Hasta La Gadget!

There’s a new king atop Sony’s line of ES projectors: the VPL-VW1000ES. Presented at CEDIA this afternoon, it bypasses all the beamers Sony’s delivered for home use so far — including the recent VPL-HW30AES and VPL-VW95ES models — by featuring a stunning 4K resolution, four times that of standard HD projectors based on an all new SXRD panel. Scheduled to go on sale this December it also claims a 1,000,000:1 contrast ratio and 2,000 ANSI lumens of brightness that allows it to project on screens of sizes up to 200-inches. Whether or not you can scrape together the ducats for a 4K projector this Christmas, there are other options for home theater nuts in the form of two new receivers for the ES line that will also be available. The STR-DA5700ES and STR-DA3700ES will ship in November but more than their hardware specs, they feature a new onscreen UI that’s supposed to be easier to use. The only device at the presentation with a pricetag was the HMZ-T1 3D viewer we tried out at IFA last week, which has been announced for the US in November with a price “around” $799. Expect more in person pics in a moment, meanwhile the press releases after the break have all the information currently available.

Update: Now with more pictures. During the presentation Sony showed a 4K clip from its upcoming Spiderman flick on a VPL-VW1000ES that looked every bit as beautiful as you might imagine. Also in the gallery is a shot of the new “activity based UI” for the receivers that looks at least something like the graphical upgrade the XMB has always needed. You’ll also spy one more device, the funky new SA-NS500 Network Speaker. It’s a portable sound blaster with 6 hours of battery life and AirPlay compatibility for $399, shipping in November.

Continue reading Sony announces a 4K projector for the home, prices HMZ-T1 3D head mounted display in the US

Sony announces a 4K projector for the home, prices HMZ-T1 3D head mounted display in the US originally appeared on Engadget on Wed, 07 Sep 2011 18:47:00 EDT. Please see our terms for use of feeds.

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You know how when you were a kid, the box something came in was almost as fun as the toy itself? Well, that doesn’t have to change as you get older — provided you’ve retained that creative spark. Ben Purdy apparently kept his imagination nimble and, with the help of a projector, a piezo element and an Arduino (of course), turned a plain ol’ box into a real life Minecraft block. Hit the cube with a stick, or anything really, and the projection-mapped image starts to deteriorate and particles tumble off as you mine it. You won’t actually be able to turn your harvested materials into structures or tools, but it’s still a good idea to keep an eye out for Creepers. Don’t miss the trio of videos after the break.

Continue reading Real life Minecraft block combines cardboard box, Arduino, and a projector (video)

Real life Minecraft block combines cardboard box, Arduino, and a projector (video) originally appeared on Engadget on Mon, 29 Aug 2011 15:41:00 EDT. Please see our terms for use of feeds.

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“Combined Surface User Interface” is a cool little patent application filed by Microsoft back in 2010, detailing the creation of a shared workspace stitched together by pico projectors attached to mobile devices. Users can interface with the projected area through motion captured on a camera. If the whole thing sounds a bit familiar, don’t worry, you’re not crazy. Earlier in the month, a patent application from Apple surfaced carrying the “Projected Display Shared Workspaces” title, detailed a fairly similar scenario. Interestingly, the two applications were filed a week apart, Microsoft’s on February 3rd, 2010, and Apple’s on February 11th of that year. It’s important to note, before jumping to any conclusions, of course, that the granting of patents in a case like this doesn’t hinge on the filing date.

Microsoft patent application details pico projected shared workspace, sounds vaguely familiar originally appeared on Engadget on Sat, 27 Aug 2011 07:32:00 EDT. Please see our terms for use of feeds.

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We’ve said it before and we’ll say it again — you deserve a projector. Watch those tiny LCDs and plasmas if you want, but it’s time to go big or go home and Optoma is delivering three new beamers to help that happen. The new HD33 model (pictured above) makes its claim to fame as the first 1080p 3D projector available for less than $1,500, while the HD3300 and HD8300 make their bones in slighly more upmarket segments, priced at $1,999 and $4,499, respectively. All three make 3D happen in conjunction with the company’s new RF-synced active shutter glasses, while featuring PureMotion3D and PureDepth for frame interpolation and brightness control. Those extra bucks spent on the HD8300 has ISF certified controls, lens shift for extra placement flexibility, PureMotion4D motion interpolation and a lamp rated at 1,500 lumens. The HD33 is available now, while the other two are expected to start shipping later this month, however with CEDIA 2011 just around the corner we’d probably hold off on pressing the buy button before everyone shows off their latest home theater wares.

Continue reading Optoma delivers three new projectors, one does 3D for just $1,499

Optoma delivers three new projectors, one does 3D for just $1,499 originally appeared on Engadget on Sat, 20 Aug 2011 20:04:00 EDT. Please see our terms for use of feeds.

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Telepresence, say hello to your future. Humans, say hello to the next generation of Chancellor Sutler. All jesting aside, there’s no question that Big Brother came to mind when eying Sony Computer Science Laboratories’ Face-to-Avatar concept at SIGGRAPH. For all intents and purposes, it’s a motorized blimp with a front-facing camera, microphone, a built-in projector and a WiFi module. It’s capable of hovering above crowds in order to showcase an image of what’s below, or displaying an image of whatever’s being streamed to its wireless apparatus. The folks we spoke to seemed to think that it was still a few years out from being in a marketable state, but we can think of a few governments who’d probably be down to buy in right now. Kidding. Ominous video (and static male figurehead) await you after the break.

Continue reading Sony’s Face-to-Avatar blimp soars through SIGGRAPH, melts the heart of Big Brother (video)

Sony’s Face-to-Avatar blimp soars through SIGGRAPH, melts the heart of Big Brother (video) originally appeared on Engadget on Thu, 11 Aug 2011 13:30:00 EDT. Please see our terms for use of feeds.

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