A Kickstarter campaign has been started – and fully funded – for a device hailed as the world's smallest Bluetooth headset.
The device looks something like a small earbud, is sweat resistant, and weighs only 0.12 oz. With 28 days still to go, the device has, at the time of writing, received over $154,540 — far more than its goal of $30,000.
"Designed from the ground up, Dot is designed to be minimal yet beautiful. Constructed of lightweight aluminum and durable polycarbonate materials, Dot blends fashion with function," writes Ivan Kan, the creator of Dot, on the Kickstarter page. "Dot features a tiny, high-quality dynamic driver to generate amazing sound from a compact design. To reduce size, Dot utilizes a space-saving wireless charging instead of a large bulky charging port."
One of the big selling points for the device is the fact that it's wireless — allowing users to get rid of the cables associated with their earbuds. While you probably wouldn't want to listen to music using Dot if you only have one, the team behind it is also offering "Dot Stereo," which offers users a full stereo listening experience. While the audio quality won't be as good as listening on full headphones, those who prefer listening with earbuds will likely not see a big difference in sound quality.
The device comes at a time when technology is becoming increasingly portable and wearable. Not only that, but with smartwatches and other wearables on the rise, Bluetooth headsets are also poised to play an important role for those wanting listen to music, as most smartwatches don't offer a headphone jack.
Of course, Dot isn't the only earbud-sized Bluetooth headset available, but it is cheaper than its competitors. The Kickstarter page shows a comparison with other Bluetooth earbuds on the market, with Dot being lighter, smaller, better on battery life, and cheaper than its competitors.
It's important to note that the device is currently at the prototype phase, and once completed, it will be able to connect to eight devices at once through Bluetooth 4.0, the energy-saving version of Bluetooth.
Users can pledge $59 or more to get the Dot Mono, which is available in a limited quantity, after which the device will cost $69. The suggested retail price for the device is $99. Those interested in the Dot Stereo can pledge $79 with a limit of 1,000 backers, after which the Dot Stereo will cost $89. The suggested retail price will be $149.
