The Galaxy Beam which is the latest pico projector phone being released from Samsung is scheduled for release this July. Before you get your hopes up you should know that this only covers Singapore for now. It is still unknown when it will be available in other parts of the world.

Compared to its predecessor the AMOLED Beam, the Galaxy Beam has some very impressive features. For starters it has a 8-megapixel camera with auto focus as well as flash. It has a 3.7 inch Super AMOLED display. The OS that runs everything is Android 2.1. The Galaxy Beam uses Bluetooth 3.0, HSUPA/HSDPA and WiFi b/g/n for connectivity. It also has A-GPS and it comes with TV-Out for added media sharing.

Projector phones are starting to grow in number. The Samsung Galaxy Beam sets a milestone by being the first to feature the Google Android operating system.

Source: Best Pico Projectors

Technorati Tags: Samsung Group, Samsung i7500, Super AMOLED

Microvision has reported that it has successfully integrated direct green lasers into some of its pico projector prototypes. This is an important step towards the further miniaturization of the pico projector modules and making them cheaper too. These lasers hold to key to simplifying the manufacturing process, which will in turn benefit the whole chain.

Direct green lasers are those lasers that produce green light natively, without any modifications to them. Green makes up one of the three primary colors that are required to produce a color image digitally — RGB (Red Green Blue). But current Pico projectors do this with red and blue lasers coupled with an infrared laser that is forced to produce green light. This is done through tweaking the laser in a way that forces it to reduce its wavelength (infrared has a longer wavelength than green, which is more towards the middle of the light spectrum) and thus produce green light.

The problem with this process is that it creates a lot of complications in the manufacturing process where a lot of components are held at high tension situations to make this work. This makes the modules bigger thanks to the extra components that are required. It also increases the costs involved. Hence, once direct green lasers are successfully incorporated into the whole thing, the pico projector modules will become both cheaper and smaller. Much like the rest of the products in the electronics industry.

Direct green lasers are actually a new phenomenon and at least five different companies have said that they are working on it. Due to the complexity of synthetic green lasers (those infrared lasers that are made to produce green light), only two manufacturers make then. The commercial availability is said to be between late 2011 and mid 2012.

Source: Micro Projector News

Technorati Tags: Consumer Electronics Show, Handheld projector, microvision

Microvision announced that it will supply their laser PicoP pico-projector modules to Pioneer, which will use them for consumer and in-vehicle head-up displays (HUDs). Pioneer will develop, manufacture and distribute display engines based on the PicoP engine, and hopes to launch the first product (an in-vehicle HUD) by 2012.

Buy it Now Link: Buy it at Amazon.com

Aiptek has launched the V10Plus pico projector with a media recorder built in.

What good is watching your favorite movie or TV show on a 2 inch screen? Slip the Aiptek PocketCinema into your pocket and you’ll be able to project a 50 inch image on any surface! With an integrated Media Player, 4GB of built-in memory and support for up to 32GB SDHC cards, you’ll be able to carry hours and hours of video with you, everywhere! The V10+ also allows you to RECORD video from any video source so you don’t have to hassle with file conversions or uploads. James Bond never had it this good!

Aiptek Pocket Cinema V10+ from Aiptek Inc.

Technorati Tags: Aiptek, pocketcinema, V10Plus

Syndiant wanted to show a 3D demo with their pico projectors, and did it in a very clever way. They took two prototype pico projectors, put polarizing films in each, and taped them together to make a double stack. The images were precisely aligned – and you get a 3D image (you need polarized glasses for this).

Dual pico projectors

Technorati Tags: 3D, pico, Syndiant

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Favi Entertainment is pleased to announce their latest pico projector, the Micro. This device looks like many of the others that we have seen before. However it does sport a SVGA (800 x 600) resolution and 35 ANSI lumens, which is impressive. There is also a 1GB internal memory and a microSD card slot for wireless possibilities. But there are also AV, VGA, and a mini USB port if you need to connect an external device. The Micro is a little heavy for a pico projector, weighing just under a pound, but for all that it offers it might be worth it. The projector is now available on the company’s website yet, but it is available to preorder through select retailers like Amazon. The retail price for the Micro is just under $400.

Technorati Tags: favi micro

Buy It Now Link: Buy it at Amazon.com

Pachi Esquiroz has given a review of the Microvision ShowWX that he purchased.

There are loads of photos and lots of quality details.

Check out the full review here:

http://pesquiroz.wordpress.com/2009/12/10/desempaquetado-de-un-showwx-parte-1/

Here are some details about the projector.

Technorati Tags: microvision, Review, SHOWWX

Buy It Now Link: Buy it at Amazon.com

Optoma has released another pico projector, the PK101.

While it only has a composite imput, it is lightweight and relatively cheap.

You can purchase one here: Optoma EP-PK-101 PICO Pocket Projector- 4 oz.

Technorati Tags: optoma, pk-101, pk101

The world’s first unlocked quadband TV projector mobile phone is here. Surrounded in an oasis of constructed beauty and packed with the most wanted features everyone craves for.

With its unique style, the Titanium TV projector cellphone comes with an LED projector with manual focus, analog TV, FM Radio, video recording, digital camera, picture viewing, Dual SIM, Bluetooth, and a user friendly menu interface for easy navigation. This rich feature packed multimedia projector phone will certainly keep you entertained all day and all night.

Technorati Tags: Chinavasion, CVQF-M111

Microvision have released their first quarter results for the 2010 financial year.

Read the whole article here

Here is an exert:

Operating Results ”I’m pleased to report we have received purchase orders of over $16.7 million for PicoP(R) based products, both the accessory pico projector and PicoP display engine, through our distribution channels in Asia, Europe and North America,” stated Alexander Tokman, President and CEO. “We continue to focus on improving our production and supply chain capabilities to meet this strong demand and with the recent addition of a second qualified green laser supplier, we are confident that we can fulfill product deliveries in increased volumes to our distribution partners and continue to accept additional purchase orders.”  

Key business and technical milestones achieved during the first quarter:  

• Commercial release of the SHOWWX(TM) laser pico projector in the U.S.
• Completion of the design and supply of early evaluation samples of the new low power PicoP laser display engine to OEMs.
• Receipt of the largest single product order in the company’s history for the PicoP engine.

Also in the first quarter, Microvision’s SHOWWX laser pico projector won several top industry awards for its notable design and performance at the annual Consumer Electronics Show (CES) and Macworld, including:  

• The “CES Innovations 2010 Design and Engineering Award”.
• The popular vote for “Last Gadget Standing” from CES.
• “Best of Show” selected by the editors of Macworld.

Technorati Tags: Microvision First Quarter Results