Hands-on with the iSee 360i
By Peter Rojas 
posted January 6th 2006 10:46AM
posted January 6th 2006 10:46AM
So last night at ShowStoppers (which is probably the weakest of the evening press events that flock around CES) we got to play with the iSee 360i, a new gadget we'd originally feared would turn out to be mere vaporware. In case you missed the announcement the other day, this thing is a dock for the iPod nano, iPod mini, and 4G and 5G iPods that lets you watch video on a 3.6-inch, 320 x 240 LCD screen (by using your iPod as USB mass storage drive to stash video and music and photos). We figured they'd find themselves on the receiving end of a cease & desist from Apple -- or at least the receiving end of some nastly glares from Stevie J. during Macworld next week -- but apparently the company is made up of ex-Apple people who have managed to secure both Jobs' blessing and a license for their dock adapter.
We only spent a few minutes playing with the iSee, but its QVGA screen was bright and clear -- we only wish they'd gone for a widescreen display -- and rather than try and reproduce the iPod's interface, they've decided to go with an icon-based UI that gives you the option of navigating your video and music collection by cover art.
The iSee obviously adds enough to your iPod to make it comparable in size and weight to an Archos AV500, but there's something undeniably clever about a device that lets you add some extra functionality to a gadget you already own. All they've got to do is bring the price down, $249 seems just a little too steep, doesn't it? Either way, their rep, Melanie Vuynovich (who was also our hand model for the shoot) told us that the iSee 360i will ship this quarter, we'll keep an eye out for the launch. Click on for more pics.
"Becker® Traffic Pro with SVOX Text-to-Speech" - we would like to share this breaking news with you.
Due to the constantly growing need for security and comfort, Harman/Becker® Automotive Systems GmbH expects in-car speech dialog systems to become increasingly important. A particularly significant aspect is dynamic content such as up-to-date traffic messages. In response to these developments, the company has decided to add SVOX speech output solutions to selected products such as the Becker® Traffic Pro.
Karlsbad and Zurich – (3 March 2006) This morning, Harman/Becker® Automotive Systems GmbH officially announced that they now deploy speech output solutions provided by Zurich-based SVOX for their after-market product Becker® Traffic Pro. In fact, by combining Harman/Becker®’s proprietary premium speech recognition software with SVOX TTS they are aiming to bring the final breakthrough for in-car speech dialog systems.
Previously, navigation and infotainment systems had no support for dynamic speech applications but rather featured pre-recorded speech prompts. Since these sound files had been recorded by professional speakers in sound studios, they boasted an excellent speech quality. However, they failed to allow for dynamic announcements such as the reading of up-to-date traffic information, personal messages (email, SMS, etc.) or other user-defined information. Such applications that are based on dynamic contact require the integration of speech synthesis software.
Speech recognition significantly increases the safety and comfort of in-car navigation and infotainment systems. In particular, complex data input procedures, such as dialing a phone number or selecting a destination, can be performed while keeping your hands on the steering wheel and eyes on the road.
Text-to-speech products enhance in-car speech dialog systems. They add an improved interaction and ensure the most flexibility for the conversion of dynamic information.
Harman/Becker®’s navigation system Becker® Traffic Pro was the first after-market product to feature a comprehensive speech dialog system including a complete destination entry dialog. For this product as well as for selected OEM systems, Harman/Becker® will deploy SVOX Automotive TTS.
“Automotive speech output solutions based on TTS will become a standard within the next few years” comments Volker Jantzen, CEO of SVOX. “Harman/Becker®’s innovative activities in the field of speech dialog systems have been acclaimed for years. We look forward to bolster this expertise with our own speech output solutions.”
In addition to the security aspect, improving the usability of the extensive on-board system functions is also a convincing argument for the deployment of speech technology. Experts regard speech technology as an important innovation driver for future infotainment and communication systems. In the future, speech technology will enable new, interactive in-car applications such as reading incoming emails and SMS as well as traffic messages. Most likely, these functions will soon be included in premium segment car lines.
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About SVOX AG
SVOX AG is the leading provider of embedded speech output solutions for the automotive and mobile device industries. The SVOX Text-to-Speech system, the company’s signature product, is part of a full product suite of small, fast and multilingual applications that enable computers and other electronic devices to convert written text into natural-sounding and easily comprehensible speech. SVOX focus on embedded speech allows for specifically optimized solutions, and its software architecture provides customers with a speech engine that can be easily tailored to their technical requirements and market needs.
What will the battery life be like if the ipod can normally run for maybe 6 hours? I wonder if you'll be able to watch half of a movie. It looks like a nano will work with it. That's probably your best shot.
It's aight but very bulky. There are plenty of device out there of the same size and in the same price range that won't be just another device. I'll skip this one.
She's got Man Hands...
- sorry. just hatin' again cause I couldn't make it the big show.
That's just sweet! I'd shell out $250. I wonder if you can reformat an iPod to only be a USB hard drive and use with this.
She's got Man Hands...
I was thinking the exact same thing! Poor Melanie :(
in the third photo - is that a white nano that's being slotted in? The article only mentions this being a dock of 4g and 5g full sized ipods...
either that or your hand model has scarily MASSIVE (think Incredible Hulk) hands...
Why no 3G loving? Because of the whole USB vs Firewire thing?
At $250 wouldn't you be further ahead to pull out an extra $50 (maybe by selling your current 4G iPod) and just buy a full blown iPod Video?
It's a good idea, it's just not financially justifiable at that price.
does it have TV-Out?
Lest we go there again, let's just agree that some people like the idea of a device with a larger screen, video in, and more codecs than the 5G, and would pay for.
Others, obviously, don't, and wouldn't.
2 things.
1: i wonder how the vid has to be formated to watch and save on your ipod
2: do you guys know how I could make my silver mini black?
If they can squeeze a couple more "i"s into the name I might want it.
these guys will paint you mini black, or just about any other color http://www.colorwarepc.com/
i just don't understand what the big deal is with this...it's like strapping an automobile onto a rocketship so you can use the car's horn during space travel. Add LEAST add a SD card slot so you're not locked into the memory limitations of the Nano (kind of what the new SanDisk e200 is doing...)
Man... 50 more dollers and I could Just give a vid ipod..
i think this is a great product and although the $250 price tag is steep, i think it ends up being better than the video ipod. first of all you get double the battery life. you also get to play what seems like almost any video fivle you've got. the screen is also a lot bigger. if you've already got the ipod, i'd say this is a great idea. i really don't get the point to getting an ipod video if the battery life for video is 2 hours.
Only keep the IPOD...not buy anything other stuff, like ISEE, og thats just stupid...
If you are gona have somthing go on www.archos.com and watch the real stuff... it ipod, pictures movies and a lot other good stuff in the same pris of Isee...
I wouldnt go for that one...i'm gona buy me an Archos av500 much better xD