Nov 11

Jabra Stone Gets an Upgrade

Posted in: bluetooth, Today's Chili

Jabra-Stone2.jpgThe Jabra Stone, one of the few elegant and attractive Bluetooth headsets on the market, has just been upgraded to version 2. The Stone2 improves on the original with hands-free features like the ability to call by voice, to answer by saying “answer,” and to reject a call by saying “ignore.”

The Stone2 will even talk back to you. Users will hear the name of incoming callers through the headset, read exactly as the name is programmed into their phone. If the caller’s number isn’t saved, the headset will read out the phone number. The Stone2 also gives audio alerts when it’s paired with a device or when the battery is low. It even talks users through the setup process. You can pick one up at AT&T stores starting November 21 for $129.

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Nov 10

Apple didn’t buy Wi-Gear, according to Wi-Gear CEO

Posted in: Apple, bluetooth, headphones, rumor, Today's Chili

If you were hoping for surefire proof Apple was about to start making stereo Bluetooth headphones so that you didn’t have to make a difficult choice among the many already-great options on the market, you’re not in luck. A rumored acquisition of iMuffs manufacturer Wi-Gear has turned up false, with the CEO Mark Pundsack himself refuting the claims. Turns out Wi-Gear and its IP are up for sale, and the company has ceased operations due to lack of funds, but Apple apparently hasn’t picked up the tab. Mark’s response to the rumored buy? “Two words: ‘I wish!'”

Apple didn’t buy Wi-Gear, according to Wi-Gear CEO originally appeared on Engadget on Wed, 10 Nov 2010 18:47:00 EDT. Please see our terms for use of feeds.

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Nov 10

Jabra rolls out Stone2 on November 21st, just as UFO-like as the original

Posted in: bluetooth, headset, Today's Chili

Bluetooth headsets look strange enough hanging off your ear as it is, so why not maximize the shock factor? Jabra’s Stone is equal parts strange and elegant, and it would appear that the newly-announced Stone2 is making no attempt to diverge from that formula. Apart from some minor tweaks, the overall curved design and matching charging dock appear to be largely unchanged from the original model, but the Stone2’s claim to fame is the fact that it’s now a completely touch-free experience to use: if a call comes in, you just say “answer” or “ignore” and the phone will do your bidding. Never mind the fact that the people around you at the coffee shop are more convinced than ever that you’re talking to yourself, we suppose. Look for it in AT&T stores on the 21st of this month for $129.99.

Jabra rolls out Stone2 on November 21st, just as UFO-like as the original originally appeared on Engadget on Wed, 10 Nov 2010 17:52:00 EDT. Please see our terms for use of feeds.

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Nov 10

Bluetooth-enabled meds to enter European bloodstreams

Posted in: bluetooth, europe, medical, Medicine, Today's Chili

One of the great things about miniaturization is that it allows us to swallow things that a few short years ago were just a wonderful dream, from microprocessors to bowel scanners. Now a Swiss pharmaceutical company called Novartis AG is developing the Ingestible Event Marker (IEM), a chip that can be embedded in medication and, upon being activated by the patient’s stomach acid, will send the doctor biometric data that gauges the drug’s effectiveness (including heart rate, body temp, and body movements) via Bluetooth. The plan is to introduce the technology to monitor transplant recipients, although it could be expanded to other uses as well. If bioequivalence tests demonstrate that the device doesn’t alter the effects of the pills, you could see ’em submitted for regulatory approval in Europe in the next 18 months.

Bluetooth-enabled meds to enter European bloodstreams originally appeared on Engadget on Wed, 10 Nov 2010 14:37:00 EDT. Please see our terms for use of feeds.

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Nov 10

Elecom claims first Bluetooth 3.0 mouse, performance improvements sure to be palpable

Posted in: bluetooth, mouse, Today's Chili

Bluetooth 3.0 is poised to bring some big improvements, like WiFi hand-off for approximately 24Mbps data transfers… but how good is that for a mouse? We still don’t really know, but that isn’t stopping Elecom from boasting about its new, “first ever” BT 3.0 mouse — and as best as we can tell, it lacks the “+ HS” protocol for utilizing the aforementioned 802.11 speeds. In other words, we don’t think this was a race to beat the competition so much as it was one company finally saying, “hey, why not?” Japan denizens should be able to pick this up next month for ¥4,200 with tax, or about $52 in US bills.

Elecom claims first Bluetooth 3.0 mouse, performance improvements sure to be palpable originally appeared on Engadget on Wed, 10 Nov 2010 10:23:00 EDT. Please see our terms for use of feeds.

Permalink Akihabara News  |  sourceElecom, (translation)  | Email this | Comments

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Nov 10

ThinkGeek Joins iPad Keyboard Case Cavalcade

Posted in: Accessories and Peripherals, bluetooth, ipad, keyboard, Today's Chili

I promise I’ll stop writing about iPad keyboard cases soon, but today’s second installment comes from ThinkGeek, in the form of a luxurious leather folio case, packed with little chiclets to help you type.

Unlike the ZAGGmate profiled earlier today, the ThinkGeek case is designed to continuously swaddle the iPad, not to be removed. It holds the tablet by its edges, covering the bezel with a leather rectangle whilst still allowing access to all the buttons and ports.

But that’s not why you’re here. The keyboard part of the case is hidden under a flap which doubles as a wrist-rest when unfolded, and the connection is, as ever, via Bluetooth (li-ion battery life 90-hours ). All the media keys are here, including the ones the Apple Bluetooth keyboard doesn’t have: home and slideshow. Ever since putting iOS 4.2 on my iPad, I have been worrying about all those extra double-clicks I’m racking up on the home-button. Putting this on the keyboard is smart: when you’re typing, you’re also likely to be doing a lot of app-switching.

When not tapping away, you can use the case like any other folio-case, folding the keyboard-containing front-cover around the back, or just letting everything close up and stick shut with the magnetic clip.

For a circuitry-toting, leather folio, the ThinkGeek case is pretty cheap, at just $60. Available now.

IPad Bluetooth Keyboard Case [ThinkGeek. Thanks, Jessica!]

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Nov 10

Aluminum Shell Hides iPad Keyboard

Posted in: Accessories and Peripherals, bluetooth, ipad, Today's Chili

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The ZAGGMate iPad case comes in two flavors, both of which look like aluminum tea-trays, only smaller. The cases protect just the screen of the iPad, clipping on like an iPhone shell-style case, only in the front instead of on the back.

Both cases also double as stands, with a neat, hinged plastic wedge that flips out of the interior and pushes at the back of the tablet while the case’s lip stops it from slipping forward.

Then things part ways. The ZAGGmate keyboard-case contains an hardware QWERTY keyboard on its inner surface. Once the iPad is propped into place, the Bluetooth keyboard can be used for typing, and has the full-complement of media keys for volume, home, starting a slideshow and adjusting the brightness. A 510 mAh rechargeable lithium polymer battery provides juice for a couple weeks of normal use (and charges via USB).

I scoffed for a while at these keyboard cases, thinking that the iPad’s on-screen keyboard was plenty good enough. It’s surprising still just how fast I can type on it, but with iOS 4.2 and all its fancy multitasking ways, the iPad just got a lot better at doing work, and even the simple addition of cursor keys and keyboard shortcuts for copy-and-paste make a huge difference.

The ZAGGmate costs $100 in its keyboard form, and $70 case-only. Available soon.

ZaggMate product page [ZAGGmate]

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Nov 09

Apple buys Wi-Gear, getting into the stereo Bluetooth headset game?

Posted in: Apple, bluetooth, iPhone, ipod, Today's Chili
Apple appears to have bought Wi-Gear, getting into the stereo Bluetooth headset game?

Apple hasn’t always exactly been on the forefront when it comes to Bluetooth support, over the years creating quite an opportunity for third-party companies to make A2DP adapters for iPods and the like. One of those companies was Wi-Gear, which also made a stereo headset called the iMuffs and invited you to “Cut the cord and truly be free!” Sadly the use of such a device does not free you from the various responsibilities of modern day-to-day life, but an apparent acquisition appears to have helped the company’s founders shed some of theirs. According to 9to5Mac, Apple has purchased Wi-Gear and brought the company’s tech, and at least one of its co-founders, in-house. Michael Kim lists himself as an “iOS Bluetooth Engineer” at Apple now, while Wi-Gear itself has ceased operations according to its site. What’s coming next remains to be seen, but if an Apple-branded stereo Bluetooth headset isn’t the fruit of this partnership we’ll eat our old A2DP dongles.

Apple buys Wi-Gear, getting into the stereo Bluetooth headset game? originally appeared on Engadget on Tue, 09 Nov 2010 08:36:00 EDT. Please see our terms for use of feeds.

Permalink   |  source9to5Mac  | Email this | Comments

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Nov 08

PlayStation 3’s Bluetooth headset slims down, shines on, adorns ears later this month

Posted in: bluetooth, headset, playstation, playstation 3, Playstation3, ps3, sony, Today's Chili

My, what a difference a couple years makes. As we suspected, Sony is updating its old Bluetooth headset design with a decidedly more elegant model. Here’s what we’ve got: dual mics, USB pairing, in-game status indicator, a charge cradle that doubles as a desktop mic, and of course, a giant mute button for when you have only moments to smack yourself in the ear and curse loudly about your good-for-nothing teammates. It’s also smaller and glossier — and rocking the same $49.99 price tag. When’s it arriving? Soon, later this month. When is that, exactly? Have patience.

PlayStation 3’s Bluetooth headset slims down, shines on, adorns ears later this month originally appeared on Engadget on Mon, 08 Nov 2010 14:28:00 EDT. Please see our terms for use of feeds.

Permalink Joystiq  |  sourceUS PlayStation blog  | Email this | Comments

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Nov 08

Soundfreaq’s SFQ-01 Bluetooth audio system exemplifies gorgeous

Posted in: audio, bluetooth, Music, sound, Today's Chili

Can’t say we’ve ever heard of Soundfreaq, but it’s safe to say said company has our attention now. The newly introduced SFQ-01 Bluetooth audio system is easily one of the most stunning we’ve seen, and since it accepts BT commands, it’ll play nice with just about any mobile phone and / or PMP in the modern era. As for aural qualifications, you’re looking at Kevlar-reinforced balanced drivers (2.75-inch), an acoustically tuned dual-port chamber and a UQ3 spatial enhancement processor, all of which presumably combine to deliver pure nirvana straight to your ear canal. Doubly so if listening to Cobain. You’ll also find an inbuilt FM radio tuner as well as a 3.5 millimeter auxiliary input, but you won’t spot the unit itself anywhere other than Target; it’ll ship there later this month for $199.

Gallery: Soundfreaq’s SFQ-01 Bluetooth audio system

Soundfreaq’s SFQ-01 Bluetooth audio system exemplifies gorgeous originally appeared on Engadget on Mon, 08 Nov 2010 08:00:00 EDT. Please see our terms for use of feeds.

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