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Posts with tag bluetooth

Sony unveils five new audio accessories: headphones, speakers and remote


Rather than just introducing these five items individually, Sony reckoned the world at large may pay more attention if they were unveiled in one fell swoop. To that end, we're left staring at a new pair of noise canceling headphones (MDR-NC7; $50), travel speakers (SRS-M50; $50), a universal remote (RM-VL610; $30), EX Series earbuds (MDR-EX36V; $30) and stereo Bluetooth headphones (DR-BT160AS; $160). While the first two are pretty self-explanatory, color lovers will appreciate the three swappable back plates for the remote, and the water-resistant BT 'phones pack a built-in microphone, rechargeable Li-ion cells and A2DP support. Everything should be available now if you look hard enough, and the full release with all the gory details is waiting just after the break.

bluDANGLE makes wireless earpieces a little less wireless

bluDANGLE makes wireless earpieces a little less wireless
What's cooler than wearing your Bluetooth headset wherever you go? Wearing it clipped to a lanyard wherever you go, that's what -- especially when that lanyard is made from 8 inches of 25 pound tensile strength magcord (i.e. elastic). That's the power of bluDANGLE, a curiously capitalized name for what is basically just a clip that turns your wireless device into a wired one, swinging in the breeze whenever you're not actually making a call. Normally we celebrate any attempt that encourages people to remove their earpieces when not in use, but we're not entirely sure having the thing dangling from your lapel is any less pretentious (check out the vid below and you tell us). But hey, for just $19.99 with a lifetime warranty who are we to complain? Makes a great stocking stuffer for your family's Bluetooth guy (or gal)!

Callpod's Drone Bluetooth adapter turns your Bluetooth headset into Skype's best friend


We were always curious as to why computers don't make it easier to take advantage of that fancy little Bluetooth headset of yours -- why buy a whole 'nother headset for Skype and Counter Strike (is that what kids are up to these days?) when your ridiculously overpriced Jawbone will do just fine? Callpod's newly released Drone USB Bluetooth adapter makes your Bluetooth headset look just like a regular headphone / mic combo to a PC or Mac, perfect for chewing out the kids from your hotel room over some long-distance Skype without messing with a tangle of wires. Callpod is also touting a 100 meter wireless range, and can naturally do regular, boring Bluetooth chores like transferring files and tethering your keyboard. The Drone is available now for $50.

[Via Crave]

Sony's Rolly learns the Bluetooth trick


Oh Rolly... we know you're an overpriced, 2GB dancing robot with convoluted controls and questionable sound quality. But dammit, your impractical, big-corporate ways have gnawed a soft-spot deep into the noxious cesspool we call a heart. Now this: Rolly model SEP-50BT with Bluetooth control from your cellphone or laptop. Shipping in Japan on November 21st for an expected ¥40,000 or about $427. Sold. Watch it all unfold in the video after the break.

[Via Impress]

Callpod (re)launches Phoenix Bluetooth conference call system


Callpod's Phoenix is edging dangerously close to the realm of vaporware, but even though the pricing is being kept tightly under wraps, the thing is supposedly available now. For those who've managed to think about more than this revolution in the all-too-exciting world of conference calling since January, let's recap. Essentially, the Phoenix MCS enables five BT headsets to communicate with each other in full duplex over a more than a 300,000-square foot area. Additionally, the base station is completely mobile and packs a rechargeable Li-ion battery good for around 8-hours of talk time (120-hours in standby). When we pinged Callpod to retrieve the highly secretive pricing information, we were told that we'd have to "speak to a sales representative to get a better idea." Hope you're up for a chat.

Iomega ships Bluetooth-equipped 1TB / 2TB StorCenter ix2 NAS


If you've been passing off NAS devices for years due to the typically prohibitive price tags, you might want to have a gander at Iomega's latest. The StorCenter ix2 brings 1TB (500GB x 2) of network storage for just $299.99, and the 2TB edition is also available for around $170 more. In short, the box -- which isn't much to look at, admittedly -- promises to provide backup for all of your critical files regardless of which networked computer they're on. Additionally, users with top secret snaps on their Bluetooth-enabled cellphone will appreciate the optional BT compatibility, not to mention the gigabit Ethernet jack and twin USB sockets. Oh, and it also doubles as an iTunes server and supports both UPnP and DLNA protocols, meaning that this fellow should do a decent job of serving up media on the side.

Over half of 2009 vehicles in America will offer iPod support


And we're not talking about that 3.5mm-to-3.5mm trick, either. No sirree, we're referring to bona fide iPod integration, and 2009 marks the first year where over half of all US-bound automobiles are expected to offer optional support for Apple's prolific PMP. When looking at 2008 model year vehicles, just 39% offered tight iPod integration, but according to Phil Magney, vice president of automotive research for iSuppli, the "automotive industry is at the point where in-vehicle technologies -- or the lack of them -- are influencing sales." Furthermore, Bluetooth is expected to be in 82% of 2009 US vehicles (optional or standard), and just so we're clear, we're talking all cars, not just the luxury brands. Unfortunately, no data was provided for expected compatibility with the DJ Ditty.

[Via Wired, image courtesy of JPMagazine]

Metal Gear Solid 4 Bluetooth headset now shipping to ears everywhere

This is it, soldiers. The day you've been anticipating has finally arrived. Okay, so maybe that's a build up not deserved by the lowly retail version of the Metal Gear Solid 4 Bluetooth headset, but seriously, we've been waiting ages for this thing to ship. Like, so long that the whole MGS4 aura has already come and gone. Those still firmly planted in Snake's posse can choose to prove their fanhood by snagging this thing now for $59.99; if all goes well, it should be headed your way in a matter of business days. Over and out.

[Via LogicBuy]

Mitsubishi's NR-HZ001 GPS: ten million destinations and a couple big distractions


As you know, when an already distracted driver gets his hands on a GPS the results can be disastrous: that's why we're predicting a whole slew of train wrecks once the NR-HZ001 hits the streets. Beginning November 5th, the device -- which doubles as a digital TV receiver -- will start shipping with new Mitsubishi autos, either at ¥250,000 ($2,353) for full segment digital video or ¥200,000 ($1,883) for 1seg. Both versions feature an internal hard drive, Bluetooth, ten million destinations and something called Multi Relay Operation: the ability for the driver and passengers to control the unit simultaneously through voice recognition. But we have to ask: between the live TV and the scintillating conversation you and your passengers are bound to have with the GPS, who will be watching the road?

[Via Coolest Gadgets]

Dell's ink-free Zink PZ310 WASABI printer splashes down in FCC


Up until now, the words "Zink" and "Polaroid" were all but married together, but a breakup fit for The Hills is about to go down courtesy of the all-too-promiscuous Dell. Over in the deep waters of the FCC, we're seeing a new Dell printer that utilizes the ink-free Zink technology. The PZ310 WASABI is yet another handheld printer that comes bundled with a single stack of printing paper, Bluetooth technology for printing from your mobile / BT-enabled PC, a USB port for traditionalists and a Reprint button for obvious reasons. As with everything in the FCC, the agency is never kind enough to hand over any preliminary pricing / release information, but it ought not be long now before Dell starts shipping these things without even telling anyone.

Murata's new balancing robot loses a wheel, gains a trick

Murata's new balancing robot loses a wheel, gains a trickRiding a bicycle isn't exactly easy, especially if you're made of circuitry, wires, and a gyroscope. That was Murata Seisaku-kun's one trick, and now he's sadly obsolete. Meet Seiko, a 20-inch tall, 11 pound unicycle riding robot. Like her, uh, "cousin" Keisaku-kun, Seiko relies on a chest-mounted gyro to stay upright and uses Bluetooth to communicate with a PC that gives instructions. (Yes, she's a PC.) Lucky robot lovers can watch the whole family of robo-carnies do its stuff at CEATEC Japan 2008, but even luckier you can check out the elder bot on his bike in motion after the break without having to leave your chair.

Sony Ericsson's HCB-108 Bluetooth speakerphone helps you escape dystopia


New York's a maximum security prison and you're our final hope, Snake. Armed with your wits and this new HCB-108 Bluetooth 2.0 car speakerphone from Sony Ericsson, your mission is to extract Johnny X from the fetid bowels of viral marketeers. Should you need to contact us, the HCB-108 features duplex audio, noise cancellation, echo reduction, and an industry best 25-hours of talk and 1-month standby. God speed and give Goldie our love.

Debunk: the iPod touch Bluetooth chip is really the Nike+ receiver


Usually product teardowns are only interesting for the raw, visceral thrill of seeing chipsets and circuit boards splayed wide open, but iFixit's disassembly of the new iPod touch revealed something rather more interesting: a Broadcom BCM4325 Bluetooth 2.1+EDR chip. (That's the silver rectangle in the middle of the top circuit board there.) That's got a lot of people all atwitter, but there's an obvious explanation for it: Nike+, built into the new touch, is based on a proprietary low-power 2.4GHz communications protocol called ANT -- not quite the standard Bluetooth frequency, but awful close. Yep, sorry, it's for technojogging, not secret A2DP -- although we'd welcome actual Bluetooth support in the touch with open arms. Hit the read link for the complete breakdown.

Update: Just to be totally accurate, the BCM4325 also does WiFi -- and Nike+iPod has been called a "proprietary 802.11 protocol" in the past, so it's even less likely that it's there for actual Bluetooth usage.

CY-FI Bluetooth sports speaker, tiny Sigourney Weaver co-star


CY-FI just unwrapped its latest wireless speaker system for your bike. The CY-FI Bluetooth wireless sport speaker weighs just 4-ounces, supports hands-free and stereo Bluetooth profiles, and works for about 5.5-hours on battery when clipped to your bike or pretty much anything else. But by attaching it to a bicycle, Cy-Fi can call it a world's first Bluetooth sport speaker, which is nice. Unfortunately, the September 22nd launch with a $180 price tag is not.

Sony sports up new Bluetooth headphones

Sony's bringing a little more sporty swoop to its Bluetooth headphone line with the splashproof DR-BT160AS wireless cans. The A2DP headphones have a built-in mic and controls for phone calls and track / volume adjustments, and there'll be a version with a bundled Bluetooth adapter when they go on sale in October -- too bad we don't have a price yet.



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