Hasta La Gadget!

It may not exactly look like much, but GuidePoint Systems is making some pretty lofty claims about its new GuidePoint Connect hands-free Bluetooth kit, which it says is nothing short of “OnStar for everyone else.” To that end, the device adds emergency dispatch and roadside assistance services to the usual Bluetooth hands-free calling, the former of which is tied into Guidepoint’s own response centers, while the latter can also be paired with GuidePoint’s optional GPS tracking device for location-based services. Like OnStar, all of that is also simplified about as much as possible, with just four buttons on the main unit used to handle calls and the two emergency services. Look for the unit itself to set you back a somewhat hefty $399, which includes the emergency dispatch service for free, along with a one-year subscription to the GuidePoint Silver service that includes roadside assistance and other services.

Filed under: Misc. Gadgets, Transportation

GuidePoint Connect car kit promises to be “OnStar for everyone else” originally appeared on Engadget on Thu, 03 Sep 2009 17:05:00 EST. Please see our terms for use of feeds.

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This is the O.R.B. It looks like a ring. It sits on your finger. It communicates with your handset via Bluetooth. When you get a call or have a meeting scheduled, it vibrates. With a twist, the thing turns into a sleek Bluetooth headset. All in all, the thing looks pretty snazzy.

Created by Hybra Tech, the device uses bone conduction to transmit calls through your skull. A FOLED (Flexible Organic Light Emitting Diode) display is located on its side to let you know about meetings and incoming calls.

The O.R.B. will launch next January for a suggested price of $129.

Are you ready to change your impression of Bluetooth headsets? Forget the blinking ear appendage that you already know, Jabra has just announced the HALO, a sleek foldable stereo headset that you’ll want to take everywhere.

The HALO has a 30-foot range and works with stereo Bluetooth devices, including the BlackBerry, iPhone, iPod Touch, many mobile phones, laptops, and more. You can pair it with two devices, and there’s a corded option, should you prefer. It includes a microphone for making calls, and offers a big 8 hours or talk or music time or 13 days of standby time.

To give your music a little something extra, the HALO includes Zirene Power Bass for a richer listening experience. Songs fade out when you get an incoming call. I like that it folds away and even comes with a carrying case.

Look to Jabra’s site for more info for pick up the HALO at Best Buy stores starting this week. It lists for $129.

Plantronics has unveiled the Discovery 975 Bluetooth headset, which replaces the Discovery 925 in the company’s lineup.

The dual-mic Discovery 975 features AudioIQ2 DSP and WindSmart technologies for compensating for noisy environments. They’re in effect all of the time; as part of the design, the 975 includes grooved vents on the boom and acoustic fabrics that envelop the mics in order to block wind noise.

The headset also features an adaptive 20-band equalizer to keep voices sounding natural and maintain volume. There’s a rechargeable carrying case that triples talk time from 5 hours to 15 hours, complete with a built-in LCD to show battery and earpiece levels as well as Bluetooth status.

The Plantronics Discovery 975 costs $129.99 and is now available from Plantronics.com; you can also pre-order it at Best Buy and Amazon.com ahead of its release in those outlets later this month.

For more on Bluetooth headsets, read PCMag.com’s How to Buy a Bluetooth Headset guide.

Samsung has announced three new Bluetooth headsets, all of which retail for under 100 bucks, that will hopefully improve on its most recent model’s ineffective noise cancellation.

The Samsung WEP470 is a small, lightweight headset with background noise filtering and echo cancellation. It’s not a dual-mic design, but claims to offer the same benefits due to its packet loss concealment technology. It also includes an LED battery indicator, power switch, and crystal ear hook for $39.99.

The WEP850 (pictured), meanwhile, offers a minimalist design with a true dual-mic configuration for improved noise cancellation and echo reduction for $69.99.

Finally, the complex $89.99 WEP870 offers everything the WEP850 does, plus multi-connection technology for pairing two Bluetooth devices simultaneously. It comes in chrome and graphite, a detachable stereo earbud for listening to music, and the ability to switch between music listening and incoming or outbound calls. It also has a tiny LCD screen that displays battery level, call status, and connection status. All three are available beginning today at www.samsung.com/accessories.