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The best pico projector
By Chris HeinonenThis post was done in partnership with The Wirecutter, a buyer's guide to the best technology. Read the full article here.After 45 hours of research and hands-on testing with five models, we found the best pico projector is the AAXA P300. It's bright enough for both dark rooms and those with some light, and it's easier to position for a large image than its competitors. Plus, it has better contrast ratios, more inputs than other models, and an optional battery for use on the go. Other models might be more portable, but they won't be as useful as the AAXA P300.
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?
Samsung debuts projector-equipped Galaxy Beam 2 smartphone
Chances are your phone doesn't have a built-in projector -- and it never will. But there's at least a small subset of the Chinese market that apparently has a need for an entry-level smartphone capable of projecting dim videos and presentation slides onto a flat surface. The Galaxy Beam 2 sports a 1.2GHz quad-core processor, 1 gig of RAM and an underwhelming 800x480-pixel 4.66-inch display. The battery tops out at 2,600 mAh of juice, so if you're thinking of planning a smartphone movie marathon you might want to bring the charger along. It launched today on China Mobile's 3G network (with pricing TBA), and while Samsung has yet to detail an international release, it's unlikely that we'll ever see the second-generation Beam on this end of the Pacific.
Samsung Galaxy Beam successor spotted in China (updated)
At Mobile World Congress in 2012, Samsung announced a pico projector smartphone known as the Galaxy Beam. Although it was a cool concept, the phone's downfall was its middling specs, aging OS and large chassis. Two years later, it appears that Samsung's working on a successor to the Beam called the SM-G3858, according to China's government database. The Tenaa entry even comes with a few pictures, most of which offer an indication of a projector: there's clearly a bump on the upper back which opens up to a wide lens on the top, and we also saw an extra button that models after the original Beam -- in fact, the icon above the button looks eerily like the one seen here. Curiously, Samsung has shed the sporty misshapen look in favor of a sleek metal build, which certainly seems a better fit for professionals. The database also gives us a glimpse at its specs, some of which are an improvement over the original Beam; the China Mobile-branded phone reportedly packs a 4.66-inch WVGA (800x480) display, Android 4.2.2, a quad-core 1.2GHz chipset with 1GB of RAM, microSD slot with up to 32GB external storage, as well as TD-SCDMA and GSM connectivity (no LTE on this model, although there's a chance this is simply a 3G-only variant of a global model). It's also 11.6mm thick, which is much thicker than most Samsung smartphones but still is nearly a full millimeter thinner than the original. It's still too early to determine whether this is going to be exclusive to China Mobile or available to a global market, but at least we know the phone exists for now; Samsung, we're hopeful, will provide us with the rest of the story at some point down the road.
Texas Instruments shrinks its HD DLP Pico projector chip down to 0.3-inches
We wouldn't say that smartphone projectors have exactly caught fire, Samsung's Galaxy Beam notwithstanding. Part of the problem is the extra bulk required by pico projector components, which is where Texas Instruments comes in with its new HD "Tilt and Roll" DLP Pico chipset. They've now got the size down to about 0.3-inches, or about the size of a pencil-tip as shown above. That should let makers of tablets, smartphones and wearables add 120 Hz projector powers to their devices. It's also the chip used in Avegant's Glyph VR headset -- so it might be beaming a movie directly to your retinas at some point in the future.
Sony laser pico projector module beams out focus-free HD images
If your presentation audience is noticing pixels, then projector resolution may be the least of your problems. Nevertheless, Sony's just introduced a new pico module that'll allow manufacturers to build pocket-sized projectors with high-def, 16:9 images using laser beam scanning (1,920 x 720 with rectangular pixels). That'll bring sharp focus regardless of screen distance, along with high contrast, wider color gamut and reduced laser "speckle," according to Sony. There's also built-in screen distortion correction for off-kilter situations. If you're now scheming about some kind of shark-mounted entertainment system, though, it'll have to wait -- the tech is only available to projector makers.
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.
Alcatel OneTouch intros prototype pico projector docking port (hands-on)
Pico projectors are swell, but they're not wildly popular. Very few smartphone manufacturers can find a way to embed them into devices without making them incredibly thick and expensive, and without sucking the battery dry in no time at all -- the Samsung Galaxy Beam comes to mind regarding all of the above concerns -- and carrying around a separate accessory is just plain impractical and expensive. (Plus, most devices can wirelessly mirror content onto TVs and monitors anyway, making the actual market even more limited.) But what if you could find a clever way of incorporating it into another useful accessory while keeping it small, simple and inexpensive? Well, we're not sure about the latter qualification, but Alcatel OneTouch is at least keeping an eye on this niche with a new docking station that doubles as an aforementioned pico projector. It's a prototype accessory that's compatible with the OneTouch Hero, thanks to its set of magnetic docking contacts on the back -- all you have to do is clip it on and the phone recognizes that it's been attached. The projector is 12Lm, which is a little dimmer than we'd prefer (we were told that the final product may actually be brighter than this, but they can't confirm for now), and the company claims it can show a screen larger than 70 inches. Company reps tell us that this nameless accessory isn't officially coming onto the market just yet, and they're trying to determine how best to proceed (the Hero's press release suggests that this for sure will be available later, however, so we'll take it with a grain of salt at the moment). It's a clever idea that could come in handy for a number of business travelers who need to carry on impromptu presentations, but price (of both the projector and the phone itself) will be a key factor in its success. Check out a few images below that show off the prototype in all its miniature glory. Follow all of our IFA 2013 coverage by heading to our event hub!
Gigabyte shows four prototype BRIX mini PCs, including models with projectors and wireless charging
Gigabyte said that we'd have at least a few BRIX mini PCs to choose from. At Computex, however, it's showing four new prototypes that could lead to a much larger catalog. Two of them are run-of-the-mill designs with AMD Kabini and Intel Haswell processors -- nice enough, but more evolution than revolution. The other two are decidedly more exotic, though. One includes a wireless charging pad to charge a smartphone in a pinch, while the other carries a pico projector for on-the-spot presentations. Although Gigabyte hasn't mentioned whether or not these BRIX models will reach production, we'd wager that the conservative systems are more likely to reach our desks.
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
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.
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.
Panasonic's 7.5mm-thick, 100-lumen laser projector module claims world's thinnest title
While scanning through Panasonic's booth at CEATEC 2012, we couldn't help but notice a prototype of its world's slimmest 100-lumen laser projector module (or OIU aka optical imaging unit, as the company prefers), which can beam out an 800 x 480 picture. It's not clear when exactly we'll see this 7.5mm-thick device getting into consumers' hands, but there's certainly room for improvement for the image quality. Likewise, the scan-type OIU (resolution at about 400 x 300) next to the slim projector is far from ready for mass consumption, as the company is hoping to actually shrink it down and integrate it into mobile phones. That said, the fact that this technology doesn't require focusing makes it worth the wait -- the light doesn't go through an LCD filter like ordinary projectors do, and instead, it's a single laser beam scanning out the picture, hence the name. Also shown along side were the optical bay drive pico projector that's already being offered by Fujitsu, as well as the PJ-SJ25U 854 × 480 DLP pico projector which was released in August this year. While the latter's image quality was rather impressive even under the strong ambient lighting, we struggle to appreciate the ¥56,800 or $730 price tag. Anyhow, pricing is just a matter time, as always. Update: The thickness of the slim laser OIU was originally mistyped as "75mm." This has now been corrected. Many apologies.
Pioneer Carrozzeria AR heads-up display hands-on (video)
Pioneer has been showing off versions of its AR HUD for some time now, but here at CEATEC 2012 the company is showing off a production version of the thing. It is, as its name implies, an augmented reality navigation unit that shows you where to go using a front-facing camera and a variety of systems. A projector built into the ceiling shines an overlay onto the road ahead, using a piece of plastic that flips down in front of the driver's eyes. It's a cool effect that, unfortunately, we weren't able to capture on photo or video, so you'll just have to trust us. But, more photogenic is the rendition that's created on the slide-out display of the head unit itself, which you can see in the video after the break. Additionally, the system creates a sort of targeting reticule that appears over nearby cars, letting you know when you're perhaps driving a little too close. (That, of course, is when you have to switch from missiles to guns.) The head unit recently became available in Japan, and while there's no word on a release date or price in the US, hopefully it won't be long off.
Alpha Range iOS game requires a pico projector and laser pointer, we go hands-on (video)
Granted, a magical little smartphone is all the gadgetry most casual gaming fans require to get their fix, but when LaserVR's Travis Haagen popped by our informal meetup at Portland's Ground Kontrol to talk about Alpha Range, we couldn't help but be impressed by the project. The game has a classic Asteroids / Space Invaders feeling to it, but Alpha Range is more than just another bit of mobile nostalgia. For one thing, you're going to need a lot more than just your phone, including a projector (pico will do fine for your needs) and a tripod. You project the game field onto a the wall (in the case of Ground Kontrol, we taped up a few pieces of paper, which worked fine) and interact with objects using a laser point. When your iOS device is facing the wall, its camera monitors the field, using computer vision algorithms to detect your laser shots in real time, finally discovering a novel use for laser points that doesn't involve annoying rock bands or cats. Hitting the circular enemies will cause them to vaporize or perform other functions like opening up a black hole, depending on their color. The game was pretty responsive and incredibly addictive -- in fact, we were a bit bummed when we finally had to put the laser point down. Such fun isn't cheap, however -- it'll run you $8 from iTunes, on top of the price of all the accessories involved it getting it off the ground. Still, it's nice to see an innovative take like this on a classic gaming scenario. We've got a video of the Star Trek: The Next Generation-inspired game after the jump.
Sanwa's iPhone pico projector gets spec bump, trebled brightness (video)
Sanwa has revamped the PRJ011 iPhone charging sleeve-cum-pico-projector we saw back in January. The new PRJ016 packs a 1,850mAh battery that can recharge your handset up to 80 percent and also power the projection mode if you want to enjoy a movie, or a spreadsheet, blown onto your wall. The 35 lumens DLP device has three times the brightness of its predecessor, can project for 120 minutes on a full tank and has a maximum display size of 60-inches, focusing from a distance of up to six feet. It's available in Japan from tomorrow, setting you back ¥23,800 ($305), and in the meantime there's a Chiaroscuro video waiting after the break if you'd like to know more.
