Epson PowerLite X9 projector

Another day, another projector, and this time around we have the Epson PowerLite X9 that will target the education market without breaking the bank. Yes sir, this new projector is capable of delivering up to 2,500 lumens of color and white light output alongside XGA resolution for just $599 – making it a suitable addition as well to any small or medium sized conference rooms.

It is no surprise that many states in the US are already experiencing budget cuts, and one of the sectors to be hit pretty badly is the education segment, so it makes perfect sense for companies who deal with educational equipment to do their bit to help America out of the pit they’re in by lowering their profit margin and charging schools less for equipment – and we believe the Epson PowerLite X9 projector is one of such an instance.

Among the convenient features of the PowerLite X9 that will light up (no pun intended) the classroom and boardroom are :-

• USB Plug ‘n Play Instant Setup: Instantly projects images and controls the presentation from either a Windows PC or Mac via a standard USB cable; allows for easier set up and eliminates the hassle of dealing with bulky VGA cables and toggling between computer keys
• Versatile Connectivity: Audio out port helps classrooms connect to external speakers to enhance the sound of presentations; monitor out port helps classrooms connect to external monitors to help the teacher stay focused during a lesson or presentation
• Closed Captioning: Built-in closed captioning decoder makes presentations accessible to viewers with hearing impairments with no added cost, and helps meet ADA section 508 compliance
• Setup Flexibility: 1.2x optical zoom and +/-30 degree automatic vertical keystone correction provide easy and convenient setup in multiple classroom settings
• Convenient Control: Direct Power On and Off allows for an installed projector to be powered with a flip of a wall switch; Instant On/Off enables teachers to avoid delays when starting and finishing presentations and be up and running in seconds; A/V Mute Slide stops the sound and picture to allow for a quick pause in the presentation
• Extended Lamp Life: Using Epson’s exclusive E-TORL lamp technology, the lamp life can last up to 5,000 hours in economy mode helping to maximize presentation time
• Compact: Lightweight design and compact form factor make it easily portable from classroom to classroom
• 3LCD Technology: Features the latest, 3LCD, 3-chip technology to deliver amazing, true-to-life color and detail for powerful presentations; 3LCD technology provides an energy efficient light engine which efficiently uses available lamp light to create stunning images; in contrast to 1-chip DLP technology, 3LCD requires, on average, 25 percent less electricity per lumen of brightness

Expect to see the Epson PowerLite X9 arrive in April this year via a variety of channels including national resellers, pro audio/visual dealers, mail order, and distribution. Each purchase comes with a two-year limited warranty for that added peace of mind.

HP Pre 3 Announced

HP made a number of announcements last night. The next of those after the HP TouchPad is the HP Pre 3. The HP Pre 3 is a follow on from the Palm Pre 2 with the new HP branding.

The HP Pre 3 has a slide down QWERTY keyboard and uses the same form factor as previous versions when under the Palm brand. It has a 3.6 inch screen that is capable of showing 800 x 480 pixels. This is a step up in terms of resolution from the previous versions.

On the back, a 5 megapixel camera can be found. There’s a camera on the front as well allowing video calls to be made between other Pre users as well as TouchPad users.

The device runs the webOS 2.2 operating system (the new tablet runs webOS 3.0). The processor running the Pre 3 is a Qualcomm MSM 8×55 running at 1.4GHz. It has GPS built in. Wireless and Bluetooth are also built in. As for storage, it comes in two capacities of either 8GB or 16GB. Other sensors built in include an ambient light sensor, accelerometer, compass and proximity.

Overall, a decent step in the right direction for the Pre. The original sold well but the Pre 2 seemed to fall short in some ways. From looking at the specs and with the boost of the TouchPad, the Pre 3 could sell well.

Pricing is still unknown for the Pre 3 as is a release date. What we do know is that it’s available in the Summer, but unfortunately HP is not being any more specific than that.

HP Veer webOS Smartphone Announced

HP announced the HP Veer along side the HP Pre 3 and the HP TouchPad last night. The HP Veer is the smallest device announced and comes with a 2.6 inch screen that has a resolution of 320 x 500.

On the back is a 5 megapixel camera. Other features include Wireless and Bluetooth for connectivity. For storage, it has an 8GB capacity (6.5GB available space). The small smartphone is compatible with the HP Touchstone charger. It also has GPS built in.

The processor on this smartphone is a Qualcomm MSM7230 that is clocked at 800MHz.

As with the other devices announced last night, the HP Veer also has no specific pricing set and as for a release date, expect it this Spring.

Marvel Versus Fighting Pad

PDP, a company known for all kinds of gaming gear, has unveiled the Marvel Versus Fighting Pad. It’s a wired joypad with micro-switches for the thumb stick and six front-facing buttons. Hopefully it will improve your game.

It will be available on February 14 for $40. They only have an Xbox 360 model planned right now, but if it sells well, they will be offering a PS3 version. That artwork you see is an actual panel from a Marvel comic.

Acer GN245HQ monitor with HDMI 3D support from NVIDIA

Acer’s already rolled out a few 3D-capable monitors (among other products), but none quite like it’s new GN245HQ model, which the company notes is the “first 3D monitor in the world” to support NVIDIA’s HDMI 3D solution. That means you’ll be able to view 3D content from a connected set-top box or Blu-ray player in addition to a PC connected via DVI-DL, and do so with the included active shutter glasses that work in conjunction with the monitor’s built-in IR emitter. As for the monitor itself, you’ll get the usual 1920 x 1080 resolution and 120MHz refresh rate, along with a 2ms response time, a pair of built-in 2W speakers, and LED backlighting that uses two lamps instead of four for a promised 68% savings in power consumption. No official word on a US release just yet, but you can look for this one to hit the UK in mid-March for £419.99 (or about $675).

Black Ops First Strike Map Pack Released

Do you like shooting people in the face across rich environments in the best-selling XBox 360 game of all time? Today is not a lucky day – it’s the luckiest day.

Call of Duty is a phenomenon that can’t be matched on any console – with sales in the millions of copies, and revenue that matches most major motion pictures. Seriously, any movie Tom Cruise has been in for the last decade or so has been outgrossed by Call of Duty – 5.6 million copies sold in the US alone, 1.4 million copies in the UK. If there were an army consisting of nothing but Call of Duty players, it’d be able to take over any country, easily. In between the wheezing, grabbing for inhalers, and awful social skills.

But the first map pack for Black Ops was released yesterday, giving players something to be happy about. Included were the maps Kowloon, Stadium, Discovery, and Berlin Wall. I will now review the maps based off of what was overheard last night when I was playing them.

Kowloon – “Oh, man, you can zipline.” *moments later, after being stuck with an explosive arrow* “RIGHT TO YOUR DEATH.”

“Jumping from roof to roof? Are we chimneysweeps?”

“I’M ANGRY SANTA.”

Stadium – (after a 203-50 blowout in domination) “Good thing their chopper is on the way.”

“Is this like Munich?” “Yes. With more Jews.”

“Shooting hockey players would almost be better than this.”

Discovery – “This is by far the best map.”

Berlin Wall – “The video made this look waaaaay more interesting.”

The map pack is available for around 15 dollars, and makes Black Ops even more playable. Enjoy!