back to article Samsung Galaxy Beam Android projector phone review

Samsung's first Galaxy Beam, the GT-i8520, was a tremendously thick, heavy and expensive handset that very few bought. Having had a rethink, the company is now trying the whole smartphone-with-a-projector idea again with the GT-i8530. Essentially, this handset amounts to a Galaxy Advance S with a Digital Light Processing …

COMMENTS

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  1. Code Monkey

    A solution in search of a problem

    While a lot of folks are happy to use their phones' MP3 player and camera instead of a dedicated device a projector is niche, niche, niche. I can see this phone flopping like its predecessor.

    1. Shagbag

      Re: A solution in search of a problem

      That was my initial thought as well, but after some consideration, I can see this evolving into something quite useful.

      Looking back, remember how crap the iPhone 1 was? Okay, it's still overpriced but the functionality and design has moved on leaps and bounds.

      I can see the same thing happening with this. Aside from obvious business applications (ie. "oh, the projector doesn't work, ring IT Support....Wait. No. We'll use my Samsung Electronics Galaxy Beam GT-i8520 instead") its personal use could be to watch a movie anytime, anywhere with your mates. Or girlfriend if she's into that sort of thing.

      1. Gerhard den Hollander

        Re: A solution in search of a problem

        I dont know, but does gingerbread come with the ability to run powerpoints, or show an excel or word document ?

        If so, it would make a good solution .

        Another good use would be to show holliday snaps (or any kind of snaps) .

        Streaming video and the olympics/ vuelta woul;d be another good candidate (provided those streaming websites run on the webbrowser on there).

        1. Graham Dawson Silver badge

          Re: A solution in search of a problem

          Gingerbread is just the OS, I'd be surprised if it came with that sort of capability built in.

          Like they say: there's an app for that. :)

          1. Richard 81

            Re: A solution in search of a problem

            It probably comes with Polaris Office. The GSII does. LibreOffice for Android should be along at some point too.

        2. Giles Jones Gold badge

          Re: A solution in search of a problem

          Do you know how low 15 lumens is?

          Most projectors kick out around 1000+ minimum and most people watch their projector with blinds closed.

          So don't think you have a chance in hell of using this on a normal projector screen, about 1 metre in front of you sure. Then there's the issue of focus, if hand holding it then you aren't really going to get much stability and focus. The resolution is so low than text will look crap.

          Give it 5-10 years and it might get useful, but for now all it is good for is projecting rude words onto peoples heads on the train for a laugh.

    2. Giles Jones Gold badge

      Re: A solution in search of a problem

      Most people don't carry a projector around for them in daily use.

      Why would use a projector that is:

      1. Lower in resolution than the screen.

      2. Dimmer than the screen.

      3. Less sharp than the screen.

      4. Use more power than the screen.

      1. Ian Yates

        Re: A solution in search of a problem

        Because having more than one person crowded round a 4" screen to watch a movie is no one's idea of fun

    3. N13L5

      I know a great use not discussed yet

      Its been proven that you can stimulate your baby's IQ with images and such.

      Nothing like projecting those images at the ceiling above the baby's crib...

      I remember staring at ugly curtains in disgust for hours from my bed when I was a small child and couldn't get up myself yet...

      Images to project would be anything in black and white or primary colors, like simple numbers and letters all the way to scientific formulae, microscope images, musical notation etc it doesn't matter too much what it is, so long as it doesn't look scary...

  2. Anonymous Coward
    Anonymous Coward

    That definately looks like an illegally download German porn flick 'Meister Schmidt und der grosse booty ladies'

  3. Martin
    FAIL

    If you're going to put pictures like that into a phone review...

    ...would you please mark it as NSFW?

    1. Helena Handcart
      Happy

      Re: If you're going to put pictures like that into a phone review...

      Perhaps you ought to get a job where your boss isn't a Puritan.

      Take off your tie, wear a t-shirt, grow your hair; be the person that loves life rather than one of the people who are afraid of authority. Celebrate the female and male forms in all their naketude, especially those with dragon tattoos.

      1. Martin Huizing
        Thumb Down

        Re: If you're going to put pictures like that into a phone review...

        I live and work in a foreign language school here in China where all my colleagues are female (99%). Sorry, but I was also not amused having this pic on my screen and my colleagues wondering why I turned off the screen so quickly. I might enjoy these images, but I am not everyone...

        1. Martin Huizing
          Headmaster

          Re: If you're going to put pictures like that into a phone review...

          ((I work in a foreign language school))

          I don't actually live there...

          1. N13L5
            Pint

            Re: If you're going to put pictures like that into a phone review...

            I don't actually live there...

            You had me going there for a while...!

            Anyway, you'd be surprised how many females do appreciate pictures of females with dragon tatoos in compromising situations... Just don't turn it off so quickly next time, let them read the article and blame those terrible immoral British tech news sites.

      2. DuncanL
        Stop

        Re: If you're going to put pictures like that into a phone review...

        And enjoy that formal warning on your employment record?

        It may well be El Reg but someone glancing across the office could well jump to the wrong conclusion and report you for such things in many corporate environments. You may work in an office where you can get away with it - not all of us do.

      3. Anonymous Coward
        Anonymous Coward

        Re: If you're going to put pictures like that into a phone review...

        Grow up.

        If you're a teacher, or person in other position of responsibility over vulnerable adults or young people, you simply can't be caught ogling ass during your coffee break.

        (As much as some of us might celebrate the aesthetic delights of a nicely-shaped carbon unit)

      4. Richard 81

        Re: If you're going to put pictures like that into a phone review...

        Interesting idea Helena Handcart. However, in the real world...

      5. Martin
        FAIL

        @Helena Handcart: If you're going to put pictures like that into a phone review...

        Others have made similar points, but as I made the original post, I ought to reply to your comment.

        I don't have a boss who is a puritan. I don't wear a tie at work, though I consider wearing a t-shirt to be unprofessional in my office. I love life, and I'm not afraid of authority. And I have no objection, in general, to the unclothed female (or male) form.

        But I see no reason why I should offend other people in my office - particularly women - who may not actually WANT to look at a picture like this at work.

        If you really work in an office where displaying this sort of picture is acceptable, I wonder how many women would find it comfortable to work there?

  4. James 51

    Might keep the kids amused for a little while.

  5. Great Bu

    What else is there to life ?

    "Showing directions from the boozer to the nearest curry house, midnight rambles and a crafty hand shandy aside, I can’t actually think of that many real world situations in which I’d want to use the Beam."

    But 'Beer', 'Food' and 'Onanism' are the top 3 on my list of 'things to do'............

  6. Anonymous Coward
    Anonymous Coward

    vacant bozos have take over

    most people betray the fact they treat all tech as some sort of toy for amusement. This is ideal for a business presentation . just take it out of your pocket and wow the team with your graph of the zig zags going the wrong way.

  7. Martin Huizing
    Thumb Up

    And now regarding a phone with built in projector....

    Freaking groundbreaking AWESOME!!!!!

    That's all... Bit sad now that I bought the S3 instead of a FREAKING POCKET PROJECTOR PHONE!!!!!!!

  8. Cosmo
    Happy

    "Raises all manner of hand free possibilities..."

    I did LOL

  9. Anonymous Coward
    Anonymous Coward

    Sod the phone...

    who is that bird in the video still? Inquiring minds really want to know.

    This is why I love the Reg!

    1. TRT Silver badge
      Paris Hilton

      Re: Sod the phone...

      Shouldn't this be filed under bootynotes?

  10. Anonymous Coward
    Anonymous Coward

    Skinny nerd guy, stop grinning and run for it, she'll break you! :P

  11. Anonymous Coward
    Anonymous Coward

    It's a shame they don't just use networking...

    I'd rather see the phones support exporting their display via VNC, or RDP, or X (personally, one of the nicest things about Maemo was that it was based on X, so apps could run on my desktop, and I could run apps via SSH on my tablet...)

    Likewise, if they'd make these pocket projectors speak one of those protocols over WiFi, then you could use your laptop, or your phone, or ... with it.

    AND you could walk around during your presentation, carrying the phone to use as a presentation remote.

    (and while I'm wishing... Google, make Android support adding Bluetooth profiles to a device, so I can have a proper presentation remote program that just adds the HID profile to my phone, like Bluemaemo did, rather than forcing everbody to do these dain-bramaged work-arounds where I have to install an app on the computer running the presentation to control it.)

    1. Clive Galway
      Thumb Up

      Re: It's a shame they don't just use networking...

      Screen sharing is totally possible via already existing apps.

      Both ways (As in using a phone as an extra PC display and using a PC as the phone display).

      Hardly a USP

      If they missed a trick (And I dunno, maybe it is possible but it wasn't mentioned) it would be to allow HDMI in, so that you could literally use the phone as a projector for your PC or XBOX.

      Yes, you could get the image via remote desktop or something, but these things typically aren't capable of a 60FPS image, plus HDMI has audio too and I doubt this thing has a line in jack.

      Whatever, as an avid amateur movie maker, I would really like one of these.

      Surely most sports fans would like one of these also? Don't Sky allow you to use a web based service? Anytime? That plus one of these phones would surely be highly cool.

      Could also be a good laugh in a nightclub or pub - project images onto the ceiling. May also even help your mates find you, if you projected your name or something to the ceiling.

    2. jonathanb Silver badge

      Re: It's a shame they don't just use networking...

      I believe you can do that with an iPhone or iPod Touch, a MacBook and Keynote. I haven't tried it though.

  12. Wize

    Its one of those occasional use functions

    I did think about getting a pocket sized projector at one point, one with a composite video input. The Nokia N97 could give composite out via its headphone socket (one of the few good bits of that phone) to feed it if I hadn't retired the phone and have an HTC (no video out, despite the claims it can display on your TV).

    Instead, I just stick them onto my tablet to save everyone crowding round a small phone.

  13. Anonymous Coward
    Anonymous Coward

    It would be nice if

    ..Alun Taylor were able to grow up a bit, and avoid "hilarious" exploitative images in his reviews. It's a bit knuckle-draggy.

    I could quite easily see the fact that I have images like that on my screen during a lunch break making my female colleagues feel awkward or unhappy, surely we've outgrown this sort of adolescent leering in tech by now?

    You'll find no more ardent and enthusiastic fan of a splendid female arse than me (back off, Sir Mixalot, you are outranked here), but there is such a thing as an appropriate context.. Technology reviews probably aren't that.

    Thanks for your time.

  14. Anonymous Coward
    Boffin

    There is a simple answer...

    Simply don't read sites that you aren't supposed to be reading at work and, y'know, do some actual work. Save sites like The Register for the commute or read it at your leisure. Just sayin'.

    1. Stuart Archer

      Re: There is a simple answer...

      Some of us have lunch breaks, where, ya know, we actually take a break. Some of us enjoy reading El Reg during our break time. Some of us still manage to get out work done...

  15. Anonymous Coward
    Anonymous Coward

    Outdated phones

    Good to see that El Reg is finally starting to mark down phones that ship with old versions of Android...

    1. Robert E A Harvey

      Re: Outdated phones

      What? oh, probably. Something in the review distracted me.

  16. TonySpoons
    Trollface

    Here's a thought regarding NSFW

    If you're going to browse the internet doing something not work related - you're already doing something NSFW. Don't moan when your workshy internet page ends up with a lady's derriere on the screen.

    1. Arctic fox
      Thumb Down

      Re: "Here's a thought regarding NSFW" Ever thought that someone in IT support might.........

      ............check out a hardware review for professional work related reasons?

    2. Anonymous Coward
      Anonymous Coward

      Re: Here's a thought regarding NSFW

      @TonySpoons

      I guess you don't work in IT (target group for TheRegister). In what world is viewing TheRegister NSFW for those of use in IT... TheRegister: "Independent news, views, opinions and reviews on the latest in the IT industry."

      As others have stressed, this should have been marked NSFW. No one is saying the article isn't suitable for viewing at home or calling for a ban or anything - just a warning that bottoms (no matter how nice) will be on display, so look at it when you're at home, not when the boss is sat behind you!

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