Bluetooth technology has been slow to be embraced by the public.  The average consumer probably doesn’t know about many Bluetooth enabled devices — other than their headset, which they’ve most likely been forced into wearing by new “hands-free” legislation created in their local jurisdictions.  The simple fact is there aren’t many other devices using Bluetooth in its classic form, and those that do require a good amount of power (re-charging) which makes them inconvenient.

Yesterday I had the opportunity to participate in a conference call on Bluetooth and more specifically, Bluetooth Low Energy (LE.)  This new specification of wireless connectivity is poised to open the doors to a wide variety of applications and processes, some of which might seem futuristic in nature but in reality are closer to fruition than you think.

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Jaybird has brought out some good stuff in the last year. The last two things I checked out were the Tigereyes and Endorphin Rush wired headphones. I liked them a lot. This time, Jaybird sent me their new Bluetooth headset, the Sportsband. Is it as good as their original headset? In a word, no. Continue Reading

If you follow any of the Gear Diary editors on Twitter, you know that during CES 2010 we were constantly tweeting our location. One day during the show, after tweeting that I was near the South Hall, I received an @ reply from one of the vendors on display there. Phone Halo asked that I swing by their booth for a demo. So I did.

What is Phone Halo? Phone Halo is a new product, that’s available for pre-order, which helps you safeguard some of your most valuable possessions, like your keys, your cell phone and your wallet. If you’re constantly losing things, then this might be the device you need to get back on track.

Designed to fit on your keychain and meant for small wireless devices, the Phone Halo communicates over Bluetooth with your cell phone keeping track of your location. If the two devices become separated the Phone Halo alerts the user with an audio or a vibration tone on both devices.

Each Phone Halo uses software which gets installed on the user’s wireless device and helps manage settings including enabling GPS and e-mail notifications. Additionally you can use the software running on your phone to track the location of your Halo. So if you’ve got it attached to your keys and you lost them they will be easy to track down. The GPS function of the device plots where the phone and the haloed item became disconnected marking it on a map.

The Halo’s built-in rechargeable battery lasts for approximately 2 weeks with a single charge.

To learn more about the Phone Halo or place an order had to their website here.

^{My hands’ reaction to using a real keyboard on my iPhone}

When I read Larry Greenberg’s post a couple of weeks ago about using a BlueTooth keyboard on a jailbroken iPhone, I was quite pleased.  (Why do some people say “jailbreaked” instead of “jailbroken”?  Doesn’t that seem weird?  Sorry; I digress.)

Although Larry would rather use a netbook in cases where a BT keyboard would be useful on an iPhone (and I would rather have an iTablet), there have been many cases when I would very much liked to have BT keyboard capability for my iPhone.  I travel a lot, and prefer to avoid the hassle of pulling out, booting up, and dealing with my laptop, for example.  I don’t have (and can’t afford right now!) a netbook.  Sometimes my laptop crashes–damn you, Microsoft!–and having a backup machine on which to answer my mail is critical.  And so on.

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Zomm comes from a mother of three, who kept hearing her kids and friends complain about lost mobile phones. Together with her husband, Henry, they created ZOMM as a solution for this common problem.

The size of a small key chain, the Zomm communicates with your cell phone via bluetooth and acts as a speakerphone for incoming calls, provides a panic button and can call emergency assistance from anywhere in the world with just one touch of a button.

The leash portion of the Zomm alerts you via an audible tone when you walk too far away from your phone.

The ZOMM will be available for retail in the second quarter of 2010, in both black and white color options. It uses a lithium-ion battery with a single charge lasting approximately three days. ZOMM also comes with a standard micro USB wall charger, a micro USB charger that connects with any computer (for updates and activation) and optional clips for ease of use.

You can learn more here.

Jabra None of the previous Bluetooth headphones that I have had the chance to use have really felt “right”. Many of them were either just like two enormous earbuds in each ear tethered to each other with a wire behind my head, or were too large to chuck in my slender laptop bag that I carted to uni everyday.

The idea of cutting the cord between my head and my pocket was a good one, but there were just too many drawbacks. That’s until I tried the Jabra Halo, which has brought me that much closer to wireless freedom.

The Jabra Halo are headphones first up, so they don’t make you look like you’ve been assimilated by the Borg with bits sticking out of your ears. The back of the ear pads are finished in a dark sparkling grey, whilst the band is matte black. The headphones have a soft black lining on the inside which keeps them secure on your head.

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Image Provided by Jaybird

Jaybird has come out with another new set of Bluetooth headphones that come with the same sweat proof guarantee that the rest of their headphones come with.  This one is called the Sportsband.   Continue Reading

In conjunction with Headsets Direct, we recently gave away a Plantronics Discovery 975 Bluetooth Headset (reviewed here) to Gear Diary reader synapticapple.  Michelle (that’s her real name) has just posted an unboxing video of the headset, and I thought it was good enough to share. Enjoy!

Laws are continuously evolving to deal with technology and the potential hazards of using it while driving. As a consequence, it is now considered unsafe in many states – or it has been made illegal – to drive without some kind of hands-free solution when using a mobile phone. Many people are wearing headsets, but there is another option if you aren’t yet ready to embrace your inner Borg – a Bluetooth speaker system for your automobile.

Say hello to the Motorola T215 Bluetooth Car Kit Speakerphone; let’s take a look at the hardware, and then I’ll tell you how it performed.

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Bluetooth technology is often underused in my eyes.  For a long time there was no use beyond sending ring tones and talking over a wireless ear piece.  As of late, this technology has found greater utilization allowing for wireless syncing in vehicles and even multi-player gaming.  Using Bluetooth to listen to music has become a great option while on the go or for wireless listening.

The YUBZ Magnum takes several of these technologies and combines them in one attractive device.  I was hesitant before testing the unit since crossover devices often do not successfully execute both tasks.  Here’s how I was pleasantly surprised and corrected … Continue Reading

The Jabra Stone Bluetooth headset came out a few weeks ago. It is, by far, one of the most unusual Bluetooth headsets we have seen. Larry and I have been using it for a little while, and we’ve found that it has some significant pluses and minuses.

Let’s take a look.

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Update: This giveaway is now closed. The winner is synapticapple. Thank you for entering, and keep your eye out for more Gear Diary giveaways!

Headsets Direct, has offered us a pristine Plantronics Discovery 975 Bluetooth Headset to offer in a giveaway; it’s the same model that I reviewed last week, and the same model that I am currently using.

► Advanced dual-mic AudioIQ2 technology cancels
noise while retaining the unique sound of your voice
► AudioIQ2 technology adjusts to your noisy surroundings
so you hear crisp, clear calls at a comfortable listening volume
► WindSmart® technology, including grooved vents, an acoustic
fabric and electronic filters, aggressively blocks intrusive wind noise
► Rechargeable case can triple talk/standby times and displays
connection status and battery levels of earpiece and case
► Patented gel eartip provides a stable, comfortable fit and is
designed for quick on/off wearing
► Convenient voice prompts automatically alert battery, mute and connection status
► Multipoint technology pairs one earpiece to two phones – like a
smartphone and personal phone – so you never miss a call
► Enjoy up to 5 hours talk time or 7 days standby from a single charge
► Weights only 8 grams

You can examine all of the headset’s features both in my review and on the Headset’s Direct Site; it has an MSRP of $129.99.

How can you win one for yourself? Well …

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photos by Kevin

It seems as if finding the perfect Bluetooth headset has become a never-ending quest for me; it’s not just about finding one that keeps me from sounding like a fish in a barrel anymore, it’s also about finding one that fits my ear without making me look like a telephone operator or worse – a borg.  Just to make things really difficult, so many headsets seem to fall into one of two camps: ridiculously complicated and over-featured or utterly simplistic and featureless.

Finding a headset that strikes a balance between sound, comfort and features has become my mission, and the latest contender is the Plantronics Discovery 975.

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Stereo Bluetooth is a great innovation for the freedom it grants from cables.  I was quite pleased when Apple finally added stereo Bluetooth functionality to the iPhone.  Not that being connected to a headphone cable is a huge problem, but it’s nice to be able to set my iPhone on my desk while listening to music, and still be able to move around my office without needing to pick up the iPhone and carry it with me if I’m just moving a few steps to get something off a shelf.

Mobile Action understands the appeal of eliminating wires. Their new Voiis Stereo Wireless Music Gateway adds stereo Bluetooth capabilities to home stereo and computer systems.  It has both transmitting and receiving capabilities, so you can use it to stream music from your home stereo to a pair of Bluetooth headphones, or you can use it to receive music streamed from a Bluetooth-enabled device, such as an iPhone, and play it over your home system without needing a dock.

The folks at Mobile Action were kind enough to send us a review unit.  Keep reading for our evaluation.

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This is for all of you Christians out there, in love with your own Roxane but too flummoxed to speak eloquently without a little help. Now, instead of hiding Cyrano in a nearby bush – ever fearful of being caught – as you regurgitate his lovely lines, you can slip this Brickhouse Security Invisible Bluetooth Earpiece in place and enjoy two way communication without anyone being the wiser.

But you’d never do that…right?

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