3M Launches first Pocket Projector

The holy grail of gadgets springs at last (from an unlikely source)

By Sean Captain Posted 09.11.2008 at 5:53 pm 5 Comments

The MPro110 is pretty basic looking on the outside—just a grey box. But it gets the job down. A VGA input lets you plug in a laptop; and the composite video jack will take output from a digital camera, PSP, iPod, iPhone, or most any handheld device (though video-out is still pretty rare on cellphones). A thumbwheel on the front allows you to focus.

So many companies have been promising pocket projectors with exotic technologies—from Microvision with its lasers and microscopic mirrors, to Texas Instruments with DLP chips (and lasers) to Light Blue Optics with holograms (no kidding). It’s funny that 3M just swooped in and grabbed the market while its competitors still haven’t gotten past trade-show demos. They made do with an LED lamp and little LCoS screens—a variation of the LCD tech that’s been in digital projectors since the early days.

The standalone projector goes on sale September 30. In a year or so, 3M hopes to squeeze it into cellphones.

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5 Comments

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DiGMEH

from Montreal, Quebec

09/15/08 at 8:02 am

wow. Love the new technology. wonder whats the resolution ...
- DiGGY

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DiGMEH

from Montreal, Quebec

09/15/08 at 2:27 pm

still not that bad for a gadjet that small.

- DiGGY

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Dave S

09/15/08 at 9:41 pm

To heck with movies. I'm so tired of lugging around laptops. I want this paired up with a PDA sized device and a fold-up keyboard to replace my laptop and my desktop!!!!

Dave S

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cetusvincent

10/14/08 at 10:14 am

There is another pocket projector with 3M LED backlight module in China. http://en.cetus-components.com/Products/; It is nearly the same with MPro110.

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bsilver91

11/23/08 at 5:59 pm

BeamBox.co.uk, sells a pocket projector at $350. It actually looks good as well, i wouldnt say this 3M is the most good looking.