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Wireless 'Desk Free' Computer System with Projection Display Detailed in New Apple Patent

SHNXX said:
Uh yeah I don't think so

To have a proper projector setup, you need:
1) very bright projector for daytime viewing (which currently cost around $2000 to $20000)
2) decent or good screen for gain (which currently cost $500 or thousands)
3) room surroundings need to have the right paint and control over ambient lighting (installation costs)
4) installation of projector and screens and the wiring (~$1000 or much much higher)

In other words, unless you spend a lot of money on equipment and professional installation (i.e. time and hassle), a good LED TV will be likely better and more versatile as well as more simple.
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Currently, very true in respects to large size displays.

How about simply a 24" or 27" projection? Projecting on a smaller scale to mimic that of current display sizes? Maybe build it into a Mac Mini or iPad (once tech exists). It would be a feasible option for those who may need a display larger than the iPad or 13", 15" MacBook's. Place the device on a desk facing away from the user and reflecting onto the target surface. Could be a makeshift screen or such that could project crystal clear images that would be difficult to distinguish between a display and a projection.
 
Man I hope this is really something they'll create. Other portable projectors are a pain and usually suck bigtime. This would be awesome as a portable unit to take to events like movie nights, poker nights etc. etc.
 
TrentS said:
This idea is as old as the movie "The First 20 Million Is Always The Hardest", where they try and build a computer for under 100 dollars ( 2002 ).

The computer itself ends up being a little object the shape of a lipstick tube that you stand straight up on a flat surface. Out of it spits a hologram keyboard in front of the tube and a screen projection on a surface at 90 degrees, and everything is stored in the cloud, even the software. It's a good movie actually. But as far as Apple being innovative here, I think they are just copying off this old movie.

:mad: :mad:
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I know, right? And cell phone makers were not innovative either...they were copying off the Star Trek communicators of the 60's. And the tablets of today? Copying off of the Padd in later Star Trek. And the submarine creators...they copied off of Da Vinci. NASA? Jerks stole from Jules Verne. All these copycats….ugh. :mad:
 
For those crying babies, this is not a good idea no upgrades friendly. Apple sucks again. On the other hand, I LOVE IT. I hope this will be out soon.
 
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Zerotolerance said:
I doubt this will ever see the light of day. Mitsubishi makes a similar product that my college briefly considered installing in each classroom last year but decided against it. The cost of putting a full-fledged computer in each classroom just can't be justified these days when a simple tablet connected to a projector lets teachers do what they need to do in an easier and more cost-efficient way.
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Isn't that part of the point. We are the stage of tech that an A7 mini-computer is enough of a full-on computer for this to work. More so it could act as interface to a grunt computer through systems like airplay.

Imagine having six of them connected in a Mac Pro with say 2-3 users sharing the power of the pro but working on the same project. While using the processing power of the device to drive your own email and personal interface to the cluster.

A projected interface could finally make the paperless office.
 
bedifferent said:
Currently, very true in respects to large size displays.

How about simply a 24" or 27" projection? Projecting on a smaller scale to mimic that of current display sizes? Maybe build it into a Mac Mini or iPad (once tech exists). It would be a feasible option for those who may need a display larger than the iPad or 13", 15" MacBook's. Place the device on a desk facing away from the user and reflecting onto the target surface. Could be a makeshift screen or such that could project crystal clear images that would be difficult to distinguish between a display and a projection.
Click to expand...

It wouldn't be bad for those sizes I guess.
But it is not going to be good enough to be a home media setup and it won't be good enough to be a standalone display for a laptop or a desktop (LED displays are better than cheap projector with no screens).

So what will it be? A low-grade projector set up for low-end home media setup? Does Apple intend to commoditize projectors?
Or will it be a second display option for laptops? Wouldn't that be gimmicky and inelegant?

This doesn't seem at all like something Apple will do in near future.
 
bedifferent said:
Currently, very true in respects to large size displays.

How about simply a 24" or 27" projection? Projecting on a smaller scale to mimic that of current display sizes? Maybe build it into a Mac Mini or iPad (once tech exists). It would be a feasible option for those who may need a display larger than the iPad or 13", 15" MacBook's. Place the device on a desk facing away from the user and reflecting onto the target surface. Could be a makeshift screen or such that could project crystal clear images that would be difficult to distinguish between a display and a projection.
Click to expand...

True, Apple wouldn't need to ship a package larger than mac mini yet still offer the same range of function. Although they need to get resolution independence working before this happens.
 
VulchR said:
One could, but screens degrade the signal compared to a monitor. I lecture with projectors focused onto screens all the time, but most students prefer to follow the slides with their notebooks because the quality of the image is better. I can't imagine Apple would pursue this.
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It might be the brightness of the projector you're using. I haven't messed with many of them myself, but I have seen a few really good ones on display that could, at least at a casual glance, match a high quality LCD. I think it all depends on the strength of the bulb in the thing, and what you're projecting it on.
 
Apple tv 4 gen. 3rd quater 2014

Make no mistake ! the best formula solution for a smart, efficient, affordable and portable big screen device media center ... The iCINEMA(apple tv4)

Its an integration of:

apple tv
Smart Pico projector technology
iOS 7/8

Tv/projector Industry is in for a ride, the race is on
 
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This is already kind of possible, albeit maybe not completely desk-less...

A Mac Mini.
An HD digital projector
A bluetooth IR projection keyboard (projects laser-pattern keyboard on a surface, and monitors finger contact with the surface for typing.

a bluetooth IR projection 'trackpad' sensor (similar to keyboard IR sensor, but no keyboard projection.)

Perhaps a stereoscopic 3D biometric control system like current video games.

---
but if Apple is going to do this more unified and cohesive as a retail-ready system, that could be cool.

Then the next step will be transparent see-through displays, or holographic projection in mid-air, rather than projection onto a surface.
 
I just don't see apple getting into replacement of the TVs themselves.
Have they been acquiring panel manufacturers or projection companies?
It would make much more sense if they went after the TV content distributor business like cable companies.

A medium high-end theater setup costs more than a Mac Pro.
This isn't like a phone at all, which first version only cost 800 and the very highest end vertu phones didn't offer anything special.
 
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