Bose Frames Give a New Look to Audio
Coffee with an old friend this past weekend included conversations about what we have been up to for the past 15 years, the activities of our family members, career paths, dreams and the weather in our current respective homes. I was surprised to hear that they have sunshine an average of 243 days each year in her current home of Colorado Springs. I was envious as we sat on a dreary Sunday afternoon in a coffee shop near my Bettendorf, Iowa home. That’s one of the things I miss about living in Southern California: The never-ending supply of sunshine. It made me think about the patterns of sunshine here in Iowa which then segued into a reminder that we need to find a pair of sunglasses for Madison. She recently broke hers and needs new ones. If you hail from an area of the country without harsh winters, you may think sunglasses are a summer accessory. It’s quite the contrary. Driving in the winter often means dealing with the sun in the sky in addition to the reflections from the snow in all directions. Snow – and ice – can really impact your eyes. As an example, if we don’t wear sunglasses when shoveling the driveway, we’re often snow blind for a good 10 minutes when we return indoors. Needless to say, sunglasses are a big deal all year long.
So while at the mall last week, we stopped by the sunglasses kiosk to find a new pair. She tried several on but didn’t love any of them. I’ve often felt that it shouldn’t be hard shopping for sunglasses. Find a color and shape you like and done. They’re pretty much all the same, right?
Wrong.
I’ve changed my tune thanks to the new Bose Alto Small sunglasses. They aren’t just any pair of shades, they have speakers built-in. The patented acoustic chambers and premium lenses are designed for sun and sound. Usually when I drive or am outside with my old sunglasses, I’ll alternate between wearing the glasses or raising them to the top of my head. If I don’t need to squint, I often prefer not to wear glasses because the tint makes the world look dreary. I like everything bright and sunny. When I first wore the Bose Alto Small sunglasses, I made note to double check the protection levels because the view seemed so natural.
The Bose Alto Large, Alto Small and Rondo are the only Sunglasses with a Soundtrack. The first audio sunglasses with built-in Bose speakers for an immersive audio experience unlike any other. Play music, take calls, and enjoy the sun with UVA/UVB protection. Uniformly tinted, Bose Frames block up to 99% of UVA/UVB rays without overtinting the view. They come with a high quality storage case, but the Bose frames have shatter (and scratch) resistant lenses.
But do they really hold up to the Bose name? I mean, really, BOSE has a reputation when it comes to audio products. Are they really going to put their name on the line to enter a new market?
Yes. Yes they are going to do that. And YES they live up to the Bose name by creating a product that offers awesome sight and sound without putting anything in or over your ears. When you’re constantly connected to your phone, it’s nice to have the ability to carry on a conversation or listen to music using the built-in microphone and open-ear audio design.
Each of us in the family has tried these out and all of us think they’re awesome. The Bose Alto Large frames were a good fit for Scott while the Bose Alto Small frames were ideal for the three females in the house. Kennedy could use these when she’s running cross country. They would allow her to listen to music or communicate with teammates while still being aware of her surrounding while running. But let’s be honest, she was perfectly happy wearing them so she could quietly dance around listening to tunes out in the wild. She’s the perfect subject to promote the local silent disco. Take one pair of Bose Alto Frames and one Apple Music subscription then add a teen and you have the recipe for happiness.
Madison would use these for driving and be able to tap the one-button controls to accept or reject calls without messing with her phone. Aside from submersible sound without hindering the ability to hear what is happening around you, the little nuances built into the Bose Frames are what make them stand out. There’s only one button to worry about and it’s tap and go. To turn them off, you simply flip the frames upside down.
For me, I’ll be able to wear these while driving and answer calls on the fly without having my conversation broadcast for everyone in the vehicle to hear. Best part… the lens coloring is light enough that they work fine at a computer too!
The Bose Frames come in three styles available at Best Buy: the previously mentioned Alto Large and Alto Small as well as the Rondo which are a more rounded frame. If you are shopping for a tech aficionado this holiday season or someone who spends a lot of time outdoors, this is an amazing gift option. Of course, you could simply add it to your own personal wish list. That’s what I plan to do since I’m sure the ones I received from Bose and Best Buy will be confiscated by my teen daughters. I can’t blame them because they are pretty cool.
Which set of Bose frames would be on your wish list?
