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Samsung AMOLED Beam SPH-W9600 projector phone is not what we've been waiting for
Remember Samsung's impressive 3.7-inch Super AMOLED Beam projector phone running Andriod? This isn't it. Instead, Samsung is launching its far less impressive 3.3-inch AMOLED (what, no Super?) Beam SPH-W9600 we previewed back in January into its South Korean home. So yeah, it's the same 5 megapixeler with T-DMB TV, Microsoft Office and DivX codec support, and improved DLP pico projector that replaces last year's W7900. But if it's all the same to you Sammy, we'll be waiting for the true projector phone successor -- your Beam i8520, codenamed Halo -- said to be launching this summer.%Gallery-90467%
3M's PMP-packing MPro 150 pico projector gets a partially positive review (video)
The pico projectors just keep on coming, and now it's time for the 3M MPro 150 to shine. It caught our eye back at CES thanks to its ability to play media, presentations, and even display spreadsheets all from internal memory -- no PC required. Now that ability has been given a thorough evaluation by PicoProjector-info.com and, while the overall performance of the projector was found to be good, it didn't quite deliver thanks to a VGA resolution. That simply didn't push enough pixels to render much business content, and the onboard media compatibility options disappointed as well. Build quality was said to be high and image quality good, but overall this one doesn't seem to live up to its $350 pricetag. You can see the thing in action after the break, or hit the source link for all the review details.
Microvision's Show WX laser pico projector available to buy today, will ship March 24
Okay, so maybe Microvision is a little late with the release of its pocketable Show WX pico projector, but we'd rather have a truly useful projector late than a useless one on time. This laser-based beaut will offer you infinite focus -- something we can vouch for having tried out the same technology integrated in a rifle -- which essentially means that no matter how much you twist or jerk the projector around, or how distant your projected surface is, the picture will remain in focus. An 848 x 480 resolution image can be scaled from less than six inches all the way up to 200, though you're most likely to stick with anything up to 30 in order to make the most of the 10 lumens brightness on offer. The contrast ratio is rated as being greater than 5,000:1 while the battery will last you up to two hours on a charge. The wallet damage is $549 for the standard edition, but the limited edition teased above jumps all the way to $999, for which you'll get a personalized splash screen, LE insignia, a certificate of authenticity, a VGA dock and some other trinkets. Come on, it has lasers inside, it was never gonna be cheap!
Texas Instruments unleashes new nHD DLP chipset, now with more pico
We didn't think it could be done, but the fine folks at Texas Instruments have just unleashed a tiny, tiny beast in their all new DLP pico chipset. The nHD DLP chipset, as it's known, boasts 640x360 resolution, a contrast ratio of "better than" 1,000:1, RGB LED wide color gamut (which should more faithfully reproduce colors), a new, and a lower powered processor. Overall, the package is 20 percent thinner and 50 percent lighter than the current generation DLP chipset. We hear the chipset should be available in the second quarter of 2010. The full press release is after the break.
Samsung Beam (Halo) Android projector phone hands-on
Well here it is, Samsung's pico projector phone live and in the flesh here at Mobile World Congress. And surprise surprise, it's running Android 2.1 with a TouchWiz 3.0 skin just as we heard. The only difference is the name: Halo is the codename, the official product name announced today is Beam. As a smartphone with integrated pico projector it's very impressive. However, as you can see from the pictures and video (it's coming), the 6 lumen brightness struggles even under the semi-controlled lighting demonstration set up here on the show floor in Barcelona. Samsung tells us that the TouchWiz implementation is nearly identical to what you'll find on Bada with "very small" differences. Unfortunately, the people we spoke with on the show floor weren't able to articulate exactly what those were. To us, having only used the two devices for a short period of time, they do look identical. Beam features a nice pass through trick that allows it to project the image seen by the 5 megapixel camera through the TI pico. Not sure how we'd use that in real life but it's a neat trick nonetheless. Now click into the gallery and prepare to be amazed at just how thin a smartphone with integrated projector can be while we wait for the summer launch. Update: Video is now after the break. %Gallery-85517%
No-name Mini USB pico projector now the cheapest you can buy
It was fun while it lasted, but Sanwa's once $119 pico projector is now selling for no less than $179, which means that it's no longer able to hold the prestigious title of "world's cheapest pico projector." As far as we can tell, that honor now belongs to this impressively boxy model known only as the "Mini USB 2.0 LED Projector w/Tripod," which is now available at various online retailers for $159.99. Specs are as basic as can be, of course -- but, hey, it comes with a tripod.
AAXA intros L1 laser pico projector / media player
It's claim on the title of "world's first laser pico projector" might be a tad dubious, but AAXA Technologies' new L1 projector may just be the first to hit the market, with it set to start shipping on February 12th. Like other laser-based models, this one promises to always stay in focus, and even project images (800 x 600, up to 50-inches) on curved surfaces with ease. Somewhat uniquely, you'll also get a built-in media player, along with the usual USB port, memory card slot, and composite and VGA inputs to actually pump media through the device. Just don't expect the same low, low price seen on some other pico projectors lately, as this one's set to run a hefty $599.
Sanwa's ultra-cheap pico projector available, probably worth the money
We're kind of fans of pico projectors around here, even if finding a way to justify spending big cash on them is occasionally a little hard. Sanwa's just unleashed a cheap little pico that may just be worth the money. There's nothing terribly standout about the Sanwa 400 PRJ-001 -- a Himax LCoS projector with a 640 x 480 resolution, USB connectivity and the little guy weighs in at only 85 grams. The best part of the story here, is of course, the price -- for $119, well, maybe we'll grab two. We can't be sure it's the cheapest pocket projector in the history of micro projecting, but it's pretty close. Hit up the source link to buy one for yourself.
Pico projectors caught in the wild, one on a camcorder, one in Samsung's W9600 cellphone (video)
Yeah, we know: you haven't bought a pico projector and you really have no plan to do so. Still, it's kind of fun to see them doing their thing, beaming little, dim images onto walls from improbably small boxes. The folks at PicoProjector-info are happy to oblige, posting two videos of DLP picos in action at CES. The first is a Texas Instruments model that's been stuck atop a camcorder (presumably with bubblegum), pointing backward to splay the image of whatever it's filming into the wall -- and to temporarily blind whoever dares pick up said camcorder. Next up is a demonstration of the Samsung W9600, which we spent a bit of time with ourselves at CES. Now you can see how it looks in motion, as both videos are embedded after the break.
Favi RIOLED-Q and RIOLED-V pico projectors launched: the future is bright, wireless
Looks like the world's still got appetite for some more pico projectors, as Favi's releasing a pair some time between late February and early March for prices yet unknown. First is the RIOLED-Q (pictured) which sports a pretty 800 x 600 native resolution at 50 lumens -- supposedly the best brightness in class (like the Optoma PK301), along with built-in SD / MMC card reader, battery, three-watt stereo speaker and an ever-so-handy digital keystone correction. Joining the party is the smaller RIOLED-V which is shy about its display specification, but proudly packs a card reader and WiFi to cater its various web apps for YouTube, Flickr, Picasa, Yahoo News, Weather, Email, Internet Radio and web browser. Too bad it doesn't do phone calls. %Gallery-82610%
Syndiant and Foryou break the low-res mold with 1,024 x 600 pico projector
We've already seen a pico projector here at CES that packs 1GB of internal storage, but Syndiant and Foryou have now finally announced a new device that has an upgrade where it really counts: resolution. Unfortunately, it's still just a prototype, and there's no word about pricing or availability, but the projector does use Syndiant's 1,024 x 600 resolution SYL2061 panel (pictured at right), and it still fits in a shirt pocket. Nothing else much in the way of details just yet, but this one's definitely the pico projector to beat when it comes to pumping out pixels.
Samsung's pico projecting W9600 gets a brief hands-on
Samsung made a fairly tame showing at CES but we did bump into a rather sweet bit of integrated projection fun. The W9600 replaces last year's W7900, and, like its predecessor, the specs are pretty thin. We do know, however, that it uses Texas Instruments' WVGA chip for the projection, has a 5 megapixel cam, a completely beautiful touchscreen AMOLED display, and can project vids, pics, and even the phone's interface. We've always felt that projection phones are pretty toys but ultimately, we didn't see a really solid reason they existed when we first saw them, and we still don't with the W9600. That being said, this phone doesn't feel so much like a work in progress, the focus wheel, finish, branding and the rest make this feel a bit more like a real phone and less like a dummy phone. Of course, the whole point is moot as the Anycall-branded W9600 will likely never make its way to our pockets, let alone our carriers. But do feel free to wander the gallery and take in the sights. %Gallery-81854%
Optoma announces PK201, PK301 pico projectors
Optoma's been courting the bargain crowd with its pico projectors as of late, but it's going back after those with slightly deeper pockets with its latest pair of pocketables, which dial up both the model names and the price tags. Coming in at $299 and $399, respectively, the PK201 and PK301 each pack the same 854 X 480 resolution, but the latter packs a supposedly best in class 50 lumens of brightness, along with an optional battery bank for an extra two hours of use in bright mode. Otherwise, each will give you the same 2,000:1 contrast ratio, a microSD card slot, HDMI input, and a roughly similar form factor (though the PK201 is close to half an inch slimmer -- head on past the break for a shot of it).
Light Blue Optics unveils Light Touch: a 10-inch touchscreen pico projector based on lasers (video)
They promised us a device in 2010 and sure enough, Light Blue Optics just announced Light Touch. As the name implies, LBO's product is a laser projector that turns any flat surface into an auto-focused and image-adjusted 10-inch touchscreen with WVGA resolution thanks to its laser- (not LED) based pico projection engine dubbed HLP (holographic laser projection) and infrared touch-sensing system. Light Touch runs Adobe Flash Lite 3.1 and includes WiFi and Bluetooth radios, 2GB of on-board storage (with microSD slot for up to 32GB more), and a battery capable of about 2-hours worth of runtime. We'll be getting up close and personal with the mini projector here at CES so until then, feast your eyes on the simulated demo and usage scenarios after the break.
RoyalTek outs RPJ-2000 pico projector
Taiwanese company RoyalTek's just announced the first of what will apparently be five pico projectors it releases in 2010. The RPJ-2000 boasts 3M's second generation LCoS chipset, VGA and NTSC / PAL inputs, and 0.5 watt speakers. The projector can project a 65-inch image at 640 x 480 resolution with 14 lumens of brightness. Disappointingly, there is no onboard storage or media player on this little guy, but we're betting one or more of those other models RoyalTec is set to unleash probably will have those glorious extras. If you want to use this baby with a Mac, you'll need to purchase an adapter kit which runs around $43, in addition to the $315 pricetag of the projector itself. There's no word on sale of the RPJ-2000 outside of Taiwan as of yet, but we'll keep you posted.
WowWee Cinemin Swivel pico projector shocker: available now!
If you're like us, you've been marking the days off until you could get WowWee's Cinemin Swivel -- or, the pico with attitude, as we like to call it. We've been keeping our eyes on it since CES 2009, so we can sympathize. Well, looks like the wait is over -- it's popped up on Amazon and we hear you can grab one up at Brookstone, too. The DLP pico, which boasts a 480 x 360 resolution, an adjustable 90-degree hinge (for projecting your Richard Marx video collection onto the ceiling) will run you around $299.
Eigenharp Alpha, Pico demo and mind-blowing concert (hands-on)
Remember the Eigenharp Alpha and Pico that we broke news of last week? Sure you do, but we bet you still haven't a clue how those long, elegant sticks work. The forty employees at Eigenlabs probably heard us simultaneously scratching our heads so they kindly invited us to their London studio for a quick demo, and boy, those musical wands look great up close, not to mention their remarkable flexibility for user configuration as well. John Lambert, Founder and Chairman of Eigenlabs, managed to sneak out of his busy schedule to give us the lowdown on the Eigenharps. It all started in his Devon barn about eight years ago and over time the Alpha was groomed into a 132-key beast, followed by the recently-developed, self-explanatory Pico. The defining character of both Eigenharps lies in their "completely new sensor technology" consisting of pressure sensitive keys, that can do dual-axis vibrato (not dissimilar to string instruments), accompanied by strip controllers for applying filters or pitch bend, or anything at all depending on how you configure them on their Mac software suite (Windows-support due in January). Likewise with the breath pipe: once you've loaded your library and presets you can switch from a Kenny G to a Daft Punk at the simple click of a key. Heck, you can even configure the air pressure sensitivity as well if you're tickling for a soft mood, or just feeling lazy. And those funky LED lights, you ask? Well, they're actually indicators for the different modes you're in rather than just being pretty. Watch the walkthrough videos after the break and you'll get a better idea. %Gallery-75673%
Green laser for microprojectors developed, microraves soon to follow
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.
Eigenharp Pico and Alpha slowly remove shroud of mystery, gets stratospheric price tags
We can almost say with certainty that neither the Eigenharp Pico nor Alpha will actually be remembered as the "most revolutionary instrument in 60 years," but that's not stopping creator Eigenlabs from keeping its hopes high. If you'll recall, these funky instruments were unveiled courtesy of an enigmatic YouTube clip early last month, and now the outfit is slowly dribbling out official details on its contributions to the musical realm. Neither instrument is being aimed at the bargain banger, with the Alpha going for £3,950 ($6,302) and the Pico for £349 ($557). Both of 'em sport keys, a breathe pipe, a so-called strip controller and their own native soundsets, though currently they'll interface only with Macs. If you're really interested in learning something new, you can surf on over to the outfit's website for a look at the specifications -- just bring the checkbook if you're easily tempted. Update: Looks the The Beeb snagged a little mouth-on time with it!
HYPOLED develops mega-tiny VGA projector display, has a tiny coin in the photo to prove it
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]