ANTARES smashes earbuds and MP3 player together, produces KPMP316

Not that we haven't seen MP3 players integrated into earbuds before, but we've yet to see any that give us more inspiration than these. Seriously, just look at this guy above -- pumping iron, resisting the urge to shoot up a fine dose of 'roids and getting all the motivation he needs from the Rick Astley jams that are undoubtedly streaming through. ANTARES' KPMP316 DAP consists entirely of two enlarged earbuds and a cord to keep 'em close; as you can imagine, the 1/2/4GB of internal capacity, play / pause button and volume rocker are all positioned just millimeters away from the actual drivers. Folks over in Asia can supposedly snag one in yellow, green, orange, blue, purple or black, but we've no idea what kind of outlay you'll be looking at.

[Via PMPToday]

[yopladas Posted Apr 26th 2009 8:10PM]

Good idea, supprised no one thought of that yer, though they have gotten close....

I wonder how that feels to wear? Maby like a heavy Bluetooth or something...

[williamtsims Posted Apr 26th 2009 8:10PM]

I love the way this post was written haha


Also, they look pretty cool I guess...

[3rdman Posted Apr 26th 2009 8:11PM]

Dang, these look pretty good, if they're light enough this could sell well.

[(Unverified) Posted Apr 26th 2009 8:17PM]

Niiiice, but too many buttons, people should try and improve on the shuffle, release an mp3 player that has no buttons and plays constantly at the same volume...

all people really need is an on/off switch

think different...

[Ryan Trevisol Posted Apr 26th 2009 8:36PM]

do they even need that? shouldnt it play automatically when you plug in the earbuds?

Or, in this case when you put it in your ears?

[(Unverified) Posted Apr 27th 2009 12:09AM]

Or one that will play when *it* wants to play. No on/off, no next track, no pause, no buttons. Ah minimalism...

[Link2877 Posted Apr 26th 2009 8:18PM]

umm, haven't they had these for while in wrap around headphones?

[Kamokazi Posted Apr 26th 2009 8:27PM]

Yes, which is why it is something new for -EARBUDS- not new in general. Some people don't like wrap arounds.

Oh, and for those of you who don't know who Rick Astley is:

http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=oHg5SJYRHA0

[orangesrhyme Posted Apr 26th 2009 10:31PM]

Augh! Rick Roll'd again! Curse you, Kamokazi!

[orangesrhyme Posted Apr 26th 2009 10:33PM]

Augh! Rick Roll'd again! Curse you, Kamokazi!

[orangesrhyme Posted Apr 26th 2009 10:34PM]

Oh, crap. double post. Sorry!

[Kamokazi Posted Apr 27th 2009 10:29AM]

Well if you want to get technical, you weren't Rick Roll'd, because I didn't mislead you into thinking the link was something else. Although for all practical purposes, yes, you were. I couldn't resist including it seeing as how he was mentioned in the summary. :-)

[(Unverified) Posted Apr 27th 2009 10:07AM]

I think its funny that no one is bitching how you have to use their headphones with this the same way they do about the new shuffle. At least with the new shuffle when 3rd party manufacturers make an adapter youll be able to use it with any headphones. With this MP3 plyer/headphone combo youre stuck.

[(Unverified) Posted Apr 26th 2009 8:23PM]

Just have to watch out for sweat. This would be a great idea for weightlifters like myself, but having the electronics up right with the sweat is bad. The new 3rd gen iPod shuffle has the same problem because of the lame in-line controls

(And no I did not, and will not, but the 3rd gen iPod shuffle!)

[Wesscoast Posted Apr 26th 2009 8:44PM]

Alas, your whole neck will be drenched in sweat after a good 45 min workout... potentially wrecking this MP3 player. Your hands, for obvious reasons, should be less so.

Apple's solution protects the actual mechanical device from sweat, where you only have to touch the cord controls.
With your hands. Not your neck.

Use a towel. For fucks sake, dont start curling 40-60LB dumbells with sweaty hands....

... You don't, ... right?

[(Unverified) Posted Apr 26th 2009 8:47PM]

@mike

Anyone on Engadget who claims to "lift weights" is only lifting 5 pounders, tops.

[(Unverified) Posted Apr 26th 2009 8:51PM]

@mike

of course I don't! I meant that the inline controls will be right up at your neck, or under your shirt, where they have gotten damaged by neck/chest sweat.

@bill cant far is ANGRY!

I'm a rare breed. I'm what you say, a weightlifting geek. I work out 2 hours a day, 5 days a week. I have never touched a 5 pound weight in my life. (because I'm at the other end of the rack)

[eklipse219 Posted Apr 27th 2009 1:40AM]

Well hey
Everyone's gotta start somewhere, right?

[hike15 Posted Apr 26th 2009 9:13PM]

Thats going to be the next ipod shuffle...

[pina Posted Apr 26th 2009 10:04PM]

That's what I thought... This company better patent the hell out of these things.

[telepheedian Posted Apr 26th 2009 9:38PM]

Is this the same Antares that created Autotune?

Do not want.

[htd Posted Apr 26th 2009 9:52PM]

I saw sony brand headphone mp3 player at target today for $59.99

[dodo Posted Apr 26th 2009 10:40PM]

I believe that these earbuds are heavy because of the battery and therefore not as comfortable as a normal pair.
Or is it just me?

[dstafford72 Posted Apr 26th 2009 10:54PM]

am i crazy or does these look like the long-deceased Motorola PEBL?

[Takato Posted Apr 27th 2009 12:09AM]

They do look like the PEBL.

[idogis1 Posted Apr 26th 2009 11:05PM]

Not an original idea but looks very pretty, or maybe I'm just a sucker for minimalistic design.

[Valicore Posted Apr 27th 2009 12:27AM]

KPMP sounds like the sound I would make if I got these as a gift...

[polintelligentic Posted Apr 27th 2009 1:08AM]

that's one of the funniest comments i've read in a while.. on engadget or anywhere.. partially because it made me actually lol, but even more so because i tried to say "KPMP" and that resulted in more hilarity. thank you valicore.

[Xoy Posted Apr 27th 2009 9:20AM]

Isn't Antares the auto-tune people

[FearIsHealthy Posted Apr 27th 2009 4:49PM]

Now, make it truly functional by making it a bluetooth headset as well,like the Jabra 8010