MyVu solo: the $199 iPod-friendly head mounted display

Sure, MyVu's other LCD goggles for iPod weren't stratospherically priced, but creeping under that magical $200 price point could encourage a few more folks to take a serious look at head mounted displays -- or not. Unfortunately, even the MyVu solo still requires you to don those humiliating specs to enjoy the visuals, but this device does enable the attached iPod to power it if you're not keen on picking up the optional eight-hour Li-ion battery pack. The glasses also tout built-in noise-canceling earbuds and are compatible with any of the iPods with video, and hey, for $199.95, they might be worth picking up for in-home (read: not in public) use, but we stress might.

[Via MobileTechReview]

[(Unverified) Posted Jul 11th 2007 9:55AM]

Resolution will be far too low...

[(Unverified) Posted Jul 11th 2007 10:02AM]

I'm already resembling the borg with my bluetooth head set. Now i can resemble jody too.

[(Unverified) Posted Jul 11th 2007 10:03AM]

that wasn't meant to be a reply (oops)

[(Unverified) Posted Jul 11th 2007 10:47AM]

Jody?

[(Unverified) Posted Jul 11th 2007 11:13AM]

geordi laforge

[(Unverified) Posted Jul 11th 2007 10:10AM]

What's the resolution for this thing? How does it compare to, say, a 14" laptop 1024x768 screen?


Sometimes, a thing like this would be great for those, ahem, bedtime movies. Seriously!


Just make sure you keep the doors locked. Lol!

[crunc Posted Jul 11th 2007 10:57AM]

I'm pretty sure the resolution is 320x240. At least the older non-ipod-specific model was, and since the web site makes absolutely no mention of the resolution it's probably safe to say that they haven't improved on it. I'll wait for the next-gen iPod, which had better be like an iPhone without the phone, with the same size and resolution of screen (but smaller casing).

[(Unverified) Posted Jul 11th 2007 10:22AM]

Having tried one of these out after I accidentally wandered into the Apple department at Microcenter, I have a couple of critical points to make:

1) The video screens 'size' is not very large- maybe as big as a 21" tv 12 or so feet away. A computer monitor is going to be larger. Still, possibly it'd be nice for plane flights and the like

2) The picture quality was NOT what i'd expected from a modern video device. This may have something to do with being designed to source from the ipod, of course.

3) I had to wear my glasses under it to be able to see the screen. I have a relatively weak nearsightedness, but was unable to take my glasses off and put these on and still be able to focus on the 'screen'. With my glasses on, the video glasses were both uncomfortable to wear and tended to hit my glasses, resulting in potential scratching.

In general, even if i owned an ipod and traveled on planes and such a lot, i don't think i'd buy one of these. The video screen on the ipod itself seems a better option, and much less complicated to use.

[(Unverified) Posted Jul 11th 2007 10:49AM]

Were you wearing the device correctly? I wouldn't think that the device was designed to be worn over standard eyeglasses. Didn't it have a diopter correction to solve this problem?

[(Unverified) Posted Jul 11th 2007 10:33AM]

Do you reckon that guy in star trek had something like this built into his visor? maybe he had subspace TV or something

[palehorse Posted Jul 11th 2007 10:57AM]

my guess is that "the guy in star trek" had simple sunglasses on... remember kids, it was just a TV SHOW!

neenert neenert...

[(Unverified) Posted Jul 11th 2007 11:02AM]

Shows how much you know. It wasn't sunglasses, it was a hairband.

[Beyond the Tech Posted Jul 11th 2007 11:13AM]

Lack of video out on the iPhone makes me say boo-hoo right about now.

[(Unverified) Posted Jul 11th 2007 12:55PM]

I was bought some of these last Christmas. I travel a lot on planes on long haul flights. I haven't yet had the courage to whip them out, even when the lights go down in the cabin. Besides, as someone said the screen size isn't that big. My 14" laptop screen sat on the tray in front of me looks bigger. I have used them when I'm on my own in a dark dark room ... but that's about it. The experience was quite good and I found video quality not bad. For me however they'll remain more of a gimmick than anything else.

[Mile Posted Jul 11th 2007 1:03PM]

I agree that the goofy specs are the issue with these things taking off.

Why don't they come out with a contact lens version?

[(Unverified) Posted Jul 11th 2007 3:16PM]

Um yeah...I'm sure your eyelids would LOVE scraping across some cabling and other cruft many times per minute.

[Mile Posted Jul 11th 2007 9:44PM]

They'd have to be wireless. Duh.

[(Unverified) Posted Jul 11th 2007 2:22PM]

I bought my 5g iPod within a month of it being available. One thing I've learned since then is that it's greatest weakness is its screen. It's small and what's worse is that it scratches/smudges/gets dust on it, easily. I used to use a Belkin Kickstand, but still would get dust in between the screen cover and the screen. I also found these strange abrasions on the screen that don't really off. They're hardly visible while watching, but still can be annoying if it's bright out.

So, my feeling is that these goggles are the way to go. Personally, I wish people would chill with the whole "looking stupid" thing. I take the bus to work every day--you know how many people look stupid all by themselves? And I'm talking about the people driving the cars next to the bus, too.

In my mind anyone wearing these things (on the bus) would get my support as someone who is practical and forward thinking.

That said, I do wish they had better resolution. 320 is pretty lousy no matter how close you hold the screens. :(

One other question I have is: Can they do 3-D?

[Rwilson Posted Jul 11th 2007 2:43PM]

I'm glad they're calling them personal video viewers now and not 'virtual theater' because let me tell you, 320x240 @ around 10' away is NOT A THEATER!!!

Also, since iPod can EXPORT video @ 640 x 320 I'm surprised they haven't made personal video viewers that can show a higher resolution.

[(Unverified) Posted Aug 22nd 2007 12:00AM]

I have tried the myVu and agree that the screen is smaller than I imagined. I ended up owning a pair of Argo DVD/TV which I bought online from Australian folks 22Moo. It is a higher resolution (640x480) and works great with my Zune and iPod Video 60GB. I also use it on my home DVD player on my bedside table at nights so I don't disturb my partner with my movies. I have prescription glasses and it works right over them !! I wish the bluetooth wireless versions would be here soon !