The Orb: The Future of Earpieces has Arrived

It’s not enough for gadgets to have awesome functions nowadays, they must also possess great design and good looks. And if it has a little Transformer “more than meets the eye” action going on, it’s even better. Which is why the web has been ablaze about the Orb.

The Orb is a bluetooth headset that could change the way we interact with our devices. (O.R.B., by the way stands for Orbital Ring Bluetooth, just in case you were wondering.) The Orb begins as wickedly cool futuristic looking headset and transforms from a headset into a stylish ring with a simple twist. And while we’ve seen examples of tech masquerading as jewelry, including USB drives made to look like garish necklaces and broaches. This is by far one of the coolest examples we’ve see thus far. When the Orb is in ring mode and you receive a call, the OLED display lights up to let you know. Just untwist the ring, latch it to your ear and your good to go. However it should be noted that the display is only available in the deluxe version of the headset.

Besides the obvious cool factor of haute couture, the earpiece has some interesting tech to support it. Developed from a partnership between Hybra Advance Technology and AbsolutelyNew Inc., the device utilizes bone conducting technology to allow users to hear sound without having to attach an uncomfortable device to your ear. The deluxe edition also gives wearers the ability to get texts, check calendar reminders, and caller id.

As there is a huge patent pending label on Hybra Advance’s website, the base model Orb is set to release in Asia, Europe, and the U.S. in January 2010 and the deluxe version in April. We’ll have to wait with bated breath to see if the Orb makes the release date.  So far the suggested retail price is listed as $129 for the base model and $175. There’s also talk of limited editions with gemstones, but there’s no price as of yet since pricing will depend upon the gemstones used.