The Beats Pill Provides Speaker Medicine for SXSW Goers
Beats by Dre provided SXSW-goers with an interesting branding installation of their new Beats Pill. The sleek, compact and wireless bluetooth device was “prescribed” (get it, it’s a pill) by “doctors” outfitted in lab coats or sexy nurses in… you get the visual, at the Beats Clinic in exchange for a state-issued ID. Once prescribed, you could walk around with the very portable device, playing your favorite band, or peek into a corner of the Austin Conference Center to hop on a conference call. I grabbed one, courtesy of the Beats Marketing Team, and here is what I thought of the new Beats Pill.
Sound should not be compromised by compact – As this is definitely the year of the bluetooth speaker, I have tried out a ton. I’ve only been impressed with a handful. The sound quality can often be stifled in small packages, and pairing can be a nightmare. The Beats Pill is small enough to go in your purse/pocket and has all of the sound quality of the brand’s infamous headphones. I have been using The Pill while in the shower and can hear my music clearly over the water.
Multi-use gadgets win – Though the case for a speaker that allows for hands free calls just makes sense, you’d be surprised at how bad the call quality of a lot of them really are. I was pleasantly surprised by the clarity of a call using The Pill. There was absolutely no feedback.
No 10 second button holding, super easy pairing – Is it only me? I feel like you have to be a genius or administer a death grip to pair a bluetooth device with your phone sometimes. The Beats Pill includes an NFC pairing feature for those with Android phones, simply tap and done, or a quick press of a button for the iPhone.
Packaging is important – Sometimes it’s the little things. On my travels, my gadgets get tossed in my Mary Poppins-esque purse, then in those dirty airport bins. The pill comes in a durable carrying case with a belay clip for clipping to a bag or your belt loop. The item stays clean and in tact.
The Beats Pill is currently out right now; comes in red, black, white, and special edition colors; and costs $199.
Originally published at – http://tech.co/the-beats-pill-provides-speaker-medicine-for-sxsw-goers-2013-03
