The idea of a $1000 1080p projector is enticing, but are the first products to reach this price, the VIvitek H1080FD and the Optoma HD20, any good? Yes, yes they are.

I have to admit, I didn’t have high hopes for these two machines. The first “budget” products in any category always seem to fall short, but in this case I was pleasantly surprised. Both the Vivitek H1080FD and the Optoma HD20, which use DLP technology, offered exceptional performance for the price, but one definitely stood out.

The Results…

The Vivitek takes gold almost every category.
Stack those results up (by weighting each gold medal with 3 points and each silver with 2), and you can see how it all adds up.

Winner: Vivitek H1080FD

While the Optoma HD20 and the Vivitek H1080FD are alike in many respects, the bottom line is that Vivitek pushed the envelope a bit more with picture quality, and provided more of those features that you might find in a pricier projector.

It’s a shade bigger than the Optoma, and a little more than a pound heavier at 7.8 lbs, but it is still an extremely portable device (they even go so far as to throw in a carrying case). Both the Vivitek and the Optoma lack lens shift capability, so I had to set them up on this ghetto cardboard box on top of a card table configuration in order to deliver a straight, unobstructed picture to the wall. However, once things were set up and calibrated properly, the Vivitek offered up slightly richer colors and better overall contrast (5000:1) than the Optoma—although black levels and overall quality of the 1080p picture appear similar between the two devices. I also give the Vivitek an edge in the brightness department—especially when comparing the brightest modes. Still, after running through several 1080p video clips on both machines, I was really wowed by the overall image quality on these entry-level projectors.

As I mentioned earlier, the Vivitek brought a few features to the table that you usually find in pricier models. For one thing, it’s extremely quiet—especially when compared to the Optoma. It also features more inputs/outputs than the Optoma, including S-Video, RS-232c connector and audio jacks (although it would be a crime to use S-Video). It even features a small 5W onboard speaker which aids in portability and ease of use for those who are looking for a simple, all-in-one solution. The speaker is basic, but I found it helpful in my temporary setup when I just wanted to plug and play.

There isn’t much to complain about with regard to the Vivitek H1080FD, but I did notice that menus in the UI don’t collapse, so you have to exit in order to get a full picture of your changes. However, the most troubling negative has to do with the $400 cost of a replacement lamp. The overall lamp life of the Vivitek and the Optoma are the same, but there is a $150 difference in the price of the replacement. Given the fact that there isn’t a vast difference in performance between the two models, this expense could be a real dealbreaker for people who are looking to use their projector on a more regular basis.

Runner-Up: Optoma HD20

Sure, the runner-up in a contest of two is the “loser,” but there’s a lot to like about the Optoma. Right off the bat, you have to marvel at how small this thing is. At 12.76″ x 3.82″ x 9.21″ and 6.4 pounds, users don’t need to use the HD20 in a permanent setup. It can be easily stored and transported—but, again, the lack of lens shift means you might struggle to get an optimum viewing angle.

Granted, the HD20 isn’t going to blow away enthusiasts who will settle for nothing less than the blackest blacks and whitest whites, but most of us will be more than satisfied with the clarity, color and contrast (4000:1). Overall lumen output wasn’t quite up to snuff when compared to the Vivitek, but it was still considerably better than you would expect in a budget model in both bright and theater modes—easily allowing for a screen just under 100″ in my living room to be comfortably viewable with ambient light.

Of course, the HD20 is not without it’s flaws. First of all, excessive fan noise makes it sound more like what you might expect from buying a cheaply priced DLP. It’s noticeable in Standard mode, but I was definitely distracted by it in Bright (users might also find the light emanating from the front vent to be distracting). I also found the UI to be well organized but fairly annoying to navigate, mostly because the remote isn’t very responsive. I felt like I had to mash the button down to get a response.

Feature Comparison

But What If You Spend More?

OK, so what if you’re willing to spend a bit more than $1000?

Epson’s HC 8100 represents a price point in the entry-level market for consumers willing to pay extra for better 1080p performance. At $1600, the LCD-based 8100 is a big step up from the Vivitek and the Optoma. In my opinion, it is worth the added expense.

Simply put, it easily outstrips both of its cheaper competitors in just about every performance category. It also has some advantages that the others lack, many of which derive from the advantages 3LCD has over DLP. Brightness and color accuracy are better, no color wheel means no rainbow effect (for the people who suffer from that—you know who you are) and it has a high degree of vertical and horizontal lens shift, meaning you can put this thing just about anywhere and throw a clean image. However, it is literally twice as big and heavy as the Vivitek, which could make it unsuitable for some setups.

If you are concerned with the long term cost of ownership, the Epson is competitive in that area with a $300 lamp replacement cost (4000 hour lamp life in Normal and Eco modes) and a two-year limited warranty. So, in that sense, it could be cheaper to own in the long term than both the Vivitek and the Optoma, depending on your usage.

Verdict

If you have your heart set on 1080p, the good news is that you will probably be satisfied no matter which one of these projectors you choose—definitely an encouraging sign at these price points. That having been said, I think it is worth spending an an extra $600 for the improved performance of the Epson HC 8100.

However, if the HC 8100 isn’t in your budget, there is no shame in going with the Vivitek—it will deliver a lot of bang for your buck. On the other hand, if you plan on using your projector frequently and the long term cost of ownership is a concern, the Optoma HD20 will be less expensive in the long run—and the choice might be further justified since there isn’t a vast difference in performance. Perhaps the best news is that, within the next year, more 1080p projectors from the likes of Sony and Panasonic will be competing at these lower prices, too. If you are patient, it might be worth it to wait and see how the market develops. [Epson and Vivitek and Optoma]

The Motorola DROID might be at the forefront of the Android scene right now, but it looks like it’s going to have some high-end competition soon — Sony Ericsson’s been hyping the Rachael / XPERIA X3 launch on November 3, and today it’s put out this little teaser video. Nothing much here other than some fleeting glimpses of the handset in Luster White, but it’s looking quite sharp, and if the final specs are close to the DROID’s we could have a real battle on our hands — especially since SE’s crazy Android UI skin looks pretty sweet. Check the video after the break.

[Thanks, Lars]

Continue reading Sony Ericsson Rachael teaser video plays with our hearts

Filed under: Cellphones

Sony Ericsson Rachael teaser video plays with our hearts originally appeared on Engadget on Fri, 30 Oct 2009 12:43:00 EST. Please see our terms for use of feeds.

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Two items of note for future owners of the DSi XL (aka, The Gigantic DSi) Nintendo has slated for a November launch in Japan (and Q1 2010 here in the US). First, if you’ve been wondering just how much bigger this thing is in comparison to the previous version of the handheld, wonder no more. The device has been spied in action on Japanese television, and it really is quite enormous. How big? Well luckily the folks at Joystiq have put together an awesome little FAQ about the handheld (including exact dimensions — 161 x 91.4 x 21.2mm for those keeping count) which addresses all the pressing issues and more. Check out the XL strutting its stuff on video after the break, the bop on over to the ‘Stiq to fill up on notable quotes and quotable notes.

[Via Kotaku]

Read – DSi XL FAQ: Sized up
Read – My Game News Flash on the DSi XL

Continue reading The DSi XL gets sized up, then Joystiq answers your nagging questions

Filed under: Gaming

The DSi XL gets sized up, then Joystiq answers your nagging questions originally appeared on Engadget on Fri, 30 Oct 2009 12:28:00 EST. Please see our terms for use of feeds.

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Remember the xpPhone? The 4.8-inch touchscreen slider has netbook-like specs, some sort of “AMD Super Mobile CPU”, and runs a full-blown copy of Windows XP. They’ve just sent through shots of its phone-function interface…and they actually look pretty good.

The main phone screen (pictured below) has call-centric icons, plus shortcuts to regular Windows apps that can be categorized into icon-based tabs on the left.

The interface can also switch between landscape and portrait views, and there’s a unified look to it all. I’d like to see some extra flair, though…like photos of contacts for incoming and outgoing calls. It’s such an obvious thing, so hopefully that’ll show up by the time the phone arrives. The xpPhone’s maker—China’s In Technology Group aka ITG—also says it will support direct access to the Outlook address book for contact management.

Their English pre-order page remains more like an expression of interest form, as it still doesn’t list price. If you curious, you can choose a 3G module for your carrier’s necessary frequency (AT&T, Vodafone, and Orange are listed).

Jokes about getting a blue screen of death mid-call aside, I’m getting more and more intrigued about the xpPhone. I mean, the thing weighs almost a pound, but just look at those specs below compared to say, the Nokia N900. I’ll fill you in when I hear more on pricing/availability—or any plans for an actual U.S (non-import) release. [ITG]

Configuration
• CPU: AMD Super Mobile CPU
• Memory: 512M/1G
• SSD: 8G/16G/32G/64G
• HDD: 30G/60G/80G/120G
• LCD: 4.8′ TFT Touch-screen LCD 800*480
• Operating System: Microsoft Windows XP
• Network: GSM/GPRS/EDGE/WCDMA (HSDPA/HSUPA)
• CDMA/CDMA2000 1X/CDMA1X EVDO,TD-SCDMA，TD-HSDPA
• Wireless: WiFi 802.11b/g,WiMax(optional),Buletooth,Stand-alone GPS
• Camera Specifications:CMOS, 300k/1.3 Million
• Ports: 1 x earphone jack, 1 x microphone jack,Docking Connector (includes VGA output signal ), 1 x USB 2.0, SIM Slot
• Battery: Removable Lithium-ion
• Talk time: about 5 hours,Stand by time: about 5 days
• Real life: about 7 hours(Standard), about 12 hours(Large)
• Talk time: Standby time，Operation time may vary depending different usage.
• Weight: 400g (include battery)

Take the BlackBerry Storm. Now imagine a phone that’s basically exactly the same, but does everything better. That’s the Storm 2.

It’s the same phone, essentially, just refined in nearly every way. It’s not the Storm reinvented, it doesn’t shoot lasers, and it’s not going to kill anything. It’s just better than before.

Sure, Press Me Anywhere

SurePress, RIM’s “the whole screen’s a button!” touchscreen technology, lives on. But now it’s four buttons. Four piezo-electric buttons that live under the screen, to be precise. What that means for you is that wherever you press on the screen, it feels way more localized, like the screen’s only being pushed in exactly where you click it. Before, it was like the whole screen was on a see-saw.

The re-balancing of the screen lets you go far more smoothly and efficiently from one letter to another while typing, rather than waiting for it to pop back up every time. A software change—which is available for the first Storm too—enables true multitouch typing (for two fingers, but that’s enough). You can actually take advantage of the new screen and type much faster than you could on the original Storm. In other words, the mechanics of SurePress actually work now.

The entire build of the mechanism is less janky too—the giant chasms between the screen and the rest of the phone begging for turkey jerky bits to get sucked like a gaping maw have been closed, and the four main buttons are now a seamless part of pushscreen. Oh, and one clever touch is that the screen’s dead stiff whenever the phone’s off—if it doesn’t press down, you can tell the phone’s off (though it does mean one less thing to fiddle with).

SurePress, while vastly more usable and comfortable now, is still flawed as a touchscreen navigational concept: It’s predicated on literally putting an obstacle in front of you that has to be smashed in every time you want to do something. It’s not an optimal experience. And it ultimately fails in what it supposedly sets out to do by “separating navigation from confirmation,” to use RIM’s verbiage: To make you type more accurately. It just makes you type slower and wonder why you can’t use the Storm’s quite dandy touchscreen like any other touchscreen, since the keyboard and screen are otherwise great.

Speed Isn’t Everything

The Storm 2 is quicker all around. The response of nearly every element is just so much springier than the first Storm—I’m talking versus the launch software to be clear, since frankly, that was the last time I used the Storm. Apps pop up instantly most of the time, hang-ups are a rare occasion, the accelerometer kicks in quickly to rotate the keyboard, and it moves with the kind of speed you expect it to. The phone feels way more like it should. This extends in some respects to the browser, too, which seems a little more capable—though by no means as stacked as a WebKit browser. I wish the camera was faster to start up though; it’s still sluggish most of the time.

There are a few slight visual tweaks to the OS since last year as well that make it more look more polished (I’m very surprised I noticed). For instance there’s a more matte, almost Apple-like gradient for highlighted items, like in Messages. Icons are a little more sober, which reflects the darker, slightly more understated look of the phone itself. My favorite software tweak is probably the true QWERTY keyboard in portrait mode, instead RIM’s SureType system that previously foisted in front of your thumbs. It’s better than Android’s—and HTC’s reskin of Android’s on the Hero—though not quite as good as the iPhone’s.

While it’s got a speed boost and a bit of extra iconographic spitshine, it is still fundamentally the same experience—the Storm 2 touchscreen interface still feels like it was designed by people with physical keyboards soldered into their brains. From the grand scheme of the UI, the standard BlackBerry setup re-jiggered for touch rather than a ground-up design, to the BlackBerry apps that clearly aren’t designed with Storm in mind, there’s a definite sense of non-belonging with the Storm 2, like when all of the puzzle pieces don’t quite fit together and you jam them together to make it work anyway. In other words, it tries real hard to be a touch phone and a BlackBerry, but it doesn’t do either of them exceptionally well.

The Storm 2 is where the Storm should’ve started, but at the same time, it’s coming into a different world than a year ago—even on its own carrier—where not breaking new ground is simply moving too slow. More than that, while the Storm is overall a good phone, unless you have a very specific set of criteria for your phone—that is, a touchscreen BlackBerry—you probably shouldn’t settle for a phone that doesn’t do the touch or BlackBerry aspects (read: typing) spectacularly. There are phones that do each of those things better. If you want a BlackBerry on Verizon, get a BlackBerry Tour, which has an awesome keyboard, if a few trackball problems. If you want a touchscreen smartphone on Verizon, you should get a Droid. At least, that’s how it’s looking so far—come back early next week for our full in-depth Droid review.

SurePress actually works now


Wi-Fi!


It’s pretty quick, most of the time


SurePress is still a mediocre concept, at best


Still doesn’t fit in as a BlackBerry


There are phones that do what it’s good at much better