BenQ Joybee GP2 video projector

The Apple iPhone lineup is one of the most popular smartphone families on the planet, with over 37 million handsets sold in the final quarter of 2011 and no signs of its domination coming to a close.

Since the launch of the iPhone 4 the camera capabilities and in particular the video recording qualities have become a key asset of owning an Apple handset – but watching your clips back on the phone itself is not always that rewarding. Meanwhile, for some, transferring videos to your PC or trying to connect your phone to a TV is often complicated and confusing.

This is where the BenQ Joybee GP2 steps into the fray. It is a mini projector designed to be portable and functional and it is specifically intended to work in tandem with an Apple iPhone or other iOS device, such as the iPod Touch.

The Joybee GP2 is portable enough to pick up and pop in a bag without weighing you down, which makes it a great projector to take with you. BenQ has considered its portability to the extent that the battery is actually detachable, which means when mains power is available it will not take up more space than is needed. Of course with the battery on board it becomes a truly versatile projector and can deliver 100 lumens of brightness and screens of up to 160 inches in size for up to three hours at a time when used in conjunction with its rechargeable cell.

There is a simple array of interface buttons on the top of the projector and there is also a dedicated docking space which you can use to sit your iPhone or iPod Touch upright while its content is being accessed. Built in four watt speakers deliver decent audio performance and you can even use the projector to playback music files from your iPhone when you are not lighting up any flat surface with images and videos from the handset.

Like all good projectors the Joybee GP2 is not limited to functioning with a single device. It has a number of inputs, including HDMI for 720p playback and a USB connection to let you plug in any PC or laptop without having to resort to finding a D-Sub analogue cable to get the job done. You can place it just a meter away from any surface and enjoy crisp, clear imagery across 44 inches of projection area, which makes it good for using in tight conditions when there is not much space. When the projector is plugged into the mains you can get a full 200 lumens of brightness and an excellent contrast ratio of 2400:1 so that the blacks look deep and the whites are well defined.

BenQ’s Joybee GP2 is easily able to outpace the manner in which a smartphone deals with video playback, but its small size and detachable battery unit makes it suitable for impromptu projection sessions at home or on the move.

Optoma pt105 gaming projector

Projectors have become a mainstay of the video game market for the hardcore crowd, with home entertainment setups geared towards online fragging and LAN parties around the world regularly featuring the integration of big-screen projection to enhance the fun.

Of course most projectors are large, complicated and expensive, which puts them out of reach of typical gamers. However, the PT105 from Optoma is able to sidestep these issues and still deliver great performance and a long lifespan.

Optoma makes some great portable projectors. The PT105 itself is very portable and mobile, weighing in at just over 860 grams. This means it is perfect for popping in a bag and lugging over to your friend`s house or mounting in a convenient position at home so that it does not take up much space. No more fumbling around with flat screen tv mounts!

An LED light source is used to project the images fed into the PT105, which means that unlike other projectors you will not have to shell out for expensive replacement bulbs further down the line. Instead you can get 20,000 hours of gaming action out of the PT105 without it skipping a beat.

Any so-called gaming projector needs to offer a good array of inputs so that users can connect a variety of devices to it. The PT105 does not disappoint, offering HDMI, VGA and standard composite video ports on the rear. This means you can connect a games console, DVD or Blu Ray player without much problem. There is even a built in 1.5 watt speaker, which means you do not need to rely on a separate audio setup if you are creating an entertainment suite without much prior notice.

The 16:9 widescreen aspect ratio means that modern titles will look their best, while the 854×480 native resolution gives you plenty of detail. You can place the projector anywhere between 18 and 256 inches from a flat surface and it will create image sizes which vary from 10 inches to 140 inches without breaking a sweat. It is compatible with various video feed types, including both PAL and NTSC standards, so even if you have imported consoles or devices it will get the job done.

Many people will probably rush to use Sky discount codes now that they know they can get their hands on an affordable, portable projector which will handle HD inputs and be great for gaming as well as satellite TV viewing. So whether you have a proclivity for gunning down digital goons in the latest Call of Duty game, or simply watching movies with mates, the Optoma PT105 will be a good companion.

mp225a mobile projector by 3M

A new mobile projector developed for iOS devices like the Apple iPhone 4S and the iPad 3 has been turning heads this month.

The gadget has been created by 3M and it allows users to plug in their smartphone, media player or tablet and enjoy big screen thrills from a small screen device.

The MP225a takes into account Apple’s proprietary connection which is used by most iOS devices and so it is even be compatible with the iPod Touch family. An internal Li-Ion battery can deliver up to two hours of projection from a three hour charging period, which is long enough to watch most movies in one sitting.

Of course the projector really flourishes when it is taken out and about. Since it measures just six inches long it is easy enough to slip it into a bag or pocket alongside your iOS device and then charge it later when you reach your destination.

The projector can generate 32 lumens of brightness thanks to its integrated LED lighting. This may seem low by the standards of full size desktop projectors. However, compared to many other mini portable projectors it is admirable. The manufacturer says that the efficient LED technology should allow the device to operate for 20,000 hours or so, which means you should not need to rush out and buy a new one any time soon.

In terms of picture quality the 800×600 resolution kicked out by the MP225a is excellent and it is rated to work best when projecting screen sizes of between 10 and 80 inches. In independent tests it has been able to achieve solid picture quality when operating over 120 inches, so you can really experiment and see where the limits of the device actually lie.

3M iPad projector

The process of linking the projector to your iPhone or other Apple gadget is easy and the iOS device will recognize that it has been connected to an external display in a jiffy. You can then play back any content or use any service you see fit, enjoying the fact that it is being blown up to a far larger size than is possible on the gadget itself. You could have an impromptu movie night in a place with no other audiovisual equipment. You could conduct a presentation on the spur of the moment or if the power is out. You could get rid of that TV wall mount bracket or Plasma Wall Mount and project things at home. This device will please Apple fans immensely.

mp225A technical specs

3M Camcorder Projector

Modern consumers like to see multiple functions combined into a single device, which is why the 3M All in One Camcorder Projector is the perfect device for the market at the moment.

On the outside it is an unassuming, slim device which looks like a cross between a TV remote and a mobile phone. It even resembles the Flip camcorders which were popular for a time, but it offers much more than video capture.

Of course we like 3M video projectors and  the video capturing capabilities of this model are not to be ignored. The 3M Camcorder Projector can record clips at 720p HD resolution. There is even an LED flash which will let you light up darker scenes and take excellent five megapixel still images as well.

2GB of storage space is built into the device, but with a microSD memory card slot you can add an extra 32GB of storage if you invest in a separate microSD card. Even if you leave the camcorder with its standard memory allocation you will be able to take 1000 photos or record 25 minutes of HD video, so it is not a slouch in this respect.

The real star of the show is the built-in mini projector which can pump out images and onto any surface for up to 100 minutes when the device is fully charged. A 20 lumens brightness rating is impressive for such a small, compact device which is powered by an internal battery. There is even an input which will allow you to hook up the projector to your games console or DVD player, so it can become an all in one solution for entertainment at home or when you are on the move.

3M Camcorder Projector Dimensions

The video projector can display over a screen area of between 10 inches and 65 inches, with a native resolution of 800×600 for some widescreen action. Because the light is generated using internal LED technology there is no need to worry about getting replacement bulbs further down the line as the 3M Camcorder Projector can operate for up to 20,000 hours with no issues.

Whether you are getting together with friends to watch a movie, showcasing your holiday home videos for family members or just keeping yourself entertained when traveling, this compact, multifunctional projector will be a great accompaniment. You could even load the internal memory with files captured using a BlackBerry Torch or another smartphone, letting you experience footage from various mobile platforms in a much larger format than was previously possible. And because you do not need to connect a secondary display it is simple to set up and use, with its intuitive interface keeping you coming back for more.

Modern smartphones have gradually integrated new pieces of technology traditionally found only in standalone devices. Now a contemporary handset will have GPS capabilities, removing the need for a satnav unit. High speed Wi-Fi makes a mobile more convenient than a PC or Laptop when you want to quickly browse the web or use a social networking service. Meanwhile the ever improving onboard camera equipment means that modern phones can shoot full HD video clips and capture still images at resolutions of 12 megapixels or more.

The latest developments in mobile technology will see miniature projectors being installed on slim, portable handsets in the near future. There are already small projectors based on lasers which can be connected to a smartphone and then mirror the onscreen imagery on any flat surface, making it easy to carry out on the fly presentations. However, researchers at the VVT Technical Research Centre have announced their intentions to take this hardware to the next level by installing it within a dedicated smartphone handset.

The challenge faced by the researchers is whether they can develop a chip which can run the projector without consequently increasing the cost of a typical handset to the point that it becomes untenable. They are planning to court various manufacturers across the mobile world and will even be looking to see whether this technology will have an application in other markets, such as the automotive industry, according to Scientific American.

There are several benefits which will come with having an integrated projector available in a smartphone handset, the first of which relates to entertainment and leisure. Consumers will be able to share their holiday snaps and home videos with friends and family without having to make everyone cluster around the small screen of their handset. While HDMI outputs are increasingly common on current smartphones, you still need a compatible display. With a miniature projector built in, your phone will provide both the media and the display in one fell swoop.

For business users the implications could be even more far reaching. Whipping out your phone at a meeting to showcase the latest sales forecasts, greeting clients with rich multimedia presentations and collaborating with colleagues on interactive initiatives will all be easier using this technology.

Researchers still have a few years of work ahead of them before built in laser projectors are available in smartphones but for many this new technology will be worth the wait.

Apple Patent for Integrated Projector

In a recent patent application, Apple may be revealing their intention to integrate mini-projectors into their iOS devices (iPhones and iPads) as well as a possible portable video projector accessory for Macbooks. Recently, we posted an article about developments in lens technology that is an important step towards integrating a video projector into smartphones and portable devices. Now, with this patent by Apple perhaps the days of embedded mini video projectors is closer than we may think.

Also of note in the patent application is language describing “gesturing analysis” that might permit a novel user interface. In this scenario a user could interact with the projected image – shadows created by a user’s gestures, whether onto a video projection screen or wall, would be interpreted by image processing software.

Apple, in previous patents, has shown interest in projection technology, but this patent is the most comprehensive to date and suggests that it has become a priority for Apple engineers.

Tiny Lens by Alps Electric

Alps Electric has recently announced the world’s smallest aspherical glass lens measuring 1mm x 1mm. Typically, these lenses are used in high-capacity fiber optic communication networks to transmit light signals. But because of their miniature size and clarity, they may also allow for smartphones and other small portable devices to integrate video projection capabilities into their hardware design.

A limiting factor so far to such integration has been heat and power – current video projector components generate a lot of heat and use a lot of power. iPhone and Droid smartphones pack a lot of punch but are not yet capable of producing the amount of power required to run a projector module for much time, or deal with the amount of heat that rapidly builds up.

But the Alps’ lens technology could start to change that. The recently announced Alps’ lens (the FLGS3) is not only tiny but also transmits light extremely efficiently. Technically speaking, it has a high coupling efficiency of 73% – 5% more efficient than previous lenses. At the end of the day, this improvement in efficiency means that less light is required to achieve the same projector brightness – and less light of course means less power required and less heat generated.

Whether we actually see the integration of a video projector into a smartphone anytime soon remains to be seen. But certainly this innovation in lens design is bound to effect the size and battery life of dedicated miniature video projectors and other consumer devices.

Miniature Aspherical Glass Lens

LG Portable Video Projector

The HS201 Portable LED Projector from LG is a slim, innovative video projector that projects beautiful image quality. The highly efficient LED light source also lasts up to 30,000 hours and consumes very little power. LED light sources are noted for their deep color-saturation and wide color-range – superior to traditional projector lamps. The LED light source pulses at a super high rate eliminating motion blur. The HS201 is also super portable and easy to carry. Weighing in at a mere 1.7 pounds and 2.0 x 4.6 x 6.1 inches, this model is slim and perfect for business travel. For under $500, its hard to beat this lamp-free LED video projector by LG.

Features

• HDMI Input
• Auto Power-Off extends bulb life and saves energy
• Precise color management
• Movie Player and Photo Player via USB cable – play your media off of a USB thumb drive!
• Mercury Free!

What’s in the Box

Remote Control and included CR2032 3V battery, User Manual, Power Cable and Adaptor, RBG cable and RGB to Component converter

MPro120 Pocket Projector

The MPro120 Pocket Projector is a battery-operated handheld projector. The MPro 120 can project images and videos on most wall surfaces. Perfect for business presentation, images can be displayed from computers, netbooks or MP3 players, iPods, iPhone and digital cameras. The projected image ranges from 8 feet to 50 feet. The projector has built-in speakers and the LED projector light lasts 20,000 hours and provides up to 12 lumens of brightness. The battery is strong enough to watch a feature length film and lasts from 2-4 hours. It fits in your pocket.

Features

• Connect to your computer, iPod, iPhone, and other devices with video out
• Show business presentations, videos, pictures
• Comes with built-in speakers
• 2-4 hours of battery life
• Comes with a battery, AC adapter/charger, cables, tripod and a 1 year warranty
• Up to 50 foot display in optimal lighting

What’s in the Box
Rechargeable Battery , Power Adapter, Video Cable, Computer Cable, Table Top Tripod

SixthSense involves a wearable video projector that facilitates compelling interactions with our environment. In this TED video, Pattie Maes presents the technology invented by Pranav Mistry in her lab at MIT.

At the MIT Media Lab’s new Fluid Interfaces Group, Pattie Maes researches the tools we use to work with information and connect with one another.

Pranav Mistry is the creator of SixthSense, a wearable video device that enables new interactions between the real world and the data-sphere.