review: H2O’s waterproof lineup

February 9, 2010 by Bill Palmer · View Comments

This is far from the first time we’ve seen waterproof housing for iPods and iPhones, but often they come in the form of a hardshell case that you can technically strap to your arm in such a manner that’s not exactly flexible in the water. The latest products from H2O Audio seek to push the evolution with a true softbody waterproof armband for iPhone and iPod touch, a new set of waterproof earbuds that ratchet up the audio quality, and a waterproof iPod shuffle housing with built-in earbuds that straps itself to the back of your head.

Because it’s the most novel and because surprisingly enough it turned out to be the most practical of the bunch, we’ll start with the Interval for iPod shuffle. Setup is simple enough: pry open the watertight lid on the housing, insert the shuffle, snap it shut, and attach it to your swim goggles – yes, this product is designed for use with swim goggles – the photos of Michael Phelps and Natalie Coughlin on the front may have given that away (the company does offer another shuffle product that doesn’t require goggles; this one is designed for real swimmers, not pool waders). The earbud cables extend several inches out from the housing, long enough to reach the ears of even large-headed users. The in-ear earbuds turn out to have an audio which roughly matches the top $50 non-waterproof earbuds I’ve tested, just for a reference point; obviously you’d expect to pay more for waterproof functionality, so this product’s $99 price tag (including the shuffle housing and the built in earbuds) seems like something of a bargain. Three buttons on the top of the shuffle housing replicate the functionality that is typically built into shuffle earbud cables. This means that you do have to reach behind your head in order to adjust the volume or pause the music, but the three buttons are fairly large and well spaced enough that hitting the right isn’t a problem even despite not being able to see what you’re doing. And yes, the earbuds actually are waterproof: although there was no nearby pool or ocean to test them in, a combination of showering while wearing the product and then leaving the entire apparatus submerged in the sink while playing for about an hour sufficiently confirmed that fact to my mind. Much as I don’t like to give out five-star ratings more than occasionally, the H2O Interval for iPod shuffle has earned one.

For those users sporting larger devices, H2O’s Amphibx for iPhone, iPod touch and iPod classic (also available in a separate model for iPod nano, not tested) seeks to offer the same experience by placing your iPhone or iPod on your arm. Here things get more complicated, as you’re talking about sealing the device into a waterproof housing that still allows you to access its controls through a sheet of clear plastic, and in the case of the iPhone and iPod touch, attempting to use a multitouch interface through said plastic. I found that inserting and removing the device from the Amphibx was anything but easy, as you’re sliding the device through a side pocket in such a way that requires being fleet of fingertips, which I’m not. Even after I got it in there and sealed it up, I couldn’t get the iPhone’s home button to remain more than halfway accessible through the plastic; I never would have guessed that that would be a problem, while doing multitouch gestures on the iPhone’s screen through the plastic wouldn’t be. Once I put the product on my arm I found it to be comfortable from a feel standpoint, but overbearing for my weakling arms from a weight standpoint (I’ve tested a number of iPhone armbands over the years, and this one weighs a lot).

Despite those complaints it’s still a well done product generally – I just wish it were less cumbersome. When taking a triple digit priced electronics product into water, you do have to be absolutely certain that it’s sealed up well, so I never expect these housings to be too svelte to begin with. This product has got to be more practical for well-built swimmers who want to use it for doing laps than the various hard-box plastic cases strapped to an armband are, but I’m not over-the-top sold on it as a product for people who aren’t Olympic gold medalists. I give it four starts for being well done and getting a lot of things right, but I just can’t go any higher even though it does work as advertised.

Of course a waterproof housing for your iPhone or iPod doesn’t make a whole lot of sense unless there are waterproof earbuds to go with it, hence H2O’s Surge Pro earbuds. In this case they’re $99 earbuds whose audio quality turned out to be just a little inferior to the top $79 non-waterproof earbuds I’ve tested, so again, you’re getting a bargain in terms of not paying too much extra for the waterproof functionality. Surprisingly enough, the come with not just the usual few sets of different-sized rubber earbud tips, but also with two pairs of foam tips. I wouldn’t have expected the foam to hold up when met with water, but that turned out fine.

These earbuds are comfortable, lightweight, and you wouldn’t even be able to identify them as being specifically waterproof if not for the oversized headphone plug that’s designed specifically to create a tight seal with the Amphibx line (for those of you who’ve gotten overexcited at the prospects, it’s probably worth reminding the obvious fact that using waterproof earbuds with an unprotected iPhone or iPod does nothing to keep your iPhone or iPod from getting wet – these earbuds are for use with waterproof device housings).

My one problem with these earbuds is that this is 2010, not 2006. The play-pause button has been part of the iPhone interface for years now, and in the past year that’s shifted to a three-button interface (including volume control) for not only the iPhone but the iPod as well. But these earbuds, despite being marketed specifically toward iPhone and iPod users, have no on-board controls at all. I’m not yet to the point where I’m going to start subtracting off from an earbud star rating due to not offering iPhone/iPod specific controls (that point will likely be reached before the year is over), but it is worth pointing out that these earbuds lack a feature that can be found on even the cheap-o earbuds that come with current iPhones and iPods in the box. So even with all that ranting, the Surge Pro still gets four and a half stars for kicking butt on audio quality, comfort and overall svelteness.

In all, even though some of these new products from H2O are more equal than others, they all serve to push the boundaries even further in the right direction when it comes to being able to use your iPod or iPhone in a practical manner while in the water.

Learn more about the Amphibx, Surge Pro, and Interval at H2OAudio.com

Filed Under: Reviews, iPhone, iPod, iPhone and iTunes
Tagged: Amphibx, H2O Audio, Interval, iPhone, iPod, iPod shuffle, Michael Phelps, Natalie Coughlin, review, Surge Pro

Natalie Coughlin interview

August 22, 2008 by iProng · View Comments

Six is the age at which Olympic gold medalist Natalie Coughlin first began swimming competitively. Six is the number of iPods she owned when I first met her late last year during a west coast Olympic promotional tour. And six is also the number of medals she’s bringing home from the 2008 Beijing Olympics, whose closing ceremonies took place just last night. I caught up with Natalie late last week to ask her about her just-concluded Olympic experiences – and of course to talk some more iPod and iPhone.

You just won six more medals, including two gold, in the Beijing Olympics. Is it fair to say that you surpassed your own expectations? 

 Although I am very happy with my performances, I definitely did not exceed my expectations. It’s important to aim high. (Also, only one gold.)

You developed the iSH2 for iPod shuffle with H2O Audio. How were you able to use the product for your own Olympic training and preparation?

There are several different training groups while you are training prior to the Olympics. On the days that I was in my own group I used my iSH2 to help keep the workouts interesting and so I wouldn’t get too lonely.

Last time we spoke, you said you couldn’t wait to get an iPhone. Have you taken the plunge and what do you think of it so far?

I’ve had the iPhone for quite a while now and just got the new one. I absolutely love it and all the new Apps are incredibly addictive.

Now that the Olympics are over, what’s next for you?

A nice long break :)

•••••

And for the complete story, here’s the full text of my earlier interview with Natalie from late 2007…

“My first iPod was probably the second generation of the original iPod. I held out for a little bit,” Natalie told me as we sat poolside during a break from a campaign which included promotions for the U.S. Olympic Committee and NBC. Life isn’t always this hectic for her, but the 2008 Summer Olympics in Beijing are fast approaching and “things are pretty crazy.”

“I have not been to China before but I’ve seen pictures of the facility and it looks like a giant glass bubble. It looks really, really beautiful and I can’t wait to see it,” Natalie said of the Olympic facilities being constructed in Beijing. The 2008 games will be halfway around the world from Athens, the site of the 2004 games where she cleaned up with two gold medals and five medals in all.

Natalie has different goals for Beijing. “I feel like I have less pressure this time, just because the way swimming works is you’re validated through the Olympics and you only have that opportunity every four years. Going into the last Olympics I remember having these interviews where the interviewer would say, oh you have world records and American records but you don’t have that gold, and things like that and it puts so much pressure on me to get that Olympic medal and I feel like I’ve done that. And now I can just focus on myself in the next games.” 

Traveling the world means that Natalie reaches for her video iPod the most often, downloading shows including The Office and Ugly Betty and watching them when she finds herself in a part of the world where those shows aren’t available.

While the iPod has played a role in her life for the past five years, swimming has been a part of it for much longer. “When I was six years old I dreamt of being in the Olympics but that really meant nothing at that point. I had no idea what the Olympics even were let alone how you would get there. I was thirteen years old when I realized it was a possibility that I could make the olympic team and I didn’t even think of swimming professionally until that actually happened.”

It was during her junior year of college, right around the launch of the original iPod, that Natalie started to think that she’d continue swimming beyond school and do it for a living. But it wasn’t until recently that she was able to begin taking her iPod with her into the water.

“I just partnered with a company called H2O Audio and they are in the process of developing what’s called the iSH2 and that’s my signature line and it’s an underwater housing for the little shuffle,” making Natalie one of an increasing number of athletes involved in the development of iPod-related products. So far she’s used her iPod during a thirty-minute swimming competition in Fiji.

If the professional athlete’s signature sneaker has now given way to the signature iPod accessory, perhaps it only makes sense when placed in the context of the music itself. Training can be lonely for Natalie, so she relies on music to get her through workouts. As she puts it, “it keeps me going.”

When it comes to music, Natalie finds herself listening to every modern genre but country, with current favorites including Paolo Nutuni and Alicia Keys. But not all of her music fits into every aspect of her life as an athlete: “I love Jack Johnson but I’m not going to listen to his stuff on the day of a meet.”

Along with her current iPods, Natalie wants to make another addition to her collection. “I can’t wait to get an iPhone. I’ve played with it in the stores and that’s about it. And I love it. It’s the coolest thing. I can’t wait because the screen is way bigger and then I’m really into photography, so to have all my photos in such rich color and bigger than on my video iPod.”

Natalie was hired by MSNBC to help cover the 2006 Winter Olympics as a sportscaster. She envisions moving to the broadcast booth full-time at some point, but likely not until after competing in the 2012 Summer Olympics in London. Now at age twenty-five, she’s encouraged by the increasing career lifespan in her sport but eventually wants to have a “normal life” and a family.

One thing isn’t likely to change though. With six iPods already, an iPhone on the way, a MacBook in tow, and a penchant for editing photos in Aperture and cranking out web pages in iWeb, Natalie Coughlin sums it up best herself: “I’m pretty obsessed with Apple products.”

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