Projector Market Grows Further in Q3

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Pacific Media Associates (PMA) reports the Q3 2011 WW front projector market grows by 13% Q-o-Q and reaches total shipments of 2.4M units, as personal projectors and 3D-ready models drive growth.

ProjectorsThe analyst divides the projector market into 3 brightness ranges-- New Era, Mainstream and High-End.

Driving the New Era market are Personal Projectors, highly mobile units powered by "power bricks," with Q3 2011 sales growing by 30% Y-o-Y. The category features models with brightness reaching 500 lumens and covers over 15 brands.

The Mainstream (500-4999 lumens) category shows positive Y-o-Y growth in Q3, despite an uncertain economic climate and austere corporate, government and education budgets hitting most developed markets. PMA reports "upside surprises" in countries such as France, Spain and Switzerland, as well as a sharp rebound across most of E. Europe and strength in BRIC countries.

PMA forecasts 3D projector sales will reach around 2.5M in 2011, as more 3D-ready units enter the market at price points similar to 2D models. Interactive and ultra-short throw models also continue outperforming the over market on both unit and revenue basis.

Finally, High-End (5000+ lumens) projectors also outpace the overall market, with the WW Q3 2011 d-cinema market reaching 60000 installations. Currently the market continues shifting towards Wide XGA and Wide UXGA models, particularly in developed markets.

Go WW Q3 2011 Projector Market Report (PMA)

Logitech CEO: Revue "A Mistake"

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Logitech CEO Guerrino De Luca doesn't hold his tongue-- describing the Logitech Revue as "...not a mistake of strategy, it's a mistake of implementation of a gigantic nature."

Logitech RevueDe Luca continues by saying the Google TV software was "not complete and not tuned" to what costumers want-- resulting in a product costing the company over $100M in operational profit (in combination with EMEA-related operational pains).

Can we assume there won't be a Revue 2? Probably. Logitech will bring "closure to the Logitech Revue saga" by simply letting inventory run out, with no plans to either make new units or "introduce another box to replace Revue."

However De Luca says the Google TV platform has potential-- but Logitech prefers to "sit on the bench." With Sony working on its "four screen strategy" uniting TV with PCs, consoles and mobile devices, Google appears to be out of TV partners unless it creates an attractive enough bait.

As for the Revue, it will still receive a Honeycomb-flavoured update later this year.

Go Logitech CEO Conference Call Transcript (Seeking Alpha)

Go Next Version of Logitech Revue with Google TV Due Before Year End

The iPhone Projector Case

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It might look like a chunky case, but the Pocket Projector for iPhone 4 from Texas Instruments and Brookstone offers your customers on-the-go video projection instead of device protection.

iPhone 4Inside is a TI DLP Pico projector chip, together with a 15 lumen LED lamp, a 0.5W speaker and a USB-rechargeable 2100mAh battery (also usable as a back-up batery). The companies claim it projects images of up to 50" in size from 2.4m distance with 640 x 360 resolution.

Image control comes through a focus adjustment knob.

It is compatible with apps supporting dock-connector video out, including the stock video, photo and Youtube apps.

Go Pocket Projector for iPhone 4

EU Growth Forecast: "Growth at a Standstill"

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One can describe the Autumn EU economic growth forecast with a single word-- austere. The title "Growth at a Standstill" is bad enough, and the EC report says the going might get even worse.

EU MapIn a few words-- EU GDP will stagnate into 2012, while 2012 EU growth is forecast at around 0.5% before reaching 1.5% by 2013. Inflation will return to below 2% and unemployment will remain at around 9.5%.

Recession risks are not negligible either.

The Eu forecasts annual 2012 GDP growth will reach 0.6% in EU and 1.3% in the euro zone. No member state group will escape the slowdown despite varying growth differences.

Public finances will eventually improve-- but only gradually.

The main drivers of 2011 inflation, energy prices, are set to gradually decrease, with headline inflation falling back below 2% in 2012. The EU expects wages will only grow "moderately," while persistent slack in the economy continues holding back underlying price pressures.

The report lists 3 main risks weighting down the EU and euro-area economy-- continued debt-related uncertainty, the weakness of the financial industry and sluggish world trade. Potentially, the future can go both ways, withe either slower growth or a faster-than-assumed return to confidence.

Go EU Autumn Forecast 2011-2013: Growth at a Standstill

Airport Audio for the Outdoors

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Russound launches the AirGo Outdoor Sound Station-- a portable weather-resistant speaker with an integrated Apple AirPort Express dock.

AirgoThus your customers will be able to continue listening to music outside should the rains start falling-- even if the AirGo requires power through an AC outlet, rather than batteries.

Users need to first configure the AirPort express before installing it in the AirGo's protective pocket.

Russound says the internal stereo speaker and power amp "deliver a wide, detailed soundstage," while the Airgo also acts as a portable wifi hotspot (since the AirPort Express serves as a wifi repeater).

Go Russound AirGo Outdoor Sound Station

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