Embedded Mobile Projectors Just Around the Corner

[Darius Wey]

<div class='os_post_top_link'><a href='http://times.hankooki.com/lpage/tech/200604/kt2006041317401711780.htm' target='_blank'>http://times.hankooki.com/lpage/tec...17401711780.htm</a><br /><br /></div><i>"A South Korean company developed a coin-size laser video projector module that can fit into portable gadgets such as mobile phones and digital cameras. Iljin Display [on] Thursday demonstrated various prototypes of mini-size projectors, which use its Single LCD Panel technology. Using the technology, users can project photos and video images on the wall from the built-in projector, making a seven-inch, full-color screen."</i><br /><br /><img src="http://www.pocketpcthoughts.com/images/web/2003/wey-20060415-Iljin.jpg" /><br /><i><span>Image courtesy of <a href="http://www.aving.net/newproduct/default.asp?mode=read&c_code=01_01_25&c_num=14954&gotopage=1&BT_ExRef=1">AVING</a>.</span></i><br /><br />Iljin Display expects mass production of these mini-projectors by the end of 2006, with implementation in cell phones, PDAs, digital cameras, and notebooks by April 2007 (both Samsung and LG appear to be backing the plan). With a 7" output, it's definitely no <a href="http://www.pocketpcthoughts.com/articles.php?action=expand,41409">Axim X50v/X51v + VGA-out</a> replacement, but as far as portability and ease of use is concerned, it doesn't look too bad.

[Jason Dunn]

Well now that's just plain cool. :mrgreen:

[palur]

At one point of time, we had quite a few options to do powerpoint presentations with ppc. The VGA cards are no longer available from most of these manufacturers except Colorgraphics. Why is it so? there is more stress on cell phones' applications than on ppcs these days.

I think ppcs have a great role to play and could become laptop replacements, but I see UMPC being tauted as laptop replacements, however they are not pocketable. I am happy to see this ultra projector technology and I sincerely hope that it could get incorporated in to pocket pcs.

[huangzhinong]

I don't expect a big success from it. You have to remember it is only seven inch, while your ppc is at least 3.5 inch. In order to get a real presentation projection, 25 to 40 inch is minimal.

This mini-projector will have the same fate as the laser projecting keyboard, cool but no use.

[palur]

I agree that a simple 7" display is of no use. I am only hoping that it will be improved enough by 2007 for larger display. I sincerely hope that someone would develop a software whereby we could use Dell's VGA out cable on the other devices also for powerpoint projection.

[ADBrown]

I don't know. Obviously it's too small to be of use for presentation or large-scale video in its current form, but there could still be uses. Being able to project a 4x larger screen would be pretty useful for creating a kind of personal mini-terminal. I wouldn't find editing long documents comfortable on my Axim's 3.7" screen, but with 7" to work with it might be more viable. The same for personal media--say, watching a movie on a long airline flight. Having that capability, combined with something like a Bluetooth keyboard, could make a handheld a more viable laptop replacement for a lot of people.

[saru83]

Well, some would say 7" is small, but just imagine if this technology is actually starting with 7"? i bet in a year of 2 they can easily upgrade it up to 20" or so. Besides, when i use my OQO which is just 5", i actually dont have a hard time editing documents or whatever, so trust me, 7" would be a really good start..

[Eriq Cook]

What'd be cool is a Pocket PC with integrated halographic keyboard and external display projectors :)

7" is small, but wouldn't mind it too much in the beginning. I'm sure we'll see 10-20 inch screens soon after.

[Darius Wey]

I sincerely hope that someone would develop a software whereby we could use Dell's VGA out cable on the other devices also for powerpoint projection.

I don't think that's even possible. Dell's VGA-out cable is a hardware-based solution leveraging the VGA-out capabilities of the Intel 2700g GPU. Most other Pocket PCs can't offer that at the moment, and not simply through software limitations.

[Darius Wey]

What'd be cool is a Pocket PC with integrated halographic keyboard and external display projectors :)

It's certainly in the works. More on the front-page shortly. ;)

[Sven Johannsen]

I'm not even sure that 7" is that bad. Certainly if you have a 3.5" to 4" PPC you might not consider it a big deal, but what if you have a Smartphone. I do find that the laser projected keyboard has some uses, but am still hampered by the small screens. Wouldn't bother me at all to have a laser keyboard and virtual 7" screen to get a bit more usability out of a much smaller package than even a UMPC.

I'd like to see this in a small projection module, much like the keyboard one. It could potentially then be used with multiple devices. Is there some video BT profile? Maybe a UWB something.

[ctmagnus]

So if the device is coin-sized, then the odds of getting a removable version of one of these into a microSD slot is out of the question. And unless the unit is dime-sized, it's the same situation for miniSD slots.

Just my plug for SD slots and devices. :mrgreen:

[Muntasser]

what about

- the effect on battery life?
- the light output. in a room with even a modest amount of light i imagine the image produced would be washed out?

Otherwise, its a promising idea.

[caubeck]

Laser keyboards and built-in projectors are great. However, rather than features on the verge of becoming reality I see them as devices waiting till battery technology catches up. I can't see a converged PDA-phone with a mini projector lasting long without topping up the energy supply a few times a day.

I have a new job which will involve plenty of traveling, so I spent a month planning how to become more "Mobile" this year. My original list of wants included a Dell PDA, the virtual keyboard, a fat SD card, and so on. But in the end, after weighing up the pros and cons, I'm going for a 14" dual-core laptop and a sturdy carrying case.

I won't be giving up on my Pocket PC, but until PDAs become as versatile as notebook PCs I'm not sure I'm willing to rely on them as a serious alternative.

[bjornkeizers]

I'd love to have this. I see several practical uses for this.

If they put the projector at the top of the unit in a rotating housing (similar to those old Sony Clie NX units with cameras), you could put the PPC in a keyboard cradle and project the screen on a wall in front of you. It'd be a lot more comfortable then that tiny, tiny PPC screen.

Also, imagine this: you want to show several people a map or a large picture. You don't want to pass the PPC around and five people looking over your shoulder doesn't work either. You hold it up, point it to a wall, and everyone can see it at the same time.

I really hope they can get this to work. I want this - badly!!!!!

[Ripberger]

I wonder how this will compare to Microvision's PicoProjector... I'm looking forward to that one.

[uwaku]

Here's what I'd like to see: a USB/Bluetooth device about the size of a small thumbdrive. Plug it into any computer and run a small exe file, and it shows on the monitor/screen/wall display whatever is showing on your PPC. This could work for people who use laptops, too. It'd be even better to have a BT component on one of those nice 1800 lumens wall projectors for salespeople. Don't plug your PPC or laptop into it; just run the program!