How to Buy a Mini / Pico / Palm-Top Projector

Portable projectors keep getting smaller and lighter. Whereas a 12-pound projector once qualified as portable, now it's considered acceptable only for carrying from room to room. The smallest, lightest projectors today are small enough so you can bring one along without a second thought, stuffing it into a briefcase or even a pocket. However, some compromises go along with the small size—notably low brightness levels. If you're thinking about getting a small projector, considering these questions first will help you pick the right one.

How Portable Does It Have To Be?

The smallest projectors today fall into two categories: palm-top and pico. There's some confusion about the categories, because most manufacturers call palm-tops pocket projectors. But with dimensions that top out at about 2.5 by a little more than 5 by 5 inches, the pocket description is more metaphorical than real. Pico projectors, on the other hand, are comparable to a cell phone in size and weight, so they can easily fit in a shirt pocket. Palm-tops are portable enough to carry with you easily when you need them. Pico projectors are small and light enough to carry all the time.

Some of these projectors also enhance their portability by being able to read files directly from a USB memory key. Ask yourself whether taking advantage of that feature will let you leave your computer at home. If so, a somewhat larger and heavier projector with a USB reader feature can be more portable in a practical sense than a lighter projector that won't work without your computer.


Via PCMag - read the full article on their site ;)

AAXA P2 pico projector launches

AAXA Technologies has unveiled their latest pico-projector dubbed the P2. It measures only 4.3-inch x 2.1-inch x 1-inch and weighs just 260 grams. The palm sized projector sports a 800 x 600 resolution, 33 lumens brightness, 1,000:1 contrast ratio, 1GB of storage, a microSD card slot and a 1,700mAh rechargeable battery that lasts up to 35 minutes.

It also comes complete with 1W stereo speakers, a 3.5mm composite A/V port, a mini USB port, a 3.5mm headphone jack and VGA port. The AAXA P2 is available now for pre-order for $349.

Via slipperybrick.com

Nikon launches Coolpix S1000pj 12.1-megapixel camera with built-in picoprojector

set for release in September for a hefty $429, the 12.1-megapixel Coolpix S1000pj looks like your typical compact digicam, complete with a 28mm wide-angle lens, flash, and a 2.7-inch LCD in back.

But the Nikon has a cool trick up its sleeves: a tiny, built-in projector capable of throwing a 40-inch image onto any nearby surface, good for showing off individual snapshots, slideshows, or even clips you've captured with the S1000pj's video recorder.

Expect VGA resolution from the Coolpix's pico projector, according to Nikon, as well as an hour of battery life. Also in the box: a projector stand, as well as a remote that controls the projector or acts as a shutter release.

Nikon also promises that the S1000pj won't shirk its usual imaging duties, packing in 5x optical/4x digital zoom, image stabilization, "face-priority" auto focus, and a "best shot selector" mode that takes a burst of shots and picks the one with the sharpest focus.

Via tech.yahoo.com

BeamBox Essential G2 pico-projector

The BeamBox Essential G2, drops both bulk and weight to come in at 75g, together with 20 lumens brightness and VGA 640 x 480 resolution.


As with the R1 there’s 1GB of onboard storage, but unlike that model there’s no integrated battery. That means you’ll always need external power to drive the G2, but since it shows up via USB as a secondary monitor when plugged into a laptop or netbook that should be no great issue.

There’s also a remote control and tripod mount, and it’s compatible with both Windows and Mac machines. Contrast ratio is 100:1 and the Essential G2 can create up to a 73.5-inch image from three meters away. It’s available for pre-order now, priced at £220 or $250, with deliveries expected to begin on July 29th.

Buy AAXA P1 Pico Projector - Titanium Gray

Via SlashGear

Apple vs Nokia vs Samsung: projector phone wars?

Apple and Nokia, both sworn mobile enemies, are each said to be plotting projector phones for a 2010 release. Can either gadget giant take on the Samsung i7410 pico projector phone and win? Read on to find out just what they’re beavering away on.

The idea of an Apple or Nokia projector phone might not be as far fetched as tech hounds might like to think. Reports coming out of Taiwan, quoting sources "close to handset manufacturers", suggest that Foxlink, whose parent company Foxconn are behind the iPhone, have already got an in–phone projector ready to go.

Via Mirror.co.uk

Samsung MBP200 Pico projector

Samsung has begun selling their MBP200 convergence device in Germany. Samsung has developed other convergence devices (items that serve multiple functions) and the MBP200's portable media player (PMP) and Pico projector combo doesn't disappoint. While not officially available in the US at this time, it can be purchased and delivered to US customers through online retailers.

A compact portable projector designed to connect directly to mobile phones and laptops the MBP200 brings presentations on the road - sometimes without the need for a laptop. The Pico Projector natively supports PDF and Microsoft Office standard file formats, so you can leave the laptop behind and instead store your presentation on a microSD (in capacities up to 16 GB).

Weighing in at just 160-grams, the Pico Projector is capable of projecting onto a surface as small as a sheet of paper with up to a 50-inch viewing area. Without cooling, I'm not sure how bright the MBP200 is (number of lumens), but for small presentations it's probably adequate and the cool factor is sure to impress.

Because the MBP200 also includes a 2.2-inch QVGA LCD, the device is also a PMP. In fact it's a 4-in-1 file/picture viewer and music/video player. The MBP200 is a no-brainer to pack for business and pleasure and if Samsung ever decides to incorporate a phone, WiFi and Bluetooth, I'd unload a drawer-full of old gear on eBay tomorrow.

Buy Samsung MBP200 Pico DLP Projector

Via examiner.com

Microvision Shows Off Show WX Laser Picoprojector

The Show WX uses a Micro-Electro-Mechanical System (MEMS) two directional oscillating mirror, and three small laser diodes which are combined to create some of the most vivid colors the human eye can see. Unlike LED’s or high-intensity discharge bulbs, the lasers are always at a constant wavelength so light energy is rarely lost. When the lasers combine with the MEMS unit a processor tells the mirror to shoot one pixel of information at a time. So an image can even be projected onto uneven or curved surfaces. These components set the Show WX apart from any other pico projector because their technology will only get smaller.

Some of the specifications:
• Resolution: WVGA (848 x 480)
• Brightness: 10 Lumens
• Aspect Ratio: 16:9 Widescreen
• Refresh Rate: 60 Hz (nominal)
• Color Gamut: ] 200% NTSC
• Contrast Ratio: ] 5,000:1
• Throw Ratio: 1:1(projection distance/image diagonal)
• Image size: 150 mm to 2500 mm (6 in to 100 in)
• Projection Distance: 150 mm to 2500 mm (6 in to 100 in)
• Focus: No user focus adjustment needed. Image is always in focus, even on curved surfaces
• Regulatory: Class 2 laser product.1 UL listing planned

Microvison states that the projector will be available during this summer and will retail for around $400-$500 USD depending on manufacturing costs. Hopefully Microvison technology will be embedded in a Windows Phone soon.

Via pocketnow.com

Himax HX7027-5W80 (Henry) Module and Projector specs

The LCOS projector includes

- One system board (With Himax HX7027 Video Processor) - One CF-LCOS microdisplay - One projection optics - One polarization optics - LED optics

Features
	- 0.44" HX7027 (640x480) LCOS - 5W Lumiled K2-200 LED - 80cc optical module and 240cc projector - 12 ANSI lumen - Video input (with or) without Battery

Buy Optoma EP-PK-101 PICO Pocket Projector- 4 oz.

Via Himax Display

Aiptek T20 picoprojector specs

• LCoS™ Display Technology
• 640 x 480 Native Resolution
• 4:3 Native Aspect Ratio

Aiptek T20 LCoS Projector Information

Manufacturer	Aiptek
Manufacturer Part #	T20
Production Status	Announced

Aiptek T20 LCoS Projector Specifications

General	Aspect Ratio	4:3 (Native)
	Display Type	LCoS
	Resolution (Native / Max)	VGA (640 x 480)
Connectivity	Inputs	1 x USB
Projection Lens	Lamp Type	LED
	Projection Screen Size (Diagonal)	in. ~ 42in. (0cm ~ 106.68cm)

Aiptek T20, T30: picoprojectors for iPhone

Aiptek at Computex provided looks at a pair of pico projectors both tailored to portable hardware. The T30 is the smallest and is intended for iPhones and iPods that need a larger view for video. While limited, it has the rare addition of an RGB LED that produces more accurate pictures than a typical white-light LED. Pictures scale up to as large as 50 inches depending on the throw distance, and it also assists in recording with an AV input.
The T20 is larger and crafted for notebooks but uses only the USB port for its signal; the move reduces expansion but obviates the need for a separate battery on the projector itself. It can only display at VGA (640x480) resolution but can put up images as large as 42 inches.
Both of Aiptek's projectors are due to ship by the end of the year and are likely to ship to the US.

Via Electronista

camcorders with built-in pico projectors

The pico projection thing might be getting a little out of hand. Sure, the projectors themselves are cool, and it’s hard to say no to cute accessories like this thing, but with pico projectors planned for phones, media players, and now little camcorders, things are getting a bit… projectionable.

Via CrunchGear, via RegHardware

Honlai QingBar MP102 LCOS Projector

The Honlai QingBar MP102 projector official page doesn't show much but some specs and marketing info, at least the product looks nice.

• See image of 15" ~ 37" (50 cm ~ 1.5M )
• Video / Audio input for any AV composite AVsignal
• Embedded Speaker

Specification

Method of projection	LCoS
Panel Size	0.44"
Aspect ratio	4:3
Focus	Manual
Lamp source	LED (3W)
Lamp life	over 20,000 hrs
Brightness	ANSI / 10-15 lumens
Contrat ratio (FIFO)	200 : 1
Resolution	640*480 Pixels (VGA)
Scree size	15" ~ 37" (50cm ~ 1.5M)
Video / Audio Terminal	D-SUB 15pin / Mini AV jack
Speaker	1W
Video Signal	Composite Video (AV in)
Color reproduction	Full 16.7 Million Colors
Power source	DC 5V,2.5A,AC 100~240V 50~60Hz
Dimension	77*82*45mm (L*W*H)

Via Honlai

Thanko MINIJEC1 Micro LED Pico Projector

It's resolution is quite standard, 640x480, with 10 lumens brightness and a 200:1 contrast ratio. As for results, expect a 45” screen size at only 2m (6ft) away from the projector and 14” at only 60cm (2ft) away.

Via Akihabara

LG Monaco Cellphone with WM7 And Pico Projector

Engadget shows the LG Monaco (Pico) cell phone with built in picoprojector.

Features: 3.6Mbps HSDPA, a 3.2-inch WVGA display, 5 megapixel AF cam, microSD expansion, an add-on pico projector of some sort, and Windows Mobile 7. Though the screen is 0.3 inches smaller diagonally than the alleged minimum specified by Microsoft's "Chassis 1" guidelines, everything else here would work (and look) great as a next-gen device -- and the accessory projector's a pretty nifty selling point, too. At one point, AT&T had a crazy idea that they'd have this puppy on shelves by September of this year, but seeing we'll be lucky to have 6.5 devices in our hands by then, this date has undoubtedly slipped since the slide was made.

Buy AAXA P1 Pico Projector

Via Engadget

BenQ Joybee GP1 Reviewed

ShasGear just reviewed the BenQ Joybee GP1 pico projector, here's what they say. Read the full BenQ Joybee GP1 review at SlashGear.

The hardware package is a mixed bag of success. The GP1 itself is an attractive, compact box measuring 5.4 by 4.7 by 2.1 inches and weighing just 1.4lbs, made from glossy fingerprint-loving black and white plastic and with a circle of touch-sensitive blue backlit buttons up top. Build quality seems good, and while there’s no sliding cover the lens is deeply recessed into the body of the projector.

Less pleasing is the PSU brick, which is around half the size of the pico-projector itself and has no space in the included soft case. That wouldn’t be so frustrating if it wasn’t for the fact that the GP1 has no internal battery and so will always need an external power supply. The remote, too, is ugly and doesn’t follow the same button layout as the touch-keys.

Buy an Epson EX30 3LCD Multimedia Projector, SVGA, 2200 Lumens

AAXA P1 pico projector reviewed

Right out the box, the lightweight pico-projector doesn’t look like much – a clean, piano-finish hard plastic that tips the scales at a mere 6 ounces, with optics offset to the side and protected with a handy rubber cover. There’s also a focus knob for the lens, ventilation along the side panels and an exhaust fan next to the lens. Unfortunately there’s no tripod thread on the back or base of the projector, unlike the BeamBox.

An integrated PMP chipset allows for media playback of various video, music and picture formats, with 1GB of onboard storage. There’s also a built-in speaker, small but enough to deliver adequate sound output or music in a quiet and small-sized room. If 1GB isn’t enough for you, there’s a microSD card slot for extended storage, and it has the usual I/O connectivity from Mini USB (to access the internal memory), a 3.5mm composite A/V jack, 3.5mm stereo headphone jack and an AC power connector; AAXA included an optional accessories adaptor, for hooking up your iPhone/iPod iTouch/PSP, and they also offer a VGA convertor for linking your computer to the projector.

Read the full AAXA P1 review at SlashGear

BeamBox Evolution R1 Pico-Projector Review

Slashgear had a review of the BeamBox R1 picoprojector, here's a bit from that, check out the full review at their page, see the link below.

The R1 offers a choice of two modes. At its simplest, the pico-projector works as a basic A/V display, taking composite video and stereo audio input. This will work with pretty much any standard source, whether a portable DVD player, camcorder or even a laptop with a suitable adapter. More interestingly, the R1 also has an onboard media player, turning it into a standalone system rather than one tethered to an external source.

Holding down the play/pause button boots up the media app, which offers a choice of Music, Video, Photo, eBook, Explorer and Settings. The GUI is basic but reasonably attractive, and hides a fair degree of functionality. Audio tracks can be organized by artist, album or genre, together with all tracks and playlists (the latter of which can be copied over to the R1, but not created on-device), with an on-screen equalizer animation, bitrate and ID3 details. Controls include play/pause, track skip and fast-forward/rewind, together with volume.

Read the full BeamBox Evolution R1 Pico-Projector Review

Buy a Nextar Z10 Micro Projector

FAVI PJM-1000 picoprojector

SlashGear says:

At 4.4 x 1.9 x 0.6 inches it’s certainly small, though it can still create a maximum 100-inch image from 12ft away. You’ll need a dark room for that, though, as it only musters 12 lumens and an 80:1 contrast ratio for its 640 x 480 4:3 picture. The battery is good for around 50 minutes of standalone use.

There’s no onboard memory card slot or internal storage, nor a standalone media player function, so you’re limited to playing video from external sources. Both VGA and video cables are supplied, meaning you can plug in your notebook as well as a portable DVD player.

Buy a FAVI Mini Pocket Projector PJM-1000

KDDI picoprojector

Designed to work with the new KDDI iida G9 mobile phone and the upcoming iidda range, the Toshiba manufactured handset uses DLP display technology. It can project a 480x320 image of between six and 63 inches onto a flat surface or wall up to 8.2 feet (2.5m) away.

While the pico projector’s built-in 0.5W speaker won’t exactly leave your ears bleeding, it should be sufficient to handle small office presentations or home movies. The battery provides for up to 130 minutes of continuous viewing and can be fully charged in less than two hours. The projector accepts 3.5mm 4-pole and VGA input, making it compatible with the Cyber-shot S001, CA001, Wooo Keitai H001 and the Exilim Keitai W63CA, W63H, W62CA and W62H.

While the pico projector is not for lounge viewing, it's handy showing off holiday video and snaps, or similar occasions, stored on the phone – as long as your friends or work colleagues are prepared to stay awake.

The KDDI pico projector measures 50×112×18.3mm and weighs 128g. A limit of 3000 projectors will be released in Japan, with each costing about 39,600 yen (about USD$415) or, if you buy the iida G9 cell phone, just 19,800 yen (about USD$205).

Via gizmag

Century Tech PCLit Picoprojector uses Displaytech FLCOS Microdisplay

Displaytech, the supplier of Ferroelectric Liquid Crystal on Silicon (FLCOS) microdisplays, announced today that Century Tech (HK) Limited, a leader in professional display industry, launched the PCLit pico projector a new member of the PicoLit projector series. The optical engines used in the PCLit were designed by iView Limited and both the VGA projector (IPL631G) and SVGA (IPL831G) use Displaytech’s FLCOS microdisplays. These PCLit pico projectors were announced at the Hong Kong Electronics Fair 2009 - spring section.

“We are very proud of the commercialization of PicoLit series of products and in particular PCLit luxury. It is a perfect example of a very practical application of pico projectors. We have a strong belief that these new pico projector products will ignite the market.” said Terry Kwok, Century Tech CEO.

The PCLit luxury version is best suited as companion projector for notebook and desktop computers as it uses a single USB cable for both power and video signal. It supports mirror and extended modes. The computer screen can be used for work and at the same time project worksheets, videos, and games. PCLit is a perfect device for both business and personal uses.

“We are extremely excited with the PCLit product. We believe that our FLCOS micorodisplay’s superior image quality and low power consumption coupled with iView’s optical design create the opportunity for products like the PCLit pico projectors which are battery powered and small.” said Richard Barton, CEO of Displaytech.

Displaytech’s FLCOS microdisplays are available in VGA, WVGA, and SVGA resolutions. These microdisplays are the perfect match for battery powered projectors because the display and integrated controller/driver dissipates less than 100 mW. The FLCOS microdisplays are field proven in mobile consumer electronic devices with the shipment of over 20 million FLCOS microdisplays used in digital still cameras and video camcorders.

Via Displaytech