14 DAY TRIAL // Whenever we hear the word Nikon, the first thing that comes to mind is the image of a powerful DSLR camera. However, it would seem that the company is actually extending its range of activities, since it has just announced the development of the Media Port UP and UP300x, two devices that can best be described as a combo between a pair of wireless speakers and a pair of video glasses, with some flash storage and WiFi connectivity thrown in on the side, as well as the possibility of browsing the web in a very fast and easy manner.
One of the most important components shared by the two devices is the compact and lightweight 0.44-in. transmissive LCOS display that offers good image quality (640 x 480 x 3 dots and 16,770,000 colors) achieved with optics made possible through development and adoption of a new adhesion double-layer diffractive optical element (DOE) lens.
Equally important are the comfort-related features. The two devices have been equipped with a retracting mechanism for adjustment of display position to suit use, as well as two flexible joints and an extendable arm that allows for positioning adjustment suited to individual head shape and size, as well as eye level. Furthermore, the UP300x also provides handsfree operation, since it is equipped with a motion sensor that allows users to carry out a variety of operations by simply moving their head.
However, for those people who like to do things the traditional way, there's also a multi selector, located on the outside of one of the two speakers and comprised of a center dial surrounded by four buttons.
The UP300x is equipped with an 8 GB internal memory, while the UP300 offers 4 GB of internal memory. The UP300x can hold MPEG-2 data of up to 160 minutes in length or WMV9 data of up to 500 minutes in length (MPEG-2 files recorded at 6.5Mb/s, WMV files recorded at 2Mb/s).
It’s also important to mention the fact that the Media Port UP and UP300x are compatible with the most common formats encountered today, namely MPEG-1, MPEG-2, WMV9 (DRM 10 compatible), MP32, WMA9 (DRM 10 compatible), AAC2, JPEG, as well as SWF (Flash Player 7 compatible). Probably the most impressive feature, from the point of view of usability, is the built-in browser, which supports HTML 4.01, frames and JavaScript.
The connectivity options are represented by the Hi-Speed USB interface, accompanied by a wireless LAN 802.11b/g module, which offers a functioning range of 20 m. Moreover, the UP300x can be connected to portable A/V devices with an output terminal. Such unusual hybrids require quite a hefty amount of power in order to operate, which is provided by no less than two AA alkaline batteries, three AA lithium batteries and two AA rechargeable nickel hydride batteries. According to the company's statement, they provide enough power for around 120 minutes of video playback or about 270 minutes of audio playback.
The Media Port UP will be available only in Japan through the Nikon Imaging Japan Inc. and will sell for around 700 US dollars (69,800 Japanese Yen).
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