Whether you think a pico-projector is a pointless gadget or the future of mobile displays, the common criticism is that their resolution is poor compared to cellphone displays or full-sized projectors. Over at PicoProjector.info they’ve been speaking to Syndiant CTO Karl Guttag, however, and he’s promising something that could turn that all around: 1920 x 1080p resolution pico-modules.
BeamBox’s Evolution R1 pico-projector wasn’t exactly a giant, but the company obviously decided they could do better with their next-gen model. The BeamBox Essential G2, then, drops both bulk and weight to come in at 75g, together with 20 lumens brightness and VGA 640 x 480 resolution.
Samsung’s MBP200 pico-projector has gone on sale in Germany, coupling a compact DLP projector with an onboard PMP. First announced back at CES, the MBP200 goes a step or two ahead of pico-projectors we’ve tested such as the BeamBox or AAXA by virtue of its integrated 2.2-inch display, meaning the PMP functionality does not necessarily require the projector be active.
Samsung have taken the wraps off of their latest pocket-projector, the P410M, and while you’d certainly need reasonably-sized pockets to carry it, it perhaps makes up for things by offering higher than usual specs. The P410M boasts up to 800 x 600 resolution and a 1,000:1 contrast ratio, together with inputs that include VGA, composite and a USB port.
Yesterday we heard that the WowWee Cinemin Swivel pico-projector would be landing in the UK come September, together with its UK price. Now the US version of the posable-pico has gone up for pre-order at Amazon, priced at $327.99.
Our previous run-ins with pico-projectors have left us vaguely disappointed, with units that will certainly fit in your pocket but underwhelm in their performance. BenQ’s Joybee GP1 has sized itself out pocket-portability but promises improved quality to make up for it; SlashGear put those claims to the test.
WowWee’s Cinemin Swivel pico-projector, which was announced back at CES in January, has been given a release date and UK pricing. Expected to hit UK stores in September 2009, the posable projector will retail for around £349 ($572); US pricing and availability is still unknown, though it is expected in fall 2009 priced at $299.
While the pico-projectors that have graced the SlashGear test bench have not exactly proved entirely disappointing, they’ve not persuaded us to part with our own money after we’ve sent them back. bTendo’s MEMS-based scanning laser pico-projector module might change all that, promising brighter colors, improved power efficiency and no need to manually focus. PicoProjector-info got some hands-on time with the bTendo modules, and as you can see in the image here, the laser technology (on the right) easily outclasses a standard LCoS projector.
Video demo and comparison after the cut
We’ve had some reasonable experiences with the pico-projectors reviewed here at SlashGear, but they’re still too expensive to make them anything other than an extravagant toy. Sadly FAVI don’t change that with the launch of their PJM-1000 Mini Projector, another aiming for the title of “World’s Smallest Projector”.
Having used four generations of home entertainment projector over the last decade, I was skeptical of small-form factor pico projectors when they first surfaced. A pocket-size projector with dimensions similar to a remote control or a cellphone, running super-cool and battery-operated for up to an hour of continuous use. That’s all tempting stuff, but can they deliver? Last month, we reviewed the UK-based BeamBox Evolution R1 Pico-projector; today, we have a close cousin with the same LCoS microdisplay but in different outfit: the AAXA P1 pico projector. (video after the cut)
SlashGear Japan
