Epson now shipping Android-powered Moverio glasses

Epson America is now shipping what they call the “world’s first Android-based see-through wearable display.” In other words, a pair of glasses that runs on Android and simulates an 80-inch display right in front of your peepers. It does 3D, too. While the Moverio BT-100 See-Through Display is designed mostly for media consumption, its Google-made operating system allows for much more, including apps, games, email, and web browsing.

The Moverio display features 1GB of on-board storage with microSD expansion (4GB card included), built in Wi-Fi, and a controller featuring a trackpad and Android buttons for navigation. A set of built-in earbuds provides the Dolby mobile surround sound. Battery life, while not exceptional, comes in at 6 solid hours of use. We don’t expect too many folks to rock these things on their face for that long in one sitting, anyway.

The Moverio BT 100 glasses are available now, but such technology does not come cheap. $699.99 is the price to pay when purchasing through the Epson site. A pre-order is also available through Amazon.

Epson America Ships World’s First Android-Based See-Through Wearable Display

EPSON Moverio BT-100 See-Through Display Offers New Way to Interact with 2D and 3D Digital Content and Innovative Platform for Android-based App Development

LONG BEACH, Calif. — March 28, 2012 /PRNewswire/ — Epson America, Inc. today announced its newest and most innovative display technology, EPSON® Moverio™ BT-100, the world’s first Android-based see-through wearable display. Using micro-projection technology and an Android-powered track-pad controller, Moverio allows users to view streaming video, experience side-by-side 3D content and enjoy downloaded digital content on a virtual 80-inch perceived screen¹ projected into the user’s real environment. Featuring built-in Wi-Fi® connectivity² and nearly six hours of rechargeable battery life³, Moverio offers an innovative, portable way to interact with content from virtually any location. Users can also easily access downloaded content via the microSDHC card slot (4GB card included) and built-in 1GB internal user storage, even without wireless network access.

 

“As the world leader in visual imaging technology, Epson continually strives to set industry benchmarks for quality and innovation,” said Anna Jen, director of New Business Development, Epson America. “The Moverio BT-100 see-through display is poised to significantly impact not only the way people interact with content for personal enjoyment, but the development of content for future applications – from virtual training platforms to a new way to interact with 3D CAD environments to visualizing 3D design renderings.”

Enhanced Mobility and New Content Interaction
Moverio BT-100 leverages Epson’s leadership in LCD technology and visual imaging to project an 80-inch perceived “floating” display into the user’s environment for browsing the web, playing games, watching videos and interacting with content privately, while still allowing the user to experience and see the real world. Using Moverio’s Android-powered controller with Wi-Fi connectivity, users can watch streaming video from sites such as YouTube or Vimeo or manage, download and interact with apps and content from nearly anywhere. Additional features of the Android-powered controller include:

 

• Enhanced Mobility: Rechargeable battery offers nearly six hours of battery life
• Removable Memory: Built-in card slot supports up to 32GB microSDHC card
• Download and Go: Transfer content, games and apps to the included 4GB microSDHC card or internal 1GB of user storage on the controller
• Adobe® Flash® 11 Support: Stream videos from popular television websites featuring Flash 11 content and content rich Flash-enabled websites
• Big Sound: Dolby® Mobile surround sound delivered to personal earphones or Moverio’s detachable earphones (included in-box)
• Innovative Navigation: Touch-enabled track pad and navigational buttons enable easy interaction of content
• Immersive 3D: Enjoy side-by-side 3D content like never before
• Android Development Support
• Moverio BT-100 offers a unique platform for technology enthusiasts and developers to create new Android-based applications and side-by-side 3D content for this innovative see-through display technology. To help support application and content development for Moverio BT-100, Epson is offering a range of programs for developers residing in the United States. For additional information on the Moverio BT-100 Android developer program, please visit www.epson.com/moverio.

Pricing and Availability
The EPSON Moverio BT-100 ($699.99 MSRP) is now available through Epson’s own retail site www.epsonstore.com, select resellers and by pre-order on Amazon.com.