Texas Instruments promises projectors in mobile phones by end of 2008

Pico projectors, as they’re called, promise to bring the convenience of projector technology into the mobile space. With miniaturization advances allowing projectors sizes to scale down to fit in cellphones, it won’t be long before we can all start projecting our most obnoxious images and videos across our co-worker’s cubicle wall.And, to make the prospect of pico projectors in mobile phones that much more solid, John Van Scoter, the senior vice president of Texas Instruments (TI) has confirmed that mobile phones featuring TI’s projector technology will hit market with pico projectors in tow later this year – mirroring other pico-projector manufacturers. That’s right, before 2008 comes to a close, we’ll be seeing some handset manufacturers putting TI’s miniaturized projectors inside cellphones on the consumer market. Texas Instruments DLP pico projector for mobile phones If things go well for the pico-projector market, TI expects to see the prevalence of projectors in mobile phones start to rival that of cameras in cellphones. TI recently unveiled its DLP Pico technology to bring the vivid colors and sharp pictures of DLP displays into the world of mobile devices. With any luck, we’ll have our hands on a DLP-based pico-projector cellphone before the holiday season!Update:Post edited for clarity [Via: Unwired View]

About The Author

Will Park

Will hails from The City of Angels - Los Angeles, California. He spends his time playing with his numerous gadgets and looking forward to seeing what future holds for mobile technology. An avid promoter of a fully "digital" life, he promotes the widespread adoption of truly mobile, paper-less living. He dreams of the day when he can go completely digital. No more snail mail, paper receipts, bound books, notepads/spiral notebooks, credit cards, hard currency. He's a digital warrior - fighting for the converged life. He is an idealist and a realist - he has a perfect view of what the world should be but knows that the world is not perfect. Can we ever hope to see Will's dream become reality? We'll see...

Zak

I am really stoked for this feature.
Man, the cellphone today is like bobs “glitch” from reboot if anyone used to watch that show as a kid.

WAIT A SECOND! Does anyone remember that promo moto commercial that aired right before 3GSM – it was a person carrying around a television! This is what it must of meant

With a mini projector you are basically carrying around a mini television!
Geez i should get some sort of an intomobile prize for figuring that out
Steward Leigh

Will, interesting but vauge article. At first glance, a reader would assume that TI will be responsible for this phone but after reading it a second time I get tye impression that John Van Scoter is actually talking about another company. The only company that I know of that is even capable releasing a phone that early is Motorola.

Will, your thoughts please
Tarex

That would be great. Soon enough, phones while fold out into a portable microwave
Will Park

I think that Moto commercial was more a nod to Motorola’s push to release media-centric handsets with high-end camera optics and media-publishing tools. But, if you’re right, you get the the prize, Zak!

As far as TI making phones with projectors. Keep in mind that TI is only involved in developing the DLP Pico technology, they do not actually manufacture the handsets that will launch this year with projectors built in to them. Scoter confirmed that TI’s technology has been picked up by other handset manufacturers and will be featured in their mobile phones by year-end.
Raidium

It would be nice to see an HTC device with this technology. Anyways, ,the concept is an amazing idea! Can u just imagine the havok u could bring with this? MWAHAHAHAHAHAHAHAHahahahahaaa…Sorry. lol. Can’t wait for this to become available! I’m ganna have SO much fun!
Steward Leigh

Will thanks for the reply.

Are you familiar with this…

Microvision March 6th 2008 CC

Joel: I was wondering, since obviously the show is exciting to see at CES, but we haven’t heard of a great deal about your work with Motorola. When might we see some kind of a mock up or preliminary form factor of an integrated handset device, is that something we might see shortly?

Alex: Good question Joel, our work with Motorola is progressing very, very nicely. We have completed the development of first handset prototypes with the embedded picop projectors, this is truly a historic event since it represents for the first time in the history that a pico projector has been installed a fully functional handset, and I don’t think anybody can claim this. Both Motorola and Microvision recently demonstrated pico projection cell phones at the mobile world congress GSMA in Barcelona, this was done in private settings, and we’re very proud about this accomplishment and our continuing relationship with Motorola. We expect both parties, Motorola and Microvision, expect to show the handset prototypes privately, specifically focused at major events, with primary goal of engaging the consumer interest, assess the full market potential, and refine the requirements for the final product.

More…

J: Good, hey listen, in Barcelona that was a fully functioning, I could pick it up, make a phone call, and flash my pictures on the wall, cell phone?

A: That was it Joe, that’s why it was an historical event, and I think all of us and all of you should be proud that we achieved this before everybody else.

J: Was that shown to carriers in Barcelona?

A: It was shown privately to Motorola’s customers. So obviously it wasn’t to their competitors. It was carriers and mobile providers and other end users that Motorola views as their customers.

Finally…

J: The other day, I was listening to Greg Brown, they did what I guess what they called a fireside chat, and he said that they were going to be moving away from the traditional slim and colorful, to the more feature rich smart phone/PDA devices. Have you guys been given any indication that you are part of that focus, and due to their need have they accelerated the process at all.

A: You asked a very good question Joseph, I can’t answer it. Even if I had the answer, I can’t tell you this because we’re not privy to discuss a lot of information, so I apologize, but that’s the best answer I can give you. What I can tell you, something that is really cool. The cell phone that Motorola has shown, if you’ve seen it and you’ve held it in your hand, you’d never guess there’s a projector built in, and the reason is because you know, we’re able to produce ultra thin embedded engine that no one else has.
lindenflash

ZING!
Larry

Check ou “The Island” Ewan Mcgregor use a projection phone(Nokia I think)in it. I thought that was a VERY cool idea when I saw it.