A number of leading projector manufacturers and technology providers have united to endorse a new international specification which will standardise the measurement of colour brightness and performance across different video projector hardware.

While black and white measurements are now fairly standard, consumers currently have no easy way of comparing how well projectors handle colour reproduction.

The Colour Brightness measurement will be measured in lumens, and take into account how brightly the three primary colours — red, blue, and green — can be produced.

Microvision, who makes light-scanning technologies for display and imaging products, will show off their latest innovation at CES this year.

Their prototype, codenamed SHOW, is a pico projector intended for mobile devices, and is based upon their PicoP display engine.

The PDA-sized, fully self-contained, battery operated, full-colour laser projector will allow images from between 12 and 100 inches in size to be projected, with the image always in focus.

If a full 1080p PowerLite Home Cinema projector isn't required, then Epson has just introduced a 720p version. It's 1,600 lumens and 10,000:1 contrast ratio, with 10-bit colour processing, and AccuCinema Colour Management, plus lens shift function.

There doesn't seem to be much other information about the projector at present — not even a picture — but it's expected to be released Stateside later this month, price to be confirmed.

(Via Engadget)

Related posts
Epson announces PowerLite Home Cinema 1080 sub $3k high definition projector
Epson aiming for one-fifth of the video projector market
Netgear launches Powerline HD Ethernet Adapter kit

SIM2 has announced its HT380 1080p high definition projector, featuring Texas Instruments' 0.95 DLP chipset, greater than 5,000:1 contrast ratio, BrilliantColor technology, 160W lamp with Unishape technology, 10-bit colour processing, upscaling and de-interlacing capabilities, and HDMI and analogue inputs.

Complete specifications aren't yet available, but it's expected to retail for around £6,500, available later this month.

SIM2 (via Hidden Wires)

Related posts
SIM2 unveils C3X 1080: smallest, lightest 3-chip DLP projector
SIM2's Domino 10 'entry-level' projector
SIM2 unveil world's most competitively priced 3DLP projector

Last week, JVC announced two new 1080p home cinema projectors. The DLA-HD100 and DLA-RS2 complement JVC's DLA-RS1 and DLA-HD1 projectors released last year.

Both boast a native contrast ratio of 30,000:1, and employ original and proprietary JVC technology in the 0.7-inch full HD D-ILA devices and optical engines.

Three D-ILA devices are used, one each for red, green and blue. The projectors also offer two HDMI 1.3 inputs, improved colour rendition by broadening the colour space, a motorised Fujinon 2x zoom lens, and customised on-screen gamma control.

They also feature V-Stretch, offering efficient projection of extra wide screen anamorphic movies.

Both are set for US launch in November, priced at around $8,000 apiece.

(Via Trusted Reviews)

Related posts
JVC DLA-HD1 LCoS 1080p projector
JVC announce new DLA-RS1 HD 1080p 15000:1 projector
JVC launch new range of ProHD camcorders

Mitsubishi has announced an upgraded replacement for its HC5000 high definition projector.

The HC6000 is a full 1080p home theatre projector offers a contrast ratio of 13,000:1, 1,000 ANSI lumens of brightness, and an improved auto iris function for quicker black to light imaging.

It also features powered lens shift and zoom, HQV high-performance video processing, 1080i-to-1080p HD deinterlacing, and a multidirectional diagonal filter to minimise jagged edges on images. It also features pixel-level detail enhancement of standard definition content and noise reduction.

Utilising 3LCD technology, the projector features inorganic LCD panels which are durable and provide a more consistent colour and tone. The lamp can provide up to 5,000 hours of use.

It will be available, at least Stateside, for under $4,000, from October.

Related posts
Mitsubishi developing a 3D Blu-ray player
Mitsubishi set to introduce laser TVs at CES
Mitsubishi unveil nine 1080p DLP rear projection TVs

Texas Instruments has shown off its latest chipset. The DarkChip 4 reportedly delivers a 30% or better increase in native contrast ratio over existing solutions.

Initially developed for the high brightness and contrast picture quality requirements of digital cinema, DarkChip 4 uses advanced mirror design lithography and other proprietary process changes to achieve the improvement.

"Using our current DLP chipsets, our customers have built some of the most competitive Home Theater products in the market, all with excellent picture quality," said Lars Yoder, vice president, DLP Front Projection Business Unit at TI. "We are proud to introduce the next generation of the DLP chip for future product implementations. It will provide our customers even more flexibility for designing projectors that can meet the needs of a wide range of markets."

DLP web site

Related posts
Texas Instruments introduces DLP .7 XGA 3 chip
Texas Instruments' BrilliantColor adoption growing
Texas Instruments unveil new .98 DLP Cinema chip

SIM2, known for its high end high definition projectors, has unveiled its latest offering.

The C3X 1080 is touted as the world's smallest, lightest, most competitively priced 1080p 3-chip DLP projector.

Done out in striking red, black, or gold casing, measuring 40cm square, and weighing 10kg, it offers the latest 0.95-inch 1080p DLP chipsets from Texas Instruments, improved all-glass optics and SIM2's proprietary ALPHAPATH light engine.

It offers full 10-bit video processing, HD scaling and deinterlacing capabilities, 1080p/24fps film mode, and advanced colour management software. It has two HDMI inputs.

Other specifications (brightness, contrast ratio, response time) aren't available at present. We'll cover it when it launches in November, with a suggested retail price of £18,000.

Related posts
SIM2's Domino 10 'entry-level' projector
SIM2 unveil world's most competitively priced 3DLP projector
SIM2 roll out HT3000E 1080p projector

Sony has launched its VPL-VW60 BRAVIA SXRD home cinema projector, boasting full 1080p support, SXRD technology offering a crisp picture, and a contrast ratio of 35,000:1. The projector uses a 200W UHP lamp rated at 1,000 lumens.

Sony's Advanced Iris 2 system can respond automatically to the overall brightness of each scene, optimising dark scenes without whitening out brighter ones.

It delivers a full 1920 x 1080 resolution with cinematic clarity and precision, thanks to its super-fine panel micro-architecture. 7µm pixels spaced just 0.35µm apart produce an image free from the ‘screen door’ pixel grid effect. It also has a low 2.5ms response time and triple SXRD ‘one panel per colour’ RGB projection.

Samsung has announced two new DLP front projectors, the full HD 1080p SP-A800B model and the SP-A400B 720p model.

The SP-A800B (pictured) features the latest 0.95" DLP chipset from Texas Instruments, with a six segment colour wheel, 10,000:1 contrast ratio, 1,000 ANSI lumens brightness, 300W lamp, 1080p (1,920 x 1,080) resolution, 24p "true film mode", two HDMI inputs plus the usual analogue connections, plus lens shift and alternate colour mode capabilities. It operates at 25dB.

The SP-A400B uses the 0.65" DLP chipset, with a five segment colour wheel, 2,500:1 contrast ratio, 2,000 ANSI lumens brightness, 200W lamp, 1,280 x 768 resolution, and BrilliantColor technology. It has just one HDMI input plus other analogue connections. It operates at 30dB.

Hopefully we'll have more, larger, images available soon.

More HD news from IFA 2007

Related posts
Samsung release the world’s largest commercially available LCD Full HD TV
Samsung to use Korean film, D-War, for HDTV promotion
Sharp files lawsuit against Samsung for infringement of LCD patents

Epson has launched its MovieMate 72 DVD projector, an all-in-one unit comprising a standard DVD player with upscaling capabilities. It also has the obligatory HDMI input for piping in your favourite games console or high definition disc player signal.

Epson claims that they've released the world's first high definition combo projector. I'll leave that claim alone, and instead focus on the specs.

It offers 720p resolution, comes with four built-in five watt speakers, and features a swivel base, wide lens shift, and wide zoom. Other stats aren't exactly forthcoming at present, except that it'll retail for $1,199 in the States.

Apparently, it's also DivX certified.

(Via Gizmodo)

Sharp has released six new home cinema projectors across a varied range of prices. All models feature digital projection capability, three speed colour wheels and sealed optics to ensure that image quality and brightness are at an optimum for a wide range of sources.

At the top of the range is the XG-PH70X, which has been designed to display large screen images with high brightness. The ultra-bright, high-resolution DLP model features a brightness rating of 5,200 ANSI lumens with a dual lamp system that that provides a constant level of high performance - even in bright rooms.

Another product destined first for Japan is Sanyo's ugly duckling LP-Z2000. It's not pretty, but it's clever, and let's face it — when a projector is producing a great picture, who really cares what it looks like?

According to the product page translation It's a 1080p LCD projector boasting a 15,000:1 contrast ratio, 1,200 lumens, 14-bit colour, up to two times zoom, and two HDMI 1.3a connectors supporting DeepColor.

Sony has launched its largest ever high-definition marketing campaign in the US, featuring Super Bowl star, Peyton Manning, and NASCAR’s Dale Earnhardt. It centres on its high-definition DNA, which it's coined ‘HDNA’.

The campaign focuses on how HD products in a variety of categories come together to create the ultimate entertainment experience. Sony can include professional cameras and projectors used by Hollywood studios, BRAVIA HDTVs, Blu-ray players, camcorders, notebook computers and digital cameras in its array of HD devices.

Infocus has announced two new additions to its ‘Play Big’ range of high-definition projectors. The IN82 and IN81 are Full HD 1080p designs that claim to combine cutting edge performance with affordable prices.

The IN82 uses the latest DLP DarkChip3 technology with BrilliantColor from Texas Instruments. It features a native 4000:1 contrast ratio that can be boosted to 12,000:1 using the iris. And, with a brightness rating of 1,500 ANSI lumens it’s almost twice as bright as typical home cinema designs – which means you can watch decent sized, accurate images even in ambient daylight.

BenQ has announced the launch of three new high-definition projectors with competitive price tags in the UK market.

The W500, W9000 and W10000 models offer a flexible range that accommodates all types of high-definition users to recreate a big screen experience from your front room.

SIM2 rarely ventures into budget territory but the company’s latest Domino 10 HD projector features an attractive specification for an affordable price.

The model’s 1280x768 resolution is fully compatible with 720p high-definition content and will also display 1080p images – although they will be downscaled. It uses the latest 0.65in chipset from Texas Instruments and features Brilliant Colour Image technology for cutting edge colour reproduction.

Following our announcement of 'the world's smallest Full HD projector', projectiondesign's unusually named M25, we have more details of its UK release.

The second-generation 1080p design features an impressive array of state-of-the-art technology and features to make the most of high-definition images using Blu-ray, HD-DVD, HDTV and even upscaled DVDs.

ThemeScene has a fine pedigree with home cinema projectors that offer high quality performance at reasonable prices. The company has announced details of a UK version of its HD80 DLP projector.

It's a full 1080p projector that can display all high-definition formats from HDTV to next generation video sources like Blu-ray and HD DVD. There's also a full range of picture enhancing technologies that will "faithfully reproduce the cinematographer's large screen vision in a home environment," according to the company.

A £13,000 price tag might not seem particularly cost conscious but SIM2 claim its latest home cinema projector, the C3X-E is the most competitively priced 3DLP model on the market.

SIM2 also claim it's the world's smallest and lightest 3DLP design, which is roughly a third of the size and 75% lighter than any of its competitors.