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Portable Video

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QingBar MP101 projector turns an iPhone into a portable cinema – sort of

July 22, 2008 For those that find the touch screen on their iPod Touch or new 3G iPhone too small, Honlai Technology have introduced their QingBar MP101 iPhone projector. The portable unit that measures 102mm wide x 76mm long x 54mm high can throw images from 15 to 27-inches onto a wall or screen in a 4:3 aspect ratio at 640 x 480 (VGA) pixel resolution.

Aquasolo self-watering system

While you’re on holidays your plants need not suffer with this self-watering system from Aquasolo. The patented device enables users to water plants for long periods, using just a bottle of water and the Aquasolo system.

LG Digital Photo Frame and DVD Player

LG Electronics has unveiled a new media device coupling a digital photo frame with portable DVD capabilities. The Digital Photo Frame and DVD Player (DP392G) is a single unit image and video display aimed at those seeking an easy way of loading their photos onto a digital photo display.

Low-cost Small Wonder EZ200 digital camcorder

Retailing for less than US$90, the Small Wonder EZ200 from RCA in Japan is a low-cost option for digital video capture. With a flip-out LCD and an expansion slot for additional memory, the EZ200 is an attractive option for those wanting to shoot web-quality content without spending a fortune.

2GB Flip Video Mino - smaller than a cellphone

June 18, 2008 In May last year we praised Pure Digital's Flip Video camera for its simplicity, ease of use and instant YouTube upload facility. Now, the Flip has been upgraded - and downsized - with the release of the Flip Video Mino, a 2GB flash video camera that's smaller than the average cell phone, with a 1.5 inch LCD screen and flip-out USB connector for immediate uploading.

Solar charging PMP charges other portable devices

March 29, 2008 InventorSpot have reviewed eMotion’s new portable media player which is charged by solar panels built into the back of the device. The EM-SOL1GIG not only charges itself from the Sun, but with the use of a charger adapter the EM-SOL1GIG can be used to charge other portable devices such as mobile phones, MP3/MP4 players, laptops, digital cameras and other portable Lithium battery devices. The device supports a maximum SD card size of 2GB and files can be transferred on and off using the built-in SD card reader. The EM-SOL1GIG also comes with a long list of media capabilities including the ability to play music and video, display photos and books and play games – albeit on a 320x240 screen.

Sansa Fuze rounds out SanDisk’s media player product line

March 13, 2008 SanDisk has unveiled the Flash-based Sansa Fuze MP3 player, a well specced entry level unit which joins the pint-sized Sansa Clip and the video-centric Sansa View in Sandisk's media player line.

Ionhub's six port multi charger

February 12, 2008 One of the biggest problems for travelers who love their gadgets is carrying around all the chargers to keep their mobile devices powered up. Even many a home desktop is covered with a tangle of cords leading back to an overtaxed power point or power board. Recognizing this IonHub has released the Ionhub multi charger, a charger that can simultaneously charge multiple devices including mobile phones, iPods, iPhones, Sony PSPs, Nintendo DS Lite, Canon and Sony camcorders, PDAs, GPS, digital cameras, Zunes, Sansas, Zens and Blackberries, to name a few. The patent pending Ionhub is a palm sized, multiple output port, multiple output voltage, universal multi charger hub that is capable of simultaneously charging up to six portable electronic devices from a single wall outlet, car or airplane outlet. Similar to the recently reviewed IDAPT, the Ionhub connects to the charging devices using interchangeable and self-locking charger tips called IonTips, which are sold separately.

Sony Ericsson announces XPERIA X1 Slider-phone

February 11, 2008 Headlining an array of new releases from Sony Ericsson, the XPERIA™ X1 marks the launch of a new brand for the company, one which it hopes will gain traction in the brave new world of mobile convergence where the term "phone" just doesn't cut it anymore. Featuring a 3-inch clear wide VGA display, media player and 3.2 mega-pixel camera housed in a metal-finish, slider-design body, the XPERIA X1 offers multiple navigation options from touch screen interaction to a 4-way key, full wide-pitch QWERTY keyboard or optical joystick with seamless switching promised between input modes.

Vuzix immersive video eyewear - the wearable 62-inch screen

January 17, 2008 The iWear VR920 video visor from Vuzix (formerly Icuiti) promises an "as if you were there" virtual world experience, incorporating 3D technology, head tracking, microphone and audio in a wearable display equivalent to a 62-inch screen viewed at a distance of 9 feet. The company has also announced an upcoming gaming version (the AV920-C) will be added to the iWear range that connects to Xbox360, PlayStation 3 and Nintendo Wii and others for single and multiplayer video games, allowing users to select their half or quadrant and view it on their personal big-screen instead of splitting a single TV video screen 2, 3 or 4 ways.

SanDisk double the capacity of Sansa portable media players

January 15, 2008 They haven't even reached their first birthday but SanDisk Corporation has announced capacity increases for two of its Flash-based digital media players at CES 2008. The diminutive Sansa Clip moves from a top capacity of 2GB to 4GB, while the Sansa View jumps to 32GB from a previous top capacity of 16 GB. Both units include a built-in microphone for voice recording, built-in FM tuner and support for MP3, WMA, WAV and Audible audio book formats.

Myvu video eyewear gets a style boost

January 9, 2008 Myvu has unveiled its redesigned line of video eyewear at the 2008 Consumer Electronics Show (CES) with two new models designed to inject a dose of fashion into the wearable, hands-free personal cinema experience: myvu crystal and myvu shades. The new generation Myvu shades feature a glance-down design that allows viewers to maintain true situational awareness and the broad and unobstructed field of view enables new applications and uses that were not possible before. Myvu crystal features an increased resolution from Quarter VGA to VGA quality without sacrificing its sleek, ergonomic design, along with a 35% increase in the field of view over existing myvu models, providing true DVD quality.

Microvision showcase Pico Projector for mobile devices

January 3, 2007 There is an inherent contradiction in the quest for smaller mobile devices - as the units themselves shrink in size, so too does the available screen area, making viewing a challenge for even the most eagle-eyed consumers and turning the "convenience" of portability on its head. Microvision will display a stand-alone prototype device at the upcoming CES in Las Vegas that embraces the clearest solution - image projection - by providing home theater-sized viewing from mobile phones, PDAs, PMPs, digital cameras and laptops.

COWON introduces A3 portable multimedia player

December 17, 2007 COWON America, Inc. has announced the shipment of their new A3 portable multimedia player. Featuring a wide-range of high-end audio/video capabilities, the A3 incorporates direct recording from external A/V devices such as a TV, VCR or camcorder and high-definition video decoding for viewing on the unit’s 4-inch widescreen 16-million color, 800x480 (WVGA), TFT LCD display. Digital video performance is optimized courtesy of the latest Texas Instruments DaVinci DM6441 digital media processor and hard-drive capacity has been upped from the maximum 30GB, found in its predecessor the A2, up to 60GB.

IDAPT provides a one-stop charging stop for mobile devices

December 10, 2007 As portable devices such as mobile phones, MP3 players, digital cameras and handheld gaming devices proliferate in the home, so too do the number re-chargers and cables adding clutter to our benchtops. The latest solution to cross the Gizmag desk is the IDAPT "innovative adapter", a convenient multi-purpose charger with interchangeable connections that enables simultaneous charging of a wide range of mobile devices.

Nokia adds N810 Internet tablet to Nseries range

October 19, 2007 Nokia has introduced the latest addition to their Nseries - the new N810 Internet Tablet - at the the Web 2.0 Summit in San Francisco. The pocket-sized, GPS enabled device allows users to connect to the nearest Wi-Fi hotspot or over their Bluetooth mobile phone to make internet calls; check email; watch videos on YouTube or update a blog using the device's slide-out keyboard and 4.13", 800x480 resolution touch screen.

Latest myvu video eyewear supports wider range of media players

October 13, 2007 Mobile video eyewear supplier Myvu have unveiled their new universal edition, which supports mobile phones, portable DVD players and media players like Archos, Zen, and Microsoft’s Zune. Naturally the myvu universal also supports Apple’s ubiquitous iPod with out of the box support for any fifth generation video iPod and support for the newly introduced iPod touch, iPod nano and iPod classic coming later this fall thanks to an accessory cable that will be sold separately.

Project-a-Phone image capture and display system for handheld devices

October 11, 2007 Project-a-Phone has launched the ICD-1300, an image capture and display system which allows users to screen a live display of their mobile device onto a computer via a USB cable, where content can then be recorded, projected on a screen, or uploaded to the Internet.

Toshiba's fuel cell powered portable media player

October 10, 2007 Toshiba demonstrated their latest Direct Methanol Fuel Cell (DMFC) technology at CEATEC Japan 2007 with the unveiling of a prototype version of the methanol powered Gigabeat multimedia player. Building on Toshiba’s previous offerings the new player can run for up to 10 hours on 10 milliliters of methanol, longer than would be possible using a similarly sized conventional battery. The prototype integrates the fuel cell power plant into the back of the player - which runs on nearly 100% methanol - and discharges the vapor created through natural evaporation. Besides playing music and video, the player is equipped with a TV-tuner and features a capacity meter for tracking the amount of fuel you've got left.

IEye concept aims to increase Personal Media Player functionality

September 21, 2007 Out with the old and in with the new. That’s the standard approach to keeping pace with rapid developments in consumer electronics. But what if there was a way to delay obsolescence and extend the functionality of devices instead of automatically relegating them to landfill. This is the idea behind the IEye concept by Thomas Miller. Presented as an entry in to the “Create the Future Contest”, the concept proposes extending the life of Personal Media Players by attaching an add on device that includes a video still camera and microphone to boost functionality and re-purpose the existing unit.

Sansa View video enabled MP3 player from SanDisk

September 11, 2007 It's been a week for small format, video enabled MP3 players with the release of the new iPod nano and now the announcement of a new device from SanDisk that offers a range of features including full-motion video support, long battery life and slim line design.

ezVision video glasses: portable 50-inch virtual widescreen viewing

August 25, 2007 Portable video is set to boom, with video iPods and other devices now storing huge amounts of content and packing the battery life to make them worthwhile. The one thing these pocket-sized devices can’t get around though, is the fact that nobody likes watching movies on a 2.5-inch screen, which is where these ezVision video glasses come in. Slip them on and pop the earbuds in and you’re treated to a private screening with a virtual screen size of 50” and a relaxed viewing distance that’s not too hard on the eyes. Nifty!

Video sunnies are on their way: MED's miniature eye-screens are now ready for mass-production

June 4, 2007 We've long been excited by the possibilities offered by wearable micro-screens. The ability to mount a miniature display in a set of glasses opens up a whole new portable video experience where any seat on the bus can be a personal movie theatre and you'll be able to enjoy your video in complete privacy. Now, with the anouncement of a volume manufacturing facility in Dresden, Germany, MicroEmissive Displays (MED) is ready to step beyond the prototype and bring commercial microscreens into the mass market. They'll start things off with mass production of the eyescreen ME3204, a 320 x 240 RGB display packed into a 6mm pixel array. It's tiny, bright and clear, with ultra-low power consumption, and the wearer sees the equivalent of a 30" screen at a 2 metre distance.

The Walkman is back - Sony announces A800 series with digital audio and video

May 18, 2007 Consumer electronics giant Sony once ruled the world of portable audio - their Walkman and Discman brands became synonymous for hand held cassette and CD players around the world. Yet somehow, despite a solid reputation in personal audio, Sony missed the boat when portable entertainment went digital, letting Apple's iPod and a host of other devices snatch a massive market share that it has never been able to eat back into. Yesterday, the company announced the launch of its latest Walkman - the NW-A800 series - a digital personal audio/video player that Sony hopes will bring the company back into the contest. Will it stack up against the wildly popular iPod?

The Archos 704-WiFi Portable Media Player with 7-Inch Touch Screen

March 7, 2007 Archos continued its charge towards a significant market share in the Portable Media Player (PMP) market yesterday when it announced the Archos 704-WiFi, the only PMP with a 7-inch touch-screen and full wireless capabilities. The new 704-WiFi presents the highest quality screen with 800x480 resolution and 5x7 dimensions, making it similar in size to a standard photograph and will be priced at US$550. The Archos 704-WiFi joins the company’s 604-WiFi in offering complete PMP features — video, music and photo playback — with full Internet access for surfing the Web and sending email. The new 704-WiFi features an 80GB hard drive with the capacity to store 100 hours of video, or about 70 DVD-quality movies, as well as two high-quality speakers for enhanced audio even without headphones. The 704-WiFi also supports video downloads from the new online stores of leading retailers, giving consumers the flexibility to enjoy their entertainment wherever they want, in their own place, on their own time.

MYVU Personal Media Viewer for Apple’s iPod Video - Hands Free, Head-up Access to a Large Virtual Screen

January 12, 2006 The Macworld Conference and expo regained some of its former sparkle yesterday, with Apple’s star again on the rise thanks to the iPod becoming the high-tech darling of the masses and the announcements of Apple’s new Intel relationship. One announcement that missed prime time yesterday but could be very significant in the near term was MicroOptical’s myvu personal media viewer. The myvu viewer, which comprises eyewear with built in video viewing and audio systems, significantly enhances the way people watch video with an Apple iPod. We’ve previously written up the success of the MYVU in France, where under the Orange brand it is paired by France Telecom with a Samsung D600 cell phone, but when the masses realize they can can have a hands-free, heads-up access to a large virtual screen by connecting to their video iPod, well, cyber serf city will never look the same again.

Apple finally unveils the video iPod

October 13, 2005—Apple has finally released one of the most anticipated products in consumer electronics history - the video iPod. The fifth generation iPod features a 2.5-inch colour screen which can display album artwork and photos, and play video including music videos, video Podcasts, home movies and television shows. The new iPod is available in a 30GB model for US$299 and a 60GB model for US$399, with both models available in white or black designs.

France Telecom offers ''Big Screen'' Video EyeWear to Mobile Phone Users

July 10, 2005 France Telecom's wireless unit, Orange SA, will soon roll out a new mobile video service that will let cellular phone subscribers view TV, movies, photos and broadband Internet content with a big screen viewing effect using video eyewear from MicroOptical. MicroOptical's video eyewear contains two Kopin full-colour, QVGA-resolution (320 x 240) CyberDisplay 230K microdisplays. The sleek eyewear allows users to privately view large-size video or pictures equivalent to a 12-inch screen as seen from three feet away, yet simultaneously view their surroundings thanks to the small size of the frame and MicroOptical's patented optics which allow the user to see around the screen.

First 100 Gb Portable Video Recorder And Player

February 21, 2005 ARCHOS has launched the world's first 100-gigabyte portable video recorder (PVR) , the Pocket Video Recorder AV4100. The AV4100 allows consumers to enjoy a massive 100-gigabye storage capacity to record and save even more television shows, movies, music, photos and data for the ultimate handheld entertainment experience. The AV4100 delivers advanced multimedia features including recording and scheduling capabilities, full audio recording and playback, photo viewing, and data storage, ideal for commuters, business travellers and family holidays.

Sci-fi glasses become fashion eyewear

A set of glasses that receive data directly and discreetly on an integrated miniature screen have been shown at CeBit 2003. Eyetop, the first commercial pair of glasses with an integrated monitor can be connected to all digital devices...

 

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