Barco
Latest
Flight sim bubble offers 360-degree view, makes earth seem round
You've got the yoke, you've got the ridiculously over-priced gaming chair, so now all you need is Barco's 360-degree display dome. It uses 13 separate projectors to create a hi-def simulacrum of paradise inside a 3.4-meter acrylic sphere. The pilot sits in the middle, suddenly remembers why he took up aviation, and then connects with up to seven other bubbles to practice complicated squadron missions. More desperately inviting pics after the break.
Barco's NX4 3D video wall does LED on a decidedly large scale (video)
If we've learned one thing over the years it's that Barco doesn't do small -- whether it's 3D CAD systems or even projectors. The company's latest mammoth offering is the NX4 3D LED videowall, measuring 10.453 meters wide by 2.352 meters tall -- about 35 feet wide and eight feet tall. It has a total resolution of 2240 x 504 with a 4.66mm pixel pitch, making this a definite candidate for a place where volume is more important than pixel density. A brightness of over 2000 nits and a 4000:1 contrast ratio means outdoor work is a possibility, though if you want 3D you'll have to BYO active-shutter glasses.
TI sticks to its DLP guns, fires off 4k pro gear
You just knew that Texas Instruments wasn't going to leave the 4k cinema projector market to SXRD, right? Sure enough, TI unveiled its DLP Cinema 4k technology and announced that Barco, Christie and NEC will be sprinkling the new tech across more than a dozen new projectors. Now, if TI would get serious about 3-chip DLP consumer solutions -- not even 4k -- we'd be out of our seats (or maybe the movie house's). Until then, we'll have to settle for the possibility that the lowered costs of the next generation of the DLP Cinema platform will allow for more screens to go digital. One thing's for sure -- those IMAX DLP setups need all the pixels they can get.
Next-gen DLP Cinema platform makes room for live 3D broadcasting
Surely you knew that you'd eventually hear "DLP" and "3D" in the same sentence, right? Over at ShoWest this week, Texas Instruments is announcing plans for its next-generation DLP Cinema electronics platform. Generally speaking, this wouldn't be all that exciting, but this one's different. Aside from letting us know that DLP Cinema projectors will be deployed by Christie, Barco and NEC at commercial theaters around the world starting in 2010, we're also told that it will feature "increased bandwidth to integrate alternative content to incorporate live 3D broadcasting." Yep, that NAB demonstration and this year's NBA All-Star weekend were just the beginning.
Barco ships mammoth DP-1200 DLP 2k projector
Let's get one thing straight: Barco's DP-1200 isn't meant for any of those "amateur" home cinemas. But then again, you could probably piece that together on your own after digesting the 205-pound weight specification. This digital cinema beamer packs a 0.98-inch DLP Cinema chip, 2,000:1 contrast ratio, twin DVI / SMPTE 292M inputs and a drool-worthy 2,048 x 1,080 native resolution. Unfortunately, Barco's not releasing a retail price to the public, but those who aren't afraid of gigantic numbers can certainly phone up a dealer to get the ball rolling.[Via AboutProjectors]
Barco demoes 10MP 3D stereo CADWall setup
Barco has a knack for stopping shows, and while Tokyo's Industrial Virtual Reality expo didn't exactly shut down, we can only imagine how many folks took the time to check out the CADWall concept. Hailed as a "multi-channel display system with a high pixel density that consists completely of Barco technology," said system utilizes a pair of LX-5 projectors, a superflat high-contrast screen and just two-channels to create a 10-megapixel 3D stereo image. Sure beats six or eight to make the third-dimension come to life, huh?[Via AboutProjectors]
Barco intros three-chip NW-12 DLP WUXGA projector
Here's something you don't see every week: a pair of lust-worthy WUXGA projectors revealed within 48 hours. Shortly after the iVision 30-WUXGA broke cover, in comes Barco's NW-12 to steal some thunder. Dubbed the "world's first three-chip DLP WUXGA projector for professional presentations," this saucy beamer packs a native 1,920 x 1,200 resolution, a mind-blowing 12,000 lumens and a sealed optical engine. For those on a slightly tighter budget, the outfit is also delivering the NW-5, which features a single-chip DLP engine and "just" 5,000 lumens. Pricing and availability are unknown for both, but we have all ideas this is one of those classic "If you have to ask..." type scenarios.[Via AboutProjectors]
Barco's DML-1200 DLP projector doubles as concert lighting device
Talk about a novel concept. The Barco DML-1200 is being hailed as "the first moving digital light which can truly be used as both a high quality video projector and a super bright moving light source," meaning that you can use the same device to throw Mario Kart Wii up on a 70-inch screen and bathe your band in light at the local pub. Powered by a DLP engine, the unit features a SXGA+ (1,400 x 1,050) native resolution, lamp-life-killing 10,000 lumens, 1,000:1 contrast ratio, a pair of USB ports, VGA out and DVI / HD-SDI inputs. This sucka lights up the room courtesy of four 300-watt UHP type lamps, but don't expect them to last much over 750 hours. Not a peep on pricing just yet, but be sure to check out what the DML-1200 can do in the video link below.[Via AboutProjectors]Read - Barco DML-1200 videoRead - Barco DML-1200 release
3D cinema comes to Johannesburg's Nu Metro Montecasino
As the naysayers continue to chuckle at the idea of 3D hitting it big, fans of face-consuming glasses and eye-popping visuals have yet another venue to check out. Located at Fourways in Johannesburg, South Africa, the Nu Metro Montecasino is now home to a Barco 2k digital cinema projector. The D-Cine Premiere DP100 utilizes Texas Instrument's DLP technology and "contains a hermetically sealed DMD engine that makes maintenance easy and increases the longevity of the product." Unsurprisingly, the first screenings were Hannah Montana and U2 3D, but only time will tell if 3D mega-hits will continue to flow.[Via AboutProjectors]
