Vuzix iWear AV310 Widescreen

Like one of the other reviewers, I am fairly large ( 6'-4", 7 3/4 hat size, 77mm intraocular distance ). I also wear glasses for moderate nearsightedness ( -4 left/-4.5 right ). The Vuzix 310 Widescreen glasses fit, work, and can be adjusted to accommodate my nearsightedness, and are just barely wide enough to accommodate my intraocular spacing if I seat them as close to my face as possible ( I think that they are designed for 73.5mm ). I would imagine that the glasses will work for anyone my size or less.The virtual image is exactly as described, approximately equal to a 52" screen at 9 feet. The image looks like watching standard definition television, say a 32" set at 6 or 7 feet, with the same slightly muted color saturation SD TV had. It is not an HD experience, but it is wholly engaging and watchable. I can read all of the text, there is no screen buzz or image rolling, and the sound from the built-in headphones is adequate, though I do use external headphones.There is nothing unusual or fatiguing about wearing the glasses or watching video. Vuzix supplies a strap for holding the glasses close to the head, which I use, but even without the strap, the glasses do not tend to shift, slide down, or flop. The weight is not bothersome ( or even really noticeable ). The optics are well-enough aligned that I experience no distress from watching video for longish periods. In short, neither the weight nor the optics themselves will cause headaches or other discomfort.I am very pleased with this product, and would recommend it to others. It allows me to watch video on my iPod on a giant-seeming virtual screen, rather than the dinky 2" screen on the iPod itself.Three Weeks and about 15 Movies Later...----------------------------------------These are still great. I have worn them for perhaps 25 hours now, and they cause no eyestrain. I wear them at the gym, and they do not move around, or slide off, or get soaked with sweat. I get about 4 to 4.5 hours or battery life out of regular batteries, and 2.5 to 3 out of an old set of NiMh batteries.Several Months Later ....----------------------------------------I recently purchased the light shield  LIGHT SHIELD, AV230/IP230/DV920. IN (MP0001130)  for these video glasses, which blocks out stray light. These substantially improve the color and contrast, and I highly recommend them.Well more than a year later ....----------------------------------------These are still going strong, though I have snapped the left temple somehow (I fixed it with gaffers tape). There has been no degradation in quality over time, nor any condensation or water damage to the prisms or screens themselves, even though the glasses get pretty well sweat-soaked whenever I wear them (30 minutes on the elliptical machine at the gym). I have discovered that the lithium batteries last for 20 hours or more, so I have stopped trying to fool with rechargeable batteries.Yet later still....----------------------------------------I just noticed that I indicated that my intraocular distance is 77 millimeters in the original review, which is incorrect. This should read 70 millimeters. From the literature, it appears that these glasses have an intraocular distance of 60mm, so 70mm is clearly past the intended audience, though as noted above, there is only a bit of vignetting.

For starters, I'm 6'-6" and somewhere north of 275 lbs., so I'm a 2XL-tall person; if I had a normal-sized head it would look like a tangerine on a mannequin. The AV310s fit my head just fine, not perfect (none of the one-size-fits-some stuff does) but not uncomfortable by any means, and the angle-adjust on the viewing screen portion of the headset helps a bunch.The photo dude must be smoking crack. News flash: AV310s aren't "true" hi-def but the aspect ratio is right and the enhanced definition make it a very good substitution. Plus the color, contrast, etc., are adjustable to taste. If you're expecting 1080p from 1.5" LCDs, give me a call when you get back from Pluto.I spent six years working in commercial broadcast TV. Are the AV310s "perfect"? Nope, but for a first-generation product they're great and I've got zero complaints as far as picture quality (because I have elevated, but reasonable, expectations). Most people would or will agree.Here's why I love them: I'm a road warrior who travels over 100,000 miles a year. I can easily and comfortably watch movies on the AV310s even when I'm sitting in the cattle car, the putz in front of me reclines his seat back all the way and my knees are up around my ears. Not true of my laptop or even smaller-screen, dedicated DVD players I've owned.If I don't get an emergency exit row, forget about my laptop, and some of the airlines do the sardine routine so bad even the 7" DVD player isn't usable for me. There just isn't enough space. I could watch the AV310s in any phone booth in Beijing (most of which, in fairness, have more space than airline passenger seats today).With the AV310s I don't get a sore back and neck or headaches from sitting for hours with my neck and eyes locked in one position watching an image on a fixed screen. I can move my head in any direction and the screen comes with me.I can see around them and interact with stewardesses for beverage or food service or whatever. Or I can use the shades and block everything else out (best picture quality under these conditions).Finally, I'm not a fan of porn, but there's some pretty raunchy visuals in a lot of the more popular rancid comedies I tend to enjoy (think "Forgetting Sarah Marshall" or "Pineapple Express"). Personally, I don't care to share such images with the people sitting around me, or their kids. Regardless of what I'm watching, having people peeking over my shoulder creeps me out in general anyway. Presto! Problem solved!Because so few people have them, there's still a "Wow!" factor to them that's kind of a hoot too (although I generally decline requests from others to put them on, since they're adjusted to my feeble close-vision eyesight).Bottom line: I'm an early adopter so the price doesn't bug me at all. I've had the AV310s for a couple months now (and four biz trips) so I've had the chance to use them in the field. I love them and I'm 150% glad I bought them. I'm perfectly satisfied with this first generation, and can't wait to see what's coming in the future!

A product that does a limited job. I plug them into my portable DVD player and I disturb no one along with complete privacy. Image quality & sound is very acceptable. They are in no way HD and saying they somehow emulate a big-screen TV is a stretch. I've had mine for many years now and the flexible platic cables have hardened and cracked. I've done considerable repair to keep these glasses usable. While the product is innovative and useful, it is, in my opinion, not worth the $500 price tag. $150, maybe. That closer to what I'd paid for mine.The optics do seem a bit primative, easily smudged with facial oil & the plastic is sensitive to cleaning products - easily scratched. Even when clean the image always seems dirty to me. The glasses have to be worn "just so" to provide a fully viewed screen.Picture resolution is nothing special but fully adjustable. The audio ear-buds are a major pain. They either tangle in the nose bridge or flap around when not in use. There's something that appears to be a holding clamp for the buds but they don't hold. I've needed to repair one of the buds since I purchased the product about 18 months ago. The wire broke from all the "flapping" & twisting.The stereoscopic options are useless to me. I wasted additional money on a license to view stereoscopic video & a developer's software package that doesn't really apply to my glasses. The only compatible stereoscopic video I could find are German-language travelogues viewable only via the PC and only in Red/Blue mode. If you're thinking in that direction, be knowledgable & be carefull. The stereo video features in my glasses are not compatible with any of the 3D TVs currently out there.

Die AV 310 Video Brille ist Optisch sowie Technisch für den Preis einwandfrei.Ich selbst habe einen 107 cm LCD Fernseher HD Ready und bin begeistert von der Brille.Sie kommt zwar nicht ganz an meinem Fernseher ran dennoch klasse.Man bekommt die Brille,Kopfhörer die man austauschen kann.Passende Kabel für Ipod/iPhone/Audio/Video Composite-Video-outBetrieben wird die Brille mit einer AA Batterie.Ein Stromkabel wird leider nicht mit dazu gegeben.Kann man sich aber sicherlich direkt vom Hersteller mit dazu bestellen sowie andere Anschlüsse/3D Filme etc.Ich persönlich hätte gleich einen Lithium Akku verbaut.Getestet habe ich PSP, PS2,Receiver,Laptop.PSP,PS2 sowie Receiver(TV) sind die Bilder sehr gut erkennbar obwohl die Brille nur 2 Doppelte, hochauflösende 428 x 240-Breitbild-LCD-Displays (WQVGA) besitzt.An der Brille selbst kann man die Schärfe pro Auge anpassen und im Display Menü 3D/2D/Helligkleit/Kontrast/Farbe/4:3/16:9 oder Z1 Vollbild einstellen.Sobald man die Brille auf hat sieht man vorsich einen 132cm Display aus ca 2,5 Meter Entfernung.Das gute daran ist man sieht das Display und kann dennoch nach unten/oben schauen um was nebenbei zu essen, wem das stören sollte beim Hersteller kann man eine Abdeckung kaufen somit wäre dann alles dunkel um einen herum sobald man die Brille aufsetzt.Ob 3D funktioniert kann ich nicht sagen da ich keine 3D Filme habe.Selbst bei längeren Filmen/TV bekommt man KEINE Kopfschmerzen oder Probleme mit den Augen.Für den Laptop ist die Brille nicht geeignet man kann zwar Filme anschauen aber in Word arbeiten oder i-net/MSN ist die Schrift bei mir verschwommen und unscharf!Für unterwegs ist die Brille ideal da man sie leicht verstauen und somit überall seine Filme genießen kann.Vorteile--------Bild und Ton gut bis sehr gutBildschirmmenü zum Optimieren der Anzeige-EinstellungenEinzeln einstellbare Fokuseinstellung von +2bis -5 DioptrienAnzeige von bis zu vier Stunden 2D-Video mit einer Alkalinebatterie oder elf Stunden mit einer Lithium-AA-BatterieAbnehmbare Kopfhörer - Kopfhörer entfernen und ihre eigenen verwenden.Kann mit und ohne Brille getragen werden.Der AccuTilt'-Viewer ermöglicht eine Drehung um bis zu 15 Grad für einen angenehmen Anzeigewinkel und optimale Sichtqualität.Nachteile---------Die Brille wiegt zwar nur weniger als 110g dennoch auf dauer(2-4st.) unangenehm auf der Nase.Kann man aber Abhilfe schaffen.Kein Stromkabel und kein Akku nur mit Batterie zu betreiben evtl nachkaufen.Laptop/PC nur Filme/Videos der Rest ist entweder zu klein oder verschwommenDer Rand des Displays schimmert Blau sieht man zwar aber stört mich persönlich nicht-------------------------------------------Wer kein Platz zuhause hat oder schon immer mal unterwegs Fernsehn wollte/Filme anschaun ist die AV310 ideal.