Review: MyVu Personal Media Player

A few months ago I told you about the MyVu video eyewear and how it may be time for this type of gear to take the stage now that portable video players are all the rage. Watching an entire movie on a tiny 2.5-inch iPod screen is not for everyone, but thanks to video eyewear, downloading movies to your iPod may not be such a bad idea. I reviewed the MyVu personal media viewer for our Last Gadget Standing competition, and here's what I found.

The company claims the experience is comparable to viewing a 27-inch screen (320x240) at six feet. At first I found this claim to be a bit exaggerated, but after comparing it against my 27-inch television set, I have to say their claims appear to be true. MyVu looks complicated at first sight with too many wires and attachments all over the place, but once you unplug the power cable, it's not that bad. You can expect to see a pair of glasses with dangling earbuds connected to a wire that runs to a battery pack holding an iPod video inside. This battery pack connects to the iPod and the glasses from opposite ends. Once the iPod is plugged to the eyewear, you'll need to rely on the attached pendant to pause, play, fast-forward, and rewind the video. You'll also be able to adjust the volume appropriately through this clip-on pendant.

The video is perfectly clear outside in broad daylight as well as indoors, and users can adjust the screen's brightness and contrast. Users can view their videos in widescreen or standard format, although the company recommends you turn off the widescreen format for a better viewing experience. I honestly didn't see much of a difference. I'm one of those people who can't watch entire TV shows on a tiny screen, yet I watched a whole episode of Lost on the MyVu with no problem. I was able to move around while watching the episode, since the viewer is thin enough to allow you to see through it as well as above and under it. Those who wear glasses can order additional Rx Clip-on lenses if they prefer. A trial version of M2 Convert for MyVu was included, although I didn't use it.

Overall, I think this is a great idea that should move forward to complement portable devices. My opinion is that users won't feel comfortable wearing them in public until the design of the viewer resembles a normal pair of sunglasses. If the viewer somehow resembled a pair of Oakley thumps, with no wires, then interest in them would increase. The picture is not bad, but all the wires and bulky battery pack can be a real turnoff.