What starts off in consumer devices ends up in pro kit these days. Apple is living proof of that and now the company has filed a patent for a "shock-proof mounting cover glass” to protect its device displays.

If you’ve ever shattered a display or tablet by dropping it to the floor, you can appreciate Apple’s idea for a tunable shock mount layered between the device's glass display and other hardware.

This patent indicates plans for a sensor that tell a "drop event" from normal movements and for an actuator to initiate the shock mount before impact.

If Apple develops the technology for millions of devices, it may be affordable enough to include in displays for rental and public displays where needed.

Go Apple’s Shock-proof Intentions

ViewSonic announces its PJD6 Series DLP projector line (PJD6223, PJD6253 and PJD6553w) which is Crestron- and AMX-enabled-- and specifically designed for classroom and corporate environments.

ViewSonic’s PJD6 Series projectors come equipped with Crestron RoomView advanced network management software that enables centralized control for up to 250 projectors. With Crestron RoomView, users have an advanced, real-time alert system that sends status updates regarding power, lamp life and unit presence to simplify maintenance efforts.

With ViewSonic’s Smart ECO technology, PJD6 Series users present their content with the appropriate lighting, dimming the image as needed, while enjoying an automatic energy savings of up to 70%.

PJD6 Series’ ECO mode delivers a longer lamp life of up to 6000 hours for greater energy and cost savings, along with noise reduction. When it comes to lamp maintenance, the PJD6 Series’ top slide door design makes the task easier than ever.

The 120Hz/3D-ready PJD6 Series is packed with useful features, such as versatile connectivity options, including HDMI and multiple PC and video inputs, a Dynamic Movie mode for image contrast, Digital Keystone Correction and a 10-watt integrated speaker.

Teamed with 3500 lumens (2700 lumens on the PJD6223) and BrilliantColor™ technology, these projectors maintain a low total cost of ownership.

“Customized for teachers, professional trainers and consultants, the new PJD6 DLP projector Series offers many exclusive and valuable functions. This includes real-time monitoring and remote management for up to 250 networked projectors, along with versatile connectivity options,” says Trevor Holt, ViewSonic’s European Product Manager for Projectors. “… We are also very pleased to be a partner of AMX InConcert Program. It demonstrates ViewSonic’s commitment to the education and enterprise markets as going forward, all our new projectors will be certified with AMX.”

The PJD6223 and PJD6253 are both advanced, networkable XGA 1024x768 projectors,suitable for any lighting environment. For a widescreen format projector, the PJD6553w has a WXGA 1280x800 native resolution, and is ideal for 720p HD viewing in the classroom, living room or boardroom. LAN connectivity also enables remote network management for easy device management.

The ViewSonic PJD6223, PJD6253 and PJD6553w are available with a 3-year European warranty.

Go ViewSonic PJD6 Series

It’s no small achievement: Paul Molyneux has been appointed as the first non-Japanese Executive Officer on the Board of Directors of Sharp Corporation.

At the same time Molyneux has been named the Chief Executive Officer, Group General Manager, and President of Sharp Electronics Europe GmbH.

Paul Molyneux has had a fast track career history within Sharp Corporation, having successfully held a variety of Senior Management and Leadership positions in Sales and Operations for the last 7 years. Prior to his appointment as CEO, Paul held the position of Chief Operating Officer for Sharp Europe.

Molyneux says he intends to build an organisation that is” agile, market-focused, quick to respond to its customers and that benefits from support processes and shared services that are simple and effective.”

The former CEO of Sharp Europe, Hiroshi Sasaoka, will be taking over the positions of Group General Manager of Middle East and Africa Group and Chairman SMEF.

Go Paul Molyneux, First non-Japanese Executive Officer on the Board of Directors of Sharp Corporation

Canon introduces the LV-8235 Ultra-Short Throw (UST) projector that's capable of projecting an 80” picture from a projection distance of just 32cm (with just 2.4cm installation distance).

For educational and digital signage applications, the LV-8235 UST can sit on a table or be mounted horizontally or vertically on a wall, ceiling or floor. Spec'd with a brightness of 2500 lumens, native WXGA (1200x800) resolution and a 2000:1 contrast ratio, the projector has HDMI and VGA inputs and is IP- or RS232 controllable. It's very quiet for a short throw projector at 28 dBA.

Rear projection is ideal for video promotions in shop windows, restaurants, museums and the like, while under desk projection can turn tabletops or floors into useful display screens. The ultra short-focus technology of the LV-8235 UST means it can project large screen 3D in confined spaces.

With a long-life lamp of up to 3000 hours (in Eco Mode) and a long-life air filter of up to 4000 hours (in Eco mode), the LV-8235 UST should be economical to run.

Go Canon LV-8235 UST

According to a research report published by Pacific Media Associates (PMA), the worldwide front projector market grew by 13% in Q3 2011 vs Q3 last year.

PMA divides the front projector industry into three brightness ranges, each associated with its own set of buyer types and applications: New Era, Mainstream, and High-End.

The New Era range is driven by Personal Projectors, highly mobile displays powered by “power bricks." During Q3, sales of Personal Projectors jumped by 30% on a year/year basis. More than 15 brands, including many household-name ones, were active in this segment as brightness levels climbed to 500 lumens and more fully-featured models came to market.

In the Mainstream range, year/year growth turned positive in Q3 with continued strength in the BRIC countries and a sharp rebound across most of Eastern Europe. WhileQ3 also experienced upside surprises in several countries--Australia, France, Korea, Spain, and Switzerland--economic uncertainties, weak confidence indices, and austere corporate, government, and education budgets continued to impact demand in most developed countries around the world.

Among mainstream product segments, interactive and ultra-short-throw projectors continued to outperform the market on both a unit and a revenue basis. More vendors continued to enter this space, and there was also significant activity in the market for interactive add-on modules and bundles.Q3 also saw many new 3D-ready projectors enter commercial and consumer markets at price points similar to 2D models. As more 3D products roll out this holiday season, worldwide sales of 3D-ready projectors are expected to reach about 2.5 million this year.

Sales of High-End (5000+ lumen) projectors continued to outpace the overall market. During the quarter, the worldwide d-cinema market surpassed 60,000 installations. In the traditional market for super-bright projectors, the inexorable shift continued to Wide XGA and Wide UXGA models, particularly in developed markets.

Sales of high-end models were also up in developing countries (although a significant portion of that growth is in standard resolution projectors).

Go Worldwide Projector Shipments in Q3 2011

Harkness Screens launches the Digital Screen Checker, a luminance meter measuring screen brightness, expressed in foot lamberts (with a range of 0ft/L to 30 ft/L).

Designed as a tool for digital cinemas to use to monitor screen brightness and lamp life, this also fits the ProAV market when image brightness is of prime concern.

The battery-powered Digital Screen Checker reads both 2D and 3D screens and is accurate even in the lower ranges of 3D projection. The foot lambert reading is shown on an LED digital display, expressed to at least one decimal place.

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In Japan, NICT and JVC Kenwood show off the world’s largest (200”) glasses-free 3D display.

Offering 57 different viewing angles, viewers can almost walk around a virtual 3D object and peek behind objects to view additional images.

The display uses 57 projectors in an array. The 200″ screen weighs 500kg and runs off a condenser lens to focus the light for a sharper image, and a special diffuser film to lower the horizontal diffusion angle, maintaining a smooth transition between viewing angles.

NICT and JVC believe this has commercial potential for commercial design and digital signage applications: they are working on a 200-projector driven display.

Go 200” Glasses Free 3D Display

Watch The TV Report on this NICT Display

Tucked away in a corner at Gitex/InfoComm, we found Tirubaa Technologies Pvt Limited from the Science and Technology park of India, and promoted by the Dept.of Science and Technology, Govt of India.

They specialize in green technology innovations for education. On their stand was the Tirubaa Interactive Eduprojector, the world’s first LED Projector with built in PC, interactive whiteboard, online Exam system and 6-hour battery life driven by solar power, wind or by paddling.

Calling it dust-proof, the maker says it offers 2200 peak lumens. The target market is obviously education but also education in rural areas and Third World environments.

Go The Eduprojector