Pacific Media Associates (PMA) releases the results of their latest quarterly projector industry forecast updates.

In the New Era range (pico, personal and toy/game projectors), use of LED light engines are expected to grow by 40% this year and next.

In the Mainstream range, use of Laser and LED illumination is expected to increase in unit sales by more than 50% in 2012. Shipments of Laser/LED hybrid models are forecasted to grow modestly this year, and then are expected to grow by more than 40% each year during 2013-2015.

Shipments of laser illuminated units are expected to begin in 2013 for the High-End and d-Cinema ranges. In 2014, PMA anticipates a growth rate of more than 80% for the High-End laser models and nearly double for the Digital Cinema laser models.

We introduced you last issue to the Samsung Galaxy Beam, an Android smartphone with a built-in projector.

Now VTT Technical Research Centre of Finland, EpiCrystals Oy and Aalto University believe they have a “better laser light source” for projectors that will be integrated into mobile phones and expect mobile phones equipped with this laser light source can be within consumer reach in a few years time.

They will develop a small, energy-efficient and luminous three-colour (RGB) light source with low manufacturing costs in a project combining their Finnish know-how.

Microsoft demoes some interesting research work during the internal TechFest event-- such as a wearable multitouch projector prototype.

The projector sits on the user's shoulder, beaming images via pico projector on walls the wearer can interact with as a fully interactive surface. Handling interactions is a depth-sensing camera.

The TechFest prototype displays a Windows Phone-style graphical user interface, complete with touch, pinch-to-zoom and scrolling.

While the work is still in early prototype phase, Microsoft hopes to make the hardware smaller and thus more portable. We already have pico projectors integrated in mobile devices-- will they be turning walls into touch surfaces in a few years' time?

Watch Wearable Multitouch Projector Demo

Acer announces the H6500, a DLP home theatre projector promising full 1080p images of up to 300" in size-- even in rooms with bright ambient light and tinted wall surfaces.

It offers 2100 lumens of brightness (dimmable to 1680 lumens), with a contrast ratio of 10000:1 and eColor Boost II+ technology. Inputs include composite, component, USB, D-SUB and HDMI, plus multiple-PC source input for simultaneous multiple PC connection.

The IR remote control features the Acer Empowering Technology key, providing instant access to all Acer projector technologies-- including ePower Management, eTimer Management, eView Management and eOpening Management. It also carries SmartFormat technology to support comprehensive wide-format PC signals, thus avoiding "signal not supported" issues.

The H6500 is also a GreenAV product and provides up to 3500 hours of standard lamp life, 5000 hours in ECO mode and 6000 hours in ExtremeECO mode (reducing power consumptions by 70% while extending lamp life). The projector also automatically enters ExtremeECO mode if there is no signal input.

Go Acer H6500 Projector