Will the new iPod include a pico-projector from Microvision?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. But we're not sure if Microvision will be able to provide Apple with the projector modules they need. First of all, Apple will require a huge amount of modules, and we do not think anyone can supply Microvision with enough green lasers. Second, Microvision's projector modules are still very expensive. The Show-WX projector costs over $500, and an embedded module is likely to cost over $100. Still, we might be happily surprised... another option of course is for Apple to use a different pico-projector technology such as DLP or LCoS. via Benzinga
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Not gonna happen
This sounds like a rumor spread just to raise the Microvision shares. There is no way Apple would include a product that would have an embedded module that costs that much. It would either force them to raise the price of the iPod by at least $200 or for them to take a significant loss on each iPod. This is not how apple works with outside vendors.
Also, considering that Apple always waits on someone else to be first with the hardware and then come out with the "right" software, also makes it highly unlikely.
Iphone and Not Ipod
Iphone with embedded projectors can endure the cost of the projectors and not Ipods as not only with projector make it bit more bulky but it will increase its price which has already hit the rock bottom
Not so sure about that...
Demand for Pico Projectors is growing, and Apple is going to listen eventually. If it comes out today, then Microvision is the the only (best) choice available (and the $100 price tag of an embedded module would most likely come down for the bulk orders needed by Apple).
If they wait until a later release, then there are some other laser pico manufacturers who are almost there with the quality that Microvision has.
As expected...no pico for Apple
Of course Apple will eventually have a pico projector...but I highly doubt it will be MV. I say this due to cost, power consumption and image quality.
Cost: The price for the MV pico is not likely to come down under $100 for quite some time. This is mainly due to laser costs that are still well above $100 in significant volumes (To get down to the required $25 projector cost the laser must be sub $15) and will take a few years to get there. Even though several companies have promised lower costs...they have yet to deliver and when questioned they do a song and dance for an answer.
Efficiency: Currently the MV pico consumes ~2W for the laser for at best, 10 lm to the screen (by law they cannot go higher for safety reasons with their laser). This doesn't even include the ASIC and the power consumption of the scanning mirror. Several LCoS picos have this beat already.
Image quality: Worse than most of the non-laser pico's out today (LED/LCoS based) including DLP. They have speckle problems that they have promised to fix since '06 and still cannot get true WVGA resolution to read text.
This combination means that Apple is much more likely to go after a different Pico solution when they do decide to include an embedded projector in their offerings.