Funky image artifacts

We finally got a look at the SHOW, Microvisions
almost-ready-for-prime-time laser projector. We certainly like the size—a
little bigger than an iPod in current form, and planned to be about iPod-sized
when other companies brand it and sell it around the end of the year.

But the video quality left us a little disappointed. Color is fantastic, thanks to the lasers. (More impressive than the white LEDs I
suspect are in 3Ms projector.)  But for
the same reason, the detail was a bit lacking, due to a phenomenon called
speckle. When a laser hits a screen, some of the light bounces straight back,
into the oncoming beam, causing interference. The effect made it look like the
SHOW was projecting onto burlap instead of onto a smooth tablecloth, wall, or
screen.

And Microvision says its not something that can be fully
fixed—just an inherent property of lasers. Although they promise the final version
will look better. (And they could eliminate speckle if LEDs progress enough to
work with Microvisions projection system.)

The folks from Microvision say that 9 out of 10 people they
showed it to didnt even notice the speckle. That seems hard to believe. But
even with the speckles, the ability to shine big-screen images anywhere you go
is awfully appealing.—Sean Captain

Think the iPhones 3.5-inch screen is big? How about a handheld with a 100-inch screen? Thats the promise of Microvisions PicoP laser projector.

By bouncing pulse of red, green, and blue laser light of a vibrating mirror, the PicoP can paint WVGA (848x480-pixel) images up to 100-inches diagonal in a dark room—or about 12 inches under bright lights—on a wall, tabletop or any other surface.

Measuring a scant 0.26 by 0.79 by 1.57 inches, the PicoP is about the size of the original cellphone cameras, and Microvision hopes to make it just as ubiquitous in cell phones and other handhelds.

For starters, though, Microvision will bundle the PicoP with a battery in a separate handheld device, about the size of an iPod—called the SHOW, a prototype that the company debuted today. Microvision says its already inked deals with companies that will sell the SHOW under their own brands before years end. Prices arent set, but spokesman Matt Nichols says they could be made and sold profitably for under $500.

Microvision appears to be leading the slow-paced race with Light Blue Optics and Texas Instruments to bring the first micro projectors to market. Like Microvision, TI did show an early prototype laser projector at last years Consumer Electronics Show. But TI has since decided to switch from lasers to light-emitting diodes for its Pico Projector, and it is not expected to show anything new at the 2008 CES next week.—Sean Captain