bluetooth headset
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LoPresti's CLEARBLUE Bluetooth headset for pilots: roger, Roger
We're not going to pretend to know the first thing about cockpit communications. Still, given our experiences with janky Bluetooth gear, we're feeling a bit uneasy about the new CLEARBLUE bluetooth headset for pilots. Developed by LoPresti, the device is said to automatically prioritize communications between four simultaneously connected devices: 1) ATC/Radios (highest priority), 2) Intercom, 3) Cellphone (is that even legal?), and 4) the iPod. Apparently, the system will be ready later this year and is designed to work with LoPresti's Fury aircraft which uses the iPod as both an in-flight entertainment system and -- get this -- the flight data recorder. We know what you're thinking, "surely they can't be serious." They are, now quit calling us Shirley. [Via Bluetooth Source]
Sound ID's SM100 Bluetooth headset tunes you into nature
We've got Bluetooth headsets that cancel noise, amplify voices, and make you look good not entirely cockamamie, but Sound ID's latest iteration actually gives you one less reason to ever take it off. The minuscule earpiece sports compatibility with handsfree Bluetooth profiles, around eight hours of talk time and 72 hours of standby, auditory and visual low battery warnings, dual omni-directional silicon microphones, and a trio of modes to fit your situation. It also touts a NoiseNavigation feature that magnifies and cancels appropriate sounds automatically, and just in case you get tired of only hearing face-to-face conversations out of one ear, the "Environmental Mode" actually brings in ambient noise in order to make you forget about the critter hanging off your eyeglass holder. Notably, the $129.99 SM100 even features a One2One mode that enables "Bluetooth communication between two modules" without the use of a cellphone, which should definitely appease the anti-social social crowd.[Via Slashphone]
Logitec's Bluetooth headset brings wired nostalgia
The best part of a Bluetooth headset should be its lack of wires, right? Not so if you're building the buds for Japan's Logitec. The LBT-HS200C2 Bluetooth 1.2 headset brings plenty of tether to your untethered stereo audio experience. At least that blocky slab supports A2DP stereo, AVRCP remote control and the ability to pair up to two devices simultaneously -- say, your Bluetooth-enabled DAP and cellphone. On sale in Japan starting late April for ¥7,800 or right around $65. [Via Impress]
Plantronics unveils Pulsar 260 stereo headset
Plantronics unveiled its newest stereo Bluetooth headset this week at CTIA, the "Pulsar 260." This wearable wonder is of the around-the-neck type, and comes with the pendant plus earbuds for taking calls form that nearby Bluetooth handset as well as stream stereo sound from any nearby A2DP stereo Bluetooth source. The new Pulsar 260 iPod shuffle-like (first generation, at least) design has integrated volume and track skip buttons for that Bluetooth music player / phone with built-in control functions supplied by AVRCP to boot. Sweet. Look for it in stores now for about $110.
Newton Peripherals ultra-thin MoGo Headset to charge via cellphone
Newton Peripherals is no stranger to the world of small and thin. So the miniscule size of their new MoGo Headset -- the "thinnest, lightest headset in the world" -- should come as little surprise. Still, at less than 5-mm thick with 6-hours of talk time and claimed "natural audio" sound, this Bluetooth 2.0 headset does indeed, impress. The headset can be charged in less than an hour via your laptop's PCMCIA or ExpressCard slot -- AC adapter is optional. Uniquely, however, is the tantalizing idea of storing and charging the thin headset via a slot integrated into (or onto) your cellphone (concept pictured above-right). Newton Peripherals is only in "discussions with one of the world's largest manufactures of wireless phones" at this point so who knows when we might see such a solution hit as product. Still, we likey eh Mikey?
The Mago Bluetooth headset
If you're ready to score that Mago luxury handset, you'll be glad to know that a matching Bluetooth headset has now been announced. Like peas in a pod, the newer Mago headset has deft curves and straight lines like Mago phones and kinda reminds us of Bang & Olufsen somewhat in the design department. The newer Mago headset is made of titanium, making it quite the light object to be hanging off your ear of choice and features the usual noise canceling features similar to that of Bang & Olufsen's Earset 2. No pricing or availability yet on this unit yet, unfortunately.[Thanks, Rick]
BluRing links your iPod to your handset
This sounds like a half-completed statement, but bear with us here: "icube will begin marketing a Bluetooth peripheral called BluRing that links the Apple's iPod to a cell phone so calls can be received while listening to music without the need to take out the phone." Umm, okay. We're not sure how that could work, but let's assume that the BluRing product has some sort of microphone built-in. Yep, check. Ok, whew -- we feel better now. The icube BluRing will come with a remote control (with embedded mic) with a connection to the iPod's 3.5mm earphone connector found on all iPods to date. While we're not sure most customers will want to abandon the iPod's signature clickwheel for music navigation, the BluRing can also be used to "select songs and adjust volume on the iPod." Hmm -- seems like this product really (really) wants to marry an actual iPod and a Bluetooth accessory (with wires to boot). Seems kinda complicated to us, with all all tangly wired mess potential and everything.[Via textually.org]
Sagem releases world's tiniest Bluetooth headset, the H4
In the quest to continue driving down the size of cellphone handsets these days, the quest to make the tiniest (and hopefully most usable) Bluetooth headset is not far behind. Remember when the Nextlink Bluespoon was claimed to be the world's smallest Bluetooth headset? Those days are long gone and Sagem has announced that it now has the world's smallest Bluetooth headset. We better call the Guiness Book of World Records (at least for today), as the Sagem G4 claims that it "could be" the world's smallest (nice cop out), at 35 x 18 x 12.5mm -- and weighing just 8 grams as well. Performance, you ask? Sagem claims 5 hours of talktime and 100 hours of standby, and charging time is only 1.5 hours to boot. Cost? 53 British pounds, or about $103 greenbacks in U.S. currency, but right now, there's only a teaser at Sagem's website -- and it's supposed to be available some time this week.[Via Pocket-lint]
Sony's high-end DR-BT50 Bluetooth cans love your cellphone
Just in case Sony's compact DR-BT21G headset didn't exactly float your boat, or you just like having the best of the best when given the option, the high-end DR-BT50s should fit the bill. Rather than taking the wraparound approach, these cans feature the typical over the head styling, an adjustable headband, 17-hour battery life (200 in standby), and a sleek black / silver motif. As with its little brother, you can answer and end calls with the press of button, and while not conversing via its handsfree profile, you can tune in to your mobile's music as it supports A2DP, AVRCP, HFP, and HSP. As expected, you'll find all the playback controls right on the earcup, and those interested can snag this Bluetooth headset / headphone hybrid for $230 when it lands in April.[Via AkiharabaNews]
Sony's Bluetooth DR-BT21G wraparound headset does A2DP, AVRCP
While Sony's DR-BT21G was given limited facetime during CES, the wraparound stereo Bluetooth 2.0 headset is getting all official on us, and will now join the long list of other A2DP-friendly devices that Sony's known for kicking out. Sporting a behind-the-neck, foldable design, the 63-gram headphones come in black or white motifs, support A2DP, AVRCP, HFP, and HSP protocols, and boast a built-in microphone and control button in the earcup to pull double duty as a handsfree communicator. Aside from the receive / end call button, users can expect to control audio playback functions from the side of their dome, and considering the respectable 11-hour battery life, finding an AC outlet shouldn't become too much of an issue. No concrete information in regard to price or availability just yet, but we're hearing to expect these in April for around the $130 mark.[Via Akiharaba News]
Com One intros WiFi radio, Bluetooth speakers and headset
Wireless-happy Com One looks to be doing its best to cover the two big wireless fronts at CES this week, trotting out its previously announced WiFi-based Phoenix radio (now in black) alongside a set of Bluetooth-based speakers and a new Bluetooth headset. The retro-styled Phoenix radio will let you pick up Internet radio stations or podcasts from anywhere with a WiFi signal, as well as play MP3s or WMAs from an attached USB drive or MP3 player -- no memory card slots though. Phoenix's own "Phoenix Service" will also let you check the news and weather forecast before you roll out of bed. On the Bluetooth front, the descriptively-named Bluetooth Multimedia 2.1 Speakers will let you pump tunes from any audio source with a 3.5 mm or RCA audio output to the pint-sized speakers with one less wire, while the company's Mic Clip Bluetooth Stereo Headset will give you some A2DP goodness and an embedded microphone so you can go hands-free. There doesn't appear to be any word on pricing or availability for the Bluetooth accessories just yet, but the Phoenix WiFi radio is available now for $249.
Jawbone founder Hosain Rahman interviewed: "The market was crap"
Those design nuts over at PSFK recently talked with Hosain Rahman of Jawbone fame. The new headset is turning heads with its design chops and technical noise-canceling merit, so it's interesting to hear the impetus behind the upcoming product: "The market was crap and the offering sub-standard." Hosain's Jawbone headset, designed by Yves Behar, was built to be an alternative to the cheap Asian imports. The Jawbone includes frills like medical grade plastic, since a headset touches the skin for so many hours a day, and of course that vibration sensor (to activate the noise cancellation) and dual microphones are a nice step up from the average headset. Hosain views himself in the "audio gateway" biz, which sounds like a good place to be, with consumers increasingly tethered to iPods, cellphones and VoIP sessions, and Bluetooth convergence of all three imminent. Peep a Jawbone shakycam unboxing vid after the break, or hit up the read link for the full interview.
Sony Ericsson announces HBV-100 Bluetooth VoIP kit
Sony Ericsson has ventured into VoIP territory before with its Bluetooth headsets, but in that case the headset had the slight drawback of only being compatible with Sony's own VAIO BX laptops. Now the company's finally seen fit to give other PC users a break with its latest Bluetooth VoIP kit, although Mac users are, unfortunately, still out of luck. The headset in the kit is Sony Ericsson's existing HBH-PV705 model, available in blue only, and promising the same 12 hours of talk time and 300 hours standby time as before. It gets paired with a USB Bluetooth adapter, which means that you don't have to worry about having a PC or laptop with built-in Bluetooth, although its not clear if you can take advantage of that if you do -- probably not, since there's apparently no software or drivers involved here. Sony Ericsson hasn't announced how much it'll cost just yet, though it should be available before the end of the year.[Thanks, Alex A.]
iLuv's i202 and i903 Bluetooth headsets
The first thing you may have noticed about the iLuv i202 headphones up there is the lack of wires. Oh sure, they're Bluetooth 1.2 so there's no need to jack into your DAP. However, unlike all the other stereo-capable Bluetooth headphones we've seen, these lack any type of connectivity between the cans -- No little wire, no strap, nothing. So either they're being a bit devious with the product shots or we've got a first here. Nevertheless, they bring a nice looking design along with support for A2DP (stereo) and AVRCP (remote control) profiles on top of the handsfree and headset profiles to make 'em equally at home with your Bluetooth cellphone in and out of the car or for listening to your MP3 player. Yes, iPod too just as long as you don't mind lugging around the included iLuv Bluetooth transmitter. The i202 features a 200 hour standy time and will seamlessly switch between music and incoming calls with up to 13-hours of talk time or 14-hours of stereo audio before needing to pull a charge over the included USB power adapter. Each can weighs 51-grams with one sporting play/pause/skip/volume controls for AVRCP-equipped devices. $90 and shipping now. iLuv also has a set of i903 noise-canceling Bluetooth Headphones available with all the same features but 300 hours standby / 8 hours audio / 9 hours talk time. Yours for $100 -- picture after the break. Update: We just received word from Wise Han, Director of R&D for jWIN (the OEM apparently), that the iLuv i202 cans are indeed wired. Sigh. They have also replaced the picture (now above) to avoid further confusion, and presumably, litigation.[Via iLounge]
Mvox Duo Bluetooth headset and speakerphone
It's hard to believe this is a first (you listening China, Korea?) but Mvox is calling their Mvox Duo the "world's first all-in-one wearable smart communicator." Surely, it's not the fact that this Bluetooth headset can be used with your cellphone, hands-free car kit, or favorite VoIP application (yes, it works with Skype), so it has to be the fact that it does all that and contains a speakerphone. The speakerphone with "patent-pending small array microphone technology" is said to allow the device to offer near 100% voice recognition. In other words, it's designed to "grab the speaker's voice" while blocking-out the background noise. It can also be attached to the PC via USB cable which hopefully doubles-up as a charger. Available Q4 which could mean next week, for $199, list.
Datel's Bluetooth headset unhooks your 360
Ok, so it requires a dongle, big deal? We just think it's funny that Datel, the hacky console accessory manufacturer extraordinaire has an Xbox 360 Bluetooth headset long before Microsoft's own wireless headset is due to hit shelves. Assuming, of course, that Datel fulfills their June 30th pre-order launch date; apparently the first release listed for this thing was March 17th, and Datel doesn't even officially acknowledge the product on their site. And on top of all that, then you're gonna have to deal with the £59.99 ($110 US) price, and the fact that it's on Amazon UK, bucko. But we figure if you're willing to pay $110 for a wireless headset, none of this business should be all that daunting for you in the first place, right?[Via Xbox 360 Fanboy]
Bluetooth headset finally on the way
Xboxic points X360F to this Amazon UK listing for the much vaunted Datel Bluetooth headset. Amazon currently has the item available for pre-order, with a release date of June 30th. I'd take this release with a grain of salt though: the original date from Datel was March 17th. Datel's awful website still makes no mention of the product at all. Of course, let's not forget that it's still awfully pricey at about $105 US for the adapter/headset package. Hopefully, Datel will get a clue and realize that some people already have a headset and just need the Bluetooth adapter. I mean, it's not like people have been making adapters themselves... [Via Xboxic]
