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My best friend is moving to another state next month. Around Christmas, he told everyone that he didn’t want any gifts because it would just mean having to cart more stuff across the country. He isn’t even bringing his television set with him.
Of course, I couldn’t just skip giving him a present, and gift cards are so impersonal. So, I found out about this do-it-yourself cardboard Smartphone Projector that he could set up once he gets to his new location.
It’s small enough to shove into a backpack, and can project images onto any blank wall (of which he will have plenty in his new house) for watching movies and television shows on Hulu Plus, Netflix, or whatever.
Inside the packaging box, you’ll find a set of cardboard cutouts. They are stacked together tightly; similar to the way the final product will look, with the lens packed inside. The assembled projector measures approximately 6 1/2″ x 7″ x 4″.
You’ll need some kind of glue. Since the projector is made out of cardboard, simple super glue or hot glue works fine.
The lens is adjustable with eight-times magnification. So, you can tweak the focus in order to get a clear picture.
It also comes with a rubber grip pad that is placed inside the opening flap in order to secure your smartphone in place. The projector supports phones as large as 3.2” x 5.7”.
The instructions include step-by-step pictures printed on the inside of the packing box so you don’t have to worry about language support.
The DIY Cardboard Smartphone Projector ranges in price from $20 to $30. The cheapest I’ve seen it for is about $13 on DealsMachine.
The company that supplies the original Smartphone Projector, Luckies of London, recently released Smartphone Projector 2.0, which comes completely assembled and has a vinyl laminate finish. However, the cheapest I found it for was $27 plus $19 for shipping via Fruugo US.
The Smartphone Projector is available at Luckies of London!
Probably not to tough to make with a cheap large format lens off fleabay…
This has the cool factor but them 5 minutes after watching that dim poor quality picture I would use it as kindling to start a fire and enjoy the fireplace while watching the video on my table or phone more.
How was the image quality and brightness? I am assuming it is based largely on how bright you can crank up your phone, but was it respectable? Once you build it, can you fold it down? I think this would be cool if I could flat-pack it into my backpack.
Cloudy and dim, it is like going back in the 4:3 big tv box age. If you hold your 7 in tablet up by a 32″ TV as you are siting on the couch you will notice the screen looks bigger about the same as a 42″ TV if you sit just 6 feet back so really your best bet is just use a tablet stand or if in tent hang from the top and enjoy much better quality movies. I should note my tablet is 1200×800 7″ (Hisense Sero Pro)
I would love to try some of those reality glasses though, they never have computer geek shows in KC. oh well.
I’ve got one! I have to put it together and I’ll post back here. I’ve been busy w/ work and holiday stuff, so didn’t get a chance yet.
Goes without saying but a phone is very dim compared to a proper projector, but hey if you’re in a pinch this will do.
I am thinking this could be enough for the kids in a hotel room so I don’t have to watch Monster High for 8 hours. They can have their show and I can use the hotel TV and my Chromecast.