By Andrew Liszewski

The first prototype of Casio’s Bluetooth-equipped ‘smart’watch was shown at CES 2011 back in January, and while it was one of the more interesting things we found at the show, we’ve been curious what the first production version would actually look like. It turns out that the Bluetooth 4.0 profile technology, which allows the watch to wirelessly communicate with a smartphone while still maintaining a 2+ year battery life, is just being integrated into one of the company’s G-Shock models. Definitely not a bad thing, unless you were hoping to have something particularly high-tech looking strapped to your list to draw people’s attention.

The most notable feature of the watch will be its ability to automatically sync the time to your smartphone, which are usually automatically set by the carrier’s network. Auto-setting watches that rely on broadcasts of the atomic clocks are already commonplace, but this should be more accurate and reliable, particularly when traveling. Other connected features will be the ability to monitor calls, emails and messages including who they’re from directly on the watch’s face, as well as providing vibrating or audible alerts for alarms setup on the phone itself. But at this time specific pricing and availability info have not been officially announced.

[ aBlogtoRead - Casio G-Shock Bluetooth Watch Revealed ] VIA [ CrunchGear ]

By Andrew Liszewski

Believe it or not, there was a time when the iPhone wasn’t A2DP compatible. While wireless speaker solutions still existed, they either relied on wifi or some proprietary dongle technology that attached to the iPhone’s dock connector. So not surprisingly, dock-based speaker systems ruled the market. And I’m not saying there’s anything wrong with them, it’s just a lot more convenient to be able to keep your iPhone on your person when listening to music through a speaker, allowing you to quickly switch tracks or customize a playlist on the fly.

But as of iOS 3.0 those dark days of tethered speaker use are long gone as Apple granted A2DP support to us grovelling gadget-loving masses. And now that using a wireless speaker is as easy as setting up a Bluetooth connection, we’ve slowly been seeing the portable BT speaker market grow. And as far as we’re concerned, they’re a must-have accessory these days. Last month we reviewed Jawbone’s JAMBOX which is one of the more flashier options now available, and today we’re taking a look at the SuperTooth DISCO. It sports a more traditional black-grille speaker design which will disappear in your home or office if you’re looking for something a bit subtler, and while it’s a bit larger than the JAMBOX, what you lose in portability you gain in sound quality. Read our full review after the jump.

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By Andrew Liszewski

They’re not the smallest Bluetooth wireless headphones out there, but I’m going to jump to the conclusion that Outdoor Technology’s new Bluetooth Tags headphones are somewhat weather-resistant given the nature of the company’s other products, so I’ll cut them some slack. At the least I’d say they’re comparable in size to other wireless headphone solutions since you need to cram both the BT hardware and a rechargeable battery in there, and I assume the power and audio signal are shared between the two earbuds via the cord that connects them.

After a 2+ hour charge you can expect to get up to 5 hours of audio playback, 6 hours of talk time (the headphones double as a hands-free Bluetooth headset) and up to 120 hours of standby. On one side you’ll also find a set of playback buttons for controlling your music, or making or placing a call when connected to a smartphone. They’re $79.95 a pair, which isn’t too unreasonable given the wireless functionality, and are available in a red or black finish.

[ Outdoor Technology Bluetooth Tags ] VIA [ SlashGear ]

By Andrew Liszewski

Anytime you read a headline that involves a product from Taser you probably get all excited that someone, somewhere is getting shocked. I know I definitely was, but it turns out their in-car Protector System is a lot less exciting than I’d hoped. It’s designed to prevent drivers from being distracted by their smartphones by locking down all but the simplest of functions while a vehicle is running. And it’s facilitated by a special app that’s unfortunately only available on the Blackberry and Android platforms at the moment since it relies on Bluetooth which is one of the iPhone’s weaknesses when it comes to third-party apps.

The app communicates over Bluetooth with a small dongle that attaches to your vehicle’s diagnostic port, and completely locks down the phone except for said app which provides basic functionality including voice dialing and of course 911 access. By itself it’s not a bad idea if you just can’t seem to tear your eyes away from your phone’s screen while behind the wheel, but it actually does a bit more. The dongle includes GPS and cellular functionality, complete with its own SIM card, and will keep track of a vehicle’s location as well as reporting back unsafe driving behavior (for monitoring teens) and even accidents. The downside though is that the kit runs $249.95 plus a recurring fee starting at $14.95/month if you don’t want to sign a contract. AND it can’t be used to shock anyone…

[ Taser Protector Safe Driver System ] VIA [ Popular Science ]

By Andrew Liszewski

When we reviewed Jawbone’s JAMBOX a couple of weeks ago we were more than impressed by what the compact wireless speaker was capable of. In fact, we feel it’s created a welcomed new niche market, namely small portable speakers that don’t sound terrible. And since there’s nothing wrong with a little competition, we’d also like to extend a warm welcome to the foxL v2, even though the original version probably existed well before the JAMBOX was unveiled.

But those details aside, the foxL v2′s biggest selling feature seems to be that it was developed by a bona-fide rocket scientist, Dr. Godehard Guenther, a former NASA engineer with a passion for audio. Like the JAMBOX the foxL connects to your audio source over Bluetooth (though a non-wireless version is also available) and has been engineered to provide a good balance between loudness, audio fidelity and bass, given its compact dimensions. It’s also got a rechargeable battery good for about 5 hours, though it can be plugged in as well. And if the bass just isn’t doing it for you, the speaker even has an output for connecting it to a powered subwoofer. $199 for the Bluetooth version, $169 for the wired.

[ Soundmatters foxL v2 ] VIA [ Ubergizmo ]

By Andrew Liszewski

I’ve found there’s a simple rule of thumb when it comes to finding a set of compact, portable speakers that don’t sound like they’re made of cardboard. And it’s a rule that everyone is already familiar with; you get what you pay for. So let’s get this out of the way right now. Aliph’s Jawbone JAMBOX portable Bluetooth speaker is not cheap. In fact, let’s not beat around the bush here. At $199.99 I’d say it easily qualifies as expensive.

That being said though, it’s also easily one of the best sounding portable speakers I’ve ever heard. And while it obviously can’t compete with even a half-decent home stereo setup, if you’ve been hunting for something that’s easy to transport and sounds great, I think you’ll be suitably impressed by what Aliph has cooked up. Read my complete review after the jump.

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By Andrew Liszewski

If you live in a busy urban area and spend your time engulfed in crowds of people on the street, or bumping into the masses on the subway, it’s probably not a terrible idea to be a little extra cautious with your wallet. You never know when your pockets might get picked. But there’s cautious, and then there’s downright paranoid, which I think can be said of anyone who drops $825 on this biometrically protected wallet from Dunhill.

The wallet can only be opened by swiping your fingerprint, so while would-be thieves might be able to get their hands on it, they won’t be able to open it. And attempts to crack it open will be mostly thwarted by its sleek carbon fiber outer shell. I mean it’s not completely indestructible, but it should be frustrating enough to deter most people. The Biometric Wallet can even let you know if it’s been taken or forgotten thanks to a Bluetooth link to your phone which sounds an alarm if the two are more than 5 meters apart. On the inside you’ll find a real leather finish with a stainless steel money clip, but I’d expect nothing less when they’re asking almost $1,000 for it.

[ Dunhill Biometric Wallet ] VIA [ Uncrate ]

By Andrew Liszewski

It’s hard to find fault with Apple’s own wireless Bluetooth keyboard, but if you’d prefer to punch away at something designed by Nintendo instead, this is the first pic of the keyboard accessory that will be included with the upcoming Battle & Get! Pokemon Typing DS. The game is basically the same idea as those Mavis Beacon programs you might have used in school to learn how to properly type, but with more entertaining challenges, and a sure-fire way to keep kids interested; Pokemon!

Since the DS is lacking in Bluetooth connectivity the actual Battle & Get! Pokemon Typing DS game cart will include the necessary Bluetooth hardware (at least that’s how I interpret Google’s translation of Nintendo’s Press Release) which means the keyboard can’t be used with other titles that require typing. However, while Nintendo won’t guarantee everything is smooth sailing, the keyboard apparently also works just fine with the iPhone and Android based smartphones. The game and keyboard are slated to hit store shelves in Japan in April, though pricing info, and availability outside Japan, is still unknown.

[ PR - Nintendo's Third-Quarter Results Briefing ] VIA [ Joystiq ]

By Andrew Liszewski

I recently started using one of Jawbone’s ICON Bluetooth headsets after switching from a competitor’s product, and while I try and stay impartial when it comes to technology, let’s just say my eyes, or more appropriately my ears, have seen the light. But as is often the case, right after you upgrade one of your toys something newer immediately comes along, and in this case it’s Jawbone’s new ERA Bluetooth headset.

It’s got all of the features that have made Jawbone’s Bluetooth headsets popular so far including the latest version of their military-grade NoiseAssassin 3.0 technology which cancels out noise and wind so the person on the other end of a call can always hear you. And it will auto-adjust the sound of the incoming call as well so that you can always hear the person you’re talking to even in noisy situations. That’s further assisted by a new 10mm wideband speaker in the earpiece which Jawbone claims is 25% larger than the one used in previous models.

But what’s most interesting about the ERA is that Jawbone has given it the power of motion controls thanks to a built-in accelerometer, so it’s like having a little Wiimote sticking out of your ear. But instead of playing bowling, Jawbone’s MotionX technology lets you do things like answer calls by tapping the headset a couple of times, or shake it to automatically go into pairing mode. Nothing incredibly advanced just yet, but the foundation is there to do some really cool stuff later on I think. Available now directly from Jawbone for $129, and at brick and mortar stores in a few days.

[ Jawbone ERA ]