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BenQ's HT2550 is a well-priced 4K projector with some minor issues
4K video is made to be seen on very large screens, and projectors are the cheapest way to do that. High-end models from Sony are out of reach, price-wise, for most of us, but cheap 4K projectors from BenQ, Optoma and others are finally hitting the market. One of the cheapest and most interesting is BenQ's HT2550 (known as the W1700 in some markets), priced at $1,500 and packing true 4K and HDR resolution. It delivers perhaps the most detailed image of any cheap new 4K projector, but it has a few flaws that should give you pause.
Mercedes is building smarter headlights for its cars of the future
In a dark garage at the Mercedes-Benz headquarters in Stuttgart, Germany, a flat gray S-Class illuminates a white screen at the end of long hall. The headlights blast on and while the light is bright, it's not that impressive. Then Stefan Toepfer, electronic and software developer for exterior lighting taps on his tablet and a series of black moving squares appear within the lit area. It takes a moment before I realize that these dark areas represent cars that in the real world wouldn't get blinded by the Mercedes' high beams. It's a great way to see more at night without endangering other drivers. And it gets better.
IMAX's laser projectors are worth the pricier ticket
I'm no fan of movie theater gimmicks. 3D glasses, giant screens, 4D "sensory experiences," food and drink service have simply never been worth the added ticket prices for me. That was, at least, until I sat down to watch Captain America: Civil War on IMAX's newest 3D laser projector system.
ZTE's latest Android projector is basically a tablet
ZTE's Android projectors have often seemed like answers to a question no one asked, but the company might have found an audience with the newly unveiled Spro Plus. The device combines a 500-lumen projector with an Android-based control system that includes an 8.4-inch AMOLED screen, a Snapdragon 801 processor, optional LTE data and 128GB of expandable storage. In effect, it's a chunky mid-range tablet that can cast 80-inch images on your wall.
Mitsubishi will repair your broken LaserVue for free
You might not remember Mitsubishi's rear-projection LaserVue TVs, unless you purchased one and got stuck with a huge repair bill. If so, we hope you kept those receipts, because you may be entitled to a refund for any work done. Mitsubishi has settled a class-action lawsuit brought by consumers over picture problems, like darkened screen sections that appear after 8,000 to 10,000 hours of use. The legal firm handling the suit said that "if you spent your own money to repair certain problems with your LaserVue TV, you may be entitled to a repair, payment or reimbursement" of at least $500.
Super-fast projector may be key to holodeck-like rooms
Projection mapping theoretically adds a Holodeck-like level of immersion to simulations, but current projectors are simply too slow to keep up with fast-moving people. That won't be an issue if University of Tokyo researchers have their way. They've developed DynaFlash, a 1,000 frames per second projector that can keep up with just about any moving object. It can't beam images into thin air, like you see above (that's just for show), but it can seemingly do everything else -- even if you shake or spin an object very quickly, you'll still get the image where you wanted it to be. The trick involves adding a special controller to a DLP (digital light processing) projector that, combined with fast image output, delivers both high frame rates and low latency.
Sprint LivePro review: A mediocre projector hotspot that appeals to few
The "Swiss Army knife of electronics." That's the best way Sprint can define the LivePro, a touchscreen projector/Android hotspot made by Chinese manufacturer ZTE. The device, which goes for $300 with a two-year contract, is the first in a brand-new hybrid category -- and depending on how successful it is, it may well be the last. Although the LivePro has a wide range of capabilities that make it useful on many different fronts, its demand will be incredibly niche. What kind of person needs such a unique device, and is it good enough to even attract them?
What you need to know about hologram people
Perhaps you watched the Billboard Music Awards and were aghast (or impressed) by Michael Jackson's performance from beyond the grave. Or maybe you were at Coachella and caught a resurrected Tupac onstage with real-life Snoop Dogg. Hell, let's say you were wooed by India's Narendra Modi in his recent holographic stump speeches. Maybe none of the above? Well, either way, here's a bit of disappointing news: None of those were true holograms, despite our dreams of a sci-fi future. The aforementioned performances are a product of a centuries-old technique called "Pepper's Ghost." You might've seen this on a pretty grand scale during a family vacation to Disneyland, too. The park's Haunted Mansion ride uses it extensively, especially during the ballroom scene where "ghosts" are dancing all over the place. The key difference between what we're seeing now and what's been used for the past few hundred years? The tech being used has gotten much more advanced.
ZTE's Android-powered Projector Hotspot dishes out 1080p video and US-native LTE
We've seen some pretty clever hotspots in our day, but ZTE is determined to trump them all with its new Projector Hotspot. As the name implies, it's both a 1080p DLP projector (with HDMI and WiFi Display support) as well as an 8-device LTE hotspot, giving your mobile devices a big screen and internet access at the same time. However, it's smart enough that you sometimes won't need another device at all. This hotspot runs Android 4.2, folks -- you can hop online through its 4-inch touchscreen and project content from any app or website. ZTE plans to bring the Projector Hotspot to the US sometime in 2014, although it isn't yet saying which carriers (if any) are involved with the launch.
TI intros DLP pico projector chipset based on its Tilt & Roll Pixel technology
TI's DLP unit promised us brighter, sharper pico projectors when it unveiled its Tilt & Roll Pixel architecture at CES, and it now has the TRP-based silicon to make those projectors possible. The company's new DLP Pico 0.2" TRP chipset produces images with up to twice the brightness and resolution of its ancestor, even while it uses as little as half the power. The company hasn't named hardware partners, but it notes that companies are already building products with the chip; it may not be long before we see the next generation of projector-equipped smartphones and tablets.
BenQ ships W1500 projector with wireless 3D video
When projectors are a dime a dozen, they have to do something truly special to stand out. BenQ's newly available W1500 might just pull that off: how does high-quality wireless video sound? The DLP unit is billed as the first projector to offer WHDI over 5GHz frequencies, letting it stream 1080p 3D movies at quality that's reportedly on par with an HDMI signal. The company isn't leaning solely on this trick to lure us in, mind you. The W1500 integrates with mobile devices, courts gamers through 3DTV Play support and throws an 84-inch picture from as close as six feet away. Such convenience is expensive at $2,299, but it could be a viable alternative to stringing video cables around the den.
Innoio Innocube pico projector: a tiny handful of video
Just like an iPhone crams a roomful of devices into a pocketable device, miniaturization of electronics has now made it possible to create a battery-powered, cube-shaped pico projector just 1.8 inches (4.5 cm) on a side. From an unexpected source -- South Korean mobile provider SK Telecom -- the device is being marketed as the Innoio Innocube (around US$299) and you should start seeing availability in US retail outlets and online stores in the next few months. For now, a trip to the Innoio website displays an Innocube that is not the one you see resting in my palm. Design Even though I had been told that the Innocube was small, I wasn't prepared for taking it out of the box. It truly looks more like a tiny scale model of a Borg ship than a projector. One side of the cube is glass and encloses the projector lens, one side has a power button and MHL connector, and another contains a micro-USB port for charging and a focus wheel. %Gallery-189968% The Innocube certainly doesn't weigh much -- just 5.5 ounces (156 grams). The company literature says it's 129 grams, but I'm wondering if that is without the rubberized cover. It contains a battery that charges up in about three hours and that is designed to run the device for up to two hours. The device pumps out 35 ANSI lumens of brightness, which isn't all that bright compared to most full-sized projectors but quite common with pico projectors. Resolution is limited to 640 x 480 pixels, so don't expect 1080p HD from the Innocube. Innoio has added a rubberized bumper and backing to the unit to protect it from bumps and falls, which is smart considering that the target audience for the device is ... kids. Yep, let the kids take the projector and an iPad into a darkened room, and they can begin showing movies or displaying artwork on any wall or ceiling. More about that market choice later... What's driving the pico projector is a miniscule Texas Instruments DLP chip containing millions of micromirrors. TI and Innoio provided a few sample chips, and it's amazing what those diminutive circuits can produce. Functionality Since I tested a pre-production unit from SK Telecom, there were a few oddities like labels that were stuck onto the unit instead of silkscreened directly onto the aluminum. Charging was fast, and when the Innocube was at full capacity a small charging LED that had been glowing red switched to green. To use the Innocube with a recent MacBook Pro with an HDMI port is a piece of cake; you just plug it directly into the HDMI port with the included HDMI to MHL connector and the MacBook takes care of the rest. I found the image to be surprisingly clear and bright, even when aiming the projector at a wall across from my office that was further away than the recommended distance. When running, the project puts out a little sound -- there's a hiss from a cooling fan that wouldn't be audible in most classrooms or offices, but was noticeable in my very quiet office. It's a totally acceptable noise level and nothing compared to what most projectors put out. I was pleasantly surprised by the clarity and color accuracy of the Innocube; watching some YouTube videos and a presentation or two, there were some issues with the low resolution (most of my presentations are designed for HD), but everything worked just fine. To use the Innocube with an iOS device, you're going to need to buy a separate Apple AV Adapter ($39 for 30-pin devices, $49 for Lightning devices), so be sure to factor that into your buying decision. Considering the birthplace of the device -- South Korea -- and the prevalence of MHL-equipped Samsung mobile devices there, it's not surprising that Innoio chose to leave the AV adapter up to the buyer. Surprisingly, I don't have an AV Adapter in my bag of tricks, so I chose to just use the MacBook Pro for my testing. Conclusion If you or your kids have a need for a tiny and impressively bright projector, the Innoio Innocube should definitely be on your list of projectors to check out. However, I think it's a bit misguided for Innoio to be targeting kids for a $300 projector (more if you add in the cost of an adapter for an iOS device). For presentations on the road by the parents of those kids, however, this would be a great portable projector for use in small, dark conference rooms where it can truly shine. Pros Incredibly lightweight and small Image quality and brightness was surprisingly good for a pico projector Can be used with HDMI-equipped MacBook Pros right out of the box Good battery life and fast charging time Pricing is in line with that of other pico projectors Cons Requires a separate Apple AV Adapter for use with an iOS device Quite expensive for the market Innoio is targeting -- kids Many standard DLP projectors in the 3000 lumen range and better resolution are available at about the same price Who is it for? Anyone who needs a rugged and tiny projector who is willing to trade lower maximum resolution (640 x 480) and brightness (35 ANSI lumens) for an incredible amount of portability
DLP's IntelliBright tech promises brighter pico projection at no extra power
Most portable projectors are tasked with striking a delicate balance between power consumption and picture quality. With this in mind, Texas Instruments' DLP arm has unveiled a new system at MWC known as IntelliBright, which is intended to improve the brightness of pico projectors without making hardware hungrier. It's no fancy set of circuits, though, but a pair of algorithms which tinker with image brightness and contrast to produce a more radiant picture. What's more, the algorithms can be tweaked separately by hardware manufacturers for any desired result, and can incorporate data from ambient light sensors to increase projector efficiency. DLP recently introduced its new Tilt & Roll Pixel chip architecture at CES, which is also designed to make pictures brighter and batteries happier in the next generation of pico products. All we hope is the developments inspire Samsung to create a Galaxy Beam II, just with more focus on the phone part this time
Texas Instruments brings sci-fi tech to life with DLP (hands-on video)
We've come across a number of DLP-based pico projectors over the years and while these products are getting smaller, brighter and higher resolution, it's the integration with other devices that's really captured our imagination. Samsung's Galaxy Beam, which we reviewed last year, merges a 15-lumen nHD (640x360) DLP-based pico projector with a Galaxy S Advance. More recently at CES 2013, Texas Instruments announced its new Tilt & Roll Pixel chip architecture and demoed a handful of other DLP-equipped products live on our stage, including 3M's Streaming Projector and Smart Devices' U7 tablet. The company recently invited us to play with some of these devices and to show us other applications in areas such as 3D printing, 3D scanning, optical research, medical imaging and even automotive. Some of this DLP-equipped tech, like the Interactive Center Console, shows where we're headed in the near future -- other products, like Christie's VeinViewer Flex, exist today but remind us of something right out of science-fiction. Take a look at our galleries below, then join us after the break for our hands-on video and more info on these devices.
Live from the Engadget CES Stage: an interview with Texas Instruments' Frank Moizio (update: video embedded)
Love tiny projectors? Boy have we got the conversation for you! We'll be speaking with Texas Instruments business manager, DLP Pico Projection, Frank Moizio, who will be showing off new devices featuring the technology and discussing the company's new architecture and the outlook for pico projectors in the future. January 9, 2013 12:30 PM EST Check out our full CES 2013 stage schedule here! Update: video embedded
Texas Instruments reveals plans for DLP and OMAP-powered automotive infotainment and HUD systems
Texas Instruments has already shown off some new DLP technology here at CES, shrinking it down and shoving it into phones packed with pico projectors. It's not done, however, as TI has plans to put DLP into next-gen car infotainment and HUD systems. Why the shift into automotive? Well, TI already makes infrared cameras, sensors and other components for cars, and because infotainment systems are becoming de rigeur, DLP based systems are the next logical move for the company. TI thinks DLP is a perfect fit for cars because it delivers higher brightness, wider field of view and better color reproduction than competing display technologies, and it can be used in curved displays. Plus, DLP-based HUD displays can be optimally positioned and changed in size on the fly based on drivers seating positions. To power those systems, TI has also announced a new OMAP 5 chip codenamed Jacinto 6 tailor made for automotive applications. It's got two Cortex A15 cores, two Cortex M4 cores and PowerVR SGX-544 graphics to provide ample computing power and electrical efficiency. We won't be seeing DLP in-dash systems in showrooms anytime soon -- Jacinto 6 won't go into production until 2014 -- but TI has brought a few concept systems to CES, and you can see one of them in a demo video after the break. Oh, and we'll be bringing you an in-person look at TI's wares from the show floor later this week, so stay tuned. Follow all the latest CES 2013 news at our event hub.
DLP unveils Tilt & Roll Pixel chip architecture, promises brighter projectors with better resolution
Pico projectors are slowly getting better and better as the years go by, and DLP's latest chip architecture announced at CES aims to raise the bar once more. The platform, which the company is dubbing Tilt & Roll Pixel, is the same size as the current generation, but it promises that products will be able to offer twice the resolution, 30 percent higher brightness and 50 percent increase in energy efficiency. Given our fondness for products like the Samsung Galaxy Beam, we're pretty excited to see how good movies look on our living room wall. Don't get too anxious, however -- the new platform is currently sampling to manufacturers and products are expected to arrive "as early as the end of the year." We have the press release for your viewing pleasure past the break. Update: DLP emailed us with an updated press release to confirm the name of the new architecture. We were also informed that chips using WVGA resolution will be slightly smaller, shrinking from 0.3 inches to 0.2. Follow all the latest CES 2013 news at our event hub.
Mitsubishi is ending rear-projection TVs, ceases production of DLP and laser models
It's time for someone over at IDC to pop the champagne, as its 2007 projection about the end of rear-projection TVs turned out to be only a year off, now that the last company still making them has announced it's getting out of the game. As first reported by CE Pro, Mitsubishi is finally ceding to competition from flat-panels which have grown to equally ridiculous size, and cut prices so sharply that it "can no longer sustain our business in its current form." The company's official statement is after the break, confirming that its DLP and LaserVue models are no more however "existing customer relations and parts and services departments will remain in place along with existing authorized service centers" which should be good news for current owners. There's an in-depth retrospective of the technology at the source link, looking back to Samsung's exit that left Mitsubishi alone in the segment three years ago, long after others like Sony and Hitachi fled for thinner-framed climates. Mitsubishi also made a go of it in flat-panels, but ditched those efforts last year and will now focus on the professional market and home-theater projectors here in the US. In recent years the tech has improved with thinner models, integrated soundbars and even larger screens available. The slowing economy may have extended RPTV's lease on life with a size bang for buck that's tough to beat, but ultimately customers opted for bright flashy flat-panel HDTVs that offer easier wall-mounting options while seeming to get bigger, lighter and cheaper every year. We're sure there are more than a few super-sized rear-projection TVs that will continue to bring the big game to basements and dens everywhere, feel free to celebrate an old friend in the comments below.
Samsung Galaxy Beam review: stay for the projector, but nothing more
With a seemingly endless stream of flagship phones hitting the market before the holiday season, it can be easy to forget some of the other devices that play a more niche audience. The Samsung Galaxy Beam definitely belongs in this category, as it includes a built-in Texas Instruments DLP pico projector. All told, the phone faces a lofty challenge: while the projector could be useful for the PowerPoint crowd, the phone itself falls on the lower end of mid-range, and isn't powerful enough to do business users much good otherwise. With a 1GHz dual-core NovaThor CPU, an overly outdated OS, a 2010-era display and a middling 5-megapixel camera, the Beam's target demographic appears to be ridiculously small. Still, might the projector be enough to carry this device to its full potential? Does a niche device like this have a place in such a crowded market? Read on to get in touch with our thoughts, feelings and emotions regarding the Samsung Galaxy Beam.%Gallery-170615%
3M, Roku team up for Streaming Projector to ship this November for $299
3M's partnered up with Roku to provide a "big-screen" cinema experience from the comfort of your home. Announced today at a joint event, the DLP-based Streaming Projector is a 4.3 x 4.2 x 2.0 inch palm-sized device that can project images in WVGA resolution up to 120-inches across walls or any other smooth surface of your choosing with a brightness of 60 lumens. The 1lb pod-like gadget has a battery life rated at just under three hours -- a little more than the running time of most blockbuster movies -- and also features a 3.5mm headphone jack for audio out, in addition to an inbuilt speaker. Of course, you need media to pair with it and that's where Roku's included streaming stick comes in handy, delivering an array of commercial content over dual-band WiFi. It's set to ship sometime this November for $299 as an Amazon exclusive.
