Spracht Aura EQ (the really real version) hands-on

We got a glimpse at Spracht’s new Aura EQ Bluetooth headset back at CES this year, but in reality, we sort of didn’t — what was being shown back then didn’t constitute final ID, turns out. The company’s back at it here at CTIA showing something closer to what you’ll be seeing on store shelves later this half — though they only had one, and it wasn’t in final retail packaging — so we took a minute to check it out. It’s using the same tricky earbud that we saw before, but the front of the unit has changed significantly — gone are the matte ridges, replaced with a glossy black surface broken up by a few bumps that represent the range of the capacitive volume slider. If “understated” is the look you’re going for, the Aura EQ is generally going to do the trick — and even if you like something a little more edgy, it’s got those funky points on the front and rear. Quite the crowd pleaser, eh?

Spracht Aura EQ (the really real version) hands-on originally appeared on Engadget on Thu, 25 Mar 2010 19:21:00 EST. Please see our terms for use of feeds.

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Jabra Offers Bluetooth Exclusives

Jabra-CLIPPER.jpg

Exclusivity just makes things a little more desirable, right? The cell phone carriers certainly think so, which may be why premiere Bluetooth headset-maker Jabra is offering a couple exclusive products.

The Jabra Clipper, a clever stereo headset introduced at this year’s CTIA Wireless show, will be available exclusively in Verizon stores in May for $59.99. The Clipper includes a tiny clip-on device with noise-blocking ear buds. It works with both phone calls and music, and looks like a great way to enjoy stereo sound without a lot of bulk.

The company’s innovative Stone, which combines a Bluetooth headset and charger in one compact package, is getting whitewashed and sent to AT&T. AT&T stores will have the new White Stone exclusively starting May 16 for $129.99.

Also at CTIA, Jabra announced the Jabra Mobile Developer Program, so that developers currently producing voice-enabled apps can get access to Jabra technology. Can’t wait to see what comes out of that.

Kisai’s Escape C Bluetooth receiver is very expensive, very Crapgadget

It strikes us as we post this that perhaps you need to be something of a Crapgadget connoisseur to understand the attraction that Kisai’s Escape C wireless Bluetooth receiver holds for us. Available from Tokyo Flash (one of our favorite CG purveyors) the thing does serve a purpose: it’ll receive Bluetooth from your phone, laptop, or whatever, and let you listen to music and / or answer calls with your non-Bluetooth headset. But, as always, the devil is in the details — not only does the build quality look especially sub-par, but the way that they’ve re-imagined what should be a simple time display into a brain-teaser (hit the source link for that one) is totally hilarious — and totally Crapgadget. Did we mention that this thing is $106? Not laughing now, are you?

Kisai’s Escape C Bluetooth receiver is very expensive, very Crapgadget originally appeared on Engadget on Thu, 25 Mar 2010 10:33:00 EST. Please see our terms for use of feeds.

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Cardo Scala Rider G4 headset review: advanced noise cancellation for riders

We’ll get this out of the way up front: riding a motorcycle on the road is a generally dangerous and frequently challenging thing. Doing so while dialing into a concall or grooving to some chill tunes is, well, not something we would exactly encourage. So, when we were given the opportunity to test ride Cardo’s latest helmet-friendly Bluetooth headset, the Scala Rider G4, we were a little unsure of just how useful the thing would be for a conscientious, safety-minded rider. We took a pair of the headsets for a spin just the same and were left firmly convinced that this is a product worth giving up our in-helmet singing careers for. Click on through to read why, and for a demonstration of some supremely impressive noise cancellation.

Continue reading Cardo Scala Rider G4 headset review: advanced noise cancellation for riders

Cardo Scala Rider G4 headset review: advanced noise cancellation for riders originally appeared on Engadget on Wed, 24 Mar 2010 15:11:00 EST. Please see our terms for use of feeds.

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Samsung trots out Modus Bluetooth headset, complete with dual mics and multipoint

And you thought the Bluetooth headset was gone forever. Samsung Mobile’s keeping the dream alive here at CTIA by introducing the “convertible-style” Modus — a noise cancelling BT headset that’s able to convert for Bluetooth stereo connectivity on a whim. It’s also equipped with a pair of microphones and multipoint technology, the latter of which enables users to have the device synced to two handsets and respond to whichever rings first. Samsung’s also tossing a stereo earbud headset in the box for those times when monaural just ain’t cuttin’ it, and the built-in rechargeable battery (which gets juiced via micro-USB) can go for six hours strong before petering out. Shame there’s no mention of a price or ship date, but it’s probably for the best — remember that pact you made with your SO to keep your ear free of foreign objects?

Samsung trots out Modus Bluetooth headset, complete with dual mics and multipoint originally appeared on Engadget on Tue, 23 Mar 2010 22:21:00 EST. Please see our terms for use of feeds.

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BlueAnt intros rugged T1 Bluetooth headset, sophisticated Android app

BlueAnt’s been slinking along in the shadows of the (thankfully) dwindling Bluetooth headset market for years now, and aside from that one voice-controlled V1 that popped two years ago, we haven’t seen much from the outfit that really got our juices flowing. Until today, naturally. The rugged, May-bound T1 headset ($79.99) doesn’t look drastically different (or smaller) than the aforesaid V1, but it’s the firm’s first to feature Wind Armour Technology — something that’s engineered to “deliver clear audio in wind speeds up to 22mph.” It’s also built to withstand the occasional drop and bout with dust / moisture, and in case that’s not enough, it’ll also audibly announce who’s calling so long as they’re in your address book. As you’d expect, A2DP streaming audio is fully supported, as is multipoint (which allows it to remain connected to two phones at once and respond to whichever rings first). In related news, the company also announced its new Q1 app for Android (due April 1st), which helps Q1 headset users by reading text messages aloud to you via a presumably flawed text-to-speech system. Hit up the source links for the fully skinny on each, or just hop on past the break for a pair of superbly informative videos.

Continue reading BlueAnt intros rugged T1 Bluetooth headset, sophisticated Android app

BlueAnt intros rugged T1 Bluetooth headset, sophisticated Android app originally appeared on Engadget on Tue, 23 Mar 2010 11:43:00 EST. Please see our terms for use of feeds.

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CTIA: BlueAnt Launches Rugged T1 Headset and an Android App

BlueAnt Logo.jpgAt this week’s CTIA trade show in Las Vegas, BlueAnt represented its Bluetooth headset and accessories line by launching the durable T1 headset and an Android app for its Q1 headset. First up is the T1 headset, a rugged Bluetooth device with new noise cancellation technology. The headset features removable silicon covers that protect the handset from accidental damage. It also has caller name announce, a new feature that reads out the names of incoming callers and has a text-to-speech engine that can store up to 2,000 phone book entries.

The T1 headset is the first to include “Wind Armor Technology,” noise cancellation software that supposedly delivers clear audio in wind speeds up to 22 mph. BlueAnt claims it is the “best wind noise reduction of any Bluetooth headset on the market.” PCMag.com will certainly test out these claims when we review the unit. BlueAnt says the T1 will offer 6 hours of talk time and 120 hours of standby time. The device will have a suggested retail price of $79.99.

On the software side of things, BlueAnt is offering up a new Android app specifically designed for its Q1 headset. The main purpose of the app is to allow the user to listen to their text messages through the headset, which the company claims is a first. Those with phones running custom Android builds like MotoBlur on the Motorola Devour or Motorola CLIQ are out of luck, as the app only works with Android 2.0 and 2.1. The app is available for download on BlueAnt’s Web site or via the Android Market.

JVC ships Bluetooth-packin’, geotagging Everio GZ-HM550 camcorder

Ah, springtime. Ain’t it beautiful? So beautiful, in fact, that you’re apt to want to capture the flowers blooming and the kids playing around you, which is probably why JVC finally decided to ship the Everio GZ-HM550 that it announced back at CES. As far as handheld camcorders go, it’s one of the better specced models on the market, touting a 10.6 megapixel CMOS sensor, 32GB of inbuilt storage, an SD / SDHC expansion slot, an integrated Bluetooth module (for controlling the camera’s play, zoom and record functions via cellphone) and geotagging support when used with a compatible BT phone. Oh, and users can even sync up a Bluetooth headset in order to monitor the recorded sound or input voice recordings. You’ll also get 1080p recording, a 16x zoom and the ability to snag 9 megapixel stills, all for the low, low price of $799.95. Go ahead — step your YouTube game way up.

Continue reading JVC ships Bluetooth-packin’, geotagging Everio GZ-HM550 camcorder

JVC ships Bluetooth-packin’, geotagging Everio GZ-HM550 camcorder originally appeared on Engadget on Sun, 21 Mar 2010 10:41:00 EST. Please see our terms for use of feeds.

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Marvell pitches $99 Moby Tablet as textbook alternative

When chipmaker Marvell told us its technology would power $99 smartphones, we took the company at its word. We weren’t expecting a sub-$100, 10-inch tablet PC, however — and we definitely weren’t expecting Marvell itself to build it. Marketed at students looking to lighten their textbook load, the Marvell Moby will be an “always-on, high performance multimedia tablet” capable of full Flash support and 1080p HD playback — thanks to those nifty Armada 600 series processors — and supporting WiFi, Bluetooth, FM radio, GPS and both Android and Windows Mobile platforms for maximum flexibility. No release date has yet been announced; like the OLPC, Marvell will introduce the Moby in pilot programs at participating at-risk schools. While it’s far too early to say if the Moby will be the universal educational e-reader Marvell hopes (that depends on software), it’s certainly an intriguing device for the price, and we’ll admit we’re a touch jealous of those kids who’ll first get to try one.

Marvell pitches $99 Moby Tablet as textbook alternative originally appeared on Engadget on Fri, 19 Mar 2010 02:20:00 EST. Please see our terms for use of feeds.

Permalink ARMdevices.net  |  sourceMarvell, Technologizer  | Email this | Comments

Cowon J3 PMP looks cool in its brushed metal case

Cowon J3 PMP looks cool in its brushed metal case

Hot on the heels of giving our opinion on Cowon’s (relatively) big-screened V5 media player we have some news on the next player in line from the company. It’s called the J3 and, while Cowon has officially acknowledged its existence, its specifications have only been unveiled thanks to what looks to be an internationally coordinated effort on behalf of gadget lovers everywhere. The J3 is said to have a 3.3-inch AMOLED touchscreen with a resolution of 480 x 272, pulling content from 4, 8, or 16GB of internal storage — content that can also be routed to a TV. There’ll be Bluetooth to pump tunes wirelessly and a new metal case that’s said to improve the quality feel of the player. That, of course, we won’t know about until we can feel one of the things, and according to the company some folks will be able to do just that before the month is through.

Cowon J3 PMP looks cool in its brushed metal case originally appeared on Engadget on Tue, 16 Mar 2010 08:44:00 EST. Please see our terms for use of feeds.

Permalink PlayerBites  |  sourceMovie Player, Cowon  | Email this | Comments