Oh! Gizmo

By Evan Ackerman

Bluetooth headsets are not generally at the top of my list of interesting things to write about, but since I’m actually in the market for one, I kept my eyes open at CES to see what I could find. I’ve got a hands free speaker thingy for my car, but I really need one for my bike.

The BlueAnt Q1 looks like it might be perfect for talking while biking, since it features a second microphone on the outside which allows for active noise cancellation. When it comes to wind noise, the Q1 is supposed to be able to completely cancel it out at speeds of up to 10 mph… I like to think I’m a more aggressive biker than that, but I imagine that even at higher speeds there’s still a substantial improvement in call quality.

The other nice thing about the Q1 is its voice recognition engine. You can give the headset verbal commands, which it will recognize and respond to with its own voice. Beyond basic voice dialing, you can ask it things like whether or not it has a good Bluetooth connection with your phone or how much battery it has left, and it’ll answer you (video of that here). Clever.

The BlueAnt Q1 should be available at the end of March for about $130; we’re hoping to get a review unit before then and we’ll let you know how well it works.

[ BlueAnt ]

By David Ponce

A $130 Bluetooth headset with an extendable boom. There you have it. That’s the Zivio Boom right there.

No, really.

Perhaps this is a little underwhelming considering Joby, the company that makes the Zivio Boom also makes the truly innovative Gorrilapod. Next to that, the Zivio Boom is a bit of a letdown.

Still, to be fair, it does have a couple interesting features. Alleged 10h talk time for one. Or the fact that it comes with a set of interchangeable earpieces and an optional ear loop for a custom fit. I also remember the lady mentioning something about the casing made out of stainless steel and them being the only company that does that, but at that point I was too busy trying to snag a free sample to really pay attention. I do remember her saying that the extendable boom had the advantage of being able to isolate your voice really well. I don’t doubt that for a second; the thing practically sits in your mouth. At least… her mouth.

If you’re in the market for a Bluetooth headset, and you don’t mind looking like you’re about to eat a tiny metal straw that comes out your ear, the Zivio Boom is perfect for you.

Full press release after the jump.

Read the rest of this entry »

By Andrew Liszewski

Those old-timey phone handsets that have been retrofitted to connect to a modern cellphone are clever and all, but they’re not really that practical (or easy to carry) if you intend to use them away from a desk. But this mini version is. It connects to your cellphone just like a Bluetooth headset would, and instead of walking around talking into a tiny earpiece, you’ll be walking around talking into a tiny handset.

I guess I don’t really see the point of using this instead of just talking into your cellphone, though it is slightly smaller (depending on the phone you use) and is less likely to get pinched if you decided to talk to your friends while wandering down a dark alley at night. Thumbsupuk.com has ‘em for about $36, though I’m pretty sure they won’t just sell you a single unit.

[ Bluetooth Mini Phone ]

By Andrew Liszewski

Despite the product name, iMuffs are unfortunately not designed to keep your ears warm, which is unfortunate given that many of us have already seen the thermometer drop well before the freezing mark. They will however allow you to listen to your iPod Nano, iPod Classic, iPod Photo, iPod Touch, iPod Mini and all 3rd generation iPods without having an annoying headphone cable dangling from your head. You will need to attach the iMuffs Bluetooth transmitter to your iPod since they lack that connectivity by default, but once paired you’ll be able to stash your MP3 player in your pocket while still controlling volume and playback via the headphones themselves.

The iMuffs can also be paired with a Bluetooth equipped smartphone, and include a built-in echo and noise canceling mic allowing you to make calls in-between listening to your music. Their built-in battery can be recharged via USB, and provides a decent play time of about 16 hours. The iMuffs MB210 are available in black or white, and can be bought directly from the Wi-Gear online store for $129.99.

[ Wi-Gear iMuffs MB210 ]

By Andrew Liszewski

I’m looking forward to the day when I can finally cut the cord on my earbud headphones, and thanks to Sony Ericsson, that day seems just a bit closer. Register Hardware recently took a look at the company’s HBH-IS800 Bluetooth stereo headphones and found them to be close to perfect, as long as you’re cool with the price. The headphones are barely larger than a standard set of earbuds, but manage to cram a small battery in one side, and the Bluetooth electronics in the other. It still comes with a short cable with an in-line mic and control button connecting both earbuds together that some might find inconvenient, but on the other hand it also probably makes it harder to lose the earbuds individually.

Sony claims a battery life of about 4 hours when listening to music, and 11 days on standby, but those estimates were conservative with the headphones running for about 4 1/2 hours before completely shutting down. And like I said, even though an official price hasn’t been announced yet, you can expect these to be sold as a premium product (look at that swanky case) with a premium price tag.

[ Register Hardware - Sony Ericsson HBH-IS800 Bluetooth stereo headphones ] VIA [ SlashGear ]

By Andrew Liszewski

The Winter isn’t the best time of year for using portable electronic devices, particularly if you live in a cold & snowy climate, or just happen to be vacationing there. There’s the constant debate of whether it’s worth taking your nice warm gloves off to answer that call or skip to the next track on your MP3 player. However these ski gloves from Swany at least solve the phone problem by incorporating a speaker and microphone that pair with your cellphone over Bluetooth, allowing you to take calls with a set of easy-to-use answer and disconnect buttons. Of course if you’re swooshing down a mountain trail on a pair of skis and are more concerned about missing a call than colliding with a tree I think you need to get your priorities straightened out, particularly since these gloves will set you back $495 which is more than most cellphones cost.

[ G.Cell GX-1 Bluetooth Ski Gloves ] VIA [ productdose ]

By Andrew Liszewski

Last week I brought you a ‘super tiny‘ USB keyboard from Brando, and while there’s no denying it was indeed tiny, it only came with a USB connection making it unusable with most cellphones and PDAs. However, this miniature keyboard from IOData, which is currently on display at the Sharp booth at CEATEC, uses bluetooth instead of a wired connection which theoretically would allow you to use it with any bluetooth equipped device. Sure the keyboard is cramped and all, but it’s considerably less cramped than the thumpbad or on-screen keyboard on your cellphone. And while it might excel when it comes to a tiny form factor, it unfortunately fails miserably when it comes to price, since it’s expected to sell for about $150. (Pass.)

[ Giiks.com - IOData Mini Bluetooth Keyboard ] VIA [ Ubergizmo ]

By Evan Ackerman

I’m told that it’s not the greatest idea to wear headphones while riding a bicycle. ‘Cause, you know, you might get distracted or something and slam into the side of a bus. If you’re not the type to bungee a boombox to your bike, you might be interested in the Cy-Fi wireless sports speaker, which allows you to continue listening to Le Tigre while weaving in and out of traffic and ignoring stop signs. The Cy-Fi stereo speaker system is completely self contained, weighing in at a mere 4 ounces including the integrated 6 hour battery. It comes in either an iPod version (with a wireless transmitter attachment for your iPod) or a A2DP stereo Bluetooth version. The iPod version even lets you change volume and tracks from the speaker unit itself.

Although you can use the Cy-Fi just about anywhere, it was originally designed for bikes, and that seems like what it’s most appropriate for. It mounts on your handlebars, with the directional stereo speakers pointing back toward you. The Bluetooth version is also great for hands-free phone calls; you can yell at it if your cell phone supports voice dialing and hold a windy conversation up until you slam into the side of a bus, which should be most entertaining for whoever is listening on the other end.

The Cy-Fi speaker systems should be available online October 1; the Bluetooth version should retail for $179, with the iPod version going for $199.

[ Cy-Fi ]

By Andrew Liszewski

Someday bluetooth equipped headphones will be indistinguishable from regular models, but unfortunately today is not that day. And that’s why these new DR-BT160AS ‘Active’ stereo headphones from Sony feature a large pod on either side to accommodate batteries as well as the bluetooth reciever. On the plus side, if you’re a runner or like to listen to music during physical activities, you won’t have to deal with a pesky cord bouncing around and can instead stream music from a bluetooth friendly MP3 player or cellphone. The headphones also includes a built-in mic allowing you to make or take calls if you are using it with a phone, and a set of playback buttons for remotely skipping tracks or adjusting the volume. The soft elastomer hangers feature a sliding earpiece shaft ensuring a secure and comfortable fit, and the whole thing is splashproof meaning sweat won’t hurt it, but you’ll probably want to keep it out of the rain. Expect it to be available from the Sony website sometime in October.

[ Sony DR-BT160AS ] VIA [ Digital Drops ]