Carl Zeiss to unveil "Cinemizer" iPod movie-viewing accessory at Macworld

While details are expectedly hard to come by at the moment, the folks at iLounge have gotten word that lens manufacturer Carl Zeiss AG is set to show off some sort of iPod movie-viewing accessory Macworld in San Francisco next week. Dubbed the "Cinemizer," the device is apparently designed by FROG and, according to the company, will allow "users to watch their favorite videos on the iPod display at eye level and virtually in cinema quality." Exactly what that entails, we're not sure, but it apparently is something, and with Carl Zeiss optics behind it (and name on it, presumably), it should at least be of halfway decent quality. Whatever it is, it won't be a mystery much longer, and you can be sure we'll be bringing you the details as soon as we're able to.

[Dustin @ Jan 9th 2008 4:25PM]

I'm guessing something like the magnifying hood we used to have on the old Sega Gamegear. Extraordinarily large pixels...

[Joseph @ Jan 9th 2008 4:27PM]

I used to have that accessory for my Gameboy, nothing like watching a small LCD through a magnifying glass.

[Michael Yingling @ Jan 9th 2008 5:43PM]

I'm going to go with "video glasses." How is everyone else overlooking this possiblity?

[videodude @ Jan 9th 2008 6:15PM]

yes, these will be VIDEOGLASSES, nothing else.. possibly OLED, but unlikely above 720p, we'll see..

[Sergio @ Jan 9th 2008 4:50PM]

Those were happy thoughts that just crossed my mind when you guys referenced the hoods for GB and Game Gear. Happy thoughts indeed...

[doyouflip @ Jan 9th 2008 4:57PM]

I'll guess that it's a combo of what Dustin and Joseph mentioned, but without magnification. iPod video is higher def than those old handheld gaming devices so this concept would be much better quality.

This would have to have the Apple chip in it to be able to play video out from the latest iPods, but if it did then it could be a pretty great experience (ignoring potentially harmful effects on long term vision).

I guess we'll know in a week or so.

[Alex @ Jan 9th 2008 5:12PM]

Probably doesn't utilize the video out as the quote states it allows people to view videos "on the iPod display."

[Brian @ Jan 10th 2008 10:05AM]

And if it's really made by Carl Zeiss, it will cost an arm and a leg plus a few other body parts.

[DarkLightConnection @ Jan 9th 2008 5:12PM]

For those of all the previous comments, I think you missed the part that reads "at eye level"...

I'm thinking of the opposite, something that goes over the screen and compresses the whole image to a point you can put it right in your eye and look at it like it was a big screen at X feet of distance..

Something like this: http://www.patricio00.com/post/imagenes/view-master.jpg (but on a more serious presentation, of course)

[decypher44 @ Jan 9th 2008 5:40PM]

Or it could be more goggles...

[Gordy @ Jan 10th 2008 10:37AM]

I envision someting of the bifocals variety--not your modern bifocals, the old thick, kick-me-hard-and-give-me-a-wedgie variety.

[Mike @ Jan 22nd 2008 6:52AM]

I'm not quite sure about the added value that these new pair of video glasses is giving... As far as I see, its resolution levels has been achieved yet by other models and in terms of design, they are not nice or innovative....
I just bought the relaxview 4.0 model at http://www.relaxview.eu and I don't regret a thing! Same resolution, better design and much lighter than the cinemizer