Projector

The board game V2.0

By Ben Coxworth

13:58 January 28, 2010 PST

Board games aren’t necessarily bound to become obsolete - at least, not if researchers at Queen’s University in Ontario, Canada have anything to say about it. They will change, however. Queen’s Human Media Lab (HML) recently unveiled a prototype board game that uses traditional flat cardboard tiles (i.e: cards), but the images on those tiles are projected onto them by an overlooking digital projector. The images stay on the tiles as they’re moved around by the players, courtesy of an overlooking camera that tracks their movements. This means that the tiles could display moving video, that their display could change entirely depending on what’s happening in the game, or that it could be customized by the players. Monopoly night may never be the same. Read More

World’s first Remote Light Source projector

By Jeff Salton

17:11 January 27, 2010 PST

Today’s projectors are great at bringing to life big screen movies in the home or creating large visual point-of-sale displays for the general public in retail environments. However, a couple of downsides to projectors are the noise the fans inside them make as they cool the lamp, and then there’s the difficulty in changing a blown lamp because of inaccessibility to the unit (which usually means balancing on a ladder with your head pressed against the ceiling. Norwegian projector manufacturer Projectiondesign has created the FR12 Remote Light Source (RLS) projector – launched at Integrated Systems Europe 2010 (Feb 2-4) - which relocates the lamp from the projector to a rack-mount enclosure up to 30m from the projector head. Light from the RLS illuminates the projector head via an innovative Liquid Light Guide (LLG) lead. Read More

Texas Instruments and Asia Optical demonstrate camcorder with projection module

By Ben Coxworth

18:03 January 17, 2010 PST

If you’ve seen a digitally-projected movie in the theater, then chances are you’ve seen the work of Texas Instruments’ DLP projection system. With a resolution of 1920 x 1080p, DLP’s exceptionally sharp, clear picture has made it a favorite of the film industry. Soon, that same high-end technology will be available on consumer cameras. Read More

US$699 Optoma HD66 - 300 inches of 720p 3D projection for the home theatre

By Loz Blain

00:18 January 13, 2010 PST

No matter how much you spend, there just doesn't seem to be any clear way to future-proof your home theatre system. You can have the biggest HD screen on the block, but suddenly, if it can't do 3D, it's all but obsolete. With the rush of 3D content that's under development in the gaming, TV and cinema worlds, 3D is set to become the new HD within the next couple of years - and with that in mind, Optoma has pulled the covers off its HD66 digital projector at CES - a US$699 home theatre projector capable of showing 720p content in 3D with a max image size around 300". Read More

Big screen experience from your mobile device - the Microvision SHOWWX laser pico projector

By Mick Webb

12:39 January 10, 2010 PST

The Microvision SHOWWX laser pico projector

first came to our attention in development back in 2008, with the final version making an appearance at this years CES. Around the size of a smartphone, the SHOWWX projector enables a user to connect their iPod, mobile phone or a myriad of other devices to display movies and photos as a WVGA (848x480 pixels) DVD quality “big screen” experience. Read More

World first 2569 x 1600 projector throws 65-foot image

By Darren Quick

20:40 December 10, 2009 PST

Projectors have come a long way in the last decade, making true home theaters a reality for many cinema buffs. But why not think a little bigger and build your own drive-in? With Projectiondesign’s F35 WQXGA projector you can do just that. With its ability to project a 2560 x 1600 pixel resolution image measuring up to a whopping 65 feet (19.8m) wide it will make the neighbor’s home theater efforts look decidedly lacking. Read More

Atlona offers audio and video streaming with PC to HDTV wireless adapter

By Paul Lester

22:01 November 25, 2009 PST

Few would doubt that the ability to stream media wirelessly around the home will, in one form or another, be fundamental to the future of home entertainment. It would seem strange then, that a product apparently versatile enough to wirelessly send video and audio from a PC to an HDTV hasn’t received more support, and the new Atlona PC to Computer Monitor/HDTV Wireless adapter is one of few on the market designed for this purpose. Read More

sparkz iPhone dock doubles as a pico-projector

By Gizmag Team

21:30 November 10, 2009 PST

We may have to wait some time before pico-projector technology finds its way into mobile phones as a standard feature, but until then products like the sparkz iPhone/iPod dock projector will help fill the gap. The handheld 4.5” x 3” x 2.5” unit uses a 3M LcoS projection engine to throw a 640 x 480 image at a brightness of 15 lumens - so you'll need to draw the curtains and dim the lights before the show starts. Read More

Samsung releases P410M and A600 projectors

By Dario Borghino

16:42 September 16, 2009 PDT

Samsung recently added two new projectors to its lineup, both featuring high image quality and a wide range of connectivity capabilities at a very interesting price. The very portable P410M is compact and lightweight, with direct USB connectivity for games and devices, while the high-end A600 offers full HD 1080p video suitable for home theater projection. Read More

New NanoPen technique could make your home projector a cutting-edge nanotech lab

By Dario Borghino

17:10 September 9, 2009 PDT

A research team from the University of California, Berkeley, has reported developing NanoPen, an innovative and accessible technique that could prove especially useful in laying down patterns of nanoparticles for conveniently manufacturing miniaturized electronics with great speed and accuracy. Read More

Panasonic’s 2.25:1 PT-AE4000 home cinema projector premieres at IFA 2009

By Darren Quick

03:59 September 6, 2009 PDT

The Panasonic 2.35:1 PT-AE4000 is to projectors what the Philips Cinema 21:9 is to HDTVs. Aside from being something that most of us can only drool over and never hope to own, the PT-AE4000 is aimed at serious home theater enthusiasts and audio video professionals who are looking to eliminate the Cinemascope issue - a problem that sees the picture frame either shrunk down to ensure the entire width is visible, the edges cropped, or the image squished together making everyone on screen look thinner than Kate Moss. Read More

TOOB dome screen delivers IMAX experience at home

By Jeff Salton

23:12 August 27, 2009 PDT

Alexander McDonnell, founder of TOOB (Think Out Of Box) confesses to a fascination with the Mugar Omni Theater in his hometown, Boston – so he decided to build a mini-version for himself. The result is much smaller plastic half-dome screen that’s big enough for a couple of people to sit in front of to watch a movie or enjoy a video game. Read More

To the Bat Cave ... for a unique home theater experience

By Jeff Salton

00:28 August 20, 2009 PDT

Ever wanted to say: “To the Bat Cave …” but felt a bit of joker uttering those words out loud? Well, riddle me this … how does a home entertainment enthusiast 'Down Under' in Melbourne, Australia, get away with saying it? Holy Bat Cave replica Batman, he built his own … sock, biff, pow! Read More

SY Thalia - an electronic haven on the high seas

By Jeff Salton

07:41 August 13, 2009 PDT

The SY Thalia is a yacht with a difference … while it’s a beautiful looking vessel outside, it’s what’s inside that really takes your breath away. The 159-foot ketch is fitted out with an award-winning array of the latest and greatest AV gear that is usually reserved for luxury homes. In total, the $300,000+ installation has 12 entertainment, video and navigation zones, including five video screens, one of which is a home theater. Read More

Nikon CoolPix S1000pj camera packs a built-in projector

By Darren Quick

05:57 August 5, 2009 PDT

In what seems like an obvious merging of technologies now that it’s happened, Nikon has announced the world’s first compact digital camera to feature a built-in projector. The COOLPIX S1000pj is a 12.1 megapixel camera that could see an end to people elbowing each other out of the way to get a glimpse of themselves in the latest happy snap on a camera’s small LCD display. Read More

Holographic laser projection technology to transform any surface into a touch screen

By Darren Quick

01:02 July 21, 2009 PDT

Light Blue Optics (LBO) has received an injection of funds to further its development of, among other things, a holographic laser projection technology. The big news is that this technology can be touch-enabled, meaning any flat surface, such as a table, can be instantly transformed into a touch-sensitive display, eliminating the need for a touch screen and allowing users to directly interact with multimedia content. Read More

Uchiage Hanabi Fireworks Projector makes every day the 4th of July

By Darren Quick

21:01 July 8, 2009 PDT

I’m often told I’m lacking in the fireworks department in the bedroom so the Uchiage Hanabi could be just what I need. Produced by Sega Toys, the Uchiage Hanabi is a fireworks projector that lets users display a full fireworks show on their walls and ceilings, complete with realistic sound effects. Read More

BenQ's PC-less, lamp-less portable projector reviewed

By Kate Seamer

05:17 July 7, 2009 PDT

For those who just can't wait for the convenience of a projector built into their phone, the BenQ Joybee GP1 may be the answer to your portable projection prayers. Small enough to fit neatly in a suitcase (or hand bag), the GP1 can project from a range of portable devices, including iPhones and USB thumb drives. The GP1 has a sleek and modern design, and feels sturdy and light enough to be carried around all day - making it perfect for the modern mobile office, which often excludes a PC. Read More

Stop squinting - MiLi Pro gives iPhones the big picture treatment

By Darren Quick

06:31 June 29, 2009 PDT

The increasing popularity of mobile phones as complete multimedia devices has been hampered by one obvious problem – screen size. That problem has seen the development of different projectors and projection technologies eager to provide the solution. The latest to enter the fray is the Mili Pro - a stylish unit from mobile phone accessory developer PhoneSuit that is designed to give the big picture treatment to Apple’s iPhone and iPod Touch. Read More

Mini OLED projector prototype for mobile phones

By Darren Quick

03:42 June 26, 2009 PDT

A new mini projector prototype could see mobile phone users hosting impromptu movie screenings on makeshift screens such as white towels or walls... without killing the battery. Unlike conventional projectors the prototype doesn’t need an additional illumination system. Instead it relies on a lens system to project images produced by an OLED onto a wall or other flat surface. Read More

VirtualHUD gives any propeller plane an affordable head-up display

By Loz Blain

02:25 June 25, 2009 PDT

Every now and then, we come across an idea so forehead-slappingly simple, so practical and logical that we have to ask: how come nobody thought of this before? When you have one of those moments, you know the inventor's onto a rip-snorter of a product - and so it is with the VirtualHUD, a super-bright projector that uses the back of a plane's propeller as a screen to create a full-color heads-up display. The system uses similar technology to the augmented reality systems The Mobiler covered recently to overlay instrumental data, as well as GPS points, 'highway in the sky' targets and visual representations of things like no-fly zones, over the pilot's actual view out the cockpit windscreen - all without obscuring natural vision through the propeller. Read More

DigiLife DDV-JF1 puts HD video recorder AND projector in your pocket

By Alan Brandon

01:48 June 9, 2009 PDT

What’s the use of shooting HD video with your pocket camcorder if you can’t immediately share your cinematic masterpiece with your friends? That seems to be the question Life Technologies is answering with their new DigiLife DDV-JF1, a combination HD video recorder and pico projector in one compact unit. Read More

KDDI mobile pico projector

By Darren Quick

23:42 May 19, 2009 PDT

If you’re looking to share some of the video or photos stored on your mobile phone with an audience, then the KDDI pico projector could be just the thing for you. Designed to work with the new KDDI iida G9 mobile phone and the upcoming iidda range, the Toshiba manufactured handset uses DLP display technology. It can project a 480x320 image of between six and 63 inches onto a flat surface or wall up to 8.2 feet (2.5m) away. Read More

ViBook expands screen real-estate via USB

By Stephen Saunders

22:27 April 5, 2009 PDT

We've previously written at length about the productivity benefits associated with multiple desktop screens and the latest offering to cross our desk in this arena is the ViBook from Village Tronic. Bundled with its exclusive desktop managing software, this device allows the user to extend their desktop onto five additional screens, utilizing the USB port instead of the DVI socket on the back of your graphics card. Read More

Acer K10 Pico-Projector with LED technology

By Mike Hanlon

23:35 March 2, 2009 PST

Acer today showed its new K10 pico-projector, the first Acer projector to use LED lamp technology. Weighing a fraction over half a kilogram (0.55 kg / 1.21 lbs.) and measuring just 127x122 mm, the K10 pico-projector is one of the smallest and lightest projectors on the market today, making it the ideal companion for mobile users. While all Acer projectors are based on DLP, a technology that offers enhanced contrast, sharpness and image vividness, the new K10 pico-projector combines DLP technology with LED lamp technology, taking picture quality to a new level. Read More