The Projector Blog: February 2010

Thursday, February 25, 2010

Now Shipping: Aaxa's Laser Pico Projector

Check out the picture above. Could that be the "the world's first laser pico projector with an internal media player and storage?" That's what pico projector maker Aaxa Technology says of their latest gadget and let's hope so because it's a little costly. The Aaxa L1, which began shipping this month, will set you back around $600. Most LED-based pico's are anywhere from $250-$350.

The Aaxa L1 uses PCOS technology, which means it combines three-color laser light sources, proprietary despeckling technology, and an LCoS image to deliver a 20-lumen output at 800x600 resolution. According to the company, this eliminates the "pixilation problems" some other laser projectors have.

The projector also has a number of other notable features. It has a 20-lumen laser light source, SVGA (800 x 600) resolution, a USB Memory stick reader with 2GB USB stick included, and anonboard AVI, MP4, MP3, JPEG decoder. It reads Microsoft Word, Excel, PowerPoint, and PDF files and features composite and VGA input support. Its rechargeable battery offers about one and half hours of life.

Size-wise, it's about 4.2 x 2.1 x 0.8 inches and weighs about 170 grams with the battery. If you purchase additional accessories, you can connect the Aaxa L1 to your iPhone or iPod, Zune, Sony PlayStation Portable, and any cell phone from Nokia, LG, Samsung and HTC.

Max Hu, Aaxa's director of marketing said the projector is unlike anything it's competitor Microvision has created, "The diffused laser light allows higher brightness and classification as a FCC Class 1 product vs. a focused beam design which has eye safety issues. In that regard, our design has the potential for much brighter designs in the future, which we are currently developing."

The projector is currently available for purchase, but so far, due to the lack of laser diodes, the company only has limited stock.

Looking for an Affordable LCD Projector Rental then call 800-736-8772 today. Ask about the newest type of projector whose appeal is "all in the mirrors" and see if a DLP Projector Rental is right for you.

Thursday, February 18, 2010

Casio's New Line of Green Slim Projectors

Earlier this year, at the Consumer Electronics Show in Las Vegas, Casio announced a new line "green" projectors. Based on the hybrid laser and LED light source the company developed, the projectors are mercury-free.

Despite being mercury-free, the Green Slim projectors have brightness levels of anywhere from 2,000 -3,000 lumens. The projectors will come in a diverse lineup, with models that can do anything from accommodate WXGA Real display at 1,280-by-800 dpi to project without a computer, yet communicate wirelessly with computers. The line's light source uses a blue light that comes from a blue laser, green light converted from the blue with a fluorescent element, and also, light from a high-lumen red LED through a DLP chip onto the screen.

The portable projectors will be 1.7 x 11 x 8.5 inches and weigh about five pounds. The laser and LED hybrid light source is said to improve color purity compared to lamps that do use mercury. The lamps are said to last about 20,000 hours compared to 2,000 hours of Casio's other products. Also, no cool-down is needed when you turn the projectors off and upon turning them on, you'll reach maximum brightness in only eight seconds. They come with a side-angle 2X optical zoom lens and automatically correct vertical distortion due to projector position making them very versatile.

So what other kind of features will the Green Slim projectors have?

- Four of the models - the XJ-A255, XJ-250, XJ-A245 and XJ-A240 - will accommodate WXGA Real display at 1,280 by 800 dpi, which allows for both real size and wide presentations.

- Four of the models - the XJ-A255, XJ-A245, XJ-A155, and the XJ-A145 - can communicate wirelessly with up to four computers and can project presentations, spreadsheets, word-processor documents, PDF files and other computer data, still images (JPEG/BMP), and moving images (AVI format: Motion JPEG) by simply using USB memory.

- The projectors can also connect directly to a Multiprojection Camera YC-430, which can project non-digitized and even 3-D objects.

Casino hasn't said how much the projectors will cost, or when they'll be available, but they do plan to add more products to the Green Slim line. The new products will also use the hybrid LED and laser light source.

Monday, February 15, 2010

InFocus ScreenPlay 8602 Home Theater

On February 8, 2010, InFocus announced its newest ScreenPlay projector is now available to customers. The InFocus SP8602 Home Theater projector brings your movies to life! You'll feel like you're in a movie theater while in the comfort of your own home.

It features up to 300 inches of crisp images with bold blacks and bright colors, and a native 1080p resolution. It can be used in multipurpose rooms and can even be used with the lights on and it offers high-performance adjustable optics, a 30,000: 1 maximum contrast ratio, and video-optimized 1300 lumens. With its Texas Instruments DLP(R) DarkChip technology with BrilliantColor, it can display one billion colors with amazing accuracy. It also features Pixelworks DNX 10-bit video processing, which allows for super-smooth playback of film and video. The proprietary motion engine with 120Hz support allows for faster transition between frames and fast color refresh.

"The sleek design, simple user interface and plethora of features makes this projector one of the best home theater models available on the market. The SP8602 recreates a true cinematic experience with astounding realism that will amaze both casual and hard-core home theater enthusiasts," Benjamin Joy, the product line director at InFocus, said in a press release.

If you're looking to upgrade from 480p or 720p projectors, the SP8602 is a great choice. Installation and projection are made easier with the automatic ceiling detection that will flip the image when necessary, centered lens with manual lens shifts that can work on images up to 300 inches, and image warping to adjust the picture and produce square crisp images on various surfaces. It also offers the latest in HD connectivity, with analog and digital connections, including two HDMI 1.3 ports.

Not only does it function well, but can also choose what color projector you want, making it an attractive accessory to your living room or home theater. Choose between matte black, glossy black, walnut or pre-primed for a custom finish. The integrated cable management system makes it so that cables are out of sight, adding to its attractiveness.

Monday, February 8, 2010

The Tiny, Affordable Ray Pico Projector

The Ray liquid crystal on silicon (LCoS) pico projector from Ray Displays may not be much bigger than a deck of cards, but the tiny projector packs a lot of punch. According to PC World, the little projector displays video, photos, and media "fairly well," but it turned out to be an excellent projector for displaying text. In an iPod PowerPoint presentation test, the magazine said the projector, "displayed bright, legible text in various fonts, but dull, washed-out color hampered its graphics quality." This means the projector would probably be great for business presentations, and high school and college classrooms.

The projector has a brightness of 10 lumens. It also features a 20,000-hour LED light source, VGA resolution, a 2 hour battery life and stereo speakers. According to the review, the speakers aren't the best quality and you may want to consider purchasing a separate sound system. It's only .7 x 2.3 x 4.4 inches and weighs only five ounces with the battery. It displays a viewable 40-inch diagonal image on any light color surface, under subdued light, at a distance of five feet. In dark settings, the display is even larger. If you want to watch a movie on an Ultra Portable Projector you will find the motion is smooth, but the colors aren't quite as vibrant as they would be if you watched the movie in another capacity.

It's easy to use and set-up. It includes a power switch, focus knob, a single 2.5mm audio/video input, and power input. It also connects to several other devices, however, if you'd like to connect it to your iPhone 3GS or a fifth-generation iPod Nano, you'll need to purchase a cable that is not included with the projector. Also, it doesn't have built-in memory or a card reader, VGA port, and the battery isn't removable.

When you purchase tiny projector, it comes with a flexible mini-tripod and various video cables that allow you to connect it to your other devices, as well as a on-year warranty on the projector and battery. Best of all, the projector will only cost you about $229. While it may not be idea for all of your needs, if you present mostly text and aren't to focused on graphics and images, this inexpensive, basic pico projector may be a good investment.

Saturday, February 6, 2010

InFocus's 5 New Entry-Level Projectors

Projector maker InFocus has announced five new DLP entry-level projectors. Part of the IN2100 and IN3100 series, these are brighter than most entry-level projectors with 3,000 to 3,500 lumens. They are great for classrooms or any rooms with varying light conditions.

The In2112, In2114, and IN 2116, are part of the In2100 series. They are the first InFocus projectors to offer networking functionality for under $1,000. They come with a long-life lamp, two computer and assignable audio inputs for multiple presenters, and several security features.

The IN3114 and IN3116 are a little more expensive and include HDMI support for use with modern computers and HDTV. They also feature DisplayLink for USB Connectivity, LitePort for presentations without a computer, LiteShow II that allow multiple users to connect wirelessly via WiFi, and Wireless DisplayLink for point-to-point connectivity over Ultra-Wideband.

All five of the new projectors are "green" and offer an Eco Mode, which allows the projectors to consume less energy when in use and less than one watt in standby mode. The projectors' native resolutions range from SVGA (800 x 60) to a maximum WUXGA (1,900 x 1,200) and each of them uses InFocus BrilliantColor, as well as a filter-ree, dust-resistant design for less maintenance.

The IN2112, IN2114 and IN3114 are available now and the IN2116 and IN3116, which are widescreen models, will be available later this year. The projectors in the IN2100 series start at $599, while the projectors in the IN3100 series start at $1,499.

Monday, February 1, 2010

Elite's New Projection Screens

Maker of commercial and home-theater projector screens, Elite Screens, has announced two new products, the Raptor Modular Projection Screen and the StarBright 7 screen material with a Dream Window 3.5 inch frame. Both were on display at the Consumer Electronics Show in Las Vegas, in January.

The Raptor Modular Projection Screen.

The Raptor Modular Projection Screen detaches from its furniture housing so that it may serve as an independent projection surface, making a great option for screening movies in your media room or making a large presentation in your office or boardroom. It uses Elite's CineWhite Tension material, a 1.1 gain material with full diffusion uniformity, to enance flatness. It's also black-backed to eliminate light penetration. You can purchase it in three sizes: 79, 84, and 92 inches.

If you'd rather have non-tensioned material, screens with Maxwhite 1.1 gain non-tensioned material are also available. The Raptor Modular Unit is electric and self-standing, and is housed in a wood-furniture casing with a cherry finish. The non-tensioned models come in 84 and 92 inches.

All of the units come with a "Safe-Stop" infrared sensor that stops a screen from closing wen a small object is in the way (making it little fingers-friendly). Each one can also be used with a 5-12V wirless trigger to synchronize drop and rise with the power cycle. The RF remote provides a range of wireless operation without the need for line-of-sight contact and the IR remote allows for screen operation while also using up to eight different media devices. The wireless trigger, IR/RF receivers and both remotes are included with the screens.

The RF remote provides a range of wireless operation without the necessity for line-of-sight contact. The ZR800D IR universal learning remote allows simultaneous screen operation with up to eight different media devices. Both the RF remote and a ZR800D IR universal learning remote are included.

All of the screens are currently available through retail outlets, professional AV systems integrators, and customer residential. The 84-inch screens are prices at just over $3200. They come with a two year limited warranty.

StarBright 7

StarBright 7 is a series of ultra-high gain projection material and it's available in the Dream Window 3.5-inch thick frame variety. You can get it in sizes up to 206 inches, in either a 16:10 or 4:3 ratio. It has a multi-layered, angular reflective design that absorbs ambient light and enhances black-level contrast and color reproduction. Elite says the material is seven times brighter than typical matte white projection screens.

The surface is coated wit succeeding contrast layers that eliminate was-out and regluate hot-spots. The framework is sturdy and strong, and comes with a lifetime warranty. It has a velour surface, assembles easily, and mounts easily on a horizontally adjustable wall source. Each screen comes with a two-year limited warranty and you can purchase them starting at $1089 for the 76-inch version. You can also order custom sizes.