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CES: And now for your viewing pleasure...

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As a style-conscious gadget girl on the go intent on keeping my head up, I’ve been less than enticed by the bulky looking eyewear for personal video viewing that’s been on the market.

However, some of us pod people who have long embraced the concept of movies on the move now have either a pain in the neck from looking down to watch or exceptionally taut triceps from holding the player at eye level for two-plus hours.

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So on the way into the show today, I relented and put on a pair of MyVu Crystal 701 glasses, in emergency-cone orange, seen on this guy chilling in the park at right. These glasses were more compact and stylish than some previous incarnations of similar products.

I plugged in my iPhone, which was switched to ‘airplane mode’ to avoid cellphone/Wi-Fi radio interference.

Here are the specs on the specs: You get VGA resolution and an increase in virtual screen size over current models for what MyVu calls a ‘DVD-quality viewing experience.’ Attached to the arms are noise-reducing earbuds by Ultimate Ears for stereo sound. The glasses have a rechargeable battery for up to four hours of viewing time.

It’s a little odd to turn your head and have ‘The Incredibles’ move with you, and they’re a smidge more comfortable than the 3D glasses that you get at the movie theater since they jut behind your ear instead of gently gripping its natural curve as most recreational and prescription glasses do.

In terms of style, these days, like in the ‘80s and the ‘60s before, seeing folks wearing goofy-looking glasses -- whether they’re on light-avoidant celebs in interviews or the average Josephina walking down the street -- isn’t all that unusual. (Still, I’d prolly avoid the guy sitting in the park in the photo above -- but that’s not just because he’s wearing day-glo glasses. Who knows what he’s watching.)

And at least this model doesn’t make you look like a Geordi La Forge wannabe. (Seriously, no amount of putting those styles on cute, pubescent, spike-haired girls is gonna make them cool.)

It is a bit distracting to see the world beyond the glasses at times. Light and movement could be an unwelcome interruption to this mini-movie theater while watching during a daytime flight.

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But at least you won’t miss the beverage cart rolling by.

-- Michelle Maltais

Photos by MyVu

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