Mar 25

New glasses-free 3D tech uses per pixel prisms for zero crosstalk, audience flexibility

Posted in: projector, Today's Chili

Try as manufacturers might, attempts at autostereoscopic (glasses-free) TV have been subpar; existing tech typically makes for messy images due to ghosting, only provides a 3D effect if you’re standing in one of a very few predetermined spots (usually 8-10 viewing angles, though we’ve heard of 64), and reduces display resolution — all because only some pixels can be seen from each spot. With the occasional exception, it’s not terribly impressive. Scientists at the National Chiao Tung University in Taiwan are looking to change that. Rather than block light with a parallax barrier, their screen uses a matrix of specially cut prisms to reflect it, reducing ghosting to nil and maintaining display resolution by sending the same image to each viewer. Though there are still a fixed number of viewing zones, the prisms are so tiny that manufacturers can simply add more prisms to each pixel to increase that number — with 11 prisms per pixel, researchers say such a system could support 100 simultaneous 3D moviegoers. We’ve no word on whether the tech is affordable or when we’ll see it, but we expect it to handily beat cyborg eyeballs to market.

New glasses-free 3D tech uses per pixel prisms for zero crosstalk, audience flexibility originally appeared on Engadget on Thu, 25 Mar 2010 22:04:00 EST. Please see our terms for use of feeds.

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Mar 24

Tromso students put together the best interactive display wall we’ve seen yet (video)

Posted in: multitouch, projector, Today's Chili, university, video

Take everything you thought you knew about multitouch and throw it out. Okay, keep the Minority Report stuff, but throw everything else out. What we’re looking at here is a 22 megapixel display, stitched together from the output of no less than 28 projectors (7,168 x 3,072 total resolution), which just happens to respond to touch-like input in a fashion even Tom Cruise would find fascinating. You don’t have to actually touch the wall, floor-mounted cameras pick up your gestures in 2D space and a 30-node computer setup crunches all the computational and visual data to deliver some buttery smooth user interaction. For demo purposes, the makers of this system grabbed a 13.3 gigapixel image of Tromso and took it for a hand-controlled spin. See the mesmerizing show on video after the break.

Continue reading Tromso students put together the best interactive display wall we’ve seen yet (video)

Tromso students put together the best interactive display wall we’ve seen yet (video) originally appeared on Engadget on Wed, 24 Mar 2010 07:33:00 EST. Please see our terms for use of feeds.

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Mar 23

Sony ICF-C71PJ projecting clock radio to hit stores in April

Posted in: projector, sony, Today's Chili
We’ve seen a few projecting clocks over the years, and we’re guessing that we’d have seen plenty more if people actually bought the things! But maybe you live in a windowless box, or in Alaska, or someplace else where it is dark for depressingly long stretches and you need the cheerin’ up that only an extra projecting light source can provide — then this may be the timepiece for you. A product of Sony, the ICF-C71PJ projecting clock radio lives up to its name on all counts: It’s a clock. It’s a radio. And it will project the time on your ceiling if you so desire. This bad boy also features an input for your MP3 player, and the LCD display has adjustable brightness controls, which is pretty nice for a clock radio. And if that weren’t enough, wait’ll you get a load of the five different soothing nature sounds and the thermometer! Available in April for a price TBA.

Sony ICF-C71PJ projecting clock radio to hit stores in April originally appeared on Engadget on Tue, 23 Mar 2010 09:36:00 EST. Please see our terms for use of feeds.

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Mar 18

Apple patent application offers more evidence of projector plans

Posted in: Apple, patent, patent application, PatentApplication, pico projector, PicoProjector, projector, sensor, Today's Chili
They’re easily missed about the mass of Apple patent applications revealed each year, but the company has filed a few regarding projectors (pico projectors, specifically), and the latest one to be published has now offered a few more details on how they might all fit together. That application boasts the rather broad title of “projector system and methods,” and basically describes a setup that would let various devices (including a laptop or phone) remotely interact with a projector, which could itself be built into a device like a phone. To do that, each device in question would be equipped with a sensor of some sort that would be able to receive data from the projector, and even allow you to do fairly advanced things like calibrate the projector remotely. The application further goes on to detail how the system could accommodate multiple clients — letting folks overlay multiple images on a single presentation, for example — and it would apparently be able to receive and broadcast audio between multiple clients as well. Does this mean you’ll soon be able to control your pico projector-equipped iPhone from your sensor-equipped MacBook? Probably not, but it may not be quite as far fetched as some of Apple’s other patent applications.

Apple patent application offers more evidence of projector plans originally appeared on Engadget on Thu, 18 Mar 2010 14:24:00 EST. Please see our terms for use of feeds.

Permalink PicoProjector-info  |  sourcePatent Application, Patently Apple  | Email this | Comments

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Mar 18

Dell debuts wireless, 3D-capable S300w short-throw projector

Posted in: projector, Today's Chili, Wireless
Sure, we may one day all simply carry pico projector-equipped phones and ditch any other sort of display, but until then, there’s still a place for projectors like Dell’s new S300w model. Designed mostly with presentations in mind, the projector can produce a 90-inch, 720p image from a distance of three feet (or 60-inches from two feet), and it packs both built-in wireless capabilities and a so-called “Plug-and-Show via USB” feature for some added flexibility. You’ll also get Crestron RoomView Express software bundled with the projector for remote operation and monitoring, and some decent enough all around specs, including 2200 ANSI lumens of brightness, a 2,400:1 contrast ratio and, of course, 3D capability (though not out of the box) — all for $999.

Dell debuts wireless, 3D-capable S300w short-throw projector originally appeared on Engadget on Thu, 18 Mar 2010 02:56:00 EST. Please see our terms for use of feeds.

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Mar 08

Aiptek PocketCinema Z20 packs pico projector and 720p camcorder

Posted in: 720p, camcorder, camera, iPhone, ipod, pico projector, PicoProjector, projector, Today's Chili

Watch out, Flip, because here’s one tough guy that you don’t wanna mess with. Joining Aiptek‘s family of pocket camcorders is the PocketCinema Z20 — a fine mix of 720p camera (courtesy of a 5 megapixel sensor) and pico projector of an unknown resolution, powered by a two-hour battery (which we’ll believe when we see it). Users will be spoiled by a long list of features: 2GB of internal memory, microSDHC expansion, built-in 2.4-inch LCD, HDMI output, composite video input (iPod adapter included) and remote control. Want it? You can pre-order now for €349 or about $476 ahead of its mid-April launch. Meanwhile, enjoy Aiptek’s cheesy promotion video after the break.

Gallery: Aiptek PocketCinema Z20

Continue reading Aiptek PocketCinema Z20 packs pico projector and 720p camcorder

Aiptek PocketCinema Z20 packs pico projector and 720p camcorder originally appeared on Engadget on Mon, 08 Mar 2010 12:29:00 EST. Please see our terms for use of feeds.

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Mar 08

Microvision’s Show WX laser pico projector available to buy today, will ship March 24

Posted in: laser, pico projector, PicoProjector, projector, Today's Chili

Okay, so maybe Microvision is a little late with the release of its pocketable Show WX pico projector, but we’d rather have a truly useful projector late than a useless one on time. This laser-based beaut will offer you infinite focus — something we can vouch for having tried out the same technology integrated in a rifle — which essentially means that no matter how much you twist or jerk the projector around, or how distant your projected surface is, the picture will remain in focus. An 848 x 480 resolution image can be scaled from less than six inches all the way up to 200, though you’re most likely to stick with anything up to 30 in order to make the most of the 10 lumens brightness on offer. The contrast ratio is rated as being greater than 5,000:1 while the battery will last you up to two hours on a charge. The wallet damage is $549 for the standard edition, but the limited edition teased above jumps all the way to $999, for which you’ll get a personalized splash screen, LE insignia, a certificate of authenticity, a VGA dock and some other trinkets. Come on, it has lasers inside, it was never gonna be cheap!

Microvision’s Show WX laser pico projector available to buy today, will ship March 24 originally appeared on Engadget on Mon, 08 Mar 2010 08:48:00 EST. Please see our terms for use of feeds.

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Mar 03

Optoma adds HW536 and EX762 DLP projectors to the 3D party

Posted in: projector, texas instruments, ti, Today's Chili

If 3D monitors aren’t doing it for you, here are a couple of larger display options — our lucky pals over at Engadget Chinese witnessed the birth of Optoma‘s two new 3D projectors in Taiwan yesterday. Pictured on the left is the HW536 cinema DLP projector (NT$36,900 or about US$1,150), which has HDMI input and projects a 1,280 x 800 image at 2,800 lumens with a 3,000:1 contrast ratio. Next up is the EX762 business DLP projector (NT$79,900 or US$2,490) that also sports HDMI input and a network jack, while delivering a 1,024 x 768 resolution at 4,000 lumens and a 3,000:1 contrast ratio. Just to add a tad more burden to your overdraft, each pair of ZD101 shutter glasses — not bundled with either projectors — will cost you a further NT$4,000 (US$125), in return offering a wireless range of up to eight meters courtesy of Texas Instruments’ non-directional DLP Link technology (so no need to position any external emitters). A couple of close-up photos after the break.

Continue reading Optoma adds HW536 and EX762 DLP projectors to the 3D party

Optoma adds HW536 and EX762 DLP projectors to the 3D party originally appeared on Engadget on Wed, 03 Mar 2010 17:23:00 EST. Please see our terms for use of feeds.

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Mar 03

Acer rights its wrongs with K11 pico projector

Posted in: cebit, pico projector, PicoProjector, projector, Today's Chili
Why hello there, Acer. Not only does this K11 DLP pico projector look sexier than its predecessor, but it’s also been given some nice internal enhancements. Starting with display performance: the K11’s resolution remains about the same at 858 x 600, but it’s twice as bright at 200 lumens (while maintaining the same 20,000-hour lamp life) and has twice as much contrast ratio at 2,000:1. As for connectivity this machine now packs an HDMI socket (along with the usual VGA and composite AV ports) as well as an SDHC card reader and a USB port for opening music, video and picture files. Even with all these extra goodies, the K11’s only managed to gain 0.13 pounds (reaching 1.34 pounds) while sporting a smaller body. All we need now is a price, launch date, a few friends and a destination for our road trip. Oh, and some content.

Update: apparently an Acer representative hinted that the K11 will be available for about €500 ($685; translated page shows “$” instead of “€”). Yikes. Anyway, vielen Dank, Felix Fdot!

Continue reading Acer rights its wrongs with K11 pico projector

Acer rights its wrongs with K11 pico projector originally appeared on Engadget on Wed, 03 Mar 2010 16:19:00 EST. Please see our terms for use of feeds.

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Mar 02

Microsoft Research working on portable Surface

Posted in: Microsoft, projector, Today's Chili

Microsoft’s Surface has managed to carve out a small niche for itself, but there’s only so many places that a large, touchscreen installation can find a home (a yacht, for instance). Microsoft Research seems to be aware of that, and it’s apparently been hard at work on a more portable Surface for some time now. As you can see above (and in the video after the break), the so-called Mobile Surface would rely on a combination of a projector and a camera (and mobile phone, in this instance), which would offer about the same level of interaction as a regular Surface, and even a few advantages — like being able to use a pair of drumsticks to play the drums. If this all seems a little familiar, it should, as Light Blue Optics and others have already employed nearly identical systems to turn any surface into a touchscreen display. Curiously, Microsoft Research has since pulled the Mobile Surface page from its website, but you can find all the pertinent details by diving into the links below.

Continue reading Microsoft Research working on portable Surface

Microsoft Research working on portable Surface originally appeared on Engadget on Tue, 02 Mar 2010 17:37:00 EST. Please see our terms for use of feeds.

Permalink Pocket-lint  |  sourceTechFlash, ZDNet  | Email this | Comments

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