This is a one of a kind Bluetooth frame which uses a modification of directed sound seen in the sound bar by the same company but in this case the sound is directed very close to the ear.
My previous experience with Bluetooth sunglasses has been very bad because it was just an earphone with a glass extension and the sound was pathetic. Not to mention the abysmal microphone and battery and of course you look like a guy who just visited the local fair and got something to wear which they usually give to retarded people just to make you go away!
So you can very well imagine my hesitance to get this frame which is an amalgamation of my two most favourite things, Bluetooth and Sunglasses!
Me being a Ray ban Aviator guy had resisted the need to buy this frame and the price of close to 25k was a little bummer for a sun glass!
Then when I saw this in the Singapore Airport Duty free section with a price tag of close to 15k which is almost half of what was available in Amazon (Ok, not exactly half but me being a Bluetooth fanatic did not need much more push!); the purchase was instant since my flight was boarding and the agony of having a Bose with you but you cannot use it till you are safely in the flight was like being in the sea and not being able to drink! (Again, you can excuse me for the adage since it is desperation more than sense which was speaking!).
So after the boarding and settling down I took our these sleek frames and the guide told be to download the app only after that I could use it! Talk about desperation!
Luckily the kind air hostess had not yet told us to switch off the mobile and the mobile network in Singapore is break neck speed so in an instant I could download the app and I was good to go!
You had to of course switch on the Bluetooth and get the phone connected to the Frame. The first time it took a couple of tries but every time I connect later it is really fast and accurate and almost instant with audio commentary so we know what’s happening.
The first time you wear this amazing piece of engineering you may not be impressed but the moment you connect it to the phone and listen to any music then you will be hooked!
Now, coming to the sound! It has to be listened to be believed. The clarity is really good and the best thing is that there is not ear phone getting inside the ear or any direct sound to the ear. On top of that the sound is presented in such a way that only you can listen to the sound and it does not disturb others. The best part is that in spite of all this you can still hear the ambient sound and this is an added bonus especially if you are driving or working out during the day!
The frames come in two different shapes and three different sizes and are unisex. Though I am a big Aviator fan as mentioned before, very soon I grew in to the shape and this was a pleasant surprise to me!
You have a single button for all the control and a single tap will power the frame and instantly connect the frame to the phone! This is after the frame announces the power in the frame and then another announcement is made that the frame is connecting to the phone!
The default music player is activated and the same button can be used for starting or stopping the music. It is almost feather touch and the button is very robust and hidden in the underside of the frame!
A double tap will change the track to the next while a triple tap will give you the previous track! The default music player is activated and the same button can be used for starting or stopping the music. It is almost feather touch and the button is very robust and hidden in the underside of the frame!
Since it has an inbuilt microphone and a very clear one in fact you do not have to do anything else! Walking and talking on the phone with the frame may give some stares especially if you are talking to yourself! So this frame does draw attention whether you want it or not!
Can you imagine a frame which has a software update!? well, this one has a update and after that you get new features which are more futuristic! The latest software update gave the button volume control ability! So you press on the button and twist your head sideways to increase or reduce the volume and it really super cool! Talk about some James Bond stuff!
The frame is light but robust with water proofing and the charge lasts for weeks on moderate use. The charge is through the included cable which gets magnetically connected to the frame and you can hook it to any USB charger. It takes about an hour for full charge and you are good to go!
Nothing can be perfect though so you have some cons! You can use this only during the day since these are proper shades and you may not always look like Mika Singh if you wear it indoors or in the night to listen to music! If you wear spectacles then you can never use this anyway since these are plain shades.
The Bose community board is full of people who want this to be made prescription glasses but it does not look to be in the near future.
Of course the glasses are replaceable with other colours which are available in Amazon (not now of course but after lockdown!) and apparently you can change them with prescription glasses. This of course voids the warranty which is very important in Bose products since the repair out of warranty does not come cheap though it is another matter that people (not me!) who have Bose may not get it repaired and get a new one or they are the ones who do not worry about minor problems like money! (again not me!!)
This is a must buy for any music lover and one who goes for long lonely drives in the car!
ramadocblog 