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Plantronics outs Voyager Legend Bluetooth headset with enhanced voice recognition, improved battery life
For the most part, the headsets we've seen from Plantronics this year have been aimed at gamers, but make no mistake, the outfit is still churning out Bluetooth earpieces for road warriors: the company just announced its fifth-generation Voyager headset, the Voyager Legend. In many ways, it's an iterative product, with longer battery life (seven hours, up from six), and more mics (three instead of two). It also has an elongated windscreen and is 25 percent smaller than its predecessor, though Plantronics claims the in-ear fit hasn't changed. Key internals include Bluetooth 3.0, not 4.0, and support for streaming over A2DP. All told, exactly what you'd expect from the latest and greatest BT headset. But even more important than enhanced performance and a more compact design, the headset responds to voice commands in a smarter way. Say, for instance, that you receive an incoming call and happen not to be wearing your headset (maybe you took it out to charge). You can put the earpiece in and the headset will automatically pick up the call. Or, if you're not wearing your headset you can have it route calls to the phone instead. As for answering calls, you can say "answer" or "ignore," and you don't even have to press a button to activate the voice recognition. The earpiece can also announce your caller's name, so long as it's in your phone book. Additionally, the headset responds to about 10 other commands such as "check battery" and "pair me," but in these cases you do have to press a button first. Rounding out the feature list is a new Android-only Find MyHeadset app that uses tones and geolocation to help you figure out where you last saw your earpiece. The headset is available today for $100, and the company is also selling a desktop stand and charging case, both priced at $30.%Gallery-164953%
Bose Bluetooth Headset Series 2 enters the marketplace, still makes you look like a crazy
Know how sometimes you'll be walking down the street when you encounter a seemingly crazy person talking to themselves? And you think, "But you're too well-dressed to be insane." That's when you see it -- the Bluetooth headset tucked neatly around their ear. Well, Bose is adding a newer, high-end option for this well-heeled crowd of faux lunatics with its Bluetooth Headset Series 2. The luxe, over-ear attachment doesn't discriminate as to your best side, coming in both right and left versions. There's a whole load of hyperbolically-named proprietary tech bundled into it to reduce background noise and adjust listening levels accordingly -- exactly the performance you'd expect at this $150 price point. Bose is offering this BT 2.1 headset now, so you can snag it if you're nearby one of its boutiques. Or, make like the rest of us and order it online. Official PR with all its audio jargon after the break.
Bose BT2 Bluetooth headset cruises through the FCC, unsurprisingly mum on specifications
We're surmising that Bose has at least one other thing on the docket for its September 15th press event, but for those who still think Bluetooth headsets are must-have accessories... well, this guy ought to be hitting store shelves soon. The BT2 just passed through the FCC's database, showcasing a left ear placement and letting us know that it'll be "powered by a rechargeable, non-replaceable lithium-ion polymer battery." We're guessing it'll be priced accordingly (read: incomprehensibly out of reach for most), and will have precisely zero specifications printed on the box. But hey -- would you really expect anything else? Stay tuned.
Motorola's Droid CommandOne Bluetooth headset gets pictured
Motorola's CommandOne Bluetooth headset made a rather uneventful entry at CES this year, but toss a Droid badge onto it, and you've got something else entirely. To our knowledge, this is the first Bluetooth headset to get its own dedicated ticket to the ongoing Droid party, and according to Moto and Verizon's marketing material, it's a "headset so smart, it texts handsfree." There's no word yet on when it'll be splashing down (nor for how much), but we'll be sure to let you know as soon as we find out.
Early Venue Pro adopters get free Bluetooth headsets, the infinitely rewarding lesson of patience
Still bummed to be waiting for your Venue Pro? Dell's amended its December 14th shipping update -- henceforth known as (this time only, and then never again) as "VP Day" -- to let yearning customers know that, if they had ordered the device before that day, a present was coming in due course. Nay, not a present, a Thank You in the form of a free Plantronics Explorer 240 Bluetooth headset. That's shipping in four to six weeks, excusing any ironic bouts of delay of its own. Let's just hope it doesn't beat your Windows Phone 7 device to the doorstep. [Thanks to everyone who sent this in]
Bose enters single-ear Bluetooth headset market with expected swagger and price tag
"It's not every day you see a company release a Bluetooth headset" is something we'd like to say, but alas, it was not meant to be. Bose is the latest, launching what it claims is its first single-ear Bluetooth headset. The aural implant carries the family name and touted audio quality / proprietary technology, but functionality-wise, it's not much different than your run-of-the-mill earpiece. Of course, that branding carries a lot of weight with some folks, and for them, plan on paying just shy of $150 (before tax) when it comes out late November. Your weekly dose of bravado can be found in the press release after the break. %Gallery-105317%
Motorola sneaks out Roadster in-car speakerphone, Finiti and CommandOne BT headsets
Nah, this trio isn't nearly as flashy as Motorola's spate of new smartphones, but those still rockin' the earpiece (or trying to avoid a 'talking-while-driving' ticket) may be interested in the outfit's newest line of peripherals. Here at Fall CTIA 2010, Moto unveiled the Roadster in-car speakerphone alongside the Finiti and CommandOne Bluetooth headsets. From top to bottom, the Roadster is a clip-on device that goes on your visor, boasting dual-microphone noise cancellation technology and MotoSpeak -- a technology that reads your texts allows and accepts voice replies. There's an integrated battery that can withstand up to 20 hours of yapping (or three weeks of nothingness), and there's even an FM transmitter thrown in for good measure. The Finiti BT headset was engineered with "extreme conditions" in mind, adding to the Elite series with a trifecta of microphones and the aforesaid MotoSpeak read-back technology. It can supposedly let you carry on a conversion with 40 mile per hour winds whirling around you, but we're hoping you'd never actually be able to put it to the test. Finally, the CommandOne -- for all intents and purposes -- is simply a less rugged, differently styled version. The whole lot lands in Q4, but mum's the word on pricing. %Gallery-104422%
Plantronics goes chrometastic with Explorer 395 Bluetooth headset
Who says Bluetooth headsets aren't cool any more? Not Plantronics. Today, the California-based company released the Explorer 395 earpiece -- a $49.95 earpiece in both black and bronze flavors, and aimed at first-time Bluetooth users. How so? You get dedicated buttons for volume, power and phone call, which puts the confusing single-button-operated headsets to shame. Being a budget line, there's no fancy noise-cancellation technology offered here, although the 0.39-ounce weight and five-hour talk time (seven days of battery on standby) seem to give a good bang for the buck. Still, at the end of the day it's all about real-life appearance and audio quality, so we'll hold our judgement until we get a review unit later this week. Stay tuned.
Jabra Cruiser Bluetooth speakerphone and Extreme BT headset unveiled
There was a time when man and woman alike roamed the earth without large earpieces hugging the side of their head -- but that time has long since passed. Jabra's got a couple of new devices right up its alley. The Jabra Extreme Bluetooth features noise blackout extreme, dual mics with DSP and automatic volume control. The going price to slot into your canal is $80 and it should be available now via Best Buy. Less bionically plugged in is the Jabra Cruiser Bluetooth speakerphone for car usage. Noise blackout, caller ID via voice, the ability to pair two BT devices at once, remote MP3 control, and built-in FM transmitter for taking that lovely sound and playing it through your car stereo. That one's being sold online or via AT&T / Verizon for a cool Benjamin. PR is after the break.
Spracht Aura EQ Bluetooth headset boasts dual mics, equalizer and capacitive volume control
Spracht. It's probably not a company name you're intimately familiar with, but as with Jawbone, we're fully expecting it to become a mainstay in the Bluetooth earpiece sector after this unveiling. The Aura EQ earset is one of the wildest BT devices we've seen to date, boasting a slick, almost futuristic design and a smattering of features that are startlingly unique. For starters, it ships with twin switchable, focusable microphones, and if its ability to pair with up to eight phones doesn't bowl you over, maybe the built-in six-band equalizer will. Essentially, this headset will amplify and equalize the voice of whoever is speaking, which compensates for volume loss in certain ranges when communicating on a windy day or over a lackluster connection. Finally, exterior touts a capacitive volume control: simply slide your finger up or down the base, and the volume increases or decreases. No knobs or minuscule rocker switches to fuddle with. You'll be able to check this out worldwide in March for around $79 (estimated street price).
Vertu V makes no concessions: $730 BT headset, $490 card reader, and $330 ballpoint pen
Because nothing says "I ain't afraid of no recession" like plopping down an excess amount of Benjamins for a Bluetooth earpiece, Vertu has unveiled its V accessories collection. $780 gets you a Bluetooth 2.1-compliant earpiece with 6 hours of charge time (same one we saw hit the FCC recently, we suspect), $490 for a USB memory card reader that as a consolation prize comes with a 2GB microSD card, and as for the ballpoint pen, asking price is a cool $330. For all three purchases, it's recommended you purchase the special leather case for protection -- and if these gifts are already comfortably in your price range, hey, why not? [Thanks, Shayjd]
Jabra Stone to bring 'new shape' to Bluetooth headset field
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]
Bluetooth headset use plummets in the US, humanity celebrates a small victory
Join us as we rejoice together: "Finally!" Look, we can't straight up say that Bluetooth headsets don't have their place in this world, but seriously, we've yet to not be freaked out when walking up to someone who's apparently speaking to the ghost we can't see. In a recent survey conducted by the quizzical minds over at Strategy Analytics, they found that only 26 percent of US-based Bluetooth headset owners use their device each and every day. That figure is down from 43 percent in 2008, proving that style may have just notched a minor victory over utility. Of course, the study also found that daily BT headset use was up slightly in Europe, but hey, it takes awhile for these so-called "trends" to float across the pond.[Image courtesy of eHow, via HotHardware]
MoGo Talk intros Bluetooth headset for iPhone, everyone else
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 iPhoneRead - MoGo Talk for VoIP and Skype
Apple iPhone Bluetooth Headset now discontinued
Would it be too cruel to say we're shocked it lasted this long? Apple's iPhone Bluetooth Headset never was too popular outside of the hardcore Apple faithful, with a litany of respectable (and let's face it, far superior) alternatives available for a fraction of the $99 MSRP. To that end, Cupertino has seen fit to discontinue the peripheral, though prospective customers can apparently still buy 'em until supply runs dry. Here's a tip, though -- wait for the fire sale.[Thanks, Richard]
Metal Gear Solid 4 Bluetooth headset now shipping to ears everywhere
This is it, soldiers. The day you've been anticipating has finally arrived. Okay, so maybe that's a build up not deserved by the lowly retail version of the Metal Gear Solid 4 Bluetooth headset, but seriously, we've been waiting ages for this thing to ship. Like, so long that the whole MGS4 aura has already come and gone. Those still firmly planted in Snake's posse can choose to prove their fanhood by snagging this thing now for $59.99; if all goes well, it should be headed your way in a matter of business days. Over and out.[Via LogicBuy]
Love To Talk Jawbone headsets make your other ear jealous
Quite frankly, the traditional Jawbone headset is pretty stylish as is. Nevertheless, Yves Behar has somehow managed to make it even sexier with the creation of the Love To Talk family. This trio, which will reportedly be made available "in a very limited quantity," consists of a gold Sweet Talk version, black Dirty Talk edition and white Trash Talk model. No word on a price nor where to actually find one outside of the totally shady black market, but feel free to take a closer look at each in the read link below.
Third-party X360 Bluetooth headset beats MS to the punch
Datel's 3rd-party Xbox 360 Bluetooth headset has popped up on Amazon UK with a shipping date of the 30th of June and with a price tag of £59.99/$109. Originally the headset was said to ship on the 17th of March, but there's still no mention of it on the company's website, so it's possible that Amazon jumped the gun by placing it on their site. If it does ship when they say, it'll have the market for wireless Xbox 360 headsets to itself for quite a while; Microsoft hasn't said anything more about when their official headset will be released.The device itself is a bundle of what appears to be a relatively generic Bluetooth headset--it looks strikingly similar to Motorola's HS820 headset--coupled with a dongle that attaches to the controller's standard headset port, packaged together in a standard Xbox-green and white box. [Via Xbox 360 Fanboy]