The Epson Moverio BT-100

Epson Moverio: Your personal cinema

by Hiranand Sunny Naresh

04:45 AM Oct 05, 2012

SINGAPORE - Since the invention of the television in the early 1900s, manufacturers have been trying to make it truly personal.

The Epson Moverio BT-100 lets users enjoy movies on the go. PHOTO COURTESY EPSON

From people gathering to watch the telly at community centres in my father's time to individual sets in every room of the home today, TV viewing is becoming more personal.

And it's more so now with the customised content made possible through the Internet. This personal cinematic experience is brought even closer with the Epson Moverio BT-100 mobile viewer.

The Moverio allows users to have their own private screen and consume media on the move without fellow commuters peering over their shoulder to catch a glimpse.

At first glance, the Moverio does whatever it is supposed to do. Micro-projection technology allows it to project a virtual 320-inch perceived screen 20 metres away, allowing users to enjoy videos on the go without walking straight into a tree.

Navigating through Google's Android 2.2 media player is simple enough on the controller's trackpad, and video and music quality is pretty decent but not quite as good as you would get on the iPhone 5 or Samsung Galaxy SIII.

The Moverio also supports 3D videos and Wi-Fi connectivity, but neither provide anything to shout about.

By itself, the Moverio looks stylish enough. But wearing it in public will attract plenty of awkward stares from fellow commuters.

However, truth be told, the Moverio was not made to be a portable device, as watching a movie whilst navigating public streets could be potentially dangerous.

As a personal viewing device, the Moverio also scores very low on the comfort factor. The device is far too heavy and images are shown far too close for my liking, making viewing very uncomfortable after about half an hour.

The bespectacled will also struggle with the Moverio's size as I found hardly any room on the bridge of my nose for both my spectacles and the Moverio.

Fully charged, the Moverio has a battery life of about six hours - enough for short-haul flights on budget airlines. But if you are thinking of lugging it on long-haul flights, you might want to stick to the in-flight entertainment system.

Despite the gripes, the Moverio performs impeccably on one detail. Late at night, when every one is asleep and you want to watch an action-packed flick with an explosive soundtrack, the Moverio works like a personal cinema in the comfort of your room.

Just shut off all the lights, plug in the earphones, lie back - let the Moverio rest against your face - and watch the movie against your plain coloured ceiling. It is the closest you will get to having your own personal IMAX theatre.

The Epson Moverio is sold at selected Best Denki outlets at the recommended retail price of S$999

Source:  www.todayonline.com