As a founding investor of Beats Electronics, Will.i.am struck gold when Apple acquired the company in 2014 for $3billion. Is he expecting another buy-out for this new gizmo or he is doing this because he loves investing tech through his company, i.am+?
The 7 time Grammy Award winner, Mega Superstar and Black Eyed Peas founder and frontman, Will.i.am, launched a smartband wearable device, PULS in 2014. I am not sure whether the uptake was significantly successful.
Now he has come out with new wireless earphones called “Buttons”. Buttons are rather identical to the EPs, i.am+ sold at the Apple Store earlier this year but has since discontinued.
Inspired by the shape of vinyl records, Buttons is more or less a pair of earphones with circular discs attached which make look like clip-on earrings than a pair of earbuds. The earpieces are connected to each other by a woven fabric cord and to your playlist by an 11-millimetre driver unit.
Buttons are also fitted with magnetic discs that clasp around the neck, making it easy to integrate Buttons into your daily wardrobe while at the ready to take calls or take time for your playlist.
Tech Specs below do not show anything extra-ordinary.
- Frequency Response: 20Hz to 22kHz
- Impedance: 32 ohms
- Other Features: Bluetooth, Charging, Foldable, With Mic, With Remote and Mic, Inline Volume Control, Stereo Bluetooth
- Form Factor: In Ear
- Connections: Wireless
- Bluetooth Compatiblity: Bluetooth 4.0
- Drivers: 11 mm diaphragm type drivers
- Power Source: Battery Power
- Batteries: Rechargeable Lithium-Ion
- Battery life: Approximately six hours of playing time.
- Stand By Time: Approximately 120 hours.
Buttons is available at retailers like Neiman Marcus and the Apple Store today and sells for $230.
So back to the question? Can Will.i.am strike gold again with his Wireless ‘Buttons’ Earphones?
Even though I have not used them, there is really nothing special that would make me want to.
But Will.i.am thinks otherwise. According to him in a talk with Refinery29; “It took me a while to find garments that make me feel like me, and we all have this same feeling when we then have to go out and buy devices that don’t look like anything that we’re wearing. Why does the accessory only favor the phone and not my outfit? There has to be some middle ground between the two worlds.”
Well, what do you think?
