Well here it is,
Samsung's pico projector phone live and in the flesh here at Mobile World Congress. And surprise surprise, it's running Android 2.1 with a TouchWiz 3.0 skin just as we heard. The only difference is the name: Halo is the codename, the official product name announced today is Beam. As a smartphone with integrated pico projector it's very impressive. However, as you can see from the pictures and video (it's coming), the 6 lumen brightness struggles even under the semi-controlled lighting demonstration set up here on the show floor in Barcelona. Samsung tells us that the TouchWiz implementation is nearly identical to what you'll find on Bada with "very small" differences. Unfortunately, the people we spoke with on the show floor weren't able to articulate exactly what those were. To us, having only used the two devices for a short period of time, they do look identical. Beam features a nice pass through trick that allows it to project the image seen by the 5 megapixel camera through the TI pico. Not sure how we'd use that in real life but it's a neat trick nonetheless. Now click into the gallery and prepare to be amazed at just how thin a smartphone with integrated projector can be while we wait for the summer launch.
Update: Video is now after the break.
posted February 15th 2010 4:30AM
"Beam me up, Scotty"
@R1039 I wouldn't get too excited about this, that projected image looks pretty washed-out. Samsung has a tendency to unveil super specs but always fails to follow through. Look at the i8910, the i8510, the G810 etc. All super spec phones of the time, all by Samsung, all messed up.
Hmmm, that projector seems kinda gimmicky to me. Still sick though.
@bluemajik I really think they should release this without the feature or with an ability to upgrade it, if I buy this am I paying for a feature I want to maybe use in theory but can't use in practice??? Ugh.
I have a love hate with these things, as cool as they are, if they catch on like cameras did and every phone has a projector... Well then projecting "Fat Ass" on a large women's behind will become commonplace. Not saying that would not be mildly entertaining, but still. When you give anybody the power to project whatever they want anywhere they want, people are going to abuse that.
@Squid7085 That def wouldn't work on the streets with this gen given the lumens, but give Samsung some time and they'll come up with something if people want the feature.
@Squid7085 Man that's one ugly avatar
Just 5mp I would get it if it would have more but for me 5 is kinda outta dated.
@pankomputerek It's an 8MP, where did you get 5MP from?
@splmonster
And since when is 5mp for a phone out-dated?
@splmonster I'll guess he got it from the wave, the lesser cousin ba-da phone
@daniel142005 He must think this is a camera/pocket projector instead of a phone. ;-). I'm all for replacing the camera I never take anywhere anymore with a cell phone in spite of compromised bad angles, but 5mp, 8mp, I don't really care and if you like pics then you shouldn't be trying to have a phone as your main camera device for at least another year, probably more, but as an everyday? Then you don't need 8, just want.
@daniel142005
5MP is outdated since most phones will now have 8MP. The Nokia N87 aka N8 will even have a 12 MP camera.
@ArticiaS
but yeh mp means bugger all. I have a 6mp DSLR camera. and its 100x better then any camera phone in quality. I still haven't seen a camera on a phone that works as well and good quality as the sony K800i 3.2mp!
dammit, I'm addicted to engadget
I think adding projectors to phones is a step in the right direction
eventually they will be all 3D projection
imagine google earth on a 3D projection in the palm of your hand
that would be sick!
you guys ever notice Engadget always compares all phones to the iPhone?
come June they will even compare iPhone to iPhone
When is Engadget going to release their Phone?!?
Quit teasing us!
"I can see you halo, halo, halo, halo..."
And its brightness sucks.
Why does the phone say 8mp but the spec list say 5mp?
Lets face it, all we want out of a pico projector is to be able to play streaming video on the ceiling of a dark room when we go to bed.
Hey now, get your mind out of the gutter. I wasn't talking about THAT kind of video.
@Electrofreak
yup... that and camping....
No need to put someone that speaks English there, right?
So, not a bright projector, though I do love the new Super AMOLED screens.
I can see a use for the pass-through projection, kinda. Like if it has a flash for the camera that doubles as a flashlight, it would make a good "overhead projector" for presentations, or um... something. Okay, I can't think of anything better than that. Still I'm sure some creative people will come up with something.
If Samsung follow the projector through to production,
Yes: it would be a breakthrough
But Yes: It would be terrible.
No: I wouldnt buy it.
All because projectors are projectors, and phones are phones. I would only buy it if there was guarantee that the projector would be a good one (for a phone-size standard)