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Can Samsung make truly wireless earbuds go mainstream?
Images doing the rounds this week suggest Samsung could be the first of the big names to get into the "truly" wireless headphones game. Until now, the fast-growing category has been dominated by new players like Bragi and Earin. We've covered many of them, and much as we love the idea of cable-free listening, cutting the last wire comes at a cost. Usually, short battery life; but flaky connectivity and even sub-par audio can be challenges. Samsung's not shy about having a go at something new, often with mixed results, so will the so called "Gear IconX" buds break that mould?
Nuheara's wireless earbuds can also enhance hearing
At what point does something officially become a trend? For truly wireless earbuds, I'm calling it now. Nuheara is the latest company to enter into the fray, with its IQbuds: a pair that blends ideas from Bragi's music and fitness-focused Dash, and Here's "active listening" experience. The product is currently on Indiegogo, but the category continues to be popular, with IQbuds already raising double its funding goal in 24 hours (Bragi raised millions, Here tripled its goal). I've tried both the Dash, and Here buds, both of which have positives and negatives. IQbuds -- on paper at least -- seems to take the best of both, and roll it all into one, or, er two earbuds.
New in our buyer's guide: The Xbox One wireless adapter and more!
Before we set about reviewing all the phones announced at Mobile World Congress last month, we decided to give our gaming and audio buyer's guides a refresh. In addition to culling some older products, we're inducting a few new ones. The most recognizable of the bunch is perhaps the Xbox One wireless adapter, though you might also be familiar with the wireless Bragi Dash earbuds that we reviewed recently. Rounding out the list, we've added Master & Dynamic's $549 MW60 wireless over-ears -- for those who can afford it. Check out our full guide here, and stay tuned for further updates in the coming months.
Bragi Dash review: The smartest earbuds on the planet
Since I started at Engadget, it's been my life's mission (possible exaggeration) to reduce the number of gadgets I carry when I run. At one point, getting ready for a workout was something of a memory test. Where's my heart-rate strap? Did I charge my MP3 player overnight? Where's the foot-pod thingy? Are my headphones where I usually leave them? What about the GPS dongle and my running watch? You get the picture.
Bragi's Dash headphones are finally here
I insert a bud into my right ear, and then the left. A few seconds later I hear a woman's voice. She explains how I can listen to music on my phone, afterwards there is silence; deafening silence. Until I connect my phone to the wireless headphones, and the lady returns, confirming that everything is good, and I'm all set. This is probably the slickest gadget set-up I have ever experienced. An experience over 5,000 backers of the Bragi Dash are about to enjoy this week. The award-winning wireless fitness-tracking headphones have been a long time coming, but if these first few moments are anything to go by, that wait has been worth it.
Best of CES 2015 Awards, Digital Health & Fitness: Bragi Dash
#fivemin-widget-blogsmith-image-933616{display:none;} .cke_show_borders #fivemin-widget-blogsmith-image-933616, #postcontentcontainer #fivemin-widget-blogsmith-image-933616{width:570px;display:block;} try{document.getElementById("fivemin-widget-blogsmith-image-933616").style.display="none";}catch(e){} Digital health and fitness is a category so large that it had its own section in the Sands at CES this year, with everything from robotic bikes to smart shirts. But beating all of that to win our Best of CES award is a tiny pair of earbuds from Bragi called "The Dash." The wireless headphones tuck in a surprising amount of tech -- activity tracker, heart rate monitor, media player and more -- into a really small package. It's no wonder that it raised more than $3 million in its Kickstarter campaign last year... and went home with more than one of our crystal trophies.
An exclusive look at Bragi's ambitious smart headphones
Eleven months ago an audacious Kickstarter campaign promised a sports headphone like nothing we'd ever seen before. Bragi's spec sheet for "The Dash" read like a ridiculous wish list. There was touch control, two separate ear buds (that connect to each other wirelessly, as well as to your phone), 4GB of onboard storage, 3.5-hours battery life and a self-contained media player. That's impressive enough, but Bragi didn't stop there. The Dash would be stuffed full of sensors like an accelerometer, heart rate monitor and an oxygen saturation sensor. It didn't stop there either. Some pretty special-sounding software meant that The Dash would serve as a personal trainer through audio feedback; there would be a "transparent" mode so you could hear ambient sounds and more. Bragi didn't stop there.
Meet 'The Dash': smart headphones that let you listen, train and talk (video)
Got a feature list for your dream in-ear headphones? Get ready to screw it up in a ball and be ashamed at how short it was. Enter "The Dash," the name given to a pair of wireless smart headphones currently making waves on Kickstarter. The project is only a few days old, has already smashed through its $260,000 target, and is set to reach a cool million before the week is out. What's all the fuss about? Well that laundry list of features we mentioned. Of course they're wireless (Bluetooth 4.0, with support for aptX), have touch control (left ear for tracking, right for sound), 4GB onboard storage for media playback (or use your phone), audio training feedback, an accelerometer, heart rate monitor, oxygen saturation sensor, "transparent" mode (so you can hear ambient sounds without removing), oh and they're also waterproof to one meter. Most of that functionality is on the headphones themselves, though there will be a mobile app for expanded functionality (viewing your training logs etc.). Well, we mean it will be once the funds are released and the real work begins. While that's still another 45 days away, a new case that doubles as a chargeable battery pack has just been added to the project after meeting its first stretch goal. So the deal (currently $199 if you're quick), is looking better all the time.
