Slashdot Mirror


Micro-Projectors May Bring YouTube On-The-Go

An anonymous reader writes "A tiny portable projector, about the size of a pack of cards, may soon replace a ring tone as the most annoying thing on the train or bus. These technical innovations can project an image up to 50 inches in size in dark lighting, making them ideal for on-the-road business presentations. They can also be hooked up to cell phones or media devices, though, possibly introducing a whole new level of social intrusion into US culture. 'Digital projectors were once bulky. These new models, though, are small enough to fit into the pocket of consumers who want a big-screen experience from a small-screen device. Some of the models are expected to be on the market by year-end, or sooner. Prices have yet to be announced. Matthew S. Brennesholtz, an analyst at Insight Media, a marketing research firm in Norwalk, Conn., says he thinks the projectors will initially cost about $350, then quickly drop to less than $300.'"

11 of 143 comments (clear)

  1. Cool. What about tv? by electrictroy · · Score: 4, Interesting

    Can I connect this thing to my HD DVD player? At $300 it's cheaper than buying a real 40 inch screen.

    --
    The government is not your daddy. Its purpose is not to raid middle-class neighbors' wallets and give it to you.
  2. Never gonna give up my monitor by Arnonymous+Coward · · Score: 4, Funny

    The submitter could at least have linked to the YouTube Video of the projector prototype.

  3. Exploding pockets 2.0 by techpawn · · Score: 5, Funny

    So, how hot will the bulbs in these pocket projectors get?
    I smell a market for a project projector protector!

    --
    Ask not what you can do for your country. Ask what your country did to you
  4. Re:Cool. What about tv? by Jeff+DeMaagd · · Score: 5, Informative

    At $300, it's probably VGA or SVGA res, good enough for DVD, but blow it up too large and you'll be seeing the gaps between the pixels. HD projectors run over $1000. A good 1080p projector can be had for about $2000 now, and they're generally quite beautiful.

  5. how much light? by hcdejong · · Score: 4, Informative

    Until now, projectors needed ungodly amounts of light to project an image bright enough to be usable in a non-darkened room. Either these miniprojectors use some kind of superefficient light source, or that 60" image can only be seen in total darkness.

  6. Re:Assuming that it isn't a 4/1 joke... by The_Wilschon · · Score: 4, Funny

    ready to sue at a moments notice. RIAA, is that you?
    --
    SIGSEGV caught, terminating

    wait... not that kind of sig.
  7. Old news. by odin84gk · · Score: 5, Informative
    I will believe it when I see it at Best Buy.

    This has been out there since 2007 http://www.engadget.com/2007/01/08/hands-on-with-microvisions-itty-bitty-projector/

    And even in 2006. http://www.wired.com/science/discoveries/news/2006/06/70942

  8. Re:Physics by Seraphim_72 · · Score: 4, Funny

    You can't break the laws of physics.
    Damn it Scotty, I need 6000 lumens on the side of this mountain playing Moulin Rouge. I don't care how you do it but get me those lumens mister, that's an order. Kirk out.
    --
    Slashdot, where armchair scientists get shouted down and armchair theologians get modded up.
  9. Re:April fool's day? by garett_spencley · · Score: 4, Insightful

    "What happened to typical slashdot April Fool's Day?"

    Why that *IS* the April Fools joke silly!

    Everybody was waiting for their April Fools day jokes only to find no jokes. Hah, April Fools !

  10. Re:Cool. What about tv? by odin84gk · · Score: 5, Informative
    Some research dug this up:

    The projector outputs images at 848 by 480 pixels (WVGA) http://blogs.pcworld.com/staffblog/archives/006250.html
  11. Re:Cool. What about tv? by ah.clem · · Score: 5, Funny

    I'm trying...

    --
    "Life is not magic." Dr. Ron Weiss - "If we don't play God, who will?" Dr. James Watson