iMuffs® are wireless headphones designed specifically for use with later generation iPods®, iPhones®, and other similar products. Designed and manufactured to allow for wireless listening to iPods® and iPhones®, with special features included to transition between music and phone calls. iMuffs® are meant to be ideal for use when exercising or performing regular physical movements, as the lack of wires makes free movement easier and helps protect from accidental injury or damage due to snagged cords. Typically, the headset has a range of about 40 feet (just over 12 m) and will usually only experience cutouts or loss of sound if used too far away from the device.
Using Bluetooth® technology to achieve wireless reception from newer generation devices like the iTouch® and iPhone®, the iMuffs® can also provide limited functionality with other Bluetooth® enabled devices. An adapter is also available to make them compatible with older iPod® and iPhone® models, since those devices do not support Bluetooth® stereo sound. While not all Bluetooth® enabled products are usable with iMuffs®, limited support is available for a handful of specific products. Typically, Bluetooth® MPEG-1 Audio layer 3 (MP3) support must exist in the device for it to properly function with the headset though this is not a guarantee of compatibility.
iMuffs® feature controls carefully positioned along the outside of the earpieces that allow basic track selections and volume control. Built into the right side of the headset is a small microphone to allow seamless conversation over an iPhone® with full hands-free support. When used with an iPhone®, this allows the iMuffs® to act as a fully functioning Bluetooth® headset for conversations. The device will automatically pause the music to allow a call to ring through, enable the wearer to have a conversation through the headset, and then resume the music when the call is complete.
The iMuffs® headset can also be used with voice over internet protocol (VoIP) services such as Skype® or iChat® to allow hands-free communication through a computer. While the signal received in such programs will likely be mono and not stereo, this is often less important for phone conversations than when listening to music. When used with a compatible device such as an iPhone® or iPod®, the sound quality is nearly equivalent to a compact disc. iMuffs® are fully chargeable either through a travel charger plugged into a wall outlet or through a connection to a computer’s universal serial bus (USB) port.
