Tangled up in Bluetooth
By Cyrus Farivar 
posted Sep 9th 2006 7:29AM
posted Sep 9th 2006 7:29AM
posted Sep 9th 2006 7:29AM
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What price of this product?
Maybe as an accessory but I don't have a machine with bluetooth and I probably won't in the future. It would be silly to pay for it if I wouldn't use it.
Bluetooth is far from ubiquitous to warrant it being built-in to the iPod. Also wouldn't it be fairly slow for synching too in comparison to USB2?
Wouldn't it work better to just play your iPod into a Phone and use your Cell Phone? It would sound almost the same as Bluetooth.
Bluetooth will NEVER be part of the iPod ecosystem. That's because it doesn't have enough bandwidth for CD-quality uncompressed or w/ lossless compression. Bluetooth 2 hardly has enough bandwidth for a couple of users (and you would expect that in a range of 50 feet, more than 3 people will have an iPod, in the places that you really need an iPod: airplane, subway, bus, store, etc)
Yeah, what is the deal with Apple. That's one reason why I've been holding out so long to get an iPod. I could care less about the whole video thing. Heck, give me a black and white screen, but please, add bluetooth or something, just so we can listen to music with cordless headphones. And would it be that tough to cram an FM transmitter in there also?
hey guys you are TOTAllY missing the point on Bluetooth ipod integration. I have yet to buy AN ipod, for the simple reason of lack of bluetooth. (and expectantly awaiting a true V-ipod)
ok, so what would I use bluetooth for?
1. phone control, everything from what this thing (bluepod) does, to actually becoming the controller of the cell phone, aka control contacts, make a call etc. etc.
1a. Vis Versa, use your phone to control your Ipod (I personally have a Pocket Pc, seriously, once bluetooth is around somebody will be writing an app for complete control.
2. can anyone say Itunes remote control?
3. And I disagree (marian) complete intregration in cars and headphones (bluetooth) would be exceptional (2.0) of course.
4. notice on this bluepod you have your basic controls? wouldn't it be nice to fix that to your sterring wheel... say Wirelessly?
5. finally, don't know about you guys, but say I leave my earpiece lying someplace... I always know when Im about to exit the 30foot area, my phone beeps... once more, how many people lose their Ipods on a by-minute basis?
6... I know I allready said finally... I have lots of bluetooth, all my computers, pocket pcs and my phone have bluetooth, syncing might not be very efficient when your talking gigabytes... (ok not efficient at all) but when I have just bought one song from Itunes at my local hotspot it would certainly be hotness to sync it via bluetooth on the spot!
Bluetooth had BETTER be in the future.
I wouldn't want to use bluetooth to transfer data consistently...the instant download at a hotspot sounds cool though. If you're looking for a Bluetooth dongle to use wireless headphones, Oakley's icombi ap21 works. It plugs into the data port of iPod's and pairs perfectly with my Jabra BT620's which are already connected to my phone. When I get a call, the music is paused...life is sweet.
Actually, Zoundguy you're missing the point. Sounds like you're a gadget guy who doesn't realise that you are not the mass market. You may all want those things but not many other people do. An iPod will never be the thing for you.
If you're looking for loads of extra features then you'll need to buy from someone else. iPods are music players and that's what they do best and that's why they are successful.
Hamson - you can get wireless bluetooth headphones for ipods and other devices. There were some profile on here recently.
screw ipods, SE phones with bluetooth headsets are the way to go for bluetooth lovers.
i love my w900 & k790
ipods, pfft, trash pods.
after two seconds are i never thought to want Bluetooth in an ipod. But lets think about it....
All new model cars are starting to integrate bluetooth tech so far allowing for handsfree phone operation.
Already car manufacturers have options for iPod specific hookups which is nice (and expensive).
But what if there was a Bluetooth iPod? Keep it in your bag and listen while working out or walking to school/work via wireless headset. But now think about getting in your car after your workout...don't even take the ipod out of your bag and let your car pick up the ipod through the sound system.
Sounds like a world i would want to live in. Bluetooth is inexpensive to add to electronics. With Apple's profit margins, they could easily mitigate the cost of the added feature. In fact i'm looking to the zune soon unless apple impresses me with some new and usefull features...such as bluetooth in an ipod.
marian, just you wait. you will be very wrong
Believe it or not the I think the hold up/slowness with Bluetooth and Stereo Audio for Apple is once again DRM. If they get the sound quality good enough they think it will be yet another way to digitally copy the music and bypass the DRM.
One thing people seem to have forgotten:
Bluetooth = decreased battery life.
Decreased battery life? Then put in a bigger battery or make it swappable. If battery life was always such a huge concern, then we wouldn't see any feature in anything. Color screens and video capability decrease battery life, too, but that didn't stop Apple from integrating them.
I want to be able to use BT headphones - I'm sick of wires and all the stupid bulky Ipod addons. Integration is the key here.
I want BT integrated into the next Ipod.
yes! integration like the SE k790/k800
it's not there yet, but it's a pretty good combo of a mobile phone / okay quality digital camera / good mp3 player with bluetooth headset support! =)
as far as bluetooth headphones go, i'm not excited.
nobody has really had the time to research how to get great sound quality out of bluetooth..
i'm happy with my wires for now
OH DANG!! Not a bigger battery on something that I don't have to carry around thanks to my bluetooth headphones! I deffinitly agree about making more progress with bt headphones though. Not much has been done about it, and the little that has been done I'm not very impressed with.
I enjoy bluetooth on my phone, but this trend towards what I believe will ultimately be your phone/music/movies/primary computer/etc. into one unit has me slightly concerned. The iPod is certainly harmless enough, but it's another step towards this "dream gadget" that will almost certainly materialize at some point, and people put their whole lives into their phones, PDA's, and computers as it is. Even today's digitally encrypted phone signals can be intercepted by someone with the technological savvy, and the more things you use wirelessly, the greater the odds of your information being stolen. Moving from encrypted audio signals to encrypted data signals is a fine line, and could be easily accomplished by some people. Wireless gadgets certainly have their place, but I think, by demanding everything be wireless, we're ultimately opening ourselves up for wireless hackers and identity thefts. It's stunning the number of people who don't take basic precautions on their home computer wireless networks, and I believe that, by nature of the "target" being quite mobile, you are inviting more hackers.
Maybe I'm just paranoid, but I've been in law enforcement to know that, if someone makes something new and secure, someone will find a way to break into that system.
There's no bluetooth currently available in the iPod because they're waiting on the iPhone. LOL
Why is it that Engadget Chinese has really nice mockup pics of the iPhone, but the main Engadget doesn't have anything?
And back to the bluetooth...I can't wait till it comes out so I can waste my money and get a new iPod...I use a Griffin FM Transmitter in my car, which works well, but it's a freakin' plumbing device blocking my access to the A/C button and the fan. I don't know why Jobs likes to piss everyone off so much.
Last month, I purchased a device bundle from the Motorola Vending Machine in Libertyville: a HT820 and a TEN NaviPlay that -- I think -- fits every ipod out there (including my ipod mini, the model which Apple no longer shows on any product page as though it never existed). Breathe in... breathte out... drop my anguish at being so abandoned by Apple...
After the loooooong first charge of both batteries, I paired twice (HT820/naviplay, HT820/A1200) and was listening to music in a few minutes. Later, I did a conference call with the HT820 and A1200, and went back to music. Received an incoming call, and nearly panicked trying to remember if I hit the left ear or right to accept a call (which auto-pauses music).
Shame on you, Engadget, you already covered it: http://www.engadget.com/2006/01/04/motorola-music-duo-bundles-the-ht820-bt-headphones-with-the-navi/
I thought it was only USD120 for the pair.
I think people are still misunderstanding what this product does. The point is to let your *cabled* iPod headphones act as a headset for your BT-enabled phone (the pictured remote has a mic) - not to listen to iPod music through BT. A big improvement over removing your headphones and fumbling for your phone, if you notice it ringing at all.
See http://www.reghardware.co.uk/2006/08/08/preview_mavizen_blueye/