This is one of the most exciting press releases we’ve seen to date.  The industry is really starting to move forward now.  And it looks like the competition is starting to yeild the smartphone high volume market to TI and their DLP technology.   The Samsung made Android has just announced their Galaxy phone will have a built  in projector!  It’s based on DLP technology.  Here is one of the articles about the Android with a projector!  This basically tells us that TI has managed to bring their DLP chip down in size, power consumption and price.  This is the first true smart phone with a built-in pico projector.  It is only 15 mm thick.  Amazing.  It is going to be exciting to follow this market from infancy to maturity. 

As for the other competitors in pico projection - we continue to see MicroVision struggle to get a product placement with laser.  LCOS which seemed to have an inside track from the start is falling behind.  Micron buying Displaytech was a positive event.  However, we are not seeing any traction in the market for LCOS.  3M has retrenched their LCOS micro projector as  a stand alone device targetted towards the business user.  There is plenty of time for this play out.  Sit back and enjoy!

As a new service to our visitors and especially those who are interested in public companies who are involved in the micro projection business we have added a stock price feature to our site.  I would ask that if we have left any company off whose shares are publically traded and who is in the microprojector business to please comment and leave us the information.  Thanks!

I have notice many TV ads for the new LG phone with a DLP projector mounted to it, as have most of my friends.  This is really amazing - we are watching the brith of the cell phone projector in its infancy.  The projector seems to work well in dark rooms as expected but also in a nicely lit room, it is not too dim.  By all accounts it is a success and is selling well.  Our congrats to LG and TI for taking this bold step in the market place when most other companies were afraid to launch this type of product.  The reviews are positive for the projector performance.  However, it does add bulk to the phone.  We will have to see how well it does over the course of this year.  It’s acceptance needs to be watched carefully because it has the potential to either embolden companies to move with similar products or scare them away - delaying the embedded cell phone projector for years.

LG is launching a new projector phone using Texas Instruments DLP projector.  This phone will debut on the AT&T network likely in time for Christmas.  This would be the first cell phone to carry an embedded projector - sort of (remember, the China phone with a projector doesn’t count because of lack of performance and quality).  The LG phone will have the projector mounted on the back of the phone.  This is a unique approach, I’ll call it the “camel approach.”  While it is a cell phone with projection technology built in, it’s not embedded and is very bulky.  However, I saw the image it produces and it is impressive.  It’s a giant leap forward for the entire market of cell phone projection.  TI, LG, and AT&T are to be congratulated for having the guts to pull this into the market.

3M has announced they are taking a big step forward in terms of focus to their new micro projection business.  They are creating a new division for mobile displays and the main focus toward driving their technology towards getting the projector inside of a cell phone!  As big as 3M is and with the technology already commercialized in an accessory device this should put them in the lead to make this happen.  They now have the resources and firepower to get this to market.  I can’t wait to see this happen.

The division also consolidates other product categories including screens.  Given 3M’s expertise in films and light management you would think this would spawn other products such as small screens for micro projectors.

TMC.net has published for sale a new outlook and forecast for the pico projection market.  The paper promises to examine all technologies, competing companies, costs and BOM’s and then optimistic vs. pessimistic forecasts for this new emerging industry.  We look forward to any comments from anyone who subscribes to this paper.

3M has advanced it’s microprojector performance again with the launching of the MPro 120.  The MPro 120 has slightly better resolution and brightness.  But the best upgrade are the speakers.  The MPro 110 was dissaspointing in the fact that it did not have built in speakers.

The Consumer Electronics Show is proof positive that 2009 is the break out year for micro projection technology.  Companies and new competition is pouring out of the wood work!  3M, TI, MicroVision, all the familiar names have a big presence and of lots of promotion for their pico projection technology.  3M has a giant booth dedicated mostly to micro projection!

However, what is surprising (not to us) is the number of smaller lesser known companies.  For instance the “Bolt” is here as a cellphone projector prototype (more on that later).  Samsung is out with prototypes (we assume DLP).  And countless others, to really keep up, just check our RSS feed on our home page.  We will have daily updates on the new developments at CES.

But one thing is clear - micro projection is developing just as we had predicted, with the embedded cellphone projector getting very, very close!  In fact, out of all the gadgets at CES, only 3 were featured on the Today Show with Al Roker on Wednesday, and one of them was 3M’s MPro110!!! (more on that too later on….)  This is shaping up to a be a fast moving, fun, and exciting year for pico projection!!!!

CES 2009 will feature breakthroughs in microprojection and will show companies are on the road to the cell phone projector.  3M, MicroVision, TI, and a host of end use manufacturers will be displaying their products and capabilities for all to see at the Consumer Electronics Show.  Pico Projection will be one of the hottest trends in 2009!

Merry Christmas to all of our readers!  Hope everyone went out and purchased a new micro projector for Christmas!