“You look like someone who doesn’t know how to wear headphones.”
My friend Mark had summed up the problem with the Avegant Glyph in a simple sentence, and I really couldn’t disagree. Then again, Mark does have an unhealthy obsession with GM cars of the 1970s and big diesel engines, so what does he know?
I had a quick look at the Avegant Glyph headset at the UK launch earlier this year and had come away impressed. The question is, would I remain as impressed after a couple of weeks of real world usage?
What is it?
To recap the quick look, the Glyph is a pure video headset. It is categorically not a VR device, but is designed specifically for watching 2D or 3D video in as close to a cinematic experience one can get without someone spilling their drink over your lap in the dark or the teen sat next to you spending the entire film texting on their phone.
The technology within the headset is highly innovative. Rather than the usual LCD panel, millions of tiny mirrors beam light directly onto your retina (don’t be alarmed – this is kind of how eyesight actually works) giving an effective resolution of 1280 x 720 over each eye. And since there is no LCD involvement, there is no mesh or ‘screen door’ effect. The visuals are as clear and crisp as though projected on a cinema screen with none of the headaches or eyestrain that come from squinting at a screen pressed close to your eyeball.
The Glyph is designed specifically to allow you to see above and below the screen (to reach for a drink, for example) which works well for a video viewer and means that you do not lose spatial awareness, thus also do not experience the nausea I usually associate with fully enclosed headsets, when the horizon starts to tilt alarmingly. Of course, this also reduces the immersive nature of the experience, but again – total immersion is not what the Glyph is about.
The earphones are roughly the size of a large pair of Bose sound cancelling headphones and are equally as effective. The 3D audio (where supported) is particularly impressive.
Power-wise, Avegant claim 4 hours usage from a full charge (charging is via USB). I managed 3.5 hours in my testing, so the claim seems fair and means you could expect to be able to watch a couple of movies of normal length (I regard anything longer than 90 minutes with deep suspicion). Since the headset charges from USB, finding a power source shouldn’t present much of a problem thanks to mobile phone makers such as Apple getting us all used to carrying battery packs or chargers wherever we go.
Finally, connectivity is via HDMI, with a short cable supplied. This worked well with my iPhone (using the Apple adaptor) but I needed a longer cable to be able to connect to my PS4.
Living with a Glyph
The Glyph itself comes in a handsome box with a large carry case that has space for the headset, nose pieces (4 are supplied) and cables. Following charging, the first, and potentially most frustrating task, is to get the eyepieces aligned and focussed for comfort.
Without a HDMI signal, the Glpyh shows a simple pattern, which can be used to focus and line up the eyepieces. Each eyepiece may be focussed individually with further adjustment for eye position. It took me quite a while to get the image just right (failing to do so will result in what could charitably be described as a ‘sub-par experience’ once video is piped in). However, once configured, the clarity of the image is impressive. Unfortunately, the manual nature of the controls means that if anyone else uses your headset, the settings will need to be worked through again. As this is a premium-priced device I would have hoped for something a little more automated with saveable profiles.
The headset is a curious mixture of high and low-quality plastics. It feels solid in the hands, but perhaps a little brittle when placed over the head. Maybe it is just my massive head, but the creaking of the plastic as the headset went on didn’t inspire confidence. Once on, the headset is comfortable and over a few sessions of several hours of usage I didn’t experience any discomfort although I can see how some might find the 400g or so a bit much. A head strap is available if necessary, but I didn’t find myself needing it.
Plugging the helpfully colour coded HDMI cable into the headset instantly brings up the video with no additional tinkering required – this is truly plug and play.
I have to confess at this point that I primarily used the Glyph indoors, and mainly connected to my iPhone to watch the likes of Netflix. It also worked well with my PS4, but the short HDMI cable did present a challenge. Once connected, the gaming experience was good but anyone who is more than a casual gamer will need to consider the power requirements of the Glyph (although one could argue that the headset cutting out after 3 or 4 hours might be a handy way of preventing 12 hour GTAV marathons). I can certainly see the Glyph being a very handy tool in a household where there are frequent arguments over who has control of the television remote.
I was tempted to try it on a train and bus, but I don’t think British society is ready to have a person looking like a chubby Robocop or a Star Trek character anywhere outside of a cosplay convention. However, I would be happy to use it on a flight, which is where I think it would come into its own with its great visuals and excellent headphones blocking out the airplane noise. And, of course, one would still be able to deal with cabin crew thrusting tiny packets of peanuts at you or tipping scalding trays of steamed slop onto your tray table.
Conclusion
Unlike my friend Mark, if I had to summarise the Glyph in a few words, it would be “ahead of its time”. The display is hugely impressive (once adjusted for your eyes) and the concept is great. However, it also feels very much like a version 1.0 device – it certainly could do with slimming down a little and getting a beefier battery. And it has to be said – one does feel a little self-conscious when wearing it. However, if you are a frequent traveller or need a second screen in the home (but lack the room for yet another television) then the Glyph could be for you. So long as you don’t mind the premium. Or looking like you have forgotten how to wear headphones.
{"id":null,"mode":"button","open_style":"in_place","currency_code":"GBP","currency_symbol":"\u00a3","currency_type":"decimal","blank_flag_url":"https:\/\/thedigitallifestyle.com\/w\/wp-content\/plugins\/tip-jar-wp\/\/assets\/images\/flags\/blank.gif","flag_sprite_url":"https:\/\/thedigitallifestyle.com\/w\/wp-content\/plugins\/tip-jar-wp\/\/assets\/images\/flags\/flags.png","default_amount":500,"top_media_type":"none","featured_image_url":false,"featured_embed":"","header_media":null,"file_download_attachment_data":null,"recurring_options_enabled":true,"recurring_options":{"never":{"selected":true,"after_output":"One time only"},"weekly":{"selected":false,"after_output":"Every week"},"monthly":{"selected":false,"after_output":"Every month"},"yearly":{"selected":false,"after_output":"Every year"}},"strings":{"current_user_email":"","current_user_name":"","link_text":"Leave a tip","complete_payment_button_error_text":"Check info and try again","payment_verb":"Pay","payment_request_label":"TheDigitalLifestyle.com","form_has_an_error":"Please check and fix the errors above","general_server_error":"Something isn't working right at the moment. Please try again.","form_title":"TheDigitalLifestyle.com","form_subtitle":null,"currency_search_text":"Country or Currency here","other_payment_option":"Other payment option","manage_payments_button_text":"Manage your payments","thank_you_message":"Thank you for being a supporter!","payment_confirmation_title":"TheDigitalLifestyle.com","receipt_title":"Your Receipt","print_receipt":"Print Receipt","email_receipt":"Email Receipt","email_receipt_sending":"Sending receipt...","email_receipt_success":"Email receipt successfully sent","email_receipt_failed":"Email receipt failed to send. Please try again.","receipt_payee":"Paid to","receipt_statement_descriptor":"This will show up on your statement as","receipt_date":"Date","receipt_transaction_id":"Transaction ID","receipt_transaction_amount":"Amount","refund_payer":"Refund from","login":"Log in to manage your payments","manage_payments":"Manage Payments","transactions_title":"Your Transactions","transaction_title":"Transaction Receipt","transaction_period":"Plan Period","arrangements_title":"Your Plans","arrangement_title":"Manage Plan","arrangement_details":"Plan Details","arrangement_id_title":"Plan ID","arrangement_payment_method_title":"Payment Method","arrangement_amount_title":"Plan Amount","arrangement_renewal_title":"Next renewal date","arrangement_action_cancel":"Cancel Plan","arrangement_action_cant_cancel":"Cancelling is currently not available.","arrangement_action_cancel_double":"Are you sure you'd like to cancel?","arrangement_cancelling":"Cancelling Plan...","arrangement_cancelled":"Plan Cancelled","arrangement_failed_to_cancel":"Failed to cancel plan","back_to_plans":"\u2190 Back to Plans","update_payment_method_verb":"Update","sca_auth_description":"Your have a pending renewal payment which requires authorization.","sca_auth_verb":"Authorize renewal payment","sca_authing_verb":"Authorizing payment","sca_authed_verb":"Payment successfully authorized!","sca_auth_failed":"Unable to authorize! Please try again.","login_button_text":"Log in","login_form_has_an_error":"Please check and fix the errors above","uppercase_search":"Search","lowercase_search":"search","uppercase_page":"Page","lowercase_page":"page","uppercase_items":"Items","lowercase_items":"items","uppercase_per":"Per","lowercase_per":"per","uppercase_of":"Of","lowercase_of":"of","back":"Back to plans","zip_code_placeholder":"Zip\/Postal Code","download_file_button_text":"Download File","input_field_instructions":{"tip_amount":{"placeholder_text":"How much would you like to tip?","initial":{"instruction_type":"normal","instruction_message":"How much would you like to tip? Choose any currency."},"empty":{"instruction_type":"error","instruction_message":"How much would you like to tip? Choose any currency."},"invalid_curency":{"instruction_type":"error","instruction_message":"Please choose a valid currency."}},"recurring":{"placeholder_text":"Recurring","initial":{"instruction_type":"normal","instruction_message":"How often would you like to give this?"},"success":{"instruction_type":"success","instruction_message":"How often would you like to give this?"},"empty":{"instruction_type":"error","instruction_message":"How often would you like to give this?"}},"name":{"placeholder_text":"Name on Credit Card","initial":{"instruction_type":"normal","instruction_message":"Enter the name on your card."},"success":{"instruction_type":"success","instruction_message":"Enter the name on your card."},"empty":{"instruction_type":"error","instruction_message":"Please enter the name on your card."}},"privacy_policy":{"terms_title":"Terms and conditions","terms_body":null,"terms_show_text":"View Terms","terms_hide_text":"Hide Terms","initial":{"instruction_type":"normal","instruction_message":"I agree to the terms."},"unchecked":{"instruction_type":"error","instruction_message":"Please agree to the terms."},"checked":{"instruction_type":"success","instruction_message":"I agree to the terms."}},"email":{"placeholder_text":"Your email address","initial":{"instruction_type":"normal","instruction_message":"Enter your email address"},"success":{"instruction_type":"success","instruction_message":"Enter your email address"},"blank":{"instruction_type":"error","instruction_message":"Enter your email address"},"not_an_email_address":{"instruction_type":"error","instruction_message":"Make sure you have entered a valid email address"}},"note_with_tip":{"placeholder_text":"Your note here...","initial":{"instruction_type":"normal","instruction_message":"Attach a note to your tip (optional)"},"empty":{"instruction_type":"normal","instruction_message":"Attach a note to your tip (optional)"},"not_empty_initial":{"instruction_type":"normal","instruction_message":"Attach a note to your tip (optional)"},"saving":{"instruction_type":"normal","instruction_message":"Saving note..."},"success":{"instruction_type":"success","instruction_message":"Note successfully saved!"},"error":{"instruction_type":"error","instruction_message":"Unable to save note note at this time. Please try again."}},"email_for_login_code":{"placeholder_text":"Your email address","initial":{"instruction_type":"normal","instruction_message":"Enter your email to log in."},"success":{"instruction_type":"success","instruction_message":"Enter your email to log in."},"blank":{"instruction_type":"error","instruction_message":"Enter your email to log in."},"empty":{"instruction_type":"error","instruction_message":"Enter your email to log in."}},"login_code":{"initial":{"instruction_type":"normal","instruction_message":"Check your email and enter the login code."},"success":{"instruction_type":"success","instruction_message":"Check your email and enter the login code."},"blank":{"instruction_type":"error","instruction_message":"Check your email and enter the login code."},"empty":{"instruction_type":"error","instruction_message":"Check your email and enter the login code."}},"stripe_all_in_one":{"initial":{"instruction_type":"normal","instruction_message":"Enter your credit card details here."},"empty":{"instruction_type":"error","instruction_message":"Enter your credit card details here."},"success":{"instruction_type":"normal","instruction_message":"Enter your credit card details here."},"invalid_number":{"instruction_type":"error","instruction_message":"The card number is not a valid credit card number."},"invalid_expiry_month":{"instruction_type":"error","instruction_message":"The card's expiration month is invalid."},"invalid_expiry_year":{"instruction_type":"error","instruction_message":"The card's expiration year is invalid."},"invalid_cvc":{"instruction_type":"error","instruction_message":"The card's security code is invalid."},"incorrect_number":{"instruction_type":"error","instruction_message":"The card number is incorrect."},"incomplete_number":{"instruction_type":"error","instruction_message":"The card number is incomplete."},"incomplete_cvc":{"instruction_type":"error","instruction_message":"The card's security code is incomplete."},"incomplete_expiry":{"instruction_type":"error","instruction_message":"The card's expiration date is incomplete."},"incomplete_zip":{"instruction_type":"error","instruction_message":"The card's zip code is incomplete."},"expired_card":{"instruction_type":"error","instruction_message":"The card has expired."},"incorrect_cvc":{"instruction_type":"error","instruction_message":"The card's security code is incorrect."},"incorrect_zip":{"instruction_type":"error","instruction_message":"The card's zip code failed validation."},"invalid_expiry_year_past":{"instruction_type":"error","instruction_message":"The card's expiration year is in the past"},"card_declined":{"instruction_type":"error","instruction_message":"The card was declined."},"missing":{"instruction_type":"error","instruction_message":"There is no card on a customer that is being charged."},"processing_error":{"instruction_type":"error","instruction_message":"An error occurred while processing the card."},"invalid_request_error":{"instruction_type":"error","instruction_message":"Unable to process this payment, please try again or use alternative method."},"invalid_sofort_country":{"instruction_type":"error","instruction_message":"The billing country is not accepted by SOFORT. Please try another country."}}}},"fetched_oembed_html":false}