FollowThe new handheld and portable streaming projector from 3M is delightful, cool and fun. Being around for some years, the pico projectors are appealing little gadgets as they fit in the hand, but that is not the only reason why even an average person would like to have them.
The 3M Streaming Projector, priced at $299.99 is a pico projector having some main appeals. It is ingeniously designed with a Roku Streaming Stick at its back, meaning, it can stream Netflix, Hulu Plus and Amazon Instant wirelessly. Its built-in battery which is rechargeable makes it wire-free. Going around and beaming Netflix on a wall is cool plus the capability to setup a TV anywhere makes anyone a Godsend who wants to please the tots on the go.
Appearance and Controls
The 3M Streaming Projector is a tiny charming device in plastic casing. One can just grab this portable projector and start streaming any video against a flat surface. The basic controls are easy. A scroll wheel which is used for focusing is found on its side. There are also buttons at the top for basically controlling the projector. The buttons on the projector cannot be used to navigate the menus on the stick of Roku Streaming, thus the remote is needed. The remote is a thin device in credit-card style with Roku-lookalike buttons such as Home and Back; plus for projector control. Though not a great remote, it should be aimed at the projector’s top so that it can work. Another optional remote, the Game Remote can be used to control the streaming stick. The Game Remote is separately bought for $20.
On the back is a removable plastic cover which encases the slot of the Streaming Stick. Having a separate Roku Streaming Stick might be a crashing design but 3M does a good job of integrating the Stick into the projector and have a Roku built-in software at the same time. Likewise, with a streaming stick that is removable, the user has the option to pull it out and connect any gadget that is equipped with HDMI or MHL. The streaming stick can also be used with any AV or TV receiver with an MHL port.
In totality, the 3M Streaming Projector is a gadget well-thought by its manufacturer. It is fun to have, because it can be used anywhere conveniently; even projecting on the ceiling while lying on the bed.
Wi-Fi Streaming and Built-In Battery
The 3M Streaming Projector is very flexible and versatile; courtesy of the rechargeable built-in lithium battery that makes projecting possible anywhere anytime. 3M claims two hours for the battery life, though it may be shorter than that. Included also is the AC wall wart adapter which has very useful functionalities: it can power the projector and recharge the battery.
Pros and Cons
The 3M Streaming Projector has a Roku Streaming Stick integrated into its handheld, compact design. It has a dual-band built-in Wi-Fi and the Roku box standalone functionality, which includes the apps needed for streaming such as Netflix, Instant, Amazon, Hulu Plus, Vudu, HBO Go and MLB.TV. To make it more portable, a rechargeable battery is also built-in.
This delightful and useful gadget is not without faults. Its built-in battery lasts for about 1.5 hours. The image quality is watchable alright, but limited to DVD quality only. The picture could become brighter. However, these cannot overwhelm the good things this device offer. Furthermore, it is a great product from Roku and 3M.
Conclusion
It has all the Roku box power in a pico projector. It is undeniably cool. The 3M Streaming Projector is a great gadget with its flexibility, portability and ease of use. It has its bad side though, such as short battery life and DVD-quality images. However, those are not enough to affect the positive things that this charming gadget offers.
