Motorola and winter sports gear maker Burton on Friday introduced, Audex, a new jacket for snowboarders that features connectivity both for Apple’s iPod and for Bluetooth-equipped cell phones. The Audex jacket starts at US$599.95.
A removable control panel in the sleeve enables Audex wearers to control their iPods, including playlist, artist, album and track navigation, volume up and down and play/pause/stop using a Click Wheel-style button.
Burton says the jacket is compatible with any third-generation or newer iPod, excluding the iPod shuffle. The iPod is connected using hidden wires inside the jacket.
You can also control your phone’s voice dial, receive, end and mute functions wirelessly, as long as your phone is Bluetooth equipped and compatible with “headset” or “hands-free” Bluetooth profiles.
The Audex features its own speakers, embedded in the jacket’s hood, along with a microphone for the cell phone and rechargeable battery — all of the electronic components are removable when the jacket needs to be cleaned or dried.
Burton and Motorola have also teamed up to produce a matching helmet and hat — the R.E.D. Tantrum Audex Helmet and Ordinance Audex Padded Hat — that feature DJ-style headphones and Bluetooth cell phone communication. Pricing was not available as Macworld posted this article.