Not a flying car, but still pretty darn cool

As this is my fourth review of video eyewear, I believe it is safe to crown me the Video Glasses Queen of World of Apple. However, I am certainly not complaining as my inner geek loves these gadgets. The product for this review is iMovee’s Theatre Edition personal video viewer selling at a $399.95 price point. Right off the bat there is one feature which many users may consider a distinct advantage over the MyVu video eyewear: this unit may be worn while wearing prescription eyeglasses. As I wear glasses and have difficulty with contact lenses, this was a huge plus in my book. The unit is advertised to be compatible with all video iPod models; however, the i-Movee site is silent on whether or not the device would work with the iPhone though the included manual does claim compatibility with “any other devices with video out.” I had tested the eyewear with an iPod touch. Unforuntately, the unit provided was on a loan-basis only and was returned to the vendor prior to my recent iPhone 3G purchase, so I was not able to see if it would work properly on that device.

The eyewear

The product comes very nicely packaged with a box design reminiscent of the iPod touch writ large. The contents include the glasses as well as numerous connectors, an AC adaptor, a controller dongle, and eleven-page user guide. The vendor has confirmed that it supplies both the universal connecting kit and iPod kit with the standard package with out any further accessories to be bought by the customer. The AC adaptor was a very nice touch as it provided for a way to charge the unit away from a computer without having to purchase an additional accessory. Of course, it can also be charged via a USB port. The glasses themselves are bulky, measuring two inches wide and 1 1/4 inches tall at the center but are foldable for travel. (I’m an American, I don’t do centimeters!!) However, no storage pouch is included. Sound is provided through earbuds that are cleverly kept out of the way by running through a clip along the arms of the glasses. Velcro straps are also provided for even greater fastening. The design of the eyewear is more utilitarian than slick, and the red horizontal line across the silver front gives the glasses a complete “cylon” look - all it needs is the roving light. The video data cable to the dongle attaches to the glasses in an awkward location straight out of the bottom left front causing the user to feel like it is weighing down the glasses on that side even though it really isn’t doing so appreciably. I used the velcro strips intended for the earbud cords to secure the cable to the left arm of the glasses to alleviate the downward pull, but I found that to be a rather inelegant solution, especially as compared to the unobtrusive way the earbuds were attached.

The video cord out of the glasses connects into the dongle which houses an on/off switch and volume controls. This dongle completely takes over the volume control with any changes on the actual iPod having no effect. The volume control is easy to use, but I found it did not have as wide a range of volume as the iPod itself and wished it could be louder. The on/off switch was a bit small and difficult for me with longish acrylic nails. While this hopefully would not be an issue with my male readers, I think it might still be a bit difficult sans fingernails. I was surprised to find that there were no colour/contrast or brightness controls. The situation gets really bulky in the way the dongle connects to the video device. The connections required to use my iPod included composite video connectors with all their attendant bulk and colours. It would be difficult to gracefully hide these connectors and practically impossible in most gym clothing (dizzle doesn’t do fannypacks). Although this entire set-up is all around bulkier than the other video glasses I have used, the glasses themselves felt lighter and more balanced on my nose and head and thus more comfortable with no pinching. The claimed weight by the vendor is seventy grams without cables. Of course, being a Yankee, I have no idea what seventy grams should feel like. The battery life lived up to the vendor’s claimed six to eight hours of viewing time.

Few will look as cute as her, but here's a model wearing the product

The video output is full VGA with 640×480 resolution, and the virtual image is surprisingly large which was a very pleasant surprise. I found the video quality viewing experience to be very good. At least for me (and possibly because I was able to wear my glasses which provide better vision correction in my case than contact lenses), the merge of the image from the left and right outputs was much smoother than other video eyewear I have reviewed to the point of giving a truly seamless experience. The image is slightly less clear due to the larger virtual screen. While the MyVu glasses gave a virtual experience of a 27-inch screen viewed at about eight feet distance, the Theatre Edition is advertised as providing a virtual experience of an “80-inch screen viewed at a distance of 2.5 metres” - the vendor used the mixed measurements, not me! I found this to be pretty accurate though I would put the screen size experience a bit smaller. With each media file I tested, the image always presented in full-screen and could not be placed into letterbox mode. Like the other viewers I have used, they do not perform well with dark scenes or in full sunlight, though these did perform better than others in the sunlit situations. I had watched several episodes of Xena: Warrior Princess which is a darkly themed show, and there were scenes where the video could barely be seen. However, with videos that use a more conventional lighting mode, the viewing quality was very good to great.

Unlike the other viewers I have used, the Theatre Edition does not allow as much peripheral and vertical outside view. This has its good and bad points. It is good in that it blocks out distraction and gives it better performance in brighter viewing situations. It is bad for the same reason it is good: it blocks out distractions. However, sometimes distractions are not mere nuisances but situations in which the user should be very aware of their surroundings. Thus, these might not be as suitable for the gym as it would be easy to mistep on a stair climber or similar cardio machine. It would be suitable for long bus rides, plane trips, or other mass transit unless in an enviroment where the user is vulnerable to theft or other criminal activity.

The vendor notes that this product is not suitable for children younger than seven as eyesight at that age is still maturing.

Pros: Impressively large virtual screen with full VGA resolution and very enjoyable high-quality viewing experience. Also, this viewer can be used while wearing eyeglasses which gives it a big thumbs up from me.

Cons: Bulky and inelegant cords as well as a visual design that would take a bit of courage to wear in public for most people. I have virtual no self-conscious inhibitions when it comes to odd clothing and accessories and would wear them in public in a heartbeat, but most people are more reserved. The price will be beyond the budget of an occasional user.

Verdict: Out of all the viewers I have tried thus far, if money were not an obstacle, I would purchase these and come up with some way to hide the bulky cables. I am a sewer and could probably create some kind of pouch as could any other “crafty” person. The large screen wowed me, and I love being able to wear my glasses. However, the price is a high for an occasional user and is not for the easily embarrassed if the intended use is outside the privacy of one’s home. Also, wearing these while using gym equipment would seem to be somewhat dangerous. I would love to have a pair for the plane trip to MacWorld in January.