From a top view, the Z4 Aurora, “the world’s first smart theater,” can be mistaken for a gramophone, according to its commercial. (Photo : Indiegogo)
From ultra-thin television screens, consumers now have another option: screenless TV.
Chengdu-based designer, developer and manufacturer of projectors XGimi Technology launched Z4 Aurora, a portable hi-fi LED home theater projector, in Beijing on March 23, reported China Daily.
It is the product of “two years of developing and more than hundred times of testing,” said Zhong Bo aka Apoll Zhong, XGimi’s founder and CEO.
Zhong said that because the widescreen TVs available now “are too heavy and too expensive,” his company thought of making one that is “simple, smart and affordable.”
The Z4 Aurora, at 700 ANSI lumens and with a built-in customized Harman Kardon stereo, offers viewing pleasure up to 300-inch (25 feet) projection, according to the company website.
Connect it to Wi-Fi and it can stream videos. Equipped with HDMI, USB and AV ports, it lets one use it to play games and listen to music.
Weighing 1.2 kg (2.65 pounds) at 196x196x50 mm, this smart projector with Android OS “supports 1080p and 4K format” and can “project in 3D.”
“We adopted the OSRAM LED illumination, which makes the picture brighter and clearer in a screen up to 300 inches,” said Steven Xiao, the company’s co-founder and COO.
XGimi initially launched the Z4 Aurora in February at U.S.-based Indiegogo, an international crowdfunding website founded in 2008, according to Indiegogo’s website.
The company also brought a sample device at Indiegogo’s headquarters in San Francisco, California, on March 14 and made a live product demo, reported PR Newswire.
From Recombu, an online site providing news about and reviews of mobiles, motors and digital home services, Chris Barraclough said, “The Z4 Aurora is a solid home theater projector,” according to Indiegogo.
“You can quickly connect pretty much any other device, either wirelessly or using the array of ports on the rear,” added Barraclough.
From Colorado-based media company Examiner.com, Matthew Furtado said that it is “quality made” and “affordable.”
From business technology news website ZDNet, Jason Perlow said that the Z4 Aurora has an “impressive” sound quality and video output.
Perlow added: “In a properly shaded room, the results are quite astonishing.”
The XGimi Z4 Aurora sells at $449 plus shipping on its Early Bird package.
At $499, the Basic package comes with one bag. The $529 Luxury package offers, aside from the bag, two pairs of 3D glasses.
The sold-out Super Early Bird package was at $399.
XGimi only allotted 300 units for the Early Bird package and 500 units for the Basic and Luxury. After that, the Z4 Aurora will have a manufacturer’s suggested retail price of $699.
The Z4 Aurora bag and XGimi 3D glasses are both sold separately at $19. The XGimi Desk Tripod is priced at $15.
The company ships worldwide and estimated delivery will be in June. According to its timeline, XGimi will begin mass production in April.
For those thinking of purchasing a new TV, Zhong has this to say: “Project more than your imagination.”
