Lenovo Loves Projection

Lenovo Blog

June 9 Live Event Link (10AM-1PM Pacific Time)

More at source.

Customers loved the projector, and their reaction helped spur integration of projectors into other products. For the past two years, our R&D teams have refined that technology and looked for the best opportunities to deliver a bigger, more sharable display to different customers – even business users. Earlier this year we launched our first module-based tablet, the ThinkPad X1 Tablet, which features swappable modules for extreme productivity, including a projector so you can easily present and share your screen.

Lenovo Smart Cast 

We’re also looking at which future products could benefit from a projector, and started with our Smart Cast smartphone concept product unveiled at Tech World 2015.

Equipped with an infrared camera sensor, the Smart Cast projector displays a virtual keyboard and responds to user gestures like typing. If brought to market, these type of advancements in projector technology will allow us to move beyond the traditional limitations of a physical device. Imagine – any tabletop or flat surface could be instantly turned into a keyboard for greater productivity and flexibility. You can see its potential brought to life in this virtual piano-playing demo from Tech World 2015.

As we as consumers continue to choose extremely mobile multimedia-optimized devices, I expect we’re going to see more and more products with second-screen capabilities, integrated or attachable – whether it’s a smartphone with a camera/projector combination, a laptop that projects a bigger display or even a projector that can be bought as a stand-alone device, like our pocket Pico projector.

Lenovo ThinkPad -- with Projector Module

It appears that the shape of the projector module is the same as the projector they had on the Yoga - so, so far, I would assume DLP for this module.

I would also assume that they have been seeing some success with the projector in their Yoga series -- so this is good news for us if they're continuing with DLP, and great news for us if it's been converted to PicoP.

From ZDnet

"Entering product range is a modular tablet, the ThinkPad X1 Tablet, which comes with three clip-on modules: A five-hour battery module that extends the length of time that the tablet can be used, from 10 hours to 15 hours; a projector module that includes a pico projector and an HDMI port; and an imaging module that makes use of an Intel RealSense camera."


From GSMarena

Several optional add-ons can bring additional functionality like a built-in projector, which promises a 60" image at 2 meters, a 3D Intel RealSense camera and the battery module. There's a single USB 3.0, one USB Type-C, HDMI and mini DisplayPort. You also get a fingerprint sensor and LTE too.



From TheVerge

Windows tablet, you can attach three modules to the bottom to transform it into a laptop, projector, or a 3D camera. The modules look like battery packs, and the “productivity” one extends battery life by an additional five hours alongside HDMI and USB ports. 

Lenovo’s "presenter" module includes a pico projector to project a 60-inch display out of the bottom of the ThinkPad X1....

...My first impression here is that Lenovo hasn’t perfected the tablet laptop hybrid, but its additional modules are an interesting concept. Unfortunately, those won’t come bundled with the ThinkPad X1 tablet. The 3D camera or additional battery / ports modules are $149, and the projector is even more at $279. Lenovo is planning to launch the ThinkPad X1 tablet in February priced at $899, so you’re looking at more than $1000 if you want the full functionality of the modules.