Callpod's Drone Bluetooth adapter turns your Bluetooth headset into Skype's best friend

We were always curious as to why computers don't make it easier to take advantage of that fancy little Bluetooth headset of yours -- why buy a whole 'nother headset for Skype and Counter Strike (is that what kids are up to these days?) when your ridiculously overpriced Jawbone will do just fine? Callpod's newly released Drone USB Bluetooth adapter makes your Bluetooth headset look just like a regular headphone / mic combo to a PC or Mac, perfect for chewing out the kids from your hotel room over some long-distance Skype without messing with a tangle of wires. Callpod is also touting a 100 meter wireless range, and can naturally do regular, boring Bluetooth chores like transferring files and tethering your keyboard. The Drone is available now for $50.

[Via Crave]

[Charlie @ Nov 14th 2008 3:37AM]

I'm a little confused... I've used my Plantronics bluetooth headset with Skype a number of times and have never needed any special device to let me do that. 'Course, maybe that's because I've always used the Broadcom Bluetooth stack with my computer too...

[UnixSystemsEngineer @ Nov 14th 2008 5:40AM]

Glad it's not just me. I was going to say, seems to me my Jawbone has paired just fine with my past 2 Macs.. and sounds like it works fine in Windows too. Yippee.

[Joe @ Nov 14th 2008 10:31AM]

Yes, I don't get this. I've used Skype on my MacBook for well over two years and it's worked with a number of bluetooth headsets with no problems at all.

[TavisJohn @ Nov 14th 2008 12:27PM]

You mean most people can't just do this?
I have using standard BlueTooth headsets that were for cellphones on my computer for 2 years! My current laptop has BlueTooth built in! I use a Motorola Headset to do voice chat over many IM apps, as well as record myself on my computer.

So this "Magic" device does for $50.00 what every other BlueTooth USB device does for $20.00...

Well that goes to show you that the dumber you are, the easier it is to trick you out of your money!

[SimbaDogg @ Nov 14th 2008 2:15PM]

i dunno what the hell it is, but i've tried like hell to get my sony hbh-sd980 to connect...it never worked after i got the widcomm stack. so i just said forget it, then i saw there was a broadcom update available, and now after installing the update, i can't even get the computer to pair up w/ the device anymore. fuck it

[Tom @ Nov 14th 2008 4:11AM]

Erm, so this is basically a USB bluetooth adapter? The sort of thing that's been around for ages, and is a bit redundant because a lot of laptops now have bluetooth built-in.
I use my Ericsson bluetooth headset with Skype on my MacBook Pro, or rather I used to, because it was always very fiddly. There was always a point, mid-call, when I had to rush to the Skype Preferences Menu to switch the audio input and output device to the headset, regardless of how I had set it up before the call. Maybe I was missing something about where it defaults to, but Skype always seems to have an uncanny ability to choose the input/output device that you aren't using at the time.
So I went back to wired headphones and mike, although this also raised some problems that I think are exclusively Mac-related.
But if this CallPod has some software built in that automatically wakes up a computer, and tells it to listen out for audio input via Bluetooth, rather than wherever else it was looking previously, then good for them.
I still have a number of USB bluetooth adaptors lying around, maybe someone will pay me 50 bucks for them.

[Cathal @ Nov 14th 2008 5:42AM]

Just an FYI: You're better off not using a microphone with a mac, just headphones. The built-in mic is far and away better than a plug-in. Using normal headphones I get perfect quality skype calling on a macbook, and the built-in is excellent at filtering background noise.

As to the article, I was looking at buying a bluetooth headset recently but was told that it won't work with mac or pc, for reasons unknown. So it seems the headsets do need adapting sometimes; seems to go against the very point of bluetooth if you ask me..

[LJW @ Nov 14th 2008 10:27AM]

@Cathal: who told you the bluetooth headset wouldn't work with a Mac or PC? I have over a dozen models and have yet to find one that wouldn't function with my Mac and my PC laptop. Of course on Windows it can get a little tricky because you get your "choice" of Bluetooth stack vendor, and some are more capable than others.

In terms of range, the 100m range is typical of a "class 1" device (most devices are class 2). You can only achieve this range between two devices of the same class.

[mabhatter @ Nov 14th 2008 1:31PM]

the issue is that the bluetooth "profiles" are patented... each single one... That means if your dongle maker didn't pay to put each type.. or a new type in their drivers, you don't get it. The basic BT patents only cover file share, keyboard, mouse.. if you want things like stereo headphones or phone rated headsets your iomega or built-in OEM probably didn't pay for those profiles to be enabled. I run into this when I use devices between PCs with dongles and windows, linux, and macs each one sees the device's available features slightly differently and shouldn't.

[Videoconferencing Technology @ Nov 14th 2008 4:16AM]

In the world of video conferencing, there are many new additions and technologies being added to the already large feature of accessories. Video conferencing technology is just like any of the other developing technologies, in that there is always something new on the fore front of the technology.

[thazlett @ Nov 14th 2008 4:37AM]

"just like a regular headphone / mic combo to a PC or Mac"

They do that anyway, iv been using it for teamspeak and A2DP for like ages.

[Shawin @ Nov 14th 2008 4:45AM]

All bluetooth adapters can be used to make skype calls with bluetooth headsets. There's nothing special with this thing.

[Twitchy @ Nov 14th 2008 4:45AM]

CS 1.6 FTW!!! PoolDay, WOOT!

[Benson @ Nov 14th 2008 5:40AM]

And $50 is crazy expensive for a BT dongle.

Is Paul Miller on crack?!

[b @ Nov 14th 2008 6:27AM]

macs already have bluetooth built-in and supports simultaneous connection to keyboard, mouse and a2dp bluetooth headset at the same time. i have been using my plantronics bluetooth earpiece for skype for a very long time, just click "set up a new bluetooth device" and then tick bluetooth headset, os x even stores the pairing password of most major vendors!

probably this is more for the poor windows users out there...

[pathman @ Nov 14th 2008 7:30AM]

Holy crap - $50 for a BT dongle? Don't most laptops have bt built in these days anyway? For those that don't, a quick peak at The Egg shows you can get a perfectly functional BT 2.0 adapter that does everything this thing does for $10 and a nice fancy one w\ 100 positive reviews for $20.

this is stupid. I have to suspect money changed hands on this one. thanks oldgadget.

[pathman @ Nov 14th 2008 7:46AM]

no, toolbag. there is no such thing as spam for a good cause.

[mark balcerak @ Nov 14th 2008 7:54AM]

Now if I could only get anyone I know to use skype.

[Tonicboy @ Nov 14th 2008 8:19AM]

Even if you don't know a single person on Skype, you can still get unlimited calls to one country for $3/month, which saves you a lot on your monthly cellphone bill.

[Down @ Nov 14th 2008 7:57AM]

Dammn! That dongle looks goooood though.

[0megapart!cle @ Nov 14th 2008 8:35AM]

Did you all see that 100 meter part? That is a much longer range than a normal bluetooth device, and pretty much the defining feature of this device. That would allow you to walk all over your home, connected via Skype, using your normal Bluetooth headset. (About 10 times longer than the 30 feet you get typically with bluetooth products)

[cmaikai @ Nov 14th 2008 8:42AM]

That doesn't mean your bluetooth headset is going to be transmitting 100 meters too.

[0megapart!cle @ Nov 14th 2008 8:45AM]

I assume it has a supersensitive bluetooth receiver that can connect to normal bluetooth devices from 100 meters away. Otherwise, there'd be no point.

[lUp @ Nov 14th 2008 9:35AM]

depends which class the dongle is. class 1 has low data throughput but high range, class 2 (also known as EDR) hast only 10 meters range but a higher throughput.

concerning the device, I don't see anything special about it. any BT dongle supporting the handsfree protocol will be able to pair any standard bluetooth headset to you PC. I got a Stereo Headset which can be paired dually (A2DP for Music and Handsfree for calls) so that you can listen to music, and when a call comes through it automatically switches to Handsfree mode and back afterwards. You can also pair A2DP to the PC for music and handsfree at the same time to your mobile and receive incoming calls. Pretty nifty.

[0megapart!cle @ Nov 14th 2008 9:52AM]

There's obviously something special about it, if it has a 100 meter range. This is of course assuming they're not lying through their teeth.

[pathman @ Nov 14th 2008 10:07AM]

that is true. I have to admit I didn't really pick up on that...i wonder how the standard BT earpiece would handle that though...
good catch

[0megapart!cle @ Nov 14th 2008 10:16AM]

The only thing I can think of is they have a super sensitive antenna in there.

[Alan Partridge @ Nov 14th 2008 10:23AM]

The 100m range part isn't special. I bought a 100m Belkin Bluetooth adaptor about 3.5 years ago at PC World in London. I think it was £20 inc tax which was about $40. Its also thinner that this device.

[aphexii @ Nov 14th 2008 10:31AM]

100 meter range just means its Class 1 bluetooth, nothing special really as its been around for years.

[Benson @ Nov 14th 2008 12:35PM]

@IUp, completely wrong.

EDR is a separate thing added with BT 2.x, not related to class; both BT 1.x and 2.x come in class 1, 2, and 3, which designate transmitter power.

Class 1: 100mW output; with class 1 devices, have a nominal working range of 100 m.
Class 2: 2.5mW; with class 2, gets you 10 m.
Class 3: 1mW; with class 1, gets 1m.

Many, but not all, dongles are Class 1. Many headsets are Class 2, with the remainder Class 1.

Of course, using Class 2 and Class 1 devices will get you better range than Class 2 to Class 2, but not necessarily the whole 100 m.

[magnum870 @ Nov 14th 2008 10:13AM]

umm, hello? simple setting change and it recognizes it like that anyway, why would you spend extra money to do the same as what you already have?

[0megapart!cle @ Nov 14th 2008 10:14AM]

100 meter range, maybe?

[magnum870 @ Nov 14th 2008 10:18AM]

my bluetooth dongle's specs said the same, i never get that good of range, i'm pretty sure headset's are not powerful enough to push that far

[Squid7085 @ Nov 14th 2008 2:20PM]

I have never had any problem connecting my Bluetooth headset to my computer, I use it with Skype on a regular basis. This is pretty much a Bluetooth dongle, right? Those have been around for ages, and in a world for bluetooth being built in to most computers (Not sure about the PC side, but every Mac includes it.) These things are on the way out.

[Robert @ Nov 15th 2008 1:19AM]

I've been using my Mac BT with my headset since 2004. Is this new to anybody???

[CBass @ Nov 15th 2008 4:59AM]

this is, like, SO. 2006.
$16, newegg.

[failboat captain jack @ Nov 23rd 2008 10:45PM]

EPIC RTFA FAIL
This isn't a bluetooth dongle. It's a bluetooth to USB device converter. It lets you use BT devices on computers without a BT stack, linux devices, etc, without rebooting or installing proprietary software. If you are a Linux user or road warrior, this could be seriously useful.

The manufacturer demo makes this crystal clear:
http://www.callpod.com/products/drone

I don't think I've seen a less repentant pack of idiots this side of the Creation Museum.

[Lukas @ Feb 2nd 2009 5:09PM]

Right, the point is that for all intends and purposes its a USB device. What does that mean?

1) if you walk out of range, it will not switch to the speakers. thats a huge plus for me .. if i walk around the office and loose connection .. i do not want to have to sprint back to my laptop to prevent the world from hearing whatever i am listening to
2) it means they can do stuff like support bluetooth profiles that the OS does not support .. like making it possible to remote control itunes via the bluetooth remote control profile

now the thing that sucks is that there is no cheap way to get one of these babies in europe. shipping from the states is insanely expensive.