Filed under: Multimedia, Video, iPod classic
Optoma's palm-sized video projector looks great
Optoma's tiny Pico projector has caught our attention. This small device (50mm x 103mm x 15mm) weighs four ounces and features up to 2 hours of battery life, an LED lamp with a lifespan of 20,000 hours and mini USB connectivity.
The manufacturers claim that images can be viewed at 60" (measured diagonal from corner to corner) from a maximum distance of 2.6 meters. The AV Input combines stereo audio and composite video via a 1 x 2.5mm 4 pole jack socket.
In the video above, it's connected to an iPod Classic and the image looks pretty good. Of course, our experience is only as good as the quality of the clip, but it definitley looks like a fun device. Videos, images and even slide presentations could be run off of your iPod and pocket projector, eliminating the need to bring a laptop, adaptor and full-sized projector to your meeting.
The proof is in the pudding, and we'd like to get our hands on one of these. Optoma says they'll start selling sometime next year with a price point around $400US.
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Reader Comments (Page 1 of 1)
SpinThis! said 10:49AM on 11-14-2008
It's too bad the iPhone/Touch doesn't display anything on the video output except for photos and videos. Using a web browser on a bigger screen would be really neat... and potentially useful. Especially with the iPhone's support of Javascript, you could pull off slide transitions, show a short QuickTime movie, etc.
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Victor Agreda Jr said 11:33AM on 11-14-2008
Not to mention playing games... it would be really fun to see Cro-Mag or even card games on the TV.
Capt. Pedantic said 11:36AM on 11-14-2008
"The proof is in the pudding..."
No, it isn't. The proof of the pudding is in the eating. In other words, a thing's real value can only be determined by putting it to its intended use.
:::sigh:::
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Christian said 12:17PM on 11-14-2008
Turns out you can already get these babies up here in Canada.
http://canadacomputers.com/index.php?do=ShowProduct&cmd=pd&pid=019683&cid=333.59
$499.99 CAD
I personally saw one in action....very very impressed!
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Waltzy said 12:21PM on 11-14-2008
Was just gonna post the same thing.......I'm in on the pre-order
Rodan said 1:06PM on 11-14-2008
Ryan, I think I may have seen that image of the iMac compared to a Dell tower. Yeah, I'm sure Apple couldn't do any better than Dell in that regard. Never mind that the Dell appears to have a significant number of off-screen peripherals hooked up to it......and ITS A DELL!
Geez, Apple, I can handle the horrific aesthetic detraction of one extra cable going from my monitor to my tower, and one power cable. Heck, build a power outlet into the tower, and send me some tubing so I can run them together to the tower. Apple, that could be your next big thing: cable tubing in the package with your new mini-tower.
Rodan said 1:10PM on 11-14-2008
So sorry, had 1passwords comments field filled with an old comment.
Notice the end of the url: 333.59. Curious, I wonder if that is their wholesale price?
Christian said 1:35PM on 11-14-2008
I don't think they're making that much margin. Possibly just a web tag....but then again, who knows?
Brian said 8:02PM on 11-14-2008
thats an ipod video not ipod classic.
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Ondroo said 8:10PM on 11-14-2008
Too bad the resolution sucks - 320 x 240!
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Fleshman03 said 9:07PM on 11-14-2008
Is that the kid from Indiana Jones and the Temple of Doom?
Of course, he's all grown up now.
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D3man said 11:28PM on 11-14-2008
Its a iPod Video, people!!!
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TheMacMommy said 12:45AM on 11-15-2008
That looks really cool. I'd love to see this used in classrooms. I think just the bulb alone on a standard projector costs over $400 US.
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Julz said 6:33AM on 11-15-2008
Oh this could be big.
Hopefully by my next art show in july these things may be a bit more affordable...
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Alex said 9:55AM on 11-15-2008
"The proof is in the pudding" -- what on earth did you intend with that statement?
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