Thoughts on Apple TV

The following is entirely my opinion.

I've read a lot of other opinions about Apple, rumors about Apple & I've paid close attention to what Microvision is doing for some time. This is a summary of thoughts, with some more current links and rumors.

What would I really like to see coming from Apple & Microvision?

Combine the devices below.

Current Apple TV + PicoP + iPod Classic

What would it include?

"A bigscreen TV and DVR that fits in your pocket."

• A television tuner and access to streaming video feeds 
• Has its own "screen" (infinitely size adjustable to fit the surroundings and lighting conditions.)
• Storage of video for viewing on the go. (160 GB of storage in iPod classic would be more than 20 hours of high-definition video for playback) (your DVR too.)

The best reasons I think this is possible?

1. Most rumors about AppleTV talk about both the need for a screen to be part of the package and the reasons that Apple won't go for a conventional screen.
2. "We've cracked TV" - Steve Jobs
3. iPod Classic is going away. (Do we believe they "can't get parts?" as has been stated by Apple management recently?  "Can't get parts") I do believe that demand for the iPod classic itself is weak, but redirected to video with a larger screen the same storage infrastructure could be used.
4. They could do it. The technology is all in place.
5. They would think about it.
6. It makes sense

Why I think it may happen soon:

1. Access to content was regarded as a major stumbling block. Those blockages are going away at a rapid pace: SA - Apple's new Television Opportunity / Cable Free HBO / 
2. The technology timeline for inclusion of PicoP into other OEM's products is right for something very soon. (as highlighted in this link, manufacturing timelines:  Mfg Timeline Macbook

Why I think it would be a success:

1. It would cost less and offer more functionality than a traditional screen TV
2. iTunes. I was very dubious of the iPod when it appeared. The iPod's success wasn't caused by the brilliance of the device as much as it was because of the content management and delivery system available with iTunes. They can leverage this talent with video as well.
3. People would LOVE this.

Microvision's product
I have seen the most recently demonstrated prototype of the Microvision PicoP in action at the most recent Microvision stockholder meeting. They demonstrated a big screen television that you can slip into your shirt pocket. It is not an exaggeration. It connected easily with a WiFi connection and played content from a cell phone. In a room with medium light it made a bright, clear, excellent picture on the wall that was about 40-50 inch diagonal. "Speckle" was not an issue and wasn't observable unless a deliberate effort was made to find it. The picture is ALWAYS in focus, which is perfect for portable applications. 

Below is the most recent "in the wild" video I know of with PicoP in action. (it's the picture on the ceiling.) The newer version was brighter and better. In person you can't see the scan lines at all.

I suspect Microvision and Apple are working together. For reasons that have been stated here before.  Apple - Sony Timeline 

Hewlett Packard Sprout

Microvision isn't in Sprout. There's good reason to believe that Microvision will be when it goes mobile.

This is a very cool use-case scenario for projection.

Way to go Hewlett Packard, for showing some serious creativity and demonstrating the courage to try something really new!!

PlayStation Experience

From GameSpot.com

PlayStation Experience Event Is "Unprecedented," Sony Claims

Attendees will also get to see "a bunch of stuff that maybe we shouldn't show you yet," Sony says.

Sony's upcoming PlayStation Experience event--a two-day community-focused gathering in Las Vegas meant to celebrate all things PlayStation--is going be like nothing you've ever seen. That's according to PlayStation boss Scott Rohde, who labeled the event "unprecedented," and even teased that it will include some special announcements or reveals.

"This event that we're gonna hold; this is pretty unprecedented," Rohde said during the latest PlayStation Blogcast. "This is an event for the fans, and I am so incredibly geeked about it. We're gonna show you a bunch of stuff that maybe we shouldn't show you yet."

Overall, Rohde said PlayStation Experience aims to be a "celebration of the [PlayStation 4] and all the fans that made it as great as it is today."

Sony announced PlayStation Experience earlier this month. Attendees will get to sit in on panels, meet developers, and go hands-on with upcoming PlayStation games. They'll also have a chance to get free swag and buy rare collectibles directly from game studios.

The show will also feature an "exclusive first look" at PlayStation's 2015 software slate, which includes games such as Uncharted 4: A Thief's End and Bloodborne, among others.

The event will be held December 6 and 7 in Las Vegas at a "huge" venue. One-day passes will sell for $50, while two-day tickets will go for $90. More details regarding the show are expected to be announced today, October 20.

Jeffries: Sony "vastly undervalued" -- Upcoming Sony Events

At Barron's Blog

"We believe Sony group profit performance will increasingly be driven by Content, Games and Device businesses. 

Sony managed to put all the bad news behind it with the September write-down of ¥180b of non-cash, one-off impairment charge of smartphone goodwill. 

We are approaching 3 major events: 
(1) results this week, Oct 31st, 
(2) IR events on Nov, 17th (Content) and Nov, 25th (Electronics) in Tokyo, and 
(3) Games event (PlayStation Experience) in Vegas on Dec 6-7th. With almost all the bad news out and priced in, we believe investors will do well to go with a long position on these events."

Link to HP Event today

http://reimagine.hp.com



The projector is not Microvision. There isn't any reason for it to be. The Sprout has a fixed focal length and with the machine plugged into a wall, so DLP is adequate for the job. This will have more people seeing the interesting things projection can do however, which benefits Microvision. 

Projector specs from the website referenced above:

"HP Illuminator, powered by the HP DLP Projector, the HP High-Resolution Camera with up to 14.6 megapixel resolution and the Intel® RealSense™ 3D Camera for instant capture of 2D and 3D objects, along with an LED desk lamp"

From Concept Phones

This is scraped, because I'm a little dubious of the stability of the site.

I have been watching this site for a long time... it's kind of like a "wishing" platform. The stuff people wish they could get ends up here -- I'm not sure how firmly actual physics is considered in the designs.

This is an excellent look at the potential of PicoP -- whether or not you can wrap it around your wrist, it already can do everything they show.


Please visit Concept Phones

I can’t shake the feeling I’ve seen this concept before… Anyway, meet the Apple iWear, a flexible phone also serving as a bracelet, that can curved smoothly on your wrist. The creation of Sunfer Ho, this device seems to date from before iOS 8, as shown by the older on screen UI.

The product is sleek, slim and seems to adopt a pretty bizarre top and bottom area. There’s a flexible display in the mix and the iWear also uses a flexible PCB, flexible battery and an antimagnetic material, plus a magnetic flexible body. Apparently, the iWear also includes a projector and even does motion sensing, replacing a Kinect or Wii. It incorporates a microphone, speaker and the material mentioned here sounds pretty sci fi, since I can’t recall a real one that has all these properties.

So, we’re dealing with a bracelet that’s also a phone, it’s flexible, thin, it has a projector and a 3D camera. Well, there would have to be one hell of a battery inside to juice up this gear, or a brand new type of power source to make it work. What do you think?

[via Yanko Design]

Thanks Allesandro

Microsoft to make Enterprise Mobility Management Announcements

Not particularly hopeful that this involves us, but it is our area and it's a place to watch.

Microsoft To Make Some Major Announcements That Will Be Game-Changing In The Enterprise Mobility Management Industry

Follow  this Twitter Feed
Microsoft is planning to make some major announcements that will be game-changing in the Enterprise Mobility Management industry. Brad Anderson, Corporate Vice President for Enterprise Client and Mobility said that these announcements are going to raise the expectations enterprises have about what EMM should do for them. He will be covering each of the announcements in his blog and discuss in detail what each one means, its benefits, and how to get started.

The first announcement is just few days away!

TV -- Everywhere -- Surging

From BroadcastingCable.com

This speaks well for the PicoP ecosystem! Microvision will be helping to change the appearance of the American living room. Soon it will not be pointed at a television.

Total amount of authenticated viewing of TV online skyrockets by 338% according to new report from Adobe

Adobe’s new bi-annual Video Benchmark Report finds that viewers rapidly increasing their consumption of TV everywhere offerings, with the number of video starts of authenticated content jumping by 388% from the second quarter of 2013 to the second quarter of 2014.

Big events like the Olympics, March Madness and the World Cup were particularly important drivers in TV everywhere usage, the report found.

Broadcast and cable networks also saw a sharp 81% increase in monthly consumption of authenticated episodic content from 3.1 episodes a month in 2013 to 5.6 shows a month in the current report.

Authenticated sports content had a more modest increase of 31% from 3.2 sporting events a year ago to 4.2 sporting events a month.

Overall the second quarter of 2014 saw 38.2 billion online video starts, up 47.3% from a year earlier.

In terms of ads, viewers watch 2.08 ads per video start in the second quarter of 2014, climbing 25.8% from a year earlier.

The upsurge in consumption was based on 165 billion total online video starts and 1.53 billion online TV authentications from 1,300 media and entertainment sites measured by Adobe Analytics and Adobe Primetime.

A video discussing the trends can be found here and the full report here.

The data showed that unique monthly viewers accessing network content from browsers and apps jumped by 146% year over year on all their online TV platforms.

And that growth seems to be accelerating. Just the last six months, the unique visitors grew 85%.

Also for the first time, Adobe reported that watching movies online is more popular than watching sports content. Movie networks saw a 125% increase year over year from two movies to 4.5 movies per month.

The report found that viewing continues to fragment across platforms.

Game consoles and OTT devices were the fastest growing way to access content. Their market share nearly doubled, jumping 194% of the last year, from 3% of the device types used to consume online TV content to 10% in the current report.

Apps for Apple’s iOS are still the most popular way to access online TV, with a 51% market share, up from 48% in 2013.

But Android apps continue to grow rapidly, from 16% to a 20% market share. In contrast browsers declined by 41% from 33% in 2013 to 19% in the current report.

Smartphone consumption also grew rapidly and now accounts for 13.6% of online video starts, up from 8.5% a year earlier. Interestingly, tablets fell behind smart phones and grew at a slower rate from 10.1% market share in the second quarter of 2014 to 13% in the most recent report.

Overall, smartphones and tablets were used in 26% of online video views, making them an increasingly important device category for online video consumption.

But people tend to view content for longer times on desktops. Overall Adobe reports that users who watched at least 25% of a video were three times more likely to reach 75% completion of a video.

In contrast, only 16.6% of videos on smartphones were watched three quarters of the way through.

Lenovo Projectors could cost Apple Market share

At the Fool

Get the complete article at TheFool.. I have clipped key statements, and adjusted the emphasis.

The last paragraph isn't directly related to THIS product, but does show the kind of market penetration a part of a common consumer electronic device can get... I like that last paragraph so I left it.


Recent comparison of the Projector Lenovo is using vs. Microvision's PicoP

Will Lenovo’s Yoga Tablet 2 Pro Kill Apple’s iPad Air 2?

By Leo Sun
October 21, 2014

Lenovo recently unveiled the Yoga Tablet 2 Pro, a 13.3-inch Android tablet with two 1.5W front-facing speakers, a 5W JBL subwoofer, and a built-in projector. The device was reportedly designed with input from Ashton Kutcher, who has been channeling Steve Jobs (whom he portrayed in Jobs) after being hired as Lenovo's spokesman and "product engineer" last year.

Apple unveiled two tablets at its iPad event on Oct. 16: the 9.7-inch iPad Air 2, which is 18% slimmer than its predecessor, and the 7.9-inch iPad Mini 3, which features Touch ID and slightly better cameras. The long-rumored iPad Pro, which could have a 12.9-inch display, was noticeably absent.

Lenovo's Yoga Tablet 2 Pro. Source: Lenovo

Comparing the Yoga Tablet 2 Pro to Apple's iPad Air 2 raises some interesting comparisons. Whereas Lenovo is storming ahead with daring designs which may or may not resonate with users, Apple's new iPads felt uninspired.

The curious business of bigger tabletsDespite Apple's troubles with the iPad, interest in other tablets isn't declining. Gartner forecasts that global tablet shipments will climb 11% year over year and hit 229 million units in 2014. While that's a disappointing drop from the 55% growth in tablet sales between 2012 and 2013, it doesn't explain why Apple's iPad sales are falling year over year.

******** 

HP's Envy Rove. Source: HP

A 13-inch tablet, which is the size of a midsize laptop, seems to be more practical as a portable device. However, 13-inch tablets don't feel necessary when compared to lightweight 13-inch laptops or convertibles. That's probably why Lenovo added a built-in projector and impressive sound system as additional incentives, and why Apple is reluctant to launch a comparable device.

Yoga Tablet 2 Pro vs. iPad Air 2, by the numbersTo see if the Yoga Tablet 2 Pro can actually steal customers away from Apple, however, we should take a look at how their specs stack up against each other:

	CPU/RAM	Battery	Weight	Cameras	Extras	Price
Apple iPad Air 2 (9.7 inch)	64-bit A8X, 2GB	10 hours	0.96 lb.(Wi-Fi) 0.98 lb.(Wi-Fi/Cellular)	8 MP rear, 1.2 MP front	Touch ID	$499 (16GB Wi-Fi) to $829 (128GB Wi-Fi/Cellular)
Lenovo Yoga Tablet 2 Pro (13.3 inch)	Intel Atom Z3745, 2GB	15 hours	2.09 lbs.	8 MP rear, 1.6 MP front	Projector, subwoofer	$500 (32GB)

Source: Company websites

The Yoga Tablet 2 Pro is more than twice as heavy as the iPad Air 2, although it offers a larger screen, 50% better battery life, a better front-facing camera, and a built-in projector and subwoofer. Moreover, the $500 model offers twice as much internal storage as a comparably priced iPad Air 2. That could be enough to steal the spotlight from the iPad Air 2, which only offers incremental improvements over its predecessor.

****

The takeawayThe iPad looks like it's headed down the same path as the iPod. It will be slimmed down in different colors, but demand will drop off as sales are cannibalized by other products and current users stop upgrading their devices every year.

Lenovo's Yoga Tablet 2 Pro might not wipe out the iPad Air 2, but it's certainly more innovative than anything Apple showed us on Oct. 16. If Lenovo starts to get even crazier with its designs -- such as slapping projectors and subwoofers on smaller tablets -- Apple could lose market share in tablets a lot faster than investors expect.

Apple Watch revealed: The real winner is inside
Apple recently revealed the product of its secret-development "dream team" -- Apple Watch. The secret is out, and some early viewers are claiming its everyday impact could trump the iPod, iPhone, and the iPad. In fact, ABI Research predicts 485 million of this type of device will be sold per year. But one small company makes Apple's gadget possible. And its stock price has nearly unlimited room to run for early-in-the-know investors. To be one of them, and see where the real money is to be made, just click here!

Leo Sun owns shares of Apple. The Motley Fool recommends Apple. The Motley Fool owns shares of Apple. Try any of our Foolish newsletter services free for 30 days. We Fools may not all hold the same opinions, but we all believe that considering a diverse range of insightsmakes us better investors. The Motley Fool has a disclosure policy.

HP Sprout

We haven't heard of this before. They are good at keeping things quiet.... I will search hard on this and see if I find more evidence one way or another, but we don't have long to wait to see this product. (I am curious if it seems like Sony's Lifespace)

HP Will Unveil New Computing Product Called Sprout Next Week

October 21, 2014, 11:27 AM PDT

******** Updated October 25 ************

From DomainB.com

"The Sprout has been developed by a former Apple executive, Eric Monsef. A report from Re/code, said Sprout would consist of three main parts: ''a flat touch-enabled surface, a large flat screen display similar to HP's line of Pavilion desktops and an overhead assembly that includes a 3D scanner and projector.'' 

********** Updated October 22 ***********
From 3D Printing Industry

From ZDnet

Could HP Sprout rhyme with this Microsoft Research concept?

From Microsoft News

"It will be a new kind of computing product that combines 3D scanner and projection. Read about it below.

The product combines a large flat-screen display — similar to its Pavilion Touchsmart line of touch-enabled desktop PCs — with a flat touch-enabled work surface and an overhead assembly that combines a projector and a 3-D scanner, according to people who’ve seen it.

The overhead device projects images downward onto the work surface, which users can manipulate with their hands or with a stylus. They can resize pictures, move elements around and change colors. They can also easily add new elements to the image by scanning objects or other images directly on the work surface. This is where the overhead 3-D scanner comes into play. Adding an image of any object is as easy as placing it on the work surface where it can be scanned and then included in whatever the user is working on

This Sprout PC will be based on Windows and there is no info on the price."

*****************************

Note at RanSquawk

Article at Re/Code

When Hewlett-Packard announced it would split in two — one company devoted to PCs and printing; the other to enterprise IT — CEO Meg Whitman said one area the PC side would explore is, “new computing experiences.”

Sources familiar with the matter tell Re/code that HP will demonstrate one of them at an event in New York on Oct. 29, with a product it is calling Sprout.

The product combines a large flat screen display — similar to its Pavilion Touchsmart lineof touch-enabled desktop PCs — with a flat touch-enabled work surface, and an overhead assembly that combines a projector and a 3-D scanner, according to people who’ve seen it.

The overhead device projects images downward onto the work surface, which users can manipulate their hands or with a stylus. They can resize pictures, move elements around and change colors. They can also easily add new elements to the image by scanning objects or other images directly on the work surface. This is where the overhead 3D scanner comes into play. Adding an image of any object at hand — is as easy as placing it on the work surface where it can be scanned and then included in whatever the user is working on. read the rest of the article at Re/Code

The following from Softpedia

The press release itself will happen in New York City on October 29, which is next Wednesday. There will actually be two events, one at 9:00AM – 12PM, and the second from 6:00PM – 9:00PM. No clues exist for the specific topics of either of them.

Lenovo Yoga Tablet 2 Pro - Ashton Kutcher, design Engineer

Lenovo has adopted a projector in one of its latest offerings. I think that rocks. It's a great idea. 

I do think he would have done even better with a different projector module - there's always the updated version!

Ashton Kutcher: Good job as product engineer on the Yoga!

Microvision has a projector that could improve it significantly.

• Infinite focus -- even if the surface is uneven the image will be in perfect focus
• Bright & clear with brilliant colors -- immersive experience
• Low energy consumption for very long battery life

Image resolution:
Lenovo Yoga Projector:     854 x 480 

Microvision's PicoP:           1920 x 720; aspect ratio 16:9

Ease of use:

Lenovo Yoga Projector:     Requires focus adjustment

Microvision's PicoP:           ALWAYS in focus, even on an uneven surface.

Microvision's PicoP has a better throw ratio too, uses less energy for longer battery life as well.

www.Microvision.com

(425) 936-MVIS (6847)

Lenovo Yoga @ Lenovo.com

Lenovo Yoga Tablet 2 ProFeatures

Performance for Work and Play with Intel® Inside

Wake in a flash, quickly open files and photos, and seamlessly switch between apps without any delay.

Revolutionary Built-in Projector

An industry first for a tablet, the Yoga Tablet 2 Pro boasts a new way to watch videos and movies: a built-in projector. Turn any dark room into a home theater while projecting up to a 50” image on any wall or screen.

Immersive Sound That Stands on Its Own

The Yoga Tablet 2 Pro's integrated 8W sound system gives you a rich, immersive audio experience — the likes of which has never been featured in a tablet form factor. Just check out these features: premium JBL® front-facing, large-chamber speakers with subwoofer, Wolfson® Master HiFi™ audio processing and Dolby® surround sound.

Four Ways to Use Your Tablet

Yoga Tablet 2 Pro’s innovative design places a battery cylinder and kickstand on the side of the device, shifting the center of gravity and opening up multiple ways to use it: Hold, Tilt, Stand, and Hang. That means there are four different ways to enjoy media content, games, and more.

Epic Battery Life

Yoga Tablet 2 Pro keeps going over the long haul with its off-the-charts battery life. Its battery lasts up to 15 hours* so you can go all day – and into the night – without recharging. The secret: Yoga Tablet’s unique, cylinder-shaped side chamber allows more room for battery storage – and more time between charges.
*Battery life is an estimated maximum. Actual battery life may vary based on many factors.
For full testing details, refer to http://www.lenovo.com/battery-info/

Ultra High-Def Display with a Wide Viewing Angle

Yoga Tablet 2 Pro’s dazzling 13.3” QHD (2560 x 1440) display delivers stunning high definition visuals – and you and your friends can enjoy them from a wide, 178 degree viewing angle thanks to the display’s in-plane switching (IPS) technology.

Advanced Rear Camera

Enjoy a new way to take beautiful photos with the Yoga Tablet 2 Pro’s 8MP rear camera, which boasts an f2.2 wide-aperture lens, advanced glare-reducing glass, and a BSI 2 sensor.

Lenovo DOit Apps

Do more with your Yoga Tablet 2 Pro with premium Lenovo applications like SHAREit, which lets you share files quickly without network charges or a WiFi connection and SYNCit, which backs up and restores your contacts and SMS messages.

iPhone 7 -- THIS year?

I had to post this because it's out there. 

It is possible... so far the genesis of this is what I regard as dubious.

I'll be looking for more than a little confirmation before I give this much weight.

(scraped, because I suspect the article may disappear.)

From KDramaStars

(scraped article below, but please visit the site anyway, to see the article in it's natural ecosystem.)

iPhone 7 Specs And Release Date: Coming This Year? New iPhone With Built-In Projector Slated For Late 2014 Launch? More Details Exposed

BY Edelweiss Snow | Oct 20, 2014 01:27 AM EDT

iPhone 7 specs and release date rumors start to circulate after Apple released new gadgets recently.

Rumors are even starting to point at the possibility of having another Apple launch this year, this time for the iPhone 7.

This assumption has been made after Morgan Stanley analyst Katy Huberty implied that Apple now has devised a way for multiple product launches in a year.  Her statement was timely released after a meeting with Apple CEO Time Cook and CFO Peter Oppenheimer.

Read more: http://www.kdramastars.com/articles/46155/20141020/iphone-7-specs-and-release-date-coming-this-year-new-iphone-with-built-in-projector-2014-launch.htm#ixzz3GhJoiOpZ


From iPhone7 Blog (very partial, read the post.)

Projector

iPhone 7 is the next generation smartphone and is expected to be loaded with some amazing and exclusive features and functions that will rule the market. Apple is said to be working on developing a built-in projector for its new device. Moreover, if Apple successfully installs this application in the device, fans will certainly enjoy this app and eagerly look forward for its launch. Projector will also enable users to project their presentations or movies on a wall or flat surface, thus enriching the viewing experience of smartphone users.

From Pulse NG

According to rumours, Apple's iPhone 7 may hit the market this year after the company rolled out new gadgets recently.

This assumption was made after Morgan Stanley analyst, Katy Huberty implied that Apple has now devised a way for launching multiple products in one year.

Her timely statement was released after a meeting with Apple CEO, Time Cook and CFO, Peter Oppenheimer.

Hunerty's statement along with the fact that Apple released two iPhones in 2013 - iPhone 5s and 5c - made the rumour even more convincing. According to her, this development which can be likened to the quick release of the iPad 3 and 4, might also up the ante in iPhone updates and releases.

Despite the promising statement, Huberty did not confirm any specific plan for the iPhone line, including the highly-anticipated iPhone 7 release date. Also, considering that Apple did release two iPhones this year - the iPhone 6 and 6 Plus - the possibility of releasing the iPhone 7 this year seems very unlikely.

However, despite the unofficial iPhone 7 specs and release date rumours, Apple smartphone fanatics are still looking forward to the ne iPhone 7 which boasts of better battery life and possibly even a built-in projector. 

According to the blog iPhone7update.com, the new iPhone 7 battery will be using organic materials to replace traditional Li-On batteries. This new battery technology promises to give extended hours of battery life. The blog also claims that Apple has been working on built-in projector technology for future iPhones and iPads.  

The projector will enable users to automatically project presentations or movies without having to connect their phones to a separate equipment. If this would prove to be successful, the iPhone 7 might be the first Apple product to debut the technology.

Fantastic Application!

Sorry I've been a little slow the last few days... I've been on assignment.

Microvision at CES 2015

Yes, disappointed we haven't had an announcement yet. But certain one is coming soon. 

Three Suites:

Booth Location(s):
Westgate, Hospitality - Suite 469
Westgate, Hospitality - Suite 569
Westgate, Hospitality - Suite 571

ABOUT MICROVISION, INC.

MicroVision is the creator of PicoP® display technology, an ultra-miniature laser projection solution for mobile consumer electronics, automotive head-up displays and other applications. MicroVision’s patented display technology helps OEMs break down display boundaries created by small screens.

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