'Thump' sunglasses with integrated MP3 player

UPDATED November 12, 2004 Oakley has announced the introduction of 'digital audio eyewear' - aka MP3 sunglasses. Named "Thump", the new sunglasses have the audio circuitry built seamlessly into the glasses frame. Oakley's digital music player mounts the speakers to the eyewear frame with miniature extendible booms, enhanced with pivots. They allow the wearer to adjust speaker position for optimal ear placement and to reposition the speakers away from the ears whenever necessary.

By pivoting the speakers, the wearer can control the balance between environmental sound and digital music. "When you want to carry on a conversation, you simply flip up the speakers," continued Jannard. "We even designed the lenses with a pivot mount, so you can flip them up for low-light conditions."

Oakley engineered premium analog and digital sound processing to match its new world-class design innovation. The integrated circuitry features a high performance 18-bit Sigma Delta DAC for high fidelity acoustics including a signal-to-noise ratio of greater than 90dB. An on-chip 75MHz Digital Signal Processor is optimised for extended battery life and tailored to decode high quality audio algorithms.

Custom-engineered Mylar speakers offer a wide range of frequency response, up to the 20kHz limit of normal human hearing. Anti-pop and short-circuit protection are included. Volume, song selection and power are controlled via a convenient and intuitive five-button interface located on the earstem.

The new device plays MP3, WMA and WAV file formats. Its 128MB or 256MB NAND flash memory minimizes power expenditure. File transfer is completed with a simple "drag & drop" in Microsoft Windows and Apple OS X operating systems via a high-speed USB 2.0 connection that is backward compatible with USB 1.1.

Although available storage capacity varies, the device also can store non-song file formats of virtually any kind, making it a convenient means of backing up important files and transferring files between computers.

Powered by an internal lithium ion polymer battery, a full charge is completed in just three hours, and an 80 percent fast charge requires only one hour.

Depending on volume level, file compression mode, external temperature and other factors, the internal battery offers approximately six hours of play time between charges. For added convenience, Oakley included both an audible and visual charge indicator (via LED).

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