I’m not sure if you know but believe it or not there are several myths that most people take as fact when deciding which projector is best for them. Capitol Sales Company looked at the top ten myths associated with projectors and decided to set the record straight. One of the more common myths that people take for fact is that “Bigger is better.” Most customers will tell you that you need the biggest screen and the biggest projector because it’s the best. That is simply anything but true. Every room is different and need a projector and screen that fits the room. That might not always be the huge 300 inch diagonal screen. Other myths discussed include “Brighter is better”, “Any room for an in-home theater will work”, “All sources will look equally great”, and “My customer should pick their projector first and then decide what room they want me to install it in.”

[via Home Toys]

Sony will be releasing a new home theater projector next month and it will have the latest in to feature SXRD display technology. The VPL-HW10 is a good balance of high contrast and low brightness. It features only a 1000 ANSI lumens, but the 30000:1 contrast ratio keeps the picture nice and bright as well as displays rich black levels. The HW10 will also have full HD (1920 x 1080) resolution for the best display possible. This model will also be fitted with the renowned BRAVIA Engine 2 to deliver 8 stage image processing. The HW10 also comes with dual HDMI inputs for any occasion as well as your basic RBG, s-video, and composite connections. The projector is also showing a quiet 22 dB noise level to allow for an almost silent performance. Unfortunately the actual release date has not yet been announced, but it is expected to retail for $3000.

[via Sony Insider]

 John Horton is the landlord of The New Inn in Walsall, England. He is also owner of the local pub that the locals call the Pretty Bricks. Recently Horton has been suffering with low sales due to a local smoking ban that prohibits smoking in all public establishments. Horton realized that the ban was going to effect his business, but he never it would be as bad as it is. He decided to take a strange approach to the problem and turned the second floor of the pub into a cinema. He shows a combination of old and new movies including some classics like Casablanca and the Marx Brothers. This new addition to the Pretty Bricks has actually started to increase the amount of guests to the pub. Horton commented to say, “People may want to come to watch a film in the pub and enjoy the atmosphere with a pint of real ale.”

[via Red Orbit]

If you are looking to design a Home Theater for your house there are a few things you need to consider. The writers at Home Toys have created a list of the top ten things that you need to know before building your own home theater. The list includes some of the basics like knowing what wires are needed and what you intend to do with them. You also need to consider where your projector will be mounted to give you the best and biggest picture possible. Will the projector be ceiling mounted or on the table? They also mention that the positioning of the seats is one of the top five things to consider. If you have your seats to close to the screen, the people who sit in them will either have to strain their necks to see or they will be in the projection path and cause a shadow on the screen. The number 1 field you need to consider size of the screen. They recommend that the bigger you can make the theater screen the better the picture will be. However you need to make sure you have the space for the projector to display the image you are wanting. They also recommend that you balance the video with a good audio system. If you have a big screen you need a quality speaker system.

[via Home Toys]

At the beginning of the week we introduced you to the Touchkit Run System. This device is similar to the Microsoft Surface system but with a lot less capabilities. It uses multi-touch technology to allow the user to draw and pain onto the kit’s 28 x 20 inch frameless screen. Recently, the developers released a video that gives an up close look on what the Touchkit Run system is capable of.  The developers also say that the system is written in the C++ computer language, which means any programmer that knows C++ is welcome to alter the system to include their own programs. The Touchkit system retails for $1580, which is about 1/8th the price the Microsoft Surface retails for. However the low price also means you need to supply your own projector and PC.

[via Gizmodo]

Are you one of those people who just have one to many HD products and not enough screens to show them all? Octava has recently announced the release of their latest solution, the 4×2 HDMI Cross Switch. This device is able to accept up to 4 HD inputs and allows you to switch the output between 2 HD outputs. This is good product for anyone who wants to save their projector for the really important events, like football season or movie watching with the kids. The Cross Switch allows you to connect all your devices to the TV for daily use and then switch to a projector or another TV in another room for other occasions. This product also eliminates the need to pull and move wires each time you want to switch between viewing devices. The 4×2 HDMI Cross Switch is currently available through Octava and retails for $274. You can also order the switch with HDMI or HDMI to DVI cables for an extra charge.

[via Ecoustics]

Sanyo has recently announced a new home theater projector, the PLV-Z60. This model is designed for dim home theaters with only 1200 ANSI lumens. It also has a 10000:1 contrast ratio which helps generate rich, deep black levels. The Z60 is able to display an HD (1280 x 720) resolution and can create a 100 inch diagonal image from less than 10 feet away. The Z60 also comes with a wide variety of screen adjustment features including horizontal and vertical lens shift, keystone adjustment and up to a 2x optical zoom. The Z60 also has a variety of inputs that include dual HDMI, dual RGB/component inputs, an s-video, and a composite video connection. The projector is also very quiet with a 22 dB noise level in eco mode. The PLV-Z60 looks like it will be a good home theater projector, but we won’t know for sure until its debut in September. Fortunately it will only retail for $1295, which is not a bad price if it is as good as it sounds.

[via Market Watch]

Epson offers an extensive array of award-winning image capture and image output products for the consumer, business, and photography and graphic arts markets. Yesterday we told you about the release of their newest projector, the EX100. Today we have the official release from Epson. The projector features 2700 ANSI lumens, a 400:1 contrast ratio, and a native XGA (1024 x 768) resolution. The EX100 is designed to be portable, weighing only 3.5 lbs and stands only 3 inches high. The EX100 has your standard RGB, s-video, composite and stereo connections, and comes with adapters to allow for component and RCA audio connections. The EX100 is currently on sale through Epson’s website and retails for just under $1000.

 EPSON ADDS New UlTRA-Portable, XGA MODEL TO AWARD-WINNING PROJECTOR LINE FOR business and MOBILE Presenters

Epson EX100 Projector Delivers 2,700 Lumens of Color Light Output in a Petite 3.5 Pound Package

LONG BEACH, Calif. – Aug. 26, 2008 – Epson, the number-one selling projector brand worldwide, today announced the Epson EX100 projector, a 3.5 pound ultra-portable multimedia projector that offers 2,700 lumens of white and color light output, XGA resolution for razor-sharp image quality and detail, and Epson’s latest 3-Chip 3LCD technology.  Designed for business and mobile professionals who require a high-quality, feature-rich and lightweight projector that can be easily taken from location to location, the Epson EX100 is priced at $999 (estimated street price) and is available at OfficeMax and other leading retail locations.

“The EX100 offers the ideal combination of performance and size for entrepreneurs, mobile road warriors and business professionals alike,” said Carrie Brown, product manager, Epson.  “Whether showing off multimedia imagery or slideshow presentations, customers will benefit from the ease-of-use, low total cost of ownership, and industry-leading image quality with true-to-life color that is inherent in Epson’s award-winning projectors and 3LCD technology.”

Featuring Epson’s latest high-aperture, 3-Chip 3LCD optical engine for amazing color and detail and powerful presentations, the EX100 delivers best-in-class image quality in any setting.  The projector is easy to set up and operate, and offers versatile connectivity options, including the ability to project high-definition video.  Designed to offer the ultimate combination of brightness and image

clarity in a lightweight package, the Epson EX100 projector ships with a convenient carrying case and component video adapter, and offers many features that enable professionals to deliver high-quality multimedia presentations:

• HD-Ready:  Supports high-definition video through various connectivity options (including component video via an included VGA-to-component video adapter); supports HDTV (720p, 1080i)
• Instant On and Instant Off®:  Enables presenters to be up and running in only five seconds between pressing the “Power” button and the appearance of the start-up screen to avoid delays at the beginning of a presentation; powers down in four seconds allowing presenters to unplug and pack up immediately and safely without a cool-down period
• Simple Set-up and Flexible Positioning:  Features a 1.2x power zoom lens that can project a large and clear image from either long or short throw distances, and auto keystone correction for immediate and automatic image adjustment
• A/V Mute Slide:  Instantly turns off the sound and images to create a quick pause in the presentation, conserving lamp life and energy; the projector enters A/V Mute mode when the lens cover is closed and returns to normal mode automatically and immediately upon reopening the lens cover
• “Presenter View”:  Allows users to project a PowerPoint slide on the screen in “slideshow” mode, while simultaneously viewing presentation notes and operating buttons on the monitor; ideal for delivering detailed and complicated presentations that require the presenter to review notes separately from the audience
• Energy-efficiency:  Epson E-TORL® lamp technology delivers more lumens per watt than competitive technology with similar lumens specification, leading to a cost savings over time
• Security Anywhere:  Offers password protection and Kensington lock bar to guard against theft

Availability and Support

The Epson EX100 projector is currently available through national retailers, and comes with the best-in-class service and support. The EX100 includes a two-year limited warranty, Epson’s comprehensive Road Service projector replacement program (projector exchange in one business day), and Epson’s exclusive PrivateLineÒ phone support for toll-free access to technical support.

About Epson America Inc.

Epson offers an extensive array of award-winning image capture and image output products for the consumer, business, photography and graphic arts markets. The company is also a leading supplier of value-added point-of-sale (POS) printers and transactions terminals for the retail market. Founded in 1975, Epson America Inc. is the U.S. affiliate of Japan-based Seiko Epson Corporation, a global manufacturer and supplier of high-quality technology products that meet customer demands for increased functionality, compactness, systems integration and energy efficiency. Epson America Inc. is headquartered in Long Beach, Calif.

With the CEDIA Expo only a week away Digital Projection has recently announced that they will be their latest projectors from every series. Digital Projection as always provided a diverse selection of projectors including portable business projectors, home theater models, and large venue movie theater projectors. Some of the newest projectors that will be on display include the TITAN 1080p Ultra Contrast. This model features 5000 ANSI lumens and a 5000:1 contrast ratio, which is one of the highest contrast ratios Digital Projection offers. Also on display will be the iVision 30 WUXGA. This projector produces the popular 16:10 aspect ratio with the new WUXGA (1920 x 1200) which is bigger than your standard full HD (1920 x 1080) resolution. The iVision also features 3100 ANSI lumens and a 4000:1 contrast ratio. These and many more projectors will be on display at the Digital Projection booth 1036.

[via Home Toys]

Actor R.H. Thomson and Lighting Designer Martin Conboy want to organize a project that is close to their hearts as well as the hearts of thousands. They want to celebrate the end of World War I by projecting the names of the 68000 Canadians that gave their lives onto the outside walls of every Canadian provincial capital building. WWI ended almost ninety years ago. The display will last for eight nights starting November 4th. One of the reasons why Thomson wanted to organize this memorial is because he had four great uncles that died due to the war. He also thinks that the memories of WWI are starting to fade into history. “The First World War, to kids in school, is like the Battle of Hastings,” Thomson said. In addition to the memorial, the names will also be projected on the internet and will synchronized to an atomic clock that will scroll the list of names the same time they are projected onto the buildings.

[via The Star]