Crazy as it sounds, the Finis Swimp3 is a waterproof MP3 player. Not only that, it's a MP3 player that doesn't go into your ears. It relies on bone conduction, so you actually "hear" it through the vibration in your head. Don't worry, you don't feel anything and it's 100% safe. I remember my old Jabra hands-free did the same thing. If you try to use it out of water, it doesn't work very well (I tried).
You have to use these with goggles and underwater. In fact, they clip directly onto the goggles so they are both small and lightweight. The size and shape are similar to your standard bluetooth handsfree set. If I were a competitive swimmer, however, I'd be concerned the protrusion on the side of my head would affect my times, but how fast I swim is definitely not a concern of mine.
The device has a USB port and shows up on your Mac as a mass storage device ito which you can easily drag non-drm'ed MP3 files. The unit only holds about 256 MB, which is enough for a workout, but not much more. On Finis's website they have detailed instructions on how to place it properly on your head and suggested music to create a rhythm during your swim. I didn't try that, but I was able to listen to podcasts without a problem. Traditional music didn't sound great, but was acceptable under the circumstances. One does not buy these to catch the nuances of music pieces; you use this so you have something to listen to while swimming.
Device design is intuitive with an on/off button as well as volume and song selection buttons on the side, easily accessible while in the water. Similar to an iPod shuffle, there is no display on the unit, and it is well built for an athletic environment. Although the USB connector is protected from the water, I'd want the unit to fully dry out before I connected it back to the computer as one tiny drop of moisture could cause big problems. Therefore, it's probably not practical to change the songs each day. The USB connector is also the charger, so again I'd be concerned about moisture. The unit has an eight hour battery, which will give it plenty of usage during the average week.
Of course this convenience comes at a price, $150 retail. This isn't cheap, but if you swim often and want something to listen to, it actually does work!
Pros: Works unobtrusively underwater
Cons: Expensive, skimpy storage space
Macsimum rating: 7 out of 10
