New Era Projector Blog
(sub-1000 lumens)

JVC Kenwood Demonstrates Prototype Automotive HUD

March 9th, 2012

Japanese automotive electronics manufacturer JVC Kenwood announced the development of a head-up display (HUD) that uses a MEMS/Laser projector to display navigation and driver information directly on the car’s windshield in front of the driver. The HUD is connected to a conventional car navigation system, with monitor, and minimizes the driver’s need to look away from the road. A number of luxury car makers currently offer HUD systems of various types, but the cars and HUDs are currently too expensive for mass distribution. JVC Kenwood plans to achieve a lower price price point, thus expanding the size of the market. By 2015, the market for HUD systems is expected to grow to approximately 1 million units worldwide, about 2.5 times its current size.

JVC Kenwood’s announcement is the latest event in the Pico Embedded Fixed projector market trend PMA’s extensive projector market analysis has been tracking since Pioneer announced their MicroVison PicoP-based HUD in early 2010.

JVC Kenwood

 

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Aiptek Introduces Two Pico Projectors for iPhone

March 2nd, 2012

 

 

 

 

 

At Mobile World Congress 2012, Taiwanese projector and camcorder maker Aiptek introduced two new projectors designed for use with Apple’s popular iPhone. The MobileCinema i20 attaches to the phone’s 30-pin dock port and also provides charging. Resolution, brightness and other specs were not disclosed.  Aiptek also introduced an iPhone 4/4S battery sleeve with an embedded pico projector. The DLP based projector produces 50 lumens, but resolution and other specs were not disclosed.

PMA’s in depth projector market research anticipates the introduction of more iPhone projector sleeves over the coming year as vendors rush to catch up with this phenomenon.

Aiptek

 

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Samsung Introduces Galaxy Beam Projector Phone

February 27th, 2012

At Mobile World Congress 2012, held February 27-March 1 in Barcelona Spain, Samsung introduced the Galaxy Beam, a new smartphone with an embedded pico projector . The DLP based projector produces 15 lumens at nHD (640×360) resolution, a 50% increase in brightness over previous models. All models in Samsung’s premier Galaxy line use Google’s Android operating system, in this case the 2.3 version (Gingerbread). With its 2,000 mAh battery, the projector offers sufficient run time to share photos and video from YouTube and social networking sites with small to medium audiences.

PMA’s projector market analysis has followed Samsung’s efforts as they almost single-handedly pioneered the projector phone with the introduction of the w7900 in 2009 and the Beam i8520 in 2010. Despite the high level of innovation incorporated into these models, both achieves only moderate sales. The carriers who dictate every facet of the cell phone market declined to adopt them, failing to recognize the revenue opportunity they offer.

Samsung Galaxy Beam

 

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Vivitek Introduces Qumi Q5

February 23rd, 2012

At this year’s IFA show in Berlin, Taiwanese projector maker Vivitek demonstrated the next model in their Qumi line, the Qumi Q5. The new DLP based model produces 500 lumens at Wide XGA (1,280×800) resolution with 3,500:1 contrast ratio. In addition to iPad, iPod, and iPhone connectivity via USB 2.0, the projector also features a built-in 4GB Personal Media Player (PMP), plus HDMI, VGA, and Composite Video inputs. Optional accessories include 3D, a battery pack, and a wireless USB dongle. Suggested retail pricing will be under US$800 when the product reaches the market in April 2012.

The Qumi Q5 is the latest introduction in the projector market trend toward higher brightness enabled by recent improvements in imager, optic and LED technologies. PMA’s projector market analysis closely follows these and other market developments.

Vivitek

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