Acer has revealed the pico projector, a device that can be powered by a PC through a USB connection. The device is available now in Canada for $299.

"The ultra-lightweight Acer C120 pico projector is the perfect solution for road warriors who need to be able to present at a moment's notice. The projector features an LED lamp, so it turns on instantly and is quickly ready to show vibrant images. Presentations can be enjoyed natively in the 16:9 aspect ratio at WVGA resolution (854x480) or at the maximum resolution WXGA (1280x800) in a 16:10 aspect ratio," the press release on MarketWatch said. There is also USB 3.0 connectivity.

The press release confirmed that the projector can be powered from a notebook's USB port, meaning cables can be left at home, with USB 3.0 allowing faster display of images. While power-by-USB allows a brightness of 75 ANSI lumens, using the included AC adapter results in 100 ANSI lumens. The press release also reveals no drivers are needed, so the projector can be used out of the box.

"We've designed the Acer C120 to be a powerful tool for businesspeople, consultants, real estate agents and anyone who needs an ultra-portable projector that will make their presentations even more effective," Chris White, senior director of product marketing at Acer, said.

The contrast ratio of the Pico Projector is 1000:1, with improved colour saturation - 60 to 120 percent NTSC - while using Acer ColorSafe Technology, which maintains the color of images.

The projector also weighs 180 grams, so is easy to carry and can apparently fit in a briefcase. The device, in fact, fits comfortably in the palm of a hand, measuring 120mm x 82mm x 25.7mm.

The press release said the C120 needs little maintenance, with no lamp to replace during 20,000-hour LED life. The projection range is from as close as 40 cm to as far away as 3.65 metres.

There's no word on an official launch date or price for the U.S. or other territories.

(reported by Jonathan Charles, edited by Dave Clark)