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BenQ ships W1500 projector with wireless 3D video
When projectors are a dime a dozen, they have to do something truly special to stand out. BenQ's newly available W1500 might just pull that off: how does high-quality wireless video sound? The DLP unit is billed as the first projector to offer WHDI over 5GHz frequencies, letting it stream 1080p 3D movies at quality that's reportedly on par with an HDMI signal. The company isn't leaning solely on this trick to lure us in, mind you. The W1500 integrates with mobile devices, courts gamers through 3DTV Play support and throws an 84-inch picture from as close as six feet away. Such convenience is expensive at $2,299, but it could be a viable alternative to stringing video cables around the den.
InFocus launches Play Big IN82 1080p DLP projector
We've always heard that too much work and not enough play drives the brain insane, so it's about time InFocus saved us all from falling off the deep end. Amidst the recent barrage of Work Big projectors, InFocus has finally unveiled a Play Big iteration that becomes the company's first foray into the single-chip DLP, 1080p-capable PJ realm. The Play Big IN82 is armed with the latest DLP DarkChip3 technology from TI, and also features a native 4,000:1 contrast ratio, 1,500 ANSI lumens, a Color Gamut Calibrator, ISF Day / Night presets, Pixelworks DNX 10-bit video processing engine, and HDMI 1.3 to boot. Get ready for an extended vacation when this one lands next month for $5,499.
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]
BenQ's W10000 1080p DLP projector
Man, if you thought BenQ's PE8720 was a winner, then try on the Full HD W10000 DLP projector. Just like its 720p bro, the W10000 pumps a 10:000:1 contrast ratio with TI's DarkChip3 DLP at the guts and brings a 250W lamp capable of delivering 1,100 lumens over a life of between 2,000 hours on up to 3,000 hours in economy mode. And yeah, Benq's calling "Full HD" on this as is the trend, so we're talkin' heaps of pixels in this 1080p (1920x1080) resolution projector operating at 25dB normally, or as low as 23dB in eco-mode. As for the inputs, you'll get what you need: HDMI v1.2, S-Video, 2x component, RGB, and RS-232. Expected to start shipping first in Japan starting early November for ¥628,000 or about $5,253 -- righteous pricing for a DarkChip3 core. Click-on for a pic of the backside inputs.Update: Er, after posting, BenQ rolled with the english press release, The W10000 is a single-chip color-wheel based DLP, only.[Via Impress]
Optoma HD73, 720p native, debuts at CEDIA
Seems Optoma might thinks that your iBook, MacBook, or, um, PC needs some love by way of a matching projector -- and as such, it recently announced at CEDIA its latest mid-range unit, the HD73. As the name implies, the HD73 natively displays in high-def at 720p, shines at a respectable 1300 lumens, sports a maximum contrast ratio of 6000:1, and has a native 16:9 aspect ratio. It'll connect to all your stuff via the usual suspects of inputs, including HDMI, DVI and component, plus, it's powered by the DarkChip3 DLP chip to create a very solid looking picture. What's more, the $2,000 pricetag isn't too shabby once it surfaces for air this November.[Via AboutProjectors]
Optoma's new HD81 projector does 1080p
Everybody's gotsa have some 1080p these days, and Optoma is doing their share with a new 2-piece HD81 projector system that not only pumps the pixels, but processes them as well. The projector unit is based on a Texas Instruments DarkChip3 DLP setup, with a spankin' 12000:1 contrast ratio, 1300 lumens, Auto IRIS and 10-bit color. That's all well and good, but what really takes the cake is the included processing unit, which has three HDMI inputs (the projector has a single HDMI plug) along with plenty of other connectivity. The processor supports up-scaling to 1080p, and can handle wrangling with 1080i to 1080p conversion. The projector is available now in Taiwan for 299,000 TWD (about $9,114 US), but it should be showing up in the States before long.[Via AboutProjectors]
