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Epson has issued details of new projectors it is bringing out in the near future. The PowerLite Pro Cinema 6020UB, Home Cinema 5020UB/5020UBe, and 3020/3020e are all 3D-capable projectors that offer a full HD resolution, and also feature built-in 2D-to-3D conversion of movies and a split-screen mode allowing users to watch two different 2D sources simultaneously.
Researchers at the German institution Technische Universitat Darmstadt have published a paper demonstrating a technology that could eventually bring complex, physical object-based control to pico projectors. Were the technology, dubbed LightBeam, to be integrated with smartphones, it could engender a much wider array of interactions and methods of navigating data.
Apple and iOS device accessory maker Kanex launched a VGA output solution for the AppleTV and any other HDMI device today -- the Kanex ATV Pro. The device is tailored towards adapting the HDMI output of the AppleTV (or other HDMI device) to a more standard VGA plus audio prevalent in educational institutions' projectors.
Epson has introduced its first 3D home theater projectors: the PowerLite Pro Cinema 6010, Home Cinema 5010/5010e and 3010/3010e. All of the projectors feature 1080p resolution and active shutter 3D, driven at 480Hz. The 6010 and 5010/5010e models are claimed to offer 200,000:1 contrast ratios and up to 2,400 lumens of color or white light output.
Epson has expanded its VS series of small business-level budget projectors, with the VS210, the VS310 and the VS315W, the only one of the three offering HD resolution and a widescreen ration. All three identical-looking models weigh in at 5.1 pounds each, making them lightweight and travel-friendly, and deliver 2,600 lumens of light output. In addition, all three can use USB connections from Mac or Windows computers to carry audio and video rather than DVI or HDMI.
Epson has announced two forthcoming additions to their Powerlite lineup of projectors for small and medium-sized businesses, the PowerLite 1221 with a native resolution of 1024x768 and the PowerLite 1261W with 1280x768 native resolution. Both projectors feature 2800 lumens of color and white light output and the ability to accept input from either Mac or Windows computers via USB or HDMI in addition to the other usual methods, including S-Video, composite and VGA connector.
Fujitsu has unveiled a pair of notebooks with the ability to incorporate an integrated pico projector. The LifeBook S761/C and P771/C have been designed to swap out the optical drive to allow for the inclusion of a pico projector module. The design mitigates the need for users to carry around a separate, and often cumbersome data projector for presentations.
MacNN has previewed Optoma's Neo-i iPod/iPhone dock, which also doubles as a projector. The system, which was announced in November and brought to CES, integrates a pico projector that allows users to play videos or pictures from docked devices. Like many other small projectors, the Neo-i's picture became slightly washed out when viewed under the bright lights at the Macworld Expo.
Sanyo has expanded its line of projectors with four new portable models geared for education and business use. Each of the projectors features long-life lamps claimed to run for approximately 6,000 hours, while the high-efficiency filters are said to last approximately 5,500 hours before requiring replacement.
Apple has filed for a patent covering a variety of technology relating to projector systems. The filing, titled "Projection Systems and Methods," describes ways to use projectors for interacting with other devices. Many of the embodiments are focused on improvements to viewing or controlling presentations remotely.
Optoma has introduced two new 3D-ready projectors, the HD66 and PRO350W. The HD66 features the ability to display 3D content such as movies or games in 720p resolution, while 2D content can be displayed in 1080p. The projector integrates a TI chipset with BrilliantColor technology, bringing a brightness rating of 2500 ANSI lumens with a 4,000:1 contrast ratio. Both projectors support a variety of connection options including HDMI, VGA, S-Video, Composite, stereo audio, and RS-232.
Epson has introduced its latest line of ultra-short throw projectors, the PowerLite 450W and Epson PowerLite 460. Both projectors are designed for educational purposes and draw on 3LCD projection. Each device provides a microphone input that allows users to hook up a microphone to boost their voices over the integrated 10W speaker; it also has a built-in closed captioning decoder for presentations to the hard of hearing.
Samsung has announced the P410M, an LED-based DLP projector. The unit is designed with size in mind, and as such measures no more than 5.8 inches long, and 2.5 inches high. Weight has been kept to under 2 pounds.
ViewSonic has announced a pair of new projection-related devices, beginning with the PJD2121. The product is a DLP-based pico projector, able to display images as large as 60 inches or more at distances as close as four feet. The device is limited to a native resolution of 800x600, but it does support RGB and component input with resolutions up to 720p/1080i. Brightness is rated at 400 lumens, with a 1,800:1 contrast ratio.
Even as the expected announcement date for a new iPhone nears, information has emerged on some possible future iPhone technologies. Among other newly-exposed patent applications is one for multiple simultaneous file transfers, which could for instance allow someone in the middle of a video call to transmit a song, image or voicemail recording at the same time. The call interface would be minimized, bringing up a second devoted to media selection.
Epson has introduced a trio of new projectors at the IFA show in Berlin on Friday, including a new top-end model. The new LCD home theater projector, the EH-TW5000, features a record 75,000:1 contrast ratio and uses a new iteration of 3LCD technology that compares well against DLP technology in some of its rivals. The new Epson projector features 1,600 ANSI lumens brightness and will deliver 1080p video, while its 12-bit HQV video processor is said to lift picture quality.
InFocus on Thursday introduced the X10 Full HD 1080p projector in the UK. Part of the company's Home Theater range of offerings, the X10 features a 16:9 native aspect ratio, and a contrast ratio of 2500:1, which can be boosted with a button push to 7500:1 via the company's Active Iris in the lens.
Casio has revealed information on a new Pro-Series group of Super Slim projectors. The base-level systems fall under a "Super Colorä" line, and are said to have a higher level of color accuracy than previous Super Slims, with a 10 percent larger chromacity region. The units have a 2x optical zoom, a native resolution of 1024x768, and a contrast ratio of 1,800:1, achieved through a 2,500-lumen lamp. Of the two the XJ-SC215 also has a built-in USB host, which lets users view converted PDF, JPEG, BMP and AVI files directly from a flash stick.
At today's ongoing InfoComm expo, Texas Instruments is demonstrating a new projector technology (not pictured) which it claims will significantly improve home theater setups. Combining a PhlatLight LED with a BrilliantColor chipset, the TI arrangement completely omits a lamp, instead relying on mirrors and the LED itself to provide enough light. The major advantage is said to be a lack of lamp replacements and filter changes, which can potentially be expensive for home viewers.
A Hong Kong company called Sunlink, using technology from iView, claims to have produced the first portable commercial product in the world with a built-in pico-projector. The Sunview PMPP is a portable media player that normally relies on a 3.5-inch touchscreen, but can also display images on a wall using the integrated pico technology. Companies such as MicroVision have been working to produce such projectors, but have not so far got them into any commercial devices.
In an unusual turn, Apple has patented a technology for simulated 3D projection, filings from the US Patent and Trademark Office show. Originally submitted in September of 2006, the patent revolves around a screen with an "angularly-responsive" reflective surface, working in tandem with a projector and a secondary device, described as a "3D imager." This component is key, as it is used to gauge the position of observers relative to the screen. As a person shifts their perspective, the system reacts, presenting separate images for left and right eyes.
Sanyo has debuted a new business projector, the LP-XW60. The system is described as one of the "smallest and lightest" of its type, having such little weight that it can easily be carried with one hand. It is also designed to be easy to set up, with an automatic keystone feature that adjusts the projector's alignment on uneven surfaces. Images can be anywhere from 40 to 300 inches in size, requiring distances from a screen between 3.6 and 32.9 feet.
Display maker Microvision has announced the Show, a new portable projector based on the company's recent PicoP technology, and intended to be tinier than current rivals as well as better-performing. The device is is small enough to fit in a person's hand, and is also less than a third of an inch thick, making it thinner than some modern media players. The latter are one of the intended pairings of the Show, along with cameras, cellphones and notebooks.
