Thursday, January 10, 2008 5:46 PM
Wow! Micro-mirror laser scanning is cool! This hand-held device is a projector that can create an 848x480 resolution image up to several feet wide depending on ambient light and distance. No focusing, no bulb (all lasers), no heat! It's only as big as it is because of a rechargeable battery pack that runs it for up to 2.5 hours. The company envisions it built into cell phones, media players, etc. soon. This model should be out this year and they're apparently targeting a $300 price.
In every possible way this is cool. I would take this over a television any day. The projected price is so much better than a comparable flat panel and it's even portable! More than likely the display technology can be scaled up slightly for a larger image for mounted projector scenarios, driving projector prices to the floor. As a handheld device though, it's like nothing else. Being able to project an iPod/Zune/Archos video onto a wall, showing your cell phone media on a larger screen, and even better: giving your PDA a real display that fits in your pocket will be pretty radical new features. It changes the game completely when you can share such small devices without finding a TV.
I can see these projecting music visualizations or videos during a party, showing slideshows over holidays, aiding teachers with presentations (due to price and convenience), and allowing a business traveler to recreate the laptop experience with a PDA, roll-up keyboard, mini-mouse, and tiny projectable display. Being able to carry it all in your pocket(s) or throw it into a backtop without the concern for delicate optics and fragile bulbs will pretty revolutionary. I can't wait to see these on the market!
Link: Microvision