i-Glasses 230 - Introduction

Long before Myvu or Vuzix, IO Display Systems i-Glasses series was essentially the default choice for bleeding edge techno geeks who wanted top-notch image quality and functionality without the bulk (or price) of a pro-level HMD system such as the Liteye LE-750A. The older i-Glasses models were successful and popular video glasses and you didn't have to spend long wearing them to understand why. The i-Glasses 230 continues in that tradition as a head mounted display that provides a lot of bang for the buck.

Key features

• Kopin CyberDisplay QVGA’s with 230,000 pixels
• Connects to any standard video source
• Accessories include charger and eye shield.

 

i-Glasses 230 - Body and Design

The 230 stands apart from other i-Glasses models in both form and function. This is a stripped down, bare bones model with a solid look and feel. There are no big technological improvements here just a steady progression of form and functionality and a lowering of price.

Construction and environmental seals

The i-Glasses 230's are unquestionably lighter and more streamlined than previous models but they are no less rugged. They have a solid well built frame that should withstand regular wear and tear. In short, worn properly, in the right environment, and treated with respect you should have no problems with your 230’s. In the event you do have a problem, IO Display Systems has a one year warranty on their products which covers manufacturer defects and they are a small company so it's not hard to reach someone who can help you.

On your head

The i-Glasses 230 weighs in at a mere 4.2 ounces but this makes a full it 1.8 ounces heavier than the HR-920’s and 1.4 ounces heavier than the Myvu Crystal EV's. Interestingly, the weight was not a factor in our review as the form factor was actually more comfortable than the HR-920’s.

This brings up an important point. Video glasses manufacturers want you to think that weight is a primary consideration. But more important than weight is comfort and there is really no telling how comfortable a pair of video glasses will be on your head until you try them on. In this case we liked the strong arms on the 230 and the way that they seemed to balance the weight of the video elements on the front of the head. 

And surprisingly, we really liked the fact that the battery and controls were incorporated into the frames. It made for one less thing to plug into and it felt lighter on the face without the in-line controls. While we loved the adaptability and functionality of the HR-920’s, we we’re equally impressed with the simplicity of the 230’s.

Although they come with a removable immersion visor, a rubber gasket that seals the glasses to your face preventing side light from spoiling an image, the glasses are really best suited to a reclined position in a semi darkened environment hooked up to a smart mobile device like an iPhone.

Battery Compartment

The battery compartment on the i-Glasses 230 is located in the frame and cannot be opened. To charge the battery you simply plug the USB mini connection cable into any USB outlet. If you do not want to plug your glasses into a computer to charge them you will need a USB charging adaptor like the ones that comes with an iPhone. The 230 uses a rechargeable lithium battery which provides 2.5 hours of play time.  

Connections

The i-Glasses 230 is a fairly straight forward device with a limited number of connections. On the arms of the frame there is a small USB mini connection port for the charging cable and an attached line out cable ending in a standard 3.5 mm AV jack. The input cable can be attached to a number of different devices but you will need the right connectors for each device.

With the included connectors you can attach the 230’s to a wide variety of devices including, most smart phones (iPhone, Android, Palm and Blackberry),DVD players, gaming platforms and MP4 Players (iPod, Zune, Creative Labs, Archos). For newer iPods and iPhones, however, you will need the Apple Composite Video Cable. For the Zune, you will need the Zune AV Output Cable (available from Microsoft). Other MP4 players may require specific cabling/connectors. Please check with your device manufacturer.

Supplied in the box

 

The i-Glasses 230 is, depending on your region, offered as kit with a variety of connectors and accessories.

Included in the box is:

· USB Charger Cable

· Composite Video and Audio Pig Tail

· "Mini-Stereo" A/V Pig Tail

· Removable Immersion Visor

· Manual

Operations and Controls

The controls are fairly straight forward on the 230. There is a small power switch on one arm of the frames which toggle the glasses on and off. A small blue light comes on to let you know that power is flowing to the headset.

Unlike the HR-920 there are no controls for brightness, contrast, volume and video source. You must make these adjustments on your input device.

i-Glasses 230 Specifications

Product Classification: Binocular Head Mounted Video Display

Mechanical:
Virtual Screen size: 50 inches from 6ft  away

Battery: Rechargeable Lithium Polymer

Headset Weight: 4.2 oz

Battery Operation Time: 2.5 Hours

Headset Temples: Foldable

Battery Charging: USB Mini Connection Cable, 5 Volts/350 mA

Charging Time: N/A
 
Earphones: In-Ear, attached

Display: AMLCD

Operating Temperature: 0 - 40 degrees Celsius

Optical System: CyberDisplay^® 230K LV

Display Resolution: 230,000 pixels | 320 x 240 (QVGA)

Color Depth: 24 bit Color

A/V Input Connector: 3.5 mm A/V Jack

Aspect Ratio: 4:3

Video Input: Composite Video, NTSC/PAL

3D Video Format: Interlaced 3D Video

Field of View: 35 degrees diagonal

Audio Input: Stereo line audio or headphone audio input

Eye Relief: N/A mm

Video Controls: N/A

Display Technology:  AMLCD MicroDisplay

Audio Controls: N/A

Nominal IPD Accomodation: N/A mm

Other:

Display Focal Distance: N/A m

Prescription Correction: no

 

i-Glasses 230 - User Experience and Conclusion

We tested the 230’s with a number of devices in a variety of situations. The input devices were as follow:

· Xbox 360

· iPod

· Laptop

XBOX 360 and i-Glasses 230

The image and audio quality while watching a video through the Xbox 360 is not great but depending on your situation they might make a
good choice for you. For example, if you plan to travel with your Xbox and or portable gaming device and will not have access to a large HDTV, a pair of 230's will work nicely for you. They would also work well for you if you have a small non-HDTV and do not intend to upgrade.

But the 230's cannot replace a real TV for the following reasons. While the image appears about the size of a 60 inch screen from 6.5 feet away it is not as clear or bright as a decent HD image. Platforms like the Xbox 360 are designed for large, high definition screens, and don’t do a very good job of down sampling the data to a low contrast 320 x 240 image. Movies lose detail in the shadows and games like Halo 3 become nearly impossible. It is also noteworthy that, when gaming, there is a tendency to move your head to follow the action. But this is frustrating because moving your head only moves the action farther away. You have to learn to keep you head still. Not impossible but a bit disconcerting at first.

iPod and iPhone and i-Glasses HR 920

The very best reason to get a pair of 230's is for use with your iPod, iPhone, Android or other smart mobile device. The experience of watching a video through the 230’s, is far superior to watching it on your iPhone. It is a fully immersive experience and the video output of the iPhone matches nicely with the capabilities of the video glasses. The iPhone currently has a 320 x 240 screen resolution which matches the 230’s resolution of 320 x 240. It's like carrying around a large screen TV in your pocket. We watched movies in bright sun and in a darkened room and found that, with the detachable immersion visor, the image quality remained more or less constant. It is worth noting, however, that the iPhone, along with other newer smart phones, has a maximum output resolution of 640 x480. This means your image will not take full advantage of the devices output capabilities. If you want the best possible image get a model with a higher resolution like the i-Glasses HR 920.

Laptop

We attempted to test the i-Glasses 230 with a laptop but were frustrated to learn that they cannot hook up to an SVGA source without significant additional cost. In addition the image quality would be poor. If you are looking for a set of video glasses to hook up to a PC we suggest a higher resolution model such as the i-Glasses i3PC.

Conclusion

Overall we were happy with the i-Glasses 230 but given the choice between these and a higher resolution model like the HR-920 we have to recommend the 920’s. While the resolution of the 230’s works well with devices like the iPhone it’s not ideal because the maximum output of an iPhone is 640 x 480. Still, the capabilities, features and accessories, at this price point, around $120, are top notch. And you will not find anything this good for so little. So if budget is your primary concern get the 230’s or consider a refurbished set of the original Myvu Crystals for a bit more.

Again, the best application for these video glasses is in combination with a smart mobile device like an iPod or iPhone. While you will have to spend a bit more money on the Apple Composite Video Cable, the experience is more than worth it. Frequent travelers, commuters, and kids will really enjoy the experience of watching full length movies through their 230s.

On the other hand, if you are looking for something to hook up to your laptop or Xbox 360 you should consider a higher resolution headset.

Likes

· Watching iPod or iPhone videos on a large screen

· Image quality when hooked up to a smart mobile device

· Audio quality

· Detachable nose piece

· Removable Immersion Visor

Dislikes

· No way to adjust the focal point

· Manual is poorly written and difficult to understand

· Lack of out of the box support for iPhone

· Resolution is not ideal for iPhone

· Image on an Xbox 360

      · No carrying case