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.

Apple and media covering Apple: no ideas

I've been noticing an increasing amount of nothing about new things for Apple.

Today, at least a dozen different articles proclaim "Apple will do away with Antenna Lines."

I don't know what the antenna lines on the iPhone are, nor have I ever heard anyone either mention or complain about them.

Google search? 653,000 results.

Imagine the excitement an embedded projector would get them. 

Google Search "Apple antenna lines"

What to Expect at CES 2016

From PC Advisor


What to expect at CES 2015: Sony

As usual Sony will be holding its press conference at CES but hasn't gone and splurged details of the new products in advance.

This leaves us to speculate and the invitation is the only thing we really have to go on for 2016 announcements. As you can see it features a wide range of products including a VR headset, camera, smartphone and a TV.

Based on this, and previous press conferences, Sony will give updates across a number of product categories. TVs are pretty much a certainty and we think wearable tech will also play a large part but the big question on many lips is will Sony announce a new Xperia smartphone, primarily the Xperia Z6.

There are some radical rumours suggesting that Sony will announced a total of five Xperia Z6 models as early as CES 2016. Others state that there will be just two models. We highly doubt that the firm will make any comment on the Xperia Z6 range at CES with the Z5 phones still freshly on the market and the firm moving to a less regular upgrade cycle.

Sony's press conference is scheduled for 5 January 17:00-17:45 PT.

Augmented Reality's Future

Some interesting insight on who will benefit the most from Augmented Reality.

Microvision leads in augmented reality. The linked article explains why retailing will be one of the big early adopters -- and how AR will reach the masses. (It will be extremely useful in many industrial applications, but those will have a very limited audience.)

From Tech.co   (way more at the source)

By 2020, augmented and virtual reality market will be worth $ 150 billion. Google, Microsoft and Facebook have already made large investments in AR solutions; still, some experts fail to predict where the market is actually going. There are several industries that will benefit from AR applications, including healthcare, tourism and entertainment. However, it is retailers who’ll be the first to hit the AR jackpot.

Augmented Reality is the integration of graphic content into live videos or user environment. AR apps for smartphones and tablets analyze web camera or GPS data to provide users with relevant content. The technology was first implemented by Boeing who used AR-enabled hamlets for complex wiring and (later) staff training. By 2018, the number of augmented reality users is expected to reach 200 million.

Augmented Reality Solutions Impact Shopping in 3 Ways:

Navigation

There are several examples of great augmented reality apps used by shops and restaurants. Yihaodian, China’s largest online grocery store, built over 1 thousand virtual shops in various public places. The stores are only visible to customers who download the Yihaodian AR application; once you’ve chosen the goods, they’ll be delivered directly to your home. In 2013, Yihaodian moved over 250 imported items; this year the store set a Guinness record, selling 2 million boxed of milk in less than an hour. 

A clever AR strategy was implemented by Tokyo Aquarium; their Penguin Navi app integrates cute penguins into smartphone/tablet cameras to navigate visitors. With the introduction of Penguin Navy, the Aquarium’s attendance increased by 152 percent.

Virtual reality ready for CES

Lowes Holoroom -- if any readers are near any of the participating stores, I think everyone would enjoy your report about it -- send in your impressions!

Chinese Phones to hit US / Phones are TVs

Tech that will change your life in 2016

From the Wall Street Journal --- The below straight from the article.

Chinese Phones Hit the U.S.

Chinese smartphones are big globally, but little-known to U.S. shoppers obsessed with Apple and Samsung. In 2016, expect Chinese brands that don’t just undercut on price, but bring features from China’s thriving mobile culture. Huawei, the world’s third-largest smartphone maker, made the $449 Nexus 6P and has declared its intention for a U.S. launch of its flagship Mate 8, which also has a metal body, fingerprint scanner and large battery. Letv, a brand created by known as the “ Steve Jobs of China,” is also poised for a big U.S. splash. Then the ball’s in the court of the enormously valued startup Xiaomi, which has downplayed U.S. launch plans.

How to get ready: If you’re on the fence about buying a new Android phone right now, hold off. At the very least, don’t sign a service contract that ties you to a handset.

from a different wsj article...
Phones are TVs -- (Why we're jealous of Chinese Smartphones)

In China, phones aren’t second-class citizens when it comes to watching shows and movies.

The best stuff is mostly available to stream online. China’s historic challenges with protecting intellectual property have helped the market invent new business models for media. Services like Youku Tudou, iQiyi and Tencent Video convinced many piracy-stricken content owners to join, rather than fight, the demand for online video by making it legitimate and getting paid for it through video advertisements. If you pay, you watch without ads.

Chinese can legally watch recent episodes of “Game of Thrones” free on a video site owned by Tencent, though censors make it considerably less exciting than what Americans see on HBO.

Now China’s online video services are even producing 360-degree virtual reality shows designed for the mobile world. We’re not holding our breath for U.S. TV producers to invest in a VR version of “The Big Bang Theory” anytime soon.

Cicret Bracelet -- into production

I will admit that I am still dubious of this concept - at least how it has been shown. Cicret has been featured here before -- and there was enough to point to MicroVision to create almost certainty that it's MicroVision inside. (Here is the dot-connecting about the prototype)

What is additionally interesting is the wearable project from A-su (I didn't make up the name.) 

"We have successfully :
- managed a motion sensing system on the forearm to work
- distorted the picture from the pico projector
- put these two key features all together and sourced all the miniatures needed

All these items are now on the market and can be purchased. We started discussions and partnership with the biggest manufacturers in the world.

Most of all, we are working with two renowned US design offices. They have well knowledge and skills to produce a working sample of the Bracelet. Thanks to this collaboration, we now have 2 quotes with the timeline, dates of production and detailed costs in order to create the first working samples. We will be able to launch the presales and start the delivery of the Cicret Bracelet."

They're working with us.

Two ex-Apple employees are in our executive team. Thanks to their skills and expertise they are of great help in getting the best components like the pico projector and solve all industrial issues.

JOE O’SULLIVAN

Managing Partner & Business Development

30 years + Global Operations, Mfg. and Procurement experience. Served as a C Level executive at Apple, InFocus, and most recently, Intelligent Energy. Has built and led product introduction and supply chain teams in Europe, USA and Asia. (Also worked for MVIS – pico projector industry).

The Transition from Unknown to Known.

Robert Scoble just posted this. This is a great story about what can happen to a company (what WILL happen to MicroVision) as it transitions from being a relative unknown to a known entity.

There is more at the source.

From Bloomberg




The relatively unknown robotics toy company Sphero had been making little remote-controlled balls for years. It's purely coincidence that the toys looked just like BB-8, an adorable little droid in the upcoming movie, Star Wars: The Force Awakens.

"We already were changing the way people interacted with robots," said founder Adam Wilson. "This changed the way the world saw robots. It really did change everything. We could never have seen this coming like that."

Apple has "Little Left in the Tank"

I've been seeing many reports of Apple downgrades. The theme among the downgrades is that Apple has nothing new to offer.

This, of course is good news for MicroVision with SONY -- because PicoP is clearly something that can be a something new that Apple could include with their biggest money-making product - the iPhone.

The PicoP laser projector is a something new that can be incorporated in smartphones that would be the "something new" that phone companies are desperate for.

That Apple releases "force touch" and every other smart phone maker follows quickly is a sign of things to come with the next major mobile phone innovation. I think the public response to laser projection from smart phones will be very positive.


LearnBonds

Apple Inc. (NASDAQ:AAPL) gets more than 60 percent of its revenue from the iPhone, and it has built one of the largest businesses of modern times on the back of the device. The wheels are, if Wall Street research houses are to be believed, about to come off that particular cart. Apple stock has suffered as a result, and many are wondering what Tim Cook and his team is going to do next.

That leaves Apple with a quandary that he seems to think is best solved by splurging cash on a buyout. The report was widely covered for looking, once again, at the possibility that Apple might try to buy Tesla Motors Inc (NASDAQ:AAPL).

LTV KAM

I have scraped the following content to be sure I don't lose it. 

It seems highly likely this is related to (or the same as) the Qualper/Viewsmart devices.

Thanks to the champion sleuths at Yahoo Message board (They're better at me for finding interesting Chinese things!)

LTV KAM on Sale at TaoBao

Below article at PConline (Translated by Google Translate)

Original Chinese Format

Pursuing the ultimate test new mini portable mini projector LTV Kam

2015-11-27 11:18 yaojiaA +

[PConline evaluation] in the pursuit of the mini of the road, the current technology products never gave up.But the ultimate impact of the mini is communication with users, product features for the mini sacrifice functionality, can be improved from the aspect of it is easy to carry.

PConline projector channel recently received by the new Jin LTV songce latest portable mini projector, this phone with the size of the product and be able to change what kind of innovation.


Pursuing the ultimate test new mini portable mini projector LTV Kam

Guangdong Kam Optoelectronics Technology Co., Ltd. launched a high-resolution MEMS micro laser projector. The projector uses a MEMS laser projection of this new technology, compared with the traditional projector market with DLP technology to achieve smaller, sharper image, no focus, and other advantages. Since the projection module uses MEMS micro laser technology, greatly reduced the volume, the whole size is only 130 × 62 × 11.5mm (one iphone5 size), the resolution has reached 1920 × 1080 (comparable US-class home projector). In this size class, yet there are similar products on the market, it can be said, the new Jin photoelectric portable projection products has added a new landscape.



First, let us look at what is MEMS micro laser projection technology.This technique is the use of MEMS technology, the laser light emitted (R \ G \ B) three primary modulation good composite IPL, with micro-electromechanical systems control is reflected off the lenses, progressive scan point by point out a complete picture, enabling projection technique. Using this technology projection, simple structure, the optical path loss is small (about 3% of the loss), low power consumption, wide range of colors, contrast, high resolution and do not focus. The technology industry generally optimistic projection for a portable micro-investment, vehicle HUD display applications.



Jin photoelectric launch of this new product, the MEMS micro laser projection technology advantages and Android combined, expanding the scope of application of the product. Whether it is the Internet, watching videos, or games, users can enjoy a large screen showing visual satisfaction anywhere. This product has built-in lithium ion battery, which can meet three hours of playing time, so there are plenty of outdoor time.



New Kam LTV is also a home theater entertainment center comes with Android 4.4.2 system, 8GB memory, built-in WIFI connection, Internet, games, videos, music.



New Kam LTV user-friendly display anywhere, bring a more efficient office experience, with audio-visual and office dual-mode, freedom efficient switching, preset big-screen version of WPS, from office mode interface to open word, excel, ppt and other kinds of office software, concise, quick demonstration.



New Kam LTV hit "more portable, more intelligent", weighs only 180g, multi-screen connectivity, DLNA, Miracast, Airplay and other multi-channel technical support, comes with Android 4.4 system, 8GB memory, built-in WIFI connection.



New Kam LTV provide the most advanced MEMS micro laser modules, supports high-resolution wide gamut 1080, no focus, life is stronger.



New Kam LTV thickness of only 11.5mm, aviation aluminum metal shell, solid body, grip and use the experience even more dexterity, fine achievements sturdy body.



Configuring the independent stand, user-friendly screen to enjoy stable performance anytime, anywhere.Tripod easy to install, use and flexible.





Products from the point of view, there is no external interface (except Power), the product relies on WIFI to provide demonstrations.



We in the following sections of the demonstration effect of the test, for this series of "more portable, more intelligent," the slogan of the product, in the actual demonstration effect will be?

Photonics.com Wearable displays

Photonics.com

There's more at the source, linked above.

“Often overlooked is the whole human-machine interface. That’s the biggest problem,” said Bharath Rajagopalan, general manager for business development and marketing at projection display maker MicroVision Inc. of Redmond, Wash. The company’s laser beam scanning technology can be incorporated into augmented reality products, including head-up and retinal scanning displays.

“We’ve been ready for a long time,” 

Rajagopalan said of the company’s decade-old augmented reality technology. “We have good, sharp text. It’s very crisp, very readable, very high contrast.” 

Originally developed for the military, MicroVision’s lightweight head-worn displays deliver images that appear to the user as though on a see-through computer screen – thus a technician can view instructions on jet engine repair while performing the task.

Originally developed for the military, augmented reality technology allows information to be displayed and shared outdoors. Photo courtesy of Applied Research Associates.

---

What’s needed in addition to a quality display is infrastructure, according to Rajagopalan, which includes access to data, sufficient computing power and the right software.

The payoff for getting the display and wearable package right has the potential to be big. Juniper Research Ltd., a Hampshire, U.K.-based analysis firm, predicted the wearable market will grow from its present value of a few hundred million to $80 billion by 2020. The firm expects over 3 million augmented reality smart glasses to be in business use by 2018; consumers will be slower to adopt the technology.

Steffen Sorrell, senior analyst at Juniper, noted that complex wearable augmented reality applications need a large field of view with high pixel density, and that the display must respond with an update latency of less than 20 milliseconds. For augmented reality, compromises in display performance or bulk are not acceptable, according to Sorrell.

A laser scanning projection system by MicroVision. Photo courtesy of MicroVision.