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Review: Sony’s MP-CL1 updates a proven HD pico projector with a thin, Apple-friendly shell

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I knew Celluon had something special on its hands when I reviewed the $349 pocket-sized video projector PicoPro earlier this year: the Korean company known for laser-projecting keyboards released an iPhone 6 Plus-sized HD projector, capable of simulating a TV using lasers, a speaker, and a rechargeable battery. PicoPro’s projection system was MicroVision-developed and laser-sharp, requiring no manual focus knob — an advantage over rival projectors such as the otherwise more powerful AAXA P700 and ST200, which I subsequently reviewed and liked.

This week, Sony is entering the pico projector market with MP-CL1 ($350), which uses the same MicroVision laser projector found in PicoPro. Sporting the same 1920×720 resolution and putative 32-lumen brightness/80,000:1 contrast ratio as PicoPro, MP-CL1 promises to create a 40-inch TV image at 4-foot distances, an 80-inch image at 8-foot distances, or a (very dim) 120-inch image at 12-foot distances. Sony has pitched it as a “take it anywhere” big screen display for the iPad, iPhone, and PlayStation 4; it’s equally viable for Apple TVs and HDMI-ready Macs. So which is the better value: MP-CL1 or PicoPro?…


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Review: AAXA’s iPad mini-sized P700 blasts videos at 4x the brightness of iPhone-sized projectors

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Pico projectors — video projectors small enough to fit in pockets or bags — are handy if you need to carry a tool that can display videos on a surface much larger than your iPhone’s screen. And if you’re willing to step up from an iPhone 6 Plus-sized footprint to a projector that’s still smaller (in two dimensions) than an iPad mini, there are benefits: larger projectors can hold more powerful lightbulbs, better speakers, and bigger batteries, amongst other features.

AAXA’s P700 ($450) demonstrates what you can expect if you jump from a pocket-sized projector to one that fits in a bag or briefcase. It adds around 50% more physical volume to AAXA’s $299 ST200which I reviewed and liked five months ago, leveraging the extra space to offer over 4 times the light output, noticeably stronger audio, and slightly longer battery life. If you’re looking for a way to display Mac, Apple TV, iPad, iPhone, or iPod content on up to a 150″ surface, you’ll want to see what P700 offers…


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Aiptek shows off a combo projector/battery pack for iPhone 5 available starting this month (Video)

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Aiptek, the company behind a number of mobile projector products that we’ve seen in the past, is about to release a brand new pico projector for iPhone 5 and we just got our first look at the product during the ShowStoppers IFA event in Berlin. Texas Instruments, who provides the DLP technology powering the product’s projection experience, was on hand tonight at ShowStoppers showing off the new “MobileCinema i55.” It’s similar to other pico projector cases Aiptek has launched in the past, but this time provides a couple new features on top of built-in Lightning connector support for the iPhone 5. We went hands-on and have a video of the product in action below the fold. 
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PoP Video turns your iPhone into a $99 pico projector

[youtube=http://www.youtube.com/watch?feature=player_embedded&v=6jNJOd3muQg]

Not quite ready for the awesome Epson Megaplex iOS projector? Available for preorder right now, the PoP Video project from Micron Technology is a $99 pico projector with built-in 30-pin dock connector for your iPhone or iPod. The device works with iPhone 4S, iPhone 4, and third-generation and fourth-generation iPod touch, while providing two hours of playback at 960 x 540 pixel resolution. It comes with the following specs:

Size and Weight

(refer to the scale drawings of the PoP Video to the right)

Input and Output

  • Input: 30-pin dock connector
  • Video Output: qHD (960 x 540 pixel resolution)

Power and Battery

  • Battery: Built-in Lithium-ion rechargeable battery
  • Playtime: Up to two hours with full battery charge
  • Charging: Micro-USB charging (1.2 compliant)
  • Charge time: Fast charge in about 4 hours

Package Contents

  • PoP Video
  • User manual
  • USB charging cable

Apple patents projector technology and “Shared Projected Workspace” concept for MacBooks and iOS devices

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There certainly isn’t a shortage of Apple patents being published today (probably more fuel for a legal battle a year from now). We just told you about a new Map related (Placebase acquisition) patent, and now Patently Apple reports Apple has been granted a patent that will allow them to integrate tiny projectors into future mobile devices.

This latest patent describes, in rather clear detail, exactly how Apple could integrate projectors into iPhones, iPads, and MacBooks. It even suggests Apple cameras will be able to detect gestures and “shadows and/or silhouettes” (Kinect-style iOS games anyone?).

The patent also describes what Apple calls a “shared projected workspace”. This appears to essentially be the ability for users to share content with one another over two projected displays. For example, if I were to project an image from one iOS device, and you from another, we could then share content (via gestures?) between both displays. The patent explains:

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