Monthly Archives: April 2011

Acer C20 pico/micro projector

featured, Micro Projector

Following the Acer K10 pico projector, the Acer C20 micro projector shows a more serious side of Acer. About the size of a smartphone, this micro projector has USB and HDMI connections with a WVGA resolution. This micro projector is only 20 lumens though, but has 2000:1 contrast.

There are also composite and component audio/video inputs as well as stereo output for better sound. Rounding out the entire package includes microSD card slot together with a USB port that supports USB Slide Show and USB Multimedia for direct playback from a memory key.

A battery for this micro projector is good for up to 2hrs use in “ECO” mode (or 1hr in regular mode) and an optional remote round out the specs.

Big hopes for micro projectors

Micro Projector

Digitimes Research released their global pico-projector market forecasts for 2011-2013. They say that total shipments will be 10.7 million (up from 3.1 in 2011) – out of which 1.1 million units will be stand alone projectors, and the rest (9.6 million) will be embedded projectors – mostly from digital cameras and phones.
Global pico projector module shipments by application, 2011-2013 (k units)
Application                                 2011   2012    2013
Built-in Digital cameras       1,663    3,410   5,906
Handsets                                      668     1,146    2,770
Notebooks, tablet PCs             28        183      568
Hand-held external devices 611      945       1,144
Total                                              3,100  5,959    10,756

Source: Digitimes Research, compiled by Digitimes, April 2011

DLP and LCoS will remain the top two technologies – with DLP acounting for 38% of the market in 2011 and 40% in 2012 and 2013 according to Digitimes.

WowWee Cinemin Slice Micro Projector

Micro Projector

Cinemin_Slice-front_iPad_docked-copy

The Cinemin Slice by WowWee is designed to dock the iPad and display off the rear of the Slice.  The Slice multi-media dock/micro projector features a WVGA DLP projection engine with 90 degree pivot!  Rounding out the package are stereo speakers and a modern triangular design.

Cinemin_Slice-front_in_on_right-copy

The Slice micro projector is not limited to the iPad only.  You can also dock iPhone and iPod to it.  The rear also features AV, VGA and HDMI ports to connect nearly any device with video-out functionality.  It doesn’t appear to be very bright though since they state 60″ display in dim room.

Cinemin_Slice-back_flat_iPod-copy

Favi E1 LED Pico Projector

Micro Projector

The Favi E1 LED Pico projector isn’t the best pico projector, but it makes up for it with a longer battery life.  But the trade-off of a longer battery life is lower brightness and smaller image size.

The native resolution of the Favi E1 LED pico projector is 640×480 but can go up to 720×480.  The optical engine type is LCoS.  Due to the lower lumens of this pico projector, the ideal size is 5-20 inches.  The aspect ratio is 4:3 and contrast is 200:1.  This pico projector is recommended to be used in dark rooms.

The pico projector also has features like composite AV, headphone jack and mini USB.  There is also an SD slot.  This feature may be nice to some but not to others is that it runs off 4 AA batteries.  Given that this is a LED pico projector, estimated lamp life is between 15000-20000 hours.

This pico projector is fairly straightforward.  Not only does it come with a remote, which makes things easier, but it also includes a tripod. Between these two accessories, you won’t have to worry too much about the location of your presentation.

Favi