While Video Glasses have been available for close to 10 years, today’s models feature the latest technologies and have finally become affordable for the mainstream. Originally retailing for over $1000, high-end video glasses today are available in the $200-$400 price range. While many of these units look similar, there is a tremendous amount of VERY important information any potential buyer needs to know in order to make the best choice for their specific needs.

This Guide is intended to highlight the latest 2009 model year iTheater brand video glasses made by industry-leader iTheater VisionTech and to provide a general overview of video glasses and their main features.



In general, Video Glasses are wearable, portable video displays. They plug into various video sources(i.e. DVD Players, Video Game Systems, Laptops etc) and as you put them on and peer through the two mini screens, you’ll see a single, large, virtual screen projected at a  distance of about 8 feet.
   
Video Glasses are like taking your large plasma screen TV off the wall, taking it with you and plugging all your favorite video devices into it! They provide the ultimate in viewing enjoyment and privacy by allowing you to view a huge virtual screen rather than staring at a tiny TV or laptop computer monitor.

With built-in earphones and the ability to plug into DVD players, laptop computers, video game systems, iPods and more, you can literally bring your own virtual home theater ANYWHERE you desire!



Video Glasses are for anyone who likes movies, video games, TV or other video-based media! They are for anyone who wants to enjoy their media on a LARGER SCREEN than they currently have without spending thousands of dollars on a large screen TV or laptop. They are for anyone who wants to view their video-based media ON THE GO. They are for anyone who wants to view their video-based media in complete and total PRIVACY, without disturbing their spouses at home or seatmates on a train or plane.




You can use Video Glasses any time, anywhere and that’s what makes them so practical!

IDEAL FOR TRAVEL/WAITING: whether waiting for or already on a plane, train, bus or limo. Just plug into your laptop and watch a movie on a private 80 inch screen!
   
QUIET PRIVACY AT HOME: forget about brightness and loud noise produced by your spouse watching TV while you try to go to bed! With video glasses, your partner can enjoy their TV while YOU enjoy your sleep!
   
ENLARGE YOUR EXISTING TV: next time the big game is on, instead of squinting at uniform numbers, plug your video glasses into the Cable or Satellite box and watch the big game on an equally big screen!

VIDEO GAMING TO THE NEXT LEVEL: not only will you enjoy your games more but you’ll likely perform better now that you’ll be immersed up close in gaming worlds with an enormous high-resolution 80 inch screen!

CAR RIDES FOR CHILDREN: an in-car TV gets their attention for awhile, but with video glasses, your child will be immersed in their own virtual theater, keeping them entertained for hours, all while you relax in silence!

PROTECTING SENSITIVE INFORMATION:  never again worry about others peering at your laptop screen as you read sensitive and/or important documents and emails! With video glasses, only YOU see what was meant for YOU!

While there are many, many other uses, this was an overview of some of the most common ones.



Now that you know what Video Glasses can do, let’s look at the most important features used to distinguish the different types of video glasses.

Overall, the Video Glasses marketplace today is extremely confusing to say the least. Because consumers are not yet savvy about this new technology, they are often not certain what specifications and/or features to look for and therefore are easily misinformed into buying glasses that may simply not be the best choice for them.

This next section clarifies the 3 Main Features you should look for along with a detailed explanation of each. They are SCREEN, BATTERY and DEVICE COMPATIBILITY. Make sure you know these aspects before buying any video glasses so you can be sure to be 100% satisfied with your purchase!


The Screens of Video Glasses are extremely important to compare as there are several aspects to consider:

1. SCREEN SIZE
All Video Glasses come direct from the manufacturer with a pre-set Screen Size. This screen size is generally listed in Inches and tells you how large of a virtual screen is projected within the glasses, just like a TV set measurements. The screen size varies model by model from as small as 33” to as large as 80”. 
--Genuine iTheater brand 2009 models come in both 50 and 80 inch virtual screen sizes.

2. SCREEN TYPE
Almost all displays on Video Glasses are LCD displays, which is short for Liquid Crystal Display. While LCD screens are typical, a new superior form of screen display technology has recently been perfected known as OLED. OLED displays have much greater screen brightness and clarity than LCD. OLED displays are so far superior to LCD that a low-resolution screen with OLED is equivalent to a high-resolution LCD screen!
--Genuine iTheater brand 2009 models use both OLED and LCD displays, depending upon model.


3. SCREEN RESOLUTION
In general, the higher the screen resolution, the better the picture. The smaller screen models in today’s marketplace have standard 320x240 screen resolution while the larger screen models generally have higher 640x480 resolution. There are 2 factors however that can alter the resolution equation:

i. Screen Type: as discussed above, OLED displays have better brightness and clarity than LCD displays. Believe it or not but OLED is so clear that a low-resolution 320x240 50in OLED screen is just as clear as a high-resolution 640x480 LCD screen! As such, if 2 models of video glasses both had the same exact screen size and resolution, the glasses with the OLED Displays will have far superior picture quality.

ii. Signal Source: if the Signal Source itself is of a greater resolution (i.e. the DVD PLAYER, not the DVD), then the appearance on the screen will be even better! This means you will get better picture quality if you plugged the glasses into a Blu-Ray HD DVD Player than if you plugged them into a standard regular DVD Player!
--Genuine iTheater brand 2009 models use both 320x240 and 640x480 resolution, depending upon model. The VG230A model has 320x240 resolution but uses OLED screens to achieve the clearest picture available today.

4. SCREEN FORMAT
While almost all Video Glasses display a traditional 4:3 Aspect Ratio, now some new models are offering the screen in a 16:9 format. The difference is quite simple: the 4:3 aspect ratio is the shape of a traditional TV screen with 4 parts width to 3 parts height. The 4:3 shape is more of a Square than a Rectangle.

The 16:9 on the other hand is the “movie format”, which is the same as newer TV sets which are mostly rectangular with 16 parts width to 9 parts height. The 16:9 ratio displays are intended for hardcore Movie Use only and as such, we recommend sticking to the traditional 4:3 aspect ratio as the 4:3 screen shape is more Square and therefore better for a wider range of uses including computer and video games.
--Genuine iTheater brand 2009 models all use the traditional 4:3 aspect ratio for versatile performance.

5. SCREEN DISTANCE
An extremely important aspect that most buyers never consider is the Viewing Distance of the glasses.  The virtual screen is projected at a fixed Distance that represents how far away the screen appears when wearing the glasses. The IDEAL Viewing Distance is about 2.5 Meters, which translates to about 8.2 feet.

There is 1 model by a generic manufacturer to note that offers a huge 80in screen but if you look closely the Viewing Distance is only 1 Meter, which is only about 3 feet away! Simply put, we are not eye doctors but viewing such a large screen at such a close distance simply does not seem like it would be very healthy for the eyes!
--Genuine iTheater brand 2009 models all have a safe 2.5M (8.2ft) viewing distance.

 
Besides evaluating Video Glasses on their Screens, a vitally important aspect concerns the Battery. Battery Life is rated on all models per regulations and usually listed in terms of Hours, which refers to how many consecutive hours the glasses will run before the battery needs re-charging.

Battery Life on the smaller screen models are generally much longer than the larger screen models. Often times you’ll see smaller screen models rated at 6-8 hours while larger screen models are often rated at 3.5-5 hours. In general, the iTheater brand of video glasses has the longest battery life.
--The new 2009 model year version of the iTheater VG230A features an amazing 12+ hour battery life due to its low power consumption OLED screens.


Perhaps the most important aspect when buying Video Glasses is to know which models work with which video-based devices. Glasses by some manufacturers are hit and miss in terms of compatibility while others like the industry leading iTheater VisionTech glasses will work with almost ALL devices!

Overall, here are the main types of devices to be considered:
A. Portable Video Devices  = DVD Players, Multimedia Players (Archos, iPods etc)
B. Video Game Systems     = Xbox/360, PS3, PSP, Wii etc
C. Laptop Computers         = Laptops with S-video Output, Cable/Satellite Boxes
   
Beware as many brands and even some individual models within brands of Video Glasses will only work with A or B or C but not all 3!
--Genuine iTheater brand 2009 models all have superior internal technology which allows them to work with almost any video-based device (A, B and C above).



PACKAGE ACCESSORIES
Be sure to find out what comes with the glasses in terms of accessories. Some manufacturers package just the glasses and instructions, leaving you to pay for costly connecting cables.
--Genuine iTheater brand 2009 models come with a complete package that includes the Video Glasses, ultra-long duration Battery, a USB Charging Cable, an RCA Cable, an iPod Cable a Users Manual and a Velcro strip.

APPEARANCE
An often overlooked aspect to consider is the overall appearance of the glasses as you will often times be wearing these devices in public. The iTheater brand glasses are by far the best-looking as they look truly high-tech and modern, whereas other glasses can look downright silly! Do you want to look high-tech OR do you want to look like you’re on your way to a Halloween party? The choice is yours.
--Genuine iTheater brand 2009 models have ultra-modern and stylish looks.

SOUND QUALITY
Be aware that certain models come with built-in ear bud style headphones that can be removed and replaced while others are fixed and not removable/replaceable. Overall we found sound quality to be quite good in all models across the board but in case you’re a true audiophile, you will want to look for this aspect.
--The iTheater brand VG230A headphones are not removable but high in quality while the VG920B & VG920C models are removable/replaceable.

MANUFACTURER / WARRANTY
In general, stick with the top-tier name brand manufacturers such as iTheater and Vuzix as there are only a few large-scale reputable 1st-tier video glasses makers out there.  Beware as there are many knock-off and generic brands and glasses that look quite similar to genuine iTheater brand glasses but have inferior internals and key features. Be VERY careful to ensure you are buying the genuine brand you desire and not a knock-off! Also be sure to look for a solid Manufacturer Warranty.
--The iTheater brand is the industry-leading brand name and all glasses come with a 1-year Manufacturer Warranty backed by iTheater VisionTech. GENUINE iTheater products all have the "iTheater" mark clearly marked on the box, instructions and battery pack.

PRICE
When it comes to price, the least expensive video glasses are generally inferior units with inferior technology and/or features and will likely disappoint consumers compared to the higher-end brand name models.  Also be aware that the most expensive models do not always mean the best glasses. While Price itself is a single factor, VALUE is a combination of both price and features. While top-tier video glasses like the genuine iTheater brand are not the least expensive, they have the latest technology, are much less expensive than just 5 years ago and represent a tremendous overall value.
--The genuine iTheater brand 2009 models deliver the best value at their given price points: 2009 model year pricing: VG230A 50in model w/OLED Screens($219), VG920B and VG920C 80in high-resolution models($309).

Video Glasses are the latest and greatest must-have gadgets. But they are much more than merely gadgets as they serve a multitude of purposes and bring new meaning to the term entertainment. That said, they are fairly complex if you don’t know what to look for. Now that you understand the vital elements regarding the Screen, Battery and Device Compatibility along with all the other aspects, you should hopefully have a better ability to identify the right video glasses for you. And now that Video Glasses have come down in price from well over $1000, there has never been better value for video glasses buyers!

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