Vocci Launches $249 Ring-Shaped Meeting Notetaker

The ring joins other wearable note-taking products, including Pebble's Index 01 Ring and Sandbar's Stream Ring, which also let users capture notes or reminders through button controls. Vocci's ring differs by making meeting note-taking a central function, TechCrunch reported.

The ring uses a button that users double-tap to start recording and double-tap again to stop, TechCrunch reported. A tap-and-hold gesture lets users ask Vocci AI questions, but that feature works only when the app is open. The ring has an indicator light and a haptic motor for recording feedback. It weighs less than 6 grams and uses titanium material on its inner and outer surfaces, likely a coating, according to TechCrunch. Vocci claims the ring can record notes for eight hours on a single charge, and it comes with a plastic case that can charge the ring up to three times.

TechCrunch's testing found that the ring captured meetings well. The reviewer said it recorded conversations lasting more than an hour in loud cafes and converted most of the chat into accurate transcripts. The device was less suited to short notes, according to the report.

The software was the disappointing part, TechCrunch said. The app is somewhat confusing, and when the reviewer took shorter notes, AI-generated insights were longer than the notes themselves. Each recording includes Chat, the main transcript; Highlights, short snippets captured by pressing the button while recording; and Notes, a summary and insight for the whole conversation. The app also has a tab called Base for transcripts, recordings, and generated content, which the reviewer found redundant. TechCrunch said it did not find a way to directly initiate a chat with AI for session transcripts.

The app does not directly integrate with reminder apps, which TechCrunch described as a drawback. The report also said software feature rollout has been slow. Vocci told TechCrunch that users can use its Model Context Protocol to connect to other assistants, but that option did not appear in the app until a few weeks ago. Other meeting notetakers are building platforms that let users automate insights and workflows through AI, while Vocci's platform is not fully built out for that at the moment, according to the report.

Privacy concerns stem from the ring's appearance. TechCrunch said the Vocci ring looks like a regular piece of jewellery until someone notices the button. The recording indicator faces the user. Best practice is to tell people they are being recorded, and some countries and regions require disclosure by law. But with this kind of device, TechCrunch said, some users could choose not to disclose and record a conversation without anyone noticing. Vocci said it encourages people to disclose that they are recording, but the report said that may not be enough.

At $249, the ring is pricey compared with other notetakers such as Plaud or Pocket, a cost TechCrunch attributed to the lightweight form factor. The device is aimed at people who do not want to attach a gadget to the back of a phone, wear a wristband, or wear a pendant. On the hardware level, many of these devices are combinations of microphones, a battery, and a connection to a phone. TechCrunch said more variety in hardware meeting notetakers is likely in the coming years until users settle on the formats that work for them.

Editor's Summary

Vocci has launched a $249 ring-shaped meeting notetaker that records and transcribes conversations, adding another wearable option to the meeting-notes market. TechCrunch found that the hardware captures long meetings well, but the app is confusing, integrations are limited, and the discreet ring design raises privacy concerns.