'EyeBud' for the iPod Video

JonathanGCohen writes "The SeattlePI is reporting that eMagin, a company that makes video display products for military and industrial uses, has a new headset accessory for the iPod that projects video on to a screen smaller than a quarter that is mounted in front of one eye. Its makers say this creates the illusion of watching a 105 inch screen from a distance of 12 feet." The only problem is that the expected retail value of the EyeBud is around $600, about $200 more than a 60 gigabyte iPod.

Comments

QVGA on a 105" inch screen?

[mark0]

Why would I want to look at a QVGA image on a 105" inch screen?

"105 inch screen from a distance of 12 feet"

[Aumaden]

Or, a 16" monitor set to 800x600 when viewed from 2'.

Not the Only Problem

[Comatose51]

"The only problem is that the expected retail value of the EyeBud is around $600, about $200 more than a 60 gigabyte iPod."

That's not the ONLY problem. It is also VERY dorky looking and you can't really move about with that thing on, which really takes away the reason for having an iPod. iPods are mobile. They function well and they look nice (huge factor for those outside of the geek/nerd crowd). So, you're left using this while stationary. If you're going to do that, why not just watch it on a TV or monitory and save yourself $600? I could imagine frequent business travellers using one of these but hard to imagine anyone else having an use for it.

I doubt eMagin's new toy will have mass appeal

[saha]

I doubt eMagin's new toy for the iPod will succeed. Sony tried a simliar product years ago and the Glasstron never took off.

I also disagree with your statement that Apple hardware is all about fickle and impressionable folks being wooed by gee whiz industrial design and ergonomics. People happen to like Apple hardware and software solution because it offers a well integrated solution that minimizes finger pointing. As some OEM PC vendors we've encountered have tried to pass the buck with us and wanted us to pay more for a problem they believed was a Windows issue when we already payed for service/warranty.

Perhaps you care to explain how a survey of 140,000 readers of Consumer Reports rated Apple service higher for A) solving problems, B) waiting on the phone, C) support staff, D) web support of both Desktop and Laptop systems. Perhaps consumers gravitate towards the Honda Accords instead of the Dodge Neons. Both have a steering wheel and four tires, but most people are willing to pay more for the Accord.

Re:I doubt eMagin's new toy will have mass appeal

[TubeSteak]

car analogies aside, companies like Dell, Gateway, IBM, Sony, etc are (in a sense) victims of their own success.

They have much much higher hardware sales than Apple and consequently, their tech support must placate many more people.

Re:I doubt eMagin's new toy will have mass appeal

[sootman]

>They have much much higher hardware sales than Apple and consequently, their tech support must placate many more people.

Um... can't they just hire more people? If Apple sells (totally made-up numbers here) 10,000,000 computers and services their customers with 10,000 people, why can't Dell sell 100,000,000 computers and service their customers with 100,000 people?

The point is, Apple is doing *something* right--paying more, hiring better people, treating them better, running their support center better, making easier-to-support gear, who knows--and the fact that they sell less gear is not the reason that they have better support.

Re:It may succeed.

[apflwr]

In the "PC" (Wintel) market, this would be dead in the water, but the Apple market (including the iPod market) is far more trend-driven. People who buy Apple products (including iPods, excluding probably the iPod Nano and the Mac Mini) are relatively likely to be willing to spend hundreds of bucks on some shiny new geegaw, if it's appealing enough.

Seriously, WTF are you going on about? This isn't 1997 any more and the Wintel/Mac stereotypes are really tired. They make for good flamebait, but that's about it... Classifying Mac owners as trendy idiots who throw their money away is ridiculous (before you call me a fanboy I own a PC and a Mac and use them both, and I don't own or care to own an iPod.) And at this point far more PC users own iPods than Mac users. And yes, iPod owners are prone to buy accessories, but if you look at what actually sells (and the prices) the most popular ones make sense-- FM transmitters, protective cases etc. (There are some ridiculous ones, too, but that's a fringe market.)

As far as the product itself-- yes, it's a neat toy (though I get a headache trying to imagine using it.) No, it won't take the world by storm at that price, but it's new tech so it's not really supposed to.

Style over content

[atomic_toaster]

It's a neat idea, but this particular model will never catch on as the EyeBud has the unfortunate effect of making the wearer looking like a Borg from Star Trek (and not 7 of 9, either!). While the iPod is a great device, the main reason that it was practically sold-out in stores and online this Christmas is its sleek look, small size, and stylish marketing campaign. In general, that's when all techy devices catch on in the general population, from home PC's to laptops to cell phones -- when they're small enough and attractive enough that the user doesn's look like a geek. Well, that and the price tag; nobody's going to pay $600 to look like the biggest dork on the block.

Bring the price down under $200, and streamline the design so that it looks like an extension of a bluetooth headset or maybe a pair of mirrored Oakley look-alikes. Sure, that'll probably take a couple of years. But only then will it be worth marketing this device as "the next big thing".