Mac computers and PCs are continually growing in demand. With this growth many manufacturers are starting to alter their products to make them compatible with Mac computers. Recently, InFocus announced that their projectors will be fitted with their DisplayLink support that will now support Apple computers. In the past, the DisplayLink feature was only able to work with computers that had Windows installed. The DisplayLink feature allows a user to control the display the projector is projecting through their computer via USB connection. This feature is not only quick, but also very convenient for presenters who need to be near their computer. The upgraded DisplayLink will be able to detect both Windows and Mac computer and laptops by connecting the USB cord. “InFocus continues to meet market demands, as evidenced by the release of the InFocus DisplayLink^TM Mac Driver-enabling users to create an even more collaborative and productive meeting environment through instant set up and multi-presentation options,” noted David Woolf, InFocus’ Vice President of Global Marketing. The new DisplayLink Mac Driver will be available in the new IN3108 projector that is expected to launch next month. Users can also download drivers on the InFocus website for the several existing projectors. More information about the IN3108 as it becomes available.

Projectiondesign is getting ready for ISE next week by releasing many of the new projectors they intend to display at the show. Three of those new models are part of the new F32 line that is specifically designed to perform in “harsh environments.” All three models feature DLP display technology, a 7500:1 contrast ratio, and are fitted with projectiondesign’s patented DuArch dual illumination architecture. Anders Lokke, International Marketing & Communications Manager at projectiondesign, says, “We are delighted to have made the projectors available so soon after announcing them, and are sure that they will find many admirers among our existing and new customers.” These models and many more will be on display February 3-5 at ISE.

The first model of the line is the F32 sx+. This projector features a SXGA+ (1400 x 1050) resolution, which is the lowest in the series. However, this model is also the brightest in the line, displaying 4100 ANSI lumens. The sx+ weighs a hefty 27.8 lbs, which is light enough for traveling, but not on a daily basis.

The F32 1080 is next in line, featuring 3800 ANSI lumens, and full HD (1920 x 1080) resolution. This model comes with dual HDMI inputs as well as 5BNC, a DVI-D, VGA, component, s-video, and composite input. The dual lamp system that comes with every F32 projector can be set to switch from one lamp to the second automatically. This feature extends the overall lamp life to about 5000 hours.

Last in the F32 series is the F32 wuxga projector. This model features the same 3800 ANSI lumens as the 1080 model, but this projector has also has a native WUXGA (1920 x 1080) resolution. When the F32 wuxga is set to High Brightness Mode, brightness is boosted from 3800 ANSI lumens to 5700 ANSI lumens, which makes it bright enough to display outdoors during the day time. In addition, the projector comes with both a vertical and horizontal lens shift that adds flexibility to the projector’s placement.

[via Projectiondesign]

The Berlin International Film Festival is traditionally the first big film festival of the year and brings together the largest audience for a film festival in the world. Recently Kuurne, a global leader in digital cinema projection technology, announced that they have become the sole provider of projectors during this year’s 59th celebration. The two models that they have selected to use during the festival are the Barco DP-3000 and DP-2000 projectors. “We are delighted to have Barco’s digital cinema projectors again at our disposal for the Berlinale,” says Berlinale Director Dieter Kosslick. “This is already the fourth edition we work with Barco and we know that they can give us the image quality and reliability our festival wants to give to its audience.” Both projectors feature a 2048 x 1080 resolution, a 2000:1 contrast ratio, and 3-chip DLP display technology. With several optional lenses available, these models are very versatile when it comes to placement. This year over 400 films will be viewed at the festival and will cater to over 200000 people. The festival begins on January 27th, in Belgium.

[via Barco]

The Epson Ensemble is the first product that is a basically a home theater in a box. It comes with a 100 inch screen, sound system, AV equipment, a subwoofer, a ceiling mount, and a Powerlite Home Cinema 1080 projector. Recently the writers at E-Gear got to see this system up close and release their review of it. One of the impressive features about the Ensemble is that they really condensed some of the major electrical components. For instance: the AV Controller is also a DVD player, AM/FM tuner, and a receiver with Dolby Digital 5.1, DPLIIx, and DTS decoding. Also the speakers are integrated into the projection screen and the ceiling mount. One of the downsides to this system is that even though the projector can display a native HD (1920 x 1080) resolution, the AV equipment does not support Blu-Ray disks. In order to play Blu-Ray, you will need to buy a separate player. The writers mention that the system is so tight and clean, that any user could probably set it up alone. However, Epson is gracious enough to include a custom installer group that sets up the system for you. The Powerlite Home Cinema 1080 that comes with the projector displays an impressive 1200 ANSI lumens as well as a 12000:1 contrast ratio, and full HD (1920 x 1080) resolution. The writer mentioned that the image displayed was very sharp and looked incredibly natural. The final comment made by the writer was, “This system performs the kind of aesthetic vanishing act that usually requires a lot more installation and a much pricier bottom line. All in all, the Ensemble HD experiment successfully demonstrates what A/V manufacturers can accomplish when they put their heads together and try to think outside the box…so to speak.”

[via E-Gear]

The 3M MPro110 has remained a very popular projector in the pocket projector industry. The device features 7 ANSI lumens, an 80:1 contrast ratio, and VGA (640 x 480) resolution. Recently, Mobile Magazine released their review of the projector. Their first impression was amazement as they saw for the first time, a projector that fits into a pocket. Fully charged, the projector takes no time to setup. With an internal battery pack, the projector doesn’t need a power cord, unless you plan to use the projector for longer than an hour. The projector can connect to almost any mobile device as well as any device that has a VGA or a composite connection. The writers were very impressed with this projector. The only problems they noticed were that the projector wasn’t very bright and because of its small size. Focusing the projector would be difficult. Their final verdict about the MPro110 was, “Overall, I give the projector major props for being the solution a lot of people are looking for when sharing images and entertainment. It’s a no-brainer purchase for any salesperson that shows presentations to groups of six or less. And it’s fun for practically any age range. I’m waiting for a couple competing models so I can compare and contrast the 3M’s quality, but so far for $300 I’m projecting a broad smile.”

[via Mobile Magazine]

Projectiondesign is happy to announce the release of two of their new projectors, the F80 1080 and F80 wuxga. Both of these projectors are among the many that will be on display at ISE next week. The F80 1080 and F80 wuxga are virtually identical, featuring DLP display technology and a 10000:1 contrast ratio. The only major differences between the two is that the F80 1080 features 8000 ANSI lumens, full HD (1920 x 1080) resolution, and a 16:9 aspect ratio, while the F80 wuxga displays 8500 ANSI lumens, a WUXGA (1920 x 1200) resolution, and a taller 16:10 aspect ratio. Both models are equipped with dual HMDI inputs as well as a DVI-D, VGA, composite, component, and an s-video connection. They even come with dual 12V trigger ports for motorized screen, automatic lighting, or screen covers. Both projectors are available for ordering through Projectiondesign, however; the retail price has not been released yet.

[via Broadcast Buyer]

One of the most talked about products at CES was the Samsung Show (AKA W7900) projector phone. Not only is it a projector phone, but it is also the first to be displayed by a major and highly popular manufacturer. Recently, Sean Captain from PopSci.com released a hands-on walk through of the Show to demonstrate all the wonderful features the show has to offer. The phone uses a 3.2 inch OLED touch screen for the main display. In addition to the projector, the device comes with two cameras, the 5-megapixel main camera on the back, and the VGA front camera for video calls. The projector can display about 10 ANSI lumens and a 480 x 320 resolution onto screens up to about 50 inches, diagonally. The beauty about this projector is that all the features and gadgets don’t affect the superior screen quality or the size of the phone, measuring only 2.2″ x 0.7″ x 4.4″ (W x H x D). Unfortunately, the Show will only be released in Korea right now and there is no report of it coming over to the United States.

[via PopSci.com]

It looks like New York City is going digital with their new information center, located at 53rd street and 7th Ave. Here is where you will be able to browse the city on Google maps by using interactive tables. The tables are very similar to the Microsoft Surface, but the city claims that the tables are custom made for the facility. To use the tables, guests grab an orange disk and place it on the table. Then they use the map program to find what they are looking for and how to get there. The information is saved and the orange disk becomes the key to retrieving that information on another table or the virtual model of the city in the gigantic video display. The model allows the guest to see a bird’s eye view of New York and see their saved information in a virtual 3D world. The information center was designed by WXY Architecture and Urban Design Local Projects, and is available now to locals and tourists.

[via Engadget]

The Epson Powerlite Home Cinema 1080 UB projector has been out for a while now, but it is still a high standard for home theater projectors. It features 1600 ANSI lumens, a 50000:1 contrast ratio, and full HD (1920 x 1080) resolution. Recently the writers at Audio Video Revolution got the opportunity to review the 1080 UB and see why it is one of Epson’s best. One of the first features that the writers mentioned was the manual focus rings that allow the projector to zoom and focus the picture. The 1080 UB features a 2:1 zoom lens, which allows the projector to fill a 100 inch screen, measure diagonally, from only 10 feet away. This feature is really useful for anyone who wishes to have a home theater in a small living space. One of the first problems the writes noticed was the noise that the projector created. At 31 dB, the 1080 UB can become distracting at times. The writer did note however that the projector could have been a lot louder if the projector was designed differently. Another feature that was convenient was the seven color modes that the projector can switch between. These color modes allow the projector to display images on any type of colored screen or wall and still deliver high quality images. Overall the writers were incredibly impressed by the 1080 UB as they stated, “The Epson 1080UB is a terrific machine and is a great value all around. The only real drawback is the lack of anamorphic lens support. The strange color temperatures are not much of a problem because they can easily be fixed. The unit may also run louder than other LCD projectors, but as long as it is not sitting directly over your head, it’s not overly distracting. The positives far outweigh the negatives with this projector. The breadth and wealth of setup options and the terrific picture quality for all media make this an easy recommendation.”

[via Audio Video Revolution]

At CES, Luminus Devices announced their new PT-39 chipset that composes of three individual LED chips, one red, one green and one blue, that combine to create a brightness and quality that has yet to be seen in pocket projectors. Recently the company has announced that they have worked with Texas Instruments and BenQ and will be integrating their PT-39 chipset into the BenQ GP1 pocket projector. “BenQ is revolutionizing the pocket projector industry and award-winning PhlatLight LEDs are a key in providing our customers with the industry’s best products,” said Po Su, Marketing Director at BenQ America. “Our next-generation pocket projectors are flexible, making them ideal for multiple applications like home movies and gaming, as well as meeting room demos and mobile business presentations.” The GP1 was displayed earlier this month at CES and although most details are not released yet. We do know that the projector will be able to display 100 ANSI lumens onto screens up to 80 inches, diagonally. The projector will only weigh 1.4 lbs and come with a USB connection as well as a composite, VGA, and a detachable iPod docking station. The GP1 is expected to be released sometime in March this year. More information about this projector as it becomes available.

[via Businesswire]