One of the new 3D projectors from Panasonic is the PT-AE7000U. This device comes with a 300000:1 contrast ratio, 2000 ANSI lumens, and full HD (1920 x 1080) resolution. Today, Tech 2 released their review of this particular device. One thing they note is that the projector is rather large. This might discourage anyone who is looking for a travel projector or anyone looking to mount the projector in tight conditions. One feature the writers liked was the built in testing feature that helps calibrate the projector to its optimal settings. The image quality was superb and the writers didn’t have any problems or complaints. They even stated the image as being flawless while playing 1080p HD content. The final verdict the writers made was, “The Panasonic PT-AE7000 is available in India at an MRP of Rs. 2,50,000. The projector is classy in design and although a tad on the larger side, can still compliment a person’s home. Alternatively, if one needs it for an office, then this model will ideally suit their need as well. When it comes to features, there are very few projectors that offer the same amount of attributes, as this one. With a whole lot of Panasonic features thrown in, such as Viera link, an eco-mode and the ability to calibrate the settings to the minutest of details, one could not have asked for more. When it comes to the performance of the projector, this model is head and shoulders above any other that we have tested in the recent past. With the case of HD videos, the playback quality is very good and the overall viewing experience leaves a lasting memory.”

[via Tech 2]

Barco is proud to announce today that their leading Swedish cinema chain, SF Bio has selected Barco’s digital cinema projectors for its conversion to digital. Barco will install their DP2K and DP4K projectors for 244 screens throughout 35 cinemas across the country. The projectors will be able to display both 2D and 3D movies with impressive image quality. “We welcome about 15 million moviegoers each year,” comments Per Wermelin, technical manager at SF Bio. “Our ambition is to offer and develop the best film and theater experiences for all of them. Converting to digital is our way of giving our customers access to the latest digital and 3D movies. After months of comparing various offers, we decided to sign up with Barco. Its projectors deliver high-quality DLP images and have for SF Bio the lowest total cost of ownership, a benefit that will help us save money in the long run.”

[via Barco]

The Acer H9500BD projector is one of the company’s newest home theater projectors. It comes with 2000 ANSI lumens, full HD (1920 x 1080) resolution, and a 50000:1 contrast ratio. Today, the writers from PC Magazine released their review of this particular device. The first thing the writers liked was the low retail price, which is set at just under $1700. This makes the projector affordable for almost any home theater enthusiast. The projector includes 3D capabilities, which the writers praised, but they also stated that there was significant crosstalk at times. Crosstalk is a typical problem with 3D projectors and is the result of images intended for one eye can be seen by the other. This often creates a double image or a blurred effect. In the end, the writers concluded by stating, “The Acer H9500BD home entertainment projector delivers 1080p 2D and 3D plus such niceties as lens shift and a 1.5x zoom at a notably low price, but with some minor image quality issues.”

[via PC Magazine]

One of the new projectors that will be releasing this year is the Panasonic PT-AH1000 projector. This device comes with 2800 ANSI lumens, full HD (1920 x 1080) resolution, and a 50000:1 contrast ratio. The writers from Trusted Reviews were happy to unveil their preview of this device. The projector is suppose to be a home theater model and is targeted toward casual users who would like a big screen playing in the background. The high brightness level allows the device to play in brightly lit rooms with almost no problems. Another great feature is the low retail price, which is considerably lower than other high-end models that share similar features. The writers were concerned that the projector looks like a business projector, but after looking at the features and screen settings, those worries were put to rest quickly. One of the last comments the writers said was, “With ‘lifestyle’ projectors like the AH1000, adaptability really is king. And on that basis, Panasonic’s clever new model has the potential to reign supreme over the upcoming summer sport (Olympics, Euro footie etc) extravaganza.”

[via Trusted Reviews]

Carmike Cinemas is a leading digital cinema and 3D motion picture exhibitor. Today, the company announced that on March 1st, they will reveal their newest entertainment complex in the Foothills Mall located at the intersection of State Highway 321 and U.S. Highways 129 and 411 in Maryville. The theater come with 12 new screens and will be able to seat over 2300 guests. One of the theaters will be the company’s acclaimed “BIGD” auditorium, which provides a wall to wall screen and stadium like seating. The theater is capable of displaying both 2D and 3D content and has been fitted with a QSC Digital audio system that has a 7.1 speaker array with 16 channels and the ability to upgrade. “The success of 3-D releases for features like ‘Avatar,’ ‘Cars 2,’ ‘Transformers: Dark of the Moon,’ and the record-breaking re-launch of “The Lion King in 3D,’ proves that audiences are excited about and enjoy the new DIGITAL experience, and are demanding it,” notes Mr. Passman. “These early successes will no doubt persuade producers to release more movies in this format, and with the “BIGD” experience – in either 3-D or 2-D DIGITAL – Carmike has the full capability to provide our audiences with the technology and total luxury that brings theatergoing to a new level.”

[via Businesswire]

Aiptek unveiled today two new pico projectors that will be joining their lineup soon. The MobileCinema i20 and MobileCinema i50S are both designed specifically to work with the Apple iPhone. Both projectors are stated to have a Q1080p full HD (960 x 540) resolution. The i20 is a clip on device that connects to the iPhone and allows the device to display up to a 50” screen. The i50S is a sleeve for the projector and can also double as a protective case. It is said to be much brighter than the i20 and comes with 50 ANSI lumens. It also uses DLP display technology for better image quality. Unfortunately right now the specifications are limited. However, the i20 and i50S are expected to officially release in March and April, respectively.

[via Ecoustics]

Last year, Samsung announced that they were going to release a new projector phone called the Galaxy Beam. Today, the company announced that this device will be on display this week at Mobile World Congress 2012. The projector phone is a little more powerful than previously announced and comes with 15 ANSI lumens and a 640 x 360 resolution. The phone also has a 4 inch LCD display and comes with an 8GB memory and a 1Ghz dual-core CPU. It runs on Android 2.3 Gingerbread and even comes with a digital camera/video recorder. There is still no word yet on a release date or a retail price. “GALAXY Beam provides mobile freedom, enabling a unique shared experience around digital content for everyone-anywhere and instantly-from a smartphone as slim and portable as any on the market,” said JK Shin, President of IT & Mobile Communications Division at Samsung Electronics.

[via Engadget]

The Optoma PT105 projector is the company’s latest projector designed for gamers. It is capable of displaying a 1000:1 contrast ratio, 75 ANSI lumens, and an 854 x 480 resolution. Today, the writers from Gamers Daily news released a review about the PT105. The first thing they note is that this device is not intended to replace your home theater system. The lumens are fairly low and the resolution even lower than the standard resolution for videos. The main aspect about this projector is the use of LED lamps, which are more economical and last a lot longer. Unfortunately the lamps provide a low brightness level that is only really good for using in dark rooms. The writers were happy to see the projector’s connection panel, which includes HDMI, RGB, s-video, and a composite connection. In the end, the writers concluded by stating, “Overall, I am not all that impressed with the Optoma PlayTime PT 105 projector. While it does have a low price point, it also has limited functionality and at 75 lumens requires dark areas in order to be clearly visible. On a sunlit day in the office it was all but washed out while on an overcast day it was fine. For the size of the picture and the limited functionality, I would rather invest in a flat panel display that could also get TV or connect to the Internet.”

[via Gamers Daily News]

One of the soon to be released projectors from Sharp is the XV-Z30000. This home theater projector is capable of displaying 1600 ANSI lumens, full HD (1920 x 1080) resolution, and a 50000:1 contrast ratio. Today, the writers from CNET Australia got the opportunity to preview this device before it released next month. The writers stated that the projector is impressive, especially while displaying 3D content. They stated that the projector’s lamp is higher than average, which helps balance the fact that the 3D glasses dim the image. Another highlight during the preview was the connection panel that includes dual HDMI ports and several other options. Overall the writers were happy with the performance and didn’t give any complaints about the device.

[via CNET Australia]

Last year STMicroelectronics and bTendo announced that they partnered together in order to develop the world’s smallest MEMS-based laser pico projector. Today, ST was happy to announce that they will finally be showing their new smart-phone ready pico projector engine. The company will be displaying the device at MWC 2012, which will be held next week. The specs about this device are unknown at the moment, but the company did state that the module will be less than 2.5cm3 in volume and below 6mm in height. ST also stated that consumers could start seeing the engine integrated into projector phones as early as next year.

[via Pico Projector Info]