Gear Diary » Bluetooth

Tired of Boxy Bluetooth Speakers? Check Out These Q-i-sound Speakers From iharmonix

Dan Cohen — Tue, 24 Jan 2012 23:45:59 +0000

The Q-i-sound Bluetooth speakers from Qmadix leave the square, boring speakers that are so common in the dust. Available in black or white, they have an unusual shape that is sure to grab attention. Each speaker has its own rechargeable lithium polymer battery that charges in 3 ½ hours and gives up to eight hours of playtime. Standby time is up to 10 days. As the company puts it

Ultra portable speakers offer music lovers a great listening experience, as well as microphones for clear phone communication

It is also worth nothing that, once paired the speakers can be separated by up to 15 feet. A

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JawBone JamBox: Out Since 2010 but Still Awesome- A Gear Diary Video Look

Dan Cohen — Fri, 20 Jan 2012 23:00:01 +0000

The JawBone JamBox was released in November of 2010. Yes, that's almost a year and half ago... ancient by today's tech standards. So you might be wondering why we're covering it NOW. The reason is simple: although it was released almost a year and a half ago the JamBox is still the best portable Bluetooth speaker on the market and, thanks to updates and additional apps for it the speaker just keeps getting better and better. Thomas was quick to buy one when it was first released but I held back and only got one a few months ago. I wish I hadn't waited because it really is an incredible little device. I like it so much in fact that I purchased one for Elana to use when she is training clients. Oh, and there is another reason we shot the video now... it was the first time since I got JamBox-ified that Thomas and I were together. So here's a quick video of Thomas and me talking about the device and why it's become one of our favorite gadgets. Yes November of 2010 was quite a while ago but this is one piece of gear that isn't even close to becoming long in the tooth. Continue reading on Gear Diary ...

Sena Keyboard Folio for iPad 2 Video Review

Dan Cohen — Thu, 29 Dec 2011 20:00:41 +0000

Last year Travis reviewed Sena's Keyboard Folio for the original iPad. (You can read it here.) Here's what he found:

The keyboard is not the best, but it is fully functional and simple to use. Having a keyboard does make it far easier to write long posts, articles or homework assignments on the iPad. There are people who have resisted jumping into the iPad world simply because they need to enter large amounts of text and find the onscreen keyboard too limiting. The Sena Keyboard Folio for iPad solves that issue and brings that functionality to the iPad in a sleek, elegant package. If you are a fan of fine leather and

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Gear VS Gear: The JawBone JamBox Faces Off Against the Spar Zephyr 300

Dan Cohen — Fri, 23 Dec 2011 22:55:14 +0000

The JawBone JamBox is one impressive device. It is a Bluetooth speaker, a speakerphone and one of the best gadgets of 2011! At $199 it isn't inexpensive but it is a quality device that is well worth the money. Spar's Zephyr line of speakers looks to step into the fray with the JamBox and one up it by including a backup battery that can charge your device on the go. They even got Wired to run a piece entitled "Like a JamBox, Only More Generous" despite the author never having heard one. So Continue reading on Gear Diary ...

Native Union MM 03i Bluetooth iPhone Accessory Review

Dan Cohen — Sun, 18 Dec 2011 22:00:09 +0000

Point 1: As much as I love my iPhone using it as a phone isn't all that comfortable. As a result, even when I'm not on the go, I will often use a headset, wired or Bluetooth, when using my iPhone for a call. In other words, if I use my iPhone a headset is a must. Point 2: iOS 5 .0 isn't giving me the battery life that I am used to and need. That may change with the next iOS update but for the time being it is an issue with which I need to deal. That means I need to charge my phone more often than ever. In other words, if Continue reading on Gear Diary ...

The Voices of JAMBOX…

Dan Cohen — Sat, 17 Dec 2011 22:15:37 +0000

I love the JawBone Jambox that I purchased a few weeks ago. It came on vacation with me and was quite handy to have around. I like it even more now that I discovered Jawbone's MyTalk portal. It let me set up the button on the device to activate Siri, and it also let me change the voice used for notifications on the device. Here's a look at some of the options ...

Click here to view the embedded video.

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Holiday Gift Guide: For Those Who Use Bluetooth

Dan Cohen — Tue, 22 Nov 2011 21:30:40 +0000

From the Editorial Staff of Gear Diary: There are two kinds of people; there are those who hate Bluetooth, and there are those who love Bluetooth. Okay actually, There are those who hate Bluetooth and there are those who put up with Bluetooth. If your loved one uses Bluetooth, then we have a few great gifts ideas ... First up has to be the JawBone JamBox. This little Bluetooth speaker doubles as a speakerphone thanks to its microphone. It may be small, but it packs a punch. And the audio coming from it? It's surprisingly good. Dan and his wife have one, and they love it. Just $169.99 in our Amazon Affiliate Store. Continue reading on Gear Diary ...

ZAGGkeys FLEX Bluetooth Keyboard for iOS and Android review

Dan Cohen — Thu, 17 Nov 2011 19:30:39 +0000

My experience with keyboards for the iPad has been rather mixed. Some keyboards and keyboard cases have worked fairly well but none have been comfortable enough and portable enough for me to carry all the time. Moreover, most of the keyboard cases I have tried have just been too bulky for daily use. After all, what is the point of having the super-thin iPad 2 if you are going to then toss it into a thick, bulky case? The keyboards that have come closest to my wanting to carry and use them each day have been the offerings from ZAGG. For example, while I didn't love the case that comes with the ZAGGfolio I Continue reading on Gear Diary ...

Dream Cheeky Introduces the iLaunch Thunder

Douglas Moran — Wed, 16 Nov 2011 18:45:42 +0000

You know, it's kind of funny that I just did a post on Madden NFL a while ago, because one of John Madden's signature lines keeps coming to me as I look at this particular new product: BOOM! In the never-ending office wars, sometimes you have to blow off a little steam. One of my favorite memories of my management days was when it was time for performance reviews and deciding who got the highest ratings, and my director brought into the staff meeting a bunch of multi-shot rubber-band guns. What a great boss! (Hi, Roger!) Dream Cheeky, the guys who make lots of insane stuff like that, have come up Continue reading on Gear Diary ...

SPAR Announces ZEPHYR Portable Bluetooth Speaker and External Battery Line

Dan Cohen — Wed, 16 Nov 2011 15:30:11 +0000

One of the best purchases I've made in recent months is the JawBone JamBox. Thomas got one over a year ago and almost convinced me to join him at the time. I didn't and now know that I should have trusted him. The device is small, well-made, sounds great and has the added benefit of a built-in microphone so you can use it as a speakerphone too. I love it! So how could a competitor try to one up the device? We got word today on one such attempts and, truth be told, it looks great. The device, devices actually, come from SPAR (www.SPAR.com) and is called the ZEPHYR. The ZEPHYR comes Continue reading on Gear Diary ...

Bluetooth Headset Review: Sound iD SIX

Dan Cohen — Tue, 08 Nov 2011 22:00:24 +0000

A few weeks ago we brought word that Sound iD was coming out with their newest Bluetooth headset the Sound iD SIX. We have reviewed the company's previous headsets, so I was anxious to get my hands on the SIX. Unlike those headsets, they were entirely black, the SIX has an attractive carbon fiber look to it. So it looks nice, but how does it sound? From Sound ID:

The power of EarPrint™ for iPhone®, Blackberry® & Android® smart phones. Patented VoiceMenu technology is Sound ID's answer to Voice Recognition. Unlike voice recognition, Voice Menu is discrete

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A Day in the Life: Using a Bluetooth Headset as a Remote Recording Device for Lectures

Matthew Hall — Wed, 02 Nov 2011 16:00:58 +0000

I have been teaching for the past few years and have found that recording my lectures is helpful for students that are sick or that need assistance due to attention deficit issues. Many of the programs to record lectures are costly, so I set out to see if I could use my MacBook and a Bluetooth headset to accomplish the task. I found that not only can I, but that it works remarkably well. The Bluetooth Device: The Bluetooth device I opted for is the Jabra BT3030 Bluetooth Stereo Headset [affiliate link]. Not only is it a good headset, but it can Continue reading on Gear Diary ...

Bluetooth Headset Review: Jabra SUPREME

Dan Cohen — Wed, 12 Oct 2011 22:00:32 +0000

I have been using one specific Bluetooth headset in my car for the past year or so, but I lost it a few weeks back. Okay, I didn't exactly "lose" it but, rather, my wife Elana took it. I was thrilled to have her take the headset because: A. She's my wife, and I like her to have stuff she wants B. She's my wife, and I wanted her to have and use a headset so she would be safer on the road C. I knew I had a headset on the way that would be just as comfortable and sound just as good one she took ;-) It recently Continue reading on Gear Diary ...

Ooma Updates and Gets Even Better

Dan Cohen — Thu, 15 Sep 2011 14:15:12 +0000

One of the standout piece of consumer electronics I have discovered over the past few years is the Ooma phone system. The system brings an unusual business model to the business of phone service. Instead of charging a monthly fee Ooma sells the hardware that connects to your high-speed internet service and then lets you have your phone service for free. Sure they sell a number of useful accessories and there are some value-adding services to which you can subscribe (Ooma Premier is one of them and is totally worth the price) but you don't HAVE to do so to get the value out of an Ooma system. Here's our review of the Ooma Continue reading on Gear Diary ...

GPS Review: Magellan RoadMate 9055-LM

Dan Cohen — Mon, 12 Sep 2011 15:00:08 +0000

Smartphones and tablets are "category killers" that have decimated numerous standalone products. As I have written previously, from one perspective the iPhone and the iPad are like "Rorschach devices". They are "blank slates" (pun totally intentional) that can take the form and function of a wide range of devices depending on whatever software they are currently running. That means that, with the right apps, they can double as a camera and do photo and video editing on the fly. The result has been the demise of the Flip camera and some serious "hurt" on the point-and-shoot camera market. (Once the iPhone 5 and its 8MP sensor is released watch out point-and-shoots!) Similarly, smartphones and Continue reading on Gear Diary ...

iPad Accessory Video Review: The ZaggFolio and ZaggKeys Solo

Dan Cohen — Sat, 10 Sep 2011 20:00:44 +0000

ZAGG makes some great accessories and I was intrigued when they released a keyboard folio case for the iPad 2. I was even more intrigued when I heard that they would be releasing the ZAGGkeys Solo, the keyboard folio minus the folio since it meant you could buy a standalone iPad keyboard that has specialized shortcuts just for the iPad AND a built-in stand. When I reached out to Zagg I was told the ZAGGkeys solo would ship in a short while OR I could take a closer look at the ZAGGfolio and just focus more on the keyboard since the two keyboards are largely the same, save for some additional shortcut Continue reading on Gear Diary ...

Bluetooth Headphone Review: Sennheiser MM450

Dan Cohen — Tue, 06 Sep 2011 21:00:48 +0000

As I have been reviewing more and more audio equipment one thing has become clear to me: you get what you pay for in the sound department. True, every now and then a lower-end audio product may surprise you but, as a general rule, the more you pay the more features and audio-quality you are going to find. Sure, this holds true in most areas, but I tend to find it is more apparent in the audio department than in other places. That noted, I never imagine I would lust after a pair of headphones that cost just south of $600. Yes, the Sennheiser MM450 headphones have an MSRP of $589.95. Before we get Continue reading on Gear Diary ...

Jabra SPORT and SPORT-CORDED Let You Enjoy Your Music on the Go

Dan Cohen — Fri, 02 Sep 2011 13:45:51 +0000

Jabra has announced two new headsets that join the company's sport line and let you take you tunes with you when exercising or doing other activities. The headsets look great, especially the wireless one, and they come with a host of great features. As Jabra explains

Featuring a category-first built-in FM radio, A2DP technology, and powerful bass to help energize workout performance, the Jabra SPORT allows for an even wider variety of music options when exercising and easy-to-use controls. The stereo headset also features a wind-shielded microphone and is US Military Standard Rain, Dust and Shock Resistant certified, ensuring that exercisers don’t need to hold back during their workouts on account of

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Cobra Tag Helps You Find Anything Including Your Phone

Joel McLaughlin — Wed, 17 Aug 2011 15:30:33 +0000

Are you the type that misplaces things like keys, your car remote or your purse? Then the Cobra Tag may be for you. Cobra Tag is a Bluetooth device that works in conjunction with your phone. Once set up, if you walk away from the item your phone will alert you that you forgot your keys. What if that item is your phone? Cobra Tag has that covered too. If you walk away from your phone AND have the tag, then the tag itself will alert you that you left your phone behind. The app works on Blackberry and Android devices. No word yet on iPhone availability, or on how they plan to fix the problem when you leave both your Continue reading on Gear Diary ...

Review: Bluetrek SPEAKY Bluetooth Speakerphone: “The most friendly car kit”

Dan Cohen — Fri, 05 Aug 2011 21:00:08 +0000

I thought I had seen it all until the SPEAKY showed up at my door. SPEAKY looks like a little Kewpie Doll, albeit without hair and not quite as cute but has some interesting hidden features. Yes, SPEAKY is a full-service Bluetooth speakerphone. I took a look at one and we're giving it away so... read on. From BLUETREK:

A cute, interesting speakerphone developed for those who need a good audio quality as well as ease of control. Speaky is the first Bluetooth carkit in market which enable automatic switch on/off functions. Speaky is equipped with the best in class

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FOXLV2 Hi-Fi Bluetooth Speaker Now Available for Cars & Bikes

Travis Ehrlich — Fri, 05 Aug 2011 14:00:45 +0000

Since I am in and out of our family vehicles as well as other places I would like to use a Bluetooth speaker phone, I have put off purchasing a hands free system for my truck. What I need is a bluetooth option that works great and is mobile. Soundmatters is now offering a hi-fi bluetooth speaker that can be mounted in a car or even on a bicycle. The speaker is small enough to fit in a pocket and boasts improved sound as good as a wired connection. Great for both phone calls as well as listening to A2DP audio. Read on for all the details and company release.

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Gear Diary Roundup: Week Ending July 31

Dan Cohen — Mon, 01 Aug 2011 13:00:01 +0000

Well, July is over. The heat keeps coming, kids are getting read to go back to school and there's no shortage of gear news and reviews. Here are a few posts you may have missed but are worth a look… Gear Diary’s Back to School Gift Guide and an ARCHOS 70 Android Internet Tablet for You to Win!

It’s time to start thinking about the supplies you are going to send your kids back to school with, and we are here to help! We’ve gathered together a collection of goodies that any student would like, and while there are plenty of practical items, we didn’t forget the gear that

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Summer Tech: Qi-wear by iharmonix Bluetooth Enabled Sunglasses

Dan Cohen — Sat, 30 Jul 2011 13:00:27 +0000

I'm someone who ALWAYS wears sunglasses when I am outside. I also always have my iPhone and am often either making calls or listening to music when I am out and about. As such the idea of sunglasses that can double as a Bluetooth headset for making calls or listening to music really appeals to me. There was something like that on the market a few years ago but by the time I went in search of them the line had been discontinued. That's why I took note of the announcement of iharmonix's Qi-wear Bluetooth Enabled Sunglasses. As the company explains,

Qi-wear by iharmonix has been engineered to perform under extreme conditions offering you maximum

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Wakemate May Help You Wake up Feeling More Refreshed

Joel McLaughlin — Thu, 30 Jun 2011 16:15:38 +0000

Wakemate looks like an interesting device that promises to help you get a better night's rest. Wakemate 2, works with software that runs on iOS, Blackberry and Android devices. To use it, you just set the 20 minute window that you want to wake up in and slip the band on. The band will then keep track of your movements and trigger the alarm to wake you at just the right time; it promises to help you feel more refreshed.

Click here to view the embedded video.

They have also included a way for you to report your activities, like going to the gym and how many cups of coffee you have, so you can see how it Continue reading on Gear Diary ...

Mac Accessory Review: Magic Connector for Apple’s Trackpad and Bluetooth Keyboard

Dan Cohen — Thu, 02 Jun 2011 21:00:25 +0000

Elana and I are both using our MacBook Air's as our primary computers and could not be happier. (She has an 11" and I have a 13".) Both of us have Rain Design's mStand and love the simple, elegant way it raises the laptop up so that the screen is at perfect eye-level. And we both use a Bluetooth keyboard and pointing device. Elana uses Apple's MagicMouse, and I use a Magic Trackpad. That's where the issue comes in. Having the trackpad and Continue reading on Gear Diary ...

Bluetooth Car Accessory Review: SuperTooth Buddy

Dan Cohen — Sun, 29 May 2011 18:00:41 +0000

I recently spent a week driving my father-in-law's late-model Acura TL. I loved the power but the thing that really impressed me was the integrated Bluetooth. No, it wasn't anything that you cannot find in most cars today but the combination of a super quiet ride and state-of-the-art Bluetooth was impressive for me as the not-so-proud driver of a 2003 Subaru Outback. The ability to get into the car and immediately have my phone re-pair with it was awesome. Even better was being able to seamlessly stream audio form the iPhone through the car's audio system. I went back to my stripped down Subaru begrudgingly. The only positive was the fact that I had a Continue reading on Gear Diary ...

Bluetooth Stereo Headset Review: Jabra CLIPPER Headset

Paul Reese — Sat, 14 May 2011 22:00:49 +0000

In the world of Bluetooth (BT) headsets, the choices and options are wide and varied. Quite a contrast from the early days when Motorola was the first and only BT headset that was widely available nearly 9 years ago. In my position, employees often ask for advice about BT headsets and BT ear pieces. When the CLIPPER was announced by Jabra, I placed an order for one to see what I thought of it. I was so pleased with the headset that I continued to use it long after my opinion had been formed. In this review, I will highlight some Continue reading on Gear Diary ...

USBfever.com’s New Coffee, er, Waterproof Bluetooth Mini Flexible Keyboard

David Goodspeed — Thu, 05 May 2011 16:00:02 +0000

In my angst over not being yet able to go see the big hit Fast Five, I took out a little aggression while testing a new wireless keyboard I received from USBfever.com. Seems when they announced this item a certain multi-syllabic word caught my attention – waterproof. Just days before seeing word of the new keyboard, I had almost destroyed my wireless keyboard that came with my iMac. In a split-second I knocked my coffee tumbler over enough to spill a few sips worth onto the keys. Arggghhh. Alas, the keyboard was not damaged, but for my early morning time spent in front of the computer perhaps I needed to find something a Continue reading on Gear Diary ...

GD Quickie: A Mac Keyboard Accessory I Really Want: the Mobee Magic Bar

Dan Cohen — Wed, 27 Apr 2011 22:18:01 +0000

Mobee Magic Bar

Both Elana and I use an Apple wireless keyboard with our MacBook Airs when we are at home. We love the keyboards and the flexibility they offer but we hate the wastefulness of constantly having to replace the batteries. Sure we could use rechargables and and we were about to get a system when I saw this: The Mobee Magic Bar. The Mobee Magic bar offers a USB-powered recharge dock for your keyboard that lets you cut the cords but then, when needed, charge it up once more by simple plugging it into the computer. It looks nice too! Pretty neat huh? Just $59! via werd.com Continue reading on Gear Diary ...

Review: SuperTooth Disco Bluetooth A2DP Stereo Speaker

Dan Cohen — Mon, 18 Apr 2011 21:00:30 +0000

I love my music and have something playing pretty much all the time unless I am speaking to someone. For quite a while that meant having some sort of speaker dock in the various room where I spend time. Lately though it has increasingly meant setting up various room so that AirPlay is available. (Yes, I finally understand the power and utility of the AirPort Express!) That does not, however mean there isn't a place for some of the growing number of Bluetooth enabled speakers on the market. Sure, Bluetooth doesn't offer the same level of audio quality as streaming over WiFi but, for the most part, I can't tell the difference and the convenience of Continue reading on Gear Diary ...