Tag Archives: Projectors

By Andrew Liszewski

Today SANYO announced their excitingly-named PLC-WL2503 ultra-short throw projector which allows for interactivity on any surface, no longer requiring a dedicated whiteboard full of sensors. Instead, a camera module located on the front of the projector is able to determine the location of the included IR transmitter-equipped pen or pointer used by the presenter when they press on the projected surface. This positional data is transmitted back to the PC via a USB connection on the projector, allowing them to interact with what’s being presented.

As for the projector’s other deets: It’s able to project an 80-inch, XGA (1280×800) resolution image from a distance of just 34 inches from a wall. Which not only makes it ideal for small spaces, but it also allows presenters to stand in front of the projection without having to constantly look into the blinding beam. And since it’s designed to be used so close to a wall, its 2500 lumens should produce a particularly bright image. Other notable feathers in the PLC-WL2503′s cap include full networking for remote monitoring and operation, an easy on/off function which powers on the projector as soon as it’s plugged in, and a late January price tag of $1695.99.

[ SANYO PLC-WL2503 Ultra-Short Throw Interactive Projector ]

By Andrew Liszewski

While not as pocket-friendly as some of their other models, AAXA Technologies’ new M1 Ultimate Micro Projector is still pretty damn small, particularly considering its capabilities and price point. We’ve reviewed a couple of the company’s pico projectors in the past, and while the P1 featured a usable 12 lumens of brightness, the L1 boosted that to 20 lumens which produced very nice results in a suitably dark room. However, if you’re willing to accept a bit of a compromise when it comes to extreme portability, the M1 Ultimate Micro’s 75 lumens should produce some really nice results, even with the lights on.

The M1 Ultimate Micro is still ridiculously small, don’t get us wrong, it just won’t be squeezing into your shirt pocket. That’s ok though since the 75 lumens is also accompanied by an 800×600 resolution, 1GB of on-board memory and a built-in SD card reader, a new aluminum housing with touchpad controls and an included tripod making it easy to prop-up and aim. It’s also currently available for just $299, which makes it a tempting alternative to larger briefcase sized models for those who travel.

[ M1 Ultimate Micro Projector ]

By Andrew Liszewski

I’ve got a bit of a soft spot for pico projectors, but having reviewed a couple of AAXA’s offerings in the past I’ve noticed that the price tags haven’t exactly been dropping over the years like I’d hoped. And I have to assume that AAXA feels the same way since today they introduced their new P1 Jr. pico projector which currently sells for a very reasonable $119.99.

It’s billed as the “world’s smallest LCOS pico projector with onboard MP4 player” and from the product shots it definitely looks the part, but keep in mind that the old ‘you get what you pay for’ adage applies the same to pico projectors as it does to everything else. The 10 lumen LED light source means you’ll really only be using it in a dark room, and given the size of the projector, the compact rechargeable battery inside is only good for about an hour of use. Still, it’s got an SD card slot allowing you to natively load up and play back multimedia files and breakout cables allow you to connect it to an external AV source like an iPhone or a DVD player.

[ AAXA Technologies P1 Jr. Pico Projector ]