Picoprojector -- Engadget

picoprojector posts

FPS hopelessly leaps into pocket projector game with Pearl M3

by Darren Murph posted Oct 16th 2009 at 8:39AM

The world needs another VGA pico projector about like it needs another ton of plastic goop swirling in the Pacific, but thanks to FPS, that's exactly what we're getting. (The former, just so we're clear.) The LCoS-based beamer puts out an image between 5- and 66-inches and packs a native resolution of 640 x 360; there's a composite input, stereo output, USB socket and a microSD expansion slot. You'll also find a one-watt internal speaker and a 2,500mAh battery for projecting on the go, while most every file format you can think of is supported. If, for whatever reason, you've found yourself overcome with want (and you can't hold off for Microvision's laser-based SHOW WX), it's available to purchase right now for $219.

[Via PicoProjector-Info]

Green laser for microprojectors developed, microraves soon to follow

by Laura June posted Oct 12th 2009 at 8:40PM

Japanese company QD Laser has apparently developed a green laser which could up the ante in the HD pico projector market. The laser -- which is just 5.6mm in diameter and outputs a 532 nanometer, pure green light -- was shown off as a working prototype at CEATEC. QD says their green laser (the hardest type to make) will be well-suited to gadgets like cellphones and laptops because of its low power consumption and wide operating temperature. Mass production is seemingly planned for next year, with the hopes that each little laser will run $10, cheaper than the one currently available, which is manufactured by Corning. You know what we always say: rave on.

3M's MPro 120 pocket projector fights the good fight at CEATEC (video)

by Darren Murph posted Oct 6th 2009 at 6:23PM

3M's MPro 120 didn't really add a whole lot of spice to the currently drab pocket projector lineup, boasting a simple VGA resolution, 4:3 aspect ratio and image quality suitable for presentations alone. Granted, the 12 lumens and 4 hours of battery life both trump figures on the decidedly impressive SHOW WX (which has 10 lumens and 2 hours of life), but in the wide world of beamers, it's the picture quality that matters most. We took a peek at the latest MPro here in Japan, and while the results were less than impressive underneath the lights, the sub-$330 street price in the US is definitely admirable. If you'll recall, the laser / PicoP-based SHOW WX is slated to retail right around $500, while this bugger can be found right now in trusted e-tailers for over a Benjamin less. 'Course, 3M might want to inform its booth attendant of this little matter, as the (erroneous) $600 price quote we got from a certain someone definitely shocked us momentarily. Video's after the break.

Gallery: 3M's MPro 120 pocket projector fights the good fight at CEATEC

Continue reading 3M's MPro 120 pocket projector fights the good fight at CEATEC (video)

Microvision's laser-based SHOW WX pico projector shines at CEATEC (video)

by Darren Murph posted Oct 6th 2009 at 8:18AM

Microvision just struck a deal to start shipping its PicoP-based SHOW WX pico projector in Asia, and while the size may not blow any minds, the image quality just might. With a native 848 x 480 resolution (WVGA), this one pumps out more pixels than pretty much any other pico projector on the market today, and with enough darkness, it can actually spit out an image that's around 100-inches in size. We stopped by the company's booth here at CEATEC in order to have a look at what makes the world's first laser-based pico PJ so special, and we can honestly say the picture was pretty stunning (considering the device we're talking about). We got a lecture on just how amazing the innards actually are (hear for yourself after the break), but it's the estimated $500 price tag and 2010 US ship date that really had us intrigued.

The company also confessed that it's toiling away in an effort to miniaturize its PicoP engine even further, and while it wouldn't come right out and say it, we got the feeling that it was jonesing to get that very device into all sorts of other gizmos in the near future. In the meanwhile, you can expect the SHOW WX to ship with support for pretty much any input via a composite adapter, while an iPod / iPhone connector is apt to be bundled in as well. There's also a 3.5 millimeter audio passthrough, 10 lumens of brightness, a 60Hz refresh rate (trust us, the lines you see in the video aren't seen by the naked eye) and a built-in battery good for two hours on a charge. Oh, and this thing doesn't even have to refocus as you move it closer and farther from the wall -- pretty swank!

Gallery: Microvision's laser-based SHOW WX pico projector shines at CEATEC

Gallery: Microvision SHOW WX press images

Continue reading Microvision's laser-based SHOW WX pico projector shines at CEATEC (video)

HYPOLED develops mega-tiny VGA projector display, has a tiny coin in the photo to prove it

by Laura June posted Oct 5th 2009 at 10:01AM

HYPOLED, an 18-month-old project tasked with creating OLED microdisplays for upcoming pico projectors, has just released a report of its recent progress. Among the advances is a Fraunhofer IPMS-designed all digital VGA, full color OLED microdisplay backplane with matching pico projector optics. The display measures just 0.18-mm thick and is already in prototype manufacturing. The super miniscule display is connected to a MediaBox enabling it to operate via WiFi. Fraunhofer is now expected to begin developing a prototype of the full projector, meaning that with any luck, our picos should be getting a teensy, tiny bit cooler in the near future.

[Via About Projectors]

Optoma's $199 PK-100 pico projector goes for the bargain crowd

by Darren Murph posted Oct 3rd 2009 at 4:12AM

You know what's better than a PK-101? A PK-102. You know what's not better than a PK-101? A PK-100. Unless, of course, you're focused solely on price. Quietly announced to hit the lower-end market, the PK-100 is described as a simplified version of its more sophisticated siblings, boasting the same DLP-based engine as well as 11 ANSI lumens of brightness and a 1,000:1 contrast ratio. Unfortunately, you'll only find a single composite video input and a 480 x 320 native resolution, but hey, for an estimated retail price of $199, what else did you really expect?

[Via PicoProjector-Info]

Microvision's SHOW WX pico projector 'out soon'

by Joseph L. Flatley posted Sep 16th 2009 at 3:43AM

Well, look at that -- Microvision's SHOW WX, the diminutive PicoP-based projector we first laid eyes on at Macworld some nine-plus odd months ago, is finally going to get a release. The device's laser display system (which works by combining light from red, blue, and green lasers) boasts 10 ANSI lumens, a 5000:1 contrast ratio, WVGA (848 x 480) resolution, and never needs focusing. Out "in a matter of weeks" for an unspecific price point, though according to About Projectors past reports have listed this "somewhere around $500" retail.

[Via About Projectors]

Show full PR text

Microvision Announces Commercial Launch of SHOW WX Laser Pico Projector

REDMOND, Wash.--(BUSINESS WIRE)--Sep. 15, 2009-- Microvision, Inc. (Nasdaq:MVIS), a global leader in innovative ultra-miniature projection display and image capture products for mobility applications announced the commercial introduction of the world's first laser-based pico projector, called SHOW WX™, based on its proprietary PicoP® display engine technology.

The Company plans to distribute its accessory pico projector product through three sales channels: OEM branded products, Microvision branded products sold through international distributors and Microvision direct sales through its on-line store. Microvision has signed several marketing and distribution agreements with international distributors in Asia and Europe to launch Microvision branded and private labeled versions of the laser pico projector. Microvision expects to begin product shipments in the next several weeks.

The Microvision pico projector uses the revolutionary laser-based PicoP display engine that delivers large, colorful, bright, and vivid images that are always in focus, regardless of projection distance. The accessory product is a simple plug-n-play pico projector for people on-the-go who want to spontaneously view and share mobile TV, movies, photos, presentations and more. Users can take the pocket-sized projector anywhere, plug it into their portable media players, mobile phones, notebooks and other portable mobile media devices with TV-Out or VGA functionality and share a big screen experience with friends, family or business associates. Depending on the ambient light, the projected images range in size from 12" to 150"

About Microvision, Inc.

Microvision provides the PicoP display technology platform designed to enable next-generation display and imaging products for pico projectors, vehicle displays, and wearable displays that interface with mobile devices. The company's projection display engine uses highly efficient laser light sources which can create vivid images with high contrast and brightness. For more information, visit the company's website (www.microvision.com) and corporate blog

AAXA P2 pico projector ships out, sparks little Halo parties everywhere

by Darren Murph posted Sep 14th 2009 at 9:36AM

Optoma's PK102 not swank enough for you? Fret not, as AAXA Technologies is also shipping its second-generation pico projector. The stupendously simplistic P2 packs an LCoS chip, 33 lumens of output, an 800 x 600 native resolution and the ability to throw up your favorite Xbox / Atari / C64 title at up to 80-inches. There's also a VGA output and a few on-device buttons, and if that's exactly what you've been looking for, you can call one your own for $339.

Optoma's PK102 pico projector slims down, boosts connectivity

by Darren Murph posted Sep 11th 2009 at 11:01AM

One thing's for sure: the obsession with pico projectors has certainly calmed since these things first hit the scene right around a year ago. Optoma's PK101 was somewhat of an industry poster child, so it makes sense to see the company outing a successor in hopes of catching the interest of those who held off on adopting early. Still, the predictably titled PK102 does little to improve upon the past, boasting the same native resolution (480 x 320), a 2,000:1 contrast ratio (up from 1,000:1) and the traditional DLP engine. On the plus side, it has managed to trim down ever-so-slightly, step up to 4GB of internal memory and add a few new connectivity options including a composite video input and a universal port capable of receiving VGA and component video signals. Best of all, the PK102 is available now for just $229, which pales in comparison to the $430 or so it took to snag the PK101 on launch day.

[Via PicoProjector-Info]

Guangzhou Darling DP2000 is a nutty pc-in-a-projector that we kinda love (video)

by Vladislav Savov posted Sep 8th 2009 at 5:03AM

What do you add to a pocket projector that already has a massive 640 x 480 resolution and the power of 9 ~~suns~~ lumens? Why, a WinCE-powered computer, of course. Now, when everyone else is fumbling around with their bulky laptops, you can bust out your Darling, use the top-mounted touchpad to navigate, and be the fastest projector gunslinger in the office. There's even a stand, a pair of mini-USB ports for hooking up a keyboard and mouse, and an SD expansion slot to augment the already super-generous 1GB of Flash storage. So how much does a PC with a huge display and SSD cost these days? $180. Don't tell us that ain't progress. Check it out after the break.

[Via Pico Projector Info]

Continue reading Guangzhou Darling DP2000 is a nutty pc-in-a-projector that we kinda love (video)

Nikon Coolpix S1000pj hands-on at IFA

by Nilay Patel posted Sep 7th 2009 at 9:52PM

We're still curious to see how well the integrated projector in Nikon's Coolpix S1000pj does under real-world lighting and usage conditions, but it sure seems pretty in the controlled environment of the company's IFA booth. The crew from Engadget Spanish say the novel cam is a lot thinner than you'd expect -- check out the video and a gallery of sample shots after the break.

Continue reading Nikon Coolpix S1000pj hands-on at IFA

ViewSonic debuts WPG-350 for WiFi video streaming, PJD2121 for portable SVGA projecting

by Ross Miller posted Aug 27th 2009 at 1:16AM

Don't let your instinctual attraction to glossy items fool you. While the PJD2121 pico projector on the right is certainly the shiniest, it's ViewSonic's WPG-350 wireless gateway that we're digging the most. Assuming you've pre-installed the appropriate software onto the pertinent Windows / OS X machine, connect the bridge to a VGA display of some sort, and stream all the 1024 x 768 presentation content you want over 802.11b/g/n WiFi. Sure, it's not HD, but at $199, it's not the worst value, either, and it's still half-lustrous on the top. Looking back at the projector, the little DLP shiner boasts 800 x 600 output, 400 lumens, and a 1,800:1 contrast ratio. A $499 price tag definitely undercuts the Samsung offering we saw yesterday, but it's still way pricey for SVGA.

Read - Press release
Read - PJD2121 product page
Read - WPG-350 product page

Yinlips Projector PMP is a PMP with a projector

by Vladislav Savov posted Aug 19th 2009 at 8:41AM

You might not know this, but your portable media player is "shackling" you down with its shockingly small screen. What you, and every other self-respecting technophile, need is a projector to explode your awesome digital media onto the nearest wall, flat surface, or just some guy's shirt. Nikon popularized this projector integration madness, and now Yinlips is continuing it with the 3.5-inch Projector PMP, which claims it can beam out a humongous 80-inch picture (we'd be impressed if it can do half that) and play 64-bit games of an unspecified variety. Further info is scant right now, but we suspect you could fill in the blanks with your favorite generic Chinese PMP's specs and you'll probably be pretty much spot on. You'll know more as soon as we do.

[Via Cloned in China]

Video: Nikon Coolpix S1000pj projector-cam gets hands on, ads galore

by Joseph L. Flatley posted Aug 4th 2009 at 12:23PM

The just-announced Nikon Coolpix S1000pj digicam / pico projector has been blowin' up the Interwebs this morning, and we have the video to prove it. First of all, there is a hands-on provided by What Digital Camera over in the UK, and aside from the projector they've uncovered a pretty straight forward digital shooter: 12 megapixel, 5x optical zoom, pretty standard dimensions, and a 2.7-inch LCD. However, the projector itself seems to do the job quite admirably. Sure, it's not an extensive demo, but the image looks clear and crisp. The reviewer deems it "a very, very clever party trick." And if the straight ahead tech demo doesn't get you in the mood to snap pictures and project them onto something, advertisers have offered us two visions of the future: take your pick from a spirited get together choc full o' photogenic American actors, or a somewhat subdued, more elegant affair in the presence of photogenic French actors. All that fun (and more) is to be had after the break.

Continue reading Video: Nikon Coolpix S1000pj projector-cam gets hands on, ads galore

Nikon Coolpix S1000pj projector-cam beams into reality along with friends

by Nilay Patel posted Aug 4th 2009 at 12:01AM

Man, the Nikon Coolpix S1000pj has gone from crazy rumor to seemingly-real to whoa-here's-the-press-release in record time -- the compact cam with the integrated projector was just officially announced, along with the three other cams we saw leaked earlier today. Leaked specs for the S1000pj were dead-on: a 12.1 megapixel sensor with ISO 6400 sensitivity mounted behind a 5x wide-angle zoom lens with five-way VR stabilization, and that LED-powered projector that'll put up a 40-inch image for slideshows complete with music, effects and transitions. We're a little less excited about the $430 list price this thing will carry when it hits in September, but on the whole it's a pretty terrific idea and we're completely intrigued -- looks like we'll be saving our pennies this month. Pictures of everything in the gallery, deets on the other cams and a video of the S1000pj after the break.