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Sharp's edge-to-edge AQUOS S2 is a glimpse at your next phone
Andy Rubin's Essential Phone may have wowed us with its edge-to-edge display recently, but let's not forget that Sharp has been driving this design with many of its previous Android phones -- 28 of them, to be precise. Today, the Japanese brand unveiled its 29th release dubbed AQUOS S2 which, funnily enough, looks rather familiar. From afar, the S2's screen and the Essential Phone's screen share the same front-camera notch at the top, except the former is a smaller 5.5-inch panel with a slightly lower 2,040 x 1,080 resolution. The more notable difference here is how the corners at the top appear to be hastily trimmed, which is a bit of a letdown, but at least you're still getting a nice 135-percent sRGB gamut plus a handy 550-nit brightness.
The best cheap projector
By Chris Heinonen This post was done in partnership with The Wirecutter, a buyer's guide to the best technology. When readers choose to buy The Wirecutter's independently chosen editorial picks, they may earn affiliate commissions that support their work. Read the full article here. After testing five projectors for 70 hours, we've concluded that the BenQ TH670 is the best cheap projector. It offers the best contrast ratio and the best color quality of everything we tested, as well as 1080p resolution, low input lag for video games, integrated speakers, plenty of lumens for any size screen, a backlit remote, and up to 10,000 hours of life from a single bulb. It also provides the best selection of image adjustments, with settings that are easy to understand, so it gives you more control over the displayed image than its competitors do.
Kangaroo Notebook uses mini PCs to separate work and play
InFocus has unveiled the Kangaroo Notebook, an inexpensive laptop computer with an interesting concept: interchangeable mini-PC modules. Each is a completely self-contained Windows 10 PC, so you can dedicate one to important business functions, and another to family games, movies and apps. It comes as a package with the laptop dock and two modules, each equipped with Windows 10, 2GB of RAM, 32GB of storage (expandable to 256GB), and an Intel "Cherry Trail" CPU.
Kangaroo is a portable, phone-sized Windows 10 desktop
As convenient as a PC-on-a-stick may be, it's typically saddled with some major limits: you rarely have more than one port, and you always have to plug into a power source. InFocus (yes, the projector company) thinks it has a better idea, though. Its new Kangaroo PC gives you a battery-powered Windows 10 desktop that's about as small as a smartphone -- you can pull it out of your pocket, connect peripherals and start working for up to four hours. You can even connect to an iPad if you're bent on a completely portable setup. Also, InFocus takes a clever approach to expansion: there's an included dock with HDMI and two USB ports, and there are promises of more add-ons in the future.
InFocus' BigTouch is a 55-inch all-in-one built for conference spaces, classrooms with large desks
Having not seen every single all-in-one PC that's ever been released, we'll stop short of saying the InFocus BigTouch is the largest AiO ever to grace the Earth. That said, it's pretty damn enormous. What we have here is a 55-inch Windows 8 machine -- far larger than you probably have room for on your desk -- and it's intended specifically for classrooms, conference spaces and office lobbies. Basically, any scenario where lots of people will need to see or use the computer at once. Given that, its connectivity options are perhaps more extensive than what you'll find on a regular consumer desktop: six USB ports, two HDMI sockets and two Ethernet jacks (highly unusual, that last bit). Other than that, this isn't a machine for spec hunters: it will initially ship with a Core i5 Sandy Bridge processor (that's what was available when the product was being developed) and the screen resolution tops out at 1080p, which is fairly low considering those pixels will be distributed over a 55-inch panel. The 120GB SSD, at least, should do just fine for the above uses cases -- we don't imagine folks will need to store more than that. Additionally, the BigTouch is designed to be easily serviceable, and the processor is part of Intel's vPro family, so the system might meet IT requirements anyway. With a price of $4,999, though, we hope your company doesn't have too many conference rooms to furnish.%Gallery-183328%
InFocus Mondopad is a 55-inch multitouch display with an identity crisis (video)
What do you get when you mix buzzwords like "cloud" and "tablet" with an enourmous multi-touch monitor? The InFocus Mondopad, that's what. The company anticipates that this 55-inch 1080p high-definition panel "wall tablet", equipped with WiFi and a 720p webam / soundbar, will bring pad-like functionality to your next presentation in a big way. The proprietary software mimics the feel of a mobile OS -- only bigger and blander looking -- with basic apps like a whiteboard and web browser, as well as support for Office, JPG, and PDF files. Also inside is Intel's vPro tech, enabling remote access and file sharing with mobile devices -- or having dual-screen sessions with a 58-inch iPhone table, for instance. Pre-ordering one will run you $5,949 for delivery in July and VoIP service through Vidtel will cost $49 a month per connection. No word yet on whether a more portable version is the works, but you'll find some PR and a video walkthrough after the break. Update: We've been informed by InFocus that the Mondopad is running Windows 7 along with pre-loaded apps.
InFocus rolls out three new large, thin displays for business, education
Don't count on these being available at your local mega-electronics retailer, but InFocus' new series of large, thin displays aimed at business and education users may just have you wishing they were. Available in 42, 55, and 65-inch varieties, the slim, professional-grade displays all pack a full 1080p resolution, a generous supply of inputs (including HDMI, VGA and RS232 for Crestron and AMX integration), a split screen feature to accommodate two separate video sources, and some anti-burn-in technology that will let you leave a pie chart up on the screen all day without any worries (if that's your thing). Of course, professional-grade also come with professional-grade prices, and these are no exception, with them running $1,399, $2,599, and $7,499 -- although InFocus insists they are aimed at the "budget-conscious professional."
Wisair-based wireless display adapters head to Macs
PC users have been able to take advantage of a range of Wisair-based wireless display adapters for quite a while now, and it looks like Mac users will soon be able to use them to cut a few cords as well. The first such device is a Mac-ready version of InFocus' wireless display adapter, which is designed specifically for use with InFocus' own DisplayLink-enabled projectors and should be available by the end of March. That looks to just be the beginning, however, as Wisair itself has also announced that no less than four other OEM vendors will be offering some Mac-ready, Wisair-based adapters of their own next month -- all of which, coincidentally, will be making their official debut at MacWorld 2010 this week.
InFocus updates IN2100 and IN3100 series projectors, boosts brightness, burns retinas
"With the adoption of flat panels in schools and businesses, expectations for what's 'bright enough' have changed." That's the lead-off on the explanation for the new IN2100 and IN3100 series DLP projectors from InFocus, reasoning that we can definitely get behind. Both lines were initially announced back in 2008 and the 2100 line is now getting some subtle tweaks, longer-lasting bulbs, "dramatically increased" brightness, and more inputs for better institutional performance. The 3100 adds HDMI to the existing outputs, wireless connectivity using Wireless DisplayLink, and PC-free presenting from a USB stick via LitePort. Lower-end models in both series are available now, with the top-shelf entrants dropping later this quarter. IN2100 models start at $599 and IN3100 models begin at a rather spendier $1,499, but hey, it's a business expense, right? Go crazy.
InFocus' SP8602 projector puts the ScreenPlay line back on the map
It's been a long time since InFocus has brought out a beamer under the ScreenPlay name, but the SP8602 is coming out guns blazing at CEDIA. The 1080p DarkChip DLP boasts a 30,000:1 contrast, but can also crank out 1,300 lumens for when viewing must compete with that big ball of fire in the sky. The SP8602 is packed with good tech, including a six-segment color wheel, TI's BrilliantColor, 10-bit video processing from PixelWorks and 120-Hz support to make sure the images thrown up on the big screen are eye-poppingly good. Heck, it's even ready if said screen is less than perfect -- vertical and horizontal lens shifts, automatic image flipping (ceiling mount is where it's at) and warping functions (don't use them unless you have to) should pretty much be able to deliver square images to all but the most compromised situations. Available in late October, but you'll have to hit up your dealer for pricing.
InFocus acquired by Image Holdings Corporation for $39 million
In a move that hopefully helps it bring home more of those slick Play Big projectors, InFocus is going to be acquired by Image Holdings Corporation for the tidy sum of $39 million, or $0.95 per share. The merger is expected to close in the second quarter, making InFocus a wholly-owned subsidiary of IHC,a company controlled by John Hui, one of the founders of eMachines. InFocus prez Bob O'Malley is saying all the right things, that its commitment to delivering innovative projectors hasn't changed, and since the company has made moves from expensive SD front projectors to the "knee" of the price/performance bend, we're willing to give them some time to figure it out.
InFocus IN5108 daytime-ready projector gets reviewed
The InFocus IN5108 might be just what you're looking for if you need a projector that can do duty as your primary HDTV display, at least according to the Good Gear Guide review. The industrial design might not win your heart over, but the real beauty to this beamer is the abundance of light that spills out of the lens and wash away the ambient light in your room -- the review says 5,000 lumens, but InFocus specs the unit at 4,000. Either way, it was plenty of candlepower to make all 1400x1050 pixels of the 3LCD projector watchable in a bright, sunlit room. Before you jump on this $5500 cannon, remember to set aside some money to replace the 2,000 hour bulb and keep in mind that it's big enough you won't want to be sneaking it in and out of the workplace conference room on a regular basis.[Via ARN]
InFocus ships X9 720p DLP projector for $1,099
InFocus' latest may not offer 1080p, but it also won't force you to sell your outhouse in order to stomach the sticker. This 720p beamer leverages DLP BrilliantColor technology and offers up 1,800 lumens, a 2,500:1 contrast ratio, a lamp life ranging between 3,500 and 4,000 hours and an array of ports including HDMI 1.3, component, composite, S-video and VGA. If you don't exactly have the coin to bring home the Play Big IN80, here's your man. It's available now for $1,099 (MSRP).
InFocus Play Big IN80 projector gets reviewed; it's a keeper
The crew at Trusted Reviews didn't waste any time getting their hands on the just-announced InFocus Play Big IN80 projector. Better still, they liked what they saw. Despite initial trepidations about how the IN80 would fare compared to the £400 cheaper X10, they found performance significantly better in the bigger brother. Better contrast (with an emphasis on deeper black levels) and higher brightness earned points, and overall the review pegged the IN80 as the "knee" in the price-to-performance curve. The only niggles that turned up were fan noise and DLP rainbow effects, perhaps more noticeable due to the IN80's brighter lamp. Sounds like a worthy competitor to the Epson PowerLite Home Cinema 1080, but take our advice -- don't go looking for those rainbows; see them once and you're ruined! [Via AboutProjectors]
InFocus minds the budget with its Play Big IN80 projector
While we won't complain about the performance or styling of InFocus' Play Big IN83 projector, the $6,000 price tag is a little steep. Sure, it's got that 1080p DarkChip4 DLP and styling that doesn't look like you "borrowed" it from the boardroom, but that $6,000 price tag gives us pause. InFocus is adding the Play Big IN80 model to the lineup to fill the gap, though. The specs put the IN80 above the company's X10 model -- it packs a 1080p DarkChip with BrilliantColor, can pump out 1300 lumens in the snow scenes and shares the design with its IN83 big brother, so you won't be tempted to try out your PowerPoints at home. Best of all, though is the MSRP £1,299 ($2500) when it ships in September.[Via AboutProjectors]
Lightspeed Design / InFocus team up on DepthQ 3D projectors
Although high-end projection makers have been figuring out this whole 3D beaming thing for awhile now, Lightspeed Design and InFocus are looking to bring the technology to a wider audience with the introduction of its DepthQ stereoscopic 3D projectors. Available in XGA and WXGA flavors, these PJs promise "rock-solid, 120Hz stereo 3D at 1,280 x 720 or 1,024 x 768 resolution" and feature Texas Instruments' DLP / BrilliantColor technologies, a 2,000:1 contrast ratio and a total weight of just 6.9-pounds. Best of all, these undercut most other single-lens 3D projectors by coming in somewhere under $6,000 apiece, though exact numbers have yet to be disclosed.[Via AboutProjectors]
InFocus kicks out IN5100 series projectors
If InFocus' earlier duo put you to sleep, don't look to the July-bound IN5100 series to change much. The company's latest snoozer was designed for large-venue installations and packs a native WXGA resolution (XGA on the 5102 / 5106), 4,000 to 5,000 lumens, a 1,000:1 contrast ratio, dual stereo speakers and VGA / HDMI 1.3 / 5 BNC / component / S-Video / composite inputs. Yeah, these are pretty bright and all, but we still can't wrap our heads around the $3,499 starting price.
InFocus IN3100 / IN1100 series projectors nab DisplayLink
DisplayLink monitors are fine and dandy, but what if you're looking to get that PowerPoint presentation even bigger? Enter InFocus' IN3100 / IN1100 series of multimedia projectors, both of which claim to be the first of their kind with DisplayLink embedded. With a simple USB-to-PC connection, the beamers blast whatever totally boring and equally insignificant chart you're being forced to speak on upside the wall. As for specs, we're left in the dark with regard to resolution (hint: don't set your expectations too high), but the IN3100 series boasts 3,000 to 3,500 lumens and a 2,000:1 contrast ratio while the IN1100 series offers up 2,000 lumens and an 1,800:1 contrast ratio. You can slap the former (starting at $1,499) on your corporate card later this month, but you'll be waiting until early August before nabbing the $1,099 and up IN1100.
InFocus 1080p DLP Play Big IN83 projector gets official
While we had every reason to believe that InFocus had another swank 1080p projector waiting to be unleashed last month, it's always good to see a little reassurance from the outfit itself. As of today, the Play Big IN83 is really real, and it's looking to deliver Full HD imagery to your screen later this month. Packed with TI's DarkChip4 DLP chip, this unit sports a native 5,000:1 contrast ratio, 1,600 ANSI lumens, HDMI 1.3, Pixelworks DNX 10-bit video processing and 2.35:1 Cinemascope / widescreen aspect ratio support for good measure. The pain? $5,999 through "exclusive InFocus resellers and installers." Check out the gallery over at Engadget HD (hint: it looks just like the IN82), and click on through for the full release.
InFocus projectors adding DisplayLink USB graphics
It may (or may not) be wireless, but InFocus will apparently be one of the first companies to incorporate DisplayLink's USB graphics directly into their future projectors. No other details, that's all we've got for now, we'll let you know when they've actually got gear to announce.
