The 2019 technology of the year award goes to Bose for the Alto and Rondo Audio Sunglasses
Why not the iPhone 11? Well, let's compare it to the iPhone 3G S, which was the standard ten years before. Even only looking at the camera, the pace of innovation has been astonishing. Not to mention all the other things a new iPhone is capable of doing.
But no. While it may be someone else's top pick, the novelty and execution of the Bose Frames are more reminiscent of the original iPod. It has that same "you just wait" potential the tiny 5GB music player had when it first arrived on the scene.
These glasses, although limited in scope, are truly useful. Since acquiring my first pair [Original Review], they have gone hardly a day without being worn.
They have their drawbacks. Currently, they are available in only one color and just two sizes. They have limited battery life. More lens options should also come standard. And in loud environments, the sound gets drowned out.
But despite those shortcomings, for a first go, these glasses are terrific. In low to medium sound environments - like hiking, walking, driving, and in the office - the sound they produce is loud enough without being obtrusive. and the fidelity is good enough for people who enjoy quality sound.
And, they show the potential of augmented reality. There's no in your face Tony Stark level HUD, but they also aren't flashy "look at me" spectacles or Google Glass oddities. The Frames are just a "classic silhouette" meant to augment your reality, not that of those around you.
The thing Bose Frames do well is what Bose always does well, transmitting sound. The arms have "built-in Bose speakers for an immersive audio experience unlike any other." And they're right, wether hiking in Hawaii or just inside a local mall, wearing these glasses improved the experience.
Bose has stuffed miniaturized electronics and wires hidden in the temples, frame, and arms. "It's a state-of-the-art personal listening experience embedded in a classic design. You hear a rich, immersive sound, while others hear practically nothing. Exclusive technologies and custom speakers direct sound at you and away from others."
Everything quoted is taken straight from the Bose Frames webpage because it's true. These glasses do everything Bose says. They also say that the Bose AR platform "makes astonishing new audio experiences possible," and that might be a little bit off, but it does hint, if ever so slightly, at the potential of AR.
It is possible to augment reality with these glasses - even with just some curated playlists. Say you're out holiday shopping and it's packed with people. Folks are getting jostled around, and a good many are slightly grumpy. It's not an ideal situation - but put on some calming music, like something by Hiroshi Yoshimura, and that all dies down. You can still hear the undertone of the world around you, but it becomes just that, background because these Bose Frames are directing calm and peaceful vibes directly at your ears.
They don't disconnect you from the world -- like earbuds or headphones -- so you can experience music as more of an augmentation. In certain situations, like the crowded shopping mall example, the value of the Bose Frames becomes apparent.
Bose should do a series of reaction videos of people first experiencing the Frames. Put them on and activate the sound, and you'll see people act pleasantly surprised and invariably smiling.
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Of all the gadgets and gizmos I've played with and tested this year, these AR glasses from Bose are my 2019 pick. I use them every day. I used them when they were just sunglasses, and now that they have prescription transition lenses, I've been using them as glasses.
To quote Tony the Tiger: “They're grrrreat!”
