Projector PMP

There are reports that Apple's new iPod will include a pico-projector, made by Microvision. Microvision's shares have jumped 10% on a large volume. But is that really likely?

We know that Apple are thinking about pico-projectors: over the past years they have filed several patents related to pico-projector systems and embedded projectors for iPods/iPhones and Macbooks. Using a focus-free laser based pico-projector is obviously great.

AAXA has lowered the price of their P2 pico-projector, and now it costs $299 over at Amazon.com (down from $319). The P2 offers 800x600 resolution at 33 lumens, 1GB of memory on board, microSD slot, VGA connector and stereo speakers.

Buy the P2 now for $299.

Samsung's new pico-projector, the SP-H03 is now available for pre-order in the US for $299. It will ship soon, although we do not know when exactly. The H03 is a DLP WVGA (854x480) 30 lumens pico projector with 1GB of internal memory and a microSD slot (supporting movies, Office documents and PDFs). Ports include VGA, USB and Composite.

Pre-order the SP-H03 now for $299, over at Amazon.com.

Favi has recently announced a couple of pico-projectors, the B1-LED-PICO and the E1-LED-PICO. The B1 (aimed for business use) is now shipping, and it costs just $297 (it was supposed to cost $399). We hope this is not a mistake over at Amazon. The B1 has a 800x600, 35 Lumens LCoS light engine with 1Gb of internal memory (and a microSD card slot). It supports music, video and photos files. Connectors include AV, VGA and mini USB. It's rather heavy at 450 grams.

The E1 (the "entertainment" projector) is still not shipping but is now available for pre-order (should be released July 14th). We hope this is not The price on that one is still $297, but this will probably drop as the B1 is the better projector. The E1 supports 640x480 resolution at 15 lumens, and weights just 113 grams. It includes VGA, composite and miniUSB connectors. It is powered by the supplied AC adapter, or four AA batteries (up to four hours of consecutive use).

Sean Cabezas, a student designer from the Parsons school for design, designed hand bags that have pico-projectors inside them. The projectors illuminate the sides of the bags and also provides a visual experience for anyone lucky enough to cross the path of the bag's fashionable user. Sean used 3M's MPro-150 pico-projectors. He designed two bags, with one of them projecting downwards so that users can "express themselves by illuminating their steps with a changing, customized walkway".

The MPro-150 features 640x480 resolution at 15 lumens, built-in memory (1Gb) and removable micro SD card (it comes with a 2Gb SD card). It supports Office documents, PDFs and Audio/Video files. The Mpro-150 costs $346. Read our full review here.

3M has won a couple of Edison Awards, one of them for their mobile projection technology as used in the MPro-150 pico projector. The MPro-150 features 640x480 resolution at 15 lumens and contains built-in memory (and microSD slot) from which it can play back movies, photos and office documents.

3M Mpro-150

The Mpro-150 is available for $346. Read our full review, we're also very impressed with this pico projector...

Aiptek has just slashed the price of their V20 pico-projector by $50, from $350 to $299.99. The V20 is an LCoS pico-projector (640x480, 15 lumens) with internal memory (2GB) and a micro-SD card slot, from which it can display movies, photos and presentations. It has a RCA and VGA in, and an optional Apple cable for iPods and iPhones.

Aiptek V20