Isn't it
time you went hands-free with a Bluetooth headset? Here's what you need
to look for when choosing the perfect companion for your mobile phone.
Picking the right Bluetooth
headset might seem simple, but it actually comes with a challenge
that's unique to all headphones, and, well, anything that needs to be
placed in your ear: It's tough (and not completely sanitary) to try
products out before plunking down the cash for them. But a major
component of a headset's success depends on how it feels and fits—and
that varies widely from person to person, and even from ear to ear.
Other factors including sound quality, design and style, battery life,
and extra features are important, too. We've come up with eight points
you should consider when shopping for your next Bluetooth headset:
1. Call Quality
If call quality is the most important consideration for you, you'll want to check out the Plantronics Voyager 520, the Aliph New Jawbone, or the Motorola MotoPURE H15.
(The latter two incorporate noise-cancellation technology; more on that
later.) Call quality varies widely among products, but we're pleased to
report that even the most recent, smaller, fashion-conscious models
like the drop-dead-gorgeous Plantronics Discovery 925 finally sound as good as their larger counterparts, despite having tiny microphones and speakers.
2. Noise Cancellation Aliph's original Jawbone
introduced noise-cancellation technology to the masses. The popular
model is still a solid benchmark in noise-canceling performance,
although Aliph's New Jawbone steps it up with more advanced
NoiseAssassin technology. Some headsets, like the BlueAnt Z9i, also do a fine job
at blocking out noise and are more comfortable than the Jawbone models,
which need to sit snugly against your cheek for the best performance.
3. Battery Life
As for endurance, a guiding principle: If you don't want to charge, go
large. Some of the bulkier, less fashionable headsets like the
Plantronics Voyager 520 can last almost 9 hours on a single charge. The
original Aliph Jawbone
makes it to about 6 hours. The New Jawbone drops that down to a shade
below 4 hours owing to its smaller, slimmer design, which lacks the
room necessary for a large battery. The same is true of the Motorola
H15.
4. Comfort
Again, this is a tough one. Some models, like the original SoundID SM100 and the newer Plantronics Voyager 835,
feature a rubber earbud that sits partially inside your ear. While some
may find this uncomfortable, I think it creates a secure fit without
being too tight. (I find both of these models very comfortable.)
Others, like the Cardo S-800 and the Samsung WEP700, sit on the edge of your ear, while the Plantronics Voyager 510
and 520 rely more heavily on their requisite ear hooks for balance and
comfort. It's all a matter of personal preference, really.
5. Style
A certain portion of the population thinks that all Bluetooth headsets
look silly. A certain portion of the population thinks that all
Bluetooth headsets look silly—a view that's reinforced whenever they
see people walking down the street wearing one, even when not in use.
If you want the best-looking device you can find, the sleek,
hatpin-like Plantronics Discovery 925 and the tiny but cute Motorola
H15 score points for their fetching designs. The slight but attractive
Aliph New Jawbone is another head turner. Still, limiting headset use
to your desk or the car will keep disapproving stares to a minimum.
6. Range
There's not much variation in range of operation, except for the Callpod Dragon,
which achieved close to 50 feet on our tests. Most headsets are limited
to a theoretical range of 33 feet, which is a limitation of Bluetooth
technology. Typically, you can go a good 10 to 15 feet before static
starts to creep in.
7. Mono vs. Stereo Sound
Most Bluetooth headsets provide mono sound and fit in a single ear. But
if you want to listen to stereo music wirelessly—say, for your
workout—a few of the latest dual-ear models, like the MotoROKR S9-HD and the Altec Lansing BackBeat,
are worth considering. Die-hard audiophiles, on the other hand, should
stick with wired earphones for the best sound quality. But when it
comes to pure convenience, it's tough to beat a stereo Bluetooth set,
especially since these models let you listen to your tunes and take
calls from your Bluetooth-enabled phone.
8. Bonus Features
Depending on the device you choose, you can get one (or more) nifty
extras. Some headsets, like the Plantronics Voyager 520, let you pair
up to two devices simultaneously; that means you can switch between
PC-based VoIP calls and cell-phone calls all day without pairing and
re-pairing each time. The BlueAnt V1
lets you speak commands and gives you voice-based tutorials, and the
Callpod Dragon has a two-way communication mode so that you and a
friend can talk to each other while riding bicycles, for example. One
of the more innovative headsets we've seen, the Iqua 603 SUN integrates a solar panel that keeps its battery charged with the sun's rays.
The official
Bluetooth headset for the PlayStation 3 is well designed. Players can
take full advantage of the voice chat and voice command features of the
PS3. It features a 30-foot range, the versatility to be used in either
ear, compatibility with Bluetooth 1.1-enabled cell phones and a variety
of features designed specifically for use with the PS3.
Pairing
the headset to the PS3 is automatic when you connect with a USB cable.
A simple button push brings up an indicator on screen that tells you
the connection status, battery level, speaker volume and microphone
mute status. And when docked to the charging stand, the headset doubles
as a desktop microphone.
When you turn the volume up or down, it
shows up on the TV screen in the message window. When the battery is
low, your PS3 will warn you instead of constantly beeping in your ear.
The
headset is such an integrated part of the PS3 experience that games are
being designed to take advantage of its features. In "SOCOM,'' for
example, the headset "rings" when a co-player pushes the button to talk
and "rings" when you push the button to talk, creating a walkie-talkie
effect.
The only downsides to this headset are that it is
expensive and not very comfortable. I found that after an hour or so of
play, I had to adjust it.
Despite those issues, the headset is
easily the best choice for PS3 players. The quality of audio is great,
and you never have to worry about cables getting in the way.
Broadcom yesterday announced a new combo chip integrating GPS,
Bluetooth and FM transceiver in a single chip design. The BCM2075 is
particularly adapted to mobile handsets, portable media players (PMPs)
and personal navigation devices (PNDs) that wish to integrate
Bluetooth, GPS and FM transceiver functionality.
Broadcom expects this product will be
interesting for mid-range cell phones where, unlike smartphones, small
size does matter. “By designing this solution in 65nm process
technology, Broadcom is able to provide significant benefits over
competitive solutions in 90nm and 130nm processes by enabling smaller
size and lower power consumption”, said a press release.
The GPS core of the BCM2075 uses a
host-based integration architecture that splits the processing duties
between the BCM2075 and the host CPU system. “With this 65mm
implementation, the GPS consumption is well below 10mW”, said Scott
Pomerantz, Vice President and General Manager of Broadcom’s GPS line of
business. “We have implemented in the software a low power tracking
mode that allows shutting down the GPS for small period of time which
obviously saves power. We believe we deliver 50% better power
performance when compared with today’s leading solutions on the
market.”
This combo chip also provides
integrated support for other positioning technologies. Broadcom has
developed its own cell-ID database and has partnered with Skyhook
Wireless to offer Wi-Fi positioning (read more here).
Optimistic about GPS market
Broadcom is already sampling this combo chip to key customers and
expects they will have cell phones on the market with this product
before the end of 2009. The Californian Company remains optimistic for
the growth of the GPS phone market this year, despite the difficult
macroeconomic conditions. At the same time Broadcom do not believe the
PND market will go away. “We are not seeing the market taken away by
cell phones”, explained Scott Pomerantz yesterday in an interview with
GPS Business News. He also expects to find some new growth markets in
adding GPS to Netbooks as well as in digital cameras and mobile gaming,
even if those segments will be niche markets compared to cell phones.
ROLLINSFORD, NH -
VXI Corporation, the leading provider of
noise-canceling professional grade headsets announces the newest addition
to its popular BlueParrott® Bluetooth headset product line. The new
B250-XT headset incorporates Xtreme Noise Suppression(TM) technology which
knocks out the deafening sound of an 18-wheeler engine, heavy equipment,
power tools, wind and road noise and much more.
The B250-XT further improves the communications experience for serious
phone users with 16+ hours talk time (the longest in the industry) and a
functional range of up to 66 feet -- twice the distance of most other
Bluetooth headsets. The full range of volume adjustments makes the B250-XT
ideal for use in noisy environments or for those who have either
experienced some hearing loss or who wear hearing aids. At the same time,
the B250-XT's hearing protection technology guards users from sudden sound
spikes. The durable yet lightweight B250-XT utilizes the same comfortable
over-the-head wearing style that is preferred by those who use headsets for
extended periods.
"VXI has been the leader in providing best-in-class headset solutions for
high noise environments. Now, users of our products can enjoy our superior
noise cancellation technology all day without interruption for recharging,"
said Lisa Keslar, Director of Marketing, VXI Corporation.
Features:
-- Xtreme Noise Suppression(TM) eliminates background noises
-- 16+ hours talk time -- talk all day without recharging
-- Up to 66 ft range
-- A wide range of speaker volume adjustments ensures that you can hear
the other person on the phone
-- Hearing aid friendly
-- Indicator lights that can be turned on and off
-- Over-the-head headband ensures stable fit
-- Concave ear cushion for comfort and improved sound
-- Simple to use multifunction button
-- Microphone mute, volume and pairing functions
-- Flexible "gooseneck" microphone boom adjusts precisely and easily to
keep it where you want it
-- Includes foam and leatherette ear cushions
-- Convenient left or right side microphone placement
-- Includes both wall and auto auxiliary charging cords
-- Compatible with any Bluetooth cell phone or computer
-- Works with Verizon, Sprint, Nextel, Alltel and U.S. Cellular
-- Designed in the USA
Backed by a one year manufacturer's warranty, The BlueParrott B250-XT
headset is offered at a highly competitive suggested retail price of
$119.95 and is available at most major truck stops throughout the U.S. and
other retailers and e-tailers.
About VXI Corporation
VXI Corporation is a market leader in the design, development and marketing
of high performance headset solutions for noisy environments, contact
centers and computer applications. Products can be viewed
at www.vxicorp.com and www.blueparrott.com and are available directly or
from major distributors and OEMs throughout the world.
A pair of embedded technology names tied up late Tuesday, as Bluetooth company CSR and GPS chip provider SiRF agreed to merge.
The deal, expected to close in the second quarter of 2009, would create
a $927 million company with $378 million in cash and no debt. From a
technology standpoint, the companies said that the combination of
Bluetooth and GPS provided opportunities to design integrated platforms
for mobile and other devices.
The combined company will be one of the top 10 fabless chip suppliers
in the world, with customers among the top automobile GPS and mobile
handset providers.
"Our market opportunity is being driven by growing consumer demand for
greater functionality," Dada Banatao, the chairman and interim chief
executive of SiRF, said in a statement. "Our ability to offer customers
both leading edge location and connectivity technologies will be a key
competitive advantage. Together with CSR, we can accelerate our
strategic plans, realize growth opportunities faster than either
company could on its own, diversify our revenues and capitalize on
market opportunities to create value for shareholders."
Under the terms of the agreement, SiRF stockholders will receive 0.741
of a CSR share for each share of SiRF common stock they own. Based on
the closing stock price for CSR on February 9, 2009, this consideration
would be equivalent to $2.06 of CSR stock for each SiRF share,
representing total consideration of $136 million, the companies said.
Although the companies have agreed to merge, it still must be approved
by shareholders. The companies said they expect approval by the second
quarter.
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