Product Survey: Video Projectors : Aiptek Pocket Cinema V10
3. Aiptek Pocket Cinema V10
File Formats For Playback
Luckily, this projector comes with conversion software (ArcSoft : Media Converter 2.5). This will convert your videos into ASF files (Advanced Streaming Format). The format belongs to Microsoft and is used with the MPEG4 codec.
File conversions take a while and don't save much space. Our test DivX file of The Matrix was 1.13 GB before and 1.03 GB after conversion. The software does not take into account black stripes.
With our file, we went from 720x304 pixels (ratio 2.37) to 640x480 (1.33). Post-conversion, the image was stretched lengthwise.
Aiptek’s Pocket Cinema V10 features LcoS technology (Liquid Crystal on Silicon) developed by 3M (which makes its own mini-projector, the MPro 110). The device is also a direct competitor to Optoma's Pico PK101. Both have a white LED light source. How do they compare?
Handling
The Pocket Cinema V10 is slightly bigger than Optoma’s model, but it has both an internal memory of 1GB and a SDHC slot for up to 8 GB of flash memory. You can store a movie on the internal memory or watch it from an SD card. This hand-held projector comes with a remote control, an alloy tripod, a USB cable, an AV Cable, a power adapter and a protective cover.
The model we tested had a problem as the lamp would switch off when the projector was plugged in. A firmware update should normally resolve this, but in our case did not. Aiptek agrees to exchange your projector if it falls into this category.
Initially, a lamp would switch off when the projector was plugged in. A firmware update should normally resolve this, but in our case did not. Aiptek agrees to exchange your projector if it falls into this category.
Projected image
The device projects an image size up to 42-inches from more than 5 feet away and the quality is quite stunning. It is, however, not as good as DLP. Aiptek comes in second for picture quality with the Pocket Cinéma V10, just behind Optoma’s Pico PK101. The corners of the projection zone are deformed.
Colors and images are less vivid than expected. Nonetheless, the colors are better than the 3M model, which takes third place. The blacks aren't very deep. As with Optoma’s model, you have to be in total darkness to enjoy the images projected, unless you project on a very small zone. In this case, the light is concentrated and quality increases.
T10 soon to come
Aiptek will be soon launching the Cinema T10. With a 640 x 320 pixel resolution (half of 720p HD) but no memory card slot or internal memory, it will be a true competitor for Optoma's Pico.
| Aiptek Pocket Cinema V10 | |
|---|---|
| Pluses | Minuses |
|
|
The Pocket Cinema V10 and the Pico PK101 are on equal footing. Image quality is bit poorer here, but the fact that it has internal memory and a card slot gives it extra points.
"...For example, when these mirrors rapidly reflect red and yellow, you will see green..."
This mirrors reflect white light. The color wheel is the device which lets the right color component pass in synch with the DMD.
For example: the DMD is reflecting the blue channel of the image but this is white light coming from the lamp, so the color wheel is letting only the blue part of the spectrum. The same with red and blue.
There are also DLP projectors that use three dmd's with three colored light sources( red green and blue) so no need for a color wheel. A frame being displayed with all color information on the screen at once. This means you can obtain 3 times the frame rate at a broader color depth with no rainbow effect.
Besides being technically wrong as pointed out by bboysil, don't you mean red and green will create yellow? Red and yellow (which isn't a primary color of additive light) makes orange!
http:\\diyprojectorkits.com
I am a member there, and am going to build my own 1080P projector this summer. 40 *THOUSAND* hours of life per bulb. Commercial projectors are for amateurs...
COMPARISON CHARTS PLEASE
Either use standard Or metric but don't mix them both. Inches and ounces in one place, meters in another. Seeing how this is tomsguide/us I would assume standard US measurements, but at least be consistant. Even better, translate the articles or make a simple conversion program.
Wow, this article is a mess. Seems like it was written by half a dozen people and connected in random order. No format consistancy between products. Some mention power consumpsion, some price, some show screen shots, size, weight, etc.
COMPARISON CHARTS PLEASE
I'm guessing that's why no charts, no product has the same info.
OK, I swear this is my last comment:
I couldn't figure out why they were using a condom for size comparison. Turns out it is a Euro coin! How about using something recognizable by the majority it of people reading this article.
Why is this site generating such poor quality articles these days (look at the equally useless webcam article)? What is this Digital Versus? Some copy and paste bot?
I read the Panasonic review then gave up. Doesn't anyone bother proof-reading:
"The fans this shape can relax"
"I ended up forcing the it manually"
"The image below" - it's not below
"When uscaling"
And how useless is the zoom option to see the two(!) Star Ratings?
LOL!@! At first I thought that coin was a condom!!
A very wordy review. This needs metrics to compare each model if this is going to prove of any use.
Nic topic coverage. Bit weird as I have just persuaded the wife that our front room would make a great home entertainment room.
First purchase required.... Projector. Think I'll pop down to my local Sony shop and see for myself just what they are like. The reviews here have done nothing more than give me a starting point. Nothing that allows me to proactively compare the products.
I have the same prob, Firmware update doesn't help me use AC charger while projecting..HELP PLS!!
now my aiptek pocket cinema is dead.i've upgraded the firmware, now it won't turn on...pls help...