Monthly Archives: March 2011

Mitsubishi PK20 micro projector

Micro Projector

PK20

The Mitsubishi PK20 micro projector is a LED DLP micro projector.  This the 2nd generation of Mitsubishi’s award winning micro projector.  This micro projector features an ultra-wide lens for the shortest throw distance possible.  It can create a 20″ diagonal image with just 1ft of distance.

The PK20 micro projector features flash memory card reading capabilities.  The DLP imager increases brightness by 150% compared to the PK10 micro projector.  This results in greater detail and clarity, especially with the 1000:1 contrast ratio. There’s even an audio-in jack and a tripod mount.

The PK20 micro projector offers SVGA (800×600) resolution. This micro projector also includes RCA video, S-video and VGA inputs, plus stereo mini-jack audio in/out to connect to your PDA*, portable DVD player, laptop computer, digital camera* or video game console*. Like their first micro projector, the new PK20 micro projector offers instant on/off control, virtually noiseless operation, and no bulb replacement.

Sapphire Mini-Projector 101

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Sapphire Technology is better known for its ATI based graphics cards.  They’ve recently launched the Mini-Projector 101.  This mini projector features the latest super bright multi-chip LED technology with a lamp good for 20,000 hours.  This mini projector comes complete with charger, tripod, video leads for PC VGA, composite video and an approved iPod / iPhone adapter.

This mini projector uses a LCoS imager and provides a 640×480 resolution at 4:3 aspect ratio with a contrast ratio of 200:1.  If you include the battery, this mini projector weighs in at 103g.

This mini projector can be used to share pictures so that you and your friends don’t need to be squinting at a tiny screen on your phone.  You can also stream videos from YouTube onto your wall when connected to an iPhone or computer!  This mini projector  can also be used for business presentations, the possibilities are endless!

So just plug in and play – shine and share ! .

New technology to improve pico projector viewability

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Visual Enhancement Engine (VEE) is a new technology developed by Quiklogic.  The technology is aimed at increasing pico projector lumens without increasing wattage at the light source.  Pico and micro projectors can then be more effectively embedded into other devices such as mobile phones without increasing the drain on the battery.  This would make pico and mini projectors brighter without increasing power consumption.

You can read more here

3M Mpro160

Micro Projector

The 3M PocketProjector MP160 is an average mini projector. Though it doesn’t have the best picture quality, it is still fairly decent and will work when you are giving a presentation on the go. The built-in speaker and decent battery life are added benefits that almost make up for the low brightness level. Overall, this product does have a few things going for it.Mpro160

The picture quality of this mini projector could be a little better when it comes to the brightness, only 30 ANSI lumens, but the image size, 10 to 80 inches, is quite respectable. We were also pleased to see that although the native resolution is only 800 x 600 it is compatible up to 1044 x 900. This might make up for the fact that you need to have a fairly dark room in order to see what is being projected.

There are a couple of different options for connectivity on this product, although there is only one port. This mini projector comes with two cables that enable you to hook up devices: a composite video cable and a VGA cable. We were pleased to see that there is a separate port for the power cord. The battery in this mini projector only takes three hours to charge and will last upwards of three hours, though that does depend somewhat on the settings.

The other features of this mini projector include a 20,000-hour lamp life, which is very respectable, especially when you consider how many presentations that covers. There is also a 0.75 W speaker. This is handy when you don’t want to worry about packing speakers as well as your computer and laptop projector. The overall size of the unit is 5.9 x 2.5 x 1.2 inches, and it only weighs 0.7 pounds, making this a true pocket projector. The last feature we found useful on this projector was the fact that it comes with a tripod. This is a great addition when you don’t know how your room is going to be set up. Now you don’t have to fret about the screen being in an awkward position or the table being too short.

This mini projector is easy to use but doesn’t have the same capabilities as we’ve seen in other products. When a device is hooked up to the mobile projector, it will immediately register and just show what is on the screen of the device. It isn’t meant to act as a media player. The buttons located on the top of the unit only consist of volume, power and battery. This unit doesn’t come with a remote, which isn’t a bad thing, but it does limit the control of the projector. We never had any problem working this projector during our testing.

Summary:

The 3M PocketProjector MP160 is a typical mini projector that works well. While it’s control features are limited, the battery life, built-in speaker and high resolution option make this mini projector one to look into if you have to make presentations to make on the go. This is definitely a good product if you want something easy to use and simplistic in design.

from http://mini-projector-review.toptenreviews.com/3m-pocketprojector-review.html

Himfr Forecasts Micro-Projector Will Become the Trend in Mobile Phones

Micro Projector

BEIJING, Jan. 12 /PRNewswire-Asia/ — Himfr.com, one of China’s leading B2B search platforms with more than 30 B2B industry websites to its name, forecasts that the micro-projector will become the trend in mobile phones.
Even though the micro-projector is still rare commercially, in mobile phone market the micro-projector has great potential (http://tinyurl.com/yhez34d ).
Himfr’s analyst said that when mobile phones are micro-projector equipped, the micro-projector market will experience explosive growth, like digital cameras have become the essential components in mobile phones.
Mobile phones include a number of slick accessories, such as touch screens, digital cameras, as well as music and video players, some analysts question the need for adding more components.
However, the Himfr analysts believe that the micro-projector has great potential, because it allows a tiny cell phone screen to display videos.
Himfr believes that the mobile phone micro-projector’s time is coming: business training/presentations no longer require heavy machinery; and one can enjoy a film from bed, projecting it onto the ceiling — ultimate convenience.
About Himfr.com
Himfr.com is a promising e-commerce company and a leading vertical search engine company in China. Himfr.com offers a variety of high quality products such as metal detectors (http://www.himfr.com/buy-detector_metal/ ), plastic storage boxes (http://www.himfr.com/buy-plastic_boxes_storage/ ), hard hats (http://www.himfr.com/buy-hard_hats/ ) and many more.

SOURCE Himfr.com via http://www.prnewswire.com/news-releases/himfr-forecasts-micro-projector-will-become-the-trend-in-mobile-phones-81225747.html

Techberry ST200 Mobile+Projector

Micro Projector

Techberry ST200 is a mobile phone which can be used as a projector. The company launched the projector phone in Chennai and the price is not known. As per this blog it is Rs. 12000. The phone can project images and videos on to any surface and is aimed at college students and business professionals. Techberry claims this to be the first projector phone in India which we doubt.

Intex has already launched a projector mobile phone which is priced at Rs. 16000. Intex ST200_big IN 8810 is almost comparable with Techberry ST200 on every spec. ST200 is named after Sachin Tendulkar as per this blog. I couldn’t find a press release stating that but it looks plausible.

Coming to the features on ST200, everything comes twice. It packs in dual-SIM capability, dual memory card capability and dual camera of 2 megapixel each. ST200 has a 3.2 inch QVGA full touch screen. ST200 is a GSM phone with Bluetooth onboard.

Does it have 3G and Wi-Fi on board? There is no mention of it anywhere in the spec sheet. For the speculated price, I really hope it does or may be I am asking too much. ST200 supports analog TV streaming and recording. It also has a FM player and FM recorder too.

Overall, ST200 got the basics right with an enticing feature of a projector. If it has 3G and Wi-Fi, then it would be a real bonus. ST200_elevated_thumb

AAXA M2 Review

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Techbargains. com reviewed AAXA’s M2 projector.

m2-tripod<

A few years ago, the idea of a pocket-sized projector would have been the stuff of science fiction. Now, not only are micro projectors reality, but the image quality and brightness are getting closer than ever to full sized projectors. The $369 AAXA Technologies M2 is the first micro-projector to feature XGA resolution, which is better than standard DVD quality, but falls slightly short of 720p resolution. Upping the ante, the M2 adds a stand-alone media player and surprisingly robust on-board stereo speakers.

  • XGA Resolution (1024×768)
  • 110 lumen LED lamp source with 15k hour life
  • Maximum 100″ image size
  • 1 gig built in memory – with SD and USB (micro) readers
  • Media Player capable of handling MP4/MP3/WMA/OGG/WAV/AVI/WMV/SMV/ BMP/JPG/GIF/TXT formats
  • Optional iPod, smart phone, and PSP input cables
  • Wireless remote control
  • Built in speakers
  • HDMI, mini-VGA, and composite inputs

What We Liked

  • Image Quality – You probably won’t mistake the M2’s output for a 10k HD projector, but the image quality has to be described as excellent given the cost and size of the unit. In a moderately dark room (closed blinds, but with enough ambient light to move around safely) the M2 threw a bright and clear image when placed approximately 9 feet away from the viewing screen. The micro AAXA was a snap to focus, and we had no problems at all reading on-screen text or resolving detail when viewing regular and HD programming.
  • Media Player – We found that the built-in media player had no problem handling common media formats such as AVI and MP4 video, and WAV and MP3 audio. The M2, a USB drive, and a white wall are everything required to have an instant “media party.”
  • On-board Speakers – We were more than a little surprised at just how usable the on-board speakers actually were. In a moderately sized room (14’x16′) the audio from the M2 was more than loud enough for casual viewing. The included media player even allows the AAXA to function as a credible source of background music in a pinch.
  • LED light source – The bane of most projectors is the relatively short life and high replacement cost of the lamp assembly. We’re not aware of any lamps with sub-triple digit price tags! The M2’s LED lamps are rated for 15,000 hours of use, which is the better part of 2 years worth of continuous 24 hour usage. Compare that to the average 2000 hours a traditional projector bulb will last.
  • Attractive Design – The M2 is finished in a very elegant piano black plastic with sensual curves. The overall fit and finish of the unit is well executed and conveys a feeling of solidity.
  • Plays Nicely with Others – While the M2 works very nicely as a stand-alone device, we appreciated the inclusion of multiple ports (HDMI, mini-VGA, and composite) and connection cables. Available as well are optional cables for integration with smart phones, iPods, and portable gaming units.

What We Didn’t Like

  • Noisy Fans – Whether our unit was out of spec, or accurately reflects current production, the M2 has front and rear panel fans that are anything but unobtrusive. We measured the fan noise at 56 dBA, 1 foot away from the unit. This is much louder than the 30 dB specification claimed by the manufacturer, and quite honestly is noisy enough to interfere with quiet dialogue, especially when using the on-board speakers.
  • Slightly Clumsy Menu Structure – If you’re used to the elegant simplicity of Apple devices, you may find that the M2 menu is slightly counter-intuitive.
  • Remote Hard to Use in the Dark – Lots of small buttons with small type on a shiny background made low-light usage tricky. Back lit (or glow in the dark) keys would be a welcome addition.
  • Outboard Power Supply – The inclusion of an outboard power supply does take away a little of the “put it in your laptop bag and go” charm away… that said, we’ll get over it!
  • Language Barrier – Although it’s just a “freebie” type feature, we were a little surprised when the picture block game was only available with Chinese menu controls, despite the global language setting being set to English.

Our Verdict

Overall, we were more than a little bit taken with the M2. The combination of excellent image quality, thoughtful integration with a variety of ancillary gear, and the included stand-alone media player (with speakers) made for a great turn-key solution for portable large-screen viewing. Let down chiefly by the intrusively loud fans, the AAXA Technologies M2 is nonetheless a worthy contender in the micro-projector arena, and a unit well worth investigating.

Our Score: 3.5 out of 5