Friday, January 30, 2015

Celluon PicoAir is selling now!

http://celluon.com/shop_picoair.php

Let your imagination fly

Imagine a personal cinema in your pocket to quickly and easily create a big screen experience from your mobile device. Share movies, music videos, social media pictures or any content you want to show off beyond the small screen. Dual wireless connections let images and video fly from your mobile device to the projector with a few swipes of your finger. High definition images that pop with bold, bright colors are always in focus and make a clear statement. PicoAir – Let your imagination fly.
ITEMSPECIFICATION
Ultra SlimLess than ½” thickness
Infinite FocusNever requires manual focus
HD Resolution720p HD image in 16:9 wide screen
Big Screen1.1 throw ratio creates big screen from a short distance
Easy ConnectionMiracast for Android/Windows OS DLNA for iOS
Superior ConnectivityDual WiFi (2.4G/5G) makes smooth connection even in heavy WiFi traffic
Extensive Operating Time2.5+ hours on-the-go
Noise FreeUltra quiet, fan-free operation
Bright & vivid colors80,000:1 Contrast Ratio

More Reviews (Updated 1/30/2015 @ 13:26 PST)

I'm expecting a relative flood of reviews, so for a while they'll just be collected here.

Notes about link posting here:


  • If something is obviously a duplicate I will not post
  • It it's a duplicate but from a distinctly different country or region of the world, I will re-link

This is an exercise in seeing the kind of reception and the reach.


German
MacLife Germany

Russia
In Russian "Mac Digger"
InformRuss.ru
Techsnew.ru
rupor24
vk.com

Denmark
Dailyfix.dk

South Africa
From AppleZA

Norway
eplemaskin.no

Czech Republic
FanApple


From RedmondPie

"The PicoPro Laser Projector For iPhone And iPad Truly Puts The Cinema In Your Pocket"

From 9to5mac

"The core of PicoPro is a MicroVision three-laser video engine with separate red, green, and blue light sources, projected together through a small box-shaped opening on the unit’s “front” edge."


I find it interesting that they're using a picture projected from a Wii game. PicoP is going to be HUGE with gaming.



"PicoPro’s performance as a projector is seriously impressive given its size. Over the last five years, I’ve tested projectors that put out obviously blurrier, lower-contrast video despite requiring 10 times the physical space. PicoPro projects a true widescreen image with an actual detail level that’s several times greater than both smaller and larger but similarly-priced projectors I’ve used. Even high-definition iTunes-protected videos played through connected iPads and iPhones without complaint."

"...this unit’s laser-based lights do look brighter and more vivid where they exist, but blacker where there isn’t illumination. Celluon’s claimed 80,000:1 contrast ratio (versus 2,000:1 in LED models) doesn’t seem hard to believe."

An even more intriguing component of PicoPro’s performance is its utter lack of configuration. There is no focus dial nor the need for a focus dial: the laser-projected image starts and remains impressively sharp, unlike typical projectors.

Given the small footprint, it’s going to be at least a minor hit when it becomes widely available in the United States; until then, larger, lower-resolution projectors such as the Aaxa P4 will continue to be your best available options.

Fantastic Content News!!

10,000 downloadable movies

Streaming is great, but downloadable content is better. Now we will have it. 

And this would fit fantastically with a device like this concept I've mentioned before



WARNER BROTHERS -- SONY PICTURES TELEVISION & SINGTEL

Warner Bros. and Sony Pictures Television are teaming up with Singapore’s Singtel to launch a streaming video service in South East Asia.
The companies have formed HOOQ to offer more than 10,000 Hollywood films and TV shows, as well as local-language content via streams or downloads on a variety of platforms.
“Consumers expect premium entertainment content to be available to them at their convenience and as a result, over the top delivery has become an important part of our business,” said George Chien, executive VP, networks, Asia-Pacific, Sony Pictures Television. “Through this partnership, we hope to create a service to meet that demand as it grows in Asia.”
IPTV News

Yes, it's focused on India and Southeast Asia.
Here's a map of the world by population to put market selection and impact in perspective.
world population map

Thursday, January 29, 2015

PicoPro Review

Tuaw.com

Snippets here from the full article... link above.

Celluon PicoPro pico projector


Holding the PicoPro in my hand and wandering around my home office to find "targets", I was able to clearly see the bright image from the projector on a variety of surfaces. Your best bet will probably still be to project onto a reflective screen in a slightly-darkened room, but I was able to project slides onto a textured ceiling in daylight and clearly read all of the text. Even on a very saturated blue wall with some daylight coming through windows, the text on my slides was very readable.


The color reproduction of the PicoPro is incredibly good, and the image is sharp from edge to edge. The fact that you never have to focus is worth the price of admission. I don't know how many times I've watched as a hot projector has slowly gone out of focus. There are some additional positives - it's absolutely cool in operation and creates no sound at all. No more raising your voice to be heard over the scream of a cooling fan!
Up to this point, I haven't been impressed with any of the pico projectors I've seen. However, that has changed with the Celluon PicoPro. The image quality and brightness out of this tiny box is stellar, and to think that it does it all without making a sound or getting hot. There are no expensive bulbs to burn out (those often cost just as much as the PicoPro itself!), and using an iPhone, an adapter, and this projector makes for a featherweight presentation tool.

I have just seen rumored that TUAW was going to be shut down. The entire posting from them is "scraped below."

PicoPro: A laser projector about the size of an iPhone 6 Plus

Celluon PicoPro pico projector

Several times in the past, TUAW has done reviews of pico projectors - projectors that are so small that they can be slipped into a pocket on a backpack or in a briefcase. Designed to make presentations on the road less burdensome, pico projectors have always had one Achilles Heel - the visual quality of the image they project. A new projector from Celluon called the PicoPro (US$349) aims to bring high resolution and contrast, long battery life, and noise-free operation to tiny projects.
The PicoPro was introduced to the world at CES 2015, and TUAW is one of the first sites to get a hands-on look at the new device.
Specifications
  • Dimensions: 6 x 3 x .5 inches (152.4 x 76.2 x 12.7 mm)
  • Weight: 6.7 ounces (189.9 grams)
  • Resolution: 1920 x 720p (16:9 aspect ratio)
  • Interface: HDMI/Miracast/DLNA
  • Battery life: 2 hours for wireless, 3+ hours for cabled
  • Contrast Ratio: 80,000 to 1
Design
Design-wise, the PicoPro is a tiny box that's smaller in length and width than an iPhone 6 Plus. It's divided into two "sections", one that contains the actual projector and the other containing the various ports (HDMI, micro-USB for charging, headphone).
There's no need to focus the PicoPro, as it uses lasers to project the image and has infinite focus. It focuses as sharply an arms-length away from a wall as it does from 10 feet away.
The PicoPro comes with a small carrying pouch, and with iOS devices you'll need to supply your own digital AV adapter to connect to the HDMI cable. Unfortunately, PicoPro doesn't support AirPlay, so all iOS and Mac connections will be through the HDMI cable. For those who are fans of this site who use other mobile platforms, a slightly less expensive version called PicoAir is available for $299 that works only with the wireless Miracast and DLNA interfaces.
It's a stylish little device, and one you won't be embarrassed to pull out of your briefcase.
Function
With any projector, the proof is in the viewing. Just how bright is the image, and is it easily readable? Can the projector be used in a bright room, or does it require near-darkness. How much noise does it make? And does it do a good job of projecting Keynote and PowerPoint presentations?
To test the PicoPro, I connected it to an iPhone 6 Plus using the Apple Lightning to HDMI connector and an included HDMI cable. My test documents were a number of Keynote presentations that I use while teaching an iOS class.
Holding the PicoPro in my hand and wandering around my home office to find "targets", I was able to clearly see the bright image from the projector on a variety of surfaces. Your best bet will probably still be to project onto a reflective screen in a slightly-darkened room, but I was able to project slides onto a textured ceiling in daylight and clearly read all of the text. Even on a very saturated blue wall with some daylight coming through windows, the text on my slides was very readable.
The color reproduction of the PicoPro is incredibly good, and the image is sharp from edge to edge. The fact that you never have to focus is worth the price of admission. I don't know how many times I've watched as a hot projector has slowly gone out of focus. There are some additional positives - it's absolutely cool in operation and creates no sound at all. No more raising your voice to be heard over the scream of a cooling fan!
Following is a video of the PicoPro from "Eli the Computer Guy" at CES; note that the flickering is due to filming the projection with a digital camera - in reality, the image shows virtually no flicker unless you're moving it around.
Conclusion
Up to this point, I haven't been impressed with any of the pico projectors I've seen. However, that has changed with the Celluon PicoPro. The image quality and brightness out of this tiny box is stellar, and to think that it does it all without making a sound or getting hot. There are no expensive bulbs to burn out (those often cost just as much as the PicoPro itself!), and using an iPhone, an adapter, and this projector makes for a featherweight presentation tool.
My only negative is that the device doesn't support AirPlay. The non-HDMI, wireless-only version of this project will sell for $299, and it would be awesome if Celluon would support iOS - the choice of enterprises everywhere. We were also unable to get word on a shipping date and retail outlets for the PicoPro.
Rating: 3-1/2 stars out of 4 stars possible
 three and one half star rating out of four stars possible







A New PlayStation Initiative -- February 13 - Updated

Playstation upgrade.....

As portable gaming is one of the places we think PicoP could get a running start, this event has great potential. (It's something to watch... we have NO IDEA if PicoP will be featured, but the odds keep getting better.)

A possible PS Vita, and remember, their mobile TV & content they call PlayStation TV

Some of the snippets from the articles...

"...The event will take place on February 13, 2015 at Gotham Hall in New York at 3PM local time. According to the details in the email, there is a age restriction on attendees, he/she must be over 18 to attend the event, they will get to play some unreleased games and many more things..."

"...What this initiative could be is unclear, but with rumors swirling about a PS4 slim and a PS Vita successor, this could be a big deal indeed...."

PlayStation is also going to be SONY's CONTENT Hub.

@GAMESPOT

"Sony has elevated the PlayStation Network as the catch-all brand for its entertainment going forward, from movies to music, TV, and games."


"PlayStation Network's suite of services going forward are:
  • PlayStation Store: the online merchant for games on PS3, PS4, and PlayStation Vita.
  • PlayStation Plus: the membership subscription service that offers discounts, free games, and online multiplayer.
  • PlayStation Video: the buy-or-rent service replacing Video Unlimited, offering some 200,000 movies and TV shows across PlayStation platforms, Sony devices, and PCs
  • PlayStation Music: the Spotify-powered music streaming service coming this spring.
  • PlayStation Now: The game streaming service that brings legacy PlayStation games to consoles and Sony devices, and select Samsung Smart TVs.
  • PlayStation Vue: the new, cloud-based TV service for PS4 and PS3 owners, combining live TV with select network partners with on-demand and catch-up TV content. (This service is expected to launch in the first quarter of 2015)."



...more to follow as we hear

Keep track of this and other events we find on the Event Page -- if you are aware of events related or possibly related to Microvision, please let us know.

@Hardcore Gamer
@Segment   Next
@Gamepur
PlayStation Facebook Events Page

The Things We Haven't Though of Yet.

I have said often -- people will come up with ways to use PicoP that haven't even occurred to us. Always in focus projected images will have many uses. There are a lot of very creative people in the world who will be able to think up new ways to use the tool in ways we haven't thought of yet.

This is one of those ways:


Design firm Teague conceptualised an enticing solution: a doctor in a box. You would buy this affordable kit at CVS or Walgreens, then take it home to experience a professional doctor visit teleconferenced into the privacy of your own bathroom.
The kit would contain two pieces: One piece is like a smart stethoscope, capable of hearing your heart or lungs, but also peeking into your ear with a fibre optic light and taking high-definition images on the surface of your skin. The second piece is a teleconferencing camera that sticks to your mirror. It can beam video of you to your doctor, but it can also track your body’s movement, heart rate, and temperature. Plus, it project images onto you or your mirror, thanks to an integrated pico projector.....
teague wearable healthcare concept
“Rather than the doctor saying, ‘left a bit, up a bit,’ it puts a circle on the chest and turns green when you get it to the right spot,” explains Roger Jackson, creative director at Teague. Other functions on the probe, like the otoscope (you know, that thing the doctor sticks in your ear to check if you have an ear infection), have been designed to be bulky and soft to make sure that even children could use it without hurting themselves.
As for its feasibility, that is maybe the most intriguing part of Teague’s concept: The designers think that they could actually create it, not in five or 10 years, but in the immediate future.

Wednesday, January 28, 2015

More Mobile Content

More mobile content improves ecosystem for PicoP. 
AT&T's Randall Stephenson plans to lean on DirecTV relationships to strike new media deals.
Dish Network's Sling TV, which offers a bundle of a dozen cable channels for $20 a month, is seen as the first to break through with a credible alternative to cable TV service. But it won't be the last. Verizon has said it will launch its own over-the-top service later this year.
AT&T hopes to strike new deals through its pending $48.5 billion acquisition of satellite TV provider DirecTV, which will give the carrier 20.3 million subscribers to add to its own 5.7 million U-Verse TV customers. More important, it will give AT&T the relationships and clout it needs to negotiate more online content deals for its customers. Stephenson said he expects the takeover to be completed in the first half of the year, and added that mobile television is a top priority.
Stephenson also talked about Otter Media -- AT&T's joint venture with the Chernin Group to acquire, invest in and launch online video services -- as a way to deliver online content.
"I expect customers to walk out the door with content on their mobile device," he said, noting that he's looking at multiple channels and channel lineups that could be delivered to tablet, smartphone and broadband customers. "Stay tuned."

Tuesday, January 27, 2015

Sony LifeSpace






http://mashable.com/2015/01/06/sonys-life-space-ux/

Sony LifeSpace Site
LAS VEGAS — The Internet of Things is a pretty terrible term, partly because of its vagueness. Exactly what are all these "things" and what are they doing on the Internet?
Sony has a pretty good answer in its Life Space UX concept, which got an upgrade at CES 2015 and incorporates lights, speakers, projectors and more to create a highly interactive and beautifully designed take on the smart home. The highlight is easily the Symphonic Light, which combines lighting and sound into one of the most innovative connected gadgets we've seen.
At first glance, it looks like any light you'd find in a hipster Williamsburg loft, with an LED bulb surrounded by clear glass. But the glass is actually a speaker that can emanate high-frequency sound in all directions (presumably complemented with a woofer in the base).



Sony Symphonic Light


Sony short-throw projector

Sony desk projector

Monday, January 26, 2015

Sony Xperia Rumors are Ramping up -- Updated [1-30@9:45 PST]

Of course, we have NO IDEA what will happen with the SONY Xperia until SONY releases something. Some of the language in a couple of articles is getting interesting:

I have been of a mind that PicoP will NOT be in SONY phones (yet), but I could be as wrong this time as I have been in the past.

There have also been rumors both that Sony will end the Xperia line, and one now (more believable) that the Z4 is certified already. (which would interpret to mean the design process is complete.)

Xperia Z4 certified in Indonesia?
Sony vs Samsung vs HTC at MWC


ReleaseWire -- I'm aware this release is from a different company, I'm not sure what their strategy is -- two strong possibilities - they are trying to use Sony to gain attention for themselves, or perhaps they make components for SONY.

"With fewer devices, slower releases and new design", this is what consumers is yet to anticipate from Sony to shake things up for this year's latest gadget offering. Though the company firmly seals their lips about the upcoming Xperia Z4 and how it would set to dominate the world at the 2nd to 5th of March despite the issues of hack scandal, consumers have something to look forward to other than Sony as major mobile companies that produces android tablet is also set to undergo a lot of significant changes this year.


masterherald.com

"The device is expected to come in the first quarter of 2015, and it’s going to be a considerable step forward for the line."

"In the end, it’s also possible that the phone will have different specifications, as other rumors are pointing at another type of screen – 5.2 and 5.4 inches are getting mentioned quite often – as well as a different camera, although the Snapdragon 810 seems to be quite solid as far as rumors go. RAM size tends to vary from one rumor to another as well, although it’s probably safe to expect at least 2 GB from a device that’s more powerful than the average Android smartphone on the market in 2015, especially one in the Xperia line."

Saturday, January 24, 2015

Sony Digital TV Tuner for Mobile Devices

This is one of the best bits of news for the environment for PicoP I've seen.

You might ask why.

First what is PicoP & why is it important?

PicoP is a means for delivering media to media hungry customers. The product isn't a collection of lasers and mirrors, it's not simply a "better projector" -- it's an efficient means of getting content from content sources to end users who want it.

That it is a gigantic improvement in portability & energy efficiency and convenience is key. -- that it's a portable LARGE screen is hugely important.

This particular advancement is important because with this -- many people will be able to access live content from live broadcasts -this provides distinct content benefits:

  • Subscription to content isn't necessary.
  • Data expense from cellular net work isn't necessary
  • Connection to high-speed internet connection isn't necessary.
  • Recording live television with your mobile device will probably be possible -- increasing the amount of content available.
This should make PicoP even more attractive to many more people.

From Tech2

Please visit the article at the source as well.

By tech2 News Staff  /  23 Jan 2015 , 19:12
Sony has introduced its new Digital TV (DTV) Tuner Module for mobile devices which include smartphones, tablets, automotive infotainment systems, navigation systems and PCs.
Sony claims that the DTV tuner module adopts a small size and superior reception along with low power consumption, which makes it an optimal candidate for inclusion into mobile devices. The SMT-EW100 series is the DVB-T2 compatible module, especially designed to be incorporated in the mobile devices and is the first module from Sony specialised for mobile usage.
image006 (1)
The tuner module supports various types of digital terrestrial TV broadcast systems, including DVB-T, DVB-T2, DVB-T2 Lite, ISDB-T and ISDB-Tmm. Sony India will also offer the antenna along with software and technical support. Mobile device manufacturers will be able to incorporate a DTV feature into their products as well.
Sony will showcase the DTV module at Convergence India Trade show at Pragati Maidan, New Delhi from 21st to 23rd January. It would start shipping the module from May and will announce the pricing during the same time.
Key Features of the SMT-EW100 Series
The world’s smallest size: 6.9 mm x 6.9 mm x 1.0 mm (incl. Filter, Crystal)
Supports DVB-T, DVB-T2, DVB-T2 Lite, ISDB-T, ISDB-Tmm
Low power consumption: under 200 mW
Multi-Interface Data: TS, SPI, SDIO;  Control: I2C, SPI, SDIO
Comes as part of a total solution package that includes the module, antenna, software, and technical support
Supplied together with the Android driver package

Wednesday, January 21, 2015

Windows 10 event --- HoloLens -- UPDATING....

There is no certainty that we're in here, but it looks very promising. In any case the inventor is well familiar with PicoP. I'm still working to figure this out.

Patents listed below merely seem to be related, and possibly are we don't KNOW anything yet.

WIBU -- Hands on with Hololens



Interview with Inventor --- Kipman... this is good

Kipman Inventions with PicoP  <--- all mention Microvision's PicoP display. Before you get TOO excited, they also mention other display systems -- as shown just below.

From a patent. I've seen this particular paragraph in several similar patents:

"Microdisplay 120 projects an image through lens 122. There are different image generation technologies that can be used to implement microdisplay 120. For example, microdisplay 120 can be implemented in using a transmissive projection technology where the light source is modulated by optically active material, backlit with white light. These technologies are usually implemented using LCD type displays with powerful backlights and high optical energy densities. Microdisplay 120can also be implemented using a reflective technology for which external light is reflected and modulated by an optically active material. The illumination is forward lit by either a white source or RGB source, depending on the technology. Digital light processing (DLP), liquid crystal on silicon (LCOS) and MIRASOL® (a display technology from QUALCOMM, INC.) are all examples of reflective technologies which are efficient as most energy is reflected away from the modulated structure. Additionally, microdisplay 120 can be implemented using an emissive technology where light is generated by the display. For example, a PicoP™-display engine (available from MICROVISION, INC.) emits a laser signal with a micro mirror steering either onto a tiny screen that acts as a transmissive element or beamed directly into the eye (e.g., laser)."

What I would call a strong connection between Microvision and Hololens coming from a LinkedIn Profile: I won't post the person's name, or any more detail than this, but this was from a single profile, and copied consecutive lines...

*****

Senior Hardware Engineer - HoloLens

Microsoft
 – Present (7 months)Redmond, WA

Senior HW Program Manager - HoloLens

Microsoft
 –  (1 year 2 months)Redmond, WA

Senior Staff Engineer, Systems

Microvision
 –  (1 year 10 months)Redmond, WA
• Currently leading a cross-functional team in the design and development of the 3rd generation PicoP® system, including system requirements, product definition and program schedule.
• Forming relationships with new suppliers and customers through technical engagement around next generation products.
*****
Microsoft Hololense Site & video

Related article on Business Insider


In Time Magazine

Related article from Forbes




















"Interesting gaming image that show a potential "expanded living room."

Well, followers of Microvision know how this can happen.

Our Second totally new product... bringing the experience into the room. Place your digital content into your world. We're not talking Virtual reality. we're talking beyond digital borders.. beyond screens Windows holographic.

Beyond the screen ... windows holographic... more immersive ways to play...

"from the little screens to the big screens... to no screens at all."


Hololense  available in the windows 10 timeframe ..... 





Near Eye displays summary


Microsoft Head mounted display patent that mentions MVIS

A patent from 2012...

"....That said, we're unreasonably excited that a new Microsoft patent for a "laser-scanning virtual image display" could actually point to plans for the company to jump into the world of virtual reality gaming..."

Another Patent ...... 


REFERENCED BY
Citing PatentFiling datePublication dateApplicantTitle
US7053519 *Mar 29, 2002May 30, 2006Microsoft CorporationElectrostatic bimorph actuator
US7888626May 23, 2006Feb 15, 2011Qinetiq LimitedCoded aperture imaging system having adjustable imaging performance with a reconfigurable coded aperture mask
US7923677Feb 6, 2007Apr 12, 2011Qinetiq LimitedCoded aperture imager comprising a coded diffractive mask
US7969639Feb 6, 2007Jun 28, 2011Qinetiq LimitedOptical modulator
US7978189 *Oct 1, 2010Jul 12, 2011Microvision, Inc.Integrated photonics module and devices using integrated photonics modules
US7986315Oct 1, 2010Jul 26, 2011Microvision, Inc.Integrated photonics module and devices using integrated photonics modules
US8017899Feb 6, 2007Sep 13, 2011Qinetiq LimitedCoded aperture imaging using successive imaging of a reference object at different positions
US8035085Feb 6, 2007Oct 11, 2011Qinetiq LimitedCoded aperture imaging system
US8068680Feb 6, 2007Nov 29, 2011Qinetiq LimitedProcessing methods for coded aperture imaging
US8073268Feb 6, 2007Dec 6, 2011Qinetiq LimitedMethod and apparatus for coded aperture imaging
US8089672 *Dec 19, 2008Jan 3, 2012Asml Netherlands B.V.Array element device control method and apparatus
US8229165Jul 27, 2007Jul 24, 2012Qinetiq LimitedProcessing method for coded aperture sensor
US8355013Jun 10, 2011Jan 15, 2013Microvision, Inc.Integrated photonics module and devices using integrated photonics modules