CurtPalme.com Home Theater Forum

globalwind · Joined: 11 Jan 2009 Posts: 2 Location: china

Product Name: Multimedia Pocket Projector
Chinese brand name: 明西
English brand name: Mi-Seal
Model No.: iCube01
iCube02（built-in MP4）

Delicate, vivid and easy-to-carry
Small, but create a large visual field
Enjoying live broadcast and home theatre anywhere and any time

Product Description
Mi-Seal ICube is currently being regarded as one of the most classical multimedia mini-projectors by the digital business circle. Taking full advantage of the latest industrial technology (Liquid Crystal on Silicon) display module, as well as LED (light emitting diode) light source, it can give us a projection vision ranging from Full-Flat Screen TV to large-screen theatre effect up to 72 inch, but the Power Consumption is only 15 W. Videos and audios can be played through particular connection cords. Its compact, slim and stylish looks greatly perfect the multimedia design philosophy. This device can be connected with various multimedia devices, such as iPod, cell phone, digital camera, DV, Game consoles etc.

Product Functions
1. Connect to various devices which have video and audio output, for example, MP3/MP4, PSP, PMP, DV, DVD, cell phone, TV, etc.
2. Input signal format: MP3, WMA, OGG, WAV, AVI, WMV, SMV, BMP, JPG, GIF, TXT, HTML
3. Support AV and VGA signal input
4. Mini speaker inside, with an external speaker base available. Except for playing audio files independently, it also can connect to an external speaker. Stereo is supported.
5. Remote Control
6. Built-in Mp4 player(optional) (for icube02 only, USB data interface, 1-4G TF)
7. It can be powered by external mobile power supply.

Product Application
Suitable for home entertainment, business presentation, product description, company training and college education.

Product Features
1. Looks like a magic cube, attractive, slim and compact.
2. Delicate 6 sides create an exquisite appearance, The entire unit doesn’t have any screw.
3. With a high pixel of 800*600, 25LUMING（LED）
4. Theater-like screen, with a throw distance of 0.2-3m, and the projection screen size is 6-72＂.
5. Combine the latest advanced LCOS chip technology with LED light source. Lower energy consumption, with a life span over 20 thousand hours.
6. Smart design for speaker base. Easy to install and uninstall. Two-to-one structure, makes a perfect combination.
7. Easy for horizontal throw and vertical throw, all 4 walls and ceiling in room can be a screen at your choice.
8. Front fine tuning lens, either horizontal throw or vertical throw, all can bring us an optimal video effect.
9. Space for fixing tripod is reserved.
Mail Address: globalwind22@sina.com
QQ:4434769
TEL: (0)13418640596
MSN: dengfeng22@126.com
Contact person: Paul deng
Web site: www.inodg.com
Or http://inodg.en.alibaba.com

http://www.inodg.com/admin/Upimg/20091215514396712.jpg[/img]

**AnalogRocks** · Posted: Sun Jan 11, 2009 2:30 am Post subject:

Interesting bit of spam. Shal I leave it up?

Mr. Green · Posted: Sun Jan 11, 2009 2:44 am Post subject:

Bah, the technology needs to get to 1080p resolution before it's a threat (3-5 yrs), by then most of us will want to upgrade. If you had to do something other than CRT, LED is way better than a bulb projector. High end LED's are rated for 20k hours.

There's a few 800 x 600 LED projectors out there. CRT won't last forever so we should be looking at what we're in for. I for one am REALLY happy it won't have to be a bulb digital. It amazes me that we could essentially have everything you need for a home theatre in your pocket (Ipod for media, Ipod sized Projector and earphones).

Here's a good video product description. Listen carefully... This is how digitals should have evolved to start with.

http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=Pt1_4Hr_-FA&feature=related

There's always "Pico" (laser)

http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=7UfarRM0BoM&feature=related

**AnalogRocks** · Posted: Sun Jan 11, 2009 2:53 am Post subject:

But I LIKE CRT's!

Mr. Green · Posted: Sun Jan 11, 2009 2:55 am Post subject:

I do too and I'm in no hurry to replace mine, but when the day comes, would you really want a bulb digital <barfs noisily>? I like that there will be a different option.

Did you watch the 2 videos? They are only a couple minutes.

**AnalogRocks** · Posted: Sun Jan 11, 2009 2:56 am Post subject:

No I haven't yet. I'll have a look when I have time. Right now I'm hungry and it's time for chow!

Mr. Green · Posted: Sun Jan 11, 2009 3:04 am Post subject:

Watch and eat at the same time. I'm curious as to what you think. You have to admit there is an appeal to a super portable projector.

**AnalogRocks** · Posted: Sun Jan 11, 2009 4:25 am Post subject:

**AnalogRocks** · Posted: Sun Jan 11, 2009 4:46 am Post subject:

Yeah those are neat toys. I can just see all the kids wanting one built into their celphones to project their low pixel images to share.

Funny when I was a kid I had a few hand held projectors. All film based.

Peri was brought up a good point about the Laser displays. Have you ever played with a laser pointer? If so have you noticed that halo effect they have? I wonder if these projectors/TV's will have any of that effect. If so then it's a dead deal.

The LED proojection looks nice too. They'll get there.

Funny in one of the video's the narator says. "There are three lasers, one in each of teh primary colors Red, Green and Blue". Laughing

Last time I tried it was the glad lock game. Yellow and Blue make green. Guess he never did finger painting in kindergarden.

CasetheCorvetteman · Joined: 09 Nov 2008 Posts: 6326 Location: Australia

Its a long way off before consumer grade projectors reach comercial CRT standard in every aspect i reckon. This is a kid's toy compared to a real projector.

Ive seen some on the Barco site that are very expensive and do indeed go to some insane resolution, higher than the highest CRT by abit, they are not going to be much use in the home though unless you have 3 phase power, and with their size, you may as well have a CRT...

I wouldnt touch another projector made in China until they learn to get it right, of the 2 Epsons i have here, both are almost the same model, although one is S4 made in Japan, the other is S5 and made in China, the specs are near the same, better on the S5 in some areas, however the S4 is a better unit all round, and its only cause its far better quality.

Mr. Green · Posted: Sun Jan 11, 2009 6:56 am Post subject:

People said that about digitals about 5 years ago "digitals will never touch CRT", but now several $3,000 1080P digitals are up with top CRT. I'd guess 3-5 years and LED will be a force to be reconed with. Like it or not CRT is a dying breed. We should see what we will have to replace them with eventually and it's not like you are turning your back on CRT when you are seeing what 3-5 years "might" bring to the table.

I know some hard core guys will have 10 projectors worth of parts to keep the beasts alive for another 20 years, but that would be a select few. I don't have the space to stockpile and at some point I'll be tired of spending more time trouble shooting than enjoying it. I did that already and I don't want to do it again.

I wouldn't bother with the that cheap stuff either. The one from my second link says stand alone units could be $200. I would guess the 1080p ones when they eventually come out will be about the same as a bulb projector (maybe less to get market share). At that kind of price there is no need to buy an inferior product. As with anything electronic, get the best you can afford.

**AnalogRocks** · Posted: Sun Jan 11, 2009 9:35 am Post subject:

You know I'd consider a hand held projector if it could surpass the 8mm film projector that I had when I was a kid ( Fisherprice! )

Then again at age 36 what use would I have?

CasetheCorvetteman · Joined: 09 Nov 2008 Posts: 6326 Location: Australia

There is no $3,000 digital that is up with a top end CRT on all levels that i know of, even in USD, even further off in AUD.

You have an NEC like mine, you compared it to an Epson simular to the one my boss recently installed. Although his isnt the same as your mate's new one, its the next one down, its only 1,000 lumen, and its only 12,000:1 DYNAMIC contrast ratio. Sure its native 1080p and 3LCD, but he has nothing that puts out 1080p, so he has to compromise with everything he watches on it. Cost him a shade under $3,000 AUD, however the RRP was almost $4,000 AUD, he got it for store cost plus $1 cause he bought so much other stuff at the same time.

Now the only areas i can see it beating my NEC is the 1080p (havent tried mine yet, havent had the time) and the 1,000 lumens (which is quite low for a digital these days) Our contrast ratio is 15,000:1 and that is static, not dynamic.

When all that is said and done, our NEC projectors are only intermediate level, they are not top end. If our intermediates beat the second top model in the Epson lineup, (and i only paid $900 Australian dollars for more NEC, my mate also recently bought the same NEC for $723 AUD with a DVD player and a motorized 110 inch screen), then there is no top end digital for $3,000 that will touch the likes of a top end CRT as yet.

Compare it to a Barco Cine 9 (which will even beat your mate's new Epson in every area) and its its not even going to be half the machine.

Then take into account that the dynamic contrast ratio could be 100,000:1, but if it wont do the same black level or dark scene detail as the 15,000:1 static contrast ratio of an average CRT, then its still at a loss.

Then onto the convergence. Neither of my digitals are perfect, and neither is this 2nd top Epson either. That isnt something everyone notices, but i can get my worn out old 1001QM to line up better than the digitals ive seen, so our NECs should eat them alive. It cant be adjusted on digitals without modifying them.

Youre correct in part when you say there are digitals that are superior to top end CRTs, but look at their price, their size, their weight, and especially their power consumption and requirements. Some of them are over $120,000 and only marginally better in some areas. Some of them have enough lumen output to blister the paint on your walls, and you couldnt use that in a dark room.

This one from Barco is 30,000 lumens: http://www.aboutprojectors.com/Barco-XLM-HD30-projector.html Its also $127,500 USD, and weighs 400lbs. It chews 8400W of power, and has a 6.3 kW Xenon lamp.

And this one from Barco will do 4096 x 2400: http://www.aboutprojectors.com/Barco-LX-5-projector.html It has a whopping 750 hr lamp life, with a potential 1,500 hrs if youre lucky enough.

This one here is an older one, but it was $138,745 USD, only has 650hr life expectancy, weighs 400lbs, and requires 3 phase power (again, 8,000 watts of it) http://www.aboutprojectors.com/Barco-XLM-H25-projector.html

All 3 fall short in contrast ratio, price, value, power consumption, and life expectancy.

Sure enough, time will come when CRT is no longer the better picture overall for the price, but it aint here yet, and its a very long way off. Stick with what youve got for now, and when you want out, ill take that old dog off your hands!! Laughing

Mr. Green · Posted: Mon Jan 12, 2009 1:21 am Post subject:

I still prefer my NEC to anything I've seen, but the Epson was the only 1080p digital I've had the chance to view on home turf. Then again, my PG+ is far from the best CRT, so it would be unfair to compare it to anything more than a $3k digital. I would like to see an RS1 or RS2 to see if they do beat the 9500, 1209 and G90. Maybe they don't, but the guys who spent the $$ on and traded in the nice 9" CRT's seem to think so. I wish someone local had a 9" LC unit properly setup. Maybe some day I'll have to go see Curt and have him demo a 9" unit. Smile

Besides, I'm talkin 3-5 years before LED will likely be at 1080p resolution, even longer before they are reasonably priced. I said before an I'll say again, I love that there is an alternative to bulb projectors. Love it.

If I had nothing but money you could have my pg and I'd take a completely tricked out Marquee 9500lc, but I don't, so no deal. A 9500LC would do me for 10+ years. Maybe by the time my little PG+ is done, I can get a 9500LC cheap. I'd have somone come out an do a complete setup/ calibration if I got one though. I'm glad VDC still makes them. While I'm dreaming, "if" I win the lottery, I'll consider buying a new one from VDC and flying someone up to set it up for me. Wink

CasetheCorvetteman · Joined: 09 Nov 2008 Posts: 6326 Location: Australia

Forget 1080p. It was done well over 10 years ago. They need to exceed 1080p to be better!! Resolution capability is not the be all and end all of this.

An RS1 or RS2 is not likely a $3,000 projector. Im not sure what they cost. I do remember though seeing a picture on here of a screen from an RS1 and the same scene from a CRT, and the CRT was substatially better, and although that doesnt mean much, id say it would still be better in many ways.

LEDs are bulbs for the want of a better word, and they will fail just like any other light emiting device (i look after the lighting in a very large club here in Australia, there is well over 100,000 in the joint, i know a fair bit about lights!!)

Who is VDC and what do they still make?

Itll be more than 3-5 years i reckon Wink

**AnalogRocks** · Posted: Mon Jan 12, 2009 7:56 am Post subject:

Contrast ratio is king for me.

jask · Joined: 17 Mar 2006 Posts: 10187 Location: kamloops BC

CasetheCorvetteman · Joined: 09 Nov 2008 Posts: 6326 Location: Australia

jask · Joined: 17 Mar 2006 Posts: 10187 Location: kamloops BC

have a look, not sure if they have pricing on the web...:http://www.videodisplay.com/html/companies.html

**AnalogRocks** · Posted: Tue Jan 13, 2009 4:42 am Post subject: