Bose Glasses: Look Cool, Sound Cool

Have you ever heard of an audio company getting into the eyewear market? No. Well, hold on to your butts—Bose has made the next leap in eyewear: Audio Sunglasses!

Everyone loves shades. Everyone digs wireless ear buds. Why did it take this long to put the two together? Doesn’t matter. The point is, Bose has and so far, so good. The Bose Frames look like regular, nylon framed shades, but they hide small speaker grilles in the arms (just in front of the ears), which play music, podcasts or news from your phone via Bluetooth.

The frames can be purchased square or round. In addition to the speakers, there are sensors that can detect head position and any contact to the glasses. Plus, the Frames know which way you’re facing! They can use your location from your phone’s GPS, meaning you can literally get local, in front of you, news! Cool and creepy.

Bose wants consumers to know the Frames are not Google Glass 2.0. There’s no screen or camera on the lens. However, the differentiation does not mean the product is without drawbacks. There are no prescription lenses available and they only support iOS, lacking any app (is that really a drawback though? Aren’t we sick of apps! Finally, a cool invention and we’re complaining it doesn’t have an app? Good gracious!)

Bose Frames are not cheap ($199 on Amazon). However, this glorious invention should be celebrated, not nitpicked. I can see it now … throw on Bose Frames, stretch out on the beach, soak up UV and listen to “Straight Outta’ Compton” (thought I was going to say “Soak Up the Sun,” huh?).