This new projector is the successor to the GP2, and BenQ claims it comes with improved brightness and better contrast. The GP3 can also project images up to 160 inches in diagonally, and it has a 2-watt built-in speaker, although it most likely won’t do the trick in a slightly larger room, so a pair of external speakers may come in handy in this case.

Of course, though, the main new feature on this palm-sized projector is the iPhone dock (using the older 30-pin connection). However, if you don’t have an iPhone, the projector offers several other ways to hook up media to the device, including plugging in a flash drive and microSD card, as well as wirelessly streaming content from another mobile device or PC.

There’s also 2GB of storage tucked inside in case a flash drive or microSD card is too much for you, although that probably won’t be enough for a couple of movies, but an album-full of photos would be the perfect fit. The internal battery is said to last 2.5 hours, which will get you through at least a movie and some, so be prepared to take the charger along with you. The GP3 is expected to ship later this month, but no pricing details have been disclosed yet.

The contrast ration on them both is 3000:1 and the dynamic contrast is 20M:1. Both of the monitors have 24-incn panels and lots of connectivity. The connectivity options include dual HDMI outputs, D-sub, and a single DVI port. The only difference in the two is that the V has a few more features to make the image better.

It has Smart Focus, super Resolution, PIP/PIB, 3D Deitnerlace, and 3D Noise Reduction. The two screens will ship in the next few months globally at undisclosed prices.

Via Akihabara News

Connectivity includes WiFi b/g/n, Bluetooth, HDMI and mini USB, along with a headphones socket. There’s also 8GB of onboard storage and a memory card slot, and BenQ is apparently lining up a digital content store for ebooks and magazines.

Although the resistive touchscreen is likely to dissuade some buyers, the R100′s estimated battery life may still turn heads; BenQ expect the tablet to last around 12 hours on a full charge. No word on pricing at this stage.

[via MP4 Nation and via Android Community]

This camera has a giant 3.0″ LCD screen and comes equipped with filters such as LOMO, Fisheye, and color accent. S1420 is capable of HD video capture, low-light image capture with its ISO 6400 exposure, and it’s available in China and Asia Pacific this month, Latin America and Europe in January, and by the looks of it, North America NEVER. Check out the press release below:

TAIPEI, TAIWAN, December 6, 2010 – BenQ announced the expansion of its S-series digital camera lineup today with the 14 Megapixels S1420 digital camera. Stylishly encased in a vibrant orange-coloured metallic casing, the S1420 is designed for those who pursue high image quality whilst also values compact and mobility of their cool camera.

The O.I.S. (Optical Image Stabilizer) feature on S1420 prevents blur on shots and it is the most powerful technology for anti-shake. This amazing feature works automatically and compensates for unintended camera movements or slow shutter speeds to deliver crisply rendered, sharp and crystal clear images which without might ruin an otherwise perfect shot.

S1420 is the ideal camera companion with the flawless combination of the 26mm wide-angle lens with 5x optical zoom. The wide-angle lens give allows expanded field of view needed for group shots, ensuring everyone is in frame even in a close-up shot whilst the powerful zoom makes it possible to capture detailed photos even when the subjects are of a distance.

BenQ’s HDR II image enhancement technology is a magical feature that lets users get great shots of high-contrast scenes that are usually so difficult to photograph well. HDR II depicts the scenes in the photograph exactly how it is seen by the eye, with all the details in both dark and bright areas intact. Furthermore, HDR II allows previews on the bright 3.0” LCD with HDR applied, so users know exactly what kind of shots they will be taking.

BenQ’s S1420 comes bundled with a full range of creative shooting modes which includes “LOMO”, “Fisheye” and “Color accent”. The “LOMO” adds effects like dark-corners, off-kilter exposure, and over-saturated colors to snapshots turning the photographs into gallery-worthy artworks. Apply the “Fisheye Lens” to get a wide-angle hemispherical view of the photographic subjects, adding a new source of fun and intriguing creative possibilities to photos. The “Color accent” effect allows users to keep one selected color in the photo whilst having the rest converted into black and white, heightening the ambiance and imbuing the photographs with mood and personality.

When even a great photograph cannot capture the action desired, S1420’s 720p HD movie recording capability comes into play, allowing users to record the actions in crisply detailed, brilliant and vivid HD videos. The highlights of one’s life can now be preserved in big, beautiful movies.

S1420’s highly sensitive sensor can take realistic-looking, detailed photographs in a low light scene. An ISO 6400 exposure index ensures that photographs in a dance-club or a romantic candle-lit restaurant are not compromised.

BenQ’s vibrant orange-coloured S1420 will be available in China and Asia Pacific in December, Latin America and Europe in January 2011. For more information, please visit www.BenQ.com

[Via Akihabara News]

The DV S11 camcorder is perfectly capable of recording 1080p video, and can take 5MP still photos courtesy of the 1/3.2-inch CMOS sensor inside. On the back of the device, a 3.5-inch LCD takes up the majority of the device’s body. However, there’s plenty of room for physical buttons. There’s an 800mAh Li-Ion battery inside, and users will be able to access the SDHC memory card slot for extra storage. Plus, that built-in pico projector for good measure.

You’ll find a single USB 2.0 port, an HDMI output, and A/V RCA jacks as well. The device is shipping right now over in Hong Kong, and the price is set at somewhere around $310. However, there’s no word as of right now when US-based customers can expect to see the DV S11 camcorder land in this region.

[via Electronista]

For PC gamers, spending money to get the best rig possible is all part of the game, and the adventure. Building your dream machine is the ultimate goal, and companies all over the world want to take part in your endeavor, by offering you the latest and greatest in technology. BenQ has just announced their latest effort in the display market, by unveiling their XL2410T 23-inch gaming monitor, with plenty of features packed in to make any PC gamer drool.

The 23.6-inch monitor is an LED gaming monitor. BenQ worked exhaustively with professional gaming gear manufacturer ZOWIE in just about every stage of development for the XL2410T, including the testing and development stages. Furthermore, the monitor features “gaming modes,” which include FPS (First Person Shooter) mode. This mode was created with the help of Counter-Strike legends Emil HeatON Christensen and Abdisamad SpawN Mohamed. You’ll find two hotkeys on the display, too, which work to change the display mode. You can switch from Full, Aspect, or Overscan. And 1:1 is included, with 17-, 19-inches; or 19-inches Widescreen to 22-inch Widescreen modes.

The BenQ XL2410T also features a refresh rate of 120Hz, and has a low input lag, to make sure that what you input correlates onto the screen and in-game faster. The display also features a quick 2ms GTG (OverDrive), which means you shouldn’t perceive any motion blur, as the edge of the enemies and surroundings should be more detailed. The display is also NVIDIA 3D Vision certified and ready to go. You’ll get access to Picture by Picture (PBP), as well as D-sub, DVI-D-DL, and HDMI connectivity ports. You can also alter the display’s height, just in case that wasn’t enough. There’s no word on pricing yet, but the display is set to land in Europe at the beginning of October, and in the rest of the world at some later date.

[via FarEastGizmos]

There’s also 720p HD video recording at 30fps, an ISO range from 100 to 3200, and a minimum shutter speed of 1/2000.  BenQ have also squeezed in a few preset modes, including those catering to fireworks and night scenes (which can boost shutter speed to 2s and 15s respectively), while the touchscreen can be used to selectively focus on a portion of the scene and – when you lift your finger – automatically fire off a shot.

Alternatively, while viewing photos in the gallery, you can circle sections of a shot to zoom in, and then resave that crop as a new frame.  There’s smile and face detection, auto-face-tracking and the disturbingly named “self-love portrait” which we’re hoping is intended to make grabbing MySpace-style pictures easier.  No word on pricing or specific availability for the new touchscreen camera.

[via iTechNewsNet]

BenQ has unveiled a couple new LED backlit LCDs called the GL2030M and the GL2030AM. The LEDs and Eco mode promises to save 39.3% more power than a normal LCD would. The screens boast a contrast ratio of 12M:1 dynamic and have 5ms response times.

Both screens are 20-inches wide and have 1600 x 900 resolutions. Brightness for both is 250cd/m2 and the standard contrast ratio is 1000:1. The only difference between the two appears to be in connectivity and HDCP. The AM version has D-Sub, headphone jack, and a line in with no HDCP support. The M version adds a DVI-D port and support for HDCP.

BenQ expects to offer a color screen version of its nReader eReader on the market later this year. BenQ believes that the screen is key and claims its display is easier on the eyes than an LCD. The BenQ display also promises more battery life with BenQ claiming its eReader will last for weeks between charges rather than the iPad’s 10 hours.

However, Yahoo News reports that an eye doctor states eye fatigue has nothing to do with the screen and is more to do with the light surrounding the screen. BenQ will also have a hard sell on its hands if the price of its eReader isn’t cheap considering the $499 iPad has many more features than the eReaders on the market today.

BenQ, Gigabyte, Quanta and Compal have all managed to partner with carriers – the former two in Taiwan, the latter in Europe – but the unnamed sources say the actual number of MIDs supplied has been far less than Intel’s hype might have predicted.  BenQ and Gigabyte – together with Inventec and ASUS – are believed to have “significantly reduced” their R&D on MIDs.

Instead, development attentions have turned to Smartbooks, netbooks and ebook readers, which the sources suggest have replicated much of the functionality a MID might offer.  Despite Moorestown being expected in the first-half of 2010, the expectation is that fewer than half of the MIDIA members will actually produce MIDs using the new chips.

Both notebooks have the option of several processors including a 1.4GHz single core Core 2 Solo, a 1.2GHz Celeron 723, a 1.3GHz Core 2 Duo SU7300 or a 1.3GHz Celeron 743.

Both also have a 1,366 x 768 resolution LED backlit screen. The S43 sports an ATI Mobility Radeon HD4330 graphics card and the S35 has an Intel GMA4500M. Both come with eSATA, Wi-Fi, HDMI and a webcam along with Bluetooth 2.1 w/EDR and a 500GB HDD upgrade option. The BenQ Joybook S35 and S43 are currently available in Taiwan and China. Release dates and pricing have not yet been released for the U.S.

Both are widescreen and have a 1080p resolution along with a super impressive 5,000,000:1 dynamic contrast ratio thanks to absolutely no light leakage. Both also support reduced power usage of up to 30% with contrast, power and brightness adjustments along with a lack of mercury used in the panels.

Likewise, the packaging is earth-friendly, consisting of recycled paper, an online user’s manual and soy ink-based printing on the box. You can get both displays soon in China, but pricing and an U.S. release date have not yet been revealed.

This dual-acting TV/display features a 1,920 x 1,080 resolution and the ability to play 24fps films without any sort of conversion. It also has a a dynamic contrast ratio of 10,000:1 and a pixel response time of 5ms.

Other features include HDMI 1.3 as well as currently unnamed computer inputs. You can get the BenQ MK2442 starting on August 20th in the U.K. with a North American release and pricing still unknown.

Video demo after the cut

At first glance, the U102′s trackpad looks as though its been borrowed from Apple’s hardware line.  There are no separate buttons, just one large pad; however, the bottom left and right corners press in to act as left and right mouse-clicks.  Unfortunately that means there’s no anywhere-press as you’d find on a MacBook, making this more of an aesthetic feature than anything else.

Underneath, the hard-drive bay, RAM and two mini PCI express card slots are relatively accessible, but not to the same extent as the previous U101 which allowed to you switch out the hard-drive simply by removing the battery and taking out a single screw.  The incredibly glossy display will put many people off, too.  More details in the video below; the BenQ JoyBook Lite U102 is apparently on sale in in Taiwan, Thailand and China, with no word on wider availability.

Video demo after the cut

The Joybook Lite 121 Eco is apparently made of 25-percent recycled materials, but thankfully doesn’t look like BenQ have melted down old plastic bottles to construct the case.  There’s a moment of worrying flex in the lid when Lars pulls it open in the video, but that’s the only real aesthetic issue in what’s actually a relatively handsome netbook.

As for the more mainstream hardware, there’s Intel’s 1.33GHz Atom Z520 processor, never one we’re especially fond of, together with an 11.6-inch 1,366 x 768 resolution display with a distinctly glossy coating.  Happily there are more storage options than you might regularly find, with 160GB, 250GB, 320GB and 500GB in regular hard-drives as well as 8GB, 16GB or 32GB of accompanying SSD for a power-friendly hybrid setup.  There’s also optional HSUPA for mobile connectivity.  Product page here, and more live photos here.

Otherwise the specifications of the MID are unchanged, which means buyers still get an 800MHz Intel Atom Z500 processor, 512MB of RAM, 8GB SSD and a microSD card slot.  As well as the HSPA 3G there’s WiFi b/g and Bluetooth 2.0+EDR, while the 1,880 mAh battery is apparently good for between two and three hours of use.

It’s disappointing that BenQ didn’t upgrade the RAM while they were switching out the storage – the original S6 came with a choice of 2GB or 4GB – and the runtime figures are looking a little short compared to some of the recent netbooks.  You’d certainly hope for more given the frugal (i.e. slow) Atom processor.

[via Pocketables]

Specs include an Intel 1.6GHz Atom processor, Wi-Fi, 1GB of RAM, a 250GB hard drive, 3G access and a 10.1-inch LED-backlit screen with a 1,024 x 600 resolution. A shortcut key makes it easy to switch between Wi-Fi and 3G.

You have the option of either a three-cell or six-cell battery and there’s also the option of adding Bluetooth 2.1. A 1.3-megapixel webcam is also included along with Windows XP Home Edition. You can get the Joybook Lite U102 in Taiwan, Thailand and China right now and there’s currently no information on expanding its availability.

That seems a little on the short side, considering some of the runtime estimates we’re seeing for ultraportables based on Intel’s CULV platform.  The Joybook Lite T131 also gets up to 2GB of RAM, WiFi b/g/n and 10/100 ethernet, plus a 1.3-megapixel webcam and ATI Mobility Radeon X1270 graphics.

Ports include two USB 2.0, ethernet, VGA out, ExpressCard, audio in/out and a 2-in-1 SD/MMC card reader.  There’s also an integrated microphone and stereo speakers; OS is Vista.  The T131 measures 320 x 240 x 28 mm, and will arrive – in blue or white – in China this month; no word on pricing nor wider availability.

Press Release:

Joybook Lite T131: BenQ Does Light Right with New 13.3” Netbook

BenQ is bringing more enjoyment and quality to the lives of today’s on-the-go Internet generation with the official launch of their latest ultra-portable netbook, the 13.3” Joybook Lite T131. At a petite 1.8kg (3.97lbs.), the T131 effortlessly enables multimedia/Internet entertainment to become a take-anywhere companion for consumers of all age groups. Everyday digital fun – such as web browsing, video chatting, email, IM, home/office networking, games, and movies – is brought in-hand and on-demand with an eye-pleasing 13.3” super-enhanced UltraVivid™ screen, AMD’s® next-generation Yukon mobile platform, integrated microphone and fun-packed webcam, and WiFi connectivity.

“This newest netbook from BenQ reflects the personality and lifestyle of the Internet adventurer – spontaneous, resourceful, daring, and capable of handling whatever comes its way,” said Peter Chen, General Manager of BenQ’s Technology and Product Center. “Visuals are exhilarating and performance is without hesitation, ensuring pure and uncompromised mobile enjoyment of the digital age.”

A svelte 320mm(W) x 240mm(D) x 28mm(H) (12.6” x 9.45” x 1.1”) form belies the considerable capabilities of the T131 netbook. The large 250-nit CCFL screen is super-charged by BenQ’s exclusive UltraVivid Technology, Display Brilliance Enhancement Film (DBEF™), and a low-reflectivity, anti-glare coating that keeps movies, games, office applications, and Internet activities lookin’ great wherever you go…from bedroom to sidewalk café. HD audio, VoIP, and smart noise suppression and echo cancellation also promote spontaneity by ensuring video web chats with friends and video conferencing with business clients are always clear-sounding. Also uncharacteristic of the netbook’s compact size and modest price tag is a big 320GB hard disk drive, high-resolution 1.3MP webcam featuring fun WebCam® Companion®, two built-in speakers, integrated microphone, and high-speed WiFi. Likewise unexpected in this diminutive netbook is a generously-sized keyboard featuring isolated “Chiclet” style keys for easier, less error-prone typing. An SD/MMC card reader and two USB ports further testify to the T131’s well-thought engineering.

Available in a choice of opulent midnight blue or snowy white, the Joybook Lite T131 netbook will be available June in China. For more information, please visit BenQ.com.

As for E3, Microsoft and Sony battled it out to gain the motion-controller upper-hand, with the former debuting their fiendishly complex “Project Natal” system and the latter bringing a glowstick.  That’s a little unfair, actually, as hands-on reports coming out of E3 suggest that both systems work very well (and, key, seem more accurate than the Wii).  Sony also announced the much-rumored PSP Go!, a UMD-free all-digital version of the PSP-3000. 

Zipping over to Computex, and its unsurprisingly been a battle of the netbooks.  Psion and Intel finally lay down their swords and agreed that the term “netbook” can be used by one and all, only to find that ARM are attempting to coin the phrase “Smartbook” – to describe a cheaper, long-running alternative to the existing Atom-based netbooks – while Microsoft can’t quite decide what name to use but just want to make sure they can sell the priciest Windows 7 SKU for the hardware.

NVIDIA haven’t been resting on their laurels either, announcing multiple hardware partners who’ll be using their Ion and Tegra chipsets, while Qualcomm have been pushing Snapdragon hard.  It’s a complicated market, but the winner looks to be the consumer: they’ll be the ones spoilt for choice with high-def capable ultraportables at hitherto unseen prices.  There’s too much new tech to realistically cover in this short review, so check out our full show coverage with the Computex 2009 tag.

While we weren’t playing with the Pre, the SlashGear team have been tapping away on Sony Ericsson’s W995a, a megapixel-packed phone now available SIM-free in the US, together with enjoying some big-screen, small-budget entertainment from the BenQ Joybee GP1 pico-projector.  Don’t forget to join us tomorrow, Monday 8th June at 10am San Francisco time (1PM New York; 6PM London) at http://live.slashgear.com/ for all the news from Apple’s WWDC 2009 keynote.

The company recently announced their latest netbook, the JoyBook Lite U121, which offers either Windows XP or a Linux OS.  Based on Intel’s Atom Z520 processor, it’s unclear whether BenQ’s Android netbook will similarly use the Intel range of chips or take advantage of one of the low-power ARM-based CPUs that have been shown to be powerful enough to load Google’s platform.

Acer recently confirmed that they would be offering a dual-boot Android/XP netbook in Q3, seeking to distribute the machine through partnerships with carriers.  An ASUS Eee PC based on Qualcomm’s Snapdragon and running Android was also demonstrated at Computex.

This netbook has a 1.33GHz Intel Atom Z520 processor, a three-cell battery and a six-cell battery option that’s capable of up to eight hours of life. The display has a 1,366 x 768 resolution and a 16:9 aspect ratio.

Also included are several hard drive options that include 160GB, 250GB, 320GB and 500GB models. You can have a solid-state drive as well in either 8GB, 16GB or 32GB sizes. You can choose between Linux Lite or Windows XP Home Edition for your operating system and there’s up 2GB of RAM. Other features include an HDMI output, Bluetooth 2.1, HSUPA mobile broadband, Wi-Fi, two 2W speakers, VoIP and a 1.3-megapixel webcam. The JoyBook Lite U121 Eco netbook will be available in China, Taiwan and Malaysia in June in white and blue color options. Pricing is not yet known.

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.

Connectivity is via a proprietary A/V port, with BenQ providing a combination VGA and composite cable for hooking up laptops, DVD players and the like. A $30 optional iPod dock is on the near horizon, too. There’s also a USB 2.0 port, which can be used to plug in memory sticks filled with photos and videos; the GP1 is compatible with JPEG, BMP, GIF and TIFF images, and AVI, MP3, MOV, 3GP, 3G2, DivX and Xvid videos. Just underneath is a standard 3.5mm headphone socket, in case the projector’s 2W speaker proves insufficient.

Setup is straightforward, with a large, smooth-rotating focus wheel inset into the top panel. A screw-fitting foot raises the front of the projector off of the table, and there’s a standard tripod mount underneath. Automatic keystone correction will do its best to keep the projected image level – and does a pretty impressive job, too – and so getting going takes seconds rather than minutes.
Plug in a USB memory stick and, unlike the AAXA P1 or the BeamBox R1, the BenQ media player loads up automatically. It’s easily navigable from the remote, although the touch-sensitive buttons on the body of the projector itself require more pressure than you’d imagine, and there are far more tweaking options available than the rival devices offer. These sensibly include adjustments depending on wall-surface and color, multiple picture calibration options, digital zoom and even the choice of a ceiling-mounted mode. Unfortunately there’s no way to temper the GP1′s fan, which is surprisingly high-pitched and noticeable unless you’re watching a reasonably loud film.

Maximum resolution is 858 x 600 for external sources (the GP1 will accept higher, but downscale them to suit) and 720 x 480 for the onboard media player. Projection quality is high, easily besting that of the other two pico-projectors we’ve tested, with crisp focus and bright, if over-saturated colors. The 100 ANSI lumens LEDs used to backlight the picture are gutsy but still fall far short of a mainstream projector; in a dark room you can crank the image size up to 60-70 inches at most, though you’ll begin to lament the resolution at that point. Try to use the GP1 in a normally-lit room, however, and you’re looking at pictures a little over half that size.

We missed the integrated battery and onboard memory of the AAXA and BeamBox projectors, but the Joybee GP1 claws back the advantage by virtue of its improved picture quality. Nothing that will challenge a mainstream projector, of course, but then you’re unlikely to be dragging one of those between business presentations or stuffing it into your suitcase for some hotel distraction.

Not as portable, then, and – at $499 – a little more expensive than AAXA and BeamBox’s offerings, but the BenQ Joybee GP1 feels more usable and less toy-like. If the company can slim down the PSU and include a sensible bag rather than the half-solution currently supplied, it would easily take the top spot in our pico-projector shortlist. As it is, those looking for maximum portability should look elsewhere, but anybody seeking the best compromise of size and image quality should have the Joybee GP1 near the top of their shortlist.

BenQ Joybee GP1 pico-projector demo:

That excitement is tempered with the ongoing rumors that stocks may be severely curtailed on launch day.  Not only have Best Buy and RadioShack insiders been talking of minimal handset numbers come June 6th, Sprint’s own CEO is warning that the Pre will likely be in short supply for the first couple of months.  The concern is that all of Palm’s momentum since CES back in January could fizzle out, as Apple are expected to announce a third-generation iPhone two days after the Pre’s launch.

Elsewhere in the Apple ecosystem, notorious analyst Gene Munster pooh-pooh’d talk of an Apple Media Pad anytime before 2010.  That leaves the stage free for some less impressive, but undoubtedly less expensive alternatives, and the best are coming from little-known names in the Far East.  SmartQ’s 7 MID has a bargain $189 sticker and we saw the first unit unboxed earlier this week, while Korean firm mintpass are talking about their second-gen mintpad.  Slightly closer to launch, Archos are expected to announce their Android 3G PMP/MID on June 11th.

If something larger, with a full hardware keyboard, is your preference, then we’ve seen a few interesting netbooks this week.  Dell’s Latitude 2100 has a serious education bent to it, but could still find favor with mainstream buyers, while ASUS did their best to swell Eee PC ranks with the 1005HA and 1000HV, the latter toting a discrete ATI Radeon graphics chipset.

Finally, Pentax’s K-7 DSLR finished lurking about in the shadows and instead got all official, while Google pushed out v2 of their Chrome browser.  Plus we unboxed and brought you a video demo of the BenQ Joybee GP1 pocket-projector; slightly bigger than a pico-projector, but promising higher quality along with the extra size.  We’ll tell you whether it lives up to the promise in the full review this week.

The BenQ GP1 uses Luminus’ PT-39 LED Chipset that used to power all those other ultra bright and color accurate mobile-size projectors.  There are three individual LED chips shining out 100 of lumen and claimed 20,000 hours of lamp life, the light source is about 10 times more usable than any home projector.  I’m still working on a full review and should have it up shortly for your reading enjoyment.

The BenQ Joybee GP1 is currently available for you to pre-order, for $499.00.  Trust me, if you travel a lot and want to enjoy a home-like theater experience in your hotel room or need to give impressive presentations, then the Joybee GP1 is your best solution.

BenQ Joybee GP1 Pocket Projector Unboxing video

BenQ Joybee GP1 Pocket Projector Demo video

Press release from January, in case you missed it:

Billerica, MA, January 27, 2009 – Luminus Devices today announced that BenQ’s new GP1 versatile and lightweight pocket projector is powered by the high-brightness PhlatLight® LED PT-39 chipset. PhlatLight LEDs offer high levels of brightness and performance not available today in pocket projectors using traditional lamp technologies, making the GP1 an ideal mobile entertainment companion for instant projection anywhere.

PhlatLight LEDs work in conjunction with Texas Instruments’ digital light processing (DLP) technology and the combined technologies enable PhlatLight to work more efficiently, making this projector an ideal choice for on-the-go professionals and other mobile system users, like gamers. The PhlatLight LED PT-39 chipset is designed specifically for projection systems that use micro-displays ranging from 0.4” to 0.55” with individual red, green and blue LEDs.

“PhlatLight LEDs are ideally suited for projectors today as opposed to traditional lamp technologies due to the high levels of brightness and to the fact that the light source should never need replacing,” said Matt Mazzuchi, General Manager, Projection Display Business Group, Luminus Devices. “Business travelers and video game loyalists alike will appreciate the new BenQ GP1 pocket projector with PhlatLight LEDs because they are offer vibrant images for presentations and video games, while providing unmatched system reliability.”

“BenQ is revolutionizing the pocket projector industry and award-winning PhlatLight LEDs are a key in providing our customers with the industry’s best products,” said Po Su, Marketing Director at BenQ America. “Our next-generation pocket projectors are flexible, making them ideal for multiple applications like home movies and gaming, as well as meeting room demos and mobile business presentations.”

The C1020 has 10-megapixels and has a 2.5-inch LCD screen. Other features include 720 x 400 resolution for videos, smile detection and video zoom capability. It also comes with ISO-based anti-blur correction and a 3X optical zoom.

The C1220 has all of these same features as the C1020 with a few additions. This camera has a 12-megapixel sensor and has a 2.7-inch LCD screen. It can also have its standard ISO 1,600 increased to ISO 3,200 at normal resolution. We don’t know when these new BenQ camera models will be available or how much they’ll cost, but we’ll be sure to let you know when we do.

Other specifications of the QPD-111 include an accelerometer sensor that could be used to “shake” the MID between different functions and apps.  According to Qisda, the design was inspired by a bookmark, with a pocketable, metallic-etched casing.

Unfortunately there’s no word on whether this is merely a concept or something with the potential to evolve into a commercial product.  BenQ have previously won awards for their MID UI, which includes the same shaking functionality as this QPS-111 design.

[via Pocketables]

Both the nStation i91 and nStation i221 have an AMD Semperon 210U processor.  Two versions of the i91 are on offer, with either a 160GB hard-drive or a 250GB hard-drive, while the final storage specs for the i221 aren’t known.  Each is intended to be straightforward to use, with a combined power and volume knob that, BenQ claim, makes the nStation range as easy as a TV.

As for the BenQ U101W netbook, it’s the HSDPA-enabled version of the existing U101.  On sale for HK$4980 ($643), it has an Intel Atom N270 1.6GHz processor, 1GB of RAM and a 10.1-inch display.  No word on when it may be available in the US or Europe.

According to ASUS, their bid failed because they market their PC products under multiple tradenames.  It’s presumed this refers at least in part to the popular Eee PC brand, which ASUS uses for its netbooks, nettops and other devices.  BenQ was another company not to find favor with the Chinese government.

Dell, HP, Lenovo and Acer are all expected to see increased profits through larger than predicted sales in the Chinese market as a result of their inclusion in the subsidy scheme.  Exact details of the package each will receive are unclear.

Other specs include a webcam, 4-in-1 memory card reader and WiFi.  The knob functions both as a power button – when pressed – and a volume control; on the edge closest to it, there’s a brightness rocker control that also resembles something you might find on a TV.

In fact, that only makes it all the more bizarre that, going by the BenQ press release, there isn’t actually a TV tuner built into the nStation i91.  Average power consumption is 30W; that will likely be higher in the case of the upcoming nStation i221, which will have a 21.5-inch full-HD display.  The BenQ nStation i91 is available in Taiwan now, priced at NT$17,900 ($517); no word on a launch anywhere else.

[via Digitimes; thanks Pete!]

Unboxing video of the BenQ S6 MID after the cut

In the box there’s the S6 itself, a case, a rather pathetic looking plastic stylus, USB cable, carry strap, headphones and power supply.  It’s too early to say what sort of battery life can be expected.

Ewan’s first task for the S6 is not an uncommon one: checking to see how it performs as a PMP.  First-impressions aren’t too good, with Bluetooth having to be used to get tracks across, and then once they’re there the MID didn’t read any of the ID3 tags but instead insists on using the basic directory structure and file-names for organization.  It’s frustrating, as this could be an instant win for a MID – being able to replace an iPod touch, or other touchscreen media player – but BenQ let themselves down with poor software support.

Still, we’ll be watching Ewan’s upcoming reports with interest; the BenQ S6 is one of the more affordable MIDs we’ve seen, so we’re curious to see whether it can deliver on that reasonable sticker price.

[vimeo]http://vimeo.com/2946323[/vimeo]

Let’s try again, there’s no better mobile projector that provides color space of up 120 percent NTSC color gamut at this size, and the weight? It’s only 1.4 pounds!. Wait, did we mention its durability and ultra high LED’s life expectancy? The BenQ will be released from March for a suggested retail of $499.

Billerica, MA, January 27, 2009 – Luminus Devices today announced that BenQ’s new GP1 versatile and lightweight pocket projector is powered by the high-brightness PhlatLight® LED PT-39 chipset. PhlatLight LEDs offer high levels of brightness and performance not available today in pocket projectors using traditional lamp technologies, making the GP1 an ideal mobile entertainment companion for instant projection anywhere.

PhlatLight LEDs work in conjunction with Texas Instruments’ digital light processing (DLP) technology and the combined technologies enable PhlatLight to work more efficiently, making this projector an ideal choice for on-the-go professionals and other mobile system users, like gamers. The PhlatLight LED PT-39 chipset is designed specifically for projection systems that use micro-displays ranging from 0.4” to 0.55” with individual red, green and blue LEDs.

“PhlatLight LEDs are ideally suited for projectors today as opposed to traditional lamp technologies due to the high levels of brightness and to the fact that the light source should never need replacing,” said Matt Mazzuchi, General Manager, Projection Display Business Group, Luminus Devices. “Business travelers and video game loyalists alike will appreciate the new BenQ GP1 pocket projector with PhlatLight LEDs because they are offer vibrant images for presentations and video games, while providing unmatched system reliability.”

“BenQ is revolutionizing the pocket projector industry and award-winning PhlatLight LEDs are a key in providing our customers with the industry’s best products,” said Po Su, Marketing Director at BenQ America. “Our next-generation pocket projectors are flexible, making them ideal for multiple applications like home movies and gaming, as well as meeting room demos and mobile business presentations.”

The G Series offers five 720p (20” G2020HD/HDA, 18.5” G920HD/HDA, and 15.6” G610HDA) and five 1080p (24” G2411HD/HDA, 23.6” G2410HD, or 21.5” G2220HD/HAD)
models. All models come standard with an exclusive image enhancement engine, Senseye+photo feature, and optimized preset modes to display Standard, Dynamic, Photo and Movie pictures. Dynamic contrast rating boasts from 10,000:1 to 40,000:1 with ultra fast panel response rate from 2ms (GTG) to 5ms.

The top of the line G2410HD and G2411HD/HAD incorporated AMA Technology (Advanced Motion Accelerator) to increase brightness and panels response time. The lower end G920HD/HDA and G610HDA are eco-friendly units boast a dual-lamp design that emits a bright 300 nits and 250 nits, while cutting down energy usage as well as CO2 and mercury emissions.

BenQ’s G Series will be first available in China by the end of January, with worldwide introduction later this year. No pricing information is available at the moment.

[via electornista]

Obviously the direct euro to dollar conversion suffers from exchange rate issues, but we’re hoping that when the S6 makes it officially into the US the price will be lower than expected.  MIDs were billed as low-cost, ultraportable accessory devices, but to date the relatively-rare devices have been priced roughly the same as a mid-range notebook.

Unfortunately the BenQ S6 is only available, at this price, in Italy right now.  It runs an Intel Atom Silverthorne 800MHz processor, has 512MB of RAM and runs the Midinux Linux OS.  More details here.

[via UMPC Portal]

In case you might have forgotten, the Joybook Lite U101 features a LED-backlit 10.1-inch screen with a 16:9 aspect ratio and a 1280 x 800 resolution. Running off of a 1.6GHz Intel Atom processor, this netbook is available in both 120GB or 160GB hard drive sizes or in 4GB or 16GB SSD options.

You can also choose to have the netbook preloaded with either Windows XP Home or Linux. Other specs include an Intel 945GSE chipset with 512MB memory, Wi-Fi, Bluetooth 2.0, a HSUPA wireless data module and more. It comes with a 4-in-1 memory card reader and a pair of 1.5W speakers. You can get the BenQ Joybook Lite U101 now in Taiwan for about $500.

This new projector features a contrast ratio of 2500:1 and sports 3000 lumens for brightness. The 200W lamp can last up to 4000 hours and with 16.7 million colors, you’re sure to have a brilliant and vibrant picture with a 1024 x 768 resolution.

Inputs include S-Video, composite, component and RGB and the HDMI measures in at 239 x 106 x 251mm. It features a 2W integrated mono speaker and a remote control and weighs about 2.5kg. You can get the BenQ MP624 DLP Projector for about $621 USD.

The BenQ M2400HD is capable of 1000:1 contrast, 300 cd/m2 of brightness and 2ms/5ms (G2G/B2B) ultra fast response rate. If you have done any research on panel display, the specification reveals the panel type. It’s likely a TN panel with 160/170 viewing angle. Input terminals are supported with analog RGB, HDCP-compliant DVD-D and HDMI. A 2 mp web camera comes equipped as a standard feature as well as 3 USB ports.

The BenQ M2400HD full HD LCD monitor is expected to be available from next month at Japan for 420€ (about $535).

[via BenQ Japan]

Full-sized BenQ Joybook Lite U101 slides after the cut

That means more visible area when you’re watching widescreen content.  Now while the thought of watching a movie on a netbook might be strange – after all, the U101 does only have an 10.1-inch LED-backlit LCD – it’s not so hard to imagine using them as a portable media player.  In which case, you’d be even more loathe to give up any of that precious screen-estate to black bars.

We also now know that the keyboard is 90-percent the size of a regular desktop QWERTY, which is still slightly behind the 93-percent of the Samsung NC10 but only a little.  The WWAN option has also been fleshed out as 3.5G HSUPA (though I think BenQ mean 7.0 rather than 70Mbps, unless they’re confusing it with WiMAX) and unlike many netbooks there’s draft-n WiFi rather than just b/g.

Still no word on pricing, however, nor when it will be available outside of Hong Kong.

Internet browsing is certainly the S6′s forte, with a customized version of FireFox that renders quickly and can happily handle Flash content.  The included software suite is pretty comprehensive too, with instant messaging, RSS and mail clients together with more the typical office software.

Surprisingly, the one area you’d think the S6 - or any handheld device with a bright, sizable display – would do fine in is media playback.  In Alberto’s experience, it’s not so clear cut.  The S6 seems to struggle with media playback; it’s uncertain whether that’s a codec issue, because the hardware certainly shouldn’t be falling down with MPEG decoding.

Still, it’s enough to keep Alberto happy, and he’s still not regretting his €429 ($626) buy.  It bodes well for the rest of us, certainly; Pocketables has flagged up the S6′s appearance on BenQ’s global site, which could suggest that a more broad release is coming soon.

So far the details are scant.  Owner Alberto has promised a comprehensive report in the next 48hrs, hopefully including some preliminary battery testing, with media playback assessed over the coming week.  Right now, though, he says “wifi, firefox and Office suite are cool”.

The S6 measures 159 x 89 x 22mm and weighs just 330g.  Under the hood it runs an 800MHz Atom processor with 512MB of RAM and a 2GB SSD (expandable with a microSD card).  The touchscreen measures 4.8-inches and is 800 x 480 resolution; as well as 3G, there’s Bluetooth and WiFi.  Still no word on when we can expect to see it outside of Italy, however.

[via UMPC Portal]

The S6 – which has also been known as the Aries2 - won an award for “interactive product experience” based on its intuitive Linux Midinux OS.  Other specs include 2GB of SSD-based storage, 512MB of RAM and a microSD card reader. 

Measuring 159 x 89 x 22mm and weighing 330g, the S6 is certainly portable and, with the right data contract (TIM are offering 10 hours of 3G access free to lure you into sticking with their bundled SIM and €30/mo contract), offers all the connectivity you need.  Hopefully we’ll now see it offered outside of Italy.

[via UMPC Portal]