Friday, 14 February 2014
Dash Smart Earphones are amazing wireless earbuds that track your fitness, too
Cram technology in your lugholes: these headphones are an MP3 player, fitness tracker and Bluetooth headset all in one
So it's a set of in-ear headphones. Impress me.
The Dash earbuds are like something out of Star Trek. They're a set of wireless headphones that use Bluetooth 4.0 (with aptX) for streaming audio from your smartphone. And they pack 4GB of storage if you want to carry your music around without carting a phone about in your pocket. There's a touch-sensitive surface too, so you can control your music without faffing about with your phone.
Can I use them to make calls?
Yup – there's an ear bone microphone for making calls, and a transparent audio feature for when you need to hear what's going on around you; when you're cycling or running, for instance.
They're also a fitness tracker.
You heard us. The Dash tracks heart rate, oxygen saturation, pace, steps, cadence and distance, providing real-time feedback on your performance – and it doesn't need to be hooked up to your phone to do so. The Dash crams in an IR LED and optical sensor, 3-axis accelerometer, ambient mic and ear bone mic. And each bud contains a 100mAh battery, which should be good for three hours of use. And they're water resistant, too.
Blimey. Do they also make toast?
No, but they does pretty much everything else. This could be the wonder wearable we've been waiting for. The public thinks so too; Dash manufacturer Bragi has already raised US$412,000 on Kickstarter, blasting through its US$260,000 goal with 47 days still to go. And if you get in early, you can net yourself a bargain; they're expected to go on sale for US$300, but early bird backers can snap up a set for US$200.