Epson MG-850HD review

Epson’s latest entry-level LCD projector has an integrated iPhone and iPad dock, so is intended to live on a coffee table or bookshelf rather than be screwed to the ceiling.

The pop-out docking tray will support any iPod, iPhone or iPad, letting you play photo slideshows, music and videos from wherever you are in the room using the slim remote control. Epson's interface is responsive and intuitive, so we had no problem finding and playing our files. We also liked that we could play music through the speakers when the projector was in standby mode, although this is definitely no replacement for a good quality iPod dock.

Beyond the dock, connectivity is rather limited – a single HDMI input is ideal for connecting a games console, Blu-ray player or AV amplifier, but with only one component and one composite input, you may need to switch cables around when connecting multiple devices. There are also only two analogue RCA inputs and a single 3.5mm microphone input for audio devices. A USB host type B port lets you drive the projector from your PC over USB, and standard USB host port will let you display photos directly from a USB flash drive.

The MG-850HD can only project up to 720p video, which isn't such a problem as Apple devices can only output standard definition video through the dock. However, unlike other low-end and mid-range projectors from other manufacturers, the MG-850HD is an LCD rather than DLP projector. This means there are no rainbow effect problems to spoil the image.

Video quality was impressive for such a budget projector – the picture was incredibly sharp and very bright in a dark room. The 2,800 lumens lamp helps greatly, bringing surprisingly vivid colours. Unfortunately, a downside to the high brightness was disappointing black levels – even in complete darkness, it was difficult to pick out some of the detail in certain scenes.

If you can’t mount your projector completely perpendicular to your wall, you have the choice of digital vertical keystone correction and a slider on the top of the projector for horizontal keystone correction. You'll lose some quality when using it, though.

Sound quality was reasonable, with the two 10w speakers managing to create a clear mid-range and crisp high-end. Unsurprisingly, bass response was lacking without a dedicated subwoofer. Although it’s possible to use it without a set of dedicated speakers, if you want your film watching experience to rival the cinema you’ll definitely need to invest in some.

The MG-850HD isn’t aimed at anyone looking to add a projector to a home cinema setup – even though image quality is above average, you won’t be able to play high definition video from an iPad or iPhone, and you'll be limited to 720p from other sources. It makes a great middle ground between office and home use, particularly for iPad owners, but if you’re looking to buy your first projector for the living room, you can find better value elsewhere.

Casio Signature XJ-M145 Review

The Casio Signature XJ-M145 and their other projectors in Casio’s new “Signature” line use their new hybrid LED light source. Casio’s new light source can essentially last for the life of the projector also it is mercury free. The XJ-M145 is just over the $1,000 price point, so it is a little expensive for your average Joe. Casio had a little brother called the Green Slim, for under $1,000 but it contains more features. Read on for the nits and grits of the projector.

The XJ-M145’s light source is rated at 2,500 lumens. It lacks in resolution at only 1,024 by 768. The projector produces red color with LEDs, blue with lasers, and green by shining the blue laser light on a phosphor. This light is then directed through the DLP chip then out through the lens. An outstanding advantage of the hybrid LED light source is its gigantic 20,000 hour lifetime. And that is long enough to run it 8 hours a days, 5 days a week for 10 years. For comparison for a standard lamp can last from 2,000 to 5,000 hours, and costing up to $500 per bulb to replace. The projector has an intelligent brightness control which automatically controls the brightness of the output of the lens. The lens is able to project a nice image even in a decently lit room.

The XJ-M145 measures 3.3H by 12.2W by 9.6D inches weighing in at 8.2 pounds which is on the large side of today’s projectors. It comes with a soft carrying case, with pocket for your cables. Some of the great hookup capabilities include USB connectivity. It is able to read JPG and AVI files from a USB memory key. Which is great if you need to show a presentation at work but you do not want to bring your laptop. All you have to do is plug-in a USB stick and it automatically switches to USB input. The feature that made me really smile was its capability to connects wireless to Wi-Fi-enabled Android, iOS, and Windows Mobile devices. This also includes computers running the MobiShow software. Other connectors include a HDMI port for a computer or video source; a VGA port for a computer, S-Video, composite video; audio in, audio out, a serial port, and an Ethernet LAN connection. With the built-in 5-watt mono speakers you can get a decent amount of volume. For the use of the 3D projection you will need active-shutter DLP-link compatible 3D glasses.

Living Large With Big-Screen Home Theater

There’s a new dimension to entertainment, bringing on what many have called a second golden age of 3D.

The number of movies filmed in 3D is growing, as well as the number of movies that are being converted from 2D to 3D to boost their box office appeal.

Since the smash hit “Avatar,” many more films have been shot in 3D, including “Alice in Wonderland,” “Sanctum,” “Pirates of the Caribbean,” “Mars Needs Moms” and “The Green Hornet.” Films such as “Green Lantern” and “The Smurfs” were filmed in 2D and converted, while “Harry Potter and the Deathly Hallows: Part 2” and “Puss in Boots” were shot in 2D but also shown in Imax 3D.

This year, many more are coming to theaters while old movies are now available in 3D Blu-ray discs for home enjoyment. And with the increasing popularity of this medium, more people want to enjoy the bold images of 3D on a large screen at home.

To meet that demand, there’s growing interest and innovation in 3D projectors. For example, Mitsubishi Electric’s new 3D projector, the HC7800D, brings the 3D experience home. The projector uses DLP technology to create exciting, vibrant 3D images in full high-definition, 1080p resolution. When paired with a Blu-ray disc player capable of 3D movie playback, 3D projectors like this bring movie enjoyment to a whole new level never before experienced at home.

The projector shows impressive 3D images viewable through its high-performance proprietary active-shutter glasses. The HC7800D also boasts one of the industry’s best 2D to 3D conversion technologies that can transform ordinary 2D classics like “It’s a Wonderful Life” and “Ben-Hur” into a seamless 3D experience with near-perfect 3D simulation that makes content jump off the screen.

The projector’s frame rate conversion technology also produces high-speed image reproduction for showing fine, smooth details and reducing any motion blur, especially in fast action scenes, so even watching sports and games becomes an event to look forward to, whether it’s in 2D or 3D.

Heralding a wave of invisible computing

Imagine this. You slide a finger across your smartphone screen to copy a file on the finger, literally making the digit a human storage device. You later copy that file from the finger onto any screen—be it a laptop, liquid crystal display (LCD) screen or any surface, for that matter—by simply touching that.

This isn’t a scene from a sci-fi movie. It’s a technology that India-born Pranav Mistry, a 31-year-old computer scientist doing his PhD with the Media Lab at the Massachusetts Institute of Technology (MIT), Cambridge, demonstrated on Wednesday while delivering the technology keynote address on the second day of the Nasscom India Leadership Summit in Mumbai.

He has christened the technology ‘Sparsh’ (touch).

“I often wondered why I couldn’t simply elongate my arms to open the door or switch off the lights of a lamp rather than walk and do these tasks. After all, Indian mythological figures could do that,” Mistry said.

“The digital world—laptop, TV, smartphone, e-book reader—all rely upon the cloud (metaphor for the Internet) of information. Sparsh lets you transfer media from a device to your body and pass it to another device by simple touch gestures using the cloud,” said Mistry. The lamp, for instance, is connected to the Internet (similar to the ‘Internet of Things’ concept wherein gadgets talk to each other).

Mistry has also developed ’TeleTouch,’ which allows users to see through the smartphone’s camera and control home appliances like the television, alarm system and music players by simply manipulating them on a screen.

Mistry did not provide details; the technology is patented and being developed by some electronic companies for commercial use.

The MIT scientist, who prefers to call himself a designer rather than a computer scientist, is also the creator of THE Sixth Sense digital prototype which he developed under the guidance of associate professor Pattie Maes. The device consists of a pocket projector, mirror and web camera bundled in a wearable, pendant-like gadget.

The projector can turn anything into a touch screen. The webcam (and colour-coded finger-gloves worn on the index finger and thumb) can recognize the movements of a user’s hands, which enables gesture commands. A “square frame” gesture, for instance, will prompt the device to take a photograph.

The device can also recognize a book that the user selects from a bookstore—either by image recognition or radio frequency identification (RFID) tags—and project information, like an Amazon rating, onto it. The system can also project a keyboard to type on, detect items on grocery shelves and compare online prices. A newspaper can prompt the device to search for news video clips (the device’s smartphone uses an Internet connection to retrieve information).

“The possibilities are immense but it’s a work in progress,” said Mistry.

The “Sixth Sense” device, which MIT has patented, helped him get closer to his childhood dream of melding the flexibility of the digital world with the physical one. The current prototype system costs some $350.

Mistry has created other technologies too. Consider this. You and your spouse want to watch a movie on a TV screen or in the theatre. She loves romantic movies but you prefer action ones. So you enter the theatre with a special pair of glasses each, and both come out content—you having watched a martial arts movie while she has had her fill of romantic cinema.

Called “thirdEye”, the technique enables multiple viewers to see different things on the same display screen simultaneously.

“With thirdEye, we can have a public sign board where a tourist at the New Delhi airport sees all the instructions in his language while others see it in their own languages. We don’t need to have the split screen in games now. Each player can see his/her personal view of the game on the TV screen. Two people watching TV can watch their favourite channel on a single TV screen. A public display can show secret messages or patterns,” said Mistry, adding that imagination is the only limitation.

Brought up in Gujarat, Mistry did his master’s in design in visual communication from the Indian Institute of Technology-Bombay, and later worked with the Microsoft India Development Centre—first as an intern, then as an employee—on several projects including Akshar, which was basically an attempt to create a mechanism for inputting Indic scripts in digital devices like mobile phones, kiosks, interactive TVs and personal computers.

One of Mistry’s earlier projects, Sandesh, attempted to bridge the digital divide. It contains a message-receiving unit in villages and kiosks in cities with visual aids and uses print—or sound-based media to convey messages. And his “mouseless” technology does away with the need for an external computer mouse. The device consists of an infrared (IR) laser beam and an IR camera—both embedded in the computer. Users cup their hand, just as they would do if a physical mouse were present underneath, and the laser beam lights up the hand that is in contact with the surface.

The IR camera detects the bright IR blobs using computer vision. The change in the position and arrangements of these blobs are interpreted as a mouse cursor movement and clicks. When users tap their index fingers, the size of the blob changes and the camera recognises the intended mouse click. It costs around $20 to build a fully functional working prototype system of “Mouseless”.

Mistry said all these technologies highlight a trend called “invisible computing”. “When any industry becomes mature, you move to the next level. Similarly computers will stay but move into the background becoming invisible,” he said.

Epson brings affordable, engaging learning to South African classrooms

Epson has introduced its second generation of ultra-short-throw projectors to the education market, with four new models now available to enhance the education and learning experience.

Epson is the world's leading projector manufacturer, and has developed new features for the ultra-short-throw range, such as more responsive interactive pens and PC-free connectivity, to help bring engaging learning to more classrooms.

The interactive EB-485Wi and EB-475Wi projectors feature two interactive pens. They allow teachers and students to write on the screen at the same time, making collaborative work easier. These lightweight pens are highly responsive and easy to use, and include the new 'hover' function that accurately detects when they are not in contact with the projection surface.

In addition to working with popular computer software, these projectors have a PC-free functionality and 'instant annotation' tool. Teachers can make any flat surface interactive without being connected to a PC and can even annotate moving images and photos when the device is linked up to a DVD player. The projectors can be mounted in four positions, including under glass-top tables, to offer greater interactive options for engaging group work.

Like the interactive projectors, the non-interactive versions, the EB-485W, EB475W, EB-480 and EB-470, can project large images from a very short distance, ensuring shadows are minimised. All projectors are easy to install, as everything needed to do so is included in the box.

Horizontal keystone correction enables straightforward picture alignment, while the plug-and-play USB functionality, plus a built-in 16W speaker, means that one cable is all that's needed for image, sound and page up-down control in a complete multimedia package.

Kelvin Reynolds, general manager at Epson Southern Africa, says: “These new projectors are the perfect tool for schools to capture young minds in a more engaging learning environment. With Epson's 3LCD technology, teachers and students can experience high-quality images with vivid, natural colours and deep blacks, even in daylight, and with the addition of HDMI inputs, high-definition content can be shown with maximum clarity.”

Reynolds adds: “We realise the economic climate is tough for many schools and authorities, so we've developed six different models to suit a variety of budgets and help keep running costs low. One way we've managed this is with the long lamp and filter lifespans, which means they don't have to be replaced as often.”

IMAX Corporation Selects Barco as Exclusive

Barco, a worldwide leader in the Digital Cinema industry, announced today that it has been selected by IMAX Corporation as the exclusive, worldwide projection technology partner for its IMAX theaters for the next seven years. Through its selection of Barco’s Guinness World Record winning Xenon lamp-based digital projectors, IMAX will immediately enhance The IMAX Experience in its global cinema network. In addition, IMAX theaters will benefit from a new generation of high-performance, laser-based projectors, which are expected to be deployed in 2013.

Over the years, IMAX has established its reputation as the leading provider of awe-inspiring, immersive cinema experiences. In Barco, it has found an industry acclaimed technology partner that is able to further differentiate and maximize The IMAX Experience. In the first phase of the partnership, the parties will integrate an enhancement of Barco’s existing Xenon-based projectors for use in IMAX’s current backlog and new system signings. This solution will be available in the second half of 2012. Simultaneously, Barco and IMAX will co-develop leading-edge laser technology – benefiting from Barco’s unique laser innovations and IMAX’s licensed Kodak IP. The companies will work together exclusively to manage the transition from Xenon-based to high-performance, laser-based projectors, which are expected to be deployed in 2013.

“Being selected by IMAX as the exclusive supplier for the world’s most immersive cinema experience is a strong endorsement of our leadership in the Digital Cinema projection business,” explains Wim Buyens, Senior Vice President of Barco’s Entertainment Division. “This partnership will strengthen our position as the premium provider of state-of-the-art cinema technologies that provide the perfect match for every screen, whether small or large. What’s more, it will enable us to further ramp up our manufacturing scalability and to continue setting the standard for future technologies.”

“As we continue to expand globally, it is critical that our technology partner keeps pace with our ambitions around innovation and growth,” said IMAX Chief Business Development Officer Robert D. Lister. “Barco is that partner. A leader in advanced digital and laser technology, Barco is well-known for its quality and integrity. We believe the result of this collaboration will further differentiate The IMAX Experience for consumers, strengthening our value proposition for studios and exhibitors.”

Todd Hoddick, Vice President for the Barco Entertainment Division in North America, adds: “We are honored to have been selected by IMAX as their worldwide and exclusive digital projection technology partner. We are both excited and committed to bring the full weight of Barco’s operational excellence, integrity and ability to deliver on the ideals of the IMAX brand. Together we are determined to redefine the immersive cinema experience.”

The agreement with IMAX underscores Barco’s commitment to offer exhibitors the most comprehensive suite of products and solutions to create a premium movie experience in their auditoriums at the lowest cost of ownership. This is exactly what has made Barco a valued technology leader, – as illustrated by its long list of industry firsts and its Guinness World Record for the brightest projector – as well as a global market leader – reflected in the company’s 40% worldwide market share, market leadership in China and a strong global customer base.

Being appointed as the exclusive supplier of projection technology for the largest screens in the industry is a new milestone for Barco’s Entertainment Division, which has a long history of providing high-quality equipment to the Advertising, Rental & Staging, Branding & Retail, Sports, Digital Cinema and Corporate AV industry. In these markets, Barco continues to innovate with a full portfolio of pioneering imaging and sound products that optimize productivity and range from compact, reliable projectors for mid-sized businesses to the most powerful projectors, LED displays and image processors for operation in a broad spectrum of entertainment venues and outdoor events.

Southeastern students wrestle real-world issues in mock town meeting

A presentation flashes on the overhead projector, and a small group explains the benefits of solar power and how it could benefit the town.

Others listen politely and ask questions about the technology. Later, another group outlines the town’s criminal codes, sparking a lively, well-informed debate about how to balance individual freedom against public safety.

It’s a scene that could be taking place at any town meeting in the state – except here, the town doesn’t exist and the presenters are sophomore students at Southeastern Regional Vocational Technical High School in Easton.

The mock town meeting is part of a program called the Innovation Academy, which combines five majors at the school and has students work in teams. It’s the second year for the academy, but the first for the town meeting.

“It’s to show the kids how all the shops are connected,” said teacher Pam Foster.

Justin Harris of Brockton is a member of the mock Board of Selectmen.

“Our job is to make sure the meeting is running as it should,” he said.

He likes playing the part but said it’s unlikely politics is in his future.

“I don’t think I’ll run for anything,” he said.

Jonathan Berry is the town clerk. An Easton resident, he said he’s been to an actual town meeting once or twice, but found it boring. However, now that he’s a part of the process, he’s enjoying it.

“I understand what’s going on a lot better,” he said.

On Tuesday, students came together to hear proposals on how the town should handle water and power issues, as well as how to establish a code of criminal conduct.

The legal and protective services students working on the town’s set of laws produced the most interesting discussion on Tuesday. Students wrestled with real-world issues like sexting and gun control – even setting a driving age. One student wanted a strict set of animal cruelty laws to prevent illegal puppy mills.

Students like the independence the program gives them.

“It’s good because you can choose your own work pattern,” said Stephen Akikie of Stoughton. “The teacher turns into kind of a boss instead of just a teacher.”

“This is your town,” said Forster at the beginning of Tuesday’s meeting.

Foster said the full town meeting, which will take place in a couple weeks, is modeled on Easton’s open town meeting, complete with moderator, a Board of Selectmen and Finance Committee members.

BenQ adds more joy to super-portable Joybee prjector

BenQ's new Joybee GP2 video projector is highly portable and works with an array of media sources. Onboard memory allows it to be used independently of other devices.

BenQ launched its tiny Joybee video projector back in September 2009. The company has now released its second-generation offering, the Joybee GP2.

Despite measuring 140.3 x 93.8 x 129.8 mm and weighing 1.05kg (all including the optional battery), the Joybee GP2 can project a 1280x800 pixel image measuring between 20 and 160 in (50 to 406 cm) with a brightness of 200 ANSI lumens.

For such a compact device, the Joybee GP2 has an surprising array of interfaces: VGA, composite, mini HDMI, audio in and out, iPod/iPhone dock, USB, and SD/SDHC. This means it can be used with a wide variety of sources at home or away.

The Joybee GP2 even has 2GB of internal memory so it can be preloaded with content and used stand-alone.

BenQ claims the LED lamp is good for 30,000 hours (ten years at eight hours per day) without loss of brightness.

“The Joybee GP2 is about providing the consumer with a user friendly experience like no other – it is unique to the market via the Apple docking station, unparalleled connectivity applications and size," said Chee F Chung, BenQ's general manager for Australia. "It is so small and light it truly fits in the palm of your hand making it totally portable and easy to transport."

The Joybee GP2 goes on sale this month for $699.

Facelifted 2013 GMC Acadia and Acadia Denali

As the adage goes, if it ain’t broke, don’t fix it. And since sales of the GMC Acadia climbed to a new high in 2011, it’s not surprising the revised 2013 GMC Acadia — which debuted this morning at the Chicago Auto Show — doesn’t attempt to reinvent what seems to be a successful formula.

GMC did, however, treat the Acadia to a fairly significant facelift. The front clip is all-new, and borrows more than its fair share of cues from the funky little Granite concept of 2010. Trapezoidal projector headlamps — which also boast LED running lamps — point towards a prominent grille opening, which boasts a three-bar insert first launched with the small Terrain crossover. A new rear diffuser and tail lamp lenses dress up the rear end, as do D-pillars that are flush with the quarter and rear window glass.

The overall shape and design of the 2013 GMC Acadia’s interior isn’t far removed from its predecessor, but it does boast far more soft-touch materials than ever before. A touchscreen-based audio system is standard equipment, and integrates Bluetooth phone connectivity, along with access to Web-based audio services like Pandora and Stitcher.

Seeing as the upmarket Acadia Denali accounted for 30 percent of all GMC Acadia sales last year, it’s not surprising to see the model return for the 2013 model year. 2013 Acadia Denali models differ from their lesser siblings by way of a unique polished grille insert, bespoke front and rear bumper fascias (the latter sporting integrated dual exhausts), body-color cladding and fender flares, and 20-inch wheels.  Acadia Denali models also receive perforated leather seating (and a unique cocoa dune color), navigation, panoramic sunroof, blind-spot detection, and all-wheel-drive as standard equipment. Exterior badges also distinguish the Acadia Denali from lesser models.

Don’t look for much change underhood. Power still comes from GM’s direct-injection, 3.6-liter V-6, which is rated at 288 hp and 270 lb-ft of torque. The 6T75 six-speed automatic remains the only transmission choice, but GM claims it’s tweaked both calibration and hardware to improve shift quality. Contrary to popular rumors — or competitors like Ford’s EcoBoosted Explorer — a smaller, thriftier engine option doesn’t appear to be under consideration at this stage. Officials are fairly happy with the 3.6-liter V-6′s fuel economy: 2013 GMC Acadia figures are unavailable, but they should remain close to the 17/24 mpg (city/highway) and 16/23 mpg EPA figures assigned to 2012  GMC Acadia front- and all-wheel-drive 16/23 awd models, respectively.

Pricing is unavailable at this point, but expect finalized figures to emerge this fall, as 2013 Acadias are slated to roll into GMC showrooms across the nation in the fourth quarter of 2012.

For more on the 2013 GMC Acadia, check out our First Look here. For more on the 2012 Chicago Auto Show, including videos, the latest photos, and more information, click here to visit our Chicago Show homepage.

ViewSonic Announces Full HD 1080p Home Cinema Laser Hybrid LED Projector

ViewSonic, a leading global provider of computing, consumer electronics and communications solutions, dynamically displays the full spectrum of projector offerings from home entertainment, data projector to high brightness installation. ViewSonic also unveils the new Laser Hybrid LED projector at ISE 2012, full HD 1080P projection.

Product Highlights Expanding its projector product portfolio, ViewSonic announces the world first full HD 1080p home cinema Laser Hybrid LED projector.

ViewSonic's latest Laser Hybrid LED projectors incorporate a state-of-the-art hybrid light engine which facilitates vivid colour display and performance. The LEDs and lasers combine as a light source to create vibrant and rich display colour, which generate a colour spectrum exceeding that of normal mercury light projectors. Furthermore, this new technology delivers a longer light source life of up to 20,000 hours for greater energy and cost savings.

In addition to longer lamp life, ViewSonic Laser Hybrid LED projectors also provide versatile colour modes and 1,200 lumens of brightness for the best effect at home. The projection performance is absolutely radiant with exceptional colour accuracy. Coupled with the high lumen output and pure colour correction and filter, it presents an absolutely authentic level of the three primary colours, red, green and blue which significantly expands the colour gamut and presents clear and concise images, even in the brighter ambient.

Moreover, the instant on/off function eliminates the need for a cool down period associated with conventional lamp-based projectors, providing a user experience as friendly and trouble-free as possible.

ViewSonic Laser Hybrid LED projectors feature Full HD 1080p high resolution, the ideal solution for top of the range home cinema performance. Also, full analog and digital connectivity allows easy setup concerning all media and DVD players.

Panasonic Introduces PT-DZ21K Smallest and Lightest 3-Chip DLP Projector with 3D Capability

Panasonic Europe today announced the PT-DZ21K Series, its new flagship 20,000 lumen 3-chip DLP projectors. The series consists of PT-DZ21K with WUXGA resolution and 20,000 lumens of brightness, PT-DS20K with SXGA+ resolution and 20,000 lumens of brightness and PT-DW17K with WXGA resolution and 16,500 lumens of brightness. In addition to the high brightness and the compact body, the projector boasts a long lamp replacement cycle of up to 2,000 hours and has 3D compatibility making it ideal for large venue applications such as auditorium, museum applications and for rental and staging that require easy handling.

The DZ21K Series boasts a powerful 20,000 lumens of brightness from the incorporation of four new 465W UHM lamps. The high brightness is supported by 10,000:1 contrast ratio, Panasonic’s proprietary Detail Clarity Processor 3 engine that brings out the fine details in images, and DICOM Simulation mode for use in medical training. The PT-DZ21K and PT-DS20K are both active 3D stereo projectors expanding the visual impact of the projected images. The supported 3D system is an active shutter system where the projector can be easily equipped with an external emitter via the 3D timing signal IN/OUT terminal. Frame sequential, side by side and top and bottom formats are supported as well as an easy menu to adjust for passive polarized 3D system.

Much cost savings is possible on the DZ21K Series with the up to 2,000 hours lamp replacement cycle. In addition, these lamps can be set to relay mode for 24/7 operation. The cost savings is also backed up by the up to 12,000 hours maintenance free Eco filter, the low power consumption of under 2,500W, space saving in the warehouse, and the low shipping cost necessary to ship the projector from one location to the next for rental and staging application.

“The PT-DZ21K is a revolutionary product for the staging and events market. Never before has it been possible to project 20.000 lumen from such a small and light projector”, says Hartmut Kulessa, Marketing Manager for Projectors at Panasonic Europe. “With a competitive price-point, low noise level, simple installation and transportation, this projector is perfect for rental and staging companies who are looking for something compact but with a full set of professional features like geometric adjustment, 3D capability and multi-screen features.”

The DZ21K series has a long lamp life cycle with up to 2,000 hours and can be set to relay mode for 24/7 operation. It also has up to 12,000 hours of maintenance free Eco filter, a low power consumption of under 2,500W, and a low shipping cost, which is ideal for rental and staging applications.

The projector comes equipped with a Lens Memory feature which adjusts the image size and location to up to three different projection positions and the mechanical shutter can be programmed to fade the image in and out during show transitions. All models have built in Edge Blending as well as Multi-Unit Brightness Control for projections on to wide screens and surfaces to create an immersive experience. Furthermore, PT-DZ21K and PT-DS20K are compatible to various curved screen projections with the Geometric Adjustment feature. The Geometric Adjustment feature can be enhanced with the optional upgrade kit, ET-UK20, to support more diverse curvatures and shapes. Bitmap masking becomes available enabling projections onto unique shapes.

Cavalia Dazzles with Real-Life Feats of Strength and Skill

The marketing and promotional people behind Cavalia are not shy about the production's lavish details: a 210-foot widescreen projector that helps create special visual effects, a "dreamlike" set with backdrops of misty forests, and, of course, the massive 26,264-square-foot white big top that has caught the attention of thousands of SR 520 drivers since it went up in December.

The show, tagged Cavalia: A Magical Encounter Between Human and Horse, does indeed feature some impressive visual effects. The screening I attended earlier this week took me and the rest of the audience through a sequence of changing seasons, complete with falling "leaves" and "snow" (on the audience as well as the performers), as well as a couple of rainstorms (thankfully confined to the stage). Medieval-era costumes and dramatic music gave the show a feeling of fairy-tale fantasy.

But those who attend Cavalia expecting a magic show might be disappointed. Sure, audience members who are younger than 12 or have a solid ability to suspend disbelief will still be struck with a couple of "I don't know how they did that!" moments. But for the rest of us, the show is more a display of extreme skill and dedication on the part of both the human and animal performers.

To me, this distinction makes Cavalia no less impressive. From the acrobats who manage to pull off flips and spins on objects like balls, beams—and yes, animals—to the trick riders who make dangling backwards off galloping horses look like simple morning stretches, the performers' skill is constantly on display.

Even more striking is the complete obedience and agility of the horses. Cavalia trainers can spend years preparing their four-legged stars for the stage, and it shows.

My favorite part of the show was a scene featuring a single performer and six un-saddled horses. There were no elaborate visual effects, costumes or music—just an inspiring display of what can happen when human and animal learn to communicate with and trust one another.

Seemingly using just verbal cues, the performer gradually managed to convince the six massive animals to gallop end-to-end in circles around her, then change directions one by one. Most people couldn't imagine getting dogs to pull off a similar act, let alone full-size beasts that are much larger than humans and can easily be spooked.

Scenes like this are part of what makes Cavalia especially appealing to people who raise horses or grew up around the animals. But even those without this experience can recognize the painstaking work and patience that both horse and trainer must have had to demonstrate toward one another to pull off the show.

New Car Models

Chrysler’s Mopar division continues to show off its customization skills with the introduction of four new vehicles, all of which will be available in fall 2012 as stage kits or, for those who like to do things themselves, can be configured “a la carte” from the Mopar parts catalogue.

To celebrate its 75th anniversary, the parts and accessories division of Chrysler (Mopar stands for MOtor PARts) recently unveiled the Mopar ’12 300 (a customized Chrysler 300 sedan), Fiat 500 “Stinger,” Mopar Jeep Compass “True North” and Dodge Dart “GTS 210 Tribute.” All will be on display to the public at the 2012 Chicago Auto Show.

“These head-turning ‘Moparized’ vehicles show how we can go to the next level of personalization,” said Pietro Gorlier, President and CEO of Mopar, Chrysler Group LLC’s service, parts and customer-care brand. “With our best-in-class offerings of parts and accessories, we give our customers every opportunity to further enhance the appearance and performance of their vehicles.”

The blacked out Mopar ‘12 300 transforms the Chrysler 300 flagship sedan into a performance tribute to celebrate Mopar’s 75th anniversary with unique appointments, select high-performance parts and appearance items such as a black chrome seven bar grille, blue A-line body stripes and 20-inch forged aluminum gloss black wheels.

An exclusive engine cover hints at the 363 horsepower 5.7-litre HEMI V8 harnessed in by a proven five-speed W5A580 automatic transmission controlled by a unique Mopar shifter. The rear differential has been boosted from 3.06:1 to a 3.91:1 final-drive ratio for enhanced acceleration – enabling 0-60 mph blasts in the low 5-second range. Handling is entrusted to a performance-tuned suspension with 42% stiffer front and 23% stiffer rear spring rates compared to the regular Chrysler 300.

The interior is monotone black with blue accents throughout. Mopar’s Katzkin perforated leather is used for the front power adjustable front heated seats and rear heated perches. The steering wheel (with die-cast paddles for shifting) and shifter handle are also wrapped in leather.

The dash and centre console feature matte carbon hydrographic inserts, while piano black forms the backdrop on the centre stack, gauge cluster, door panels and steering wheel spokes. UConnect touch screen display controls the infotainment system, as well as the 506-watt Alpine nine-speaker surround sound system.

For safety, the SafetyTec Group includes adaptive HID headlights with automatic levelling, Forward Collision Warning with adaptive-cruise control, Blind-spot monitoring  with Rear Cross Path detection, ParkSense front and rear sensors, LED rear fog lamps, exterior mirrors with supplemental turn signals and puddle lamp. Additional safety features include rain-sense wipers and SmartBeam headlamps.

Only 500 are scheduled to be built inBrampton, Ont., and will be priced from $49,700 in the U.S. Buyers get a personalized owner kit in a customized Mopar box, Mopar-branded key fobs and Mopar ‘12 300 merchandise. The kit will include an original sketch of the car signed by the designer, a certificate with the vehicle identification number (VIN), exact date of manufacture and the series number, and a brochure highlighting the unique features of the vehicle.

The Dodge Dart GTS 210 Tribute picks up several matte-black trim pieces, including a lower chin spoiler, side sills, rear spoiler and rear-diffuser panel. A lightweight carbon-fibre hood with large air scoop and 18-inch, 10-spoke forged alloy titanium-coloured wheels. Inside, there is Ruby Red leather on the seats, steering wheel, door panels, center armrest and map-pocket inserts, accented with black stitching, and Piano Black trim on the shifter, cupholder and the dash-vent bezels. Maximizing fuel/air mix and spark advance, with an improved air-flow intake and low back-pressure exhaust takes the 2.4-litre MultiAir four-cylinder engine output up to 210 horsepower (from 184).

Like the Dart customization, the Fiat 500 “Stinger” also integrates two Mopar stage kits that deliver bold styling appointments and select high-performance parts. Giallo (yellow) exterior paint combines with unique blackened exterior and interior appointments to amplify the coupe/hatchback’s athletic styling. The Fiat signature “whiskers and logo” face and circular projector headlamps are finished in Black Chrome, as are the side mirror caps and door handles. The sides and roof get vinyl black checker graphics. Seventeen-inch Abarth Hyper Black aluminum wheels are shod with 205/40R17 performance tires for better grip on the power provided by the enhanced 1.4-litre MultiAir four-cylinder engine, while performance cross-drilled brakes bring things to a halt quickly, when needed. The yellow/black motif is carried inside, accented with carbon-fibre decaled instrument panel, Alcantara seat centres and a gloss black shifter ball.

Canon REALiS WUX5000 / D Installation LCOS Projectors

Canon introduced its brightest-ever, 5000-lumen REALiS Installation LCOS Projectors, which are designed to provide exceptional display performance for a wide range of professional AV markets. Incorporating multiple features for convenient installation and maintenance, the new REALiS WUX5000 and WUX5000 D Installation LCOS Projectors utilize Canon's unique fourth-generation AISYS (Aspectual Illumination System) optical technology to maximize the display capabilities of their advanced LCOS (Liquid Crystal on Silicon) imaging panels. This combination enables the projectors to deliver higher-than-HD-resolution (1920 x 1200) widescreen video and still images with an aspect ratio of 16:10 and a high brightness level of 5000 lumens. The 5000 lumen brightness level improves display quality in long throw venues or rooms with relatively high ambient light levels, thereby increasing the versatility of the new projectors for a wider variety of viewing environments.

Capable of displaying many different kinds of high-resolution video and computer signals with highly accurate color, superior display of movement, crisp contrast, and sharper blacks, the REALiS WUX5000 Installation LCOS Projector features a built-in Canon Color-Correction IC (integrated circuit) and 3D color LUT (look-up table) for six-axis color management. Users can adjust specific colors without affecting the display of neighboring colors. A dynamic gamma feature can also optimize gradation reproduction and contrast, which can be beneficial when displaying movies with low-contrast scenes. A Memory Color Correction feature enables users to save their preferred color settings. User-determined display settings for the REALiS WUX5000 Installation LCOS Projector also include Presentation, Vivid Photo, and Photo/sRGB.

The REALiS WUX5000 D Installation LCOS Projector has all the features of the WUX5000 model plus a DICOM Simulation mode designed to reproduce medical images such as X-Rays, CAT scans and MRI images with superb 21-step grayscale gradation.

Further contributing to the display excellence - and installation convenience - of the new Canon REALiS WUX5000 and WUX5000 D Installation LCOS Projectors are the three optional high-resolution interchangeable lenses available for the units. These lenses - including a 1.5x Zoom, 0.8x Ultra Wide Angle single focal length, and 1.7x Long Focus Zoom - incorporate advanced low-distortion and high-resolution optical technologies originally developed for Canon's camera lenses. Engineered to minimize brightness loss, each lens is the same physical length, due to the use of advanced Canon aspherical elements. This uniformity of length can simplify shipment of assembled projector/lens units for rental/staging companies, and avoid lens-overhang issues when mounted inside projector-lift systems.

Additional installation convenience is provided by the Canon REALiS WUX5000 and WUX5000 D Installation LCOS Projectors' motorized Lens Shift feature. This enables installers to overcome moderate projector-placement obstacles by shifting the lens itself to adjust the vertical and horizontal position of the projected image. (This is done using the projector's control panel or remote control.) The projector can be ceiling-mounted with a plate or extension pole using either Canon's mounting bracket or products from independent ceiling-mount companies. When used in multi-projector configurations, the REALiS WUX5000 and WUX5000 D can also be stacked or installed side by side.

The projector's lamp and air filter assemblies can be expediently replaced from the back and side of the projector respectively, and its optical filter element can be replaced from the top of the unit for added convenience and economy.

Industry-standard digital and analog terminals and connectors ensure the new Canon REALiS WUX5000 and WUX5000 D Installation LCOS Projectors' compatibility with a wide range of video and computer devices. Signal inputs include HDMI Version 1.3, DVI-D and analog PC terminals, two audio inputs, and one audio output for external amplification and speakers. A built-in five-watt speaker is also included. A network-ready RJ-45 port allows for authorized users to manage and control multiple projectors from any PC on the network. An RS-232 serial connection allows for monitoring the projector locally through a third-party control system. A hand-held remote control enables users to control up to four REALiS WUX5000 and WUX5000 D Installation LCOS Projectors individually or simultaneously. Lens Shift and Gamma Control buttons are also included on the remote control.