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Samsung Galaxy Beam projector phone now available in UK

by Mark Tyson on 30 July 2012, 17:33

Tags: Samsung (005935.KS), PC

Quick Link: HEXUS.net/qabkc5

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The Samsung Galaxy Beam is now available to buy in the UK. The 15-lumen projector and smartphone combination was first shown at the Mobile World Congress in February this year. Users will be able to project HD images, videos and other content onto flat surfaces such as walls and ceilings to enjoy “big screen” presentations up to 50 inches wide at a distance of two metres.

This innovative Android powered handset has the following key specifications;

  • Dimensions: 124 x 64.2 x 12.5mm
  • Weight: 145g
  • Display: 4.0 inch 480x800 pixel display
  • Projector: 15 Lumen DLP, works at a distance of 2m to present images up to 50” diagonal, nHD resolution (640x360 pixels)
  • Battery: 2,000mAh allows presentations lasting up to 3 hours with no extra power supply
  • Camera: 5MP with flash, 720p video recording, front facing 1.2MP camera
  • Processor: dual core 1GHz Cortex-A9
  • Networks: HSPA 14.4/5.76 850/900/1900/2100, EDGE/GPRS 850/900/1800/1900, Wi-Fi, Bluetooth 3
  • Memory: 768MB RAM, 8GB user storage and MicroSD support
  • Software: Android 2.3.6 Gingerbread

"Too-cool-for-school yellow racer-strip accent perfectly expresses your individual style
- lets everyone know it’s no ordinary smartphone!"
Says Samsung.

Samsung suggest that using the Samsung Galaxy Beam on the following occasions will “transform, excite and inspire everyone around you.” Some of the suggestions are a bit whacky; Samsung brain storming seems to have gone out of control. Basically you can use it just like any portable projector but you use the data sources from the smartphone rather than laptop.

  • Personal theatre - movies
  • Fun group sharing - your own pictures and videos
  • Mood generator – project onto the walls as you shoot video, ambient mode to decorate your room
  • Outdoor entertainment – liven up a picnic!
  • Professional presentations – sharing office docs in a presentation
  • Educational tool – OHP in your pocket

Terrible graphic from Samsung illustrating the mood generator functionality.

The Samsung Galaxy Beam is available SIM free for £385 at Expansys. Alternatively you get it for free on a £31 per month 24 month contract at CPW.

The VP of Samsung UK and Ireland Telecommunications and Networks Division, Simon Stanford, said of the Galaxy Beam; “It's the kind of device you won't find anywhere else - a high definition projector within a standard sized smartphone - and is great for people who want to watch movies, show photos to friends or need to give a presentation while they're out and about.”

The Galaxy Beam is a svelte 12.5mm thick despite the built in projector.

It’s good to see Samsung try another unlikely combination to try and make a hit. It took a chance on the Galaxy Note phablet form factor whose success has taken a lot of people by surprise. The Galaxy Beam may also be a surprising success. My teenage son at university bought a pocket sized projector a few weeks ago and I thought it was an odd purchase at the time. Does Samsung have another innovative winner of its hands?



HEXUS Forums :: 5 Comments

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Its just such a shame the phones so low spec and Android 2.3. Should have just stuck a projector on an s3/note (or as a clip on module?). Can't see the need for another completely different design…
Wow, what an entirely pointless product…
+1 for usb type module for higher end phones, I envisage laying in bed projecting onto ceiling awesomeness.
pointless, really? I see a lot of use for it myself. Theres a ton of people in schools and offices around the country that need to wait for projector time. A fair amount of classrooms and offices have the white screens fitted to the wall or proper projecter screens ready to pull down at any time, but dont have the use of a projector or share one with 6 other classes which means a whole lot of planning and invariably someone losing out.

So, now you store your powerpoint presentation on your phone, or an educational documentary, turn the lights down and get the job done. Class.

On top of that, theres the fun factor, projecting an image of Carrie Fisher on to the table from the side of a biscuit tin for example, gotta be fun.

A quick time delay setting and projecting the image of Norah Batty onto the ceiling just as your mate is getting lucky with his latest conquest…

im sure the hexites will come up with many more uses for a portable projector, especially if it could actually project a video conference (angles are wrong i know, but how cool would that be?)

Pointless, i think not, you just need to get your head around the actual uses for such a product.
Dareos
pointless, really? I see a lot of use for it myself. Theres a ton of people in schools and offices around the country that need to wait for projector time. A fair amount of classrooms and offices have the white screens fitted to the wall or proper projecter screens ready to pull down at any time, but dont have the use of a projector or share one with 6 other classes which means a whole lot of planning and invariably someone losing out.

So, now you store your powerpoint presentation on your phone, or an educational documentary, turn the lights down and get the job done. Class.

You won't find many schools will like this particular product due to the fact it has a camera built in - schools are increasingly banning phones and MP3 players, both for students and staff. I'm not sure a 640x360 resolution will be much use for anything but lo-res videos either.

Might be OK for a laugh in the pub every now and then, or during a break when trying to share videos with a group (it's probably better than handing a phone from person to person), but genuine uses I'm struggling to see personally.