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3M Launches First Pocket Projector

Posted by kdawson on from the gadget-holy-grail dept.

An anonymous reader writes "Popsci.com has a writeup on 3M's new pocket projector, the 3M MPro 110, set to launch on September 30. 'In a dark room, it could project a big enough image to be the ultimate cheap-o home theater. The projector will sell for a mere $359. It doesn't have a speaker, so you'll have to get that separately. But really, how good could a microscopic speaker jammed into this thing sound, anyway?'"

22 of 187 comments (clear)

  1. They also have... by mbstone · · Score: 4, Funny

    a lollipop with a Batman projector built-in, in case one has the need to summon the Caped Crusader. I saw it at 7-11.

    1. Re:They also have... by Anonymous Coward · · Score: 4, Funny

      Am I the only person to have read that as "Pocket Protector"?

    2. Re:They also have... by Ihmhi · · Score: 4, Funny

      I read it as "rocket projector", and I thought it was amazingly awesome. Like, a projector that flies across the room, shows a 1 second video, and then kills the C.F.O.

      --
      Random Thoughts From A Diseased Mind (Not For Dummies)
  2. only 640x480 by h4rr4r · · Score: 3, Interesting

    Not going to be much of a cheap hometheater setup at that resolution.

    1. Re:only 640x480 by Anonymous Coward · · Score: 5, Insightful

      That's why they called it a Pocket Projector rather than a Home Theater Projector.

    2. Re:only 640x480 by h4rr4r · · Score: 4, Informative

      Nope. 720 Ã-- 480 for NTSC and 720 Ã-- 576 for PAL.

    3. Re:only 640x480 by Anonymous Coward · · Score: 5, Informative

      No.

      720 x 576 is 4:3 PAL where the pixel aspect ratio is 1.06

      16:9 PAL is 720 x 576 where the pixel aspect ratio is 1.42

    4. Re:only 640x480 by amRadioHed · · Score: 4, Insightful

      Actually, the ideal while camping is to have no electronics at all apart from a cellphone for emergencies only. IMHO, that is.

      --
      We hope your rules and wisdom choke you / Now we are one in everlasting peace
  3. First? Not a chance by damn_registrars · · Score: 3, Funny

    We've had them for a long, long time.

    Oh, wait that was pocket projectors? I'm sorry. I was only off my one consonant.

    --
    Damn_registrars has no butt-hole. Damn_registrars has no use for a butt-hole.
  4. Almost won the UberGeek award by R2.0 · · Score: 3, Funny

    Anybody else read that as "3M Pocket Protector"? Because with those specs, that would be AWESOME!

    --
    "As God is my witness, I thought turkeys could fly." A. Carlson
    1. Re:Almost won the UberGeek award by Technician · · Score: 3, Funny

      Anybody else read that as "3M Pocket Protector"? Because with those specs, that would be AWESOME!

      3M pocket protectors have been with us for many years. To make one, take the sleve from a 3M floppy (5-1/4in) and fold it in half. Fill the front with pens and the back with your calculator and you are all set.

      --
      The truth shall set you free!
  5. HR Violation by nick_davison · · Score: 5, Funny

    I tried showing one of my female colleagues my pocket projector.

    Anyone hiring?

  6. Specs by lordofthechia · · Score: 5, Informative

    The article didn't list any specs but a little digging found this:

    3M MPRO 110M
    640x480 Resolution
    LCoS Technology (supposedly similar to DLP)
    VGA and composite in
    150g weight

    Considering how small 1080p DLP chips are, and now that they're using LEDs as lightsources, I was suprised that a DLP model wasn't first to market...

    That said, 3M has a smaller model for cell phone use: here .

    --
    Georgia Tech, the leader in Chia(tm) technology.
    1. Re:Specs by lordofthechia · · Score: 4, Informative

      Spoke too soon. I knew some friends at TI had mentioned seeing prototypes of compact DLP projectors. Seems they're already marketing them to cell phone companies:
      http://www.pocket-lint.co.uk/news/news.phtml/9849/10873/hands-on-dlp-mobile-phone-projector.phtml

      Soon... very soon we'll have our tricorders!

      --
      Georgia Tech, the leader in Chia(tm) technology.
  7. Re:First? Not a chance by Theolojin · · Score: 4, Funny

    Er, 3M makes rocket fuel? Definitely news for nerds.

    Oh, wait. That was pocket projectors. I'm sorry. I was only off by one consonant.

    --
    Life is short; think quickly.
  8. Good for DIY multitouch setups by sonamchauhan · · Score: 3, Informative

    Good for DIY multitouch setups
    http://www.google.com.au/search?q=multitouch

  9. Who needs sound? by inode_buddha · · Score: 5, Funny

    Who needs sound when you project goatse from your cellphone on a crowded bus?

    --
    C|N>K
    1. Re:Who needs sound? by zakezuke · · Score: 4, Funny

      Who needs sound when you project goatse from your cellphone on a crowded bus?

      Who needs a projector when you can setup a wifi hotpoint with everything redirected to a local cache of goatse.

      --
      There is no sanctuary. There is no sanctuary. SHUT UP! There is no shut up. There is no shut up.
  10. Re:First? Not a chance by CaptainPatent · · Score: 4, Funny

    We've had them for a long, long time.

    Oh, wait that was pocket projectors? I'm sorry. I was only off my one consonant.

    I know! 350 bucks and I STILL have ink on my shirt!

    That'll teach me to glance at the subject line.

    --
    Well, back to rejecting software patent applications.
  11. Microscopic Speakers Sound Great by Doc+Ruby · · Score: 4, Informative

    SoundAndVision.com (_Stereo Review_ magazine's website) is giving audiophile raves to a $180, 5.6 inch, 9.5 ounce portable speaker called Foxl. So the answer to the question is that for about $500, a projector and the Foxl could make a microscopic kit into a hugely entertaining movie theater.

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    --
    make install -not war

  12. Smart phone interface! by Scubaraf · · Score: 4, Interesting

    This is the killer app for this product. I work in a hospital - the reason we don't use PDA's or iPhones to interact with our patients' electronic records is that the screen is too small to see the necessary data and the interface is too slow for entering lengthy narrative information. Laptops or tablet PC's could do this, but they are too large to carry around in your pocket. Enter the iPhone with this projector and handwriting or voice recognition. Total game changer in my field.

  13. Re:nothing really new here by ndege · · Score: 4, Insightful

    Actually, as another poster pointed out, what is groundbreaking is that this is the first uber-small projector to actually be "for sale". As I understand it, all the other "small" projectors are expensive prototypes used in large corporate peeing contests at trade-shows.

    Chevy Volt anyone?

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