Tag Archives: pico projector

DLP unveils new Pico chip architecture, promises brighter projectors with better resolution

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DLP unveils new Pico chip architecture, promises brighter projectors with better resolution

Pico projectors are slowly getting better and better as the years go by, and DLP's latest chip architecture announced at CES aims to raise the bar once more. The platform is the same size as the current generation, but it promises that products will be able to offer twice the resolution, 30 percent higher brightness and 50 percent increase in energy efficiency. Given our fondness for products like the Samsung Galaxy Beam, we're pretty excited to see how good movies look on our living room wall. Don't get too anxious, however -- the new platform is currently sampling to manufacturers and products are expected to arrive "as early as the end of the year." We have the press release for your viewing pleasure past the break.

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Panasonic’s 7.5mm-thick, 100-lumen laser projector module claims world’s thinnest title

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Panasonic's 75mmthick laser projector module claims world's thinnest title

While scanning through Panasonic's booth at CEATEC 2012, we couldn't help but notice a prototype of its world's slimmest 100-lumen laser projector module (or OIU aka optical imaging unit, as the company prefers), which can beam out an 800 x 480 picture. It's not clear when exactly we'll see this 7.5mm-thick device getting into consumers' hands, but there's certainly room for improvement for the image quality. Likewise, the scan-type OIU (resolution at about 400 x 300) next to the slim projector is far from ready for mass consumption, as the company is hoping to actually shrink it down and integrate it into mobile phones. That said, the fact that this technology doesn't require focusing makes it worth the wait -- the light doesn't go through an LCD filter like ordinary projectors do, and instead, it's a single laser beam scanning out the picture, hence the name.

Also shown along side were the optical bay drive pico projector that's already being offered by Fujitsu, as well as the PJ-SJ25U 854 × 480 DLP pico projector which was released in August this year. While the latter's image quality was rather impressive even under the strong ambient lighting, we struggle to appreciate the ¥56,800 or $730 price tag. Anyhow, pricing is just a matter time, as always.

Update: The thickness of the slim laser OIU was originally mistyped as "75mm." This has now been corrected. Many apologies.

Gallery: Panasonic's range of pico projectors at CEATEC 2012

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Panasonic's 7.5mm-thick, 100-lumen laser projector module claims world's thinnest title originally appeared on Engadget on Thu, 04 Oct 2012 02:31:00 EDT. Please see our terms for use of feeds.

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Pioneer Carrozzeria AR heads-up display hands-on (video)

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Pioneer Carrozzeria AR headsup display handson video

Pioneer has been showing off versions of its AR HUD for some time now, but here at CEATEC 2012 the company is showing off a production version of the thing. It is, as its name implies, an augmented reality navigation unit that shows you where to go using a front-facing camera and a variety of systems. A projector built into the ceiling shines an overlay onto the road ahead, using a piece of plastic that flips down in front of the driver's eyes.

It's a cool effect that, unfortunately, we weren't able to capture on photo or video, so you'll just have to trust us. But, more photogenic is the rendition that's created on the slide-out display of the head unit itself, which you can see in the video after the break. Additionally, the system creates a sort of targeting reticule that appears over nearby cars, letting you know when you're perhaps driving a little too close. (That, of course, is when you have to switch from missiles to guns.) The head unit recently became available in Japan, and while there's no word on a release date or price in the US, hopefully it won't be long off.

Gallery: Pioneer Carrozzeria AR heads-up display hands-on

Continue reading Pioneer Carrozzeria AR heads-up display hands-on (video)

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Pioneer Carrozzeria AR heads-up display hands-on (video) originally appeared on Engadget on Tue, 02 Oct 2012 08:29:00 EDT. Please see our terms for use of feeds.

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Alpha Range iOS game requires a pico projector and laser pointer, we go hands-on (video)

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Granted, a magical little smartphone is all the gadgetry most casual gaming fans require to get their fix, but when LaserVR's Travis Haagen popped by our informal meetup at Portland's Ground Kontrol to talk about Alpha Range, we couldn't help but be impressed by the project. The game has a classic Asteroids / Space Invaders feeling to it, but Alpha Range is more than just another bit of mobile nostalgia. For one thing, you're going to need a lot more than just your phone, including a projector (pico will do fine for your needs) and a tripod. You project the game field onto a the wall (in the case of Ground Kontrol, we taped up a few pieces of paper, which worked fine) and interact with objects using a laser point.

When your iOS device is facing the wall, its camera monitors the field, using computer vision algorithms to detect your laser shots in real time, finally discovering a novel use for laser points that doesn't involve annoying rock bands or cats. Hitting the circular enemies will cause them to vaporize or perform other functions like opening up a black hole, depending on their color. The game was pretty responsive and incredibly addictive -- in fact, we were a bit bummed when we finally had to put the laser point down. Such fun isn't cheap, however -- it'll run you $8 from iTunes, on top of the price of all the accessories involved it getting it off the ground. Still, it's nice to see an innovative take like this on a classic gaming scenario.

We've got a video of the Star Trek: The Next Generation-inspired game after the jump.

Continue reading Alpha Range iOS game requires a pico projector and laser pointer, we go hands-on (video)

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Alpha Range iOS game requires a pico projector and laser pointer, we go hands-on (video) originally appeared on Engadget on Mon, 20 Aug 2012 19:41:00 EDT. Please see our terms for use of feeds.

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Sanwa’s iPhone pico projector gets spec bump, trebled brightness (video)

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Sanwas new iPhone pico projector gets spec bump video

Sanwa has revamped the PRJ011 iPhone charging sleeve-cum-pico-projector we saw back in January. The new PRJ016 packs a 1,850mAh battery that can recharge your handset up to 80 percent and also power the projection mode if you want to enjoy a movie, or a spreadsheet, blown onto your wall. The 35 lumens DLP device has three times the brightness of its predecessor, can project for 120 minutes on a full tank and has a maximum display size of 60-inches, focusing from a distance of up to six feet. It's available in Japan from tomorrow, setting you back ¥23,800 ($305), and in the meantime there's a Chiaroscuro video waiting after the break if you'd like to know more.

Continue reading Sanwa's iPhone pico projector gets spec bump, trebled brightness (video)

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Sanwa's iPhone pico projector gets spec bump, trebled brightness (video) originally appeared on Engadget on Fri, 03 Aug 2012 07:26:00 EDT. Please see our terms for use of feeds.

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NC State’s new efficient pico projector raises hopes for smartphone cinema

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NC State's new efficient projector

A team at North Carolina State University has developed a new liquid crystal projector that could spell the end of bulky and noisy cinema gear. Conventional tech passes unpolarized light through a filter, but the process is so inefficient that nearly 50 percent of the energy is wasted just keeping things cool. Fortunately, the Wolfpack and ImagineOptix filter claims to be 90 percent efficient -- meaning that future projectors could be far sleeker. It's also a good sign for future smartphone pico projectors, although we're not sure how the owners of our local theater will feel when we start undercutting them with just a phone and a white wall.

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NC State's new efficient pico projector raises hopes for smartphone cinema originally appeared on Engadget on Tue, 17 Jul 2012 01:08:00 EDT. Please see our terms for use of feeds.

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Samsung Galaxy Beam, Galaxy Ace 2 resurface, get proper launches in Singapore and Taiwan

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Samsung Galaxy Beam, Galaxy Ace 2 resurface, get proper launches in Singapore and Taiwan

Samsung has been quiet on the subject of its second-generation Galaxy Beam and the Galaxy Ace 2 ever since they showed together in Barcelona this February, but the two just reemerged as close buddies for an initial launch in East Asia. The Galaxy Beam receives the grandest introduction, as it's coming to Singapore on July 7th followed by a more nebulous mid-July release for Taiwan residents. Those craving tiny, dual-core TouchWiz will have no choice but to flock to Singapore and pick up an Ace 2 at the end of the month. There's no word on where else they'll go on their respective world tours, although the cash outlay is strictly in the middle of the pack: we're looking at S$648 or NT$16,900 ($513 or $566) off-contract for a Galaxy Beam, while its more diminutive cousin carries a S$438 ($352) price tag on similar terms.

Samsung Galaxy Beam, Galaxy Ace 2 resurface, get proper launches in Singapore and Taiwan originally appeared on Engadget on Wed, 04 Jul 2012 04:27:00 EDT. Please see our terms for use of feeds.

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Sony, Sumitomo push laser projectors forward with a new, more powerful green laser diode

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Sony, Sumitomo codevelop a more powerful green laser diode for projectors

As cool as lasers are, so far there are precious few commercially available display devices available that use them. That may change with this new green semiconductor laser diode announced by Sony and Sumitomo, capable of the brightness necessary to replace the more expensive light sources used to fill in the middle of the RGB setup. According to the two companies, it's the world's first one capable of over 100mW power at 530nm, which they think will make it a fit for both advanced projectors and compact light projectors. Check after the break for more details on how the technology came to be -- drawing heavily on Sumitomo's production techniques and Sony's GaN laser technology developed with Blu-ray -- we'll let you know when there's a LaserVue or REDray setup priced for general consumption.

Continue reading Sony, Sumitomo push laser projectors forward with a new, more powerful green laser diode

Sony, Sumitomo push laser projectors forward with a new, more powerful green laser diode originally appeared on Engadget on Thu, 21 Jun 2012 07:47:00 EDT. Please see our terms for use of feeds.

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Dausen iPhone pico projector battery case at Computex 2012 (hands-on video)

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Dausen iPhone pico projector battery case at Computex 2012

It's not the first iPhone 4/4S pico projector battery case we've come across here at Engadget, but we spotted this little number at Computex 2012 and just couldn't resist sharing it with you. What makes this accessory a bit more unique is that it incorporates the latest in DLP technology from Texas Instruments. As such, it's capable of projecting a 640x360-pixel image up to 70 inches across with 1000:1 contrast ratio. The 2200mAh battery lasts about 3 hours on a charge an can even top off your iPhone in a pinch. Additional features include a built-in speaker powered by a 0.5W audio amplifier. We spent a few minutes using the pico projector and while it works pretty much as advertised, it clearly struggled with the harsh lighting conditions of the show floor. Stay tuned for pricing and availability, but don't miss our hands-on gallery below and our demo video after the break.

Gallery: Dausen battery projector case for iPhone hands-on

Continue reading Dausen iPhone pico projector battery case at Computex 2012 (hands-on video)

Dausen iPhone pico projector battery case at Computex 2012 (hands-on video) originally appeared on Engadget on Sat, 09 Jun 2012 02:10:00 EDT. Please see our terms for use of feeds.

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The Theory uses tiny MicroVision projector to concoct even tinier police chase (video)

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Looking like the ghost of Hot Wheels fantasies past, a new video short has beamed out of the minds at The Theory -- a production team that just happens to have a MicroVision pico projector. Called "Speed of Light", the mixed media film was made by projecting shots onto walls, floors and objects like laptops and then filming it with "no CGI trickery" added later, according to the team. Featuring a miniature Ford GT chased by a police car, helicopters, missiles and explosions, the pursuit was filmed with a Canon 5D MkII and HD MiniCam. To see if the little crook gets away with it, peel out to the video after the break.

Continue reading The Theory uses tiny MicroVision projector to concoct even tinier police chase (video)

The Theory uses tiny MicroVision projector to concoct even tinier police chase (video) originally appeared on Engadget on Mon, 04 Jun 2012 08:41:00 EDT. Please see our terms for use of feeds.

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