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Optoma adds HW536 and EX762 DLP projectors to the 3D party
If 3D monitors aren't doing it for you, here are a couple of larger display options -- our lucky pals over at Engadget Chinese witnessed the birth of Optoma's two new 3D projectors in Taiwan yesterday. Pictured on the left is the HW536 cinema DLP projector (NT$36,900 or about US$1,150), which has HDMI input and projects a 1,280 x 800 image at 2,800 lumens with a 3,000:1 contrast ratio. Next up is the EX762 business DLP projector (NT$79,900 or US$2,490) that also sports HDMI input and a network jack, while delivering a 1,024 x 768 resolution at 4,000 lumens and a 3,000:1 contrast ratio. Just to add a tad more burden to your overdraft, each pair of ZD101 shutter glasses -- not bundled with either projectors -- will cost you a further NT$4,000 (US$125), in return offering a wireless range of up to eight meters courtesy of Texas Instruments' non-directional DLP Link technology (so no need to position any external emitters). A couple of close-up photos after the break.
Acer rights its wrongs with K11 pico projector
Why hello there, Acer. Not only does this K11 DLP pico projector look sexier than its predecessor, but it's also been given some nice internal enhancements. Starting with display performance: the K11's resolution remains about the same at 858 x 600, but it's twice as bright at 200 lumens (while maintaining the same 20,000-hour lamp life) and has twice as much contrast ratio at 2,000:1. As for connectivity this machine now packs an HDMI socket (along with the usual VGA and composite AV ports) as well as an SDHC card reader and a USB port for opening music, video and picture files. Even with all these extra goodies, the K11's only managed to gain 0.13 pounds (reaching 1.34 pounds) while sporting a smaller body. All we need now is a price, launch date, a few friends and a destination for our road trip. Oh, and some content. Update: apparently an Acer representative hinted that the K11 will be available for about €500 ($685; translated page shows "$" instead of "€"). Yikes. Anyway, vielen Dank, Felix Fdot!
Runco intros ultra-pricey 1080p VX-22i DLP projector
Runco and expensive tend to go hand in hand, so we'd expect nothing less than a five-figure price tag accompanying the firm's new Video Xtreme VX-22i. This 1080p monster features a three-chip DLP design, O-Path technology, CinOptx premium grade lenses, Vivix II video processing, a 4,000:1 contrast ratio, 2,850 ANSI lumens and comes calibrated to ISF standards. As expected, users with a completely stuffed bank account can opt for the CineWide with Autoscope edition ($54,995), but even those who go without the aforementioned option will be forking out $39,995 for the vanilla model. If you've managed to get over the shock, you can place your order now (or pick up a totally more useful BMW / college education / etc.) and expect it to arrive lickety split.
Optoma intros EP1690 and EP780 DLP projectors
While Optoma has remained fairly quiet since it unveiled a trio of PJs at CES, the company has finally struck back with a new pair of DLP projectors ready for your home theater. The EP1690 sports a DarkChip2 DMD panel, 1,280 x 768 native resolution, 2,500 lumens, 2,500:1 contrast ratio, 1.2x manual zoom lens, internal three-watt speaker, uber-quiet tunnel cooling system, DVI, VGA, S-Video, and composite inputs, USB / RS-232 control ports, and a wireless remote to boot. The all black EP780 does things in 4:3 rather than widescreen and only musters a 1,024 x 768 resolution, but still steps it up to 4,000 lumens and touts a 3,000:1 contrast ratio, DarkChip3 DMD panel, twin VGA ports to go along with the others, and stereo speakers built right in. Both units should hit the Japanese market in early July, and while the EP1690 will demand ¥450,000 ($3,713), the stealthy EP780 will run you a stiff ¥680,400 ($5,614).[Via Impress]
Rice University scientists create a revolutionary single pixel camera
While most folks get real excited over a cam like the Seitz 6x17 Digital that shoots at 160 megapixels, Rice University researchers have decided that less is, in fact, more. Scientists at the esteemed academic ivory tower in Houston, Texas have determined a way to build a single pixel camera that they claim will be cheaper way to take pictures in the future. Using one photodiode and one digital micromirror device (DMD) -- which is used primarily in digital TVs and projectors to convert digital information to light (and vice versa) via its thousands of tiny mirrors -- light is "shined onto the DMD and bounced from there though a second lens that focuses the light reflected by the DMD onto a single photodiode." Then, the DMD's mirrors shuffle at random for each new light sample, creating a new pixel value. The pair of lenses and the DMD thus compress data from a bigger image (left) into a smaller approximation (right). That said, don't expect this technology to make your consumer digicam any cheaper real soon, as the prototype requires five minutes for the engineers to take a picture using this technique, and even then, they can only shoot still objects.
Christie DLP projector to be used to display Disney's "Cars"
File this under "man, I wish I could see this" category. A group is going to premier Disney's Cars at Lowe's Motor Speedway on four 125-foot screen with the proceeds going to Speedway Children's Charities and Association of Hole in the Wall Gang Camps. Christie, ultra-high end provider of projectors, is donating the use of two CP200 3-chip DLP projectors. These units are deemed the "brightest in the industry" and has some amazing specs. Like 35 trillion colors, 45-bit color processing, 2048 x 1080 resolution and light output that meets SMPTE standard 14fL. The screens were made just for this event on the tracks of the speedway and is going to be matched with a state-of-the-art sound system. There are going to be four screens lit up that night and Christie is going to power two of 'em. This is going to be the first multi-screen digital cinema premiere ever staged and we imagine it is going to be spectacular.The event is going to be held on May 26 and we are hoping that some of our readers will be in attendance. Snap us some pics if you would and let us know how it was.
