dang, why are we commenting on him- he loves the attention.

[door0122 @ Nov 24th 2008 3:59PM]

How does that project video when it's plugged into the headphone jack?

[Taylor @ Nov 24th 2008 4:10PM]

The headphone jack on video capable ipods has extra contacts to breakout to RCA video and audio connectors. My old video camera has the same setup for outputting video too.
-Taylor

[zfurie @ Nov 24th 2008 4:25PM]

The power of Hair Metal will take care of it.

[Austin @ Nov 24th 2008 4:14PM]

It is DLP, not DLC

[Ryan @ Nov 24th 2008 4:22PM]

SMALLER!

[Galley @ Nov 24th 2008 4:31PM]

The $50 Apple Component A/V Cable will give you a better picture (720 x 480p).

[lorddshadow2 @ Nov 24th 2008 6:37PM]

but this projects the picture. that hooks up to a tv. get the picture?

[Pretol @ Nov 24th 2008 7:40PM]

50 bucks for a cable? and you try to pass this along as some sort of a "deal"?

You gotta be shitting us...

Here's another idea for you: for 0 dollars you can imagine a 1080p image...

[Hey Ya @ Nov 24th 2008 4:35PM]

I don't really have a need for something like this, but if Axl's endorsing it, I must have it.

[Boarderwoot @ Nov 24th 2008 5:02PM]

Hmm...she "assured" me of that exact same thing last night but for some strange reason it still hasn't happened.

[andres @ Nov 24th 2008 7:34PM]

after all, they dont call it the silent killer for nothing

[jc @ Nov 24th 2008 5:17PM]

You're in the Jungle now baby.

I'll use this to project the chinese democracy artwork onto my wall.

[Jon Acheson @ Nov 24th 2008 5:20PM]

At half the size of a $10.00 poster.

[Giroro @ Nov 24th 2008 5:51PM]

480 x 320 is still lame. Especially for DLP.

[fanthem @ Nov 24th 2008 7:54PM]

Coming soon. So if Axl is endorsing this thing, does that mean we won't see it for another 14 years or so?

[Verbatim47 @ Nov 24th 2008 11:28PM]

Yea, did anyone notice, that it is a 30gb iPod video?

[Sean @ Nov 25th 2008 12:10AM]

Dugg for image of Axl Rose on the iPod

[Japala @ Nov 25th 2008 3:58AM]

In case some of you have missed the other contenders in this game. Yes, it is not targeted towards iPods but do offer 640x480 out from the box and you can already buy them: http://metku.net/index.html?path=reviews/aiptek-pocketcinema-v10/index_eng