Bluetooth

CSR announce low cost Bluetooth enabled MP3 player design

By Noel McKeegan

23:06 November 19, 2007 PST

November 20, 2007 The falling cost of consumer electronics devices is showing no signs of letting-up with the latest example coming from the UK, where based wireless component manufacturer CSR has today announced the world’s lowest cost Bluetooth enabled MP3 player. Read More

Jawbone Bluetooth headset uses military grade technology for clearer calls

By Darren Quick

17:04 November 15, 2007 PST

November 16, 2007 Aliph’s Jawbone Bluetooth headset uses military grade technology called Noise Shield, which eliminates background noise and seamlessly adjusts speaker volume throughout the call to facilitate clear, uninterrupted conversations, even in extreme environments. Read More

Venturi Mini – Bluetooth handsfree kit meets MP3 streaming jukebox, through any FM car radio

By Loz Blain

21:27 November 13, 2007 PST

November 14, 2007 Cable connections are dying a slow death at the hands of convenient, wireless Bluetooth devices like this one. The Venturi Mini is a wireless music streaming and hands-free telephone gadget that works with most phones – but it’s the combination of new-world Bluetooth with the old-school technology of short-range FM radio transmission that makes this handy toy work with almost all car stereo. Read More

Sony Ericsson’s W380 Walkman phone

By Darren Quick

20:30 November 8, 2007 PST

November 9, 2007 Sony Ericsson has unveiled the latest addition to its Walkman phone portfolio, the W380. Featuring gesture control functionality, which allows users to mute calls or silence the alarm with a wave of their hand, the clamshell design W380 features a 512MB Memory Stick, FM radio with TrackID, plus an external display with customizable light effects and one-touch control buttons on the top of the phone so users can see who’s calling or manage their music without having to flip the top. Read More

MOTOROKR T505: hands-free speakerphone and FM transmitter

By Darren Quick

23:41 November 7, 2007 PST

November 8, 2007 Motorola’s latest in-car technology combines a Bluetooth In-Car Speakerphone and a Digital FM Transmitter for hands-free phone calls and music streamed to the car stereo. When calls come in, the T505 automatically mutes the music and audibly announces the Caller-ID, so drivers can keep their eyes on the road and echo and noise reduction technology are built-in along with "StationFinder" technology that identifies the best FM connection. When the ride’s over, the T505 can be easily unhooked and taken to another car for the next trip.

features StationFinder, a technology that announces where the best FM connection can be found on the user’s car radio. Read More

GETAC V100 ruggedized notebook-tablet

By Darren Quick

22:34 November 6, 2007 PST

November 7, 2007 GETAC's water-proof, shock-proof and drop-proof V100 features a 10.4-inch XGA LCD screen that rotates by 180-degrees, transforming the ruggedized notebook into a Tablet PC designed to withstand harsh use in industrial and field environments. Read More

CERULEAN F1+TX Bluetooth headphone and transmitter for iPod

By Darren Quick

00:12 November 3, 2007 PDT

November 3, 2007 iSkin has bundled its TX transmitter and F1 headphones as the CERULEAN F1+TX, a Bluetooth audio package for iPod that enables wireless control and simultaneous connection to a mobile phone. Read More

Nokia adds N810 Internet tablet to Nseries range

By Darren Quick

21:05 October 18, 2007 PDT

October 19, 2007 Nokia has introduced the latest addition to their Nseries - the new N810 Internet Tablet - at the the Web 2.0 Summit in San Francisco. The pocket-sized, GPS enabled device allows users to connect to the nearest Wi-Fi hotspot or over their Bluetooth mobile phone to make internet calls; check email; watch videos on YouTube or update a blog using the device's slide-out keyboard and 4.13", 800x480 resolution touch screen. Read More

Mainnav pairs GPS and Bluetooth in a watch

By Noel McKeegan

00:05 September 17, 2007 PDT

September 17, 2007 Mainnav has released the Innovator MW-705 BT GPS watch - a timepiece that teams inbuilt Global Positioning System (GPS) functionality with a Bluetooth transmitter and also manages to pack-in a heart rate monitor, speed and distance sensor, temperature sensor, pedometer as well as the standard countdown timer and alarm. Read More

Plantronics convertible mono to stereo Bluetooth headset

By Gizmag Team

17:42 September 11, 2007 PDT

September 12, 2007 Plantronics have introduced a Bluetooth convertible mono to stereo headset for MP3 Bluetooth enabled mobile phones. The Voyager 855 headset offers a convertible design for listening to calls in mono as well as listening to music in stereo as headphones via a detachable stereo cable. Drop the second earbud or detach the cable and the headset serves as a high-quality mono Bluetooth device. Read More

Sanyo SCP-7050 mobile phone meets military standards for toughness

By Shaun McKeegan

17:36 September 3, 2007 PDT

September 4, 2007 Sanyo has added the rugged SCP-7050 to its range of mobile phones. Adhering to military standards for dust, shock and vibration, the clam-shell type phone features a durable rubber non slip exterior designed for use in physically demanding environments, full Bluetooth functionality, high quality display and built-in GPS capabilities. Read More

Mini Bluetooth headset cancels background noise for clear mobile conversations

By Loz Blain

05:12 August 27, 2007 PDT

August 27, 2007 Background noise can make mobile phone conversations in bars, clubs and noisy workplaces virtually incomprehensible – which is why BlueAnt’s new Z9 Bluetooth headset features smart noise cancellation and voice boosting software. The difference is profound – with this tiny, 10-gram device you can now have natural, clear phone conversations in the noisiest environments. Read More

Zegna Sport Bluetooth iJacket incorporates smart fabric

By Emily Clark

23:04 August 22, 2007 PDT

August 23, 2007 An innovative new jacket design from Zegna Sport will allow wearers to simultaneously listen to their iPod and talk on their cell phone utilizing a controller embedded in the jacket sleeve. The Bluetooth iJacket has been made using smart fabric from the Eleksen Group , makers of touch-sensitive smart fabrics for clothing, electronics and accessories. Read More

AVLabs releases new high-end wireless Bluetooth speakers

By Loz Blain

May 30, 2007 Wires are rubbish - and yet most of us still have great tangles of cords and cables sticking out of the backs of our PCs. This beautiful set of high-end Bluetooth speakers gets rid of one more wire from your rig - and you don't have to have a bluetooth-enabled PC to enjoy their silky wireless tones. Read More

Bluetooth health monitoring lets you upload your vital stats to your doctor from home

By Loz Blain

May 9, 2007 Turning the health-care model upside down, a small Australian company is working on bluetooth technology that logs and transmits medical observation data to a central network through a mobile phone - so your doctor can call YOU when a problem is developing. Alive's bluetooth technology is already proving useful in the recovery of cardiac outpatients and the diagnosis of sleep apnea - and a range of products in development aim to make advancements in health monitoring for diabetics, mountaineers and athletes in training. Read More

B&O mobile headset with Bluetooth and DSP

By Mike Hanlon

May 4, 2007 Bang & Olufsen’s A8 earphones are now five years old but remain one of the most functional and aesthetic earphones on the market, having subsequently spawned the Earset 1 for mobile phones. Now the Danish tastemeister has evolved the distinctive, comfortable and stylish design to incorporate Bluetooth and Digital Signal Processing (DSP) noise cancellation technology. The US$420 Earset 2 offers four hours of talk time, weighs just 22g and will perform most admirably in any environment where background noise can take over. Exceptional transmission quality is achieved by two omni-directional microphones which filter and suppress background noise, giving the best voice transmission possible. The loudspeaker in Earset 2 is a fully-fledged closed cabinet loudspeaker unit in miniature. Supported by air vents and a bass port together with an ergonomic design, the loudspeaker has a frequency response that gives an exceptionally high degree of tonal precision. Read More

Bluetooth conference phone

By Mike Hanlon

September 29, 2006 Polycom has released a new VoiceStation conference phone featuring Bluetooth. Designed for smaller meeting rooms and executive offices, the VoiceStation 500 conference phone is 33 per cent smaller than other Polycom models, and leverages Polycom's Acoustic Clarity Technology for full duplex, natural group conferencing that minimises background echoes, word clipping and distortion to provide a high-quality voice conferencing experience. Read More

Parrot’s Bluetooth Hands-free Speakerphone accessory

By Mike Hanlon

September 28, 2006 Paris-based Bluetooth specialist parrot has graced our pages before for its Bluetooth wireless speakers and Bluetooth LCD picture frames. This time it’s a more traditional use for Bluetooth technology in the form of a hands-free for a mobile phone – the point-of-difference is that the MINIKIT is designed from the outset as a speakerphone, and uses a built-in multi-directional microphone, DSP-2 signal processing algorithms and a high-definition two-watt speaker to enable crystal-clear speakerphone conversations. Designed as a portable companion for any Bluetooth phone, the MINIKIT weighs 104 grams (3.5 oz) and its vital statistics are 110 x 63 x 28 mm (4.3 x 2.5 x 1.2 inches). The Parrot MINIKIT uses its own, not the phone's, voice recognition feature so there’s no need to keep the phone near by – it always calls the right number. With its battery offering 10 hours of talk time and over a week on standby, the Parrot MINIKIT is ideal for those who want a dedicated high-quality speakerphone for their mobile. Read More

Mercedes-Benz Telephone Module with Bluetooth offers new telephoning freedom

By Mike Hanlon

June 23, 2006 Mercedes-Benz new telephone module with Bluetooth (SAP-Profile) software offers a new level of freedom for mobile phone users, as it enables a mobile telephone to remain in the user’s jacket pocket or handbag. Once registered, the Bluetooth (SAP-Profile)-compatible mobile telephone is recognized by the new system as soon as it comes within range of the vehicle. Due to the SAP-Profile software (SIM Access Profile), the module automatically accesses the SIM card. In addition, access is also possible to the internal memories of specific mobile phones. This means that the user is not only able to telephone, but can also search for a stored number or read an SMS. All these functions can be safely and user-friendly controlled by the driver via the multifunction steering wheel, the audio system and the central display in the instrument cluster. Read More

Dual lens Bluetooth-enabled 6 MPX, 10X optical zoom pocketsize digital camera

By Mike Hanlon

April 26, 2006 Eastman Kodak once owned the world photographic market and since the advent of digital cameras, it has been fighting the good fight attempting to maintain its leading role, largely focussing on ease-of-use as its point-of-difference. Yesterday, the US-based company celebrated the fifth anniversary of its first Easyshare consumer digital camera and docking system which has seen the company reclaim number one digital camera market share in the U.S. To mark the occasion, it released details of a new compact (4.4 x 2.2 x 0.9 inches) US$449 V610 model with the company’s now trademark dual lens, but also with Bluetooth, 6 megapixels, and a 10X optical zoom. Even with its whopping 38-380 mm equivalent zooms lens it is less than an inch thick. It combines two Schneider-Kreuznach C-Variogon all-glass, non-protruding prism lenses to deliver the long zoom range and incorprates anti-blur technology to enable novices to handhold the high zoom in low light and still produce excellent images. Read More

Bluetooth Wireless speakers can redefine the living space

By Mike Hanlon

April 9, 2006 First we got wired, and now we’re getting unwired. Bluetooth took a long time to build momentum, but is now beginning to fulfil its promise with Paris-based Bluetooth specialist Parrot creating an ingenious pair of 60W stereo wireless speakers. Based on the premise people are increasingly carrying their music collection with them, and Bluetooth functionality will become ubiquitous across all handheld devices, the speakers can transform your iPod, mobile phone or handheld into a full blown 2 x 60W stereo system. There’s also a flexibility of room configuration available with the speakers that just wasn’t there before too – frequent furniture rearrangers will love the concept. Read More

Motorola’s ingenious Bluetooth Skype and stereo music headphones

By Mike Hanlon

April 7, 2006 The Motorola Talk & Tunes Wireless Internet Calling Kit is just incredibly clever and useful and we think everyone will want a pair. It is the ultimate fusion of advanced entertainment, communications and convenience – it is relevant to anyone who ever listens to music on their PC or ever uses Skype (or any other VOIP app), or ever plans on doing so. The killer app is that it enables hands-free calling and music listening up to 30 feet (10 meters) away from your Bluetooth-enabled PC and if you don’t have a Bluetooth-enabled PC then you just plug in the Motorola Bluetooth PC Adapter PC850 (pictured above wireless headphones) into your ‘puters USB port and it all works. What’s more, with the ability to control calls and music directly from the Motorola Bluetooth HT820 headphones (left ear side of the headphones controls the phone, the right your music and there’s an integrated microphone in there too), you can talk or listen without being wired to the computer, taking internet calls between other digital audio activities such as music, internet radio, audio books, podcasting ad infinitum. When a call comes in, the music pauses, allowing you to answer directly from the headphones. When the call is complete, the music will automatically resume. Read More

Bluetooth headsets for Women

By Mike Hanlon

April 5, 2006 It may be a ridiculous over generalization but women are different to men. They like things different and they like different things and they make up half of the consumer market give or take a percentage point or three. We thought it was silly that it had taken a quarter century for the world to deliver a left-handed mouse for the 16% of mollydookers in the world, but when we saw BluePearls had announced a small, elegant Bluetooth headset aimed at women, it suddenly seemed obvious that not everyone wanted to dress up like R2D2. The headsets have interchangeable colour panels and are claimed to be the smallest and lightest on the market at just 7.9 grams. Read More

New Bluetooth Headsets Embody Sound Innovation

By Mike Hanlon

March 31, 2006 – In 1969, when Neil Armstrong's headset carried the historic first words from the moon: “That’s one small step for man, one giant leap for mankind,” it was almost to predict that just a third of a century later, a significant proportion of the population would be wearing wireless headsets on a semi-permanenet basis. Once worn for mission-critical applications such as air traffic control, 911 dispatch, and and fighter pilots, the technology available in a Bluetooth headset for the mobile phone now considerably outstrips the most sophisticated headsets available regardless of cost just a decade ago, and continues to evolve rapidly. Plantronics will debut two new headsets next week at CTIA which push those boundaries. The US$150 Discovery 645 and US$80 Voyager 510 with WindSmart, both incorporate new technologies for audio clarity during conversations. The Voyager 510 is the first Bluetooth headset on the market to include both a noise-canceling microphone and wind-reduction technology for brilliant sound in windy environments. The Discovery 645 includes a digital signal processing (DSP) chip to actively reduce background noise when talking. Read More

Smartphones become smarter with GPS Navigation and Bluetooth hands-free calling

By Mike Hanlon

March 9, 2006 The convergence mix is getting denser with each major trade show. At CeBIT in Germany today, Garmin has announced Garmin Mobile 20 – an automotive navigation system that delivers Garmin’s voice-prompted, turn-by-turn directions using Bluetooth wireless technology on Nokia, Windows Mobile and Treo 650 Smartphones. Garmin Mobile 20 provides both data connectivity as well as hands-free capability and is packaged with the GPS 20SM, a new mobile phone mount with a built-in, highly sensitive GPS receiver and Bluetooth-enabled speaker and microphone. Garmin Mobile 20 will also be the first Garmin product to use the Garmin Online wireless data services that includes real-time traffic, gas prices, safety cameras, weather information, and other location relevant content. Read More