X2 Home — I seriously like this device and compare it to my old Video Walkman (shown by comparison in photo).
The X2 MEGA View 561 represents the latest in portable digital entertainment. The 7-in-1 device is a video player, personal video recorder, photo viewer, MP3/media player, portable storage device, FM radio and voice recorder. Starting at under $400, has an integrated 20GB hard drive, which provides a combination of up to 80 hours of video, 10,000 songs, 100,000 photos, 640 hours of voice recording and/or 20GB of portable PC data storage. The 3.5-inch, backlit TFT display screen offers a clear picture and includes an interactive video menu. The viewer also features MPEG-4/ DivX video playback, while the MP3/media player is also compatible with WMA audio files. The MEGA View can also view photo and graphic files in JPEG, GIF, BMP or TIFF formats.
That said, I expect a hassle when using it on a plane.
Flight Attendant: Sir, we have rules on this plane. No TV’s allowed.
Me: This isn’t a TV. It’s a little recorder.
Flight Attendant: What is it that you’re watching?
Me: A TV show.
Flight Attendant: Then it’s a TV, it’s now allowed.
Me: No. It’s like a DVD player. It’s not a TV.
Flight Attendant: Then why is it showing TV? DVD’s don’t do that.
Me: They do if you record a TV show on them?
Flight Attendant: Huh?
Me: This is like an MP3 player. Only it shows whatever you record from your TV.
Flight Attendant: So it is a TV!
Me: No. It’s not a TV!
Flight Attendant: Then why am I seeing a TV show? Sir, I’m going to have to ask you to turn it off!
She sounds like the typical moron most of us encounter on a daily basis. Comes from watching a steady diet of mind numing sitcoms. The scary part is, this person might have to save our lives in the event of an emergency on the plane.
That is terribly unfunny.
seeing your column is entitled “inside information” could you please tell us the who manufactures the pvr chip used inside this unit?
thanks,
Not sure. I don’t have ALL the Inside information, but I can ask. You can always buy one and open it up. That’s what most people do to see whose making the chips. It can’t be much of a secret.
ok, thanks for the response John.
I’m an investor in cirrus logic, so I don’t have any money left.
I’ll just stand outside of fry’s in sunnyvale and offer someone $20 to let me break open their sleek new pvr.
I thought a reviewer would naturally look inside, but I’m from another era.
Me: First base!
I love the flight attendant bit. I have been in similar situations before so this dialogue was like one heck of a sit-com.
It is my observation, most managers and bureaucrats thing that things would run better of their employers would act as little automatons, doing exactly as the rules say.
But, in my observation, this is just horrible in practice.
It’s best when employees are smart, understand the bigger picture, and a given the freedom to make judgment calls — (and, of course, backed up by management when they make an inevitable mistake.)
Goodness! I messed up that last post. Let me try again:
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It is my observation, most managers and bureaucrats think that everything would run better of their employees would act like automatons, doing exactly as the rules say.
But, in my observation, this is just horrible in practice and often very counter productive.
It’s best when employees are smart, understand the bigger picture, and have the authority to make judgment calls — (and, of course, backed up by management when they make an inevitable mistake.)
(I quit shopping at KMart mostly because check out clerks had no authority to trouble-shoot a problem and get the line going again.)
Is this a PDA as well? If not, why not?
Does it have a stylus and productivity applications.
My friend puts movies on his 1 GB CF card, then plays them on his Windows CE PDA.
Surely it makes sense to put a 20GB drive in all PDAs from now on.
In which case this is a 7-in-1 dead end.
When are they gonna get this right, so I can buy my first PDA?
That does everything.
Why not have a phone feature that only works with “hand free” headsets. So you aren’t tempted to get cheek oil all over your purty DVD-quality screen. Or we could all raise our children to exfolliate on a daily basis.
The X2 MEGA view is a nice toy. But unfortunatly there is no big market for it. If it is for Kids, why can’t they play games on it, like on the PSP from Sony.
If it is for adults, for what do you need video playback. I can’t watch the display as I’m walking trough town, or go snowboarding, or driving a car or bike, or do some exercice in the gym (imagine watching that little display on a stepper).
It’s a nice toy, but not more.
it says its 320×240 resolution… does that mean video’s and images have to be that size or does it downsample?
I’m trying to find the catch 😉
I’m confused. Did this exchange actually take place? It appears in the text to be a conversation imagined by Mr. Dvorak.
“That said, I expect a hassle when using it on a plane”
JoAnn
*Yawn* Another iPod killer?
The majority of people don’t want to watch video on a 3.5″ screeen. Also, I don’t believe you mentioned how long the battery lasts and how long to charge it. When fully in video mode, does the battery last more than 3 hours? That is also a major problem with most video devices, short battery life in video mode.
If they would only incorporate PDA functions…
I haven’t proven it myself, but the makers say 4 hours…I’m guessing that means 3+
While flying recently I’ve noticed that the usual list of prohibited items has started to be concluded with “or any device that transmits or receives”. I think that if you explain that the device simply plays recordings and does not transmit or receive, everybody will be happy. While most flight attendants are not techno-savvy, the airlines realize that they can’t piss off a huge fraction of business flyers (the ones who pay exorbitant prices because they have to make arrangements with very short lead times). Thus the airlines appear to be training their people as to what is truly a problem and what is not (although what is a “true problem” is another debate altogether). While I agree that most people are unknowledgeable/scared of technology, I find that when I assume other people are stupid, most of time I have just made incorrect assumptions about them. On the other hand, if they’re not stupid, there is no explanation for the WWF.
I did not see the FM Tuner listed as a feature on the manufacturer’s site. Can you confirm if this device truly has this feature afterall having used it? Thanks!
it reminds me of all efforts though unsuccessful by others to duplicate the simply engineered Backberry by the now very successful Research in motion (a.k.a RIMM)…GOODLUCK!!! iPod is here to stay…also simply engineered!!!
watches sitcoms? Who watches sitcoms anymore…… that everyone swears is true, and yammers about constantly. (Just like pro-wresting should be an Olympic Event.)
No…now it’s “reality” shows…..
Let’s face it, we’re a nation of collective morons…..resistance is futile.
I don’t see how this is any better than the IRiver H340. Mr. Dvorak- perhaps you should compare the 2 and write a real review.
Doppleganger–
Why not compare it with the iRiver H340? ‘Cuz the H340 doesn’t do video? At all? Play or record? And this does? Thode’re good reasons.
Do you still need to convert the videos into a certain format for it to play? Or you can you just donwload any video file on the net and copy it to the device and play it right away?
your all missing one point, it has video out…… portable video player….