InFocus ScreenPlay SP8604 Review

Underlining this apparently high value situation, moreover, is the standard warranty InFocus does for the SP8604: namely 5 years parts (excluding the fan, power supply, colour wheel and light tunnel, which get three years), 3 years labour, plus a 1 year lamp replacement warranty.

Our first clue to the SP8604's similarities with the Vivitek H5080 comes as soon as we look at it, for it's more or less identically designed. This means it's a quite large, chunky bit of kit, with a gently arced and glossy top edge, a centrally mounted lens, and ribbed side panels for letting out heat.

The only obvious difference is that while the Vivitek had a silver ring around the lens, the InFocus has a metallic blue one - a wry little nod, we guess, to the peculiar and certainly flawed decision to put a bright blue neon light circle around the lens of the SP8602.

Directly above the lens on the SP8604's top side is a slide-forward panel hiding two of our favourite projector things: simple knobs for optically shifting the image horizontally or vertically.

There really is no overstating the importance of such tools on a mid-level projector, since they let you get an image perfectly positioned on your screen - even in potentially quite awkwardly shaped rooms - without having to digitally distort the image via keystone correction.

The SP8604 isn't quite as generous with its optical zoom as we would ideally have liked, only offering 1.25x. But to be fair, you can buy the projector with short (fixed at 0.77), standard (1.54-1.93:1) and long-throw (1.93-2.89:1) lens options, so you should be able to get a configuration that works for you.

Understanding the Projector Lamp and Its Bulb System

The projector lamp: It's one of those things you know is critical, but you haven't really stopped to think about too much, right? As long as it's working, that's where your interest ends.

It's a good thing to understand, and it covers them well. Starting with the basics, the most important part of your projector is, as you might have guessed, the projector lamp. That's what takes the images or video signal coming into your projector and puts them onto a large screen.

And the bulb is the most important part of the lamp -- not synonymous with the lamp. As the site explains, "every projector lamp has several different parts... varying types of projectors will use and house the projector lamps in slightly different ways. However, they all use the bulb and projector lamp."

You might hear the system that the projector uses in order to project imagery referred to as the illumination system. Same thing -- "the bulb and projector lamp are housed together and usually located within the projector itself behind an access door, since the projector lamp's bulb will eventually have to be replaced."

There are many different types of bulbs for projector lamps, but the two most popular are halogen bulbs and metal halide bulbs. Halogen bulbs are cheaper, but don't last as long as metal halide bulbs -- the classic tradeoff. Halogen bulbs often produce a yellow tint on the imagery being projected, so metal halide bulbs are seen as worth the expense in many instances. And "some large projectors use bulbs that are referred to as Xenon lamps, which are used largely because of the incredible color reproduction they are able to achieve."

And remember that different projectors will use the projector lamps in various ways because of design. Some projectors may have varying placement of panels or mirrors and also might have different numbers of panels, compared to other projectors that all use the same projector lamps.

Sanyo PLC-XK3010

Sanyo has a wide range of projectors and its PLC-XK3010 is aimed squarely at the business and education market.

Based around a 3-panel LCD lamp, this is an amazingly bright device that comes with a 3000 ANSI lumens rating and 2000:1 contrast ratio.

In terms of design, the black and cream two-tone black casing is rather large and boxy, but it feels reassuringly rugged to the touch.

The lens is housed inside the unit and accessed via a lens cover that you need to manually pull out. The zoom and focus rings are also neatly recessed in the body, so there's little risk of damage when transporting this projector.

With an overall weight of 2.9kg, the PLC-XK3010 is quite large. While this limits the overall portability of the device, we found that for sharing between classrooms or meeting rooms it's more than practical.

When you start to set up this projector you'll find it comes with automatic keystone correction, so in most instances you won't need to use the menu controls on the top of the unit.

Controls on the back are something of a mixed bag. It has two VGA ports and an Ethernet socket, but no HDMI connector for high-definition use.

When it came to testing, the projected image was big and bright, and we found a great deal of warmth to images projected, especially when running video.

With a noise rating of 29dB, it's the quietest device in this group and the only one we didn't need to drop down into eco-mode to make more practical in quieter meeting conditions.

We really like the Sanyo PLC-XK3010. Sure, it's not the most portable of projectors, nor the ports the most flexible. However, the brightness and image quality make it a great choice for anyone keen to make the right impression no matter the lighting conditions.

Christie(r) Partner to Bring Digital Cinema to a Theater Near You

Harkness Screens, the world's leading manufacturer of cinema screens, and Christie(r), a world leader in digital cinema projection, have teamed up to help exhibitors more easily transition from film to digital projection. With the transition to 3D well underway in many auditoria, exhibitors are now turning their attention to the remainder of their cinema estates and planning to convert their film auditoriums to digital. In doing so, exhibitors are making a tradeoff between the many known benefits of digital cinema and its higher costs.

With Harkness' Perlux Screens and Christie's 4K Projectors, exhibitors can help cut operating costs roughly in half, as gain screens use smaller lamps that are cheaper, last longer and consume less power. With almost 20,000 digital cinema projectors installed worldwide, Christie's DLP Cinema solutions are tested and proven, with the most installations worldwide and an unmatched 99.999% reliability rating for the projector lamps - the key component of a digital cinema projector.

There is often too little known about the full cost burden, and it is primarily focused on the costs associated with equipment acquisition, often ignoring the impact on total cost of ownership (TCO). TCO, the ongoing cost of operating a digital cinema, is known to be higher than film projection, though the true extent may be hidden at the time of acquisition. Projector maintenance, lamp cost and rate of lamp replacement are all increased, as are lamp and HVAC power consumption and maintenance. These factors can all be managed by smart upfront design and rigorous manufacturing processes.

Canon Launches High-Brightness Multimedia LCD Projectors

Canon U.S.A. has launched five high-performance multimedia LCD projectors that render

long lamp and filter life. Small-business owners, sales representatives and educators

stand to benefit by using these LCD projectors.

The LV-8225 is Canon's latest LCD model that features a widescreen with WXGA-

resolution. Another key feature of the high brightness LCD projectors that proves

useful for presentation professionals is the easy-to-use auto set-up function.

Canon's latest range of multimedia LCD projectors proves to be an affordable and

convenient option for end-users. The wide angle projection lens with 1.2x zoom

delivers clear and bright images. The manual zoom and focus feature enables users to

customize projection settings.

The LCD projectors have video, audio and PC connections to assure compatibility with

various display sources. Other useful features include ease of installation and quiet

operation. The auto set-up features of the multimedia LCD projectors allow automatic

synchronization of the projector's display with the pixel configuration of the

computer screen.

Stop Your Projector From Breaking By Using This Top New Product

To support your valuable projector, you must use a bracket which comes with the best quality like the construction and durability. You do not want to have your business presentation paused as the projector bracket falls your projector. For the worst consequence, it might harm you if you are unintentionally underneath the device. Thus make sure that you get the one with sturdy construction for security.

We advise the VideoSecu PJ2W 1CA for you because of the construction and features. You may consider the following information to ensure you get recommendations before you determine any projector bracket to order. Save your projector by installing the unit with a reliable bracket with tough construction. This can indirectly support your business presentation and entertainment in your home theatre room.

This bracket is designed with adaptable mounting system that you can use for many projector models. The construction is made to fit any ceiling. This tool can be tilted and rolled to adjust each other. It is much easier if it is compared to the clumsier adjustments that are needed for ball-and-socket mounts. You are able to adjust the height between projector and the ceiling easily, from 16.9 to 25.6 inches.

It comes with an adaptable channel and ceiling plate. This enables the projector to be mounted at an adjustable height from the ceiling. The construction can help you adjust the swivel to go up or down, left or right to get an accurate display. The mounting interface comes with four double-jointed supporting arms which allow flexible positioning to reach nearly every mounting point of the projector.

Additionally, every arm can be positioned to avoid covering important projector ventilation and access points that are used for lamp and air filter replacement. This reduces heat build-up and boosts lamp life. Its solid structure allows the mount to positively hold the projector fixed at nearly any angle.

Another specialty by using this bracket is that you will not find any difficulty in the process of installation as this one is created with features to support easy installation. When you order this tool, you will get extension poll. The extra extension adaptor is also included with mounting arms removable and extendable. For the optimum load, with durable steel design, this bracket can accommodate projector with weight up to 40 lbs, or equals to 20 kilos. Other features of this projector bracket are integrated cable management and exclusive anti-slip adjustment system.

To summarize, strong construction is essential for any appliances that are mounted to ceiling. It is for safety of the device and you. As a projector is not a low cost equipment you need to keep it very carefully, so the bracket should come with quality including the durability and design. Be sure that your business presentation works well with this projector bracket. At last, we concern the price as this is one important aspect to take into consideration before one decides to purchase something. Without sacrificing the quality, you can get the VideoSecu PJ2W 1CA in economical price.

From Bulky Machines to the 'SixthSense': Projector Lamps Have Come a Long Way

With only four years out of college, it's hard to imagine the classroom tools and methods I used on my path toward a bachelor's degree are almost extinct. Gone are the days of taking notes on white, lined paper, as they've been replaced by high-tech laptops and tablets. Meanwhile, students are able to "check in" with their teacher through telepresence and online sessions – right from the comfort of their dorm rooms (pajamas, anyone?)

Go even further back in time, and it's hard to forget my elementary school days – pre-PowerPoint presentation – when teachers displayed slides of images and text on white pull-down screens using old-fashioned DLP and LCD projectors. Who can forget the monotonous humming sound that emanated from these pre-historic machines, better yet the simplicity of turning a dial to take you to the next slide?

Flash up to the present, and projectors, as well as the bulbs used to power them, are nowhere near where they originated. They've come a long way, starting as bulky machines that over the years transformed into less bulkier machines often seen on conference tables and in entertainment spaces, and eventually molding into what they are today: innovative, creative and often portable devices that resemble something out of an action movie.

Technology innovators are racing to bring fresh, revolutionary projector lamp inventions to the market, some of which include watches, cell phones that display images, smartphone devices and others in true James Bond fashion, according to MyProjectorLamps.com.

One recent innovative projector lamp to come to fruition is a portable projector that takes the functions of a basic projector lamp to a whole new level. Fittingly called "SixthSense," users can perform "out of this world" tasks, including dialing a phone number from the palm of your hand and snapping photos that can be displayed on any surface imaginable. Even further, it functions almost like an application, as it provides users with helpful information when it comes to purchasing products.

In a video demo of the new product, Pattie Maes, one of the experts to spearhead the revolutionary projector product, categorizes this invention as a way to have easy access to relevant information for making optimal decisions without requiring the user to change his or her behavior.

Using a camera, projector, mirror, colored caps and a simple phone, all placed on the user's body, these components communicate with each other to interact with any surface. For example, the camera is able to recognize natural movements performed on the finger caps that help the user perform everyday tasks such as reading a map or reviewing a picture previously taken on any surface, even your own hand!

"It really can act as one of these sixth sense devices that gives you relevant information of what is in front of you," said Maes, who further explained how consumers can use this projector creation to obtain product reviews and further information by simply scanning an item with the components.

This creation is also perfect for those judgmental people out there, whom can see words associated with another person through the information posted on their personal blogs, social networking sites, etc. Though controversial, it's pretty clever! If only we had this during our lecture halls…