Speedo Aquabeat MP3 player sinks, floats, and is terrible at the butterfly stroke

If anyone is going to make a decent waterproof MP3 player this time around, it would have to be someone like the tight bathing suit-producing Speedo brand. The Speedo Aquabeat -- made by Iriver -- contains 1GB of storage, plays for nine hours on one charge, come in three colors, and weighs just 35 grams. So what's so Speedo about them? These players (and earphones) are good for up to 3 meters below the surface and they float -- so you can just leave the things floating about while you go mix another margarita. Retail price is $145, available now from your local Speedo dealer or high school coach -- just listen for the whistle.

[DeoWulf @ Jun 28th 2008 11:50AM]

Hooray for swimming jokes. I've been swimming for 9 years and only just learned I've been doing Butterfly wrong the whole time. Needless to say my time dropped like crazy once I got it down ^^

But yeah, I don't really see this player as very useful considering I never really practice alone. The only times I'm in the water are during regular team practice (where I need to hear feedback from the coaches) or competitions, which would be a terrible place to use this. I'm pretty sure just diving in would blow the thing away.

[swmarc @ Jun 28th 2008 3:12PM]

How is that not useful? I enjoy swimming but it is one of the most boring sports I have ever done. lap after lap after lap after lap after lap after lap after lap after lap after lap after lap after....with music it would be 10X better

[Ypoknons @ Jun 28th 2008 3:56PM]

Things change. I used to do competition swimming, but I didn't want to take the commitment for college, so I just do casual, solo swimming these days to keep fit. Which is what this device is more targeted for: your average lap swimmer. Heck, when diving in a competition, you don't even use googles.

That said, for $145 with 1GB, it's not a great bargain. At least they could have included a screen with a watch and timer.

Also: is the $145 figure a straight FX from Japanese Engadget? Is there a US press release?

[DeoWulf @ Jun 28th 2008 10:21PM]

swmarc-- like I said, I don't do individual workout swimming. I am either practicing with my team or at a meet. Therefore, it's not much use to me... or any of the swimmers I know, who do the same thing.

[tekdroid @ Jun 28th 2008 11:55AM]

at last, an iRiver product that can be used in a river. *

*we warn against shoving these down your Speedos.
Sincerely, iRiver.

[Colin @ Jun 28th 2008 12:25PM]

I wish Apple would do a nice waterproof iPod. I swim laps every morning and would really like to have something waterproof to listen to. If I wasn't so tied to the Apple ecosystem, this would work.

[Echo1 @ Jun 28th 2008 12:46PM]

There are waterproof iPod cases like the the otterbox,

[tekdroid @ Jun 28th 2008 12:54PM]

I think there's a general lack of waterproof stuff. Especially waterproof stuff with removable battery and removable memory cards, which - as far as I can tell - doesn't even exist (fond memories of Sports Walkmans here). Everything is embedded, limited-life and disposable, which I think sucks.

Sony haven't announced any new Sports 'S2' Walkmans since 2006. They play AAC but not DRMd Apple Store stuff.

[Brett @ Jun 29th 2008 11:31AM]

http://www.swimman.net/main.html

No experience with this. Personally, using a "old" 30G iPod w/Otterbox. In my experience, the problem's generally with the headphones.

[ajoan0077 @ Jun 28th 2008 12:35PM]

Fly is not my stroke but this seems decent. Might be a pain when doing closed turns. also where would we put it and also wouldn't this cause more drag? Like the person said above me, people (usually) don't swim alone and need to hear their coaches.


And also your not really paying attention to sound or whatever while your swimming...well at least i don't.

[Zeus.:God @ Jun 28th 2008 4:47PM]

You could always clutch it in your cheeks...

[DeoWulf @ Jun 28th 2008 10:23PM]

Good point, I usually neglect audio input entirely while swimming. Too much music, especially with a defined beat, might mess up my stroke pattern ^^

[Jared @ Jun 29th 2008 1:10AM]

God knows you don't want to mess up your stroke pattern. I don't swim, and I'd sure hate to mess up my stroke pattern - that's a fact.

[Flashpoint @ Jun 28th 2008 12:38PM]

3 Meters?


Wouldn't it make more sense to make them minimum 10 M able?

[Jacob @ Jun 28th 2008 12:57PM]

um, I'd think 10m would be a bit excessive, think about it, that's pretty deep...

I think 3m is quite sufficient, I don't really ever swim deeper than 10 feet

[YpoCaramel @ Jun 28th 2008 3:58PM]

Most pools aren't more than 3 meters deep. I'm not sure, but I figure divers would be too focused on their diving to need music. Lap swimmers at your local swimming pool, however...

[thedesolate1 @ Jun 28th 2008 12:40PM]

PFFFFFT 1 GIG? are they trying to mock us?

[William Cameron @ Jun 28th 2008 12:42PM]

I have a few friends that swim hundreds of laps 3 or more times a week. This product is a no brainer.

[mortonmanor @ Jun 28th 2008 12:46PM]

I personally like the Swimman (www.swimman.com). While it is a bit pricey, it and the headphones work better than anything I've tried. Basically the folks at Swimman take a stock iPod shuffle and waterproof it.

David

[Al @ Jun 28th 2008 3:28PM]

Man that looks pretty cool, now if only they could have done it to a Creative Zen Stone +, which has a stop watch, or better yet a Sandisk Clip which sounds nice, and has a clip also.

[mattmalignancy @ Jun 28th 2008 1:14PM]

This seems more like a novelty item than an actual tool.

[HalfJoey @ Jun 28th 2008 1:18PM]

I think its a good looking product, but 1GB must be a joke when flash memory is so cheap and the player is $145.

[Stem $ell @ Jun 28th 2008 1:49PM]

Comes with a special 'dual-pouch' Speedo suit that guarantees to minimize cold water 'package shrinkage'...

[Joe Pollicino @ Jun 28th 2008 1:50PM]

nerds cant swim.

[Tonbo @ Jun 28th 2008 2:59PM]

I swim 1.5 miles 3x/week and often think it would be nice to have something like this (there are a number of competitors with videos on Youtube), but I can't find a video of it in action and would hate something that created awkward drag or could fly off on a flip turn and sink to its death in the deep end.

[David Gerard @ Jun 28th 2008 3:14PM]

Application for underwater mp3 player: audio tourguide for divers! Divers use signals rather than sound, after all ... you could do with ones that do better than 3 metres.

[mess patch=buggy @ Jun 28th 2008 3:33PM]

Yeah. You could waste your money on that. Or... you could buy a swimman. I got one about a year ago, hasn't failed me yet. They waterproof an ipod shuffle from the inside out. You end up with just a shuffle, no case. Just buy the waterproofed headphones off ebay for like 15$ (theirs are too expensive) and you'll have the ultimate setup. You can send your own shuffle in too, and they'll waterproof it.And i think its the same price as this ugly thing. www.swimman.com

[YpoCaramel @ Jun 28th 2008 5:52PM]

This ugly thing does float, though.

[Eric @ Jun 29th 2008 12:33AM]

this came out awhile ago. I ordered one and the right headphone dies in a week. The next week, it stopped playing back altogether. They have really good customer service, they gave me a complete refund!

[loic @ Jun 30th 2008 8:33AM]

And how do you fix your device ? you put it in your speedo ?

[marty @ Sep 26th 2008 2:36AM]

I've tried this one & the nu dolphin & have trouble with the earphones on both . I was given a swimman waterproof ipod shuffle for my birthday , now this one really is great . The patented headset makes all the difference . If you do tumble turns this is the one for you .

[Cman @ Nov 8th 2008 11:01AM]

I wasn't sure if these types of waterproof MP's would actually wrk, was skeptical about the headphones in water. Luckily saw a 35.00 512K Sakar Iconcepts MP3 waterproof player at Fryes (also available Walmart) so cheap figured what do I have to lose. Had to rig a device that allowed it to hang on my goggles but works fine. Limiter would be if ear pieces get water inbetween ear and sound lowers the quality so every 15 laps pull them out and shake head and returns to normal. Surprisingly you don't hear bass but when you get in water all of a sudden you hear bass.

Any idiot that questions if you need this type of device truly is a nitwit and doesn't understand the boredom of doing hundereds of laps, probably some clueless fattie.

[Cman @ Nov 8th 2008 11:13AM]

Finally learned how to get the earpieces to work with the Sakar Iconcepts waterproof MP3 player. yo have to corkscrew them in your ear with wires points up. This provides a seal somehow against the water getting in your ear. Makes sense since there are thee rubber pads on the ear piece. This really solves the issue of boredome and really get me pumping when I swim now thanks to the music, now I look forward to my swimming laps.