The Viewsonic iPod Projector: Must Do Better January 10, 2007

READ MORE Gadgets , Home Entertainment , Peripherals , Portable Media

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It had to happen. With everything else getting an iPod dock, it was only a matter of time before some company added one to a projector. Viewsonic has obliged with its high definition DLP projector, the PJ258D.

The addition of the ViewDock means you can transfer anything on your iPod to the big screen “without the need for a computer,” the company said. You just need the computer to get it on there in the first place.

The PJ258D is very portable, weighing in at less than 2KG, but it’s hardly going to win any viewing awards with a native resolution of 1024x768, no HDMI input and not even a set of component inputs.

Brightness is a respectable 2,000 Lumens but 2000:1 contrast these days is well below par. So, it’s a standard resolution projector with low-end specs for around £600. However, that iPod dock will probably ensure a healthy rush of early sales. It looks like an opportunity wasted to me.-Martin Lynch

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iPhone: Very Small. Very Cool. Very Expensive January 10, 2007

READ MORE Digital Audio , Gadgets , Home Entertainment , Mobile phones , Peripherals , Portable Media , Smartphones , Software , Wireless

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The world’s smallest ever surprise took place yesterday when Apple finally announced the iPhone, which will ship in the US in June. As expected, it’s a good looking wee thing boasting just one button - a novel idea for a phone - and a big 3.5in display.

It’s a phone, an iPod and an Internet comms tool in one, according to Apple, where all of your applications can be controlled using your fingers on the touch screen and some whiz-bang software from Apple.

It’s really skinny too at 0.5in, sports a 2-mega pixel camera and has a battery life of five hours for continuous blabbing to your girlfriend, which jumps to 15 hours if you are using it for listening to your tunes. There was also a first with Visual Voicemail, a feature that will let you choose which voicemails to listen to first. Internet sites visited also looked a lot like they do on your computer screen, which would be a nice change.

There will be two versions, 4GB and 8GB, which will cost $499 (£260) and $599 (£310). Altogether now: Ouch. Still, it’s not launching over here until 2008 so there’s plenty of time to save. Don’t expect that price to fall anytime soon since Apple is expected to give Cisco - owners of the iPhone trademark - a big bag of cash today or tomorrow for nicking it.- Martin Lynch

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InFocus Wants Gamers To Play Big January 10, 2007

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Anyone that has ever hooked up their PS2 or Xbox 360 player to a home cinema projector knows how hard it is to go from 8ft gaming back to a 32in TV. The problem is that projectors are generally too expensive for most people.

Epson saw a niche in the market not so long with its Moviemate, an integrated DVD player/projector unit that allowed you to hook up your gaming system too.

Now, projector specialist InFocus has decided to get in on the action with its Play Big IN1, formerly known as Gonzo. The unit is not what you’d call pretty but it has been designed to give gamers that big gaming experience without breaking the bank.

It will ship in the US for under $500 in Q2 which means the UK can expect to see it a little later for around £350-400. For that, you get a projector which is detachable from the base unit, which houses the inbuilt DVD player. It’s designed to be used up to 10 ft from your wall/screen and supply will supply an image size of around 70-80ins. Its brightness is 500 Lumens, there’s a contrast ratio of 1500:1 and the best bit is a mirror attachment that will allow you [or your kids] to watch movies or play games on the ceiling.

Lionel Richie had it right all along.-Martin Lynch

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