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Panasonic issues mildly revamped PT-AE4000 1080p projector at IFA

by Darren Murph posted Sep 3rd 2009 at 3:34AM

Panasonic's PT-AE3000 has gone over quite well in the home theater space, with its 1080p resolution and gorgeous image quality winning over more than a few projector junkies. But given that there's always room for improvement, the outfit has today introduced the PT-AE4000, an ever-so-slightly refreshed version that looks essentially identical to its predecessor. The Full HD native resolution and 1,600 ANSI lumens remain unchanged, though the contrast ratio has been bumped from 60,000:1 to 80,000:1 and Panny has outfitted it with a new "red rich lamp" and dynamic iris. Finally, this beamer supposedly eliminates those nasty Cinemascope issues that some users were seeing on the AE3000, though the estimated £2,000 ($3,255) asking price still feels a bit steep when you consider the alternatives.

BenQ's $499 Joybee GP1 pocket projector up for pre-order

by Darren Murph posted May 23rd 2009 at 7:41PM

We had the pleasure of checking out BenQ's Joybee GP1 pocket projector back in March at CeBIT, and now the bantam beamer is just about ready to ship here in the States. Starting now (like, right now), interested consumers can plop down $499 in order to secure a place in line, ensuring that you'll be one of the first on the block to take possession of the planet's first LED-based PJ with a USB reader. Specs wise, you'll find a DLP projection system kicking out an 858 x 600 resolution, 100 ANSI lumens, a 2,000:1 contrast ratio, a built-in 2-watt speaker and VGA / component / composite inputs. Five bills sounds a little steep for what it is, but hey, it's a 1.4 pound projector -- did you really expect it to be economical?

Prototype Sanyo projector throws up 1080p at near point-blank range

by Darren Murph posted Apr 14th 2009 at 2:14PM

Sanyo's had a knack for pumping out short-throw projectors, but its latest prototype unquestionably takes the cake. Debuting without so much as a model name, this here DLP beamer -- which, at 93- x 20- x 25-inches, easily doubles as a bench -- throws up a 100-inch 1080p image with just 24-inches of space between it and the wall. Better still, that can scale up to 150-inches by adding just another foot of breathing room -- and just to remind you, we're talking full 1,920 x 1,080 resolution here. Sanyo also tossed in 7,000 lumens of brightness, though mum's the word when it comes to price or nearness to production.

[Via AkihabaraNews]

Gallery: Prototype Sanyo projector throws up 1080p at near point-blank range

Forever Plus finally takes a pico projector to 720p

by Darren Murph posted Mar 26th 2009 at 6:52AM

Well, would you look at that! It's not 3M, Dell, Toshiba or any other mega-corp taking the totally tired pico projector from lackluster to 720p -- oh no, it's, um, Forever Plus. Said beamer has been around the block a time or two, but given the native 1,280 x 768 native resolution, we couldn't help but take notice. Reportedly, the 0.49- x 0.59- x 0.19-inch box outputs via HDMI and packs a lamp life of 30,000 hours, but we definitely have serious doubts about the quality. And the actual availability, for that matter.

Epoq's HH07 pico projector now on sale in US

by Darren Murph posted Mar 23rd 2009 at 4:32PM

Calm down, vaquero. You've definitely seen this sucker before, but it was rockin' the BeamBox Evolution R-1 label and headed for a release across the pond. Epoq's iteration, however, is on track for a US release, and in fact, it can be ordered up right this moment for those interested. Specs wise, you're looking at a 640 x 480 resolution, 30 lumens of brightness, a 100:1 contrast ratio, SD card slot, a USB port and a size of 108- x 59- x 28-millimeters. Get in line for "just" $339.95.

[Via AboutProjectors]

Video: Syndiant demonstrates its own prototype pico projector

by Darren Murph posted Mar 18th 2009 at 1:03PM

At this point, the world needs another pico projector like it needs another glacier to suddenly and spontaneously melt, but we suppose the competition ain't bad for those actually in the market for one. A relative unknown to the pocket PJ market, Syndiant has emerged from out of nowhere to showcase its very own engineering prototype. It's so beta that it doesn't even boast a codename, but you can hit play above to check out what it's got going on. Maybe we're just jaded, but we'd love for the quantity of these to slow and the native resolutions to grow -- please, tell us we aren't alone.

BenQ GP1 (P1) LED pocket projector eyes-on

by Darren Murph posted Mar 5th 2009 at 12:48AM

Remember that GP1 pico projector that was quietly announced alongside a slew of others at CES this year? Apparently it's sporting the P1 moniker in Europe, which is infinitely confusing given that BenQ used to have a PJ that looked mighty similar to this one, and yeah, it too was called the P1. At any rate, the GP1 you see here is BenQ's first ever LED beamer, and with it will come an 858 x 600 native resolution, 100 ANSI lumens, 2,000:1 contrast ratio, an integrated USB reader, TI's DLP technology and a lamp life of 20,000 hours. It should be out in Germany by April, but we're still expecting it here in the US next month for a lofty $599.

Gallery: BenQ GP1 (P1) LED pocket projector hands-on

Acer K10 pocket projector hands-on

by Darren Murph posted Mar 4th 2009 at 2:28PM

Acer's K10 pocket projector was propped up aimlessly amongst a flurry of Aspire netbooks, and being that we're the caring individuals that we are, we had to stop over and show it some love. The 800 x 600 resolution actually looked great, though the image was decidedly faint in the well-lit hall. Size wise, it's a real winner, but we still don't see this being all that useful in areas that are even mildly splashed with daylight. Have a look below to see what we mean.

Gallery: Acer K10 pocket projector hands-on

Ask Engadget: Best first-wave pico projector?

by Darren Murph posted Feb 26th 2009 at 11:31PM

While many pico projectors are still in the oven, quite a few of the early ones have made their way out. We know, 720p versions just have to be around the bend, but since when did you start ditching the first-gen and just waiting around? Check Mark's question:

"What is the best currently available pico projector? I'm looking for one that supports the greatest number of image / video formats, has the best brightness and contrast ratios, reasonable on-board storage, is good for still and moving images, and has the longest rechargeable battery life. Are there any projectors on the horizon that promise to be sufficiently better than the currently-available models to warrant me waiting for the next wave?"

Go on, early adopters -- help this guy out. Do you dig your current pico PJ? Has it lived up to the hype? After sharing your input, feel free to toss us an inquiry of your own at ask at engadget dawt com.

Optoma delivers 1080p ThemeScene HD82 projector to the UK

by Darren Murph posted Feb 6th 2009 at 12:03AM

'Tis a shame Optoma's reserving its latest 1080p beamer for the overseas crowd, but we'll set aside our envy for a tick and just join in the across-the-pond-excitement. The ThemeScene HD82 sports a native 1,920 x 1,080 resolution, 1,300 nits of brightness, a 20,000:1 maximum contrast ratio and a DLP engine. Britons will also enjoy a 1.5x zoom, PureMotion / PureShift technologies, twin HDMI ports and a DVI socket to boot. Of course, enjoying that £2,999 ($4,382) price tag may not be as easy, but it's still comparatively affordable in the grand scheme of things.

[Via AboutProjectors]

3M MPro110 / Optoma PK101 pico projectors get dissected

by Darren Murph posted Dec 29th 2008 at 9:17AM

Sure, we frequently come across gizmos so small that tweezers and eyeglass repair kits are needed to dissect 'em, but rarely are those gadgets projectors. With the new wave of minuscule beamers comes a new kind of tear down, and Tech-On has taken the time to split apart and photograph both the 3M MPro110 and Optoma PK101. The splaying gets pretty detailed, too, with us being informed of two large LSIs on the former (one from Weltrend; one from TI) and a hard look at the LEDs of the latter. Have a peek at the writeups and accompanying images below, and see just how long you can go without uttering an "aww" -- we'll bet it's not long at all.

Read - 3M tear down
Read - Optoma tear down

Sharp introduces PG-F255W 720p DLP projector for under $1,000

by Darren Murph posted Dec 6th 2008 at 1:40AM

Nah, it's no 1080p, but if 720p will do ya, Sharp's got a new one you should consider. The PG-F255W DLP beamer packs a WXGA resolution (1,280 x 800), BrilliantColor technology, 2,500 ANSI lumens, a 2,200:1 contrast ratio, DVI / VGA inputs, integrated speakers, RS-232C / USB sockets, Ethernet and a variable audio line-out. The PJ is geared for more commercial applications (think education, churches, board rooms, etc.), but we don't see any reason why it won't handle your home cinema needs just fine. It's available this month for "under $1,000," which probably means $999.99 plus applicable sales tax.

Cineversum intros $6,500 BlackWing One 1080p projector

by Darren Murph posted Nov 26th 2008 at 2:23PM

If the BlackWing Three was just a touch too rich for your blood, yet you dug what Cineversum had going on, have a look at this. The BlackWing One 1080p digital video projector relies on three 0.6-inch LCoS panels (all with a 1,920 x 1,080 native resolution, obviously) and comes pre-calibrated for optimal performance right out of the box. Additionally, it features a 15,000:1 contrast ratio, 1,400 ANSI lumens, two HDMI 1.3 sockets, an RS-232 control port and a "futuristic deep metallic-black ABS plastic chassis" designed by France's own Antoine Béon. The first batch is scheduled to hit North America in mid-December for $6,500 apiece, but those up for spending more can have their unit splashed with a custom color.

Konica Minolta prepping thumbdrive-sized projector

by Darren Murph posted Nov 19th 2008 at 1:04PM

It was inevitable, really. With outfits like Dell and 3M taking projectors to a whole 'nother (tiny) level, it was just a matter of time before someone else came along and made those pico projectors look gigantic. Enter Konica Minolta, who is reportedly developing a projector that's just 1.6- x 0.79- x 0.3-inches, or slightly smaller than your average flash drive. The unit will supposedly use lasers, mirrors and black magic instead of light bulbs and lenses, and it'll still be capable of beaming out a 20-inch XGA color image from a distance of just under two feet. Sadly, this keychain-bound PJ won't be ready for pickup at your nearest grocery store checkout aisle until at least 2010, but you should probably start preparing yourself for its awesomeness right now. [Warning: Read link requires subscription]

[Via ComputerWorld]

Optoma Pico Projector gets pictured, specced and priced

by Darren Murph posted Nov 4th 2008 at 5:39PM

We've been hearing about Optoma's Pico Projector for what feels like ages now, but at long last we've some concrete data on the minuscule beamer. Boasting Texas Instruments' DLP technology, the 2- x 4.1- x 0.7-inch device weighs in at just 4.2-ounces and features a native resolution of 480 x 320 pixels, 9 (yes, nine) lumens of brightness and a minimum projection distance of eight inches (with a maximum of 8.5-feet). We're also told that it can be recharged via an AC adapter or USB, but the 20,000-hour bulb is not replaceable. David Pogue was able to spend a little time with the unit, and overall, he was emphatically stoked. He stated that visuals were more than satisfactory when shot up on an airline seat back, and the general crispness of the picture was smashing, too. Contrary to previous reports, we've now learned that this critter will be shipping in a fortnight (or two weeks, for those who take issue with such a term) for $430, which means this can now skyrocket to the top of your holiday wish list.