Portable Video

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

By Kyle Sherer

17:06 October 10, 2007 PDT

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. Read More

Toshiba's fuel cell powered portable media player

By Darren Quick

04:29 October 10, 2007 PDT

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. Read More

IEye concept aims to increase Personal Media Player functionality

By Darren Quick

20:14 September 20, 2007 PDT

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. Read More

Sansa View video enabled MP3 player from SanDisk

By Emily Clark

22:35 September 10, 2007 PDT

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. Read More

ezVision video glasses: portable 50-inch virtual widescreen viewing

By Loz Blain

17:56 August 24, 2007 PDT

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! Read More

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

By Loz Blain

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. Read More

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

By Loz Blain

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? Read More

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

By Mike Hanlon

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. Read More

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

By Mike Hanlon

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. Read More

Apple finally unveils the video iPod

By Mike Hanlon

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. Read More

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

By Mike Hanlon

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. Read More

First 100 Gb Portable Video Recorder And Player

By Mike Hanlon

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. Read More

Sci-fi glasses become fashion eyewear

By Mike Hanlon

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... Read More