Pacific Media Associates (PMA) reports WW Q1 2012 1000+ lumen projector sales show show 6% Y-o-Y growth, proving predictions on the demise of the projector wrong.

“Of course, ANY industry experiences a slowing of growth as it ages and increasingly saturates its potential market … whether or not it has strong competition from alternative technologies," the analyst says.

Many industry pundits, journalists and manufacturers predict the projector market will eventually die off, killed by the rise of large flat panel displays.

However PMA suggests the projector industry still needs to innovate and change-- playing the offensive game with developments in short-throw projectors, interactive projectors, PC free presentations and solid state (laser, LED, hybrid) illumination.

Go WW Q1 1000+ Lumen Projector Shipments Grow 6% Y-o-Y, Routs Projector Naysayers (PMA)

Christie launches the latest lens throw distance calculator with:

• 62 projectors, and now including calculations for the Christie M Series and Christie J Series
• Easy-to-use user-interface
• Built-in calculation of vertical and horizontal offsets with instant results
• Clear warnings if your calculations are outside of recommended limits
• A more detailed, printable, results page
• Online access, or downloadable version

Christie’s throw distance calculator can determine the lens required for the installation of your Christie projector-- or the screen size or throw distance you will need given your current Christie projector and lens combination.

Go Christie’s Throw Distance Calculator

Industry expert Pete Putman, writing in Display Daily points out back in the early to mid-1990s, Sharp was a powerhouse in LCD projector sales. Yes, right up there with InFocus, Epson, and NEC.

Today, the company’s projector market share is…well, frankly…projectors are obviously not their priority.

Putman finds a bright note in their 2011 launch of super-sized 70" and 80" Aquos LCD TVs - and their subsequent surprising adoption by commercial AV systems integrators.

He points out “every projector installation is also a candidate for a big LCD screen, especially now that Sharp is producing both consumer and professional versions of its 80-inch displays.”

Today a 2-piece projector/screen solution requires ambient light control and an architectural design to hide the screen (not to mention lamp replacements and filter changes. Compare that to a self-contained, bright and contrast display (that works under any ambient room lighting, doesn’t need to be hidden when not in use, and will run a long time before it hits half-brightness).

Putman expects Sharp to bring a 90” and maybe even a 100” LCD TV/monitor to market soon.

An 80” LCD screen clearly falls in what Putman calls the projector killer class at the low end, while a 90” display is “sitting right in the sweet spot.”

Back at ISE 2012 we got a chance to visit the Runco private demo room with Marketing VP Jennifer Davis, where had a chance to look at new Runco products including the newly announced LightStyle LS-12d and the LS-100d ultra-short throw projector.

The LS-12d carries a 3-chip DLP engine and a variety of lens options and is optimised to deliver both 2D and 3D projection. Ideal for "flex-theatre" spaces, it delivers both active- and passive-shutter 3D images.

It also the first Runco projector with the Dimension Digital Controller (DC-300) 2U outboard controller, and should start shipping from April 2012.

Meanwhile the LS-100d is an ultra-short throw projector using Runco InfiniLight lampless LED technology. It projects images of up to 92" with a throw distance of only 45cm, and is mountable either above or below projection surfaces.

Watch Runco at ISE 2012