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Jabra Stone to bring 'new shape' to Bluetooth headset field

by Darren Murph posted Sep 23rd 2009 at 4:52PM

C'mon, cut us some slack here. We're suckers for teasers, and our intuition says that you are too. Jabra, who has definitely done a thing or two for the Bluetooth headset realm, is apparently looking to reveal a "new shape" on October 20th, though it'll only be sold through AT&T (at least initially). Heck, there's even a countdown timer over on the outfit's teaser page for those who'd like to watch every second from now till then tick away, not to mention a brief video that tersely details the forthcoming excellence. So, got any bright ideas about what this thing could be? The second coming of the BT headset? Just another tchotchke?

[Via Electricpig]

MoGo Talk intros Bluetooth headset for iPhone, everyone else

by Darren Murph posted Jul 16th 2009 at 9:03AM

At this point, Bluetooth headsets are pretty played, but it's some kind of thrilling to see at least one company keeping things interesting. Newton Peripherals is that very outfit, today introducing a pair of new devices that are definitely unique in a sea of me-too ear pieces. First up is the MoGo Talk for iPhone, which adheres to the back of your handset and keeps the headset nearby at all times -- think LG's Decoy, but a tad less elegant. Next up is the MoGo Talk for VoIP & Skype (our personal favorite), which slides inconspicuously into one's ExpressCard slot in order to a) stay out of harm's way and b) charge when not in use. Too bad Apple decided that these slots were practically unwanted in its newest 13- and 15-inch MacBook Pros, huh? Both devices can be pre-ordered right now for $99 apiece, with shipments expected to begin next month.

[Via HotHardware]

Read - MoGo Talk for iPhone
Read - MoGo Talk for VoIP and Skype

UK ATMs set to offer WiFi access, free for BT and iPhone users

by Vladislav Savov posted Jun 27th 2009 at 4:13PM

BT Broadband customers and O2 iPhone owners, rejoice -- some 2,500 ATM machines near you will soon be converted to serve as free WiFi hotspots, courtesy of BT Openzone and Cashbox, perhaps the most mismatched pair of commercial metaphors ever put together. The initial rollout starts with 10 machines this week and numbers are expected to steadily increase. Non-BT users and iPhone heretics wanting to join in the fun will have to shell out £5.88 ($10) for 90 minutes or a more reasonable £9.79 ($16) for 24 hours.

[Via Tech Digest]

Study finds that Lockheed Martin needs to stop disposing of hard drives with top secret data intact

by Joseph L. Flatley posted May 7th 2009 at 4:39PM

With all of those crazy defense contracts Lockheed Martin has goin' on, you'd think the company would have its act together as far as the need to hold down its data goes -- but according to The Daily Mail, this may not be the case. Researchers at BT's Security Research Center have found an overwhelming amount of sensitive data on hard drives purchased through computer fairs and auctions as a part of a recent study, including: bank account details, medical records, and confidential business and financial data. Although many organizations were found to be at fault, the most troubling (sensational) instance included test launch procedures for Lockheed Martin's THAAD (Terminal High Altitude Area Defense) missile defense system, found on hardware purchased from eBay. Also on the same disk were security policies, blueprints, and employees' personal info. When asked for a comment, a spokesman for the company stated that "Until Lockheed Martin can evaluate the hard drive in question, it is not possible to comment further on its potential contents or source." It looks like we're not getting to the bottom of this one any time soon, but in the meantime: if any defense contractors have any questions on the subject, we'll be happy to help.

[Via Slashdot]

Bluetooth 3.0 + HS gets official, adds speed with 802.11

by Darren Murph posted Apr 21st 2009 at 2:00PM

The rumors were true, and today's the day that the Bluetooth SIG gets official with the latest, greatest version of Bluetooth. Bluetooth 3.0 + HS, as it'll be called, promises to be markedly faster than prior iterations thanks to the reliance on 802.11, which is the same protocol used by WiFi modules, routers, etc. The new standard obviously catapults Bluetooth into a new dimension; rather than being good for nothing more than sending images from one phone to another or syncing a fitness module to a DAP, v3.0 is nimble enough to handle camcorder-to-HDTV, PC-to-PMP and UMPC-to-printer transfers. In fact, the inclusion of the 802.11 Protocol Adaptation Layer (PAL) provides increased throughput of data transfers "at the approximate rate of 24Mbps." We had sit-downs with Mike Foley (executive director of the Bluetooth SIG) and Atheros CTO Bill McFarland in order to find out a few more details about plans for the protocol -- if you're eager to hear what they had to say, not to mention see a demonstration of BT 3.0 at work, follow us past the break.

Continue reading Bluetooth 3.0 + HS gets official, adds speed with 802.11

Plantronics Voyager PRO gets purchased, unboxed early

by Darren Murph posted Apr 20th 2009 at 1:52PM

Plantronics isn't planning to share intimate details about its Voyager PRO Bluetooth headset until April 23rd, but evidently its supply chain executives didn't exactly touch base with marketing before sending out stock to Best Buy. Jeff and John both managed to procure the $119.99 Bluetooth headset over the weekend, and we've got the shots to prove it. Based on the teaser site down in the read link, this here headset should be it's most advanced yet, but for a buck twenty, it better answer and respond to our calls without us having to intervene.

Update: Plantronics pinged us to say the price point here should be $99. Interesting.

[Thanks, Jeff and John]

Gallery: Plantronics Voyager PRO gets purchased, unboxed early

Bluetooth 3.0 to use WiFi for high-speed file transfers

by Nilay Patel posted Apr 13th 2009 at 9:48PM

Sounds like the Bluetooth 3.0 announcement on April 21 is going to finally usher in the era of high-speed short-range data transfers -- as previously hinted, the new spec will actually negotiate a quick'n'dirty ad-hoc WiFi connection between devices if it needs to move bits in a hurry, and then turn off the spigot to save power when it's done. The idea is to leverage the speed of WiFi while keeping power usage low, and we'd say it's a pretty trick solution, since most Bluetooth-capable devices also have WiFi radios (cough, Storm). Since the ad-hoc WiFi connection is managed over Bluetooth, no actual wireless network is necessary, and the switch will appear seamless to the user -- except for the sudden increase in data transfer speeds. Yeah, it's definitely slick stuff -- we're looking forward to seeing the first devices in action next Tuesday.

[Via MocoNews]

Bluetooth 3.0 specification to debut on April 21st

by Darren Murph posted Apr 9th 2009 at 9:48AM

We've seen no official word from the Bluetooth Special Interest Group, but phonescoop has it that the Bluetooth 3.0 specification is just about ready for prime time. Reportedly, the spec will feature "dramatically increased speeds, allowing for the transfer of large video files, music collections and photo libraries wirelessly within seconds." BT 3.0 should also include a newfangled ability called Enhanced Power Control (EPC), which will supposedly "reduce the occurrence of disconnects that can be caused by actions such as putting a phone in a pocket, backpack, briefcase or purse." We're told to expect a whole boatload of details, along with a list of chip makers already lined up to provide support, on April 21st.

Update: It's official -- April 21st is a go. Head past the break for the official verbiage.

Continue reading Bluetooth 3.0 specification to debut on April 21st

Ask Engadget: Best solution for Bluetooth stereo audio?

by Darren Murph posted Apr 3rd 2009 at 1:27AM

Look out! You've just stumbled upon this week's episode of Ask Engadget, and we've got a real brain burner on our hands this evening. Before you dig in, though, feel free to blast your own question in to ask at engadget dawt com.

I recently got a new music-oriented phone (Nokia 5800 XpressMusic) with Bluetooth stereo audio (A2DP) and am trying to get some opinions on what might be the best solution out there for me. It seems to me like I have 3 options as far as general solution types: self contained Bluetooth headphones, such as the Motorola S9; Bluetooth receivers with headphone jacks, such as the SonyEricsson HBH-DS220; or transmitter / receiver pairs. My specific needs are that it supports remote control (AVRCP), has good sound, is under $100, and if the unit can bind to multiple devices that would be great. The ultimate item would somehow work with my phone as well as my PSP, but that's probably a pipe dream. Thanks!

So, wireless audio partakers -- what say you? Got any great tips? Got any horror stories? Either way, spill it below.

Samsung's flower-inspired BSP6000 Bluetooth speaker hits FCC

by Darren Murph posted Feb 15th 2009 at 5:41PM

Samsung has a history of pumping out Bluetooth speakers with unorthodox designs, so we can't say we were totally taken off guard when this one popped up in the FCC's database. That said, it's hard not to be a little shocked when checking out a speaker that looks more like a pair of black flowers than an audio maker, but that's exactly what's presented in the BSP6000. This mobile companion not only allows for BT music streaming, but it also pairs with your handset in order to initiate / answer / end calls. Predictably, Sammy threw in a standard 3.5 millimeter auxiliary jack for connecting any other music source, and we're told that it'll work with your BT phone so long as it's within a 30 foot radius. Obviously, there's no mention of a price or release date (though that would be nice of you to find out, FCC), but we'll be sure to keep an eye out for more. Shouldn't be too hard to miss.

Xbox 360 IPTV dream not dead yet

by Richard Lawler posted Jan 10th 2009 at 8:01PM

Remember Xbox 360 IPTV rollout? Though the wonderful fantasy of replacing our stodgy cable DVRs with an all-in-one Left 4 Dead playing / channel surfing beast has dried up like a raisin in the sun, Dave Zatz confirmed with Microsoft booth reps that BT is (still) planning on deploying the service, and despite the NXE the UI will retain the look of the current Motorola boxes pictured above. Now that U-Verse has delivered Total Home DVR and upgraded beyond 1 HD stream at a time, maybe they can get to work on this deployment next?

CSR demonstrates Bluetooth low energy transfer

by Darren Murph posted Jul 23rd 2008 at 2:17AM

We know you're not really down with digesting any more catchphrases, but the technology formerly known as Ultra Low Power Bluetooth / Wibree is now being dubbed Bluetooth low energy. Now that we're clear on nomenclature, you may be thrilled to know that CSR showcased its recently unveiled BlueCore7 dual mode (Bluetooth low energy and Bluetooth v2.1) chip at a Bluetooth SIG Medical Working Group meeting. According to onlookers, the handset was able to transfer data to another nearby mobile using just 3 frequencies rather than 32, resulting in an unquantifiable decrease in power consumption. Sounds like a winner on the surface, but we have this weird feeling that mass adoption of this tech is like, years away.

BT plans 100Mbps UK broadband service by 2012, Gigabit speeds possible

by Thomas Ricker posted Jul 15th 2008 at 4:57AM

British Telecom just announced its new £1.5 billion ~~fiber~~ fibre-based, broadband plan for the UK. By 2012, BT hopes to have "as many as 10 million homes" (about 40% of the UK) wired for service with speeds up to 100Mbps -- potentially capable of exceeding 1,000Mbps (1Gbps) at some unspecified point in the future. BT plans to deliver 100Mbps direct to new homes or 40Mbps (and possibly 60Mbps as they test new technology) to homes with a copper link to the fiber cabinet. For the plan to be implemented, BT says that a "supportive and enduring regulatory environment" is required with the removal of current barriers to fiber investment identified as a good place to start. In other words, 2012 might easily become 2020 (without the clarity) if an agreement with regulators and rivals can't be reached.

[Via Guardian, Thanks L.Rawlins]

BT said to be prepping a "BlackBerry-style" hybrid handset

by Darren Murph posted May 6th 2008 at 7:58PM

Britain's top fixed-line carrier is apparently aiming to get back in the handset game, as Times Online is reporting that said company will reveal a "BlackBerry-styled" device that does everything your typical smartphone can along with one extra inclusion. According to the writeup, the forthcoming device will "switch from BT's wireless Home Hub indoors to Vodafone's network on the move," and it's expected to be sold with a broadband package. Of course, those familiar with BT will recall that this isn't the outfit's first foray in the sector, but it's hoping the new handset will fare a good bit better than the poorly received BT Fusion. So, how's about a picture of this thing?

[Via Pocket-lint]

Update: The BT ToGo is official.

JayBird reveals JB-200 Bluetooth Stereo Headset

by Darren Murph posted Apr 21st 2008 at 2:22PM

Chances are, that JB-100 you picked up 'round Christmastime last year isn't even broken in yet, but JayBird's already launching the aforesaid device's proper successor. The just-introduced JB-200 features complete AVRCP music / call controls, an improved fit (25-percent narrower ear-tip), better sound isolation, higher-grade silicon tips, boosted bass performance and a 1-inch longer behind-the-neck cord. For those rolling without an A2DP-capable handset / handheld, the company still offers up its Bluetooth Adapter for iPod or the Bluetooth adapter for MP3, the latter of which functions with practically any DAP or PMP. You'll also get around 5.5-hours of music listening time, 6.5-hours of talk time and 110-hours in standby mode. The JB-200 should be shipping out as we speak for $129.99, but folks needing one of the previously mentioned adapters will be coughing up an extra $30.

[Thanks, Donald]