Panasonic 3D AE7000 projector

Shiny blue, red and purple confetti fell down before me, while the lights of hundreds of thousands of clicking cameras glinted in the night.

It was the opening of the Beijing Olympics in a huge stadium. For a moment,  it seemed like I was there.

In fact, I was watching the Olympics through Panasonic's 3D home projector technology, that it claims is a world-first.

The company demonstrated its AE7000 projector this week at Auckland's Bridgeway Cinema.

It was impressive. We also watched a clip from James Cameron's movie Avatar and I felt like I was close to the action.

But I also felt motion sickness and my eyes are still sore, several hours after viewing.

Doubts are emerging about 3D technology and how it will be picked up by the mass home consumer market.

The Sydney Morning Herald said Sony has been one of the main backers of new 3D technology but its Australian managing director concedes 3D was rushed to market and had failed to live up to expectations.

Rena Yotsu, from Panasonic Japan, demonstrated the projector and deftly took us through its technical features, such as its minimal "cross-talk", newly engineered lamp, and new colour filters.

Yotsu, who launched the product in Los Angeles recently, said Panasonic consulted with Hollywood producers to try to achieve a "true image" that reflects a theatre experience, she said.

But even she conceded the jury was out among some film directors about the technology.

"Directors want to tell a story, and may use 3D technology in order to do that or something else. The movie producers want to make money from the movies, but the directors don't necessarily want to use the 3D technology, so there is an internal conflict."

Panasonic product sales manager of display systems Taran Wiseman said the New Zealand public may be surprised at how many people have home theatre screens set up in their houses. "It's another option from the big screen TVs."

The projector, which will be released on the market soon, will retail for $5699 and comes with two pairs of 3D glasses.

SIM2 unveils 10 new projectors to complete the launch of 15 models

SIM2, the Italian manufacturer whose high performance projectors have a global reputation, has launched 10 new projectors across 4 different ranges at CEDIA Expo in Indianapolis. Together with the 5 projectors that were launched earlier in the year, this completes the 2011 Anniversary collection of 15 new projectors that SIM2 is launching as part of their 15th anniversary celebrations. Each projector bears the SIM2 hallmarks of combining a captivating, unmistakable design with revolutionary technical features.

Leading this line-up is the new NERO projector series. This range of premium single-chip DLP projectors shares many of the technical attributes of the award-winning LUMIS 3D SOLO 3-chip series. SIM2’s engineers have designed an incredibly flexible platform—NERO 3D-1, NERO 3D-2, NERO 3D-HighBrightness and NERO 235—that will offer consumers four different feature sets, depending on model: 3D, high brightness, high contrast, and 2.35:1 aspect ratio. NERO has the perfect balance of power, precision, and innovation. The NERO line starts to ship at the end of September and prices start from £12,995 MSRP inc.VAT.

The NERO 235 is SIM2’s first native 2.35:1 aspect ratio projector. It will appeal to those customers that love the cinematic experience of anamorphic cinema. The NERO 235 means this can now be achieved without the external lens system that was previously required.

Another of the new series to be launched is the CINEMA line. The CINEMA 90 and CINEMA 100 are 3-chip 3D DLP projectors that use a dual lamp system to deliver up to 10,000 lumens. This high light output is required in ReferenceCinemas with very large screens. The CINEMA series is the new high-end reference standard, against which all others will be judged.

The MICO 100 series is truly revolutionary as it is the world’s first active 3D LED projector line. Each of the 3 models combine two of the latest cutting-edge technologies, LED and 3D, to deliver stunning 3D images on projectors with a 30,000 hour lamp life and instant power on. SIM2 uses its new SuperPureLED technology for the MICO 150 and MICO 160 to deliver a 30% increase in light output over the existing MICO models.

Last but by no means least, the LUMIS UNO 3D is a more affordable addition to the award winning LUMIS 3D series. This 3-chip 3D DLP projector produces natural-looking, flicker free images. The LUMIS UNO 3D will also start shipping at the end of September and has an MSRP starting from £26,995 inc VAT.

“This is a very special year for SIM2 and the15 new models are a stunning showcase of our technical excellence.”said Alan Roser, Managing Director SIM2 UK. “This new line-up means that SIM2 has the largest range of 3D projectors with twelve models utilising a variety of technologies. The new additions mean that SIM2 now offers the custom installer a bespoke solution for every environment and purpose, thus affording excellent business opportunities."

Whilst the CI world seems to be focussing on lowering prices, SIM2 is consistently staying its course of designing and manufacturing exclusive, high performance products that offer a unique and solid solution to custom installers and A/V professionals that will facilitate their business growth for years to come.

ViewSonic outs new LED-powered projectors

Display expert ViewSonic has announced a pair of new business-themed portable projectors, adding features that mean the device may be making trips home at the weekends.

The ViewSonic PLED-W200 and PLED-W500 are both powered by an LED light source, making them significantly smaller and lighter than a traditional lamp-based projector. They also come with a much better lifespan: unlike the hundreds of hours per lamp of a traditional projector, both models are rated at 20,000 display hours.

While primarily aimed at the business user who needs to travel light - with stand-out features including 1GB of internal storage for PC-free presentations on the top-end PLED-W500 - the two projectors also include some features that home users will likely enjoy.

The top-end PLED-W500 includes an HDMI 1.3 port for connection to Blu-ray players or game console systems, and supports resolutions of up to 1280x720 - not quite Full HD, but a respectable resolution for film watching or gameplay. More impressively, it also includes a 120Hz refresh rate and compatibility with 3D shutter glasses - meaning that gamers can enjoy large-scale fully-immersive gaming. Quite what ViewSonic thinks business users will be doing with 3D support isn't yet clear.

Brightness may be an issue, though, the PLED-W500 features just a 500-lumen bulb, while the cheaper PLED-W200 drops to 200-lumen for the projectionist on a budget. Both models are expected to launch in the US next month priced at around $700 and $500 respectively (about £450 and £321,) but UK pricing and availability have yet to be confirmed.

Projector

If it weren't for its 4,000-lumen brightness rating, the Optoma TW762 ($1,100 street) would be a fairly typical lightweight projector. Built around a DLP-based WXGA (1,280 by 800) engine, it weighs in at 6.4 pounds. On the other hand, the 4,000 lumens pegs it as being suitable for a mid- to large-size conference room or classroom, and bright enough to leave the lights on. That makes it notably bright for a projector that you can easily carry with you, and of obvious interest to anyone who can make use of the bright image, whether they need the portability or not.

As I pointed out in my review of the Editors' Choice WXGA Optoma TW610ST ($1,000 street, 4 stars), projectors in the TW762's weight class are generally less likely to wind up as constant traveling companions than they are to be permanently installed or put on a cart for room-to-room portability. However, Optoma includes a soft carrying case with the TW762, and the high brightness will give it special appeal for portable applications with a particular need for a bright projector. That's particularly true considering that the 4,000-lumen TW762 is a half pound lighter than the 3,000-lumen TW610ST.

Setting up the TW762 is absolutely standard, with a manual focus and manual 1.2x zoom. The back panel offers a reasonably full set of connectors, including an HDMI 1.3 port for a computer or video source, two VGA inputs for computers or component video, one pass-through monitor port, and both an S-Video and a composite video port.

In my tests, the TW762 was appropriately bright for its rating. The 78-inch wide (92-inch diagonal) image I tested with was easily bright enough to stand up to the ambient light in a typical office or classroom. The projector is well suited, in short, for throwing a reasonably large, bright image even with the lights on.

The projector's data image quality is best described as acceptable, but a touch short of top tier. On our standard suite of DisplayMate tests the color balance was a little off, with supposedly neutral grays showing a distinctly greenish tinge in midtones. In addition, although most colors were suitably bright and vibrant, yellow was just a touch mustard-colored. On the other hand, both black text on a white background and white text on a black background were crisp and readable even at the smallest sizes we test with.

With video images, the TW762 handled skin tones well and did better than most data projectors with shadow detail (maintaining details based on shading in dark areas). I saw just a touch of posterization (colors changing suddenly where they should change gradually), but only in scenes that many projectors have problems with. On the minus side, however, I also saw unusually obvious noise in the image.

One other important problem was a more obvious than usual rainbow effect, with bright areas breaking up into little red-green-blue rainbows. The effect is always a potential issue for any single-chip DLP projector, but some are more prone than others to showing it, and some people are more sensitive to seeing it. With the TW762 I saw the rainbows in both data and video screens much more often than with most DLP projectors. Anyone who is sensitive to the effect, as I am, may well find them annoying for either data or video sessions that last more than a few minutes.

The TW762's audio quality is better than average for its weight class. The 8-watt mono speaker is both loud enough to fill a small to mid-size conference room and high enough quality to be easily understandable.

Note too that the projector offers 3D support with DLP-Link glasses. As with all DLP-link projectors, there's some question about how practical this can be. The glasses sell for $70 or more each, and the 3D support is somewhat limited, so the projector won't work directly with a Blu-ray player, for example. However, I tested the 3D by connecting to a Blu-ray player through the Optoma 3D-XL ($400 street, 4 stars) external converter, and the 3D certainly works.

Lubbock decorators give advice for unique rooms

So, you’ve decided to decorate your child's room.

But where, oh where, to begin?

For starters, try the kid — many experts recommend discussing matters with your child when conceptualizing his or her new room.

“Let them be who God created them to be,” said Julia Gill of JMG Designs. “Listen to them and let them have a voice.”

Be forewarned: an open-ended question like "How do you want your room to look?" may not elicit the most helpful responses.

More focused, conversation-inducing questions can give parents and designers a better idea of the child's desires. Beyond color and styling, ask about interests or a cherished possession, suggests Scott Davis of SWhome, a division of Studio West.

The child’s responses may help form the room's theme or focus. A love of boats might yield a nautical theme, for example, or an appreciation for the outdoors could inspire rugged wood detailing.

Even reviewing fabrics can help children identify colors and textures they'd like to incorporate into their room, says Rachelle Collins of SWhome.

Whatever you do, be wary of trends, designers say.

“You need to do really what appeals to you and makes you happy,” Collins says. “Try not to be trendy.”

Trends can change at the blink of an eye, she explains, but  changing a room requires a bit more effort.

After speaking with the child, Gill likes to begin decorating by creating a visual focal point for the room. A canvas painted with a large flower or racecar, or artwork painted directly onto the wall can offer visual focus, she says. Use accessories to play off the focal point, she adds.

At-home decorators can even try a little DIY artwork for a statement-making focus, Davis and Collins say.

Find a favorite image, use a projector to project it on the wall, then trace and paint the image onto the wall. Using unique stencils is another other way to have an artistic focal point without art school skills.

Don't forget the kids when searching for artsy accents, says Kelle Barnard of Barnard Interiors.

Pull out the paint brushes and aprons, grab the kids a canvas, and allow them to create the art they'll be seeing every day.

Getting creative with themes

Thinking outside the box when it comes to themes can be challenging. Cars may appear on the wallpaper, bedding, rug, and lamp stand, creating a visually overhwhelming take on a theme.

Less literal thematic interpretations are possible, designers say.

“Instead of thinking ‘tree,’ think, ‘What’s in a tree?’ ” Barnard recommends. Consider objects and activities associated with trees — branches, leaves, even fruit, birds, or climbing — to draw inspiration.

Affix branches to a mirror frame, screw branches into the wall, or stamp leaves on a lampshade to communicate a love of trees without overusing pictures of trees, Barnard suggests.

Gill points to a car-themed room she designed for a boy. The room uses an above-the-bed race car painting as a focal point, and racing-inspired accents like flames and checkerboard flags.

Sewing seat belts on decorative pillows or accessorizing with gas tank lids are other innovative takes on the well-loved car theme, says Gill.

Large mason jars offer a way to emphasize themes inexpensively, Barnard says.

Fill jars with bolts and tools for a workroom-inspired dwelling or T-Rex Pez dispensers for a dinosaur’s lair.

For the ever-popular princess, fairy and diva themes, get creative. Choose a few places to emphasize direct representations of the characters— on bedding, pillows, or artwork, for instance — and add nods to the theme elsewhere. Add a crown decal with the child’s name on the wall, Barnard suggests, or tulle around the bed. Vines, butterfly accessories, tulle clouds, Chinese lanterns, and faux toadstools help make fairy tales come to life in a child’s room.

If you’re going the diva route, don't forget the glitz, says Gill. Feather boas and general bling are great ways to reinforce diva decor, she adds. Further create a custom look (minus the custom price-tag) by adding trims, buttons or beading to cornice boards, bedding, pillows, or upholstery.

Latest Innovations in Light Bulbs Announced

Bulb America is the leading online resource for light bulbs. They offer everything from halogen light bulbs to medical bulbs to miniature bulbs to xenon bulbs to automotive bulbs and projector lamp bu

 Bulb America is the leading online resource for light bulbs. They offer everything from halogen light bulbs to medical bulbs to miniature bulbs to xenon bulbs to automotive bulbs and projector lamp bulbs. Light bulbs can be expensive but Bulb America offers the best pricing on all styles of light bulbs.

The company has announced a new line of energy efficient light bulbs that defy industry standard. With the cost of electricity continually on the rise, more and more consumers are opting for energy efficient light bulbs. By using these light bulbs the average homeowner can save up to 60% on their electric bill. Consumers tend to use lighting more than they realize around the home. From the nightlight that is kept in the bathroom or hallway to the dim oven light that is left on all night long as a guide, there is always some sort of light running in most households. Ordering your light bulbs online from Bulb America ensures a quality product at a reasonable price.

Not only does the company carry an extensive list of energy efficient light bulbs for the home, they also offer LED lighting, garden lighting, outdoor lighting and stage lighting. It does not matter what your light bulb need is, Bulb America has got you covered. There are bulbs for party lights, flood lights, stage lights, light stands, blacklights, color changers, projectors, search lights and more. In addition to the best selection of light bulbs, Bulb America also offers lighting accessories such as a chain switch, cables, bulb reflectors, drop lights, electrical tape, fog fluids, light fixtures, remote controllers, lamp starters, gel sheets, adapters, timers and switches.

If you need help finding the right light bulb for your home, office, business, outdoors or automobile, Bulb America is happy to help. On the website you will find LiveChat customer service available 24 hours per day. The company offers free shipping on all orders over $25 as well.

Cameron Returns To Terminator, Gets Theme Park, Pushes Cinema Technology

Busy day tomorrow, with an early start. This means I’m going to be keeping this installment of Rushes pretty darn short, and most of the stories will be deferred, redirected into tomorrow’s installment.

I’ve decided to run with just three stories tonight, all of them linked by a common thread. See if you can work out what it is.

Clue: it’s what I essentially already pointed out in the headline, or with the GIANT PICTURE OF JAMES CAMERON TO THE RIGHT.

James Cameron has apparently joined in with some of the Terminator 5 “brainstorming sessions”, having been lured back into the fold by his old friend Arnold Schwarzenegger. Cameron is definitely not on board as director, however, and his involvement actually appears to be rather unofficial – but what a godfather to have, especially when working on this franchise.

The film was going to be directed by Justin Lin but his commitment to Fast and Furious 6 means he’s had to step down. He’s still contributing ideas, however. Is anybody else imagining Lin and Cameron drinking coffee, eating pastries and working up a big “What If?” whiteboard together?

While the plan is for the Terminator film to get going quickly, it may not pan out that way and then, should the picture face sufficient delay, there’s a very real possibility that Lin will return to it after his Fast and Furious hexquel. [Deadline]

One reason that Cameron absolutely, positively won’t get sucked into Terminator 5 so deeply that he ends up holding the megaphone, is that he’s busy with his Avatar follow ups.

Whereas the first Avatar became the standard bearer for digital 3D, Cameron is looking to push cinema technology again, and in a new way with the sequels. He’s explained it a few times now, but his plan is still to shoot the pictures at higher frame rates – 48 or 60, rather than the standard 24.

Cameron says that he would “personally favour” a 60fps shoot for the films, “but other people may choose 48 for other reasons.” Financial reasons, of course, as opposed to Cameron’s own aesthetic and technical interests.

The Hobbit films are currently being shot at 48fps, which has already made them milestone movies in technical terms. If Cameron gets his way and leaps up to a 60fps system for Avatar 2 and 3, this will mean that, for a cinema’s projector to be able to cope with all of the big movies over the next few years, it will have to be able to handle 24, 48 and 60fps playback.

This isn’t too tricky, and in most cases it would simply be down to providing the right firmware to the projector. Cameron nailed it when he said:

My feeling is if it is a software upgrade, do both [48 and 60]. It doesn’t change anything at the projector; you don’t have to change the lamp house or the lenses. If you are uploading software you can upload it for 48 and 60 and let the filmmakers decide.

James Cameron Want To Spin His Frames SUPER FAST

A friend of ours the other day, opining about the general state of 3-D filmmaking, studios' financial successes and failures and the sense of anxiety that pervades both Hollywood and the country at large, noted that Hollywood treats James Cameron like he's Warren Buffet: a grand oracle who understands the deep mysteries of the universe and has learned how to control them. Like in Washington with Buffet, Hollywood is always looking for Cameron to save it, and treats him like an artist genius solely because of his ability to bring in loads of cash when there seemed to be none. Pretty good for a fella from Omaha, and pretty good for a guy who used to beg Roger Corman to let him hold the camera.

Thus, when James Cameron says he plans on "Avatar 2" and "Avatar 3" to be shown at 60 frames per second -- as opposed to the traditional 24, or even the more advanced 48 -- you can suspect everyone is diligently taking notes.

"The reason I went down that path is because I believe it makes for better 3D," Cameron said of his advocacy of higher frame rates in a new interview with The Hollywood Reporter. "There were lots of arguments for why 48 and why 60. My feeling is if it is a software upgrade (for digital cinema projectors), do both. It doesn't change anything at the projector; you don't have to change the lamp house or the lenses. If you are uploading software you can upload it for 48 and 60 and let the filmmakers decide."

In terms of how he will decide at what rate to shoot the Avatar sequels, Cameron said, "If the exhibitors will adopt the idea of a dual standard, than I'll probably want to shoot 60. If they don't, then I will have to look very carefully at the pros and cons of 60 and 48."

This surely sounds very technical, and it is, but it's still important. The reason we've had so many 3-D movies in the first place is because of Cameron's success with "Avatar." A whole industry has changed almost everything it does, solely because of one man's success. You can talk all you want about how 3-D may or may not be dead. But James Cameron, the Buffet leading the rest of Hollywood, is doubling down on 3-D technology, for projectors and distributors and the special effects industry. That's what the frames-per-second mean. He's talking. Everyone's listening.

Everything in four years is still gonna be in 3-D and cost 20 bucks a ticket, that's what we're saying here.

Sim2 Presents 15 Products Celebrating 15 Years

Sim2 brought its executive team from Italy to the recent CEDIA Expo take the wraps off of a range of high-performance

projectors introduced this year for the custom-installation market, highlighted by a new one-chip DLP 3D solution.

In total, the company show cased 15 products introduced in 2011 to symbolize its 15th anniversary celebration this year,

which coincides with the 150th anniversary of modern Italy. Models are distributed between the Crystal, Nero, Lumis 3D,

Mico and Cinema series.

“Our target was to provide a range of products that can fit 95 percent of our customers’ requests from the performance

point of view and the price point of view,” said Maurizio Cini, said Sim2 Multimedia president.

Highlighting the assortment was Sim2’s new Nero single-chip DLP projector platform, including 3D capability that “sets

a new reference standard,” according to Alberto Fabiano, Sim2 USA executive VP.

The 3D version of the Nero platform uses much of the same high-quality optics and electronics as its ultra- high

performing three-chip Lumis 3D Solo cousin but in a lower-priced compact configuration.

The Nero offers installers a choice of three lenses (T1, T2 and T3) providing a total throw ratio of 1.37- 3.9:1 for

installation flexibility.

The lenses are part of Sim2’s Unified Throw Ratio concept, which makes specifying and upgrading within the Sim2 line

very easy, the company said.

To aid calibration, Sim2’s Live Colors Calibration 2.0 software allows adjustment of primary, secondary, and white-

point color coordinates in both 2D and 3D, enabling experts to accurately calibrate the final image on-screen via a

user-friendly PC-based interface.

Nero is described as the platform for a line of premium single-chip FullHD 1080p/120Hz DLP projectors that includes the

Nero 3D-1, Nero 3D-2, Nero 3DHighBrightness and Nero 235. The assortment will offer consumers four different feature

sets, depending on the model, including 3D, high brightness, high contrast and 2.35:1 aspect ratio.

Suggested retails for models in the series start at $19,990.

A highly styled projector cabinet ships with all the models in an appropriately named Nero Black color.

Fabiano said that unlike some competitors who have elected to drive prices and performance lower to attract a broader

market segment, Sim2 will stick to its guns by making products that appeal to affluent customers “who don’t really

care how much the product costs.”

For that reason, Sim2 is looking to carefully expand its dealer base by adding only those accounts that “are able to

support the brand in the appropriate way.”

“While the market continually downgrades, often building to a price to survive in this difficult economy — we stay

true to our high-performance, reference-standard roots,” Fabiano said. “Our in-house R&D team continually boasts

industry firsts, and CEDIA 2011 will certainly not disappoint.”

Among other products on display were the Lumis 3D Solo, which is a single three-chip DLP projector configuration in

contrast to the more costly doublestacked Lumis 3D Duo introduced last year. The Solo is based on active-shutter 3D

glasses technology from Xpand with Triple Flash 3D technology implemented by Sim2 and Texas Instruments.

The company also showed its Mico LED-lamp-powered projector line (with prices starting at $23,000 suggested retail)

including the new 150 model. The system is said to provide longer lamp life, a large color range, lower power

consumption and instant power-on and -off operation.

HD ready projector launched by Acer

The Acer K330 is being marketed as a portable projector, according to the Inquirer, thanks to its small size and weight of just 1.24kg. It also features a 'Presentation to Go' application, which allows users to open office and multimedia files easily.

But in making the device portable, the designers have been careful not to sacrifice the picture quality. The K330 is the first LED powered projector to come with a 500 lumen projector lamp, and the manufacturers estimate the light will last for up to 20,000 hours, using just 1W in standby mode.

It has a resolution of 1280x1880 and comes with Acer Colorsafe II technology. The gadget also benefits from a contrast ration of 4,000:1.

However, to take advantage of the 3D option on the projector, consumers will need to purchase the 3D glasses in addition to the device itself.

In terms of connectivity, there is the option of using HDMI, component and composite inputs, as well as PC compatibility, optional WiFi and an SD card slot and USB port to bypass the need for a separate device altogether.

Epson Provides Education Resellers with Two New Projector Options

Projector manufacturer Epson announced two new affordable products to its projector line this week. The new products are designed especially for schools and other education environments. The PowerLite S11 and PowerLite X12 start at $449 and deliver enhanced connectivity, increased brightness, flexible setup features, and extended lamp life.

"Regardless of today's tough economic times, schools are still required to push the technology envelope to better enhance learning in the classroom," says Sara Kim, Epson’s associate product manager. "The PowerLite S11 and X12 enable teachers to show vibrant images at high brightness with increased reliability, ease-of-use, and connectivity that classrooms need while staying within tight budgets."

The PowerLite S11 offers 2,600 lumens of color and white light output with SVGA resolution. The PowerLite X12 delivers 2,800 lumens color and white light output with XGA resolution. The projectors deliver an advanced feature set, including RS-232 support for connecting to an AV control device and USB Plug 'n Play for instantly projecting video and audio from a PC or Mac computer via a USB connection. The projectors offer easy setup with horiz and vertical keystone correction.

NEC launches cost effective 3D projectors for SMEs

The V-Series models are specially suited for the Indian market as they offer cutting edge DLP technology with eco friendly features at an extremely competitive price point.

NEC’s V series’ easy-to-use projection solutions not only renders high brightness through a small mobile projector to accommodate larger screen sizes, but also customizes to higher ambient lighting conditions.

This new range also stands out because of its strong environmental credentials and unbeatable cost of ownership, as verified by the TCO certification for the XGA models.

The lamp life of the series is up to 5,000 hours when used in ECO Mode, which lowers power consumption. The remote includes a green ECO Mode button that works in conjunction with the carbon footprint meter to encourage the use of the ECO Mode.

Additionally, the carbon footprint meter provides verified results about the carbon savings per session as well as the accumulated results over the lifetime of the projector. NEC has added a unique virtual remote software to allow users to control the projector via the VGA cable.

This 3D-enabled projector series allow users to present in a more engaging manner, to help viewers experience and connect more closely to the subject matter. Packed with powerful features, V-series projectors come with resolutions of 800x600 (SVGA), 1204x768 (XGA) a 2000:1 contrast ratio, and a brightness range from 2300 to 3000 ANSI Lumens (AL).

All V-series projectors have excellent color reproduction because of the brilliant color and VIDI technology. The 3000 ANSI Lumens models additionally are NVIDIA certified, ensuring plug and play operation especially for 3D gaming and 3D photography. Some of the models from the V-series are also equipped with HDMI connectivity and improved video processing capabilities, enhancing the visual experience for the viewers.

Speaking about the series, Abhilesh Guleria, Country Head – Multimedia Product Group and IT Platform Business at NEC India, elaborated, “It is our endeavor to constantly innovate and empower our customers with the best visual technologies and solutions. The latest V series projectors are an ideal solution for small-to-medium meeting rooms and classrooms that require high brightness at an affordable price.”

“The V Series models are designed with portability in mind, for those presenters who are “on-the-go” and are packed with automated features and the latest technological innovations, allowing users to focus on the presentation and not the hardware,” he added.

Tursion launches pico projector

Tursion has launched a pico projector that combines the functionality of a portable display device with the backup of a computer.

Indeed, underneath the rather basic exterior of the Tursion TS-102 is an Android dual-core computer. The 624 MHz cores work in conjunction with a projector lamp to deliver an 800x600 image of up to 100 inches in size. However, the projector is only capable of delivering 20 lumens worth of light.

According to reports from Engadget, while it is possible to connect the projector to another device, there is no need to do so due to the fact that it contains an internal 8GB of flash memory. A microSD card is another option if there is a need to carry more information and data for use with the device.

It can be controlled by the simple selection of buttons on the top of the box, but it also includes a remote control and a touchpad for more advanced control options. These could be required to negotiate things like web browsing, through the WiFi enabled pico projector.

Meanwhile, the item also boasts a rechargeable battery that lasts for 80 minutes and a WiFi radio system.

NEC launches 3D-enabled projectors for SMEs

NEC India, a provider of display, network and IT solutions, on Tuesday announced the launch of V-series line of projectors - V300X, V260X, V230X, V260 and V230 models- aimed at the education as well as SME sectors.

The V-Series models are specially suited for the Indian market as they offer DLP technology with eco-friendly features at competitive price point, said a press release.

The V-series solutions V-Series projectornot only renders high brightness through a small mobile projector to accommodate larger screen sizes, but also customizes to higher ambient lighting conditions, claimed the company.

The lamp life of the series is up to 5,000 hours when used in ECO Mode, which lowers power consumption. The remote includes a green ECO Mode button that works in conjunction with the carbon footprint meter to encourage the use of the ECO Mode, it said.

Additionally, the carbon footprint meter provides verified results about the carbon savings per session as well as the accumulated results over the lifetime of the projector. NEC has added a unique virtual remote software to allow users to control the projector via the VGA cable.

This 3D-enabled projector series allow users to present in a more engaging manner, to help viewers experience and connect more closely to the subject matter, it claimed.

V-series projectors come with resolutions of 800x600 (SVGA), 1204x768 (XGA) a 2000:1 contrast ratio, and a brightness range from 2300 to 3000 ANSI Lumens (AL). All V-series projectors have excellent color reproduction because of the brilliant color and VIDI technology.

The 3000 ANSI Lumens models additionally are NVIDIA certified, ensuring plug and play operation especially for 3D gaming and 3D photography. Some of the models from the V-series are also equipped with HDMI connectivity and improved video processing capabilities, enhancing the visual experience for the viewers.

Abhilesh Guleria, country head – Multimedia Product Group and IT Platform Business at NEC India, said, “It is our endeavor to constantly innovate and empower our customers with the best visual technologies and solutions. The latest V series projectors are an ideal solution for small-to-medium meeting rooms and classrooms that require high brightness at an affordable price.”

The V Series models are designed with portability in mind, for those presenters who are on-the-go and are packed with automated features and the latest technological innovations, allowing users to focus on the presentation and not the hardware, he concluded.

CEDIA Expo 2011 Diary: Part 2

CEDIA Expo 2011 is now in the history books. It was a whirlwind of meetings, booth tours and press conferences, so I'm just now getting a chance to file my second report. Here are some notes from the last two days of the show, complete with Canadian information where available. I'll add a third and final report tomorrow.

Pioneer unveiled new receivers in its premium Elite brand earlier this summer. These were on display, along with two Blu-ray players and two new AirPlay-equipped iPod speakers that will go on sale this fall.

Pioneer's new entry Blu-ray player, the BDP-140, is 3D-compatible and features SACD capability. It arrives in October for $199. Coming in November is Pioneer's first universal Blu-ray player, the Elite BDP-53FD. Along with 3D capability, the BDF-53FD offers SACD and DVD-Audio compatibility, Netflix and YouTube support, DLNA connectivity, DivX compatibility, and a Marvel Qdeo video scaler. Andrew Murphy, Director of Marketing for Pioneer Electronics of Canada Inc., said picture quality is comparable to Pioneer's legendary BDP-09. It arrives in November for $499.

In addition to AirPlay, the X-SMC3 Music Tap iPod speaker system features built-in Wi-Fi, vTuner Internet radio, DLNA 1.5 connectivity with support for 192kHz/24-bit FLAC and lossless files, a 2.5-inch colour screen that shows album art and song information on iPod and DLNA content, and a rear connector for an optional Bluetooth adapter. The Elite-braded X-SMC4 (shown at top of story) adds built-in Bluetooth and Elite cosmetics. The X-SMC3 and X-SMC4 ship in September for $369 and $499 respectively. Both models work with Pioneer's Air Jam app, which lets up to four users create playlists and send them to the speaker via Bluetooth.

Sharp didn't exhibit at CEDIA, but its 70-inch Elite-branded LED-edgelit LCD was demonstrated at the Pioneer booth. The demo in a dark room was very compelling. The Intelligent Variable Contrast system, which has three settings, enables the set to deliver inky blacks while maintaining excellent shadow detail. Despite challenging material (fireworks, stars, bright lamp standards against a night sky), artifacts like halos were not at all noticeable.

Epson revamped its 3LCD front projector lineup at CEDIA; all Home and Pro Cinema models are now 3D-capable. Canadian details will come later; what we have is U.S. availability and pricing. Epson's entry retail 1080p piece, the Home Cinema 3010 delivers 2,200 lumen maximum output and specified dynamic contrast ratio of 40,000:1. Retail is US$1,599, which includes two pairs of 3D glasses. A version with wireless HD connectivity, the 3010e, will be available for $1,799; glasses are extra.

Replacing the current Home Cinema 8700, the Home Cinema 5010 has a Fujinon 2.1x zoom lens, and Epson's Super Resolution and FineFrame interpolation technology. Specified contrast ration is 200,000:1, and maximum output is 2,400 lumens. It will be available in November for US$3,000, or $3,500 for the wireless version. 3D Glasses are extra with both models.

Coming in November for US$4,000 is the Pro Cinema 6010, which adds ISF calibration, THX certification (pending), and two anamorphic lens modes. Replaces the Pro Cinema 9700, the new model comes with two pairs of 3D glasses, mount, extra lamp and three-year replacement warranty.

Christie Introduces LHD700 and LX1200 LCD Projectors at IBC

Is pleased to announce the addition of the 12,000 lumen Christie LX1200 and the high definition 1080p Christie LHD700 projector to its LCD line-up. The successor to the popular Christie LX1000, the Christie LX1200 is suitable for rental staging applications, boardrooms, high education facilities and houses of worship. Featuring XGA (1024 x 768) resolution, the Christie LX1200 fills the market need for a high brightness, low cost projector providing radiant imagery and finer contrast.

Brighter and more advanced than its predecessor, the Christie LX1200 utilises the 4DColor™ technology that incorporates a fourth (yellow) LCD panel, delivering vibrant colours to presentations. The LX1200 also features a mechanical light shutter to block light when required, inorganic LCD panels for long life expectancy and increased performance levels, and top loading lamps for quick and easy replacement.

“The Christie LX1200 is a high brightness, 2-lamp system at 12,000 lumens that is more compact than other projectors in this lumen category. The LX1200 has one of the broadest ranges of lens options, allowing flexibility of placement in even the most challenging venues,” said Frank Anzures, product manager, Business Products. “And with Christie’s 4DColor technology, customers will experience vivid, dynamic colours that are unavailable with standard LCD panels.”

With optional input slots, the Christie LX1200 also supports additional video signals including HD-SDI, or a network input card for control and asset management.
“Customers and integrators benefit from this feature because it allows them to connect additional input sources without having to buy extra equipment – they can simply add input cards to accept video and data signals; and end users can ensure the projector meets future video and data source equipment needs,” added Anzures.

Christie LHD700 Features Crestron RoomView™ and AMX Device Discovery Technology
The new Christie LHD700 is a 7000 lumen full HD 1080p (1920 x 1080) resolution projector utilising a single lamp and 4DColor™ technology that is ideal for auditoriums, corporate boardrooms, government, higher education, houses of worship, and fixed and rental staging requiring native HD content, high resolution data and superior brightness.

“The full HD Christie LHD700 is an LCD product utilising 7000 lumens of brightness in a 1-lamp projector,” said Anzures. “It provides our customers another choice in the 7000 lumen range.”

Its AutoFilter cartridge system monitors airflow for up to 10,000 hours while its extended lamp life minimises downtime. With optional input slots, the Christie LHD700 supports additional video signals including HD-SDI, or a network input card for control and asset management.

“Customers can present their content exactly as it is intended to be seen. And with Crestron’s RoomView and AMX Device Discovery feature, it is more integrator-friendly, removing the need to program from scratch,” Anzures concluded. “In this inorganic LCD product class, the Christie LHD700 offers the most portable and brightest 1-lamp projector available.”

Projector Lamp: Three Easy Steps to Getting the Right Projector Screen Size

We’re going to take a guess, and say that you haven’t spent a whole lot of time worrying about how to pick the right projector screen size. If you have -- well done. Our hats are off to you. Take a bow. You’re the few, the proud.

Now for the rest of you, when you’re putting together a home theater, outfitting a boardroom or training room for work with a projector system, you probably need to find the right screen size for the room.

Officials of RichterScale have offered a helpful, simple guide to follow to give you the optimal projection screen size:

Do you see something called “Projector Native Resolution?” That lets you know which aspect ratio to select for your screen. What is the native resolution of the projector that you have? Look at the native resolution of the projector being used in the room. Most projectors nowadays will do both 4:3 and 16:9 aspect ratios. Go by the native aspect ratio in order to get the biggest and best picture.

Ceiling height. Yes, of course this matters. It lets you determine the screen height that will fit gracefully into a room, so be sure you know it. A screen should be at least one foot down from the ceiling and three feet up from the floor.

By the way, on ceiling height, RichterScale officials say, “This rule of thumb is for a maximum screen size. It is OK to go smaller. People tend to focus on what they can see in the center of their field of vision.”

Distance from screen to audience. What you need to take into consideration here is not those who like having their noses on the screen, but the people sitting farthest away, to determine minimum screen width: “A screen should be at least as wide as 1/6 of the distance between the screen and the viewer farthest from the screen.” For example if the back row of an auditorium is 48 feet away, company officials say, “then the width of the screen should be at least eight feet wide.” Get a friend who’s good at math to help you with that one.

Epson 2011 – New Projector Models Revealed at IFA

Last week, the world leader in projectors, Epson, were kind enough to invite us along to the launch of their new product range but also to the industry trade fair (IFA) in Berlin, Germany.

The IFA is a huge technology event where all of the well known brands both in your home and in the land of corporate events showcase their products but the main point of the event for me was to check out what Epson had to offer in their 2011 / 2012 product range and I have to say I was very pleasantly surprised.

You’re not able to go anywhere in the world of technology at the moment without hitting the topic of 3D head on and this year’s IFA was the place to be for all things 3D. The industry is currently rather oversubscribed with 3D products but Epson had purposefully held back their new range of 3D systems as they didn’t believe that there was enough content to support their products. That has obviously changed in 2011 as the range of Epson projectors that were launched all feature 3D.

During their presentation, we were told that over the next three years, 45 3D movies are scheduled for theatrical release making the time for 3D projectors in the home even more relevant. Two of the projectors, the  EH-TW9000 and EH-TW9000W feature a 2D to 3D conversion feature which could be a rather nice and interesting stopgap between 3D with glasses and glasses-less technology.

I was rather sceptical on how this 2D to 3D conversion would actually look and as yet, that scepticism remains as we weren’t able to see it demoed but hopefully I’ll get sent a review version of the projector and will be able to give the 2D to 3D a thorough test.

In the meantime, here’s the info on how the 2D – 3D conversion actually works according to the clever chaps at Epson:

Epson’s new high-end projectors EH-TW9000 and EH-TW9000W allow you to easily convert 2D high definition content into Full HD 3D at the touch of a button. An internal microchip (the Integrated Circuit or IC chip) analyses the image and splits it into various levels of depth, which at the end it will re-combine in order to create a sense of perspective in the scene. At the same time all the objects in the 2D picture are identified in order to develop an embossed model of each. It uses these two techniques to simulate the ‘parallax’ images (the paired set of left and right eye images). The resulting image is then put back together by the projector and shown on the screen, so creating 3D pictures which are as natural as if you were looking out of your window. For users, this means they can enlarge the bank of films, TV shows or games to watch in 3D significantly, with ease.

The 2011 model that was also a surprise to many was the Epson MG-850HD which is the new home consumer model. It’s extremely lightweight, relatively cheap, has a 5000-hour lamp life and features  and iPod / iPad / iPhone / iWhatever dock allowing you to play video and watch photos with friends. The projector is also equipped with two 10 watt speakers which enables you to be able to take the projector with you on your travels without the need for extra peripherals like speakers.

By far the most impressive feature for me was the brand new wireless projectors that Epson have created with model numbers EH-TW6000w (contrast ratio 40,000: 1) and the flagship model EH-TW9000w which boasts a display contrast of 200,000: 1. These two projectors come with a transmitter device with the projector which talks to the display unit allowing you to broadcast your images from up to 10m away. I can see this as being a fantastic feature as let’s face it, anything which means fewer cables can only be a good thing. All the projectors in this new range feature the standard component inputs that you’d expect to see on a modern projector with multiple HDMI sockets, and VGA / DVI inputs.

From the demos that we saw, this new wireless functionality was able to transmit full HD visuals in real-time to the projector unit itself. The projector really was amazing and will hopefully revolutionise the way in which we use projectors. I asked the question about having multiple wireless devices in one place at one time and was told that each projector is on a different channel meaning that you run large events now without having to run VGA cables across large distances. The 10m range is the standard at the moment but I’m sure this will increase as the technology advances.

Review: NEC M260GX projector

NEW DELHI: Projectors are evolving from being just business tools to much more. NEC's M260GX projector is one such projector that is fantastic for boardrooms, but also works great for entertainment purposes. Weighing 2.9kg, the M260GX looks very elegant in white.

The matte finish on the body keeps it free from fingerprints , but it does tend to get dirty very quickly. One noticeable thing about the projector design is that it has a sliding cover for the lens - this has pros and cons. The sliding cover is simpler to use and keeps the lens well protected, but it can become a problem to operate if you choose to mount the projector on the roof.

For table top use, the three legs underneath can be rotated individually - helpful to balance it on an uneven surface. The zoom and focus ring are accessible from the top of the projector. The power button on top lights up to indicate status - orange (standby) and blue(in use).

There are also indication LEDs for status and lamp overheat placed around the buttons for source selection and eco mode. At the back, all the connectivity ports are neatly placed with sufficient distance to connect multiple devices simultaneously. You get HDMI, 2 x D-sub (VGA) inputs, Dsub out, S-video and composite in, audio in/out, Ethernet and a standard size USB port.

Setting up the projector takes barely a few minutes. It can be kept on a desk or wall mounted -settings are available in the menu to adjust the view for the same. Once connected to power, the projector takes just about 30 seconds to display the first images.

It does however, take over 2 minutes to reach full brightness level and display proper colors. The built in auto keystone compensates for changes in angle of the projector. It works well and adjusts the image in about a second for a rectangular screen. Shutting down takes about 15 seconds with another 15 seconds to cool down completely.

Purely looking at specifications, the projector has an XGA resolution (1024x768 pixels) with 2600 ANSI Lumens brightness, 2000:1 contrast ratio and a rated lamp life of 6000 hours. While viewing presentations and other office documents, the projector displayed sharp blacks over white, which were easy to read.

It even offers the option to adjust the settings as per your wall color to get the best output. While viewing videos, the projector delivered vivid colors and superb clarity. HD videos looked spectacular, while gaming was great with no ghosting or lag - clearly indicating that it is great for home use as well.

The USB port on the back  from a USB drive without connecting to a PC if required. And the included 10W speaker is good enough to use in a small room. At the price, the M260 turns out to be a great option if you are looking for something to use in a small home-office.

For about the same price, the Benq MW512 can also be considered. The technology is different - it is a DLP projector and offers better resolution, contrast and is also 3D ready. However, it lacks network connectivity and comes with a smaller 2W speaker.

NEC M260XG projector

Projectors are evolving from being just business tools to much more. NEC's M260GX projector is one such projector that is fantastic for boardrooms, but also works great for entertainment purposes.

Weighing 2.9kg, the M260GX looks very elegant in white. The matte finish on the body keeps it free from fingerprints, but it does tend to get dirty very quickly.

One noticeable thing about the projector design is that it has a sliding cover for the lens -this has pros and cons. The sliding cover is simpler to use and keeps the lens well protected, but it can become a problem to operate if you choose to mount the projector on the roof.

For table top use, the three legs underneath can be rotated individually - helpful to balance it on an uneven surface. The zoom and focus ring are accessible from the top of the projector.

The power button on top lights up to indicate status - orange (standby) and blue(in use). There are also indication LEDs for status and lamp overheat placed around the buttons for source selection and eco mode.

At the back, all the connectivity ports are neatly placed with sufficient distance to connect multiple devices simultaneously. You get HDMI, 2 x D-sub (VGA) inputs, Dsub out, S-video and composite in, audio in/out, Ethernet and a standard size USB port. Setting up the projector takes barely a few minutes.

It can be kept on a desk or wall mounted -settings are available in the menu to adjust the view for the same. Once connected to power, the projector takes just about 30 seconds to display the first images. It does however, take over 2 minutes to reach full brightness level and display proper colors.

ViewSonic Intros New Projectors Featuring HDMI Inputs for Enhanced Connectivity

These new projectors are all equipped with HDMI inputs for enhanced connectivity and a pixel-perfect viewing experience, according to company officials.

Roger Chien, product manager at ViewSonic, said that the company is recognizing HDMI as the standard CE connectivity option by declaring that from this point forward, all of the projectors will ship standard with HDMI input connectivity.

“This commitment is just a further proof point that we will continue to deliver consumers, educators and SMBs alike the visually thrilling viewing experience they have come to expect from ViewSonic,” Chien said.

A SVGA 3D-ready projector ViewSonic PJD5133 is an 800x600 DLP projector offering 2700 ANSI lumens and a 3000:1 contrast ratio. It features a slim and lightweight design. Company officials said that it combines HDMI connectivity with multiple PC and video input options.

Additional hardware features include 1.1x manual optical zoom, vertical keystone correction, 120Hz / 3D-ready capabilities, HD video signal support and integrated speakers, according to company officials.

A DLP projector with 2700 ANSI lumens, ViewSonic PJD5233 -- XGA 3D-ready projector -- is touted as perfect for budget conscious consumers or SMB owners. It comes with a 3000:1 contrast ratio and XGA 1024x768 native resolution.

Company officials said that PJD5233 is equipped with multiple PC and video inputs including HDMI, full HD 1080p video signal support and integrated speakers for the enjoyment of a variety of multimedia entertainment. Since the device is 120Hz / 3D-ready, it allows the user to enjoy any PC-based 3D applications.

ViewSonic PJD5523w is a WXGA (720p HD) widescreen 3D-ready projector. Company officials said that it’s an advanced DLP projector, ideal for home theater enthusiasts, small and medium businesses (SMBs) or every day consumers.

Built with BrilliantColor technology, the PJD5523w is said to produce rich colors with a high brightness level -- 2,700 ANSI lumens; and contrast ratio -- 3,000:1 -- that enable it to shine in virtually any lighting situation.

All three projectors come with the standard ViewSonic’s three-year limited parts and labor warranty and full one-year projector lamp warranty.