With the weather warming up and the daily commute getting you hot under the collar, chill out watching videos on this cool device!
Buy Now...
Personal audio can provide a welcome distraction from the drunks, loonies and other weirdos who travel on public transport. However while earphones stop you from hearing these oddballs, you can still see not to mention, smell them. Although the portable smell vaporiser hasn't materialised yet (iPong anyone?), technology might provide a solution to the other problem.
MP3's successor MP4 allows for video as well as audio to be compressed into small files, ideal for downloading onto a pocket-sized player. The DMTECH DM-AV7 is one of the first models available and features a 2.5 inch LCD screen, which can also display JPEG photos and text files. The functions of voice recorder and MP3 playback are provided too.
The AV7 looks good for the price and is similar in size to a pack of twenty cigarettes. It feels solid despite weighing only 150 grams and the buttons feel robust. Included are in-ear phones and a transparent slipcase allowing the unit to be used without removal. Plus all required cables and software to input sound and vision from DVD, VHS, digibox or PC.
However trying to link a DVD player or VCR is a bit misleading. Macrovision stops you from copying any title that has been protected - which are most of them. Unless it was shown on the movie channel last night, then watching Speed on the bus home isn't going to happen.
Four settings for video recording are available. The built-in 128MB can store between twenty minutes of near-perfect quality or ninety minutes of blocky, jerky pictures complete with tinny and occasionally squelching sound. Buying a SD card can upgrade this by a further 1GB, allowing for an additional three hours in the best quality mode and eight in the worst.
Not that you'll be able to watch it for quite that long when travelling, as even with the screen dimmed you'll only get 150 minutes of playback. This increases to 240 minutes using rechargeable batteries, but these and an AC adapter cost extra.
While being a good product for the price, its rivals cost little more and are a better buy. Regardless, those on a budget or willing to sacrifice storage, will soon forget megabytes and instead appreciate the ability to switch off from fellow passengers and instead switch on to last night's Eastenders.
Just hope that halitosis sufferers don't try watching over your shoulder. Now when's that smell vaporiser due?
!!
