First there was the Go Pro then came ski and water goggles with a built in video camera now a US Company is looking for an Australian distributor for a new pair of headphones that have a Full HD 1080p camera built in, they can also record Pro quality audio.
The video-recording smart headphones are set to hit US stores this month in limited quantities, they can record studio quality audio and video and can be used with both an Android and iOS device.
Developed by SoundSight the Bluetooth headphones can record audio and video to create on-the-fly music videos via a 5-megapixel rotating camera on the ear cup.
Videos can be recorded in 1080p at 30 fps or 720p at 60 fps, and the headphones also feature six built-in microphones and a six-axis gyroscope/accelerometer.
The cameras can begin recording by tapping the ear cup, or a user can program voice controls to activate the video cameras.
Videos are immediately transferred via Bluetooth or EDR to the smartphone upon recording, said company founder Stephen Chase, and while the number of videos recorded is dependent on the smartphone’s capacity, the headphones are able to capture up to 30 minutes of video at a time.
Still images can also be captured, including HDR, he added. The headphones feature 16GB of on-board storage to hold up to 30 minutes of video if a user doesn’t have a smartphone with him.
An accompanying Clip&Mix app enables users to select a portion of a song to play with a video, while a ColuorTune feature matches video colours to music notes, SoundSight said. Video editing is done on the portable device, and the videos can be shared on social media.
The app will be free, but a premium version with additional editing features will have an annual US$4.99 subscription fee.
The company notes on its website that it has an SDK for third-party app developers. The active noise-cancelling headphones also have a USB audio output. Three detachable cables are included – 3.5mm coiled, 3.5mm straight and a USB audio cable – as are a jack adapter and travel case.
A built-in 800 mAh lithium-ion battery allows for four hours of video use, but the headphones will operate as a standard wired model should the battery die. Battery life for active noise cancelling only is listed at 18 hours. Charging is done via MicroUSB. The headphones feature 52mm drivers; frequency response is listed at 16Hz to 20 kHz.
The headphones will be available in 2015, the company said. ChannelNews has been told that at least two distributors are chasing the Company to secure the distribution rights for Australia.
The heads are tipped to sell for $499.
The headphones will come in Titanium or Onyx designs.
