FOOTHILL RANCH, Calif., October 27, 2014 – Oakley, Inc. today announced it has teamed up with Garmin® to expand the functionality of the next evolution in Oakley Airwave™ alpine goggle technology. Wireless technology and a specially designed app will allow the goggle’s heads-up display to be used with the Garmin VIRB® Elite action camera.
“It is an honor to partner with Garmin, and we are excited to further expand the already stunning array of capabilities offered by Airwave goggles,” said Chris Donnelly, Oakley Senior Vice President of R&D & Optics. “Garmin’s solid reputation in the sport performance market and uncompromising level of quality matches up well with the Oakley brand.”
“We are thrilled to partner with Oakley to make it easy for people to control their VIRB Elite action camera using the Airwave 1.5 goggle,” said Dan Bartel, Garmin Vice President of Worldwide Sales. “Oakley shares our passion for innovation, and through this collaboration we’re enabling our customers to use our products in more ways than ever before. It’s a natural fit.”
Customers with the Oakley Airwave 1.5 snow goggle will be able to wirelessly connect their goggles to the VIRB Elite action camera, allowing the goggle to serve as a live video heads-up display, as well as a remote control. The glove-friendly remote for Airwave 1.5 enables the user to control camera features, and the goggle’s heads-up display can serve as the camera’s LCD display to show live video previews, as well as data from the camera’s built-in GPS sensor.
Oakley Airwave goggles combine world-class performance, protection and comfort with a heads-up display developed by Recon Instruments that integrates GPS, Wi-Fi, MFi Bluetooth® and more with a host of onboard sensors to offer instant access to a world of information. The innovative design allows the wearer to navigate resort maps; see jump analytics, speed and altitude; control their soundtrack; and locate and track friends on the slopes who have Oakley Airwave goggles or the Recon Engage App on their smartphone. Airwave 1.5 offers a broader range of connectivity, enhanced display graphics and improved battery life.
Donnelly added, “With Oakley Airwave 1.5 offering such a comprehensive range of features, a key focus in development was ease of use. The user interface of Garmin products sets the standard for the industry, and it further exemplifies the synergy between our two companies.”
The Garmin VIRB Elite action camera features built-in GPS, an accelerometer and an altimeter, and data seen in the Airwave 1.5 heads-up display can be overlaid onto the video recording. Aerodynamic and water resistant with an IPX7 rating, the camera has a rugged design that does not require a case for most activities, and the battery provides up to three hours of recording in full 1080p HD video. The VIRB Elite also has a 1.4″ Chroma display for convenient preview and playback.
Oakley Airwave 1.5 goggles and the Garmin VIRB Elite action camera are available at Oakley.com, Oakley Stores and select retail destinations.
Visit Oakley.com to learn about Airwave alpine goggles and discover more about the company’s performance and lifestyle innovations. Also visit Oakley at Facebook, Twitter, YouTube and Instagram.
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About Oakley, Inc.
Established in 1975 and headquartered in Southern California, Oakley is one of the leading sports brands in the world. The holder of more than 675 patents, Oakley is continually seeking problems, solving them with inventions and wrapping those inventions in art. This philosophy has made Oakley one of the most iconic and inimitable brands on the market, with innovations that world-class athletes around the globe depend on to compete at the highest level possible. Oakley is famed for its insuperable lens technologies such as High Definition Optics® (HDO®) which is incorporated into all Oakley sun and prescription eyewear, and all premium Oakley goggles. Oakley has extended its leadership position as the world’s leading sports eyewear brand into apparel, footwear and accessories collections. Laser focused on the consumer, Oakley has both men’s and women’s product lines that target Sports Performance, Active and Lifestyle consumers. Oakley is a subsidiary of Luxottica Group. Additional information is available at www.oakley.com.
About Garmin International Inc.
For 25 years, Garmin has pioneered new GPS navigation and wireless devices and applications that are designed for people who live an active lifestyle. Garmin serves five primary business units, including automotive, aviation, fitness, marine, and outdoor recreation. For more information, visit Garmin’s virtual pressroom at garmin.com/newsroom, contact the Media Relations department at 913-397-8200. Garmin International Inc. is a subsidiary of Garmin Ltd. (Nasdaq: GRMN). Garmin Ltd. is incorporated in Switzerland, and its principal subsidiaries are located in the United States, Taiwan and the United Kingdom.