R2D2-Shaped DVD and Videogame Projector

Rikardon writes "Nikko Home Electronics has created a DVD projector that looks and moves like R2D2 — with a remote control shaped like the Millenium Falcon. The specs aren't bad: a claimed projection area of up to 6.6m; built-in DVD and CD players; analog and digital video and audio ports; various memory card orifices, and an internal iPod dock. Favorite feature: tilt the legs to adjust the projection height, up to and including projection on the ceiling. No word on whether it projects holograms."

6.6m area, eh?

[Grokmoo (1180039)]

The specs aren't bad: a claimed projection area of up to 6.6m...

I'm not sure how one can get a projection area of 6.6 m, which is a unit of length.

Looking at their (awful, difficult to navigate flash based) website, I discover that they actually mean 6.6m diagonal.

Re:6.6m area, eh?

[cp.tar (871488)]

What, no hologram projections?

I think I'll pass.

Re:6.6m area, eh?

[esocid (946821)]

This is meant for hardcore star wars fans, so it's a pretty decent price for the setup that it has but for even less you can get a projector that really beats this one into the ground. Its resolution is only 1024x768 (4:3), so personally I would spring for a projector that has a better aspect ratio and larger display area. But like I said, this is for hard core star wars fans.

Re:6.6m area, eh?

[iamdrscience (541136)]

Have you not bought a television or monitor in the past three decades? Screen area is almost always described the length of the diagonal. It's a little confusing when comparing screens of different aspect ratios, but it's way more succinct to talk about your "42 inch" screen than your "902 square inch" screen, or even your "40 inch by 22.5 inch" screen.

Re:

[veganboyjosh (896761)]

A little confusing when comparing different aspect ratios? I remember learning the "it's measured on the diagonal" thing in high school TV class. It occured to me then and it occurs to me now that someone could come up with some wacky aspect ratio of 42:1 and still advertise that they have a ~42.whatever inch screen. Now that the ratios are all over the place, there needs to be some other standard.

Re:6.6m area, eh?

[by Anonymous Coward]

It will also do the Kessel run in less than twelve parsecs.

Re:

[mapsjanhere (1130359)]

at that lousy resolution they offer, that's a half centimeter pixel. I think you need to sit far far away to enjoy that diagonal.

Wow

[peipas (809350)]

I have never seen such a tangible commitment to the single life.

Re:

[sm62704 (957197)]

I see you've managed to somehow avoid my slashdot journals.

Also has voice

[electricbern (1222632)]

"pi pi ri pi ri pi pi pi ri" translates to "please insert memory stick into my orifice".

Re:

[YetAnotherProgrammer (1075287)]

That is part of the plan. You need C3PO to translate. That will cost you another $3k.

Re:Also has voice

[cp.tar (871488)]

That is part of the plan. You need C3PO to translate. That will cost you another $3k.

I'd rather guess, even incorrectly, than have a C3P0 in my room.

I wouldn't have a moment's peace.

Re:

[pragma_x (644215)]

I wouldn't have a moment's peace.

Han Solo: "Shut him up or shut him down."

PP2P2P2PP2P

[tepples (727027)]

"pi pi ri pi ri pi pi pi ri" translates to "please insert memory stick into my orifice".

Why? So people can download things from PP2P2P2PP2P [ytmnd.com] network?

Cue Natalie Portman jokes...

[cp.tar (871488)]

I think the title says it all.

Carry on, this is not the post you are looking for.

Re:

[Chas (5144)]

I swear. If I see a single grit, hot or otherwise, someone dies...

Re:

[cp.tar (871488)]

I swear. If I see a single grit, hot or otherwise, someone dies...

... gritting his teeth?

Price?

[snarfies (115214)]

I see they are ashamed to tell us how much they want for this. There's no mention of a pricetag - or even any method of purchasing this. Or if its even actually available - right now this all smells like vaporware. I eventually found the C-net review, after allowing the story link to allow obnoxious popups, and they say it will cost "at least" $2500. I'm pretty sure I can build my own working R2D2 for a fraction of that.

Re:

[jonesy16 (595988)]

You can almost always build a niche product cheaper than you can buy it for, but that is beside the point. That little R2 they had running around that guys house was wireless, where is this thing drawing its power from? I'm not sure you can put enough batteries in that thing to run a projector + DVD player for 2+ hours ...

Re:Price?

[esocid (946821)]

The reason they don't show a tag is because it isn't a vendor site, so you have to go click on your country to find a vendor..yadda yadda yadda you eventually get to see a price in your country. US$2,900. €2799

Re:

[MooseMuffin (799896)]

yadda yadda yadda

yoda yoda yoda

Re:Price?

[Chris Mattern (191822)]

Yo-Yo-Yo-Yo-Yoda

Well, I left home just a week before,
And I'd never ever been a Jedi before,
But Obi-Wan, he set me straight a course,
And said "Go to Yoda and he'll teach you the Force!"

Re:

[Necrobruiser (611198)]

Here's a link [starwars.com] with the price (US$2995).

Re:

[bogie (31020)]

I'm pretty sure I can build my own working R2D2 for a fraction of that.

But most people can't and this thing has a shitload of features crammed into it. I realize it's excessive and unnecessary but that's what makes it fun. I thought it was very cool and it prompted me to get back to my Star Wars Lego game on the Xbox 360.

Re:

[Don_dumb (927108)]

Lets put it this way, one of the UK's biggest radio DJ's (that's literaly biggest as well as most popular!) Chris Moyles, received his today (see around 08:00 http://www.bbc.co.uk/radio1/chrismoyles/runningorder_today.shtml [bbc.co.uk] ) ordering it years ago and talked about it on the air - he was very embarrassed to talk about price. And I doubt you could make your own R2D2 for much less considering how much projectors cost and the rarity of Millennium Falcon remotes.

Re:Price?

[Eccles (932)]

I'm pretty sure I can build my own working R2D2 for a fraction of that.

Then these are not the droids you're looking for.

You can go about your business.

Re:

[sootman (158191)]

I'm pretty sure I can build my own working R2D2 for a fraction of that.

Yeah, forget these guys! I'm gonna build my own R2D2, with blackjack and hookers. In fact, forget the robot. Ah, screw the whole thing.

Plus

[esocid (946821)]

It's remote controlled (with a Millenium Falcon remote) so you can drive it around and annoy people. Only US$2,900 too.

Re:Plus

[kd4zqe (587495)]

Actually, I was thinking about the possibility of driving one around the office, chirping at people adoringly, and when they lean down... KAPOW! 1500 Lumens to the face! R2 was always a badass. I think I could mod a tazer in the motorized flip-out iPod bay without much trouble.

Error Message?

[Mr. Sketch (111112)]

So when something goes wrong, does it say "Help me Obi Wan Kenobi. You're my only hope."?

Re:

[kiehlster (844523)]

Actually, being R2D2, it would roll around, find an electrical socket, plug itself in and go, "wee waa woo..." then all its panels would pop out and smoke up the room. After that, you'll have to hire a hydro farmer to fix it, or sell it to some jawas.

It appears.....

[lexsco (594799)]

.... that this site has already succumbed to the dark side !

Re:It appears.....

[cp.tar (871488)]

.... that this site has already succumbed to the dark side !

You're overreacting.
It only uses Flash, not Silverlight.

Re:It appears.....

[dreamchaser (49529)]

That's like saying "He's just a Dark Jedi, not a Sithlord"!

It's all a matter of degree my friend ;)

Re:

[Osurak (1013927)]

...but if we strike down this site, it shall become more powerful than we can possibly imagine.

Re:

[sm62704 (957197)]

.... that this site has already succumbed to the dark side!

Yes, it has [slashdot.org].

Don't click that link. For the love of technology don't click that link. Damn it I warned you...

Price and Battery Life

[pvt_medic (715692)]

Besides left wondering how much, I wonder how long the projector's battery life is with all these bells and whistles? But regardless I want one and cant wait to see the first person who hacks there to project holograms

Pshaw!

[sm62704 (957197)]

I had an R2D2 shaped vaccuum cleaner [filterqueen.com] long before they made the Roomba. Well, it wouldn't sweep by itself but it made funny little R2D2 noises when you pulled it along the floor if you didn't oil the castors.

It wouldn't show movies, either. Ok, I guess that pretty much sucked. Never mnd.

Re:

[dzfoo (772245)]

But if it pretty much sucked, then I guess it fulfilled its purpose. I'd say that's a good vaccuum cleaner.

        -dZ.

Just the start

[mlwmohawk (801821)]

This is a HUGE step, by the way

R2D2 is actually a perfect beginner home robot. About 15 years ago I was saying that a home robot would be the entertainment center with a projector and media player. It would be a phone, message center, wireless networking, vacuum, etc. etc.

In a few more years, I can really see apartments or dorm rooms with no stereo, no "computer," no TV, etc. You have one device, positioned so its charging booth is a good location for the projected screen. When it is not in use, it will roam the home vacuuming and taking the occasional picture for security.

When you are home, it will playback phone messages, music, project the TV, play a DVD search the web, etc. Maybe it will download a recipe for your bread machine.

Re:

[nfk (570056)]

I was liking your projection of the future, but you lacked ambition in the end. Why couldn't the robot be your bread machine too?

Re:

[mlwmohawk (801821)]

I was liking your projection of the future, but you lacked ambition in the end. Why couldn't the robot be your bread machine too?

LOL, there really is an answer to that one!!

Currently and in the near foreseeable future, robot interaction in the environment is limited to avoidance and non-specific movement. The idea that R2D2 could go to the flour bin and get 3 cups of flour, 1 tbs sugar, 1.5 tsp kosher salt, 2 tbs olive oil, 1 1/8 cups tepid water, and 1 1/2 tsp yeast and put them in a bread machine that is

Re:Just the start

[Chris Mattern (191822)]

R2D2 is actually a perfect beginner home robot.

I have to disagree. My R2D2 ran away as soon as I took out his restraining bolt!

Luke Skywalker

Re:

[mlwmohawk (801821)]

Different flavoured bread?

There are as many different types and flavors of bread as there are for cheese.

Re:

[MMC Monster (602931)]

Different flavoured cheese?

How did legal let this slip by?

[HockeyPuck (141947)]

I've filed many patents in the past, and I can't believe Apple legal would allow language like:

Toys, games and playthings, namely

Other links with pictures.

[linuxkrn (635044)]

I couldn't get to the site, but found these instead.

IGN [ign.com] and Gizmodo [gizmodo.com].
 
Looks cool, but I'd pass. Don't get me wrong, I love Star Trek^H^H^H^HWars (joking) as much as the next geek. Just not enough to decorate my home with it.

That one's a little pricey...

[DCheesi (150068)]

I'd settle for one of these:

http://www.thinkgeek.com/geektoys/rc/9447/

One tenth the price, and it'll bring you beer!

Wow

[pavon (30274)]

One of the projects on my list of things to do (most of which will never happen till I retire) has been to build a R2D2 karaoke machine, complete with lyrics projector, and lightsaber^W microphone ejecting action! And a gin and tonic dispenser, of course.

I wasn't thinking of using anywhere near as good of components, though. This really is impressive.

Re:

[esocid (946821)]

Well shit, guess those death star plans will never get to Obi-Wan. sigh. [/geek]