For this advanced design, the Swedish companies have teamed up to explore the full possibilities of this groundbreaking solar cell technology. Exeger's Powerfoyle converts any form of light into clean energy and can be seamlessly integrated into any design. For the first time, STRAX successfully implemented the Powerfoyle solar cell material to powering consumer headphones with an active ANC processing system built-in - where typically the battery and power consumption is a critical factor.
After a decade of research and development at the Exeger facilities in Stockholm, Sweden, this product launch marks the beginning of a new era for truly wireless products with products that Exeger believes fundamentally improve the user-experience, ushering consumers toward a world where gadgets are always charged.
"The initiative with solar and light powered headphones is an extremely strong value proposition for the user and we see very solid business potential in this product. At the same time, we are both proud and happy to take part in introducing clean energy into this category, an initiative that fits very well into STRAX's ongoing work with sustainability. Urbanista have over the past few years taken very impressive steps in product development and have a solid range of in-ear and over-ear headphones using the latest technologies and supporting the functionality demanded by consumers. This groundbreaking product is a very welcome addition to the strong Urbanista product portfolio," says Gudmundur Palmason, CEO, STRAX AB.
"This is the start of a revolution in consumer electronics. In close collaboration with Urbanista, we now launch the world's first self-powered wireless headphone. I strongly believe that once users experience the freedom of endless energy, there's no way we're going back to plugging a USB charger into the wall. We are extremely excited about this product and confident that people around the world are going to love it," says Giovanni Fili, CEO, Exeger.
Otherwise, the Los Angeles headphones are a minimalistic design in the best Scandinavian tradition, where function dictates form. Underneath the elegant earcups with large soft earpads, there is a sophisticated hybrid Active Noise Cancelling system with ambient sound mode. Just a single press of a button instantly isolates and cancels out ambient noises so the user can enjoy audio without interruptions, or switch on Ambient Sound mode when it needs to stay aware of important surrounding sounds. The Los Angeles wireless design combines freedom and control thanks also to the on-ear detection feature that pauses the audio when the headphones are removed and restarts it when they are put back in place.
According to Urbanista, the Los Angeles headphones feature a 750mAh battery, which is able to gather one hour of charge after just one hour of exposure to solar light - indoor light will charge it but slower. The Bluetooth 5.0 headphones feature standard dynamic 40mm neodymium drivers, and still offer a USB-C charging option, for those who wonder.
"This is the spark that will ignite a revolution in consumer electronics," adds Giovanni Fili. "It’s the start of a new era where people can enjoy self-powered products that are always on. The collaboration with Urbanista is a perfect match and it’s incredible to see Powerfoyle integrated into a product with such a high standard for design and focus on the user experience. With this, wireless and self-powered headphones will become the new normal.”
Exeger also recently announced a partnership with POC, a leading Swedish manufacturer of helmets, eyewear, body armour and apparel, to launch the Omne Eternal self-charging cycling helmet, showing that the demand for wireless products, in several categories, is already on the increase. With its resilient and flexible design, Exeger's Powerfoyle can be seamlessly integrated into all products that benefit from being self-powered. Through strategic partnerships with leading companies, Exeger expects to continue bringing its innovation to the global market in 2021.
STRAX Group, a company headquartered in Germany with a long standing foothold in Europe and the United States, has been operating in Hong Kong and China since 1996. STRAX is specialized in lifestyle accessories, having recently pivoted also into health and wellness products. Own brands include Urbanista, Clckr, Richmond & Finch, Planet Buddies, xqisit, AVO+, and licensed brands such as adidas, Bugatti, Diesel, Superdry and WeSC.
Consumers can sign up for a notification when the Urbanista Los Angeles becomes available for pre-order at www.urbanista.com.
www.strax.com
www.exeger.com | www.powerfoyle.com
