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Perhaps money moving from the Euro into precious metals for safety. I'm using options to play SLV--more bang for the buck (and of course more risk). Heavy on silver--also SLW (my fave), TGB, HL and lots of bullion.
Many of my 'bets' are that the 'market' is being held down (manipulated bigtime)...the precious metals market, that is.
Bing jp silver manipulation cftc for an eyeful.
I'm long silver (SLW's my fave), gold (especially the juniors GDXJ, ZJG), wheat (WEAT on London) and (as of yesterday) natural gas. Shorting the Dow via options on DOG.
What's a 'bad day', Gastro?
It's really very simple. Stock goes down...buy! Stock goes up...sell! Ya buy weakness and sell strength. The trick is to nibble...take a few percent gain REPEATEDLY.
I've reloaded my trading shares for a quick pop. Maybe some nooz today?
Yep. The key is the direct retinal patents. This is what enables see-through (heads up) vision without regard to ambient brightness. Nobody else can touch this!
Imagine wearing voice-recognition-enabled Microvision 'shades' on the beach while you check your stock portfolio.
We just have to encourage Microvision to refrain from naming the eyeware something as lame and stupid as 'ShowWX'.
I've always thought that Microvision's direct retinal display technology would be the paradigm-shifting moneymaker here, and it seems that Anant shares my enthusiasm for this emerging (relatively imminent) development...
Sunday, April 4, 2010
Microvision: Color Eyewear Development Program
Now that Microvision has commercially launched its laser PicoP projector SHOWwx in the US market; and that the initial shipments have begun in earnest, the inquiring minds want to know: “Now what?”
From what I hear, the focus has now increased in scope to embrace additional five areas with varying levels of priority and resource allocation…
• PicoP Display Engine modules for embedded applications,
• High Definition and brighter pico image initiative,
• Color Eyewear product development,
• 3D projector and light weight passive polarized 3D glasses development,
• New PEK modules and development support for multitude of third party applications.
I promise to pass on the information, on each of the above subjects, as it becomes available to me… or when it has gathered some critical mass to become worthy of further discussion.
So, here we go with our first subject that seems to be coming back to life after sitting on the back burner for almost six months…
First, here’s the link to Microvision Eyewear Development Program that I found on the Internet…
http://www.microvision.com/pdfs/program_brief.pdf
Note the key statement…
“Microvision and its business partners are developing see-through personal Color Eyewear for mobility applications that will extend the usability of mobile devices transforming the user experience.”
Microvision Color Eyewear Product alone is worth billions in [high margin] revenue for the company.
This is why…
Paradigm Shift: Another Microvision product that will change the way we view our world.
Ultimate Mobility: Allows you to engage with the world and your personal mobile content at the same time.
Extend the Usability of Mobile Devices: to further enhance and transform user experience.
Ultimate Social Networking Tool: Allows you to keep in constant contact with social networks… without having to pull your mobile phone out of your pocket.
Next Generation of Color Eyewear: that is not only fashionable but also elevates the user experience.
Ultimate in Private Viewing: of information for business [like teleprompter], networking and entertainment.
Ultimate in High Definition Image Quality: High Definition images in 1080i or beyond… limited only by the pixel size of laser light source.
Immersive Virtual Experiences: in 2D or 3D using Microvision’s Color Eyewear equipped with Augmented Reality
Market Size: Multi-billion dollar worldwide market… no doubt.
Competition: None to speak of at this time.
Timing: Coming soon… in 2011 or there about. Timing of commercial product release to the global market is the only wild card in the deck.
Program Funding: by Lockheed Martin sub-contract…
Here’s this statement from Press Release of July 13th, 2009…
“Microvision is very pleased to work with Lockheed Martin to advance the development of see-through eyewear displays in support of the DARPA ULTRA-Vis program…”
“… By designing Microvision’s ultra-miniature PicoP Display Engine and our thin Substrate Guided Relay (SGR) Optics into a wearable display, we have the potential to bring battery operable, low-profile, see-through, full-color eyewear displays to users.”
“DARPA has created the ULTRA-Vis program to bring tactical see-through heads-up information to ground soldiers in order to increase their safety and situational awareness in urban environments, the company said. When integrated to an information management system, Microvision said its eyewear display could enable users to receive visual commands, view geo-registered iconic representations, and receive other full-color image content overlaid on their view.
Here’s the link…
http://www.tradingmarkets.com/.site/news/Stock%20News/2418318/
When you add the billions of dollars revenue potential from the PicoP Display Engine and PicoP Projector market to the “Color Eyewear” market… there is no better conclusion than: “Microvision has the potential of becoming a multi-billion dollar enterprise no doubt”.
Will Microvision stock [Nasdaq: MVIS] be a $500 stock in year 2014 remains to be seen… however all the signs are pointing that we are heading in the right direction and smart money is taking position as we speak?
We, as investors, can be part of this paradigm shift that has the potential of extraordinary financial gains during the “change” process that may spread over a few years… and is underway already.
Anant Goel
http://mirro7.blogspot.com/2010/04/microvision-color-eyewear-development.html
I took some nice fat MVIS profits in my trading account today, and smiled as the value of my core holdings and long-expiration options increased. Microvision sux at followup releases, so I'll reload the trading shares and up the options ante on the inevitable dip.
Water is the key element. Most water too much or too little. Some plants hate wet feet, and others will not tolerate drying out.
Good drainage in the pots is essential. I find that water-retaining crystals (like Miracle-Grow Moisture Control Crystals) added to the potting medium help to keep the moisture level constant, but it's important not to overuse it.
LOL! Cue the theme...
Buy weakness; sell strength.
I was a buyer under $2.40 this morning. Silver and gold presented nice buying opportunities this morning as well.
Gotta love those wild intraday swings!
The conference call destroyed investor confidence. First pre-market trade brought the price back down to $2.50, effectively erasing the gains from the news of the US introduction.
Sigh! Another buying opportunity.
Less than 5000 green laser units each month through the second quarter is a significant limitation. There's gonna be one hell of a waiting list if the ShowWX gets popular.
Damn, who thought up that stupid five syllable name anyway? Let's have a contest to rename the thing.
Since the unit is essentially a video laser, how 'bout VAZER?
There's a paucity of terms to describe laser video projection, so as the device catches on, the verb form 'vaze' might evolve as a generic descriptor for the action of laser-projecting a video image. You know, like 'Hey, vaze that vid over here.' LOL!
The 'Limited Edition' should have been offered initially and exclusively to VIP members. What's the point of having the VIP program if not for something like this?
I'm a VIP subscriber and got an email only this afternoon--hours after I had read about the US introduction from their earlier news release. The VIP mailing didn't even bother to edit out this paragraph:
VIP Priority Purchase Opportunity
U.S. VIP members will be offered an opportunity to order standard edition SHOWWX prior to general market availability. Please watch your email for details later in March! For those VIPs outside the U.S., please stay tuned for information about SHOWWX availability in your area.
I'd buy more shares before I'd buy a 'Limited Edition' unit anyway, but this is simply sleep-marketing.
Conference call webcast URL:
Q4 2009 Microvision, Inc.
Earnings Conference Call
Monday, March 8, 2010 4:30 p.m. ET
http://phx.corporate-ir.net/phoenix.zhtml?c=114723&p=irol-EventDetails&EventId=2761057
Perhaps a bit too much. $549
Volume is kind of anemic for this long-awaited announcement. The implications are much further reaching than just the simple availability of the product, but the release doesn't mention any of this.
So far, it seems that the product is only available directly from the company. It needs to hit real distribution before the serious money flows.
More like quarterly, scoob; and life is good, thank you. Lookin' for a nice precious metals run in the next week or so.
That's a really big fish.
Still hoping beyond hype that Tirex is anything more than a few file folders in Threshie's home office? ROTFL!!!!
Some things never change.
MVIS, Poised to Deliver Explosive Unit Sales Growth, Earnings Call 3/8
Mar 4, 2010
MVIS (position, Long) is expected to deliver positive product announcements and progress towards strategic mobile phone OEM distribution agreements that could lead to positive revenue and earnings growth and cause the stock to appreciate on and after its 4Q and full year 2009 results conference call on March 8, 2010.
MVIS, Poised to Deliver Explosive Unit Sales Growth, Earnings Call 3/8
BAM, San Francisco, 3/4/2010
On March 3, 2010, MVIS announced its 4Q and full year 2009 results conference call on March 8, 2010 at 1:30 p.m. PT available at (866) 770-7129 passcode: 87213505 and on the Internet at www.microvision.com/investors.
We own MVIS and are looking to acquire more. MVIS is poised to grow rapidly as many of the hurdles to strategic distribution of its products have been eliminated.
MVIS, Growth from High Quality Laser Projector, Poised to be Embedded in Mobile Phones
MVIS produces small handheld and embedded laser projection devices. Barriers to unit sales including product development and availability of key product inputs have been eliminated and the company is now poised to announce a deal that will cause high sales and earnings growth.
In the past, MVIS has had focus issues and technology input supply issues. Earlier product versions required focusing devices. Furthermore, the green laser input required for the product, supplied by Corning (GLW), has recently become cheaper and more available. Osram is a potential second source the green laser, improving availability and pricing for MVIS.
Today, MVIS sells and delivers handheld laser projectors of superior quality to the competition at competitive prices. Now that product, input availability and cost barriers have been eliminated, MVIS is poised to deliver an enormous increase in units delivered.
On February 12, 2010, MVIS’s laser pico product won best in show prize at Macworld in Moscone Center in San Francisco. A strategic deal to embed its laser projector devices in mobile phones would result in high sales and earnings growth, which would cause the stock to appreciate rapidly.
From CeBIT, the globe’s largest technology conference, Hexus, a technology review web site, presents this quick, easy and fun video demonstration of MVIS’ Intel powered “gaming gun controller” technology.
We are looking for the stock price to increase quickly as an actual release of an impending deal nears.
Other avenues to increase unit sales include other companies’, including MSFT’s, experimentation with MVIS' PicoP Evaluation Kit (PEK) to test the LASER projection engine.
In short, MVIS is at the nexus of product and technology development, customer demand and position to meet that demand. We own the stock and are expecting a strategic announcement in the near term and positive milestones to be discussed on the upcoming conference call on March 8, 2010.
MVIS, Earnings Expectations, Meeting Milestones Drive Stock, Unit Sales Growth Soon
Yahoo reports one analyst with expectations of $1.12 million in revenue for December quarter and $3.98 million in revenue for the 2009 year. EPS expectations for the same periods are a loss of $0.11 and a loss of $0.54 per share. Going forward current 2010 estimates are for $19.17 million in revenue and a loss of $0.39 per share. More importantly, on the March 8, 2010 call, we expect news on product shipments and potential strategic deals that will drive the stock.
MVIS, Buy, Based on Expectations of Greater Unit Sales and Profitability
MVIS is a stock we own and we expect to grow our position. We expect that with green laser availability, recent product developments and end customer demand, MVIS will soon announce a distribution deal that will deliver exponential unit sales, as well as revenue and profitability growth, causing the stock to appreciate.
MVIS Important Information
BAM Position: Long
Investment Thesis: Expect stock price appreciation based on financial improvement from sales increase due to nexus of input delivery, technology development and end user demand.
Corporate Facts: Headquartered in Redmond, Washington with 165 employees and founded in 1993.
Valuation: 77.8 million shares, $2.50 price per share, $17.8 million in cash, $0.6 million in debt equals approximately $178 million in estimated enterprise value. MVIS has approximately 7.0 million outstanding options, which are excluded from estimated enterprise value computation.
Cash flow: Cash burn approximately $5.0 million per quarter. Three quarters of cash remaining, before refinancing or increased operating cash flow required.
Disclosure: Long: MVIS
Themes: Technology, gaming, consumer electronics, mobile phone technology Stocks: MVIS, INTC, MSFT, SI, GLW
This post has 1 comment:
SailorMike
Comments (2)
We hold Microvision Long. The company has overcome many obstacles in its long history. Most investors are focused on the retail end of Microvisions operations and equate profitability with success and PPS valuation. We believe that this is a fundamental mistake. Microvisions real value is in the patents that it holds. Microvision has patented their projection technology from the electrical output of the battery all the way thru their device to the end result on the screen. Microvision is listed number 17 in the world for high tech patents. None of Microvisions current competitors are even rated on this list.
What this means is that anyone trying to duplicate Microvisions process by another means will always run up against a Microvision patent which will prevent them from achieving the same excellent end result that Microvision has displayed.
This technology is a total game changer. Everyone from Microsoft to Apple, just to name a couple, is moving to this form of display format. The old form of display format with a fixed dimension screen will soon be found only in a museum.
The applications for this technology are endless and the surface has only been scratched. It should be remembered that, at the point AT took over the company, there was work being performed on 35 different projects. These projects ranged from wide screen television sets to the current projector now being ramped up to full production. AT stopped research on these projects in order to focus on the embedded projector, but Microvision will be introducing new products to the market as revenues permit resumption of research into these older projects.
Now back to my main point, valuation. To use an analogy, if you had the blueprints for a space ship (an alien came from outer space and handed them to you) and you had proof of concept, would the value of your space ship blueprints be based on the number that you had produced and sold or would the value be based on the potential of said space ship?
It is the potential value of the patents that make Microvision a prime buyout target for companies like Microsoft and Apple and just about any other information format application, including cell phone manufacturers and service providers. When it happens, and it will, the offer will not be based on current sales or the bottom line on a spread sheet. The offer will be based on future potential of existing patents. Since we have only scratched the surface for applications, it will be hard to put a number on the valuation, but it will be much higher (by a huge factor) than today’s valuation of Microvision which is based on the bottom line and current profitability.
If you had bought 10,000 shares of Wal-Mart at its inception, you would be a millionaire today. If you are holding 10,000 shares of Microvision today you will be a millionaire by the middle of 2011, if you keep holding those shares. Don’t let anyone con you out of them for a couple fast bucks. Best of luck to everyone. See you in Costa Rica.
http://seekingalpha.com/instablog/546429-xbroom/57284-mvis-poised-to-deliver-explosive-unit-sales-growth-earnings-call-3-8
Didn't it? The options I bought for a dime two days ago are selling for 40 cents. The price of the stock is up and should continue climbing as we move into real distribution.
Meanwhile (and OT), back at the ranch, I bought a stack of SLW options yesterday that went deep underwater today with a slight decline in silver price. Confident that silver is going to outperform gold and most everything else, I doubled down. (My wife was looking over my shoulder, saw the red all over the screen and began shrieking rude remarks about my sanity.) So this evening a few hours after the close, SLW announced record earnings. Tomorrow's gonna be fun.
Ya gotta be patient, and ya gotta be quick!
The price dropped so we could buy some more, ol' chum. LOL! I am getting impatient for a nice little run so I can buy more GDXJ with the MVIS profits. Doesn't look like the price of gold is gonna wait for the blue lasers however.
The Euro was getting beat on so badly that I simply had to glom some FXE calls and I'm smilin' now. It's a great market for a relentless contrarian...
http://vids.myspace.com/index.cfm?fuseaction=vids.individual&videoid=49338827
Warrants? Pay $1.12 for the right to buy a share at $3.60?
http://quotes.nasdaq.com/asp/SummaryQuote.asp?symbol=MVISW&selected=MVISW
Anyway, there's no problem trading MVISW at IB if that's what you want. They're the best online broker I've ever used.
http://www.interactivebrokers.ca/en/main.php
He who hesitates gets to chase the price.
LOL!
Is anyone messing with MVIS options? I bought a stack of March $2.50 calls when they were out of the money and insanely cheap. Sold some for a quick double and will ride the rest along into the $3's.
Wheeeeee!!!!!!!!!
[Please note: This is pure unadulterated gambling stuff, not for the faint of heart and not to be attempted with money you need for mortgage payments, etc. I was bored with the slow-motion action of MVIS and options bring some excitement to the trading day.]
WHEEE!!!!!!!
Bought more at $2.24 earlier today. Took some profits on the strength of PL, CORN, WEAT and VXX; then bought more MVIS, GDXJ, GDX, ZJG and SLW on the irrational weakness.
Ya gotta be quick!
I would take a conservative view and interpret it with the lower numbers.
That said, consider the first four letters of the word analyst as my opinion of where most of their heads are at. For example, I just signed up for the Liberty Analytics report that was PR'd today, and it essentially draws some hocus pocus on a chart and comes up with an overall 'sell' rating. No real analysis of the marketplace, the PicoP product or Microvision's patents at all. Total BS, IMO.
I don't know if you can access this report without signing up:
http://www.libertyanalyticsco.com/reports/mvis.pdf
Patience, Gastro. There are no straight lines on stock charts and a nice slow climb is much better than a spike.
MVIS near top of NASD's list...
Below are the top U.S. small cap stocks with most potential upside, calculated as the difference between current price and Wall Street analysts' average target price.
Ranking | Company (Ticker) | Potential Upside
1 MiddleBrook Pharmaceuticals, Inc. (NASDAQ:MBRK) 650.0%
2 Molecular Insight Pharmaceuticals, Inc. (NASDAQ:MIPI) 482.7%
3 Oilsands Quest Inc. (AMEX:BQI) 363.8%
4 Biodel Inc (NASDAQ:BIOD) 308.6%
5 Sequenom, Inc. (NASDAQ:SQNM) 306.5%
6 Cell Therapeutics, Inc. (NASDAQ:CTIC) 301.0%
7 Celldex Therapeutics, Inc. (NASDAQ:CLDX) 236.3%
8 Trident Microsystems, Inc. (NASDAQ:TRID) 235.6%
9 Cytokinetics, Inc. (NASDAQ:CYTK) 221.4%
10 Cardium Therapeutics Inc. (AMEX:CXM) 218.2%
11 DepoMed, Inc. (NASDAQ:DEPO) 207.2%
12 Horizon Lines, Inc. (NYSE:HRZ) 197.0%
13 OncoGenex Pharmaceuticals Inc (NASDAQ:OGXI) 195.1%
14 Sucampo Pharmaceuticals, Inc. (NASDAQ:SCMP) 179.3%
15 Enzo Biochem, Inc. (NYSE:ENZ) 175.0%
16 NIVS IntelliMedia Technology Group Inc (NYSE:NIV) 163.8%
17 Repligen Corporation (NASDAQ:RGEN) 157.1%
18 AVI BioPharma, Inc. (NASDAQ:AVII) 156.8%
19 CKX Inc. (NASDAQ:CKXE) 153.2%
20 U.S. Gold Corporation (AMEX:UXG) 152.8%
21 TranS1 Inc. (NASDAQ:TSON) 152.4%
22 American Apparel Inc. (AMEX:APP) 150.0%
23 Lexicon Pharmaceuticals, Inc. (NASDAQ:LXRX) 150.0%
24 Air Transport Services Group Inc. (NASDAQ:ATSG) 146.8%
25 StemCells, Inc. (NASDAQ:STEM) 145.9%
26 EMS Technologies, Inc. (NASDAQ:ELMG) 144.4%
27 Crawford & Company (NYSE:CRD.B) 140.4%
28 Valence Technology, Inc. (NASDAQ:VLNC) 140.4%
29 Microvision, Inc. (NASDAQ:MVIS) 136.2%
30 ArQule, Inc. (NASDAQ:ARQL) 134.8%
31 Universal Travel Group (NYSE:UTA) 134.5%
32 Great Wolf Resorts, Inc. (NASDAQ:WOLF) 132.6%
33 Chelsea Therapeutics International Ltd. (NASDAQ:CHTP) 131.7%
34 Array BioPharma Inc. (NASDAQ:ARRY) 129.9%
35 Cardiac Science Corporation (NASDAQ:CSCX) 129.9%
36 Lakes Entertainment, Inc. (NASDAQ:LACO) 129.6%
37 Poniard Pharmaceuticals, Inc. (NASDAQ:PARD) 129.3%
38 NPS Pharmaceuticals, Inc. (NASDAQ:NPSP) 125.5%
39 FuelCell Energy, Inc. (NASDAQ:FCEL) 120.1%
40 Omeros Corporation (NASDAQ:OMER) 115.9%
41 BioDelivery Sciences International, Inc. (NASDAQ:BDSI) 115.3%
42 Immunomedics, Inc. (NASDAQ:IMMU) 115.2%
43 ARYx Therapeutics, Inc. (NASDAQ:ARYX) 114.1%
44 Orexigen Therapeutics, Inc. (NASDAQ:OREX) 111.9%
45 Warren Resources, Inc. (NASDAQ:WRES) 111.0%
46 Dyax Corp. (NASDAQ:DYAX) 108.3%
47 Merge Healthcare Inc. (NASDAQ:MRGE) 108.3%
48 Broadpoint Securities, Inc. (NASDAQ:BPSG) 107.8%
49 China TransInfo Technology Corp. (NASDAQ:CTFO) 107.4%
50 Ariad Pharmaceuticals, Inc. (NASDAQ:ARIA) 106.7%
...
http://www.nasd100.com/2010/02/top-small-cap-stocks-with-highest-upside-potential-as-of-feb-14-2010.html
Yep. ULP1000 is the Uniden-labeled PicoP. See the Mint Technology online catalog page 14 here:
http://www.mtglobal.com.au/catalogue/book.html#/14
MVIS is looking for a Director of Product Marketing...
Company Name: Microvision
Job Title: Director of Product Marketing
Location: Redmond, WA
Profession: Department Head or Executive
Job Description:
Director of Product Marketing
Tracking Code: 8360
Job Description
Responsible for Profit and Loss (P & L) across all product lines.
Manage full lifecycle development of all hardware, software, and service offerings with Global responsibility.
Drive NPI (New Product Introduction) activity across all lines and all segments
Champion of product quality through adherence to established company milestones, gate reviews, and documented development processes.
Evangelist for your product from inception through all phases of lifecycle.
Own critical decisions relative to product feature, price, distribution, and promotion.
Responsible for recruitment, selection, hiring, and development of key team members critical to current and sustained ability to execute.
Management of functional and cross-functional teams or projects directly involved in execution of your vision.
Understand and promote all technologies
Partner with Business Development, Strategic Account Management, Sales, and Service to fully understand customer needs to be addressed by Microvision offerings.
Contribute key information in support of the creation of downstream marketing execution, including promotions, collateral, distribution support, public relations, analyst relations, and investor relations.
Drive the creation of strategic road maps, multi-generational product road-maps, introduction and end-of-life programs
Contribute to the efforts to create accurate and executable product or segment forecast of revenue.
Identify methods, programs and individual goals and objectives within your team to influence standard bodies, regulatory agencies, consumer product associations, and like key constituents critical to the sustained success of Microvision offerings.
Drive adoption and use of key internal infrastructure tools for the purpose of continual improvement, operational excellence, and quality.
OTHER…
Compliance with company code of conduct and all applicable laws, regulations, rules and policies.
Other duties as assigned.
Required Skills
Prior expertise in rapid growth, entrepreneurial company
Prior experience as marketing leader in global public corporation
Demonstrated success in introducing new products to market using an established project management methodology (IPD, PRD, etc)
Demonstrated success in growing product line revenue year to year
Proficient in establishing and implementing business cases
Prior experience working with high volume product, application, or solutions distributors (OEM, VAR, Retail Distributors, E-Commerce ). Volumes in excess of 100,000 units per month.
Prefer candidates with prior business experience and relationships in one or more of the following industries or segments: Consumer electronics, Telecommunication, Mobile Carriers, Entertainment, Gaming, Medical Device, or Automotive.
Demonstrated skill in strategy development, planning, project management, team leadership, training, and business analysis.
Prior experience in negotiation, presentation, and establishment of mutual expectations with internal and external constituents.
Ability to speak or present to end customers, conference attendees, or members of the media.
Demonstrated proficiency with common Microsoft productivity software (Excel, Word, PowerPoint, MS Project, Share Point, Outlook, etc..)
Demonstrated Passion for winning in highly competitive markets and in inspiring others to win.
Works effectively with team members
Fosters teamwork by listening to the input of others, while balancing this with the ability to influence others where necessary, provide direction, and champion change.
Participates objectively in work/performance review process.
Drives continual improvement
Actively coach and mentor more junior product managers
Derives Strategies consistent with the organizational mission, vision, values and stated objectives.
Willingly listens objectively to others and shares own input.
Effectively presents and shares ideas (verbally, visually, and/or in writing) as needed.
Effectively interfaces with required personnel to achieve desired/required results. Maintains open communications.
Required Experience
At least 10+ years of successful product marketing experience in consumer electronics
Job Location
Redmond, WA, US.
Position Type
Full-Time/Regular
Education
Bachelor’s degree required. Advanced degree preferred in any of the following disciplines: Business, Marketing, Communications or a technical discipline relevant to our business
http://xrl.us/bgujdp
More from Anant Goel...
Microvision: What to Expect At SID 2010
Society of Information Display (SID) expo starts on May 25th, 2010.
That’s about four months away and the supply chain partners of Microvision are expected to further enhance the green laser technology during this period... and that should put further distance between the competition and Microvision offering.
In January of 2008, an excellent article from EETimes undisputedly confirmed that Microvision has the best PicoP technology for any application where the image size, image resolution, pico display engine module size, power requirement, auto-focus and cost matters. It was expected that as the time goes on, Microvision technology will further mature in-line with maturing market [and increasing adoption rates] and all these differentiating features will only get better... while the cost comes down dramatically as the economy of scale is reached with green lasers.
In the future, hopefully by the SID 2010 in May, I expect to see…
• Longer life and reliable MEMS chip.
• Higher resolution that’s better than the current 848x480 pixels… by decreasing the pixel size and increasing the scan frequency of the MEMS chip.
• Brighter pictures [going from 10 lumen to 20 lumen]… by using more powerful laser light modules from Corning and Osram. Both Corning and Osram have an ultimate target of over 28 lumens for their green lasers.
• Reduced power requirements [for the embedded PDEs] by further optimizing the ASIC, and the RGB lasers on/off cycle etc.
• Brighter and larger image size [over 100 inches diagonal] that is always in focus... an inherent feature of the RGB lasers.
• Cost of PicoP Display Engine to about $190 [including cost of bill of materials, assembly and supply chain profit mark-ups]… as a result of economy of scale.
These are some powerful statements and I will try to explain…
First, here’s the link to EETimes article that is perhaps the best [and most comprehensive] article I have seen so far…
http://www.eetimes.com/news/semi/showArticle.jhtml?articleID=205900379#Szene_1
Here’re my observations from the EETimes article …
Competing Technologies:
There are essentially three competing technologies: FLCOS panel based [Displaytech, LBO], LCOS micro-display based [3M] and MEMS chips based [TI and Microvision]. However, the two front runner technologies remain the LCOS panels based and the MEMS chips based.
Market Leader Standalone Pico Projector:
Displaytech [and its OEMs like iView, and LBO] and 3M are competing in LCOS panels based Pico Projector direction that may be good for the standalone market but certainly is not ready for the embedded version… due to size, image size, image quality, power requirement, heat generation, and auto focus issues. 3M and Displaytech are head to head in this space and may have [a perceived] cost advantage at this stage. However, you must note Displaytech’s claim: “that a complete pico-projector subsystem, including the FLCOS panel, red-, green- and blue-LEDs, optical lenses and packaging, has a bill of material of less than $100” is misleading. When you include the cost of assembly [by the integrator] and profit mark-ups, this cost to the OEMs is more like $160. 3M may have a price advantage over Displaytech in the standalone Pico Display Engine cost to OEMs.
Texas Instruments and Microvision are competing in the standalone space with their MEMS chips based Pico Projector. Today, Microvision is the un-disputed leader in this space [with quality image, large image size, small PDE module size, low power, zero waste heat and always-in-focus] and when they do release the production PDEs for the OEM market [in the 2nd Qtr of 2010], I can assure you the cost to OEMs may be in the $170 to $190 range.
Microvision’s standalone PicoP projector SHOWwx is scheduled to be released in the US market in March of 2010. At the CES 2010, there were several units on display projecting great images in real time from an iPod… for you to touch and feel. None of the competitors was at the CES 2010 and had nothing close to SHOWwx on display… in quality or for you to touch and feel. 3M and TI showed you their Pico Projector… but did you see it projecting real video or held it in your hand. How about that sleigh of the hand focus by the TI and 3M representative?
The microdisplay vendors like Displaytech and 3M; and the MEMS micromirror companies like Texas Instrument and Microvision; are headed in two different directions. Displaytech and 3M solution uses cheap and readily available LEDs and a low-cost liquid-crystal-on-silicon panel, but companies have been manufacturing LCOS panels for years and their solution will look comparatively power hungry and expensive as time goes by. Whereas, both Texas Instrument's and Microvision's MEMS micromirror chips will become smaller, cheaper and lower power in the future, but might not look as attractive to OEMs today. Of the micromirror solutions, Microvision's MEMS solution will be the smallest, lowest power and cheapest approach, because it uses a single MEMS micromirror, but today it depends on relatively expensive green laser. Texas Instruments DLP, on the other hand, is a little bigger, more expensive and higher power today, since it uses hundreds of thousand of micromirrors, but it produces relatively good images and is readily available. However, one desirable and differentiating aspect of Microvision’s PicoP Display Engine is the always-in-focus feature that no other pico projector has.
Market Leader Embedded Pico Projector:
Today, Microvision is the un-disputed leader in the embedded PicoP space [with quality image, small size, low power, zero waste heat, auto-focus and cost] and when they do release the PicoP Display Engines for the embedded market [in the 2nd Qtr of 2010], I can assure you the cost to OEMs may be in the $170 to $190 range initially... and going lower from there.
When it comes to the embedded PDEs; the unit size, power required, image quality, image size, auto-focus and cost are all important. When Microvision is ready to release the PDEs for the embedded market [in 2nd Qtr of 2010]…
• the module size will be less than 7mm,
• the power required will be less than 1.5 watts,
• the image size will be from 12” to over 100”,
• the resolution will be the current 848x480 pixels,
• the brightness will be better than the 10 lumen today,
• the projected image will always be in focus,
• and the cost to OEMs [like Motorola] is expected to be in the $170 to $190 range… and going down as the production/adoption rate increase in 2011.
In the embedded market space, I don’t see any of the competitors coming close to Microvision in this race… not even Taxes Instruments with their power guzzling million-micromirrors based Pico Projector. The likes of 3M and Displaytech will never get down to acceptable levels of size, power, waste heat, auto-focus and cost requirements… as they will have the “gating issues”. Pico Projectors that use million micromirrors or LCOS panels [with lenses and optics] just can’t cut the mustard in terms of physical size, power, waste heat, auto-focus and cost.
I’m sure there will be many players in the pico projection space... Displaytech with FLCOS, 3M with LCOS, and TI with DLP technologies.
However, no matter how you slice-it or dice-it, Microvision has, in my opinion, no competition in the laser based “embedded” pico projection space... not TI… and certainly not 3M.
Microvision’s laser PicoP Display Engine will lead the rat pack because of the following:
• Small form factor that allows room to add additional built-in functionality. The competition starts-out big and can only get bigger.
• Power consumption will always be the differentiating factor. Two to three hours of use between battery charges is always more desirable than the ones that last an hour or less. Extra power pack(s) in the standalone version will make the competition at par with Microvision’s SHOWwx... but there is a high probability that the user will opt for longer run on batteries. How often do you remember scrambling for a power pack when you need one?
Microvision’s PicoP Display Engine produces virtually zero heat due to lasers being used as the light source and also due to on/off switching of lasers during dark image segments. Competing pico projection technologies of others produce enough waste heat to cook eggs... sunny side up for sure.
• “A wide angle view means that Microvision’s PDE can show a wider screen at closer distance!” This is a very important differentiation as compared to the “rest” in the market. With Microvision's PDE you get…
"A wider image [60 inch from 5 feet away, for example] from a close distance… the image is brighter and sharper… colors are more vibrant… and the image is always in focus."
• Laser based PicoP Display Engines will always have projected image in focus… regardless of the distance [from the screen] or mobility of the projector itself. Try focusing a projector every time you move [with the projector] or change the distance from the screen to change the size of the image.
• Microvision’s PDE has better image quality and is sharper [per lumen] as compared to other projectors using “diffused” light sources the competition is using. The use of diffused light source, like lamps or LED, causes the “torch effect”… where the image is brighter in the center with darker outside.
• One other problem the panel display based pico projectors have is the black outline for each pixel that shows up in their images. Laser based PicoP Display Engine do not have that problem and as such projected images will always be brighter and sharper.
• Microvision’s PDE can go from 12” to 200” diagonal image size. None of the competitor has [so far] been able to match what Microvision is offering.
• Microvision’s PDE projects bright and vivid color with 5000:1 contrast ratio.
• Microvision’ PDE projects bright and vivid color images without motion blur because of its inherent fast refresh feature from laser light source.
• Microvision’s PDE has better resolution [at 848x480] as compared to the competing technologies from 3M and TI.
• Microvision’s PicoP Display Engine is progressing nicely on upwards pathway to higher brightness of 20 lumens using the second generation green laser [G-2000] from Corning.
After the CEATEC 2009 expo, engadget had this to say about the first generation SHOWwx…
"We stopped at Microvision booth at CEATEC in order to take a look at what makes the world's first laser based pico projector so special and we can honestly say that the picture was pretty stunning."
Here’s the link engadget report…
http://www.engadget.com/2009/10/06/video-microvisions-laser-based-show-wx-pico-projector-shines-a/
Now just imagine what their comments would be like when they see the second generation SHOWwx [and PDEs for embedded applications] with 20 lumens of brightness and HD resolution.
My money is riding on Microvision.*
Anant Goel
http://mirro7.blogspot.com/2010/02/microvision-what-to-expect-at-sid-2010.html
*Mine too. Lots of it. LOL!
Ya buy on weakness, Gastro. When everyone else is selling, I'm generally buying.
For example, I've been buying ETFS CORN and ETFS WEAT on the London Exchange on every few cents down. These are hybrid ETF/ETN stocks that are an easy way to buy commodities without messing with futures. People gotta eat.
Buying junior gold mining stox too. GDXJ and ZJG (TSX) are ETFs that can save you the hassle of picking individual issues.
As for MVIS, it's been buying time since it blew under two bucks. The financing here is non-toxic; that is the price is fixed rather than variable, so you know that anything under three bucks is a gift.
I hope that Anant doesn't mind that I echo his blog comments here. I agree with his conclusion and MVIS continues to be my largest holding.
Microvision: Announces March 2010 Launch of Laser Projector SHOWwx in the US Market
Microvision CEO Alex Tokman announced March 2010 as the launch date for its laser based PicoP projector SHOWwx in to the US market. He also indicated that Microvision will sell them from its own corporate website rather than collaborate with an OEM at this time.
You can watch this interview of January 7th at the following link…
http://www.microvision.com/displayground/
Microvision had officially launched SHOWwx into the Asia/Pacific region in September of 2009 followed by Europe /Spain soon thereafter. As we all know, the green laser supply and its price has been the major issue all along and it made sense that the small available quantities be introduced in relatively smaller markets… especially in those regions of the world where Microvision can fetch the maximum pricing leverage due to weak dollar.
As for the US market, it is huge and is also the home to thousands of Microvision’s VIP members. In other words, Microvision has a very large captive market for its initial production of SHOWwx using green lasers from Corning and Osram. Corning was able to produce very limited quantities of green lasers in 2009… but with Osram coming on board in February of this year, the green laser supply should improve dramatically.
Having said that, the next question that begs answering is the reasons for Microvision selling the SHOWwx into the US market on its own rather than through an OEM?
Here’re some thoughts to ponder…
Years ago Microvision decided to focus on the lasers as the source of light for their PicoP Projectors. By doing so the management embarked on a very complex project that involved a myriad of challenges, issues, risks and problems.
When a problem is fearsomely complex, the best thing you can do is take Thoreau’s advice: “Simplify, simplify, simplify.” At the same time, though, one should remain aware of Einstein’s advice: “Things should be made as simple as possible, but not simpler.”
It is a reasonable simplification, to reduce all of the big-picture markets for PicoP projectors to the development and marketing of PDE [PicoP Display Engine] to the OEMs, and let the OEMs add frills [and complexity] to arrive at the final consumer product. However, there may be currently an OEM acceptance issue with that approach due to:
• The lack of interest [or vision] on the part of OEMs to embrace the Microvision’s PicoP Display Engine at this stage;
• The potential fear of cannibalization of the DLP based lamp/LED projectors currently sold by the major OEMs;
• The politics of the market place where the competition [like 3M and Texas Instruments] have deeper pockets and well entrenched relationships.
Lack of vision can destroy [albeit slowly] even the mightiest of the companies, for example:
Kodak could have stayed king of the imaging hill, but they chose to ignore digital as a mere fad.
Polaroid went bankrupt and it is widely believed to be the result of the failure of its senior management to anticipate the effect of digital cameras on its film business.
Boeing allowed a labor strike to deprive it of the last good year it will probably enjoy for some time to come.
And poor old Ford may actually have a tough-minded visionary at the helm, but it is an auto manufacturer in a year when that is simply the wrong business to be in.
Can you imagine the fate of the supply chain companies associated with any of the above dinosaurs… well, may be not those of Boeing?
So, any company [like Microvision] that is waiting on the major OEMs [that lack vision] for its market development [and survival] is in it-self lacking vision… by not introducing consumer product(s) that are strategically aligned to the targeted market. Meaning the target market, at this stage, being the “stand alone accessory” PicoP Projector SHOWwx?
I may be wrong, but I get the feeling that Microvision management is not waiting around for the OEMs to make their move; and is approaching the US market for stand alone accessory PicoP projector SHOWwx on its own.
That’s an excellent move considering the relative ease of developing [and servicing] the US market and the pricing advantage of selling directly to consumers at much higher net margins.
There are, however, some considerations that must be addressed seriously before embarking on such a journey. I’m sure Microvision has addressed these at great length and has arrived at its marketing plan for the US. However, we are not privy to Microvision plans so it’s fair to discuss them here in a tone as if something that should be addressed.
Create a 360-degree experience for the consumer:
The PicoP brands [stand alone or embedded] need to match the right product to the right consumers and then connect with them meaningfully at every point of contact. The "360-degree experience" includes everything from packaging, design, and marketing, distribution to after-market support… including programs to help customers discover product benefits, end-of life recycling programs, and user support executed with the care of a concierge service, rather than with the complication and delay of an overwrought bureaucracy.
I wish there was another example besides Apple to demonstrate a successful 360-degree experience, but Apple nails it every time. They do not try to be everything to everybody. Packaging is elegant. The product is beautifully designed. Set-up is simple. Support is available… with room for some improvement here. Messaging is consistent and clear at every touch point.
Pick the right distribution channel:
Market research has revealed that consumers are overwhelmed and confused at retail stores like Circuit City… no doubt a contributing factor in its recent bankruptcy filing. People they tracked on "shop-along" research trips found it impossible to discern the meaningful difference between, say, a $40 mouse and a $70 one, let alone penetrate the chaos that is the flat-screen TV section. Navigating the many dozens of options marketed with buzzwords like "plasma," "digital," or "720p LCD" was daunting, and many potential customers left the store without making a purchase. So the industry can add "loss of sale" to their return losses as well.
Research shows that shoppers frequently visit manufacturer Web sites for information… but rarely make the purchase decision based solely on that information. They used third party sources such as CNET, customer reviews on Amazon or the advice of their peers before making the buying decision. It's no surprise, then, that there is little-to-no brand loyalty. Except, of course, for Apple who has succeeded in translating geek-speak, like "120GB," to terms anyone can understand, like "30,000 songs." The consumer electronics industry needs to stop talking tech-speak and start speaking in terms that mean something to the rest of us consumers.
If Microvision is marketing the PicoP Display Engines to OEMs, its distribution channel choice is obviously the partnered OEMs. However, if Microvision is also considering the introduction of a stand alone accessory PicoP projector like SHOWwx on it own, it needs to seriously evaluate its choice for distribution channel(s) selected for a consumer product addressing the mass market. Each distribution channel has its unique pros and cons and requires an extensive study that is beyond the scope of this post. However, the most important features involve the optimization of the following desirables…
• Cash flow and margins… credit card sales from company [and affiliate] web sites provides advance cash payment [and better margins] as against 30-day delayed accounts receivables from distributors and retailers. As an Amazon drop-ship retailer the company can have the best of all scenarios… on-line retailing power and credibility of Amazon… customer reviews on Amazon… better margins for the company… advanced credit card payment to the company… control over customer service and support… and consistent and clear messaging to the mass consumers.
• Push marketing… company [and affiliate] web sites coupled with e-mail campaigning are much more effective in the introductory phase push marketing than distributors and retailers.
• Pull marketing… third party review sources [like CNET] and retailers [like Amazon] are much more effective in advance stage pull marketing than distributors and retailers.
• Customer support & service… distributors [like Ingram Micro] and retailers [like Circuit City] are not really known for the type of customer service and support that is conducive to customer loyalty or customer satisfaction. RMAs, re-stocking and re-selling is an expensive process due to mishandling and neglect.
• Consistent and clear messaging… company web site, affiliate web sites and retailer Amazon web site allow the company better control over consistent and clear messaging to the mass consumers.
Tell Your Customer the Truth…
If products do make it to the customer home, many don't make it past the out-of-box experience. Not everyone is an early adopter with an appetite (or tolerance) for splashing around a sea of tech-speak to deal with hours-long product set-up guided by confounding directions, little-to-no customer support, and lots and lots of wires.
Well, that’s all I could muster on a sunny afternoon… while we patiently wait for more announcements and answers about production quantities of green lasers and shipments of SHOWwx to current OEMs and the Mobile phone customer Vodafone.
I’m sure Microvision brass has the answers, and has its reasons for keeping quite on the subject.
Day to day it's hard to see where it will end, but I think we are going to be fine and at the end of the day the MVIS investor will come out whole.
Anant Goel
http://mirro7.blogspot.com/2010/01/microvision-announces-march-2010-launch.html
Microvision: Perfect Storm CES 2010
By Anant Goel
These may sound like harsh words coming from one of the very staunch supporters of Microvision team. However, they need to be said at this juncture...
What we have seen over the past 48 hours is the “perfect storm” brewing in the future of Microvision. It started with Asia Optical making public comments [as perceived] in the media about TI having the best pico solution for embedded applications. It picked-up more gale force after the in-house staged CEO interview where Alex indicated more delays and future uncertainties. It became a perfect storm of hurricane force magnitude over the PC Magazine review of SHOWwx.
Individually these negative issues are easy to deal with because they have a reasonable explanation... and as such may or may not have an impact on the MVIS share price in the short term. However, collectively they are the recipe for a “perfect storm” and may precipitate an investor sell-off first and then look for explanation later... and that could be very damaging to the overall investor psyche.
Over the last two trading days the stock price has dropped almost 20% and seems to be holding at $2.92 for now. Is there further decline possible; that’s the next question in our minds?
Let’s take a look, shall we...
Asia Optical Comments about TI Pico Solution:
Asia Optical is a relatively new supply chain partner of Microvision with a relationship that formed just over a year ago. When AO makes comments that favor TI pico solution; it is understandable since Asia Optical has years of existing and ongoing relationship with them. So we can put that aside and consider it a minor twister in the way large corporations stick together and pay more attention to their current revenue source rather than go out of their way to support the business plan of a newcomer [like Microvision] with a glowing future potential.
Granted, that AO could have said something complimentary to TI without stating the “DLP pico(TM) as the most compelling solution to provide our customers due to its superior image quality, small form factor and energy delivering efficiency”. When you look at the choice of words that AO used, it is easy to mistakenly take it as saying that DLP pico(TM) solution is the best for embedded applications. Asia Optical knows that pico(TM) is the registered trade mark of Microvision. And DLP pico solution may not be the best when compared to laser based PicoP solution from Microvision for embedded applications. However, there are no embedded pico display engines from Microvision to be found on planet earth as yet. So, considering the existing pico technologies out there currently; the DLP pico solution is perhaps the most compelling solution etc. etc.
Read again what it says in the January 6th Press Release...
"Following an extensive comparison of all pico technology options we selected DLP Pico(TM) as the most compelling solution to provide our customers due to its superior image quality, small form factor and energy delivering efficiency," said Robert Lai, founder, chairman and CEO of Asia Optical. "We believe the market opportunity for embedded displays in consumer electronics products, such as digital still cameras and digital video cameras, is significant and we are excited to launch the first product with DLP very soon."
Here’s the link...
http://money.cnn.com/news/newsfeeds/articles/prnewswire/LA32932.htm
Interview with Microvision CEO Alex Tokeman:
On January 6th, Alex Tokeman gave an interview that was posted at the company’s blog site The Displayground.
Here’s the link to the interview...
http://www.microvision.com/displayground/
First, I must congratulate the management for taking the bold initiative to communicate with the stakeholders at the blog in such an informal setting. The Displayground has been a leap of faith in the way a corporation, such as Microvision, has embraced the Internet to communicate with its stakeholders.
Having said that, any effort to communicate with the stakeholders is to be commended!
However, Investors of Microvision have such high expectations of the management that at first blush the interview looks so stiff and staged. But when you look at the interview again and pay more attention to the subject matter, rather than watch the body language of Alex Tokeman, it kind of grows on you. We, as investors, must realize that video interviews with corporate CEOs that are conducted in an in-house informal setting to communicate are not a very common practice. They may look staged initially but they certainly will get better as they become more frequent and with some practice.
Now let’s get to the center of this “perfect storm”...
It’s not very often, if ever, that you see the CEO of a company give an informal interview to release information that could have some serious consequences to not only its stock price but also raise questions about the credibility of its CEO. Unfortunately, that’s exactly what this interview did... precipitate a stock sell-off and, in my opinion, seriously damaged the credibility to Microvision CEO.
Both the timing and the intended [or unintended] information disseminated at this interview left the investors with a perception of further delays in green laser production and also delays in the release of pico display engine evaluation units for embedded applications.
First the timing...
The timing of this in-house interview with Microvision CEO couldn’t have been the worst move in the history of Microvision. It tops all the other “blunders” the top Management [past and present] has made over the years. In my opinion, it takes the “Last Blooper Standing” award of the year and effectively neutralizes any positive impact of the CES 2010 award that Microvision received as the “Last Gadget Standing” for its SHOWwx projector.
Bloopers happen usually as accidental, and usually has humor when it happens. Where actors need to memorize large numbers of lines or perform a series of actions in quick succession, mistakes can be expected. Some common examples include:
• Uncontrollable laughter (called in television circles, corpsing);
• Unanticipated incidents (like constant figiding);
• Forgotten lines; or
• Deliberate sabotage of an actor's performance by a fellow actor (to evoke laughter).
Unfortunately, this CEO interview did not evoke any laughter... but caused damage by precipitating MVIS stock sell-off and raised questions about Alex Tokeman’s already fragile credibility as a CEO. We can blame Corning, Osram and green lasers for all of Microvision’s current problems all day... but at the end of the day it all falls in the lap of the CEO.
PC Magazine Review:
On January 7th, PC Magazine published their findings of SHOWwx pico projector review. Boy, oh boy! Talk about perfect timing to join in the storm brewing at Microvision.
First, here’s the link...
http://www.pcmag.com/article2/0,2817,2357640,00.asp
Whatever their motivation, the PC Magazine didn't have a “Single” good thing to say about Microvision’s SHOWwx. It's like the reviewer went out of his way to look for and focus on the negatives. Absolutely “Nothing” impressed him about SHOWwx at all.
Everything we have seen and heard about SHOWwx tells us that it's an impressive, even jaw-dropping pico projector with stunning image quality and vivid colors. Everything PC Magazine tells us is: it's missing a couple of lumens, it washes out in minimal light, it has speckles, its cables are too stiff, it's got a green line across the bottom, and it's overpriced. Without saying so, this guy even hinted that it could burn your eyes out, but thank God humans are programmed to blink before that happens! I am really surprised PC Magazine reviewer didn't dump on SHOWwx battery life [longer than anyone else], heat generation [none at all] and bow-tie effect too.
When you compare the stack of favorable reviews from multiple reviewers and one bad review from PC Magazine, it makes you wonder and very suspicious towards the reviewer.
I don't think the PC Magazine reviewer is on the take nor has a grudge against Microvision. Two people can look at the same thing with different expectations and draw different conclusions. May be the reviewer got a bad unit or one that hadn't been calibrated properly.”
However, the question is: “Who else is going to review the SHOWwx, what are they going to say about it, and what will their motivation be?”
There was obvious intent here to neutralize the SHOWwx most powerful strength, its projected image size and image quality, and this PC Magazine review did just that. This was well thought out by a cunning mind not some nitwit journalist on the take. It was most likely written well in advance and this clown simply put his name on it.
In my opinion, and the opinion of many others that I respect, the PC Magazine review is not only flawed but it is also biased. And that will be the subject of my next post.
For one quick example of why PC Magazine reviews of SHOWwx is flawed...
Diffused light measurement techniques and devices are not [and should not be] used for measuring light output from pulsating [or modulating] laser light sources especially where the laser light is switched on/off during periods of dark picture areas. Diffused light sources put out lumens whether you need them for projected images or not... and that should explain the disparity in very simple words.
PC Magazine is wrong in stating 8 lumens measured vs. the stated 10 lumens... because when correctly measured the Microvision laser pixels are at 10+ lumens. You can call Corning for yourself and verify that.
As for SHOWwx projector image quality, a picture speaks a thousand words. Just look at the latest videos and think for yourself...
http://www.youtube.com/user/mvisvideo#p/a/u/1/F2qnrOsg6wg
or this...
http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=1e_rKfi8xCU&feature=related
or this...
http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=o0TQqQor0H0&feature=related
or this...
http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=RSz-gmF-UwI&feature=related
Then there is this glowing review by Melissa Arseniuk for Canwest News Service...
“Another product attracting a lot of attention at CES is a Microvision portable projector ($500, available March 2010). It allows users to share images from their cellphones, iPods, computers and cameras by projecting them onto the nearest flat surface.
The projector follows the hype generated by AT&T last month when the cellphone giant released the LG eXpo, its first cellphone with built-in video projection capabilities.
While the Microvision device is an external product, it blows the LG eXpo out of the water in terms of resolution and versatility.”
Here’s the link...
http://www.canada.com/life/Taking+Vegas+transformed+into+tech+lover+paradise/2417678/story.html
At the CES 2010, Microvision’s SHOWwx projector won the “Last Gadget Standing” award when competing with 24 other semi-finalists. SHOWwx had over 7,300 on-line views and received 99,148 votes.
Here’s the link...
http://lastgadgetstanding.com/2010/01/09/and-the-winners-are/
Now you tell me?
Over 99,148 on-line votes and everything we have seen and heard over the last year tells us that SHOWwx is an impressive, even jaw-dropping, pico projector with stunning image quality and vivid colors. Everything PC Magazine tells us is: it's missing a couple of lumens, it washes out in minimal light, it has speckles, its cables are too stiff, it's got a green line across the bottom, and it's overpriced. Without saying so, this guy even hinted that it could burn your eyes out, but thank God humans are programmed to blink before that happens!
You get what you see... and not what PC Magazines says there is or isn’t.
PC Magazine review is flawed and biased.
Read all about it in my next post.
In closing this post...
The stakes here are very high, and we are worried that Microvision management underestimates the things they need to do, as well as, the things their competitors will do to gain advantage in the pico projector marketplace. Obviously, Microvision management did not see this “perfect storm” coming and apparently has no contingency plan.
Microvision does have the financial backing to survive the “perfect storm” over the next 3 to 4 Qtrs. However, it will take some more financing money and Management charisma to pull out of this Perfect Storm on its own... considering the investor dissent brewing on the horizon.
I can't wait to see what's in store for tomorrow? Perhaps some more down-side and margin calls for the long investors.
http://mirro7.blogspot.com/2010/01/microvision-perfect-storm-ces-2010.html
Great press from CES...
http://news.google.com/news?q=microvision%20showWX&num=100
...but the share price fizzles.
Any thoughts on why the MVIS price is stuck on 'loser'?
At least my oil/gold/silver/lithium plays are doing well. (PVX, AUY, CRK!!, JIN, SQI, KMK, RM)
Bought more this morning @ $2.92...
...couldn't resist the stupidly low price.
Another product attracting a lot of attention at CES is a Microvision portable projector ($500, available March 2010). It allows users to share images from their cellphones, iPods, computers and cameras by projecting them onto the nearest flat surface.
The projector follows the hype generated by AT&T last month when the cellphone giant released the LG eXpo, its first cellphone with built-in video projection capabilities.
While the Microvision device is an external product, it blows the LG eXpo out of the water in terms of resolution and versatility.
Microvision's projector doesn't need to be positioned directly in front of whatever surface you want to display your image on: the slim lilac-coloured device projects the images in startlingly sharp focus from virtually any angle.
Walls would be the surface of choice, here, but curtains, tables and the backs of people's heads also work (some better than others).
Its versatility plays onto its cool factor: you can use it to show video from your phone, share pictures from your camera, display vodcasts from your iPod and make presentations from your PC.
http://www.canada.com/life/Taking+Vegas+transformed+into+tech+lover+paradise/2417678/story.html
CES opens tomorrow...a perfect environment for serious promotion.
http://myces.bdmetrics.com/searchresults.aspx?configid=1&keyword=microvision
MVIS is featured on the first page of the image gallery:
Microvision’s pico projector connects directly to laptops, mobile phones, portable media players (PMPs), digital cameras and other mobile devices to project large, high-resolution images and video onto any surface. Powered by the company's ultra-miniature PicoP™ display engine, the Pico Projector is a PDA-sized, fully self-contained, battery operated, full-color laser projector. Visit their booth in South 4 35464MP, North 3617
http://www.cesweb.org/press/imageGallery/floor.asp
MVIS showcased at CES...
“We have created a unique and engaging presentation for attendees which is sure to drive awareness of the product’s key features and benefits. We look forward to introducing the product in additional customer channels during 2010, with a planned Microvision direct campaign in the U.S. targeted for March.”
Complete release here.