Carl Zeiss tries its hand at iPod-friendly video goggles
Watch TV with your specs
If you’re literally looking for new ways to watch videos, then cast your eyes over the Cinemizer specs - goggles that display pictures right before your very eyes.
Carl Zeiss' Cinemizer: video on the go
Although they aren’t the only video glasses around - manufacturer Myvu has a snazzy pair out too - the Cinemizers have been developed by Carl Zeiss, which is already a well established lens name within the digicam market.
Instead of traditional lenses, the Cinemizer’s have an iPod-friendly 640 x 480 resolution LED display for each eye, which your brain combines into a single image to create what Zeiss claimed is equivalent to watching a 45in video display from a distance of 2m.
A USB port lets users connect video content from their iPod, which is docked in a special carry unit. However, if you’re a little anti-Apple, then a video input port lets you connect the glasses to other sources.
Myvu's rival video specs
The Cinemizer’s lenses have a dioptre (dpt) raiting, so that if you wear specs then you can watch video without your own glasses - provided your optical requirements fall between ±3.5dpt. Fold-down arms on either side also provide accompanying audio, making the Cinemizer’s look a little like Oakley’s O Rokr MP3 sunglasses.
Although the specs wouldn’t be ideal for use while driving, walking, cycling or generally doing anything that involves movement, they could be a handy way of watching what you want while the missus hogs the TV, again.
Unfortunately, the Cinemizer’s are so far only due to be released in Germany around February or March, for about €370 (£290/$590).
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COMMENTS
I am crushed....
I thought my ipod make me look enough a tool. I need to get these so I look even more a tool.
Not what I want
I'm probably going to get some stick on this but:
1. Why is the viewable area always described in different ways (a 2000mile screen as seen from Jupiter or a milk carton viewd through your neighbours front door etc)
2. Where's my full field of vision job with motion sensor so I can play fully imersive Doom (yes I know, but I don't have much time to play games)? There ought to be a setting whee you can expand the field or something.
I've been waiting for my VR goggles (NOT looking at a screen with a black surround, goddammit!). Where are they? I want them now!
LED displays
I believe that the unit has LED backlights, and that the pixels are traditional.
?
IPod
Are you going to be using the photograph of the lady everytime you have an article about the iPod?
Paris Icon because Paris would look better.
