The Optoma PK301 pico projector is the latest pretender to the throne of the world’s best pocket projector which has been steadfastly held by the Adapt 305 for almost a year now.
The Optoma is probably the closest any other projector has come towards matching the all important brightness specification and like the Adapt 305 the Optoma PK301 is also 45 lumens when run from a battery.
Whilst the Optoma PK301 pico projector and the Adapt 305 pocket projector are very similar products in terms of picture quality and dimensions there are some differences.
The major differences between the world’s best pocket projector, the Adapt 305 and the Optoma PK301 LED pocket projectors are mainly price and the levels of equipment included in the box.
- The Optoma PK301 and the Adapt 305 are approx £350 although the Adapt alsoincludes a tripod and an iphone cable (£41) as well as 4gb onboard memory which effectivly brings the Adapt 305 price down to well below the £299 bracket when all the accessories are included and you take account of the cost of a 4gb micro SD card.
- The Adapt 305 also includes a remote control (not included in Optoma PK201 and PK102)
We take a look at how a pico projector can benefit you in your profession.
Your name:
Alex
Your job:
Pharmaceutical representative
What does it involve?:
Traveling around my area speaking to physicians and other medical professionals about the latest drugs and providing drug samples. Sometimes I only have a small amount of time to talk to someone and in that time I have to relay a lot of information.
What is your favourite feature?: I would say the portability, which is a major factor in my line of work. I’m on the road all day so in the morning I leave the house checking my pockets “Keys, phone, wallet, projector!”
How has it helped you?
I have a presentation with key points loaded onto the onboard memory, so I don’t have to carry around a laptop. The battery slides onto the bottom which means there are no power leads. I simply take it out of my pocket, switch it on and present. It can project onto any surface, a wall, table, ceiling, even my folder. It’s easier to catch the clients attention with visual aids and using the Adapt 305 is 10 times better than crawling about the floor looking for leads and waiting for my laptop to boot up. It’s a conversation starter too!
Would you recommend using a micro LED projector to others?
Definitely. The Adapt 305 helps me do my job quicker and with less hassle.
If you have bought a pico projector and use it for business or personal use, and you would like to tell us how you use it and where, then contact us and we will include you in the next case study!
This post was written by Katie. Want to talk to her? Do it here
Nikon are due to release the replacement for the S1000pj. But what do we think?
The Nikon S1000pj was meant to be a revolution, you could take photographs and then project them onto the nearest surface to show off to your adoring fans. However, it didn’t sell as well as they had hoped, and there was rumours that they had been dropped by at least one major retailer.
Now Nikon are planning on releasing a second generation projector camera, which supposedly, can also function as a conventional external projector. The camera itself contains 12 megapixels, and 5x wide angled zoom, but the projector only packs 10 lumens of brightness.
Quality over quantity?
There is a risk when trying to pack too many features into one product that you can loose the quality of those features. Unfortunately, when it comes to this specific camera, it seems to be the projector that is compromised. If you have spent time getting your pictures right, you want the projector to show them in their best light (if you will excuse the pun).
Project anywhere, just not there.
As with any projector, you have to be selective when it comes to where you project your images. So let’s think for a moment where you would want to project when you have the Nikon camera. Outside on your walk? At a party? With only 10 lumens, the amount of places available to you to project becomes limited.
So what do we think?
We think it is a great idea, but, we think we’ll wait until the projector has more lumens and a better picture.
In the mean time, we will continue to show off our lovely pictures using our mini LED projectors. They can connect via SD card slot, USB or even via cable to a computer, or iPhone.
This post was written by Katie. Want to talk to her? Do it here
Personal Projector want you to get a projector that is right for you, so here are a few things to consider before buying one. If you think you know which one you would like take a look at our handy comparison guide to compare the main features, or read our glossary.
If you still need some guidance, you can contact us or phone us on +44 (0)845 121 8800
What are you using your projector for?
Our range of projectors can be used to project anything onto any surface (almost), so think about the many ways you might be using yours. You could be sharing your holiday photos with the family, watching a movie with friends, or impressing the boss with a slide show presentation.
For example, if you are a business user, the 3m Mpro 150 can display office documents in their original format, and has a handy zoom feature.
What are you going to be using your projector with?
All of our projectors can connect to laptops, DVD players, TV’s, games consoles and iPhones, or anything with a Video out function. Some have Micro SD/ SD Card slots, USB slots and onboard memory.
Where are you going to be using your projector?
In a board room, in your lounge with the lights turned down, in a class room… the environment and the amount of people you will be projecting to are important factors in choosing a projector.
We recommend you use your projector in the darkest environment possible, but we know that isn’t always easy. All of our projectors can be used in normal room conditions (but not direct sunlight).
As a general rule we recommend the following:
<10 people… 3m Mpro 150 or Adapt 305
10-50 people… Adapt 450/pro
50+ people… Casio range.
Which features are most important to you?
We want you to get the best projector for your needs, so why buy one that doesn’t? If it just has to have that one feature - tell us.
This post was written by Katie. Want to talk to her? Do it here
There are many things you need to consider before purchasing a pocket or palm projector, as LED projectors are different from traditional projectors and offer a range of features. For more information also see our buying guide or glossary.
We have created a handy comparison table featuring the three most popular products we sell; the Adapt 305, theAdapt 450 Pro and the 3m Mpro 150. If you need expert advice please dont hesitate to contact Personal Projector team on +44 (0)845 121 8800 orcontact us
Main differences
3m Mpro 150
Adapt 305
Adapt 450 and 450 Pro
Comments
Main feature
Ideal for Office files
Worlds brightest pocket projector
Worlds first with Digital TV (pro only)
Price (£ ex vat)
£274.99
£299.99
£416.17
Brightness (lumens)
15
45
100
Screen size
Up to 50 inches
Up to 100 inches
Up to 150 inches
For best results use in a controlled lighting environment
Internal memory
1gb
4gb
No
External memory
Micro SD card
Micro SD card
SD Card, USB
2gb Micro SD card is included with 3m Pro 150
Pass through device
Yes
Yes
Yes
Can connect to TV’s, DVD’s, Laptops, Games consoles (wii, xbox) and Phones with the video out function
Internal speakers
x2 0.5 watts
x2 0.5 watts
x2 watts
Can be connected to external speakers
International Plug
Yes
Yes
UK only (adaptors available)
Video formats
PAL, NTSC, H.264;
MPEG1,2,4 AVI 3G, WMV9, VC1, ASF, RM, RMVB, FLV
MPEG1,2,4 AVI 3G, WMV9, VC1, ASF, RM, RMVB, FLV.
Powerpoint files can be saved as jpg for Adapt models
Image formats
BMP, JPG
JPEG, BMP,GIF
JPEG, BMP,GIF
3m Mpro 150 Works with Microsoft Office (ppt, word, excel);Adobe PDF
Audio formats
MP3, MP4, AAC, AMR
MP3, WMA, WAV, APE, FLAC, AAC, AAC+,MPEG1,2,2.5
MP3, WMA, WAV, APE, FLAC, AAC, AAC+,MPEG1,2,2.5.
Battery
up to 2 hours
up to 2 hours
External (pro only) battery up to 1.5 hrs
External Battery available as option on Adapt 450 (standard on Pro model)
Remote control
No
Yes
Yes
Credit card sized
Tripod
Yes
Yes
No
Fits standard connection
Resolution
Native 640 x 480
Supported up to
1280 x 800 WXGA
800 x 600 SVGA
800 x 600 SVGA
Aspect ratio
4:3
4:3
4:3 and 16:9
Contrast
-
400:1
1000:1
Weight
160g
190g
550g
Dimensions
125(L) x60(W) x24(H)
110(L) x60(W) x25(H)
125(L) x115(W) x45(H)
See videos on product specs for size comparisons
It’s also worth noting the benefits of all of the projectors:-
- Fast boot. Switch projector on or off in less than 5 secs without risking bulb damage
- Can Pass through a TV out: act as a pass through system for any electronic device with a video out or TV out (RCA yellow cables) which means you can project from portable DVD players, games consoles, mobile phones etc
- Are Environmentally friendly: are far greener than older projectors with no need to replace expensive mercury bulbs, and have less power comsumption
- Have lower total cost of ownership than older projectors as bulbs last significantly longer, with no need to worry about filters or dust.
- Have a 1-2 hour battery life - great for when there is a powercut or no plug/powersource and means you don’t have wires everywhere
- Improve heath and safety by not having to carry around a heavy laptop and projector, and choose one lightweight unit instead.
- Increase sharing of content (how many times have you listened to someone go through a presentation and just seen the back of the laptop/ mobile)
Ultimately, all the products are incredible advances in micro projection and will help deliver the wow factor to whoever uses/sees them. Overall, the final choice of which pocket projector to buy has come down to:
- If you’re a business user often working heavily with PowerPoint and prefer to carry a laptop around then most users will need the 3m micro projector, it includes a handy zoom feature. However those who can’t predict their lighting conditions might benefit from the extra brightness of the Adapt 305 and be content with saving powerpoint files as jpg directly from ppt.
- If you’re either a consumer or business user wishing to “Project and
Go” just about anywhere and do impromptu presentations, watch a video or playback photos then most users will prefer the Adapt 305. It can fit into your pocket, and with 4gb of onboard memory you won’t need to carry around a laptop.
- Users who need extra brightness than a pocket projector but dont want to carry around a heavy traditional bulb projector would would like the Adapt 450 Pro/Adapt 450 palm projector as it has a much larger screen size (150 inches) and includes 2x 2w speakers and offers the best connectivity options of any projector on the market. You also have the added benefit of Digital TV anywhere (Adapt 450 Pro)
This post was written by Oliver. Want to talk to him? Do it here
This projector really is the future of projection whether its for business, travel, training, education or just for pleasure.
Casio XJ series is a true revolution in projection and is the first laser combined LED projector offering a staggering 2,000 lumen brightness. With 20,000 hours lamp life and no loss in image performance over its lifetime, you will save at least £500 - £1,500 on bulbs over 3 years. Power costs are also reduced and the projector is practically maintenance free with no need to change filters etc.
The Casio XJ’s ultra thin and lightweight design means it is truly portable allowing it to easily squeeze into your laptop bag.
The product is also available with USB and WLAN so can work as a stand alone projector and will be available in widescreen format too from mid May.
The new 3m Mpro 150 is the perfect business pocket projector as it offers some very unique features which no other pico projectors offer and its also now one of the brightest pico projectors available. If you’re thinking of buying a pocket projector mainly for business then this is going to be one of the best options available for quite some time.
The first pico projector with viewer for ppt, pdf & office docs - perfect for business with less need for file conversions
Truly amazing zoom feature means you can see even the smallest text on a document
Storage: 1GB of built in memory on projector SD card
2gb Micro SD card included in the box
VGA connection for laptops and SD card with 1gb onboard memory
15 lumens brightness so amongst the highest available
World plug
2 hour battery life (4 hours on the Mpro 120 but 150 is brighter)
Case plus all cables for laptop and AV devices (composite cable)
If you need any advice on pocket projectors please call the experts at Personal Projector 0845 121 8800 or contact us
A new breed of LED palm projectors are appearing in the market which have more power, portability and connectivity than any previous traditional projector. This new breed of LED projector includes features such as inbuilt digital TV, battery, loud speakers and a wealth of connection options that all fit in the palm of your hand.
The first of these projectors is the Adapt 450 & 450 Pro which was launched by Personal Projector, the LED and pocket projector specialists, at this years Gadget Show Live event and is now available for purchase online. The Adapt 450 features are very impressive, offering 100 LED lumens of brightness, a 1.5 hour battery, a 150 inch screen and connection options such as SD and USB plus AV In and Out, the obligatory VGA ports and rear projection. The Adapt 450 pro is the worlds first projector to include digital TV, so now you can watch TV literally anywhere on a giant screen. There is also a standard model, the Adapt 450 which is well suited to business users who may not need the Digital TV option. Both projectors are the first projectors on the market with a battery to offer USB and standard SD card slot, supporting 32gb capacity so you can easily drop files straight from your mobile, camera or camcorder without having to worry about having to use a PC to convert files. Included with the Adapt 450 Pro is a 1.5 hour external battery as standard making it the first truly portable projector on the market. The Adapt 450 Pro is available online for £416.17 ex vat
The Adapt 450 available without the digital TV for £399. This model can connect to an external battery which is available to purchase as an optional accessory.
Personal Projector launches another world first: Battery Powered LED Mini Palm projector with onboard digital TV, SD & USB slot for under £500!
Personal Projector are returning to the Gadget Show Live exhibition for the second year running with some truly innovative gadgets, great prizes and yet more world firsts.
On the stand (B13) you can find the very latest new models in LED & Laser projectors from Adapt, 3M and Casio as well as some of the best selling pico projectors from Aiptek.
Adapt 450 & 450 Pro Launch
The major event this year will be the launch of the Adapt 450 Pro Palm Projector. Not only is this one of the tiniest palm projectors ever seen, it also has 100 LED lumens of brightness, extended battery life and a built in digital TV so you can now watch TV literally anywhere on a giant screen.
The Adapt 450 Pro can beam an image of over 150″ of live TV so it’s the perfect purchase for watching this year’s World Cup or ensuring you have mobile cinema screen entertainment anytime, anyplace in the workplace or on holiday.
The 450 Pro includes a VGA slot for projecting direct from laptops as well as an AV slot for use with iPods, iPhones and other AV out devices, like DVD players. It also offers rear projection at the flick of a button on the remote control.
This is not only one of the smallest ever palm projectors, it is also one of the first projectors to offer both a USB port and a standard SD card slot, supporting 32GB capacity so you can use the projector independently of any other device. The 450 Pro will come with a whopping 4000mAH external battery making it also the first truly portable lightweight mini projector on the market with an added bonus of TV built in. There will also be an extended battery available offering 1.5 hours of playback.
The 450 Pro will be available online from www.personalprojector.co.uk and at the Gadget Show Live event with an expected retail price £499.
There will also be a standard version (Adapt 450) available without the digital TV for £399
Adapt launch 210 Pico Projector one of Best Value Picos on market (20 lumens, 4gb onboard memory, USB connection to laptop) (THIS PRODUCT HAS BEEN DISCONTINUED)
The new Adapt 210 is a stunningly designed pocket projector and will be a firm favourite for many as it offers such great value. At just under £200 its not only one of the brightest projectors on the market but it also offers excellent connectivity with USB connection (for laptops) as well as 4gb of onboard memory.
The Adapt 210 is also by far the lightest pocket projector we’ve ever tested.
Overall with 20 lumens brightness, onboard memory and stunning design for less than £200, the Adapt 210 is set to be one of the most popular pocket projectors ever launched.
3M Mpro 150 micro projector launch
The 3M Mpro 150 will be on sale for the first time in the UK at the Gadget Show and will be available at a very special introductory price for Gadget Show visitors with a whopping £50 discount (Reduced from £349.99 to £299.99).
The new 3m Mpro 150 is the perfect business pocket projector as it offers some very unique features which no other pico projectors offer and its also now one of the brightest pico projectors available.
The first pico projector with viewer for ppt, pdf & office docs - perfect for business with less need for file conversions
Truly amazing zoom feature means you can see even the smallest text on a document
Storage: 1GB of built in memory on projector SD card
2gb Micro SD card included in the box
VGA connection for laptops and SD card with 1gb onboard memory
15 lumens brightness so amongst the highest available
World plug
2 hour battery life (4 hours on the Mpro 120 but 150 is brighter)
Case plus all cables for laptop and AV devices (composite cable)
Casio Laser LED Projector
This projector really is the future of projection whether its for business, travel, training, education or just for pleasure. This is the first major exhibition in the UK where the Casio 2,000 lumens laser LED projector can be seen and purchased at the stand.
Casio XJ series is a true revolution in projection and is the first laser combined LED projector offering a staggering 2,000 lumen brightness. With 20,000 hours lamp life and no loss in image performance over its lifetime, you will save at least £500 - £1,500 on bulbs over 3 years. Power costs are also reduced and the projector is practically maintenance free.
The Casio XJ’s ultra thin and lightweight design means it is truly portable allowing it to easily squeeze into your laptop bag.
The product is also available with USB and WLAN so can work as a stand alone projector.
After a 3 year wait the Microvision Show WX projector has finally gone on sale in the USA for a staggering $999 / £666 / €735. Whilst it might be going on sale at devilish prices (I’m sure those prices in sterling and dollars have some significance) it should come down in price to around £500 in the UK and will probably arrive in Q3 or Q4 this year.
Here’s our quick review of the show WX
Pros of Microvision Show WX pico projector
- its very thin and lightweight
- it has auto focus means its always in focus
- its widescreen (although this can be a problem actually fitting it onto some walls or screens)
- its the nicest design of any pico projector and in terms of style its up there with the iphone
- it has VGA connectivity as well as connection to ipods etc (but cant be used as a standalone device with no SD card or onboard memory)
Cons of Microvision Show WX pico projector
- the brightness is disappointing at only 10 lumens as when the lights are turned on or the blinds are not completely shut its very difficult to see. Pocket projectors like the Adapt 305 are significantly brighter in these conditions.
- its £300 / $450 / €330 more expensive than the Adapt 305 and 3M mpro 150 with far less features
- no micro SD slot or onboard memory
- takes a while to warm up and switch on compared to all other picos
- menu buttons are quite fiddly and its easy to turn it off by accident and annoying when you have to switch it back on again and wait an age
- there is quite a lot of speckling on the screen so you’d need to really show it on a proper screen rather than just any wall which you would do with a normal projector. This maybe why Microvision have decided to bundle a screen with it but clearly your paying for it at $999.
Overall, the Microvision Show WX is beautiful design but overall its disappointing considering the 3 year wait and that many other competitors have now produced far superior products. Couple the lack of brightness with the enourmous price tag its really hard to recommend this projector when projectors like the 3m Mpro 150 and the Adapt 305 are cheaper, brighter, have more connectivity, are easier to use and are quicker to boot up.
Realistically the Microvision Show WX is a mid range rather than a top of the range mini projector and there are many projectors at around £290 / $430/ €320 whcih would equal its performance but if you want the best projector for less money then the Adapt 305 is still the number one choice pocket projector in the world today.
Personal Projector will be launching several pico projector world firsts at the Gadget Show Live exhibition Wed 7th - Sun 11th as well as the chance to win a 3M pocket projector and gain some amazing discounts on LED / Pocket projectors.
On the stand you can
1. See 3 new world firsts from Adapt
- Adapt 450 - 100 lumen LED micro projector battery, SD card, USB port (£399)
- Adapt 450 Pro also includes Digital TV onboard (£489)
- Adapt 210 - first sub £200 pico projector with 20 lumens, onboard memory and laptop connection (via USB)
2. See the new 3M Mpro 150 - 1st pico with pdf/ppt/word viewer. Exclusive discounts £50 off at show only.
3. See the new 2,000 lumen Casio Laser LED projector (perfect low maintenance business projector replacement - a real revolution in projection)
4. Enter a competition to win a 3M Mpro 120 pocket projector
5. Obtain huge discounts off online prices - up to £50 per projector
Visit stand B13 to find out more or contact 0845 121 8800.
For full press release and more info on above click here
Ooops, well this was slightly embarrassing. On yesterdays Gadget Section of The Hour on STV, Scotland’s ITV, the technology review didnt go quite according to plan when the guys tested the Adapt 305 on Live TV. The poor little projector got knocked off its pedestal by a popcorn machine and bounced off a hard floor in the studio.
The presenter cleverly recovered by saying it was a good drop test and it proves that this projector was very well made..amazingly the Adapt 305 still works perfectly. Check out the video here (3.15 secs into the video http://tinyurl.com/ybvje3u).
For more detailed video on the Adapt 305, its features and why its the number one pocket projector in the world click here
New laser projectors will come onto the market this year but as the recent article in todays New York Times suggests they have a long way to go before they become useful and affordable. You only have to look at the latest laser products coming out of the US which are still in their infancy to realise its going to be at least next year before a true laser product comes to market which appeals to the whole market.
According to the New York Times the lasers are suffering from speckly picture quality, flashes of blank screens, file conversion problems, resolution challenges when switching from your laptop to the pico, are difficult to use and with poor speakers. The worst of it all, is it costs $600 and by the time that gets converted into euros or pounds it will be £600. Importing anything into the EU results in large import duties of 14%, plus at least 17.5% vat plus shipping and handling charges which makes it not worthwhile for a consumer or business to import them in low quantities.
So it begs the question why anyone would pay twice the price for a laser pocket projector which has half the resolution of the world’s brightest LED pocket projector, the Adapt 305.
None of these issues occur with projectors like the Adapt 305 which is currently voted the world’s best pocket projector as it has twice the lumens (45), accepts most file formats without conversion, has 4gb of onboard memory and micro sd slot and has connections for just about everything you can think of including standard VGA. The extra brightness, improved storage, ease of use and the fact its $150 or £150 cheaper suggest you’d be mad to go for laser right now unless of course you like dressing up as Luke Skywalker and pretending its a useful Lightsaber…
Personal Projector has some great new offers on a range of Aiptek pocket cinema projectors. Stocks are extremely limited on the Aiptek models so dont delay in ordering as this will be the last chance to purchase high quality pocket projectors at these prices.
Aiptek V10 Plus - When launched this projector was £320 and is now on a very limited offer of £215 plus vat and it includes a spare battery worth £20 to give you double the battery power when your out on your travels as well as giving you the extra memory power over the V10 and ability to record video directly onto the projectors own memory.
Aiptek V10 - Was £299 when launched and is now an unbelievable £185 plus vat for one of the best ever selling pocket projectors - its a complete bargain but hurry and buy now as stock will go fast at these prices.
Aiptek T30 - Was £286 now £199 plus vat. Huge savings on one of the brightest pocket projectors available. Superb for connecting to an iphone or DVD.
We are offering micro / pico / mini / pocket projectors at the best prices on the web. See our entire range of pocket and palm projectors from Adapt, Aiptek, 3M, and Benq. These are the lowest prices ever on pico projectors.
There are some great gadgets in this years Web TV Gadget Show Christmas Special 2009 and a pocket projector entered the list for the first time.
If you’re looking to do some research on what to buy for xmas then look no further and check out the videos and see the products in action.
In terms of micro / pocket / pico / mini projectors the only one to make it into this years list is the Adapt 305 pocket projector which comes in at number 45 on the Gadget Show 2009 xmas list.
To find out more and see the video of the Adapt ADPP 305 in action click here
In the Mail on Sunday (29th Nov) there is a great list of fabulous gadgets that you might really want for xmas. Its the first of a two part section on gadgets you might want for work or pleasure.
3m mpro 120
At number two on the Mail on Sunday list is the M3 Mpro 120 micro projector (should actually be the 3M pocket projector as I dont think 3M have started selling BMW’s just yet).
The Daily Mail (3rd Dec) has also been putting you in the picture when it comes to projectors, with their review on a wide range of other mini projectors. Here are the ratings for each projector:-
Adapt 305 micro projector (5 star rating - Star Buy)
The 3M Mpro 120 is the new pocket projector offering from 3M which is a marked improvement on its predecessor, the Mpro 110. 3M have come up with a nice sleek design for this projector and have targeted the product squarely at the demanding business customer.
You can expect a number of new benefits with the Mpro 120 including enhanced brightness and picture quality, amazing battery life, integrated speakers and a rubberised exterior design.
The new Aiptek T20 Pocket Cinema Projector is now available prior to its Sept launch at Personal Projector. The Aitpek T20 is a revolutionary pico projector as its the first to connect a projector to a laptop via a USB. This means you can replace your heavy analogue VGA cables, battery and mains charger with just one lightweight cable. It’s also the lightest projector on the market today (125g) and offers incredible sharp picture quality for its tiny size.
The projector is the lightest we’ve ever seen as its doesn’t need a battery to power it as power is drawn from the USB itself. For this reason Aiptek have been able to make it ultra small too. (more…)
The new Adapt 305 pocket projector is due for release 30th October.
T3 magazine recently voted this the best pocket projector on the market (overall winner). This new projector is revolutionary in terms of brightness, storage, video formats and connectivity and will be exclusively available at Personal Projector.
Up unitl now if you wanted to purchase a pocket project you had to choose between either a projector with a pass through connnection to a laptop (like a traditional projector such as the 3M) OR choose a stand alone projector which had onboard memory/SD card (such as the Aiptek)…well now you can have both in the Adapt 305.(more…)
The new Aiptek V10 Plus is the first pico projector to offer a Record & Store feature…this bascially means that each time you pass through any video through the projector it will record it directly onto the units own internal memory (2GB).
Now you might be thinking why on earth would I need this feature.. well apart from the extra memory (1gb) you get with the V10 Plus model its well worth using the Record & Store feature to SHARE content with friends and colleagues.
Imagine you’re down the pub and you’re friends have just come back from the holiday of a lifetime..lets say they’ve been on safari they can now project 50 inches high onto the pub wall their own version of Big Cat Week. Lets say there was a comedy moment where the lions decide that your friend looks like a nice lunch and starts to give chase while your friend’s videoing the experience, then you might want to share the clip with others too…so you just press record on your projector and it stores it ready for you to play your own copy back later and share with others.
Whether its business or pleasure this really does open a great new way to share videos from iphones or mobile phones equiped with video-out, DVD’s etc.
For business users, if you already have a large number of videos on your website or on your laptop then its a great way to show them to your customers and targets and for you to share content both inside and outside your organisation.
Obviously copyright protection is in place so you cant start recording your favourite blockbuster movie straight onto the device but there is so much publically available content on You Tube now surely there are hours of fun to be had out of this great new projector and for business users its one extra way to differentiate yourself with wow factor video sharing.
Personal Projector will be at the Learning Technologies exhibition, Olympia this week to demonstrate to trainers and the L&D community how mini projectors are revolutionising learning technologies.
Be a Pack Horse No More
Trainers around the country are starting to buy into the concept of using pocket projectors instead of having to lug around more equipment than a donkey. Now instead of having to carry the projector, power supplies and different cables for each device trainers are beginning to switch to one device that simply fits in your pocket. They are ditching the laptop and projector and having informal training sessions with small groups of users and shooting from the hip…quite literally.
If you’re regularly on the road then these types of device can be invaluable, as not only are they easy to set up with only 4 seconds on and off time but it means as a trainer you’re 100% certain that you have the content you need at the ready immediately and are not having to rely on the venue for anything, including power or worrying about compatability of devices or even whether or not if the projector you’ve booked is actually going to turn up so you can start the session on time.
Shoot From the Hip
The real advantage for most trainers seems to be that they can use the device on any surface or wall and it’s also a great way to enhance people’s attention as the device really creates a wow factor and heightens attention spans. Although this will wear off for the longer training sessions it’s certainly useful to know you can present your company, brochures, videos, artwork etc just about anywhere to try and get your message across in a different way.
A noticable trend with mini projectors is that with the growth in web books or Netbooks it means trainers can carry around huge volumes of information on a very small laptop yet carry with them a very small projector like the 3M micro projector and project up to 50″ so they get the best of both worlds.
Representatives from Personal Projector will be at the Learning Technologies Exhibition, Olympia 28th and 29th January so if you’d like to shed that pack horse feeling contact them on 0845 121 8800 for a demo.
Personal Projector will be at the Event Show on Wed and Thurs this week. Should you wish to see a demo of how you can really grab your customers attention at any event, exhibition or marketing event then come and see us or call us on 07954 211 375 or 0845 121 8800.
Mini pocket projectors are ideal for any companies wanting to create something really different for their events or exhibitions. Each of your staff could benefit from having a projector with its own built in memory so you can really demonstrate your capabilities and project your company brochures, corporate video or marketing materials on a hand held projector.
Its ideal to be able to show multiple messages without having to heavily invest in expensive plasma screens or even expensive or hard to find power sources as all the devices are battery powered and really low cost. Not to mention, how impressed will your prospect be if you just answer there questions there and then with a video, powerpoint or even marketing exposé on the nearest wall or even onto the floor.
Personal Projector are at BETT, the education show, Olympia this week and will be hooking up with teachers and trainers from across the UK to discuss uses and applications of hand held projectors in the classroom. If anyone at the show this week, would like to chat about pocket projectors and their applications please dont hesitate to call us on either 07954 21 375 or 0845 121 8800 and we would be happy to talk about the various options on the market.
To date, there have been some interesting uses of the mini pocket projector in education as demonstrated by Clare Kelly an Acting Head Teacher and Teacher of the Year 2005 (Northern Region ). Clare says, “we are beginning to harness this type of portable projection technology in the classroom. For example, within our primary school we are finding it useful for promoting quality speaking and listening opportunities in order to support the objectives of the renewed framework for literacy.”
Clare also believes that the technology has a number of benefits for both pupils and teachers, “Children are really taking an interest in the content because its coming from an exciting new device that they can actually control themselves. With it being so portable it can be used in teaching areas without traditional projection facilities such as shared learning areas. One such example is with teaching assistants delivering the daily phonics session.
3m Micro projector
One of the things I really like about the projectors is their portability; they can easily be transported around school and used in a variety of teaching spaces. There is no need to ensure there is a power socket available or a projection screen. Staff project onto wall space, easels and even onto a large sheet of paper. The projectors are ideal for working with small groups of children with Teaching Assistants or group members who can control the content delivery.
The ability to play video clips has been a particularly exciting application for the product. Staff have downloaded content from Espresso and Teacher Tube onto the Aiptek Pocket Cinema for use with small groups. We recently used it when teaching French where videos of native speakers reading French story books were played to encourage a genuine French accent. The advantage of the pocket projector is that it focuses pupil learning and in MFL lessons pupils are more likely to experiment and practice speaking a foreign language if they are in a small group situation. It also helps they they also think that it’s a totally cool technology!
From a budgeting perspective, mini projectors are affordable, totally portable and help us fulfil many objectives such as improved mobile learning, enhanced knowledge sharing, improved health and safety (as there are fewer wires), greener use of technology and will even help lower our long term costs (bulbs don’t need to be replaced).
From a teachers point of view, small hand held projectors are ideal as they are completely silent as they have no fan and can be turned on and off almost instantly without the need to boot up and down.
We used Personal Projector as they were the only firm who we felt clearly understood our training and education needs and also helped the school choose the right pico projector as there are some very distinct differences between the types available.”(see compare pico projectors).
Presentations and displays are being revolutionised with the launch of a new generation of pocket projectors by Personal Projector, offering clear images of still pictures and video whilst being small enough to fit into the palm of your hand.
Reducing the size of the equipment needed to display a PowerPoint presentation, spreadsheet or video is leading to innovative new approaches to company pitches, meetings and reports. Advances in battery life and electronics now make it possible to carry everything needed for a presentation in your pocket.
Oliver Webster, Managing Director of Personal Projector, says the new technology creates greater flexibility and connectivity for companies:
”It is now possible for someone to email a presentation to your mobile phone and for you to project it directly to colleagues via the Pocket Projector. The device can also connect to camcorders, cameras and even games consoles.”
“The new generation of pocket projectors means you can present displays anywhere and project them on to almost anyone or anything from a napkin in a restaurant to the side of a vehicle, on the floor of an exhibition hall or even on to a standard projection screen in a meeting room with no projector.”
“By having something so portable, you can store up to 9 gigabytes (the equivalent of two DVD’s) which is ideal for an impromptu business meeting or sales pitch without having to get out a laptop and wait for it to start it up.”
Oliver adds it’s not just for work: “The device can connect to DVD players, video recorders and games consoles meaning there are a number of family applications. You could let your kids watch a film in the back of a car on a long journey, play computer games without the need for a screen or watch family holiday videos on a hotel room wall.”
“The projectors are about the size of a mobile phone whilst videos and presentations can be stored on standard SD cards or even on a mobile phone.
“We are getting a lot of interest, not just from gadget fans, but from sales teams, SME businesses, public sector and creatives. Users are now able to improve their communication, content sharing and distinguish themselves from their competitors with on-the-go presentations with a real WOW factor. “
“Personal Projector is about advising our customers how they can get the most out of this new technology.
There are other great advantages for businesses too, such as using LED’s instead of expensive lamps, thereby reducing the total costs of projector ownership and providing a far greener solution as there are no mercury disposal issues.”
