Posted 11/01/09 at 02:00:12 PM by Tom Halfhill

In August, Nikon introduced the world’s first digicam with a built-in video projector. The Coolpix S1000pj has a tiny projector—called a picoprojector—that can display photos and videos at 640x480-pixel resolution. In a dark room, projected images are visible up to six feet away, up to 40 inches wide.

Although picoprojector technology has been appearing in small video projectors and a few other devices, the S1000pj moves this revolutionary technology into a mainstream consumer product. Soon, “embedded” picoprojectors will be everywhere.

An embedded picoprojector is one that’s built into a device other than a stand-alone video projector. Digital cameras, video camcorders, and camera-equipped cell phones are obvious candidates. Embedded picoprojectors will probably become as common as webcams in notebook computers. Hand-held videogames, media players, portable TVs, and ebook readers are additional possibilities. Picoprojectors will be used for advertising displays, vehicle entertainment systems, heads-up control panels, and other applications that can benefit from their space-saving properties.

Continue reading after the jump. 

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Posted 06/05/09 at 04:25:36 PM by Andy Salisbury

Light Blue Optics recently announced that they’re working on a pico projector that features a complete touch interface.

While details are few and far between, they have stated that it could be available to OEMs as soon as the end of this year, and that it will be able to provide a WVGA or QVGA picture at 10 lumens. As for the touch interface, Light Blue Optics has only stated that it’ll require “additional product configuration.”

No word on pricing.

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Posted 11/19/08 at 05:31:48 PM by Andy Salisbury

So you’re looking to get your hands on a tiny projector, but that Pico just isn’t small enough? Well, it looks like the folks at Konica Minolta have heeded your call, and are currently in the process of making a projector that’s no bigger than the average thumb dive.

The new projector is reportedly going to be a mere 1.6 inches long, .79 inch wide and a paltry .3 inch thick. What’s more, is the projector will be able to put up a 20-inch XGA color image from a distance of about two feet.

What makes it all possible is the use of laser beams and vibrating mirrors, as opposed to the traditional light bulb and lenses. Sadly though, you’ll have to wait until at least 2010 to pick up one of these bad boys. Konica Minolta is stating that they’ll be on the market in two or three years.

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Posted 11/13/08 at 02:46:36 PM by Andy Salisbury

If watching movies on your iPod’s screen is getting a little old, your woes might be gone before you know it. Optoma is planning to release their ultra-compact DLP Pico Projector on December 1st, just in time for the holidays!

The Pico has been labeled as the world’s smallest and lightest DLP projector, measuring only 51mm x 105mm x 17mm, and weighing a negligible 120g. Optoma is planning to offer the device at Apple Stores for roughly $500.

Zune owners (really?) need not worry, because it’ll work with other media players as well. Packing up to two hours of batter life, and a built-in 0.5-watt speaker, you’ll be able to watch most of Titanic using just the projector. Lucky you!

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Posted 11/10/08 at 04:07:05 PM by Andy Salisbury

3D displays aren’t high on the list of things probable to be the next major form of home entertainment, but that hasn’t bothered JVC one bit. They’ve just announced their first 3D projector designed for home theaters, the DLA-RS2.

The projector won’t require any glasses; instead it uses D-ILA projection and stereoscopic video processing to present a 1080p 3D adventure.

Details are few and far between on the projector at the moment, but it has been confirmed that SENSIO 3D technology is at the heart, and it will provide a 30,000:1 contrast ratio. While the projector will require 3D content to make 3D images, it will be also compatible with DVD and Blu-ray discs until those become more common.

No word yet on the price, but it will be ready to take home sometime in 2009.

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Posted 11/05/08 at 08:55:05 AM by Paul Lilly

Toshiba's TLP-X200U might not have the same novelty appeal as Mio's Knight Rider GPS giving out personalized driving directions in the voice of William Daniels (KITT), but it does qualify as the world's first talking projector. The mobile projector's being billed as "ideal for non-technical people," a claim the device seeks to with voice-guided operating instructions and spoken system alerts.

Closed-captioning also comes as part of the package, as does both wireless and wired networking. Other pertinent specs include a native resolution of 1024x768 (XGA), 4:3 aspect ratio, 600:1 contrast ratio, 3000 ANSI lumens, and HDMI support. Toshiba claims a lamp life of up 2000 hours, or up to 3000 hours in Eco mode.

The 4.4-pound projector is available now with an MSRP set at $1,740.

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Posted 09/23/08 at 06:55:13 PM by Florence Ion

There seems to be no other device more inane than a pocket-sized projector. But then again, the only thing that could save a swanky cocktail party from total failure is whipping out that compact projector and flaunting last Wednesday’s financial report you so diligently put together. Everyone in attendance will be so impressed by your Powerpoint skills (look at the way that text swivels!). And fortunately for you and the rest of those lackluster cocktail parties you’re sure to attend, Toshiba plans on releasing an ultra compact projector the size of an iPod, so it’ll be easier to take your presentations with you on the go.

The prototype was on display earlier this month at Berlin’s IFA 2008, one of the biggest consumer electronics trade shows. The projector is small enough to fit comfortably inside any pants pocket and runs solely on battery. The device radiates a luminance of about 7lm and can display images as big as 50 inches.

Toshiba hopes that it will be successful at introducing the product in 2009. Afterwards, the company can focus on increasing the specs of the projector, gearing it up with more power and more capabilities. The projector may cost an upwards of $400 USD. Specifications may change before the device’s official release.

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Posted 07/31/08 at 08:11:55 PM by Michael Brown

Accell’s UltraAV HDMI 4:2 Audio/Video Switch is either a Dr. Jekyll or a Mr. Hyde of a home-theater product. The creature you’ll encounter depends on the video source you connect to it. Read on to find out just what we're talking about.

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