Unlike the YSL backpack, where the threads are wrapped around the straps, the white stripes of the Samsonite version are against the black background. This visual cue is helpful because I don’t need to experience around a touch-sensitive area. The razor texture also helps to distinguish them from the rest of the belt.
To connect the backpack to your phone, you have to slot a dongle the size of a thumb just like a jacket. While it was a little fuzzy on the cuffs of the sleeve, this module sits naturally next to the bottom of the backpack strap. The module syncs with your phone via Bluetooth, and through the Jacquard app, you can determine what the straps are brushing and what the bottom or double tapping can do.
There are no new tools available on the Jacquard platform – you can still skip or pause your music, ask the assistant a question or drop a PIN to remember the locations. I set the swipe up to go back to the song on my playlist, brushing down to go to the next track and double tap to take a selfie. I also chose to turn the dongle’s LED light up for Uber notifications when a message or call comes in.
Charlene Law / Engadget
While I was overwhelmed by the lack of new features, I was impressed with how responsive the Connect-1 was when I was compared to the jacket. When I receive a text, before my phone displays a warning, the straps vibrate to alert me. With a brush on the fibers, the assistant read me that content, though oddly enough it doesn’t leave the sender’s name.
Similarly, swiping up or down to control my music was quick, and a pair of Connect-1 had to be adjusted with my phone. I also liked that when I double tapped to take a selfie my phone not only could quickly pull the camera into the quad app and – not start a second countdown, but the backpack also shudders. Maybe because it’s on my shoulders and chest instead of my wrists, the vibration of the dongle felt stronger and more noticeable than the jacket.
I also like the implementation of Jacquard here. For one, I’m less likely to backpack in a washing machine (sometimes I do, okay?) And ruin the hardware if I forget to remove it. Backpacks are also a little more versatile than jackets – whether it’s 100 degrees or 10, you can always have a backpack. One thing the jacket does better, however, is that when the module’s LED lights up in a specific color, it’s easier to see in the sleeve than in the backpack strap.
Despite all the changes and benefits that Connect-i has brought, I’m not sure there’s a value proposition here. It can be helpful for your grocery run, bike ride or when you walk your dog. But a $ 200 smartwatch can do all the same things and more. It will be more useful if Jacquard has provided more skills, especially since it is easier to approach with a backpack strap than a small wearable face. As it stands, Connect-i is a unique product that will only appeal to a limited audience.
