AppleInsider Staff
Musician will.i.am's "i.am+" tech brand on Monday released a pair of pricey Bluetooth earphones dubbed the "EPs," with initial sales to be exclusive to Apple's online and brick-and-mortar retail stores.
As advertised on the i.am+ website, EPs are fashion-forward earphones that integrates high-end materials like metal and resilient woven fabric cord with advanced electronic technology. Instead of plastic, the earphones feature a circular metal design reminiscent of vinyl records because "tech doesn't have to look like tech," the company says.
Functionally, the EPs come packing 14mm drivers and an aptX sound engine, fed by internal batteries that last a claimed six hours per charge. Recharging is accomplished via an included micro USB cable. The device also supports A2DP controls and an integrated remote with microphone. When not in use, the two coin-shaped buds magnetically snap together to form a necklace.
Available at select Apple Stores and through Apple.com, the i.am+ EPs sell for $229.95, and come in gold-on-black or black-on-black.
The debut comes after two disastrous product launches in the "Puls" and "Dial," both failed attempts to capture a piece of the wearable market. The current release, the Dial, features an operating system/voice assistant dubbed "AneedA," no physical user interface, a front-facing camera and cellular network support. Sales are limited to the UK market.
Interestingly, will.i.am is rumored to be working on an original TV series with Apple related to the app economy, presumably for distribution on Apple TV. Project details are scarce, but the vehicle is said to be an unscripted reality show that will likely feature a hefty dose of Apple's own app development efforts.
The series and today's product launch are not rumored to be related.
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12 Comments
- the same battery life as the nearly 3 year old, and similarly designed Beats Powerbeats2 BT earphones
- a housing that seems to be larger and more obtrusive that current Bluetooth earphone designs
- still using the same old fiddly micro-usb behind a rubber grommet sealed port for charging. (Why not make these things wirelessly charge.)
Will.i.am is a huge Steve Jobs/Apple fan. Most artists are. He speaks very admirably about Jobs.
I'd like to see Apple team up with more artists and hire some more.
I say Apple make all his products exclusive and give his words a thought. He really wants to innovate technology.
His smart bathroom idea was actually really futuristic. Not as dumb as it sounds when he explains it.
Those look kind of similar to a $15 pair of bluetooth headphones that I saw on Amazon recently.
Hideous looking and much too large for in ears, IMHO. Who wants something that's reminiscent of a vinyl record on their ear?
And bluetooth 2.0? What? :#
His Dial phone is pretty innovative and the only innovation I've seen since iPhone 2007:
https://youtu.be/QolTyyokmus
The ending is amazing.
Apple should acquire Aneeda and put Will.I.Am on the team. I mean Siri needs so much help. I really hope iOS 10 has a huge Siri revamp otherwise I might want one of these Dials as a Siri alternative.