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| Version 1 | Version 2 |
|---|---|
| Lenovo phone features virtual keyboard | Lenovo phone features virtual keyboard |
| (about 1 hour later) | |
| Chinese electronics giant Lenovo has unveiled a phone with a built-in laser projector that can be used to display a virtual keyboard or display. | Chinese electronics giant Lenovo has unveiled a phone with a built-in laser projector that can be used to display a virtual keyboard or display. |
| The interactive display can replicate the phone's touch screen, a full-size computer keyboard or even piano keys. | The interactive display can replicate the phone's touch screen, a full-size computer keyboard or even piano keys. |
| The laser projector can also be used to beam images and videos onto walls. | The laser projector can also be used to beam images and videos onto walls. |
| The Smart Cast phone was unveiled at the company's Tech World conference in Beijing, where the firm also unveiled a new type of smartwatch. | |
| 'Headline-grabbing' | 'Headline-grabbing' |
| The laser projector measures just 34mm by 26mm by 5mm and, said Lenovo, does not need focussing to project sharp images onto walls or other flat surfaces. | The laser projector measures just 34mm by 26mm by 5mm and, said Lenovo, does not need focussing to project sharp images onto walls or other flat surfaces. |
| A video showing the Smart Cast in action shows how twisting the mounting for the device's lens turns it from a standard wall projector into "surface mode" that beams the display on to a table top. | A video showing the Smart Cast in action shows how twisting the mounting for the device's lens turns it from a standard wall projector into "surface mode" that beams the display on to a table top. |
| A kickstand mounted on the back of the phone keeps the device upright while the virtual keyboard is in use. | A kickstand mounted on the back of the phone keeps the device upright while the virtual keyboard is in use. |
| At Tech World, Chinese concert pianist Lang Lang used the virtual keyboard to play a version of The Entertainer. | At Tech World, Chinese concert pianist Lang Lang used the virtual keyboard to play a version of The Entertainer. |
| Mike Lowe, reviews editor at gadget site Pocket-lint, who has tried out the phone said there was far less delay using the virtual keyboard with the Smart Cast than was apparent on other devices with similar input systems. | |
| "The history of the projector phone is hardly rosy," he said. "Samsung launched the Galaxy Beam in 2012 and that bombed. It's not been a booming industry for any other manufacturer since." | "The history of the projector phone is hardly rosy," he said. "Samsung launched the Galaxy Beam in 2012 and that bombed. It's not been a booming industry for any other manufacturer since." |
| Mr Lowe said his experience with the phone did not convince him that the Smart Cast would break that cycle. | Mr Lowe said his experience with the phone did not convince him that the Smart Cast would break that cycle. |
| "It's fun, but ultimately a gimmick," he said. "It's hard to be accurate with the increased scale of the keys for starters, plus the demo was in a dimly-lit room." | "It's fun, but ultimately a gimmick," he said. "It's hard to be accurate with the increased scale of the keys for starters, plus the demo was in a dimly-lit room." |
| In a separate demonstration, he added, Lenovo showed ways to use the interactive projected display to play games. | In a separate demonstration, he added, Lenovo showed ways to use the interactive projected display to play games. |
| "It's fun, it's headline-grabbing, but it's also impractical, not coming to the UK and well, just isn't a product anyone is likely to genuinely need," he said. | "It's fun, it's headline-grabbing, but it's also impractical, not coming to the UK and well, just isn't a product anyone is likely to genuinely need," he said. |
| Tech World also saw Lenovo show off a smart watch, called Magic View, that has two screens. | Tech World also saw Lenovo show off a smart watch, called Magic View, that has two screens. |
| The device has a standard "public" screen viewable by anyone and a second "private" projected screen only visible when the watch is held close to the face and at a specific angle. | The device has a standard "public" screen viewable by anyone and a second "private" projected screen only visible when the watch is held close to the face and at a specific angle. |