LG Electronics has now announced that it will be showcasing an update to its CineBeam Laser 4K projector at CES 2019, highlighting its small form factor Ultra Short Throw (UST) technology and new features built on AI and smart gesture control. Set to be sold as model HU85L, the new 4K projector is capable of throwing an image at 2,500 ANSI lumens onto any flat surface from as close to that surface as 2-inches away. The resulting image at that range displays a 90-inch diagonal while a range of 7-inches show content scaled up to 120-inches while maintaining a 4K resolution. That can also be tweaked using a ’12-point keystone adjustment feature’ for a clearer picture without distortion or anomalies. All of those features are packed into a short and slimmed down design that breaks from the tower-style housing used in LG’s first CineBeam Laser 4K projector (HU80KA) and allows for USB, Ethernet, and HDMI inputs.
ThinQ AI for voice commands and intelligent gestures
The biggest improvements brought by the updated CineBeam Laser 4K projector tie directly back into LG’s promise that it would place AI at the forefront of its efforts. In the case of its newest projector, that means the company has included its own ThinQ-branded AI solution for natural language processing and intelligent interactive controls. The features undoubtedly helped LG secure a CES 2019 Innovation Award for the new UHD Ultra Short Throw projector but will also be far more convenient for viewers. Summarily, ThinQ lets users control the gadget entirely by voice across a range of functions that range from accessing specific or general content to shutting the device off. LG provides two examples of that, starting with the ability to simply say ‘turn off the projector after the movie has finished’ in order to accomplish that task. That alone will make using its latest home entertainment release much more convenient but users can also look for content by asking for a specific type of content through a specific service. Telling the projector to play ‘cooking videos’ on ‘YouTube’ should result in cooking-related videos being played through Google’s YouTube service.
For deeper searches and more control over specifics, LG is including the Magic Remote first introduced with the original LG CineBeam Laser 4K projector with the updated version. That means that after searching for a favorite actor or other content, the media can be played back simply by speaking into the remote. The new remote will also recognize gestures for easier navigation and includes backlighting. Those backlights turn on automatically as soon as the remote detects motion, making accidental key-presses and activation of other features a much less likely occurrence.
Availability
LG hasn’t pinned a launch date or pricing information on its latest CineBeam Laser 4K projector for the time being. The previous iteration is currently priced at $2999.99 on the company’s website. That doesn’t necessarily give too much away either since technology tends to become less expensive over successive generations and model HU85L has some big improvements over its predecessor but does indicate that it won’t be cheap. The Korean tech giant plans to show the AI-enhanced gadget at the LG booth in the Central Hall of the Las Vegas Convention Center during CES 2019 in Las Vegas — running from January 8 through January 11. More information will likely be made available throughout the course of that event.
