MicroVision Showwx+ projector question

[tiptopp]

I'm seriously considering getting one of these, and they have great reviews on both the Amazon and Apple store websites. But I'm concerned that they have limitations in terms of the apps that can be used. It seems that you can show slideshows and videos and Keynote shows, but not Safari or, presumably, pages documents.

I'm wondering whether this is a limitation in iOS 4, which is overcome in 5, which allows anything to be mirrored from the iPad. I have the beta and love that functionality.

Does anyone have both the Showwx+ and iOS 5 who could confirm this?

My reason for purchasing is to be able to display Keynote slides and Pages documents to small groups of people (3/4) to collaboratively work on them, so it's important that I'm not limited to 'shows' and videos...

Thanks in advance.

Paul

 

[dsmensch]

Response

My brother has the original showwx. As far as I know it works as a video output for whatever the iPad will allow to be displayed. At the time I was using it I had iOS 4 and it only allowed certain items to be viewed. However it should work with mirroring. A few things to consider.

1) It does have a slightly annoying speckle effect to the video.

2) Even with mirroring, it won't necessarily output everything on your iPad. HBO go will not allow video out.

3) You must have either the iPhone 4S or iPad 2 with iOS 5 for mirroring to work.

4) They make an Hdmi version of the pico projector which may be your best bet for compatibility with other devices. You just need to get the iphone to hdmi adapter.

5) The cord they give you is short, which makes it hard to adjust where you want the video pointed. Thats another reason why I recommend the hdmi version.

6) Microvision has a 720p version in the works. It was originally scheduled for the 2nd half of 2011. I am now hearing rumors that that may not happen until 2012 but with 3D added. I was researching that when I found this post.

Other than that it is a cool product. It still has plenty of room for improvements but I don't think you will not be disappointed unless you are using it in bright locations. I used it to watch video podcast on my ceiling above my bed. I think I am going to have to borrow it again just to test it out with mirroring. I'll let you know how it goes.

 

[tiptopp]

Thanks

Thanks for your reply. I had given up hope of getting one!

One small point, though. Mirroring works with iOS5 on the iP4 as well. And I think it would on the 3Gs with iOS5. It's not a hardware limitation, but a software one. And I'm surprised that you say that HBO won't work, again as I believed that iOS5 simply mirrors everything that's on your screen. In the UK, although BBC iPlayer and Channel 4's 4OD apps won't play via Airplay natively, they certainly work (quite) well when mirroring via Airply or the HDMI cable.

I look forward to hearing whether you manage to mirror using the projector - and I may have to wait until the next version is out before I get one. This technology is so relatively new, it seems to still be at the stage where it's getting better and cheaper too quickly for me to dive in. I'm a keen, but too cautious, gadget lover, so usually wait until things have settled down before I buy...

Thanks again,

Paul

 

[dsmensch]

Tested

Ok, so I tested the showwx with the iPhone and realized I couldn't get it to mirror. I think it only works with write protected video sources/outputs. Like HDMI and airplay. I assume you can just hook up an appleTV and use mirroring that way. Again I have the original showwx, so I cannot hook up anything through hdmi.
Also mirroring currently is only supported with any idevices with an A5 chip in it and iOS 5. I heard of hacks out there that would let you do that with the older devices like the iPhone 4 but I never looked to deep into it. https://discussions.apple.com/thread/2803966?start=0&tstart=0. That being said I did get the game choppers 2 to be sent to the pico projector only because the developer allowed that feature in their app. I believe iWork apps do this also which may help you out.
As it stands, an app developer has the option to add video out support on their own. If they don't include that option then apples mirroring will take care of it unless the developer puts a block on it. The only companies I can see putting a block on mirroring would be network tv and movie companies (HBO, Hulu, ect) because they can be a pain in the ass about sharing their content. This is the whole reason why we use Hdmi cables now. I would think that the A5 chip has some built in write protection within it and that would be the primary reason why it is needed to do mirroring (that and another feature that can make thinking about upgrading your idevice more enticing).
I am guessing you're from the UK. Things maybe different over there as far as this whole right protection BS that goes on over here. If you have an iPhone 4 working with airplay mirroring, let me know because it doesn't work in the US and I am curious if there are differences in the set limitations of the phone between countries. Like how the 3gs had to have wifi removed to be sold in china and gps removed to be sold in egypt. cheers!