Dubai: The list of original new products keeps growing.

There is Merlin's E-Book Reader which uses revolutionary electronic ink on a greyscale screen that can be seen in direct sunlight and doesn't need to be recharged for days on end, even under heavy use such as reading e-books. Unlike Apple's new iPad and its backlit screen, the eyes do not tire from long sessions of staring at the E-Book Reader screen, Sharad said, noting that the unit's screen can't be seen if there is no external light source.

One of Merlin's latest hot properties is a complete upgrade to its clip-on Sports Camcorder that was released last year as an ultra-compact video camera for use to record sports on the field or wherever action takes place. To improve on the 2009 model that is roughly the size of an average cigarette lighter, Merlin has released its newer much smaller 2010 Sports Camcorder Pro that is so small, it's hard to believe it boasts two hours of recording time in DVD quality MP4 quality. Weighing only 80 grams and measuring the size of third of an adult's finger, the unit also comes with a standard clear acrylic case for underwater filming.

"We thought that a miniaturised camera for sports would be ideal," said Rohit.

Compared to large, costly and cumbersome underwater video apparatus used for diving expeditions in the past, the new unit could be seen as a real bargain at only Dh795, he said.

Merlin has also taken advantage of much smaller, more powerful microchips and the downsizing of once-large devices to miniaturize projectors and in recent months has released a bevy of extremely small hand-held devices that can project high quality content wherever they are pointed.

For portable projectors, image quality has reached 800x600 dots per inch (DPI) and some of the new Merlin units have storage capability built right in. "For under Dh2,000 you can own your own 100-inch TV with great quality and it's portable," said Rohit.

Three-dimensions sans glasses

This month, Merlin continues to offer something new with the release of its brand new Merlin Pocket Theatre 3-D, the latest evolution of the company's YouGo video player that was first sold in the mid-2000s.

"This is the world's first portable 3-D player that doesn't need 3-D glasses," Sharad said. "I've been following the technology for some time and when I realised you could bring down the price of the technology for the consumer we decided on it. We hope it's going to be a big commercial success."

To date, major television manufacturers have released 3-D TVs but users must wear the glasses to enjoy the three-dimensional optics of the technology.

The new Merlin unit uses similar technology that splits the screen at a hidden level in the LCD panel so that the right eye and left eye see different elements of the images. Each line of dots on the screen alternates as well between left and right eye to give Pocket Theatre 3D viewers a glasses-off experience.

Unlike traditional 3-D technology which depends on what's called stereoscopic technology, the new Merlin viewer uses auto stereoscopic technology in which "the screen does all of the work for you," Sharad said.

The glasses-off technology, however, has advanced only to the point that it works on screens up to 15 inches and smaller so it will be some time before it hits big-screens, he said.

Sharad said some laptop manufacturers are already working on bringing the new natural 3-D screens to their laptops and some are rumoured to be forthcoming on the Dubai market by as soon as year's end, Sharad said.

After six months of product development work, Merlin decided to take the risk on the Dh1,500, 3-D units based on the success of its range of other Pocket Theatres in recent years.

"You have to learn from your mistakes and learn how not to repeat them," said Sharad.

Like other models, the new Pocket Theatre 3 D is being sold at major electronics outlets across the UAE including, of course, Merlin's mezzanine-level store at Al Ain Centre in Bur Dubai.