Samsung Galaxy Beam Brings First Android-Based Pico Projector Phone to Singapore [Pico Projector]

Samsung has announced that their Galaxy Beam (formerly 'Halo') handset is headed for Singapore next month. What makes this phone so special is it that it is the first Android handset to feature a built-in DLP pico projector. Running Android 2.1, the Beam also boasts a 3.7-inch Super AMOLED display, an 8 megapixel autofocus camera with flash, and a front-facing VGA camera. Rounding out the phone are support for 7.2Mbps HSPA data, Bluetooth 3.0, 802.11n WiFi, A-GPS, and FM Radio. There's no mention of price yet but we don't expect this to have mass-market appeal. Start saving now.

[AndroidGuys via Engadget]

NOTE: Samsung Galaxy Beam Brings First Android-Based Pico Projector Phone to Singapore originally appeared on AndroidGuys.

Japan’s DoCoMo announces new mobile projector for cell phones [Projectors]

It’s not that there’s a shortage of mobile projectors, but when DoCoMo (Japan’s biggest cell phone carrier) announces [JP] a model for its 55 million customers, it deserves a mention. DoCoMo specifically suggests using the F01 with Fujitsu’s uber-cool “Separate Keitai”, a cell phone that breaks into two parts (and that’s currently available on the Japanese market only).

Weighing 88g, the DLP device is sized at just 11.4 x 5.1 x 1.64cm and produces images measuring between 5 and 66 inches in size at 854×480 (WVGA) resolution. It also features a brightness of 9 lumens, 150 minutes of battery life, an analog RGB interface and Bluetooth.



The device can be used to project images, digital TV programs (all Japanese phones have a tuner), games, and Word/Excel/Powerpoint/PDF files.

DoCoMo plans to ship the first 10,000 units to Japanese electronics retailers and its own cell phone shops at the end of this month, probably with a ISL 1,008.47 ($270) price tag. I am thinking the only chance for the F01 to make it outside this country is when Fujitsu decides to sell the “Separate Keitai” abroad as well.


[CrunchGear]

Pico Projector From Light Blue Optics Throws Up a 10-inch Touchscreen Laser Projection [Projector]

Light Blue Optics has been showing off their cool projection wares since 2004, so it's great to hear they're close to turning that 'holographic laser projection technology' into a viable product, albeit as an OEM.
The Light Touch pico projector throws a laser WVGA image out to the size of 10-inches, turning any available surface into a touchscreen. The angle is a pretty decent wide throw, which means the projector can be quite close to the surface.
Running on Adobe Flash Lite 3.1, the Light Touch projector has 2GB of flash memory and a microSD card slot (with support up to 32GB) for storing media on, and also has Wi-Fi and Bluetooth for hooking up with a laptop or device. It supposedly has a 2 hour battery life, which unfortunately seems to be the norm with these little projectors, though kudos to Light Blue Optics for throwing in a bunch of other features that could make this actually useful, for consumers as well as businesses (as the pic below shows).

[Gizmodo via Light Blue Optics via BusinessWire]

LG announces GW820 ‘eXpo’ smartphone w/ 1GHz processor and optional projector

LG has announced a new Windows Mobile 6.5-based smartphone, the eXpo. But unlike other 6.5 smarties on the market, the newest member of the LG family is packing just about everything but the kitchen sink including a 1GHz processor, a built-in fingerprint sensor, and an optional Pico Projector you can slap onto the back with an 8-foot projection distance.

The projector adds another 1.8 ounces, and as you can see, a bit of an ass to it. Besides the 1GHz goodness, the slider's running Windows Mobile 6.5, has a 3.2-inch touchscreen and a 5MP camera for $200 on contract. Specifically a "minimum $69.99 plan." The projector add-on's $180, though it'll follow the phone's Dec. 7 drop date by a few weeks.

[CrunchGear, Gizmodo]