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.

A/V Furniture, Mounts Get Rolled Out At International CES

A/V furniture and mounts will be a popular category at this year’s International CES, with new product introductions from many of the top manufacturers. Among those debuting new models will be Bell’O International, Sanus, OmniMount and VMP.

Bell’O is introducing ultra-thin, flexible HDMI cables as well as new A/V furniture for flat-panel TVs.

The new 5000 series of high-speed HDMI cables feature a connector head that is shorter than the connectors of most HDMI cables, Bell’O said, and a flexible design that allows for easy bending. These features are necessary for use behind mounted ultra-thin flat-panel TVs, where space between the TV and the wall is limited, it noted.

They are TruSpeed-tested to deliver a guaranteed 10.2Gbps bandwidth stream, according to the company, and are capable of supporting all enhanced refresh rates, 1080p, 3D and 4k resolution, and 12-bit color. They are also Ethernet enabled.

The cables will ship in February in 4-foot lengths for $29.99 and 8-foot lengths for $34.99.

Bell’O has also added to its Curved Wood collection with the CW52AM flat-panel A/V system. It has tinted tempered safety-glass shelves that can accommodate most flat-panel TVs up to 56 inches plus at least four A/V components.

The open-architecture design provides plenty of ventilation for convection cooling of components while the integrated CMS Cable Management System hides and manages power cords and interconnect cables, resulting in a clean, unobstructed showcase of the room’s A/V equipment, Bell’O said.

It will be available in February at a $299 suggested retail.

Bell’O will also be launching the TPC2133, its newest addition to the Triple Play collection of A/V furniture. This new model offers three configuration options, and can reportedly be assembled without any tools.

The TPC2133 (April, $399) blends dark espresso finished solid wood legs with a brushed-nickel front frame. The Triple Play system can accommodate most flat-panel TVs up to 60 inches or 125 pounds, Bell’O said, and the three black tempered safety glass shelves hold up to four or more audio/video components.

The rear mounting frame and universal swivel mounting system can be removed so that the system can be used as a three-shelf standalone table, or the swivel mounting system can be removed and hung with the included wall mount bracket.

The open architecture design provides plenty of ventilation, and an integrated CMS cable -management system hides and organizes unsightly wires and interconnect cables, according to the company.

Chief will be showing at its suite in the Wynn new SKUs in its Automated Swing Arm line, new Fusion Pull-Out mounts, additions to its Fit-series hinge mounts, as well as its Raxxess line of rack solutions for custom installers.

Chief also recently introduced its VCMU universal projector mount with a solid steel construction. It’s designed for mounting heavy LCD and CRT projectors. Features include a three-step installation process, integrated cable management, and quick connect/disconnect for convenient lamp and filter access on most projectors.

Included with the mount is a universal HBU bracket compatible with most heavy-duty projectors. Multiple installation options are available: flush mount to ceiling; 0.5- inch threaded rods, and a 1.5-inch NPT extension column.

OmniMount is debuting a number of workstations at the show, including the Work15 and Work20 sit-to-stand workstations. These are part of the ActionMount series and are designed to offer flexibility for users in multi-purpose workspaces.

They feature Ergotron Constant Force technology that’s said to provide simple, light-touch adjustments of the keyboard, mouse and monitor. Users can easily move between sitting and standing positions while working, and the full-motion functionality allows the monitor to move up and out of the way for storage, to utilize more desk space, or to share screen information, OmniMount said.

They are available in two configurations: Work15 supports a single monitor up to 15 pounds and Work20 ($429) supports two side-by-side monitors up to 20 pounds. Installation is done via desk clamp or grommet mounting and cable clips control wires.

An optional work surface accessory is available for $49.95.

OmniMount is also launching three full-motion TV mounts at the show that are part of the ActionMount series.

The Play20, Play20X and Play40 feature the Ergotron Constant Force technology for fluid, omnidirectional TV movement. The products are designed for users who get off the couch to interact with their televisions.

TVs can be raised up to 21 inches for gaming or group viewing or lowered 21 inches for fitness or floor seating. The range of pan allows the mount to be viewable from multiple rooms or seating areas, Omni- Mount said, adding that the mount can be used high over a fireplace and then lowered to achieve the proper viewing angle when in use. CF technology reportedly ensures that the force required for movement always remains minimal.

The Play40 fits TVs 60 inches and larger, panel weight not exceeding 40 pounds, and offers up to 21 inches of vertical and horizontal movement. The Play20 and Play20X fit TVs up to 32 inches and 20 pounds and offers up to 15 inches of vertical and horizontal adjustment. The Play20X also comes with a 9-inch arm extension for greater viewing flexibility. Each mount features post installation leveling, tilt and pan, and cable management.

The Play20, Play20X and Play40 will ship in January, offered at suggested retails of $129, $149 and $299, respectively.

Sanus will be introducing the newly redesigned Component 100-series A/V racks. Offered in various sizes — including a 15U model, 27U model , 36U model , and a 44U model — the new 100-series racks feature removable side and back panels for easier access to components.

A 3U panel located at the back of the racks can be placed on top or bottom of the rack’s rear door for customization in wiring. Vented shelves with backstops, and cooling shelves at the top and bottom of each rack, ensure proper airflow for A/V equipment, Sanus said.

The company will be debuting two new Super Slim wall mounts for flat-panel TVs. The Super Slim mount category offers brackets that allow TVs to be mounted as close to the wall as possible, Sanus said.

The new VLF320 and VMF322 mounts allow TV placement incredibly close to the wall while also offering full-motion capabilities. The VLF320 offers 20 inches of extension for TVs 37 inches to 65 inches. The VMF322 offers 22 inches of extension for TVs 26 inches to 47 inches. Both models feature an integrated cable- management system and will be available in early 2012.

The VMA401 on-wall shelf is engineered to hold components up to 15 pounds. It features integrated cable management. and multiple VMA401 units can be combined to provide a one-piece look, Sanus said.

Also at the show will be three new offerings from the company’s Basic series of furniture. All of the new Basic-series furniture can be assembled without tools, Sanus said. New additions to the line include the BFAV546, which includes a modern two-tone walnut finish and dual pullout media drawers for storage; the BFV157, which features a heavy-gauge steel construction and open design to maximize airflow; and the BFV348, designed with a classic look and feel with a distressed black finish. All will be available this month.

Several consumer electronics accessories will also be on display in the Sanus booth, including new Super Slim HDMI cables models ELM4303, ELM4306 and ELM4308. The cables feature an ultra-flexible design, meant for use for connections behind ultra-thin TVs. All three models are Ethernet enabled and can handle 1080p video resolution and beyond for future-generation displays, Sanus said. All of these models are now shipping.

Sanus is also using the show to announce that its Install Kit app, which was previously available only for the iPad, is now also available for iPhone and iPod Touch. The free app is designed as a mount-installation assistant for both the professional installer and the doit- yourselfer.

Video Mount Products has begun shipping its latest midsize flat-panel wall mount, the FP-MFTB Multi-Just with tilt.

The low-profile mount supports flat panels from 27 inches to 42 inches and up to 100 pounds. It has an adjustable tilt range of -5 degrees to +15 degrees, a vertical height adjustment of one inch, list adjustment to +/-3 degrees, a 2.3-inch wall profile and black powder coat finish.

Digital movie projectors bringing end to Hollywood's film era

The 122-year reign of the celluloid 35-millimeter film projector is about to come to an end.

In just two months, digital will overtake film as the predominant movie projector technology in the world's cinemas, according to a study released this week by IHS. It will be the first time since the advent of the motion picture in 1889 that film projectors will be used to screen a minority of movies.

The most amazing thing about the transition is not how long film stuck around, but just how dramatic and rapid the shift to digital projectors was. Film projectors were in more than 99% of theaters as recently as 2004 and 85% in 2009. That number slid to 68% last year, and by the end of next year, film will be present in just 37% of cinemas.

In 2015, IHS says film will be relegated to "niche" status, used in just 17% of movie theaters worldwide.

The blockbuster 3-D movie's release in late 2009 sparked a rapid increase in digital projector purchases, since its three-dimensional effects couldn't be viewed with a celluloid film projector. Not wanting to miss out on the highest-grossing movie of all time, theaters were quick to upgrade their technology.

"The release of Avatar represented the pivotal moment for digital cinema," said David Hancock, head of film and cinema research at IHS. "Before Avatar, digital represented only a small portion of the market. This single film has driven up demand for digital 3-D technology at the expense of traditional 35-mm celluloid."

Since then, movie theaters have been welcoming the rebirth of the 3-D movie, as they can often charge more money for the shows.

The transition has been especially noticeable in the United States, where IHS predicts there will be no more mainstream 35-mm film projector usage after 2013. Western Europe will reach that point by 2014, and as pressure builds from Hollywood studios that want to ship films in just one format, most of the rest of the world will likely be forced to say goodbye to film projectors the following year.

Though the majority of movies are still shown using film -- at least until January -- most Hollywood pictures have actually been shot using digital cameras for quite some time. Some traditionalists remain, of course. Star Trek director J.J. Abrams noted that he chose to shoot the movie using traditional film to capture a certain glare effect that digital cameras couldn't replicate.

Even though the film wasn't shot digitally, many people around the world still watched it on a digital projector. Soon, no matter how a Hollywood movie is captured, it will have to be digitized at some point.

That means demand for celluloid is rapidly declining. More than 13 billion feet of 35-mm film were sold globally in 2008, but that number is expected to sink to just 4 billion feet next year, IHS said.

What's even more worrisome for celluloid producers is that the cost of making it is soaring due to the rising price of silver, a key raw material in the production of film. IHS predicts the major celluloid manufacturers -- Kodak and Fuji -- could be consolidated down to just one by 2015.

Of course, film will never completely go away. Art-house cinemas, particularly the roughly 3,000 publicly funded ones in Western Europe, will help keep film alive. Older films that were never digitally transferred will live on there.

PC Advisor's top five tweets of the week

There's been plenty of tech issues for Twitter users to tweet about over the past seven days, from Nokia launching a free Wi-Fi network in London to Ofcom's revelation that 27 percent of the UK can't get access to 3G signal from all of the UK's five major mobile networks. Here's our five favourites tweets of the week.

Nokia announced this week it had joined forces with Spectrum Interactive to bring free Wi-Fi to London. Under the trial, which began this week and will run until the end of the year, 26 streets across the city, including Oxford Street, Tottenham Court Road and Sloane Square, will offer Wi-Fi connections of 'up to' 20Mbps thanks to equipment installed in street-side phone boxes owned by Spectrum Interactive. Users can simply locate the Wi-Fi network on their device and then accept the terms and conditions before they begin browsing, there is no need to register to use the service.

"Great news for the capital. Slightly annoying for the rest of the UK. 'Nokia and Spectrum Interactive bring free Wi-Fi to London," we tweeted.

However, while the UK's capital is being given free Wi-Fi, Ofcom was quick to point out that 27 percent of homes and businesses in the UK can't receive 3G signal for all of the UK's five major networks. The announcement was part of research that featured in the regulator's first 'Communications Infrastructure' report which must be submitted to the Secretary of State for Culture, Media and Sport every three years.

Deputy news editor CarrieSkinner said: "27 percent of UK can't receive 3G signal from all five of the UK's major mobile networks".

If you run a business from your home, you may wish to run your personal and professional PCs and laptops separately. So we got our Helproom expert to explain just how to run two networks from a single connection.
"Ever wanted to run two networks from the same router. Here's how you do it," we said in a tweet.

Kodak' recently introduced its Hero series of multifunction printers. You'll pay a bit more up front for these smart looking all-in-ones - but you'll get your money back in the long run. The Kodak Hero 9.1 and its sibling printers are cheap to run whether you calculate it by cost per page or total ink replacement.

"Kodak Hero 9.1 review - a high-end all-in-one printer that could pay for itself in two years," said Editor MattJEgan.
Tiny add-on turns iPhone into hand projector, throws 25-inch screen from 1 meter

We absolutely love this tiny projector that plugs into an iPhone's docking slot and can throw a 25-inch image about a meter away. The projector, which has gone on sale in Japan and China, weighs just 32 grams and is about the size of half an iPhone. Its tiny LED lamp runs off the phone's battery and generates 320-by-240 resolution at a brightness of 10 lumens.

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.

Rich Brilliant Willing's Projector Lamp Inspired By Industrial Turbines

With exposed ductwork tunneling through every hip renovated warehouse on the planet, it's surprising that no designer has

managed to create a lighting system that properly complements its hulking industrial forms. A new series of lamps created

by New York-based industrial designers Rich Brilliant Willing manages to evoke the mechanical shapes with simple

sculptures of wire and fabric.

Their new Delta lighting consists of four pendant lamps and one floor lamp model, each of which is offered in black or

white fabric shades. The wide-mouthed, tubular shades feature details that echo the propulsion systems and rooftop vents

you'd be more likely to find in the HVAC aisle at Home Depot.

The shapes came about as Rich Brilliant Willing was experimenting with various lampshade shapes. "The slightly angular

nature of the forms comes from the lampshade," Rich Brilliant Willing founding member Theo Richardson tells Co.Design.

"Most often a cone or a cylinder -- there are after all not really any organic fabric lampshades." As the designers

stacked the volumes together, they realized the resulting shapes looked a lot like the snaking tubes of metal which cover

the rooftops of Manhattan. "These angular components when stacked created vent-like, turbine-like forms," says

Richardson. "We continued to explore turbine-like forms after this realization of familiarity."

While the inspiration is heavy metal, Rich Brilliant Willing headed to their local lampshade maker for fabrication, who

used traditional lampshade techniques. This includes the industry-standard detail of using box-pleated fabric, which

here, creates the sense of folded, corrugated aluminum.

Besides their handsome forms, the lights are specifically designed to diffuse the light of compact fluorescent and LED

bulbs, with material choices that absorb that telltale bluish glow. While the white lamps are white, inside and out, the

black fabric lamps are lined in gold foil, lending the perfect pseudo-mechanical feel to the lamp's warm, post-industrial

light.