says Nikon.
(Click here for a slightly larger view of Nikon's Media Port UP)The Media Port UP looks like a large pair of sealed headphones, but adds an adjustable arm that can be swung into position when a user wants to see videos or browse the web. The device's 0.44-inch screen has 640 x 480 pixel resolution, and provides "a sensation equivalent to viewing a 50-inch large screen from a distance of three meters," claims Nikon.
According to Nikon, the Media Port UP's tiny monitor uses LCOS (liquid crystal on silicon) technology, and incorporates the company's "exclusive adhesion double-layer DOE [diffractive optical elements] lens." The lens' integral diffraction grating is said to suppress chromatic aberration, while weighing approximately one-seventh as much as conventional optical assemblies.
The display on the Media Port UP may be viewed with either eyeThe Media Port UP is viewed with just one eye, which might take some getting used to. Nikon says the device incorporates a diopter focus ring adjustment and automatic adjustment to ambient light levels. These features are claimed to permit "comfortable simultaneous viewing of the UP display and the surrounding environment."
However, Nikon implicitly concedes that rapid motion in the real world could distract users from the movies they're trying to watch. It has fitted the Media Port UP's display with a so-called "wiper" function, via which a moving white line is added to images to help attract the eye.
The Media Port UP is said to support WMV9, MPEG-1, and MPEG-2 movies, JPEG stills, and audio in WMA9, AAC, or MP3 formats. The device also includes 802.11b/g wireless networking and a web browser, according to Nikon.
No information was provided on how a user would interact with the browser, but the Media Port UP features a five-way controller on the side of one of its headphones, plus an optional handheld "MC UP" remote (right). The UP300 model includes 4GB of flash storage, whereas an enhanced UP300x model doubles this to 8GB and adds a motion sensor. The accelerometer permits changing volume and performing a variety of other operations via head movements, claims Nikon.
Nikon released no information on the Media Port UP's CPU or operating system. However, Nikkei Business writer Tatsurou Hokugou reports having tried the device, and says that Nikon's PMP includes Windows CE 5.0 and a "web browser equivalent to Internet Explorer."
If so, it will be interesting to discover which low-power processor the Media Port UP employs. The device is supplied with two rechargeable nickel metal hydride AA batteries, but is also said to run on AA alkaline cells. It delivers up to two hours of video playback, and more than four hours of audio, claims Nikon.
Including batteries, the Media Port UP weighs 13.5 ounces (385g). It ships with a battery charger and a USB port for transferring content from a PC, Nikon says.
Further informationSales of the device will initially be limited to Nikon's Japan-only "UP store," the company says, with shipments scheduled to begin in mid-December. The Media Port UP300x and UP300 cost 69,800 and 59,800 yen (approximately $700 and $600), respectively.
For further information, see the UP store,
here. To read Tatsurou Hokugou's report, referenced above, see the
Tech-On website,
here.
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