Microvision

Microvision announced today that it's opening its web store for US customers - who can now buy the Show WX laser (LBS) pico projector. The Show WX standard edition will cost $549 and will ship on March 24th. The Show WX offers 848x480 resolution and 10 lumens, and it's small and light (only 122 grams). The image is always in focus, of course, being a laser projector!

Microvision will also offer a limited edition Show WX. This will include a personalized splash screen bearing the name of its owner, SHOWWX with 'Limited Edition' insignia, certificate of authenticity and a SHOWWX VGA dock plus other accessories not included with the Standard Edition. The price is $999, and these projectors will start shipping today.

Asia Optical is set to launch new LED-based DLP pico-projector modules. They have already landed contract orders for embedded pico-projectors for digital cameras.

Asia Optical has been supplying pico-projector modules for Microvision's Show WX, and they expect to ship 200,000-250,000 projectors to microvision in 2010.

Asia Optical is bullish on pico-projectors: they expect to ship 8 million pico-projector modules for mobile phones in 2011. In 2010 they plan to ship only 100,000... Asia Optical has been supplying pico-projector modules for Microvision's Show WX, and the expect to ship 200,000-250,000 projectors to microvision in 2010. 

Yesterday we reported that Microvision's weapon-style-controller has got a lot of hype, and they are considering making it into a real product. And soon. CrunchGear has got a chance to actually play with this setup, and they are very excited about it, especially because of the auto-focus and no 'lag'. "It's Awesome", as they say.

The controller is basically using Microvision's LBS Show WX projector mounted on a gun-styled controller, that can be wireless (the demo above uses wires, though, as the wireless setup is not perfect yet).

Via CrunchGear (with lot's of photos)

Remember Microvision and Intel's new weapon-styled game controller that includes their laser projector? It created quite a hype, and now Microvisions' CEO says that they are considering turning that into a product earlier than expected.

Their CEO also say that they have got follow-up orders for the Show WX from 2 of their customers (currently they ship to Vodafone spain, Uniden and Mint). But unfortunately they haven't got enough green lasers from Corning- supply have been low because of technical issues at Corning. Corning expects to fix those issues by March 2010, and in any case Microvision has added another supplier (OSRAM) which will also start shipping by March. Hopefully this will solve the issue.

Finally Microvision hopes to start shipping samples of their embedded PicoP engine by Q2 2010. This means that we can expect real products (mobile phones, cameras, etc.) at around Q2 2011.

Here's the full interview:

Microvision say they will launch a US campaign for the Show WX pico projector in March 2010. They will also introduce it in additional customer channels during 2010.

Pachi “Peb” Esquíroz has bought a Show WX pico projector from Vodafone Spain, and has published the first user-review of the projector. It's in Spanish, and very extensive (he has posted 73 photos of the projector!). He's happy with the image quality - "in total darkness, the images are stunning and spectacular, and they are also good when there's a little light". He also says that the battery life is good (although he wants an option to add an external one...) and obviously he's happy that it's always focused...

Intel and Microvision are a showing a new game-controller that includes Microvision's laser pico projector engine. The weapon-styled hand held game controller projects life-size video images on walls, ceilings and floors. This creates a 'realistic virtual combat experience' according to Intel. The game players can experience "an immersive 360-degree feel".

The new controller prototyped is demonstrated at the Intel's Extreme Masters pc gaming tournament in Edmonton, Alberta, Canada on Friday, Dec. 11 through Sunday, Dec. 13.

A few weeks ago, Microvision said that a "leading mobile phone operator" will start to sell their Show WX projector. Now we learn that the operator is Vodafone Spain. The projector costs 289 euroes (although some of this can be redeemed using their points program), and it will also be marketed together with the Nokia Mini N97.

Via Microvision

Microvision says they plan to sell 6.7 million shares at $3 each, to raise $21.5 million. The shares fell more than 20% (to close at $3.27).

Via the Seattle Business Journal