The Man Said Ta-Da: MacBook With Built-in Projector

[Paul Daniel Ash]

Another Apple patent has been revealed, and this time it's for a pico projector built in to the hinge of a MacBook that self-corrects for movement and distortion. Patently Apple has done their usual excellent job of translating it from "patent-ease" into readable English, and the invention actually looks pretty interesting. While Apple often takes out patents for the same reason people squat domain names (namely, so that they can use it first, or charge anyone who does use it a lot of money, or both), the company is known to be working on pico projectors, at least as a R&D. And while pico projector technology is in its ugly, clumsy infancy, Apple is as good a candidate as any to be the first one to actually do it right.

The patent ("Portable Computing System With a Secondary Image Output") describes a projector that is "integrated" with some kind of a "portable computing system" - which may be a laptop or some other kind of a device - that also has one or two cameras built into it. Rather than facing the user, as a webcam would, the extra camera(s) would face in the direction of the image that the projector displays on a wall. The purpose of the camera would be to adjust the image for distortion, whether caused by the angle of the projector or by the ambient light in the room. Another part of the invention talks about using accelerometers - which are not generally present on laptops but are on iPhones and iPads - to correct for movement, so you could just hold the thing up and it would project a relatively stable image.

Pico projectors are plagued with lots of problems, from poor color quality in the affordable LED-powered ones to high cost and image speckle in the higher-end laser scanning projectors. Obviously, we might not see an actual product like this for years, if ever. But given that Apple's really interested in moving more and more into portable media devices rather than just computers, you can expect that someday, some way, they'll have something like this with an Apple logo on it.

[reggie6801]

Apple makes the best products.

[Success.Is.Sweet]

Interesting idea, but it seems a little clumsy being in the hinge, you'd think it'd be opposite the webcam or something so you can comfortably sit down with the computer in a normal position while projecting. Possibly have it angled up just slightly so you don't have to have the screen straight up and down.

Apple makes the best products.

lol

[Brandonii]

Could this possibly be on the iphone 4g?

[DisneyRicky]

Just take this back a sec... Now it's gonna be a mac that charges from the sun, and can project a movie?

[rickybobby]

Apple makes the best products.

Really LMAO

Just take this back a sec... Now it's gonna be a mac that charges from the sun, and can project a movie?

SEE REGGIE SAID APPLE MAKE THE BEST PRODUCTS

[MetallicaFan1991]

Apple makes the best products.

You mean "Patents"...but yeh products aswell.

[rickybobby]

Apple makes the best (I GOT TO SPEND MY PAYCHECK JUST TO HAVE IT) products

[Nicholas Knight]

im buying picoprojectors.com im sure that if it gets big apple will buy it from me. I will say no then they will pay me boat loads of cash and I will be rich!!!

[rickybobby]

All this but no multitask for the almighty ipad i say fail its so other companies dont get it first this wont happen

[Kruejl]

Pico projectors have been around for years. It would be cool to see Apple implement the technology somehow.

[Classick]

Apple have mastered the art of perfecting other companies already existing ideas/technology. If this is what's next in the Macbook family, then I won't expect anything less than excellence. I've been waiting for the next macbook update so I could sell my late 2008 unibody and upgrade. Can't wait for this.

[rickybobby]

You know if they were to put this on the iphone like the lg expo that would sell millions

[reggie6801]

I can't believe how many responses I received by just saying "apple makes the best products" I was simply making an observation lol.

[Success.Is.Sweet]

I can't believe how many responses I received by just saying "apple makes the best products" I was simply making an observation lol.

People love to get each other riled up around here.

[rickybobby]

I can't believe how many responses I received by just saying "apple makes the best products" I was simply making an observation lol.

its all in fun reggie we are all apple fanatics

[Effenpig!]

"apple makes the best products"

it's funny but I automatically think of rainman saying ," kmart sucks, apple makes the best products". Lol

[iBwizzle]

Apple makes the best products.

I lol'd... Apple is just like any other tech company... They just have better marketing!

_______________________________
iPhone - Jailbreak = Dumbphone?

[afgracer]

ta da

[ame=http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=tRrhP6ytzdI]YouTube - LG Phone and Projector: Windows Phone from AT&T[/ame]

[rhekt]

"While Apple often takes out patents for the same reason people squat domain names"

life imitates art. while you are the dreamers we are the dream makers. one thing does not begin without another.