I got to visit Eastwood City again last Friday, July 1st. I scored an invite to the bloggers’ event sponsored by Digital Walker where we were introduced to one of the newest product line they carry – Urbanears. Initially, I only knew that the event was for a premium earphone brand. Later on, I learned which brand it is and searched the net for more information. In a gist, Urbanears is a maker of headphones from Switzerland. Their website offers more.
The front page showcases 4 headphones in different styles. There’s also a color palette on the side. Apparently, these products come in different colors. For somebody who’s been wearing a white earphone and is used to receiving black ones from every gadget purchase, this is pretty interesting. Dragging a color from the palette changes the color of the featured item on the site. Aside from having an idea of how a headphone looks like in certain color, this is an interactive way of displaying the products. Rather than have an array of pictures of all the headsets in different colors, this implementation loads the page faster.
The featured products on the Urbanears website are Bagis, Tanto, Medis and Plattan. Bagis looked like an ordinary earphone – small and comes with a sleeve to ensure that it fits the ear well. Tanto is actually a headphone that brings you back to the 80s. Then there’s Plattan – the bigger version of Tanto. It reminds me of those huge headphones that my uncle, a musician, would wear when he’s practicing for their next gig. Last but not the least is Medis, one product that I immediately liked.
The Medis is bigger than an ordinary earphone but just enough to fit the ear. It has what the manufacturer calls the EarClick Solution to keep the earpiece in place – the major reason why I am drawn into this product. I’ve been using earphones with a loop because the regular ones keep falling off after a few minutes of use. I purchased those expensive brands that claim to be ergonomic but I end up keeping it in the drawer or giving it away.Seeing that Urbanears has a solution for me is comforting enough.Urbanears started the business in 2009. Except for Medis, the rest of the product line looks just like any other headphones in the market. At a glance, what sets them apart is that these earpieces are available in different colors. During the launch, we learned that the company changes these colors regularly, retaining only the basic black and white colors. That means what’s sold today will probably not be part of the next collection. It looks like color is plays a huge part in Urbanears’ headquarters.
These headphones are not just made for listening to music. A microphone and remote are integrated in each product so it can also be used in mobile phones. They even have a product line called Urbanears Plus which are headphones specifically made for iPhone, iPod and iPad. All products uses the industry-standard 3.5mm socket which is compatible to almost all mobile devices. This means you can use your Urbanear earphones with any of the gadgets you’re carrying. It’s also important to take note that the cords won’t easily get twisted and tangled because it’s made of fabric. These are nice little touches that Urbanears headphones are made of. But these features are actually part of the company’s philosophy.
The products manufactured by this Scandinavian company are based on a solid understanding of consumer behavior. Not that they conduct tons of surveys, but instead they are in touch with the realities of living, and so they understand how a headphone is used, how it’s worn and the reasons behind it. They said they want these headphones to be like clothes. The color options are a clear understanding that people would prefer a set of earpieces in a particular color. The integration of technologies showed that they are aware of the needs of the market. And the fabric cord is a testament that they, too, encountered the hassle of having to untangle the cord that’s been twisted together to create knots.
This philosophy is quite close to my heart, having a business of my own which evolved around the needs of the consumers based on how I perceive it and not just based on technology or the latest trends. Of course, it’s good to be up to speed to what’s current. But more so is that a product fit ones’ personality and lifestyle. Only then can a product like a headphone be enjoyed fully.
Now what about the sound quality you ask? That’s something I’ll have to discuss on another post. For now, let’s take Urbanears word when they say that they deliver great audio. They did give us bloggers a pair of Bagis and though I had my first impressions, let’s leave all the discussions at a later time. That Digital Walker is bringing the Urbanears brand to the Philippine market is already something to take note of. So far, this tech retailer has yet to frustrate me in my purchases. I look forward to the same experience with my very own Urbanears Bagis earphones. I hope to feel it move with me.Comments
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