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Epson P-7000

(Credit: Epson)

To accommodate all those high-resolution photos you've shot with your new (or old) dSLR, Epson has doubled the hard disk size of its Multimedia Photo Viewers. This year's models, the P-6000 and P-7000, offer 80GB and 160GB, respectively over the P-3000 and P-5000's 40GB and 80GB.

Though screen size and resolution hasn't changed from the previous models--4 inches at 640x480--they incorporate Epson's latest display technology, dubbed Photo Fine Premia. Though the technology remains basically the same--it combines red, blue and two green filters in a single pixel rather than spreading them across pixels--the company claims claims the new gamut covers 94 percent of the Adobe RGB color space compared to 88 percent for its Photo Fine Ultra predecessors. That would certainly make it attractive for dSLR shooters. (Like some other photo viewers, these support raw files in addition to JPEG, but not all raw formats. You should always double-check on support before buying.) The new display also offers a wider viewing angle.

In addition, Epson has addressed some performance issues, and says that these models are up to 35 percent faster at downloading than before and supports USB 2.0 and UDMA CF cards. Battery life hasn't increased, though; the internal rechargeable is still rated to last about 3 hours. The company has also updated the design with a new jog dial for navigation instead of the four-way switch that's so last century. As with the previous models, these support video and audio as well.

When it ships in September, expect to pay a premium for that slightly larger but higher-tech display: the 80GB P-6000 lists at $599.99 and the 160GB P-7000 for $799.99 compared to, say, Digital Foci's 160GB, $499 3.6-inch Picture Porter Elite. The 160GB model does come with a Travel Pack, which includes a dual battery charger, car adapter, viewing stand, carrying case and some other stuff. We're expecting a unit in soon; we'll tell you if it's worth the dough.

(Credit: Spycatcher)

Even for the most effective night-vision goggles, there's always been one problem: It's difficult to be discreet while looking like "Buffalo Bill" from Silence of the Lambs.

But there may a more discreet way to carry out surreptitious missions with the "Infrar-Red Personal Night Viewer," which provides nocturnal vision on a 3.5-inch screen built into a handheld device. Better still, as OhGizmo notes, the 500-line-resolution display comes through in black and white, rather than that creepy green glow.

Major Michael Pottratz of the U.S. Army Armament Research, Development and Engineering Center demonstrates proper fitting of the immersive binocular HARV display at the AFCEA West 2008 conference in San Diego.

(Credit: Mark Rutherford)

For Army researchers looking to give robot operators new ways to "see" via unmanned ground vehicles on the battlefield one thing is clear, legacy video doesn't cut it anymore.

It's not just broadcast quality or resolution that needs improvement, but the level of "telepresence": the sense of increased situational awareness that allows a robot driver to shoot and move and make fast decisions.

One possible upgrade is the three-axis Head-Aimed Remote Viewer (HARV), a dome enclosed, three-axel gimbal-mounted camera that slews around to match operator head movement. Wherever the soldier/operator looks, the unit instantly rotates to focus on that area. The operator's visual perception through the immersive binocular display is one of actually being onboard the vehicle, according to Chatten Associates.

It's not like watching a TV screen; it's more like standing there looking through slightly tinted glasses. Head-aiming capitalizes on the visual processing capability of the human mind yielding results that are three to four times faster than an ordinary pan/tilt systems with flat panel displays, according to the company. (See videos here.)

(Credit: Chatten Associates)

The way it stands now, operators must swerve the bot from side to side using a joystick to get a quick look around. But in this case, the operator's head position controls both the UGV sensors as well as where its weapon system is aimed. Head-aiming is twice as effective as the joystick-aiming, where tests showed that 15 percent of the hostile targets identified were actually friendly forces, according to Chatten.

The HARV includes optical and digital zoom, night vision, infrared illuminators and pointers, and stereo audio. It can also be controlled by a joystick, or a mouse control mounted on an infantryman's weapon's handgrip. This means the operator can keep his head up and not have to take his hands off his weapon.

Another attempt to improve robotic vision by Picatinny Arsenal - a super wide, fisheye lens called WARVVS (Wide Angle Robotic Vehicle Vision System). Seen here at West 2008 mounted on a SWORD UGV. A number of these units have already been delivered to Iraq and Army researchers are waiting for troop feedback on their effectiveness.

(Credit: Mark Rutherford)

(Credit: Epson America)

If you're an avid photographer when you go on vacation, you've probably faced the problem of what to do when your memory cards fill up. Do you lug along a laptop or do you buy a potentially expensive handful of memory cards to swap out? Epson presents a different solution today: the P-5000 Multimedia Storage Viewer. This device features an 80GB hard drive, two media card slots, and a 4-inch LCD screen for viewing. To free up space on your camera's memory cards, simply slip the card into one of the P-5000's slots and offload the images or videos. The screen lets you show off the photos and videos to fellow travelers. It can even play back music, so you can preload your favorite tunes to provide a musical soundtrack to your travels. The P-5000 also supports PictBridge, so you can plug it directly into a PictBridge printer to get photo prints.

Starting today, Epson offers a travel pack free with the purchase of a P-5000 (with proof of purchase and included coupon). The pack includes a carrying case, battery charger, viewing stand, car adapter, cleaning cloth, and LCD panel protective film. The travel pack is also available as a standalone purchase for $80.

At $700, the P-5000 is very expensive, so it's for the truly trigger-fingered. But if you fancy yourself a National Geographic-style photographer, it sure beats hauling a laptop.

(Credit: CNET Networks)

Summer has officially arrived, and our Car Tech editors have put together some photos of cool tech to take on the road. We also have some pictures of crossover SUVs, or CUVs, which you also can take on the road. Well, you could take the pictures on the road, but I really meant the cars.

Something you may not want to take on the road (or at least not while you're in the driver's seat) is the futuristic-looking MyVu Personal Media Viewer. Finally, Donald Bell shows us what it's like to get custom-molded earphones. It involves pink goop, and anyone who has ever had a retainer is probably familiar with that pink goop. Donald Bell explains, "It's like a prolonged wet willy." Eeewwww.

(Credit: CNET Networks)

Photos: Getting fitted for LiveWires

John Diles from EarPeace Technologies stopped by CNET to take impressions of Donald Bell's ears. The impressions were used to create a custom pair of LiveWires dual-driver earphones. Getting fitted for custom-molded earphones (or earplugs) seems like a big hassle, but the process is actually painless and quick.

(Credit: CNET Networks)

Photos: MyVu Personal Media Viewer

The MyVu Personal Media Viewer is an interesting iPod accessory that will let you enjoy content on a "larger screen," but the design and video quality could use some tweaking. They're not particularly attractive when worn. Can't something techy still be stylish? Plus, some users may find the glasses uncomfortable when worn for long periods.

(Credit: CNET Networks)

Photos: Crossover SUVs (CUVs)

With the ascendancy of the crossover SUV (or CUVs), auto designers have a new category to play with. While the crossover segment was originally accepted to refer to unibody platform, car-based vehicles with better handling and fuel economy than traditional SUVs, the term has been increasingly used as a catchall. From vehicles such as the Subaru Forester, which would have been called a station wagon 10 years ago, to the Mazda CX-9, which is an SUV in all but name, we have seen our fair share of crossovers here at CNET Car Tech over the past year.

(Credit: CNET Networks)

Boredom busters: Tech for summer road trips

The summer driving season is upon us, and with it comes hours after hours of weary road trips, complete with back-seat bickering about which local FM station to tune into. But, wait, it doesn't have to be this way. With the right tech in your car, the miles and the hours will just fly by as you listen to your digital audio libraries or watch videos on portable devices or rear-seat entertainment screens. Here's our roundup of in-car gadgets that will get you there quicker.

(Credit: Brookstone)

There are plenty of ways to make acquaintances roll their eyes in anticipation of you whipping out photos of your excruciatingly cute progeny. But few can approach the theatrical effect of unfurling a snake of transparent plastic from your wallet.

Brookstone, however, has updated the concept with a "Women's Digital Wallet," a leather bi-fold that includes a detachable viewer with a 1.4-inch screen that holds up to 55 digital images. And the photos can be transferred and updated easily through a USB cable to a computer, according to Outblush, so co-workers will consistently avoid you in the hallway because they know you'll always be armed with a new batch.

The key question, though, is when will they make one of these wallets for men?