Vonia music headband

Japanese firm Thanko today launched Vonia, a new music headband designed for runners and Apple's iPod shuffle or other small audio players. A small pocket at the front of the headband holds the player and relays sound through wires hidden inside the headband, preventing tangles during a run. The headband transfers sound via bone conduction rather than using headphones, transmitting audio through the skull while leaving the ears free to pick up sounds from the outside world without affecting audio quality. The company also notes that Vonia owners can fit a waterproof guard on the bone conduction speakers to take take the headband into water with a proper player. The Vonia is slated for shipment by the end of March for $85 in Japan, though exports to the U.S. are as yet unconfirmed, according to Electronista.

by MacNN Staff