MyVu Crystal Personal Media Viewer

With continuing advances to personal media devices such as the Apple iPod and the Microsoft Zune, more and more people are now carrying video content with them on the go. While it’s great to be able to watch your favorite movies and shows anywhere you go, having to hold the device in front of you to watch on such a small screen leaves something to be desired. Here’s where the Myvu Crystal comes in. The Crystal is Myvu’s most recent release in the personal media viewer category. To put it plainly, it is a pair of futuristic looking shades that allows you to comfortably enjoy your video content anywhere, privately and with a big screen feeling.

If you can get past the dorky look of this eyewear, it has a lot of great features that many people will enjoy. The video quality and clarity is better than expected, and although it is not high definition picture, it is definitely a step up from watching on an iPod. I would compare it to watching a 40” TV from a few feet away. It is actually very comfortable to wear even after a few hours of use. The built in sound reducing earphones, made by Ultimate Ears, provide good quality sound and come with three different size ear bud pads. The rechargeable battery lasts up to four hours of viewing. The included pendant control lets you turn the shades on and off, and toggle volume, brightness, and contrast. The glasses permit you to maintain your peripheral vision while in use which allows you to be aware of your surroundings and make it easier for others to get your attention if they need to.

One of my favorite things about this product is that not only is it great for travel, but it can also be used in the comfort of your home when connected to a DVD player, laptop or game system. This is really great if you want to free up a TV for someone else, or if you don’t want the brightness and noise of a TV or computer to disturb others in the room who are trying to sleep.

There are of course a few negative aspects about this product. There is no battery indicator so there is no way to tell how much power is left before needing to recharge. The rechargeable battery is not removable so carrying a spare battery with you is not an option. The only picture adjustments you can make are contrast and brightness, and I sometimes had a hard time trying to get the picture just right. Something to consider if you have poor vision is this will not fit over your glasses. To remedy this, Myvu sells lenses that can attach to the Crystal.

With all this taken into account, I would still recommend the Myvu Crystal, especially to those who travel often. One of the major complaints about this product had been the high price. At $300.00, this device costs more than most iPods, and is more than most people care to spend on a product like this. Thankfully, our sponsor now carries the Myvu Crystal at a much more affordable $199.95. Now is the time to buy. If you want to pick up a pair for yourself or if you need a gift for a frequent traveler, check them out here: http://www.digitalfotoclub.com/product-features.asp?id=964797990