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MyVu Crystal

There is a catch-22 for all portable devices. Their small compact size, means their screens must also be small and compact. Although this can be worked around with eye catching and efficient software, when it comes to movies and tv shows, there really is no substitute for size. And that is where MyVu come in. Imagine a 42″ TV floating right in front of your eyes, no matter where you are. That is what MyVu attempts to deliver. Sadly, the trade-off for this magical screen is style, dignity and any ability to look where you are going. The question is, is the trade off worth it?

Packaging and Pack Ins:
MyVu have delivered an attractive and simple packaging for their product, they avoided the use of the devil’s own clamshell packaging, and used the beautiful charm of the good old cardboard box. Pack Ins range depending on the product purchased, but the iPhone specialised version tested by us contained cords and cables for a galaxy of devices, including of course the iPhone and iPod. You also receive a carry case that doubles as a cleaning cloth that is big enough to hold both the Myvu itself and all the cables you need. The cables provided are a welcome relief from the customary pack in of only the most basic of cables, with others being available at a ludicrous premium, with all the needed cables included in the box.

Audio Quality:
The Myvu owes it’s excellent sound quality to the pair of Ultimate Ears earphones that are attached to the device. And they really are excellent, providing rich highs and deep lows, they add perfectly to the entertainment experience, while not being so over the top that they make the device unaffordable.

Video Quality:
The most vital aspect of any screen device is of course the video quality. Here I am in split minds on the Myvu, on one hand, they can get away with providing the relatively small number of pixels they do by using excellent lenses, but on the other, it would have been nice to have a very high pixel density, although this may have sent the price up, the video quality is visually defected by the density of pixels.

Design:
The MyVu has a very futuristic, streamlined and curvaceous design. This does not do much to improve the situation of the extreme lack of dignity while wearing the glasses, if anything it makes the whole thing even more embarrassing. And that really is the fatal flaw in the MyVu, it is so ridiculous and absurd a concept, that the only place it really makes any sense is on a plane, and with today’s inflight entertainment, the need for it is truly limited.

Final Words:
I like the MyVu. I really really do. I would use it. If I didn’t have a TV at home, if I didn’t mind looking like an absolute fool and being blind on public transport, if I was a frequent flyer on an airline that is yet to install TVs. But, I do, I do, and I don’t. So even though I like it, I don’t really have a use for it, and I doubt you do either.

Price: $299.95 US onwards

Available From: myvu.com

Final Score: 6/10