The MP3 Smart Jacket is neither smart, nor a jacket
By Thomas Ricker 
posted Jan 12th 2008 2:20AM
posted Jan 12th 2008 2:20AM
Regardless of its looks, the MP3 Smart Jacket won't save your life. In fact, if you wear it you'll likely be risking a few limbs by way of a geek pummeling. A good thing we guess since you're supposed to wear it while exercising. No price is available, but you'll find it taking up space over at the appropriately named Tech Tools USA URL.
who did they make this for? seriously who will buy this.
Ability to listen to/annoy with/entertain the fight song at your favorite sporting event over and over and over - priceless!
"Jam out while looking like a nerd at the gym!" I can just see that printed somewhere on the box that it would come in.
I'm cringing, I'm cringing!
They take offense to that, I hear some of them believe they are in fact jackets :P
Yeah life jacket much?
minus flotation
It's intended (I would guess) for those people who would like to listen to music while enjoying outdoor activities that require the ability to hear noise around oneself (biking, skiing, snowboarding, etc.), as an alternative to wearing earphones that block out noise.
While I agree that the execution is fairly sub-par, it's not a bad idea altogether...
sooooooooooo it's a hiking vest with speakers?
You forgot to mention that, nor is it an MP3.
Apparently nobody here spends much time around the water. Although I've never seen this particular model, this is clearly a modified, self-inflating life jacket. They've been around for years (10+), and most look very similar to this one. Compared to standard jackets they have a much smaller profile, and thus are intended for people who work or exercise on the water and need more freedom of movement. If you fall in they either inflate automatically, or you need to pull a ripcord (both types are available and coast-gaurd approved). I've been using one since they've been available commercially - fortunately I've never been in a situation where I needed to inflate it.
This is a poor copy of an audio vest already available http://www.soundwalk.co.kr/eng/index.html. I have the vest and the inline backpack. They are great to wear to listen to music while being aware of traffic while biking or in-lineing.
I can see the ad copy now...
MP3 Smart Jacket:
Annoy those around you with obnoxious music AND look like a total tool at the same time!
Seriously...Who buys this stuff?
You've all missed the obvious application - you add reflective stripes and then the roadway workers can listen to music while leaning on their shovels...