Optoma is pitching its TX1080 DLP projector as a "crossover" model that's happy in living rooms as well as boardrooms, and with a 1080p DarkChip DLP with BrilliantColor and a 3700 lumen lamp, it sounds like it should fit the picture quality bill pretty nicely (the 2200:1 contrast figure seems a bit low, but it's not worth debating CR numbers). Add in the $3500 price point and it's not beyond the budget of home buyers looking into front projection, and the network management features sound like a great item if your IT department needs to approve the purchase. So yeah, if you're in the market for a HD DLP beamer around $3000 this holiday, add another one to your candidate list.

InfoComm is in full swing down in Vegas, and Texas Instruments isn't wasting any time showcasing its latest gear. First up is a prototype 1080p beamer hailed as the industry's first with a lamp-free design. Said unit also utilizes a PhlatLight LED light source and a BrilliantColor chipset, and if TI is to be believed, certain vendors will be shipping wares based on this stuff later this year. Moving on, we're being (re)treated to the planet's "first" 3D front projector (also known as the F10 AS3D), designed in cooperation with projectiondesign. Hidden beneath the big boys is the DLP Pico chipset for mobile applications, which will unsurprisingly pop up in pico projectors from companies like Optoma in late 2008 (Europe and Asia) / 2009 (the rest of us). Peek the full release after the break.

Optoma announced a trio of DLP projectors due to be shipping over the next few months: models TX776, TX782 and TX783. The projectors pump out 4000, 4500 and 5000-Lumens, respectively. Each of these PJs put up a 3000:1 contrast ratio on the 1024x768-pixels. If you pick up the TX776 , we're guessing you'll use the DVI input; otherwise you can take advantage of HDMI input on the TX782 and TX783. Look for these models to show up in the "professional" (government/education) lineup in March.

Truth be told, we've no qualms with a company unveiling nine new DLP projectors at once, but it is a wee bit overwhelming. From the top, we've got Optoma's 720p HD65 ($999) and HD71 ($1,299), which aim to please HT enthusiasts and deliver 1,600 / 2,400 lumens, respectively, and offer up HDMI 1.3, component, VGA, S-Video and composite inputs. Upping the ante is the 1080p HD803 ($2,599), which features 1,200 lumens, an 8,000:1 contrast ratio and a three-stage video processing system. Taking things down a notch, we see the EP721 ($599), EP727 ($699), EP728 ($999) and EP7155 ($999) which top out with an XGA resolution and seem to cater to educational institutions and businesses. Those needing a WXGA resolution can check out the EP1691 ($999; pictured), which weighs in at just 3.2-pounds and packs 2,500 lumens. Lastly, the port-filled EP761 ($1,299) touts an XGA resolution, 3,200 lumens, a 2,000:1 contrast ratio and DVI, VGA (2 in, 1 out), composite, S-Video, RS-232 and USB connectors. The whole lot is slated to ship out right about now, and if you're craving more in-depth details on any one in particular, the read links below should do the trick.

[Via AboutProjectors, image courtesy of DealerScope]
Read - Optoma's HD65 and HD71
Read - Optoma's EP1691 and EP7155
Read - Optoma's EP761
Read - Optoma's EP721, EP727 and EP728
Read - Optoma's HD803

While Optoma has remained fairly quiet since it unveiled a trio of PJs at CES, the company has finally struck back with a new pair of DLP projectors ready for your home theater. The EP1690 sports a DarkChip2 DMD panel, 1,280 x 768 native resolution, 2,500 lumens, 2,500:1 contrast ratio, 1.2x manual zoom lens, internal three-watt speaker, uber-quiet tunnel cooling system, DVI, VGA, S-Video, and composite inputs, USB / RS-232 control ports, and a wireless remote to boot. The all black EP780 does things in 4:3 rather than widescreen and only musters a 1,024 x 768 resolution, but still steps it up to 4,000 lumens and touts a 3,000:1 contrast ratio, DarkChip3 DMD panel, twin VGA ports to go along with the others, and stereo speakers built right in. Both units should hit the Japanese market in early July, and while the EP1690 will demand ¥450,000 ($3,713), the stealthy EP780 will run you a stiff ¥680,400 ($5,614).

[Via Impress]

Joining ViewSonic, Microvision, and Sharp, it looks like Optoma has a trio of its own projectors to lust over at CES, and they're all sporting that trendy DLP sticker as well. Up first is the 1080-capable HD81-LV, which pretty much stomps its predecessor in the specs department by offering up 2,500 ANSI lumens, 12,000:1 contrast ratio, and HDMI. If you're really feeling like emptying that piggy bank, you can add on the $3,999 BX-AL133 Cinemascope lens, which converts Hollywood movies into their native 2.35:1 aspect ratio for ultra-widescreen viewing. Coming down from the stratosphere, we run into the MovieTime DV11, which handily replaces the DV10 by keeping the integrated DVD player, featuring two five-watt stereo speakers, 1,300 ANSI lumens, 800 x 600 resolution, 2,500:1 contrast ratio, and a more reasonable $999 pricetag. Closing out the trifecta is the TX773, which was admittedly crafted more so for the office than your home theater room, and offers up 3,500 ANSI lumens, a 1,024 x 768 resolution, and DVI / VGA inputs; of course, you'd better be landing a rather large deal with it, or else the $2,499 pricetag might not really be justified. Nevertheless, all three of Optoma's latest should be shipping soon, and regardless of your motive, one of 'em ought to fit the bill. Click on through for a few more snapshots.

So you have some cash to drop and want a BIG flat screen to hang on the wall but the 70-inch plasmas are just to much; plus, they aren't big enough. You want BIG so you turn to front projection and again you just aren't happy. Sure the price is nice but the picture quality with a lot of light in the room just isn't good enough for your family room. What is a high-roller to do?

Optoma has solution for those with deep pockets. They showed off this pre-production model last September at CEDIA and are now shipping their in-wall 100-inch screen. The BigVizion is a 1080p color-wheel powered DLP. The system has every type of input a high-end TV should have including three HDMI ports, two component inputs, two YPbPr/RGBHV inputs and of course RS-232. The whole system is based 30-inches in the wall and weighs an astounding 750 pounds. While it is still less expensive then the largest plasma or LCD, it isn't cheap at $20,000.

[via BornRich]

HDTV Magazine talks 1080p, covering such issues as frame rate and de-interlacing. While we've discussed de-interlacing and upconversion before, this article breaks down the difference some devices may have in adjusting the framerates of 1080p content, while Sony's upcoming Blu-ray player will output 1080p at 60fps only, Philips is opting to push the native 24fps and so far Toshiba has forgone 1080p altogether. That's one more setting that you may want to make sure your next TV and high-def DVD player purchase include the option to adjust, or if they don't adjust, have default settings that mesh properly.

Since that wasn't enough full-resolution controversy, they make a cursory comparison of two LCoS-based front projectors, the JVC DLA-HD10K and Sony VPL-VW100 with four projectors featuring Texas Instruments' new true-1080p DLP technology, no wobulation here. The Optoma HD81, Sharp XV-Z20000, Marantz VP-11S1 and Action model 3 1080p.

[Corrected Sharp model #]

Optoma's CTO thinks so. In an interview with Digitimes, he pontificates upon a variety of subjects, and also mentions that they will seek to develop the 1080p projector market, along with Mitsubishi, JVC, Sony and Samsung. Also big in 2006: slim RPTV's.

Well, I guess it's time to get a bigger wall then.