Forget Google Glass. For audio, the hot wearable device is The Dash, which mashes in-ear listening with Bluetooth streaming, onboard music storage, and … wait for it … fitness tracking. This intersection of features takes a bite out of at least four markets: wireless speakers, wired headphones, subscription downloads, and fitness wrist bands.
The Dash is currently rampaging through a crowdfunding campaign on Kickstarter, nearly doubling its goal with a month and a half to go. Any pledge gets a discount from the $299 suggested retail price when The Dash launches in October. A $199 pledge delivers a free pair — a $100 saving.
For our money (metaphorically speaking), the 4GB music storage is a killer feature. A self-contained music system that can be carried in the change pocket of a pair of jeans seems like a must-have for traveling. And wirelessly connecting your ears to your smartphone in non-airplane situations relieves that unseemly dangling-cord problem.
Fitness tracker? Whatever. Sound quality? To be determined. In-ear fit? One never knows before buying any earbuds. Concept? Outstanding.
I’ve been waiting for this for years! Looking forward to ditching the cord and saving countless lives in the process (e.g., hitting people on the bus/train untangling the cord; strangling myself; etc.). Happy to be an early investor!