Sony's latest travelling picture show

IMAGINE carrying around your own portable theatre wherever you go. It’s possible with the MP-CL1A, a new Pico projector from Sony.
It’s a “short-throw” projector – capable of projecting 40-inch images from as little as a metre away, all in high definition.
Measuring 77x150x13mm and weighing 210 grams, it looks more like a power bank or a large smartphone rather than the customary projector. By “portable”, they |mean you can tuck it in your shirt pocket.
The output resolution is 1,920x720 pixels at an aspect ratio of 16:09. The brightness is 32 lumens and the contrast ratio a |very high 80,000: 1. It’s capable |of displaying 16.77 million |colours.
The light source is a laser diode that’s good for about 10,000 hours.
Laser Beam Scanning (LBS) technology ensures the HD resolution as well as focus-free projection. From 3.45 metres the cast a screen up to 120 inches broad.
The MP-CL1A has a 3,400-mAh rechargeable battery that will keep you projecting pictures for up to 120 minutes on a full charge.
There’s a USB port for connecting your smartphone, handy when you need a portable charger or emergency source of power. The HDMI 1.4b port will handle MHL (mobile high definition) 2.2 and HDCP (High Definition Copy Protocol) 1.4.
Apart from using an HDMI cable to connect to the picture source, the MP-CL1A can use the mirror function and Wi-Fi to link to your phone or tablet.

The built-in speaker sounds pretty good when movies are playing and you get a 3.5mm stereo jack to connect with external speakers or headphones. Bluetooth audio connections are easy to make.
Also in the package is a lens-cover stand that both protects the lens and serves as perch for the projector when you’re aiming up a wall or onto the ceiling. A carrying pouch and USB cable are provided too.
When I tested the MP-CL1A the pictures were really sharp and clear and I never had to adjust the focus. The imagery was quite bright even in a room that was far from completely dark, instead just slightly dimmed.
I used the HDMI cable to hook up to my notebook computer and was soon projecting nice-quality HD movies. There’s a jog button for selecting the input source from a menu display.
Once connected to my phone using the mirroring feature and Wi-Fi, though, movies played sluggishly, though I could viewing still photos fine.
Sony’s MP-CL1A has a suggested retail price of Bt18,990.

Key Specs
- Image size: 40 inches at 1.15m projection distance, 120 inches at 3.45m
- Output resolution: 1,920x720p
- Brightness: 32 lumens
- Contrast ration: 80,000:1
- Light source: Laser diode (10,000 hours)
- Audio output: 3.5mm stereo jack, Bluetooth
- Input sources: HDMI 1.4b/MHL 2.2, Wi-Fi (mirroring)
- Speaker system: 1 watt
- Battery: 3,400mAh, 120 minutes projection time
- Power: DC5V/1.5A, one port
- Dimensions: 77x149.5x13mm
- Weight: 210g