Moverio is the first of its kind, though it hasn’t gone undreamed of in the imaginative worlds of science fiction. Like the robotic multiple field vision of the Terminator or the overlapped visual fields in Minority Report, Moverio is a headpiece that allows for multiple fields of vision to be seen at the same time.

Moverio isn't quite so violent...

Wearing the headpiece, which looks like a futuristic black eye band, allows the user to see the field of vision directly in front of them, as they would normally, while also showing them a 3-D (or 2-D) video from an 80 inch screen in front of them.

The question becomes: can our brains really comprehend two complex, detailed pictures at the same time, overlapped on top of each other? Epson sure hopes so, because the company expects to sell 10,000 of these bad boys upon the initial release date, which is just around the corner. The product will first hit the marketplace in Japan on November 25, 2011, going for about $770 U.S. dollars.

The world’s first 3-D head-mounted display unit (HMD), as it is called, uses software powered by Android 2.2 and it supports MPEG-4/MPEG-4 AVC/H.264 video files. The product comes with a tethered controller for user control and 1 GB of onboard storage, as well as a MicroSD slot for expanded memory. The HMD unit can connect to Wifi, for example, to watch YouTube videos, and weighs in at only a half pound.

Simultaneously experiencing a 3-D video file while also experiencing the real 3-D world may take some getting used to at first, but once mastered may actually enable the human brain to process things more quickly and efficiently. Who knows? Plus, it must be outrageous fun.

For those out there who still boggle over what Blu-Ray actually means, this short little VS. battle will help clarify some of the main features of a Blu-Ray disc, compared side by side to the familiar DVD. Price, picture, sound, accessibility and future changes to technology will all be taken into account to give a fairly full picture of which disc trumps the other in which ways. The true winner is whichever one you decide to buy.

For those with a “classic DVD” collection, the thought of Blu-Ray may be as foreign as eating upside down. Why bother upgrading when I can let my classic DVD library augment my classic vinyl collection? I already have it, so why would I switch over to something new?

But for those sitting on the edge of their seats anticipating the best and brightest new gadgets to hit the market, a Blu-ray player is probably already a permanent fixture within the HDTV home entertainment system. Owning a Blu-Ray system doesn’t mean DVDs are dinosaurs, but it does mean that Blu-Ray will be able to do certain things DVDs cannot.

Let’s take a look at the differences:

VS.

Affordability

DVD: A physical DVD now costs around $10 to $15 a pop, sometimes even less for “bargain” films (which are usually a bad idea in the first place, but oh so tempting at $6.99). DVD players are so common these days that any number of them will go for under $50.

Vs.

Blu-Ray: Films on Blu-Ray typically cost about $10 more than its counterpart in DVD. So that’s more like $20 to $25 per movie, a significant increase. That’s a quarter of a Benjamin. And in order to play that sucker, you must have a Blu-Ray player, which costs around $250-$300, though they can go up into the thousands.

Winner: DVD

Picture Quality

DVD: We all know what a DVD picture looks like. Pretty good, much better than VHS, right? No more fuzzy skipping or snow. The picture is fairly clear at 420p sharpness.

Vs.

Blu-Ray: At 1080p, Blu-Ray picture is more than twice as sharp as DVD. The higher pixel number means that two and a half times more information is being shown on the screen, giving a sharper, cleaner, more detailed picture. As most films are being shot in High Definition digital, the higher quality appears much more obviously on the screen.

Winner: Blu-Ray

Audio Quality

DVD: The DVD sound is as good as can be… for 1995. For typical singe television, the DVD sound is fine, matching the picture quality. No complaints.

Vs.

Blu-Ray: With a home entertainment system, Blu-Ray discs provide stunning sound, most equipped with 7.1 channel surround sound. This means the Blu-Ray disc was built with the capability to distribute its sound through various different channels, i.e. the many speakers surrounding a home theater. The sound comes from all around, specifically the way the movie was made, mimicking true theaters.

Winner: Blu-Ray

Content Selection

DVD: Pretty much anything you want to watch comes on DVD. VHS? Not so much. Basically, every movie ever made has been converted from VHS or its original version to DVD. DVD is the standard for all movies, and you will be hard pressed to find a movie that does not have a DVD form. Plus, your movie collection is probably already in DVD form in the first place.

Vs.

Blu-Ray: Simply put, there’s no guarantee that the movie you want will be made on Blu-Ray. Because Blu-Ray serves a smaller consumer base, only the really popular or in demand movies will be converted to Blu-Ray.

Winner: DVD

Ease of use

DVD: Most people are familiar with the way DVD players work. They’re not that different from the old VHS players, and they’ve been around so long that the technology is reliable. Play, pause, stop, skip ahead, skip backwards, eject. It’s easy, simple and the hook ups are usually straightforward.

Vs.

Blu-Ray: Since Blu-Ray is a still-developing technology, there are sometimes kink in playback, skipping or longer load times. The newer technology means the first few generations are not as reliable as tried-and-true DVDs.

Winner: DVD

Extra Features

DVD: As most people know, DVDs offer many more features than the ancient VHS, such as scene selection, deleted scenes, director’s commentary, trailers etc. The main menu offers some extra goodies after the movie is over.

Vs.

Blu-Ray: Blu-Ray goes a few steps further. On top of all the extra features that DVD offers, Blu-Ray allows the user to bookmark favorite scenes and access the menu without leaving the current scene. There is better capacity for special features like commentary, animated menus and pop-up tracks. Plus, BD-Live allows the user to access the Internet straight from the screen and even play video games associated with the film. The Blu-Ray system can act as a multi-purpose Internet and gaming console, and it is a great piece for a thoroughly constructed home entertainment system.

Winner: Blu-Ray

Playback Capacity

DVD: Typical DVDs hold between 5 and 10 GB of data, or enough for one film and extras. DVD players can play CDs and DVDs.

Vs.

Blu-Ray: Blu-Ray discs are made with technology much newer than DVD, and as we know, things keep getting smaller, faster and full of more room for data. Dual layer Blu-Ray discs can generally hold about 50 GB of data, or 5-10 times as much as DVD. Blu-Ray discs are also smaller, easier on packing and less cumbersome. Furthermore, a Blu-Ray player can play all media types: CDs, DVDs and Blu-Ray.

Winner: Blu-Ray

Outlook for the Future

DVD: DVDs have been around for a decade now, and they are still going strong. Most films come in DVD format, and it’s much easier to build up a DVD collection than trying to begin anew with Blu-Ray. As technology advances, media will either eventually move to a mostly digital format or there will be something even better to replace Blu-Ray. In that respect, it makes more sense to stick with the DVD system until the next widespread format takes over.

Vs.

Blu-Ray: Blu-Ray is technologically superior to DVD, but what happens when movies become completely digital, or a new format hits the mainstream market? Blu-Ray may be a treat for the time being, but plainly put, it’s a niche market and probably will not become widespread. The majority of people will be looking back on today fondly remembering the days of DVD, not Blu-Ray. Once all media becomes digital, both DVD and Blu-Ray will be obsolete. So why not just stick with DVD until then? Blu-Ray may just be a minor stopping point before the next big wave.

Winner: DVD

Who will triumph in the battle between DVD and Blu-Ray?

Final Tally

DVD wins: 4

Blu-Ray wins: 4

Well, there you have it. Each media format comes with its pros and cons, evening out so that the real winner is the one that fits you best. DVD is more affordable, more reliable, has a greater selection and makes more sense to hang onto until the next technological revolution. Blu-Ray has picture and audio quality that is significantly superior to DVD, a greater selection of features and the capacity to store much more data on the disc. Hopefully this side-by-side comparison laid out some of the major advantages and disadvantages to each. Now it’s just up to you to pick your poison.

Epson printers are, hands down, some of the best printers on the market, and they are world renowned for their simple, sleek and multi-function printing products. Espson Inkjet printers, Epson All-in-One printers, even Epson scanners and projectors make up this expansive catalogue of high quality printing machines. And now, to the delight of many an organizational mind, Epson has released a specialty product: the LabelWorks label printer.

Those with a tendency to over-organize will absolutely love this new toy. Released by Epson America, Inc. just this month, the LabelWorks label maker comes in two varieties: the LW-300 and LW-400. Both share qualities of high customizability and easy functionality. And best of all, these little gadgets have so many sizes of tape available for it, so many colors and fonts, and so many symbols, frames and other unique embellishments that any labeling task can be made fun and creative.

Some of the other interesting functions of the LabelWorks label printer:

• Small, easy to handle handheld device with a two-line screen and full keyboard.
• Glowing backlight screen so that wherever you happen to be – the basement, attic or closet – the device is easily readable. No need to lug all grandma’s boxes down from the attic just for a little bit of light!
• Ability to save up to dozens up labels for future use. The LW-300 allows the saving of 30 labels, and the LW-400 allows 50. No need to type in a favorite label over and over again.
• Customizability of label sizes, so that there is less waste. Once the label size is chosen, it is printed with a perforated edge for easy separation. No need to get tangled up in scissors.
• 300+ symbols, 75+ frames, 14 fonts and 10 styles, choice of barcodes.
• Works with more than 40 tape cartridges in traditional colors and specialized media.
• Compatible with dozens of tape sizes and styles, from 6 to 12 millimeters in size, of durable variety and in many different colors and patterns.

Office managers, lawyers, students, professors and all organizational gurus are sure to love the features of this product. Even for those who regard label making as a monotonous activity, they may be surprised at the creativity they will unleash with the LabelWorks label printer. And because it’s from Epson, the quality is assured.

The LW-300 goes for about $39.99 and the LW-400 is roughly $49.99.

So get those little fingers a-tapping; isn’t it about high time you brought some order to that attic? Take this little guy, your choice of colorful tape, and all those boxes you’ve been storing since the kids were born, then pour yourself a cup of lemonade, and make a day of it.

Moving Towards Two Options Everywhere: DVD and streaming capabilities offered for all

The world of corporate infrastructure is always changing, with one company merging here, another merging there and bits and pieces of the whole breaking off along the way. Two instances have occurred recently of relevance to disc publishing and new media communications.

The first we are all familiar with: Reed Hastings, CEO of the ever-popular Netflix, decided about a month ago to separate the DVD portion of the website from the online streaming into something called Qwikster. After the public vehemently opposed the split and Wall Street stock for Netflix dropped 25%, Hastings picked up his pride and related to the public that he wouldn’t be going through with the separation process.

Whew. When people thought that their beloved Netflix was going to get the axe, and for no apparent reason, many actually started cancelling their Netflix accounts. One of the reasons Netflix is so successful is because of the simplicity and convenience of searching a huge movie and TV database, with options to either stream online or have a DVD mailed to your residence. If these two things were to be separated, the entire scheme of simplicity would have gone down the drain. Good thing Hastings saw his error and listened to his customers before it was too late, because Netflix/Qwikster would have been bye-bye.

Following the theme of maintaining a streamlined process for choosing media, the disc publishing company Rimage has recently acquired Qumu, a video communications company. Unlike Netflix, which was trying to separate the DVD and online streaming portions, Rimage, which publishes content onto discs for clients, has recognized the value of adding media streaming capabilities to their bag of tricks. Qumu is a start-up video communications business, which specializes in technology that can publish video or media straight to smartphones or the Internet.

Rimage has traditionally been a distributor of on-demand Blu-ray, CD and DVD discs. For example, a company might hire Rimage to take their video surveillance and publish that content to discs. Now, with the clever merging of a video communications firm, Rimage will be able to not only take that footage and publish it to discs, the customer will also have the option of having the media sent straight to their computer or smartphone. Following the original Netflix model, Rimage is giving two options: have a DVD sent to you, or stream the material online. It’s brilliant, and in a showdown between Rimage and another disc publisher that can’t offer instant streaming, who do you think will get the customer?

Qumu’s clients are typically in the banking, telecommunications, university, technology and government industries, and the company helps them manage, create and securely distribute video content.

“We’re like Netflix, Hulu and YouTube for the enterprise,” said Ray Hood, chief executive of Qumu in San Bruno, Calif. “We make the video secure and targetable to the right employees.”[1]

Rimage acquired Qumu for $52 million, along with Qumu’s 100 client companies, last week. Rimage is hoping that they will be able to help Qumu expand into markets faster than they would on their own, and in return Rimage adds a valuable capability to their service line.

It’s gotten to the point where some people are swearing by their smartphone, shaking their head in disbelief, as if to wonder, “How did I make it through this mess of my life before my smartphone?” These handheld devices are simultaneously a phone, a computer, a way to check email, a text messaging service, a game platform and a GPS, and they are revolutionizing the way people go about their daily lives.

At the forefront of the electronic explosion, of course, are Asian companies like Samsung, LG, Mach, Hynic, Redrover and Korea Taiyo Yuden. These companies, plus roughly 800 more, are currently attending one of the largest IT conferences in the world right now, from October 12 through October 15 in Korea. The 42^nd Korea Electronic Show (KES) 2011 boasts a 5% increase of participants from the previous year, and the theme is “Be Smart,” under which major companies reveal new “smart” technology – and not just for phones.

Samsung has so far introduced their “Smart Life” line, which includes smart devices such as a smart vacuum cleaner and smart washing machine, which can be controlled by smart devices, such as phones, TVs or tablets. Whoa! Smart vacuum cleaners that can essentially “talk” to other smart devices like TVs? Is this getting too wild? Are we entering the world of Brave Little Toaster or any 80s science fiction movie? Well, like any new advance in smart technology, there is sure to be an initial shock value.

Let’s not leave LG out of this smart device conversation, because this company has developed a smart refrigerator that can monitor the level of food products in its belly, and do its own online shopping.

On the less startling end of things, LG is also developing sharper 3-D TVs, Redrover is showcasing stereoscopic 3-D technology and Samsung is displaying their latest LCD and LED back-light LCD TVs. Korea Taiyo Yuden has released a line of products called “Smart Solutions and Green Products,” which boasts smaller and smaller sizes of smartphones and handheld devices, with increased capacity.

Our smart devices keep getting smarter – does this mean we are getting dumber?? I think this may be a logical fallacy to assume so, but perhaps this a discussion for another time. In the meanwhile, stay tuned to the KES conference because there are sure to be many more impressively smart things to come from it before the janitors sweep in to clean up the mess (and maybe pick up any leftover electronics). What could be the grand finale? My personal preference will be for dishes that do themselves, or dinners that cook themselves. Maybe the question is not “are we getting dumber,” but “how lazy can we become?”

Did you know that you can fit a CD in your pocket? And this statement applies even to those without exceptionally large pockets.

“How can this be possible?” you ask, bewildered. Aren’t CDs a pretty hefty, nearly 5 inches in diameter? Well, let me tell you.

Verbatim has a special line of Pocket CDs that are only 3 inches around, and therefore, pocket perfect. They’re so cute and transportable! They come in various colors and can be burned in regular CD drives.

Of course, the smaller the size, the smaller the storage, but Pocket CDs definitely have their time and place. They can hold up to 185 MB of data, or 21 minutes of music, graphics or digital video clips, or 3 hours of compressed audio.

For such a relatively small storage space, why not just use your handy dandy USB device? You may wonder. And here is my favorite reason: The Pocket CD, unlike the USB, can be given away to people you come in contact with, say, a friend, aunt, teacher – or prospective employer.

Of course, you will probably want to print out a hard copy of your resume as you enter that interviewing office, but the Pocket CD is perfect to use as a portable, digital resume. Perhaps you have writing samples, charts, tables, graphics, statistics or extra references that might be cumbersome to lug around in your resume folder.

Solution? Store them on a Pocket CD and hand them neatly to your future employer. You might even want to include a special folder pocket and CD sleeve for your Pocket CD. This method of transferring information is sure to impress. You’ll not only impress them with your technological know-how and preparedness, but you’ll make it easy for them to see your portfolio of work on their own computer, at their convenience. It’s much more savvy than sending a huge email or asking them to wait as you upload your files from a USB.

Other uses for the Pocket CD include storing files for a project to turn in as homework to your teacher or employer. They’re conveniently small to pass off to record companies or executives with demos of your music. And, of course, it’s a cute, nice way of giving a friend or romantic partner a mixtape of your music, without carrying too much bulk.

Both fun and professional, the Pocket CD is a perfect little thing to tote around.

So cute and colorful.

Primera Technology, Inc., has long been known for its Bravo line of high quality, automated CD and DVD disc publishers, including the Bravo 4100 Auto Printer, the Bravo SE CD DVD Inkjet Auto-Printer and the Bravo II CD DVD Inkjet Auto Printer, to name a few.

What people love about the Primera Bravo line is the fast, easy way to print great-looking and high quality CDs and DVDs without much time wasted in oversight. Determine your settings and press the button, then voila! You’ll have multiple discs printed just the way you want them in no time. In fact, Primera touts itself as the fastest disc publisher in the world.

And now, it gets even better. The company is now integrating archival disc technology into its classic models.

Primera announces that they have partnered with JVC Advanced Media to give the world a brand new model of the Bravo Archive-Series Disc Publishers. The Archive-Series, which saw its first model in April of 2010, differs from traditional disc publishers because it does not use a typical CD, DVD or BD as its unit of recording, but rather a longer-lasting archival disc (one example of these is the Milleniata M-disc, which we talked about a few weeks ago). The archival M-disc writes data differently than a normal CD or DVD: the information is etched deep into 3-D layers of the disc, rather than just the surface layer; this means data is not easily water damaged, wiped away, worn off or otherwise destroyed. While a typical CD or DVD may have a shelf life of a few years, archival discs are supposed to last for at least decades, and Milleniata says their M-disc will even last for centuries.

Primera’s newest Archive-Series Disc Publisher uses JVC technology to automatically produce discs that can last, officially, more than 30 years. The JVC Archival Grade DVD-R underwent a vigorous test by the non-profit organization ADTC to verify that data that will be safely retained for more than 30 years, withstanding temperatures up to of 25 degrees Celsius with 50% relative humidity. It passed the Optical Disc Archive Test ISO/1EC10995 and is now certified.

Why would anyone want an archival disc over a regular one? Much of the appeal is about confidence and security – you are being given a guarantee that what you put onto a DVD will not fade out with the life of the material anytime soon. The data becomes a little more permanent. And these discs are generally tested under extreme conditions to ensure that they are extremely resilient to harsh conditions, as well.

So what is the JVC Archival DVD all about, specifically? It delivers long-term data retention by using a specialized company dye, which reduces initial writing error. It also has a reflective, protective layer that is designed to last the life of the media, which is about 30 years.

Compared to a regular JVC DVD, the Archival DVD is:

• 200 times more scratch resistant
• 7 times more fingerprint resistant
• 1000 times more dust free

Compared to a regular DVD, the Archival DVD is much more resistant to damage, making it a prime choice for businesses in the fields of medical imaging, education, government or finance, not to mention that it is a secure way to store precious photos and videos.

What’s even nicer about the soon-to-be-released edition of Primera Archival Disc Publishers integrated with JVC technology is that they will still have the capability to burn regular CDs and DVDs. There’s no either/or option here – you will have the choice of both mediums. The first Primera model slotted to receive the JVC Archival disc updates is the classic Bravo SE Disc Publisher, and it will be going for about $2,495.

So, once again, are archival discs soon to be the new standard?

Microtech has a line of three Xpress Disc Publishers that are collectively known as the 
“workhorse” for producing CDs, DVDs and BDs for movies, games and software. The Xpress line of disc publishers allows for unattended printing through advanced robotics and great customizability and networking options.

If you are a business owner or work in an environment where CDs, DVDs and BDs are produced in bulk, you may already be familiar with the Xpress XL disc publisher, which has an 800 disc capacity, the Xpress XP, which can hold 600 discs, or the Xpress XE, a quality machine with a 200 disc capacity.

Just this month, Microtech announced significant upgrades to each of these disc publishers, citing faster speeds and Solid State Drive Technology as the two best features of the new line of products.

The Xpress XL and Xpress XP have both been upgraded to include the newest 2nd Generation Intel Core Quad-Core Processors, which give their performance a boost of about 15%.  This means recording speed is much faster, allowing Blu-ray Discs to reach maximum speed for disc throughput.

The Xpress XE goes not without its internal processing update. This model will receive the 2nd Generation Intel Core Processor, which increases overall processing power by 50% and doubles the memory. With a SATA 6Gb/s enterprise hard disk, this machine can also support the fastest Blu-ray writing speeds.

Perhaps most exciting, Microtech claims they are the first vendors in their line of disc publishing that have incorporated Solid State Drive Technology. SSD is an alternative to traditional hard disk drives. Instead of a moving disc and whirring parts, SSD is a stable, non-mobile drive that significantly cuts down on processing time because fragmented data can be read all at once, rather than as the disc spins. SSD is a much faster-working drive, and Microtech claims their newest Xpress line is twice as fast as disc publishers with traditional hard disk drives. Added benefits of SSD include extremely fast boot up times, lower power consumption and heat generation, and data protection.

According to CEO Corwin Nichols, “This is perhaps the most significant upgrade we could provide our customers in this high definition, data hungry environment. Together, these system upgrades contribute to a richer on-screen appearance with lightning-quick response while reducing data loss scenarios and improving overall system reliability. It also assures our customers are prepared for the next edition of Windows we all seeing coming in the not too distant future…”

A release date for the new Xpress line has not yet been announced.

What’s New and What’s Hot from Epson: Workforce Pro Business-Class Printers

Last week we revealed that Epson recently came out with the iPrint app for Androids, which allows the user to print files on the mobile phone or from the internet from an Epson Inkjet printer. The iPrint app for Androids is mirrored by the PriApps for the Blackberry phone, and the new line of three Epson business-class printers are now entering smartphone applications into the equation as must-have features for top-of-the-line printers.

Increasing mobility, speed and greater connectivity are some of the new features of Epson’s just-released line of business-class Inkjet printers, which includes Workforce Pro 4020, WP-4530 and WP-4550. All three include WiFi and support for Epson Connect, the program that allows smartphone users to hook their phone up straight to the printer.

All three printers tout maximum speed and efficiency, as well as remote printing capability with smartphones, as some of their best features, but let’s do a little comparison and see which might best suit your office’s needs.

Features of all three Workforce Pro printers:

• Wi-Fi and support for Epson Connect
• High-capacity ink cartridges rated to 1,200 color and 2,400 black pages
• Automatic two-sided printing
• Print speeds of 16 ISO ppm black and 11 ISO ppm color for single-sided printing and 9.2 ISO ppm black and 7.1 ISO ppm color for two-sided printing (Epson claims this is the fastest printing speed in the world)

The main upgrade from the WP-4020 to the all-in-one printers is that for a little more than a hundred dollars, you can add scanning, copying and faxing capabilities. And from the WP-4530 to the WP-4540, you add a larger screen, which is also a touch screen, and a larger capacity for holding paper.

Some of the best features and benefits of the new Workforce Pro line:

• Save on Ink — up to 50% less cost per page than color laser
• World’s Fastest automatic two-sided printer — ideal for busy workgroups
• Reload paper less often — 330-sheet paper capacity, including an 80-sheet rear-feed tray for alterative papers, envelopes, labels and card stock
• Built-in networking — easily connect and share with others in your workgroup via wireless or wired networking
• Epson Connect — get instant wireless printing from popular mobile devices
• Save energy — uses up to 70% less power than laser printers

Now the question simply becomes: which one?

Now Android Users Can Print Straight From Phone with iPrint App for Epson

Smartphones can do everything these days. From sending pictures to checking email and updating Twitter, your iPhone or Android may be your new best friend (don’t tell the dog that). Especially in the business world, smartphones may be a lifeline to the world wherever you may be.

Now, printing documents, brochures, photos, web pages, nametags or anything else necessary for a business to function is even easier for Android users. If you have an Epson printer and an Android phone or tablet, these two can now be happily joined in smart technology matrimony with the iPrint application.

The Android iPrint app has a built-in web browser and when connected to a WiFi network, it can be connected to any Epson Inkjet printer to print documents, e-mails or stored files straight from the mobile phone. The program is also compatible with online file storage services like Box.net, Dropbox and Evernote.

Whew, it’s easy. No need to drag the laptop over to the printer, and no need to depend solely on an office setup where the desktop computer is positioned strategically next to the printer. Now Android users can print from a friend’s Epson printer or travel to different offices and print important documents easily, as long as the files are either online or stored on the phone.

The iPrint app has the reverse capability, too, enabling users to scan a document on the printer and access the file from the phone. E-mail, save or make changes to the scanned document with one step.

Here is a short list of compatible Epson Inkjet printers: Epson Stylus TX550W, Epson Stylus Photo TX700W, Epson Stylus Office TX600FW, Epson Stylus Office TX510FN, Epson Stylus Photo TX720W, Epson ME Office 900WD, Epson K200, Epson Stylus Photo R3000 and Epson ME Office 960FWD.

What’s the cost for this Android app? Free!