Vuzix Corporation has officially launched its new line of sunglasses-styled Wrap video eyewear products across Europe.

For those of you that are not familiar, eyewear is an accessory that connects to your (mobile) device, and displays video outputted from it – think two small screens in the glasses that give you a virtual 44-67″ inch screen, and you are getting there!

The Wrap video eyewear range is compatible with (mobile) devices which have composite video-out and comes complete with an iPod/iPhone adaptor. Other devices the Wrap video eyewear connects to, with the appropriate cable adaptor, include: camcorders, portable DVD players, PCs and game consoles. All Wrap devices can also play back 3D content – which as we all know is the buzzword of the moment, but actually when you experience it is very, very, cool indeed!

There are going to be three versions of the Wrap. The Wrap 230 (£129.99 inc VAT), Wrap 280 Widescreen (£179.99 inc VAT), and the Wrap 920 (£249.99 inc VAT). You’ll be able to get them from The Vuzix Store,, and major online retail outlets including the Apple store, Firebox, and Play.com.

I’ve played with these devices before and they are very cool – once you get past the effect of watching the screens, and pop some headphones on, you get an immersive and very coherent viewing experience – and the Wrap rage looks even look vocal too!

Vuzix Corporation is launching its new line of sunglass-style Wrap video eyewear products in time for this year’s festive season. Bringing an all new form factor together with what they claim is the most advanced performance available, the new Wrap line delivers some great style and versatility for users.

The new European edition Vuzix Wrap 230, Wrap 280 Widescreen, and Wrap 920 are the most advanced wearable display technology available today, says Vuzix.  With a sunglasses-styled design, the Wrap line allow you to watch your favourite movies and video’s whenever and wherever it suits you – neat-o!

With ‘virtual’ screen sizes ranging from 46” to an amazing 67”*– equivalent to home cinema screens – and with the added capability to view much of the forthcoming 3D, movies shorts and games, these glasses could be the must have digital accessory!

(* virtual screen size is as seen from 10 feet , approximately 3m.)

Vuzix’ video eyewear can connect to a multitude of devices, including camcorders, portable DVD players, mobile phones, PC’s, game consoles, and of course the immensely popular Apple iPod family. In fact, with the recent announcement that the new iPod nano now has added video functionality, the Vuzix Wrap line is lining up to be the complimentary partner to Apple’s market leading devices.

Available from October via http://store.vuzix.co.uk/, major online retail outlets and on the High Street in Menkind stores, the new Wrap product line range from £129.99 to £249.99 inc VAT.

Vuzix Corp has just announced the Wrap 310. Interestingly, these wearable video glasses look more like normal sunglasses than their predecessors and will feature twin high-resolution video displays to project a 55-inch screen, and include removable noise isolating earphones.  Powered for up to 6 hours on just 2 AA batteries, the Wrap 310 will accept video from almost any video player, including the iPod and iPhone.

Whether you are an executive business traveler or want an immersive console gaming experience, the Wrap 310 will get the job done in style.  With composite video input and optional VGA and component compatibility adapters, the Wrap 310 is the most versatile pair of video eyewear on the market.  Additionally, as the first video eyewear designed for upgradeability, the Wrap 310 will feature an expansion port designed to provide the product with near limitless compatibility.  In addition to the soon to be available VGA and Component adapters, Vuzix has plans for exciting accessories designed to keep the Wrap 310 on the cutting edge.

“The Wrap 310 is the first device to merge the look of video eyewear and traditional sunglasses into one,” said Vuzix CEO, Paul Travers.  “We are excited to be a part of the mobile video revolution and are thrilled to be globally unveiling the Wrap 310 at Showstoppers for the Digital Holidays and the Tokyo Game Show,” added Travers.

The Wrap 310 also features an improved on-screen user interface, included independent focus adjustments for users with corrective lenses and still features compatibility with all major 3D video formats.  Users now have the option to select various lens colors to personalize their Wrap 310.

For me it’s the 3D capability that is very exciting, especially given all the recent news in this area. I am hugely looking forward to getting a pair to try out!

I was really pleased when I found out my favourite Video eyewear company were going to be at Gadget Show Live 2009 – Vuzix have such a great set of products that I thought they would be busy – but nothing prepared me for this!

The stand was absolutely beseiged – and I mean rammed – with people clambering over each other to get a look at, and buy, the tech!

I got some time with David Lock, Director of European Operations – and he took me through a couple of things that proved to be of great interest:

• 3D – it’s where everything is going – TV, Cinema, Gaming – you name it, it’s now all about the depth perception! I checked out the VR920 glasses (which have accelerometers on-board!) that were running with a Laptop 3D demo – wowzer! – very, very impressive! I just can’t wait for this tech to come to Mobile, and trust me, it won’t be long!

• New tech – check out the pic below of the new Vuzix glasses coming soon – these are like the next-gen of video eyewear, and I genuinely wonder whether Vuzix are going to put all the competition out of business. Now these glasses are awesome, both design and performance-wise. Price and Timing are TBA for the moment…

Overall – a very impressive showing from Vuzix!

Ben

There seems to be a growing buzz in the media industry generally right now about 3D – how good it is, the fact that consumers are bound to want it, and crucially, how to do it. Interestingly though, Mobile may be very well set up to handle 3D and potentially even take the lead over it’s progress in Home Consumer Electronics Devices – let’s consider a few key points:

- You (mostly) need glasses for 3D – in order to get one eye to see something different than the other (and hence create anything more than a flat image), it’s commonly accepted you need some kind of viewing glasses. The way the glasses achieve the result can be variable, but unless you get a (currently) very expensive (and limited) 3D TV set, then glasses are where it’s at. But Mobile is already moving in this direction, what with the proliferation of “video eyewear” companies out there (notably Vuzix, who we’ve covered before at IntoMobile, here and here for example).  Mobile screens are really too small for prolonged viewing, so if you can utilise the video-out on your device (now on an increasing amount of devices), you can plug in some video eyewear, and get your video fix – and why not make it 3D!

- Content delivery is a consideration for 3D – bandwidth on any delivery medium, be it broadcast, Internet, or Mobile, is always a consideration – and with 3D, more information is being sent per second (i.e. the bitrate is higher) – and hence more bandwidth is needed. Well for Mobile, the issue of bandwidth is a decreasing one, unlike with both broadcast and (fixed-line) Internet access. In Mobile, we’ve done WiFi chips in handsets, and we’ve done broadband modems (dongles) – so we know we can get decent bandwidth for mobile video. Remember that Mobile video is for a smaller screen and hence requires (much) less bandwidth, and suddenly you can deliver the data needed for 3D video with increasing ease as time goes on. Mobiles have never been so connected, so lets leverage the wider pipe that is now available!

- Content - you gotta have good content for it to be successful – nowhere is this more true than on Mobile devices – if the content ain’t good, people will not buy it. Hollywood is busy now creating more and more content that is in 3D at source – and they have a valid and sustainable channel with Mobile to try it out. I think 3D has a real home in the Mobile channel, and (great) content is one of the key pillars to it’s introduction

The one current barrier is the potential number of ways to create the 3D effect, as I alluded to above– right now there are probably 3 or 4, ranging from basic to more advanced – however, if this doesn’t reach some degree of standardisation, we are going to be stuck with a range of systems, and fragmented content / hardware. Let’s not have another Blu-Ray vs HD-DVD battle please, and get with a single standard.

Overall, the future of 3D is looking rosy, we just need to sort out a few niggles, and I believe Mobile could (and should) lead the charge in to a new era of immersive and innovative user experiences!

Vuzix Corporation has announced certified Apple (NSDQ: AAPL) iPhone® compatibility with all its AV video eyewear products. Every “Works with iPhone” product is designed for optimal connectivity with the iPhone® and is certified to meet Apple performance standards. Additionally, the cable is the first on the market that supports 3-D video in the following formats:

• Side by Side
• Interlaced
• All 3 Major Anaglyph Modes

The cable will be available bundled with the with the complete range of AV products, as well as separately for only £29.99 (inc vat) and can be used with all AV series Vuzix video eyewear product.

“The iPhone® compatibility combined with the recent announcements of the Wrap 920AV and the Augmented Reality Accessory Kit keep Vuzix at the forefront of the mobile video and 3-D revolutions,” said Vuzix CEO, Paul Travers. “As our products become increasingly more affordable, extensively available and highly compatible with a broad range of content types and mobile devices, the widespread adoption of Vuzix video eyewear is inevitable. We are excited to officially extend this compatibility to iPhone® enthusiasts worldwide,” added Travers.

Vuzix continues to set the standard for innovative and high-quality video eyewear products – we’ve tested the devices here at IntoMobile and they really do live up to the hype! The iWear® VR920 is the world’s best-selling virtual reality system while the iWear AV310 Widescreen boasts the world’s first 16:9 widescreen video eyewear. The AV230XL is designed for the everyday consumer and features the convenience of AA-battery power and a sub-£150.00 (inc vat) price point. The latest edition to the iWear family due in the autumn, the Wrap 920AV raises the bar once again with a true ‘sunglass look’.

If you want to read more about Vuzix (or better yet buy some kit), go to www.vuzix.co.uk. You can also check out Apple’s Web Store!

Vuzix Corporation has announced that is going to be showcasing an “Augmented Reality” accessory kit for it’s popular VR920 Virtual Reality Video iWear. Why does this matter? Well if you follow various tech-industry news like I do, then you’ll know that both 3D, and augmented reality are hot topics at the moment, with a lot of hype and momentum being built up around them – think Hi-Def a couple of years ago, and you’ve got the level of hysteria!

Augmented Reality, as the name suggests, is when you add complimentary elements to a video you might be seeing, which enhance and boost the experience – in the case of the showcase (!) mentioned above, Vuzix will demonstrate at the 2009 GDC how a simple printed page can be brought to life with 3-D animated characters that literally pop out of the book and fire breathing dragons from a fantasy tale can swoop overhead.

Apparently, the Vuzix AR Accessory Kit consists of two important components:

• CamAR™, a clip-on USB camera that mounts onto a pair of Vuzix Video iWear. The CamAR not only allows the user to see through to the real world but is also designed to accurately track objects and the user’s position in 3-dimensional space.
• PhasAR™, a wireless augmented reality input controller is designed to be used in unison with the CamAR™. The PhasAR™ allows users to interact with virtual, mixed and augmented reality worlds with a revolutionary 6 degree of freedom tracking system that lets the computer know exactly where the user is touching in the virtual and real worlds. Depending on the application, the PhasAR™ can become anything from a powerful virtual magic wand to a 3-D virtual paint brush. The PhasAR™ enables powerful 2-D like mouse support in order to effortlessly control virtual objects in 3-D space.

As you can see, there is a motion-capture device of sorts, with the additional capability of positioning/tracking, and then there’s a HID (Human Input Device) that lets you interact with the environment. One word – cool!

Right now the AR’d VR920 is working with PCs, but I can’t imagine it will be that long before Vuzix has figured things for Mobile too – add in a Mobile Device’s accelerometer and you have the potential for some seriously cool apps!

By the way, for UK readers, Vuzix are going to be at The Gadget Show Live at the Birmingham NEC in the UK on the 17-19th April, where you can try out the Vuzix iWear range – which offers a big-screen experience from a device that fits in your pocket. By connecting with one of many mobile devices and you can enjoy a virtual screen of up to 62” for all of your mobile content including 3D!

– I’ve looked at Vuzix tech before – it’s good, it’s cool, and it works – three important variables if you wanna invest in new gadgets!

Check out the Vuxiz website here.

BBC News has a couple of interesting articles on trends for 2009, emanating from Silicon Valley. I’d like to pick up on the second of the two articles on the site (here and here), since it’s got some neat trends…

First up is Mobility – whether it’s devices, consumption of the InterWeb, or Advertising, apparently 2009 will be a year everything goes large on Mobile devices.

Next up is The Game Changer – which is actually a small text about Apple (NSDQ: AAPL)’s App Store. There’s no doubt this was massive in 2008, and I wouldn’t bet against it expanding even further in 2009.

Last up is Online Video – the point being that it’s consumption will shoot up this year.

I would add to this a couple of things – first of combining the first and third points that were made in the article, to form Mobile Video – I really think we are there now for consumption of feature-length content on Mobile – for a combination of reasons, including screen size, ease of use, and battery.

Next, I would add 3D to this – 3D is being punted at CES, in Cinemas, in the Broadcast World (BSkyB are trialling it), and also in the Mobile World. Vuzix provide a pretty good example of this:

(Check out my post on the 920AV glasses here)

So as I was saying, I think it’s going to be the year of both Mobile Video, and perphaps a ton of that content in 3D – I for one think that experiencing 3D would be something best done with specialist glasses connected to a Mobile device – what say you readers?

[You can read the "Silicon Valley looks towards 2009" BBC News articles here and here]

Vuzix Corporation has announced a ground-breaking addition to the video eyewear market: the Wrap 920AV. As the demand for mobile access to digital entertainment and information skyrockets, Vuzix has once again pushed the envelope. This portable big screen solution with Vuzix’ proprietary Quantum optics technology allows for a “see-thru” video experience in the form of a functional pair of sunglasses and is upgradeable with optional accessories.

The stylish Wrap 920AV functions with any media playing device with a video output and projects a virtual 60-inch screen, as viewed from 9-feet. The state-of-the-art lens technology also allows users for the first time to view 3D video content while seeing and interacting with the real world. This incredible blend of reality and computer generated content will transform the world of portable video while opening up the consumer to previously impossible “location aware” applications. An optional 6-Degree of Freedom tracking sensor and/or Stereo Camera Pair will enable users to upgrade their Wrap 920AV to experience virtual, augmented and mixed reality environments.

Additionally, Vuzix will be offering low cost optional prescription lens inserts to provide the perfect solution for consumers wearing prescription eyeglasses. A patent pending electronic Inter-Pupillary Distance system enables eye separation adjustment, ensuring that all users will have an optimal viewing experience.  Amazingly, the entire system weighs less than 3 ounces.

The Wrap 920AV’s features include:

•        Virtual 60-inch screen viewed from 9-feet
•        2D and 3D video formats
•        Quantum Optics Technology
•        Twin high-resolution AMLCD displays
•        Ultra low power electronics
•        High-quality noise-isolating and removable comfort fit earphones
•        Up to 6 hours of battery life on two AA batteries
•        On screen display settings control
•        For use with or without eyeglasses
•        Optional prescription lens inserts
•        Optional Bluetooth 6-Degree of Freedom head tracking system
•        Optional USB-powered Stereo Camera Pair

Compatible devices include:

•        All iPod/iPhone models with video output
•        Portable media players
•        Video cameras
•        Cellular phones with video output
•        Console video game systems
•        Digital cameras
•        DVD players
•        PCs & laptops with S-Video

The Wrap 920AV will be available on Vuzix.co.uk and through various other distribution channels in Spring 2009.  For more information, please visit www.vuzix.co.uk.

Personally I can’t wait to get hold of one! Review coming (relatively) soon!

Video Eyewear such as this set from Vuzix could be the next big thing for 3D

There’s been quite a bit in the news in the last few days about 3D Television – mainly on the back of the news that BSkyB in the UK have been testing 3D transmissions. But what I want to talk about is 3D on Mobile…

Now, for those of you that are not familiar with the world of 3D, and can only remember the red/green glasses that were used in films like “Jaws 3D” at the Cinema, things have moved on a bit since then – kind of.

There are now two ways to achieve 3D – either through what is called “Polarizing glasses”, or alternatively direct from a special TV/screen – though the latter is in the order of 6x more expensive, if current 3DTV set costs are taken as a yardstick.

The polarizing glasses now, as oppose to back in the day, are not coloured-lenses, but instead clear lenses that deflect/adjust the picture to each eye to give the effect of depth in to what is normally a flat picture. In addition, the “source” (be it a TV or Cinema screen) still has to be made “3D-compliant”. In all cases of 3D video delivery, the cameras which have made the original recording ALSO have to be 3D enabled – actually it’s two cameras, to capture the two signals (one for each eye) that are needed.

So reviewing we see we need to – change the cameras at source, the editing equipment for the content, the TV set / Cinema screen, and finally the viewer’s perception (with or without the glasses). Sounds like a lot to do, doesn’t it?

Well, yes – but luckily I’ve had the opportunity to see 3D demos, both on a TV, and also on some (mobile) video glasses. The TV was Phillips’ invention (see more here), and doesn’t require any glasses because the display panel has been modified “trick” the eyes in to seeing depth. I was only watching a demo video, but the effect is definitely there.

(Note: probably one thing that may not be obvious is that 3DTV gives the effect of more depth, rather than things projecting out toward you – so on the TV, objects floating in space seemed to be ‘inside’ the TV)

With the (mobile) video glasses (courtesy of Vuzix) I saw more content – this time of some animated monkeys throwing things at each other/you – and this was equally impressive – really clever application of technology for a markedly different viewing experience.

So here’s the thing for Mobile then – unless device manufacturers were to change the screens on their devices to have 3D-visible technology in them (not beyond the realms of possibility), then it would need something like the video glasses to achieve the effect. And given one of the solutions for 3DTV generally is wearing polarizing glasses anyway, this might well be ther way forward.

Ultimately the thing that will decide it is the content – if there is compelling content for people to consume, then they will want to have new (and better) user experiences with it – if enough people like it, then it becomes mass-market. Disappointingly for right now, it seems like only kids films are being shot in 3D – but you imagine how nerve-shredding a decent horror film would be, shot in 3D? Something like an “Alien vs Predator 3D” with ultra-gore moments would be fantastic demonstrator in how to use this nascent, yet exciting technology.

Give us decent 3D content, and people will want to see it – on TV, Cinema, or Mobile.