Bluetooth -- Engadget

bluetooth posts

Make your own Bluetooth Star Trek Communicator (video)

by Joseph L. Flatley posted Nov 6th 2009 at 5:21PM

If you're looking for a project for the weekend and the Knock Lock seems a little naff, why not try building your own Bluetooth Star Trek communicator? This is definitely not a project for the faint of heart -- expect to custom cut a circuit-board, drill some holes, add a serial port, a Bluetooth module, and a microcontroller. That said, when it's all said and done you'll be placing (and answering) calls the same way they do in the 23rd century: by speaking through a small, distorted speaker. If this is your thing, hit up that read link to get the full step-by-step. But before you go that route, be sure to peep the video demo after the break.

Continue reading Make your own Bluetooth Star Trek Communicator (video)

Send your 'Hiro P' BUGbase back, get a BUGbase WiFi for $99

by Darren Murph posted Nov 5th 2009 at 4:32PM

If you classify yourself as a hardcore DIYer, you probably sprung for Bug Labs' 'Hiro P' BUGbase way back in the day. You've also likely been weeping since the entirely more awesome BUGbase WiFi was announced last month. Thankfully, you can now empty your current bucket of tears and stash it away for good, as a wicked good deal has just arrived to turn that frown upside-down. Bug Labs is offering the $449 BUGbase WiFi for just $99 if you send your original BUGbase back to the company before November ends. If you'd like to take advantage, feel free to hit up Bug and mention the offer being emailed out to existing users after the break.

Continue reading Send your 'Hiro P' BUGbase back, get a BUGbase WiFi for $99

Garmin EcoRoutes ESP module turns your GPS into car sentinel

by Vladislav Savov posted Nov 5th 2009 at 6:15AM

Get ready to tech up your driving experience, as Garmin has unveiled a new accessory for its nuvi line of GPS devices that lets you add a number of customizable gauges and monitoring utilities. The new ESP module tucks into the OBD-II diagnostics port on your car and communicates (via Bluetooth) all-important data like intake air temperatures and the fuel efficiency of your driving to the nuvi up top. Yea, it's been done before, but Garmin is (for the time being) a major force in navigation devices and could truly popularize this should there be enough interest. For our money, it's both a neat and geeky way to expand the functionality of the now threatened satnav species. The full dish on price and availability can be expected at CES 2010 this coming January.

EOps i24R3Portable speaker is mad, bad, and waterproof

by Vladislav Savov posted Nov 4th 2009 at 5:02PM

Think of a soundbar rolled into a circular, battery-powered body and you'll have a pretty good idea of what we're looking at here. The product's name -- EOps i24R3Portable Wireless Waterproof Digital Speaker Platform -- should tidy up any further queries you may have. Michael Young's latest design for EOps, whose appearance only hints at its i24R3 heritage, is a fully sealed noisemaker that can communicate via wireless USB or Bluetooth, depending on the model. You should pick your poison with care as there are no options for wired hook-ups. With a Li-Pol battery pack and an array of flat panel speakers and passive radiators inside, this could well be the ultimate in portable weatherproof speaker design, but even if it isn't, we'd still consider mounting it on a wall and worshipping it as our Sun God.

[Via Design Spotter]

Healthcare-friendly Bluetooth revision is four times faster, still seems slow

by Tim Stevens posted Nov 3rd 2009 at 8:48AM

Bluetooth may be good for rocking tunes or dropping calls, but transmitting high-res medical imagery seems like something of a stretch. Nevertheless, that's what a team at the PSG College of Technology Peelamedu in India has worked up~~, dubbed PACS: Picture Archiving and Communication Systems~~. It's built on Bluetooth spec and so offers similar range and reliability of transmission, but at higher speeds. Only anecdotal bandwidth levels have been provided thus far, indicating a 1.5MB image can be transmitted in 120 seconds compared to the 400 standard Bluetooth would require; a nice boost for sure, but two minutes per picture still seems awfully slow when a good 'ol 802.11a WiFi could beam it in seconds -- and at greater range.

Update: As many commenters have pointed out, PACS is an existing infrastructure for storing and sharing medical imagery. This is an extension of that system to allow Bluetoothy communication.

Cartel's CT-2000 in-car Bluetooth handset adds music control, can't shake the retro

by Darren Murph posted Nov 3rd 2009 at 6:16AM

Cartel's CT-1000 brought about lots of laughs here at Engadget HQ, and frankly, we're shocked and amazed (and glad) these guys are still hanging tough two years later. The newest in-car handset system is the predictably titled CT-2000, which includes a Bluetooth-enabled handset that's meant to be permanently installed within your vehicle and wired to your audio system. Once installed, all of your mobile calls can be routed to this -- because, you know, chatting on a corded phone circa 1992 is entirely more safe than chatting on your mobile or using a handsfree solution. The only difference we can spot between the new guy and the aged sibling is the addition of music control, a "slimmer" (albeit wider) design, room for your phone contacts and one-touch speed dialing. There's no mention of a price, but trust us, you're better off in the dark.

[Thanks, Martin]

Plantronics Voyager PRO UC headset does Bluetooth and VoIP

by Darren Murph posted Nov 3rd 2009 at 12:11AM

Considering that Bluetooth headset makers are now dealing with the harsh realization that consumers don't actually like these things any more, Plantronics -- a staple in the sector -- is hoping to snag some dollars from the unknowing corporate purchasing managers in attendance. The Voyager PRO UC is a dual-mode headset that packs integrated Bluetooth capabilities and ships with a USB dongle that allows softphone conversations (think Skype) to take place on your headset rather than through your laptop's built-in microphone / speaker. Users can even stream audio over it and hear alerts when a VoIP call rings in, and as expected, there's quite a bit of noise nixing technology baked in. The only problem? The $199.95 price tag that'll be affixed to it when it ships later this month.

[Via HotHardware]

TomTom Car Kit for iPhone review

by Richard Lai posted Oct 29th 2009 at 4:05PM

Boy, TomTom sure has chosen the worst possible time to release its Car Kit for iPhone, and to make matters worse, its decision to not include the iPhone app is now set in stone. That's right, the hardware alone will set you back the cost of a TomTom ONE nowadays, and the $99.95 app works on the iPhone 3G and 3GS without it. So here's the question: is the car kit worth the extra $119.95? To find out, we got hold of a review unit for a sunny road trip around London. Surprisingly, the car kit uses Bluetooth to connect the GPS receiver and the hands-free function to the iPhone, even though there's a dock connector for charging. Bluetooth connectivity does have its advantages: according to TomTom it can work as a generic Bluetooth GPS receiver for any satellite navigation app -- including Google Maps -- on the iPhone, or any smartphones at all for that matter. TomTom even confirmed that the car kit could potentially compensate for the first-generation iPhone's lack of built-in GPS, but since its app won't run on anything but a 3G or 3GS we'll have to wait and see if that's actually useful. Meanwhile, the company is cooking up a compatible app for the original iPhone and the iPod Touch, which could make the car kit more worthwhile. Read on for our hands-on impression and test videos.

[Thanks for being our driver, Sam]

Gallery: TomTom Car Kit for iPhone review

Continue reading TomTom Car Kit for iPhone review

Apple's Magic Mouse now shipping: seeks mighty revenge

by Thomas Ricker posted Oct 29th 2009 at 5:34AM

Apple's Mighty Mouse was one of the most loved and loathed rodents of all time. When it worked, it was a magnificent productivity booster for Mac users. Unfortunately, over time, even after hours and hours of vigorous rubbing, the top-mounted trackball would become so ensnared in hand-jam that owners were left with two options: delicately splay the mouse for a bit of X-acto home surgery... or smash it with a vengeance hammer until justice was served. So maybe now you can understand all the hopeful fuss made over its successor: the Magic Mouse. It's now shipping to those of you who ordered it separately from its iMac bundle. Snow Leopard (and Leopard) users can even download the software update now so that all those multi-touch and gestural features will be enabled once the bluetooth mouse arrives. Then we'll see if this is the mouse that rights all those wrongs.

Update: Added 10.5.8 Leopard download link.

Read -- Wireless Mouse Software Update 1.0 (Snow Leopard)
Read -- Wireless Mouse Software Update 1.0 (Leopard)
Read -- Magic Mouse now shipping

i.Tech's SolarVoice Bluetooth headset could save the environment, not your look

by Tim Stevens posted Oct 28th 2009 at 8:41AM

Those looking for another excuse to wear a Bluetooth headset all the time just got it: iTech's $75 Dynamic SolarVoice 908. That awfully long title is applied to a conceptually simple device, a headset with a tiny solar panel on the side rated at five hours of talk time when fully charged. Sadly, though, there's no mention of how long you'll need to bask in the sun to get it there. (AC and USB charging are also naturally on offer.) Unlike earlier examples it's A2DP compliant, so it'll stream your tunes, and boasts integrated noise cancellation, so it's perfect for making your drunken barroom conversations a little more garbled.

Titanium Mouse by Intelligent Design costs $1,200, might be worth a little less

by Vladislav Savov posted Oct 27th 2009 at 10:59AM

No matter how bad the global economy gets, you can always rely on there being a select few people with (a lot) more money than sense. Exclusively for them, Dutch outfit Intelligent Design has put together this handcrafted Bluetooth laser mouse, which boasts a neodymium scroll wheel, high quality plastic resin and a grade 1 titanium body. We didn't know you could handcraft titanium and we challenge anyone to explain what neodymium has to do with good input ergonomics, but then maybe that just shows how little we know about luxurious items like this. So, if you have $1,200 (or €800 in Old World money) to spare, why not add this unnamed mouse to your shopping list, just under the Mnemosyne USB drive? More snaps can be found after the break.

[Via HardOCP]

Continue reading Titanium Mouse by Intelligent Design costs $1,200, might be worth a little less

inPulse Smartwatch for BlackBerry up for pre-order, ships in February 2010

by Darren Murph posted Oct 26th 2009 at 10:51AM

Just as we'd heard, RIM decided to outsource the production of the planet's first BlackBerry watch, but that doesn't mean that devoted BB Messenger users won't be hankerin' for one. The inPulse Smartwatch for BlackBerry is being produced by Allerta, and now that it's official, we can safely say that it'll rely on Bluetooth in order to bring incoming emails, text messages and other alerts from your handset to your wrist (or your ankle, if you roll like that). As for specs, you're looking at a 1.3-inch OLED display, glass lens, full metal body, vibrating motor, microUSB port and a rechargeable battery that's good for around four days of "normal use." inPulse users will have to install a special BlackBerry application in order to pass along information, but those hoping to use their watch to actually send messages will be sorely disappointed. It's up for pre-order now at $149, and if all goes well, the first ones will ship out in February.

Jabra STONE Bluetooth headset review

by Richard Lai posted Oct 23rd 2009 at 11:36AM

Finally, the teaser's over. The latest delivery to Engadget's UK penthouse is the Jabra STONE Bluetooth headset due out in the US on 8th November, and we took no time to extract the pebble from the transparent cylinder. In front of us are the two parts of the STONE: an earpiece of a breakthrough form factor that instantly makes you pity its rivals, and behind it is the accompanying portable charging base which serves as an external battery. The latter is equipped with a micro-USB port and an LED indicator -- simply green or red -- to show whether there's enough battery juice for one full charge. It's a pretty neat idea as this is the only feasible way to fit eight hours of talk time (or twelve days of standby time) into such tiny package: two on the earpiece and an extra six from the surprisingly light battery base -- our scale reckons it is just under one ounce. We also dig the auto-off function when you dock the earpiece and vice versa. Docking and undocking are pretty straight forward too: just snap in for the former, and poke your thumb through the bottom hole of the base to push the earpiece out. The generic click button hidden under the Jabra badge is easy to access and responds well. Above that is the invisible vertical touch strip for volume control and similarly it responded nicely to our strokes. What's left on the earpiece are the two LED indicators on the underside for Bluetooth connectivity and battery. So far so good, but what really matters is the ear-on experience and the audio quality -- listen for yourself after the break.

Gallery: Jabra STONE Bluetooth headset review

Continue reading Jabra STONE Bluetooth headset review

'Unique' Bluetooth banana has truly limited applications

by Chris Ziegler posted Oct 23rd 2009 at 12:02AM

Some products require no explanation. Take this "Unique Banana Shaped Bluetooth Handset," for example -- either you get it or you don't, but no amount of marketing, advertising, or sweet-talking is going to get a skeptic to appreciate its brilliance. If you're still reading this, maybe -- just maybe -- you fall into the "I need this, particularly at just $17.70" camp, and for you, take heart in the knowledge that you can be just 2 to 5 business days away from talking on a simulated piece of fruit that's connected to your phone via Class 2 Bluetooth 2.0. When's the last time you heard "standby time" quoted for a banana, anyway?

[Thanks, Larry]

Ask Engadget: a device to stream audio from one device to multiple sources?

by Darren Murph posted Oct 22nd 2009 at 9:52PM

We know you've got questions, and if you're brave enough to ask the world for answers, here's the outlet to do so. This week's Ask Engadget question is coming to us from Chris, who just needs a few more streams to make his life complete.

"I am looking for a device that will stream sound from one source to several recipients. For example, I want to stream sound from my TV or stereo to my phone or MP3 player that has radio and Bluetooth capabilities. I have been told that a Bluetooth device can only stream music to one device. I have looked into radio transmitters and they seem like a decent choice, but I can't find one that uses external power (USB or from the plug) and I would want one with a transmit range of around 50 meters. Thanks!"

We can't say for certain, but we're guessing Chris isn't along here. Any hardcore streamers out there figured out an optimal solution to get one source to multiple devices? Do tell in comments below.