Conference Call Scheduled

Business Wire

REDMOND, Wash.--(BUSINESS WIRE)--

MicroVision, Inc. (MVIS), a leader in innovative ultra-miniature projection display and imaging technology, today announced it will host a conference call to discuss its third quarter 2015 financial and operating results on Thursday, November 5, 2015 at 8:30 a.m. ET/5:30 a.m. PT. 

Participants may join the conference call by dialing 1-800-446-1671 (for U.S. participants) or +1-847-413-3362 (for international participants) ten minutes prior to the start of the call. The conference call pass code number is 41033401. A live webcast of the call can be accessed from the company’s web site in the Investor Events Calendar section from the Investors page. A replay of this call will be available after 8:00 a.m. PT the day of the conference call through the same link or by calling 1 (888) 843-7419 (U.S.) or +1-630-652-3042 (international), pass code 4103 3401#. The call-in replay will be available through November 12, 2015.

Project Loon to Indonesia

The ecosystem for a new product is extremely important. If a product lands in  the right place at the right time, mass adoption can be very swift.

The best quick example is the fax machine. It was a great machine, but it's adoption had to be relatively slow. If you have a machine that can send and receive documents and no one else has one, then your machine doesn't do you any good. Early adopters would have purchased pairs of them - one for each remote office.

Look at virtual reality. If there are virtual reality headsets, they can be the most awesome devices ever created, but if there isn't any content for them, they will fail.

Now look at PicoP. Big screen in a small package. For it to succeed -there has to be content. There is a HUGE amount of content that's available online and accessible through mobile devices. 

The other essential is bandwidth. Widespread networks that can deliver the content to mobile devices. In much of the world this isn't a problem. In other parts of the world it's a significant problem.

Google is working on a solution to this that we should pay attention to. They are going to provide access to all of Indonesia in a very unique way, and apparently very soon.

Google Project Loon - DNA India

Indonesia is the fourth country following Brazil, New Zealand, and Australia, where Project Loon will beam down internet access to smartphones. The balloons fly about 20km above the Earth's surface, moving with the wind to reposition, and forming one large communications array. This technology is particularly useful in countries like Indonesia, which is a collection of about 17,000 islands with mountains and jungles in between, making it difficult to install cell towers or fibre optic cables.

ChinaTopix

Project Loon at Google
 

#Goodweird

Not PicoP yet, but our specs are better... they'll be our customer. They like embedded projectors.

HighSnobiety

Interesting about Samsung's Profit Center

It's NOT smartphones -- it's the components & chips it makes and sells to others.

SONY is concentrating on components, and PicoP is very much a component they intend to sell to other OEMS.

Phone Arena

How did they start showing profit and raise estimates? Smartphone sales...?

...it wasn't solely the warmly received Samsung Galaxy S6, S6 edge, Note5, and S6 edge+; or the attractively positioned A-series of upper mid-range handsets that turned its fortunes around.
Rather, it may have been two things, in particular. First, Samsung Electronics reduced the intervals between its high-profile smartphone releases, outing the Galaxy Note5 and Galaxy S6 edge+ a good month before Apple pushed the iPhone 6s and 6s Plus. This strategy may have helped the company preserve its market share by not letting its main smartphone rival whisk attention immediately. 

In this line of thought, analysts expect an unusually early January reveal for Samsung's next flagship smartphone, the Galaxy S7. It is said that suppliers will begin mass-producing components for the device this December. In addition, Samsung Pay, the company's mobile payments system, will back a strategy of attracting and locking in users to its devices. The system is operational in South Korea and America, with users in Korea numbering 1 million.

Second, Samsung Electronics has a huge semiconductor operation whose steady profits make up for the sustained losses in its smartphone business. Analysts note that "solid demand" for memory chips and other semiconductor components used in smartphones, along with "a cyclical upswing" in prices, led to growth that now accounts for half of Samsung Electronics' profits! However, this doesn't mean the semiconductor business is a safe haven, for researchers at Gartner project a 17% revenue decline next year, due to "potential oversupply" in the DRAM memory market. However, Samsung's chipmaking division does have its work cut out for it, having secured Apple and Qualcomm as manufacturing clients for present and upcoming 14nm application processors.

For Example, Samsung is looking to supply OLED screens to Apple

Sony Conference Call - MPCL1 and PicoP engines mentioned

The most interesting thing to me was how quickly they answered that they couldn't respond to this question. I hope the questioner gets to us about what the after the call follow up included.

My guess is that the questioner asked about the dimensions of the one engine, because then they'll be able to determine which engine they already measured... 

CC Link
Sony Corporation Conference Call for Overseas Investors for the Second Quarter Ended September 30, 2015.

Thursday, October 29, 2015 | 9:00 AM EDT / 1:00PM GMT  / 10:PM JST


38:22  Eric Chamber from Electromotive (I was unable to hear this well enough to be sure what either name was though.)

Yes Hi, I have a question regarding your MPCL1, that you are producing in your CXN 0102 & CXN 0103 -- would you be able to comment about dimensions or rough dimensions for the 102,  do you have customers for these engines, and is it ready for production?

39:11 -- difficult time hearing question, I believe you're saying something about our picoprojector?

Yeah, I am sorry, I can repeat the question: You are introducing the MPCL1 picoprojector. In your website,  you show that you have the projector modules, or the engines that you are developing, the cxn0102 and the cxn01013, I am wondering if you can comment on the rough dimensions for the 102, if you have any customers lined up or interested in this product, and also if it ready for production.

39:50

At the moment unfortunately we are unable to comment on the specific products you are talking about. If you'd like, feel free to follow up after this call. 

New Lenovo Tablet Has Projector

Still looking for details about this. I haven't yet gotten confirmation of the projector specs, but a close inspection of the images associated with the article indicate that it's a DLP projector.  

Increasing popularity of pico projection will be good for MicroVision. This appearance does tell us a couple of things that are significant: 

• Large OEMS are looking at pico projectors.
• There was enough interest in Lenovo's first Yoga Tablet with PicoProjector that they did it again.

They have adjusted the location of the projector, and bumped up it's power a little bit. 

I'm pretty sure SONY component sales people have knocked on the door of Lenovo.

ZDNet

The Yoga Tab 3 Pro's integrated pico-projector can't be used when you're working in 'stand' mode as it's flush to your desk, but it has a free line of sight to a projecting surface in all other modes.

Lenovo says the Yoga Tab 3 Pro can project images up to 70 inches across -- a considerable increase on the Yoga Tablet 2 Pro's 50 inches. We found its performance to be very impressive. Its 50-lumen brightness makes it viable to use in dimly-lit rooms during the daytime, although in a brightly lit office it will likely suffer from washed-out colours. An app lets you select pre-saved content, and is very easily bypassed.

The projector is undoubtedly the star of the Yoga Tab 3 Pro show, and it should prove useful both at work and at home. It's easy to operate, and is complemented by good battery life and an above-average audio subsystem.

Chinese Smartphone Features Built-in Projector

The specs listed don't match up to SONY's known PicoP engine, and there are few specs here.

Whether or not this is MicroVision's technology in here, it shows active interest in the concept that MicroVision will benefit from. 

I DO NOT KNOW WHETHER OR NOT THERE IS MICROVISION IN THIS DEVICE.

It's not anything we haven't seen before, but it does appear that Chinese manufacturer Oukitel has a new handset that includes a projector, the Oukitel U7 Pro. Back in 2012, the Samsung Galaxy Beam offered a similar feature. The latter came with a built-in 15-lumen pico projector built-in, that could beam content to a 50-inch screen. Samsung eventually produced a sequel two-years later, the Samsung Galaxy Beam 2.

The Oukitel U7 Pro (we're guessing that Pro is short for projector) can be used during business meetings to project files on meeting room walls. At home, or while away, you can watch your favorite films on any wall. The image is beamed at a resolution of 720 x 1280 at 50 lumen. This should be an improvement from the 480 x 800 resolution images beamed by the Galaxy Beam 2.

I Note that the image provided, the phone looks thicker, and could probably fit the SONY picop engine we know.  WE DON'T KNOW who's projector they're using. (I do not see a focus wheel.)

At GizChina

At GizChina On October 9, with no Projector Mention

I find this interesting. This is the kind of thing that I kind of expect to happen with a real PicoP release... the OEM gets everyone excited about all the other specs of the phone and springs the projector on everyone.

That's one of the reasons I've been closely watching MicroMax and their "World's most powerful smartphone"  announcements. MicroMax is innovative enough to be an early adopter of PicoP technology.

As I find more about this phone -- I'll do some digging... and will post it here.

Oukitel Website

Pioneer Cyber Navi -- Game on.

There are a lot of irons in the fire at MicroVision.

The management has made it clear that some things require active MicroVision participation to keep going, with other things, they have done their work and are waiting for the other OEMS to do what they have to do with the tech.

Many of us who follow the company forget about the seeds that have been planted, and that we're waiting to sprout. I believe that many of them WILL sprout. 

(The interested 50 OEMS -- they're STILL out there, and they still know the tech and want to incorporate it into their products.... we may hear less about them now that we have a strong partner in SONY who is working to make components for many other manufacturers.)

CyberNavi from this blog

The CyberNavi absolutely uses MicroVision Technology. It didn't sell well, because it was attached to a Pioneer system that required about a $3,000 investment before the HUD could even be added to it.

There are some suspicions that the HUD company from Vancouver BC is using the Pioneer hardware. (It looks very familiar)  Iris Hud  -- I had tried to get specific information from them, and I'm always dubious of anything crowd-funded, but there they are.

Based on image comparisons, they're the same.

Iris HUD

Pioneer CyberNavi

Pioneer - About Japan Auto Show

In addition, we will display and propose 3D-LiDAR, a driving space sensor, and new AR (augmented reality) HUD (Head-up Display) Unit, both of which are under development, as well as a variety of telematics services that utilize big data. Other exhibits will include examples of in-vehicle applications of OLED lighting.

Visitors will also enjoy taking a look at CYBER NAVI and Raku NAVI, our car navigation systems equipped with advanced functions, showcased in a zone for regular displays.

JDPower HUD Systems Ranked (From Last week!)

The Alpine Big X Series ranks highest for a fourth consecutive year, with a score of 589, an increase of 16 points from 2014. The Alpine Big X Series has improved significantly—by at least 10 points—in all four factors, except operation/ user interface.

The Pioneer Cyber Navi Series ranks second at 555, improving by 6 points from 2014. The Kenwood MDV Series ranks third, with a score of 544.

Thanks whoever found this and posted it on the Yahoo Message board

New About SONY

Interesting news from SONY today, the newest news from an out of the way place.

First, from a review of the SONY FMPX10 4K Ultra HD Media Player: Here's a KEY bit of information we should pay attention to:

From 4K.com

"he final awesome feature of the FMP X10. In addition to the streaming content options it offers, this particular device also delivers access to Sony’s huge Video Unlimited 4K content library. We’re talking about hundreds of hours of 4K UHD feature content, movies, documentaries and other programming, all available for downloading and with a number of the most popular movie titles available pre-loaded to get you started watching and seeing the content quality in native 4K right out of the box."

If they include content with their devices, this will be a superb perk for new owners of PicoP devices when they start including memory (either included in a phone, game system sled, or stand-alone device.) I'm quite confident that a device like MPCL1 that includes a TV tuner (streaming & on air) and memory (like a TiVO) included will happen soon. Only because it makes so much sense to do so. When it does, it could come loaded with a lot of SONY content.  [ I've been saying this for a while, go back here: "Thoughts on Apple TV" & "Sony TV Tuner"

SONY CEO at Wall Street Journal (More at the article)

"MR. BAKER: You think one of your core growth areas is going to be making parts for phones and cameras and various other things.

MR. HIRAI: Indeed. We’ve always had cutting-edge image-sensor technology, both in terms of the technology of the sensors themselves, as well as the manufacturing that goes into it. And we have the No. 1 market share. We’ve had that for a long time. And we want to make sure that that’s part of a strategy for continued growth of Sony."

PicoP is a nice part for a phone or a camera...

Sony buys Toshiba Image Sensor Business

TOKYO—Sony Corp. is likely to strengthen its image sensor business by acquiring a competing arm from Toshiba Corp., people familiar with the matter said Saturday.

Rethink Wireless

Whatever the future of this activity, Sony is certainly shifting its emphasis to areas where it has greater competitive strength, including displays and various types of sensor chips. Hence the reported bid for the Toshiba unit, which Bloomberg sources said would cost it ¥20bn ($165m). Toshiba is looking to raise case after a recent accounting scandal removed $1.3bn from its profit figure since 2008.

Sony supplies CMOS smartphone imaging chips to Apple and Samsung, among others, and is the market leader with about 40% share of the $8.7bn pie. It is pushing this expertise into other devices, such as gaming consoles and wearables, too, as the sector looks set to grow sharply to about $12bn by 2019.

Sony is targeting a revenue increase of 62% by 2018, which would bring in ¥1.5 trillion. Acquiring Toshiba's unit would add about 100,000 units a month and up to ¥70bn in additional sales, and operating income of up to ¥20bn, according to estimates by SMBC Nikko Securities. Toshiba supplies CMOS image sensors to Microsoft, HTC, LG and Nikon, among others. The most important element of its dowry would be its plant in Oita, which would increase Sony's output capacity - seen recently as a potential brake on its growth.

And also posted recently

SONY to Build new smartphone factory

MPCL1 Gaming Ad, Korea

I think this shows how good this will be for gaming. 

It did also remind me of an older post (OF A CONCEPT) that could be an excellent application for PicoP. (linked below.) I would have posted the video itself, but anything that mentions the fruit company tends to get an over-reaction.




iController

Sony to Build first new Smartphone Factory in 20 years

From Xperia Blog

From Nekkei

Sony Mobile will launch a new smartphone factory in Thailand, which will be the first Sony plant dedicated to its mobile business in 20 years. The factory will consists of a start-to-finish production system that will cover all steps through o assembly. Production at the plant is expected to begin in fiscal 2016 with Sony producing several million units of Xperia smartphones per year.

Initial investment is expected to be in the region of several billion yen according to a report from Nikkei, with a production line to be added to an existing site in Pathum Thani Province that was suspended since the 2011 floods in the region. 

The previous plant built 20 years ago was in partnership with three local partners, having full ownership of the Thailand plant will lead to speedier decision making. The news sends a strong message that Sony is committed to the mobile space and that it has no plans to give up just yet.

First Modular Smartphone

So, a smartphone designed with an expansion port, with standard connections? Sounds like something made for PicoP.

Perhaps SONY or Sharp will see a window to produce some PicoP modules for this. (It remains to be seen whether this will be popular enough to make it fiscally feasible -- but this is a place to watch. If they can create a STANDARD for cellphone expansion devices, then that feasibility will exist sooner rather than later. (Look to USB C!) 

Most smartphones out in the market try to dazzle consumers with their vivid display, powerful chipsets, enormous storage capacities and innovative features, but the Dutch-based startup Fairphone is planning on making a unique mark, taking a different approach with its modular smartphone.

The Fairphone 2 isn't alone in the modular smartphone scene, though, as Project Ara is in the works as well — for some time now actually. However, it seems that the Dutch startup beat Google to rolling out a consumer-ready modular handset.

The Fairphone 2 has seven essential assembly components, which are the battery, display, main chassis and back cover as well as the receiver, speaker and rear camera modules.

What's impressive is the back cover's expansion port, where users can install additional apparatuses such as NFC chips, wireless charging coils and even solar cells.

Every module is held in place by Phillips screws of the same size, so there's no need to remember which screw is where. The modules also have blue circles to indicate where the screws go.

The Fairphone 2 comes with a $580 price tag, and it's designed to last. It looks like Fairphone is swinging things into high gear and leaving Project Ara in the dust, as it's launching in select European countries in December 2015 and will arrive in other countries by 2016.

Reuters and Orlando Sentinel & Entrepreneur Magazine

Orlando Sentinel

Entrepreneur

"With smartphones becoming ever more elaborate, one might think that there's little left to surprise users. But Japan's Sharp Corporation have brought us RoBoHoN, a robot smartphone that employs facial recognition and a two-inch touchscreen embedded in its back for making calls, sending texts, and surfing the web."

RoBoHoN can also project images onto any surface from short distances with its in-built forehead projector and even call a cab for its user.



Getting traction in more mainstream kinds of media is just what we need. As services like Reuters get it, it will end up in more places like Orlando Sentinel.

Chinese MPCL1 Review

Thanks for the heads-up Joe

Chinese Review Source Translation from Google Translate.

Lightweight and convenient to carry Sony MPCL1 good portable mini projector

Preface:
Video equipment is very advanced now, like a lot of high-end flagship phone or have support 4K video camera, any memorable pictures are instantly will shoot it down, but have you ever thought, if we just Chinese Lunar New Year reunion when you want to share memories, in addition to forwarding through intelligent means movie, there is no more immediate fast, and everyone can feel with the way?

With today Marco Kao joining us to share this one from the MP-CL1 Sony portable mini projector, all the problems have been solved, this mini projector will not only bring good light, but the built-in speaker, wanted to know it What are superior to others, now followed by Marco Kao borrowed less get to know Sony's MP-CL1 it!

The second half of the Sony firepower can be said, in the Division of products can be seen highly explosive product, TV division launched a history of the thinnest 4K TV, camera department has high sensitivity and low noise of A7S II and the smallest full-format digital camera RX1R II, mobile communications departments are brought in 4K screen phone Xperia Z5 Premium, can interact with intelligent Bluetooth Speakers BSP60, of course, developed for business 4K laser ultra-short focus projector, but the price is not the average person can start with. Fortunately, Sony in early October, to launch a relatively close to the people of action miniature projector MP-CL1, which is to share with you today, I keep the product.

Magic Leap about to produce millions of AR devices -- UPDATED

I've scraped this because I don't want to lose it. The source is TheVerge.

This DOES appear to have MicroVision fingerprints, but it it not confirmed. I have been watching Magic Leap closely for updates -- but again, there isn't confirmation yet.

The key terms I watch here is that the images are "projected onto the retina." 

Also at Mashable

Also at IBTimes

At TechCrunch

At TechInsider    (UPDATE -- good article) 

Magic Leap, which has raised half a billion dollars from investors including Google, has been building its technology in secret for years. But it's getting closer to show us its version of mixed-reality computing. "We're actually gearing up to build millions of things," said Rony Abovitz, the company's president and CEO, speaking at the WSJD conference in Laguna Beach, CA. The company is using part of an abandoned Motorola factory in south Florida and is now developing its manufacturing processes, he said. "We're not ready to announce when we're shipping, but it gives you a signal that we're not far," Abovitz said.

Little is known about Magic Leap's device, but Abovitz described it as a small, self-contained computer that people will feel comfortable using in public. It is believed to involve retinal projection, and evolved out of surgical research. (Abovitz's previous business involved medical devices.) And when it arrives, Magic Leap will likely compete with Microsoft's HoloLens, which is now taking applications for its development kits.

"ANYTHING YOU CAN DO ON A SMARTPHONE, YOU CAN DO ON MAGIC LEAP."

Magic Leap has a working software development kit and has invited several teams of developers to its Florida offices to begin making apps, and is regularly holding hackathons there, Abovitz said. Among the apps built for Magic Leap so far: a simple game that lets you throw a digital ball back and forth, and an app that projects a hand and a digital stove to teach you how to make macaroni and cheese.

The ultimate vision for Magic Leap is to create "a broad-based platform for visual computing," said Rio Caraeff, the company's chief content officer. That's one reason why Google CEO Sundar Pichai sits on its board — and why the company was valued at $1.2 billion last year, not counting its $542 million investment. "Anything you can do on a smartphone, you can do with Magic Leap," Caraeff said. "Where the world is your screen."

The company also showed a video today meant to mimic what you'll see when you're using the device. One clip of 10 seconds or less showed a robot named Gimbal hiding under a desk; the other showed a model of the solar system projected on a desk. Neither was anywhere near as dramatic as the shooter that the company revealed in June.

Bullish Options Play

Yahoo News

Someone's looking for Microvision to rally by early next year.

optionMONSTER's Heat Seeker monitoring program detected the purchase of 2,000 May 3 calls for $0.70 and the sale of an equal number of November 3 calls for $0.35 yesterday. Volume was below open interest in the shorter-dated contracts, which suggests that an existing position was rolled forward in time.

Making the adjustment cost $0.35 and allowed the investor to stay positioned for gains for an additional six months. The long calls lock in the price where shares can be purchased and carry less risk than buying the stock outright. (See our Education section) 

MVIS rose 2.59 percent to $3.17 yesterday. The small-cap maker of projection systems doubled in value between February and March after receiving orders from large, undisclosed customer, and shares have been consolidating since. 

The 200-day moving average has almost caught up with the stock following that big surge, which could make some chart watchers think that it's ready to climb again. Short interest at 20 percent of the float could also draw buyers. 

Total option volume was 22 times greater than average in the session, with calls outnumbering puts by more than 100 to 1.

The BIG picture:

I try to remain a "big-picture" guy. Rather than worry about details or the next conference call, I look at whether or not the bet I'm making is a worthy bet. If the big picture makes sense, the bumps in the road are simply bumps in the road. A new product having a slower than wished for release, or a supply-chain hiccup is just a new product having growing pains. All new products have them, we only notice them on the new products we care about and pay attention to.

Tablet computers have been out for only a few years. The iPad was first, and it was  released in 2010 to laughter.  The immediate reception by most people was -- wrong. I must admit I was dismissive at first -- but this taught us something about the electronics market that we need to pay close attention to now.

The negative reception to the iPad came from a couple of things: It was a poor replacement for a laptop (missing the lap top computer crowd). It was too big to be as portable as the iPhone. (misses the phone people.)

Steve Jobs himself said that no one would buy a big phone. He was wrong. He was wrong, because they wanted a bigger screen -- and the only way to get a bigger screen was to make a bigger phone.

This picture --- taken in my home in a dim room, on a white wall. My phone is at the bottom, the projected image from a Celluon PicoAir surrounds it.

This is the kind of "larger screen" possible with PicoP. Carrying around this screen? EASY. Put it in your pocket, take it out when you need it. 




There are two things that the mobile user wants and is willing to go out of their way to pay for: more portability -- a smaller form factor -- and a bigger screen. This single fact can eliminate nearly all doubt about this product's potential for success.

More portability and larger screen size are in conflict until you get PicoP. With PicoP, you can put a big screen in your pocket. 

There are other portable projectors, but their power consumption, contrast ratios and required focus wheels render them impractical for truly portable operation. 

Which means, ultimately, that mobile companies have to use PicoP. It's the best solution.

What's the size of the market? 1.4 BILLION smartphones were sold last year. I remember working potential numbers with a friend once, and asked, so, how many of the smartphones in the world do you think will get this. "ALL of them" was his quick answer. People who see this, think it's going to be all of them -- or at least most of them. I've run my price target estimations based on 10% of cellphones, and the price target for this stock gets so high it seems like it might be crazy. Granted there are some guesses in that calculation, but they're educated guesses. (Valuations Page)

Is MicroVision positioned for growth? Partnering with two companies who make components for smart phones around the world, is a great place to be.

Stay focused on the big picture. We're very close.

Why PicoP? Because this
Why Mobile Companies MUST use PicoP

RoBoHon

And when you can get into something as cool as this -- where are the limits, really? 

Eye-tracking Chip

This is the kind of thing that could work with PicoP in a number of ways. Not only in the "where and when should something be projected, but to alleviate any worries about laser light shining in eyes.


Eye Tracking Chip - Silicon Republic -- other interesting things at the link.

Tobii’s ‘eye-tracking’ chip 

Laptops, smartphones, tablets and desktop computers might never be the same again after Tobii announced its Tobii EyeChip to the world last week.

US$15m worth of investment and a bunch of years of R&D was behind Tobii’s release, with the EyeChip evidently useable across a range of devices.

It actually incorporates the company’s sixth-generation tracking technology, while the IS4 platform – powered by the EyeChip – has the potential to support facial recognition, facial feature tracking, head tracking and more.

If you think about it, VR could get a whole lot cooler if technology like this continues to advance at speed but, for now, it’s up to OEMs to get involved.

“These new products let us empower the world’s leading OEMs with the world’s best eye tracking for consumer devices and, together, bring consumers truly exciting and revolutionary experiences,” said Oscar Werner, president of Tobii Tech.

Visited MPCL1 last night

A friend has received an MPCL1 and I went to give it a look last night. The picture is excellent as I expected. 

Most of what I saw was what I expected, it's an excellent product, producing an excellent picture. In darkness you ask yourself why you would want a television set at all.

What I found extraordinary was the keystone correction. I didn't expect this. I have used my own PicoPro to view content on the ceiling,  and the trick to that is to lay flat on your back and project straight up.

With the keystone correction, we were able to shine the projector at about a 45 degree angle up at the ceiling, and adjust the picture. The effect is amazing. Rather than feeling like you're looking up at the ceiling, it is as though you have a drop down screen. Instead of laying down, you can recline and watch very comfortably.

The effect is really awesome, and it's very simple to make the adjustment.

Good job SONY!

Finding MPCL1 on Amazon

For whatever reason, the MPCL1 has been difficult for some people (including me) to find on Amazon. I don't know anything about retailing, electronic or otherwise, so I really can't comment about this problem.

Here's the link to find it there.

MPCL1 AMAZON

MP-CL1 Reviews begin

9to5Mac Review of MP-CL1 -- much more at the source

Review: Sony’s MP-CL1 updates a proven HD pico projector with a thin, Apple-friendly shell


PicoPro’s projection system was MicroVision-developed and laser-sharp, requiring no manual focus knob — an advantage over rival projectors such as the otherwise more powerful AAXA P700 and ST200, which I subsequently reviewed and liked.

This week, Sony is entering the pico projector market with MP-CL1 ($350), which uses the same MicroVision laser projector found in PicoPro. Sporting the same 1920×720 resolution and putative 32-lumen brightness/80,000:1 contrast ratio as PicoPro, MP-CL1 promises to create a 40-inch TV image at 4-foot distances, an 80-inch image at 8-foot distances, or a (very dim) 120-inch image at 12-foot distances. Sony has pitched it as a “take it anywhere” big screen display for the iPad, iPhone, and PlayStation 4; it’s equally viable for Apple TVs and HDMI-ready Macs. So which is the better value: MP-CL1 or PicoPro?…

MicroVision’s projection engine automatically projects perfectly sharp images regardless of its distance from a wall, a major setup and usability advantage over rival pico projectors where manual knob turning is required to achieve sharpness.

Skully Helmet

Seems like a likely place for us. Not sure which technology it is yet. I'll let you know when I find out.

Pepsi Phone?

Just in case you think you're sure you know all of the possible places where PicoP may pop up....

There is precious little known about this except that it showed up somewhere. 

THIS IS ONLY SOMETHING CURIOUS, THERE IS NO INDICATION THAT MICROVISION IS INVOLVED.

ON TWITTER

TechTimes

ibTimes

A verified company page spotted on social media site Weibo revealed the cola-maker may be preparing to launch a smartphone of its own.

Pepsi is expected to reveal the smartphone during an event in Beijing Oct. 20, according to the company’s page on social media site Weibo.

MPCL1 Advertisement - Korea

CarHolic - Korea

SONY STORE KOREA

iPhone 7 Rumors -- Component maker partners.

Like others who are following MicroVision closely, I hesitate, sometimes to post things like this because it can start a ridiculous frenzy.

I invest in this company because I see it's incredible potential over a long period of time, included in this, is interest by innovative companies like Apple.

Now, there's no shortage of various rumors about what Apple may or may not do in their next devices -- they are rumors. Rumors shouldn't be immediately believed, but they shouldn't be ignored either.

I would be very dismissive of some of these, except for an important fact of the business tactics MicroVision is employing. The TWO large OEMS that MicroVision is currently working with are BOTH suppliers of components to Apple. 

It's entirely possible that SONY is working out a deal to provide PicoP engines to a number of major OEMS right now -- and that's what those of us who follow the company and bet large on it are hoping is going on in a big way.

Smartphone2016

Apple looks to appeal to users with all different tastes and interests, and the upcoming iPhone 7 looks to do just that. So much talk is on the personal uses of smartphones, but the latest rumors will appeal to business and personal interests alike.

A built in projector looks to be one of the biggest iPhone 7 rumors. The projector is believed to emulate from the top of the phone and will project anything on-screen to a screen or a light colored wall. We’ve seen add-ons that have the same premise, but phone case like fixtures are either too bulky or poor in quality.



The projector is said to be viewable in at least full HD, and will add a unique element to the concept of the iPhone 7. Imagine projecting pictures, spreadsheets, and even full-length movies on a living room wall. The business uses are huge, especially in this mobile era of technology. Working on data spreadsheets right from the palm of your hand can instantly be turned into a collaboration project among co-workers.

Aside from built in projector, new iPhone 7 rumors are out a bigger battery and a waterproof design. One of the biggest disappointments of previous iPhones has been the lack of juice, and the iPhone 7 battery is expected to be bigger and better. Expect to see at least a 3200 non-removable mAh battery in what looks to be one of the best multimedia smartphones for 2016.

iPhone7 Buzz

Apple around a decade back started its work on the project, back in time when no one could have ever imagined a touch screen phone but Apple provided that, now when you hear about the projector aspects, in today’s world everything is possible and Apple is always on the mark, leading the innovation as sources say that Apple’s iPhone 7 may sport a built-in projector. 

iPhone 7 for Executives and Businessmen- The built-in projector in iPhone 7 can greatly attract executives who are working in corporate world and the businessmen who went to clients for the presentation. This can be an alternative option in case the project is not available at client’s office. It will be a handy tool for them and all the files that they want to portray on bigger screen can be saved in the iPhone itself and be projected on the bigger screen, may be the walls of the office.

iPhone7 Updates


iPhone 7 rumors show that the device may include several previously unseen features such as a built-in projector, facial recognition as well as a vastly improved camera.

The news explored a while ago through the popular mobile blog, Patently Apple. In the mid of 2013, it was discovered that Apple is probing into a technology that they call Projected Display Shared Workspaces. While the naming of the feature sounds a little bit clunky, the essence is it enables various iOS devices to project their displays onto any surface.

With many years passed to build up said technology, discussion has now heated that the iPhone 7 might have a built-in projector such as the one described. That being said, Galaxy Beam by Samsung was marketed on much the same premise and didn’t get successful. Regardless, Apple certainly has a strong past of using brand capability reinvent the old ideas. With that in mind, it could be possible to see the trend continuing with the iPhone 7’s rumored projector feature.

JapanTrendShop Price is CONFIRMED - mostly

There was some disbelief of the price listed at JapanTrendShop.

I had an e-mail exchange about the price with them. There's a privacy notice on the e-mail, so I won't copy and paste.

I asked if the price was a guess, or the price they actually anticipate.

The response was along the lines of: 

I interpret this to mean that the price they're quoting was done with the knowledge of Sharp and that it's close to their actual expectations.

Media Attention for RoBoHon just getting started

There is something in the Bloomberg article that REALLY sticks out.

Sharp has been a SUPPLIER of components - Displays.

From TechTimes

It's a phone that's a robot that can walk, talk, remember, understand and take photos and videos and project these to any surface. RoBoHoN is set for release in Japan in the second half of next year, and that's a wait that could be considered cruel considering how cool this phone is.

RoBoHoN is truly an android and it's unlike anything Google, Samsung or LG have bolted together today. The robot phone was developed by Sharp with the assistance of Robo Garage CEO Tomotaka Takahashi, who created the world's first space-faring bot.

Then there's its projector. RoBoHoN can splatter pixels all over walls and floors and other surfaces, allowing users to snuggle up to a movie, for example, or to drag their friends to a modern rendition of post-trip slide shows.

RoBoHoN also isn't shy about using its arms and legs. In the video below, this cool little guy is seen encouraging a child to crawl and even dancing. Watch the whole thing, and then try to tell yourself you don't want one!

From Bloomberg

Sharp, known as a brand-name for everything from the world’s first mechanical pencil to TVs and microwaves, has become more of a supplier in recent years to win sales, including making liquid-crystal displays for Apple’s iPads.

Becoming relevant as a maker of consumer electronics may require taking some chances and risking ridicule, which Sharp did when the media conference for RoBoHoN erupted in laughter as a well-dressed man walked in with a miniature robot pressed to his ear.

Undeterred, executives then showed how RoBoHoN responds to a voice commands to take a selfie and then bows to display the image on a table through a projector installed in its head. It can repeat reminders like “remember to go buy toothpaste” and also be a moving videophone or speakerphone.

“For good or bad, innovation comes with some surprise,” said Tomotaka Takahashi, who designed the device.

Demanjo

RoBoHon -- $457, May 10, 2016

I scraped this because I don't know if it will last long. (It seems early for this, if it's a leak, it will probably disappear.) Thanks to the poster on the Yahoo Finance Message board for posting this.

I've looked the site over. It appears to be a site that sells uniquely Japanese items to people outside of Japan. There is nothing on the website that makes me think it isn't legitimate. I would be surprised if Sharp wants the price information released this early, so I'm expecting this listing to disappear from the sight.

Just in case you want a price comparison (if you think this is expensive, check this item: squatting dog)

JapanTrendShop

RoBoHon

Sharp robot phone

US$ 457

Worldwide express shipping (trackable and insured): US$ 17
Single item cost. Multiple order discount displayed at checkout.

Preorder

Fancy0

Share on twitterShare on redditShare on stumbleuponMore Sharing Services0

---

This product is expected in stock on Tuesday 10 May, 2016.

Showcased at CEATEC 2015 to great excitement, Sharp's RoBoHon ("robot phone") is going to captivate the world. As Engadget said, it's "is so damn adorable, [you] can't look away from this kawaii singularity". But don't be fooled by the cuteness, this charming robot phone is also full of cool features. There's a projector, moving arms and legs, and he can have a conversation with you!

RoBoHon has a camera for facial recognition and voice recognition. He tells you when you have a message and who from, plus can even respond to commands to read out the message. Hell, he can even sit, dance, and raise him arms to let you know he's about to tell you something.

The RoBoHon features:

• Height: approx. 19.5cm (7.7")
• Weight: approx. 390g (13.8 oz)
• Display: 2-inch (QVGA)
• 3G, WiFi, LTE
• CPU: MSM 8926 1.2HGz (quad-core)
• Talks only in Japanese
• Instructions: Japanese

---

This product is expected in stock on Tuesday 10 May, 2016.