29 May 2007

Explay intros oio nanoprojector,
plans to launch in 2008

For years we've been promised micro-projectors the size of a remote control, a matchbox and even a sugar cube that will liberate visual content from the tiny screens of our mobile devices - but none have materialised onto the market.

Projector technology has improved considerably in the last few years, but although brightness, contrast, and color are better than ever, size still remains an issue for those looking for a truly portable device.

Small, ~2 or ~3 inch displays that are common to smartphones nowadays are huge barrier for enjoying in multimedia contents because they limit the user viewing experience.

With this revolutionary nano-projector engine small enough to fit inside our pockets, we are not limited on the small phone screen anymore and we can share captured moments, images and videos with our friends or family and truly enjoy the big picture wherever we are.

Explay's oio, the standalone version of which looks about the size of an iPod nano and packs some pretty cool features, was recently demonstrated to a press conference - and given a release date of 2008.

ExPlay’s revolutionary laser based projection technology enables high-resolution images 20 times larger than the mobile device itself. Its unique battery-operated, nano-projector ensures an eye-safe, always focused superior quality, powerful projected image, elements essential for frequent usage by mobile product consumers.

With plenty of companies working on being first to market, salvos of press releases have announced dozens of competing products 'in development' and even a few prototypes - but Israeli company Explay's oio is the first to announce an actual release date.

The oio unit is initially going to be produced as a standalone unit, but it's clearly geared to be sold on and embedded in mobile devices as well. It boasts a maximum 40" image size, its laser projection delivering an eye-safe, always-focused, full-colour picture.

Explay claim it's good for dark or bright rooms, and that it doesn't chew through too much power - the standalone unit will project for 2 hours on a battery charge.

Five years ago the Israeli company Explay set out to develop the first nano-sized laser-based projector. The company demonstrated the latest device version at SID 2007 in California, and announced plans to release the product in 2008.