Sep 22

BUGbase WiFi finally overcomes, ships in the US and Europe

Posted in: bluetooth, diy, europe, mod, open source, opensource, Today's Chili, wifi

It’s hard to believe that BUG Labs has been helping tinkerers thinker for two whole years now, particularly when you realize that its BUGbase has been operating sans WiFi all along. At long last, after a painful battle with the licensing overlords connected to WiFi and Bluetooth, BUG has finally received approval to ship the BUGbase WiFi (which does BT as well) both here in the States as well as in Europe. Aside from those two huge additions, BUG also upgraded the device with a friction-fit docking connector and improved power management, not to mention a few subtle “under the hood” tweaks designed to make everyone’s lives a little easier. Oh, and for existing BUGbase owners? A special BUGWiFi module will be shipping in a few weeks, and yes, all of BUG’s other modules will be compatible with either base. Once you’re done hopping around like a jovial schoolgirl, feel free to order your own BUGbase WiFi now for $449.

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BUGbase WiFi finally overcomes, ships in the US and Europe originally appeared on Engadget on Tue, 22 Sep 2009 21:23:00 EST. Please see our terms for use of feeds.

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Sep 20

Video: BudsGoBlue teaser hints at iPhone 3GS-controlling BT headphones

Posted in: Apple, bluetooth, headset, teaser, Today's Chili, video

Itching to command your iPhone 3GS via voice control, yet aren’t willing to wrap one more cable around your precious dome? Your wildest dreams could possibly come true next month, when BudsGoBlue launches an iPhone-friendly set of Bluetooth earbuds that should act as headphones and a BT headset. We’re hearing that the loops on each earpiece are “completely flexible,” and judging by the teaser video hosted up just after the break, they look fairly seductive, too. Hop on down and have a peek for yourself, won’t you?

[Via mobilitysite, thanks Toni]

Continue reading Video: BudsGoBlue teaser hints at iPhone 3GS-controlling BT headphones

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Video: BudsGoBlue teaser hints at iPhone 3GS-controlling BT headphones originally appeared on Engadget on Sun, 20 Sep 2009 15:02:00 EST. Please see our terms for use of feeds.

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Sep 17

MoGo Piggybacks Bluetooth Headset On Your BlackBerry

Posted in: BlackBerry, bluetooth, iPhone, Today's Chili

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If you tend to lose your Bluetooth headset, check out this new accessory from Newton Peripherals that I saw at the ShowStoppers press event last night. It’s a backpack that snaps onto a BlackBerry Curve and holds a MoGo Talk headset, a super-thin gadget which we reviewed in another incarnation a few months ago. In other words, it sort of turns any phone into an LG Decoy.
The backpack, unfortunately, does not charge the headset – you have to plug  in a separate MicroUSB cable – but at least it prevents you from misplacing the darn thing. Newton also makes a backpack for iPhones, with the same headset-hiding ability. The MoGo Talk headset itself has pretty good sound, our reviewer Jamie Lendino found, although its extremely slim form factor means it has pretty short battery life.
Newton says their iPhone backpack should be available later this month, and the BlackBerry model should come before the end of this year.
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Sep 12

Philips puts a touchpad on a mouse, laughs maniacally

Posted in: bluetooth, mouse, philips, Today's Chili
Philips couldn’t decide whether you asked for a Bluetooth mouse, a USB mouse, or a touchpad, so it Frankensteined all three together. What can we say about aptly named “Bluetooth notebook mouse SPM9800/10?” Well, if you need a Bluetooth mouse, you can use it like a Bluetooth mouse. If the juice runs out, plug it in via USB and you have a USB mouse. But the feature that most differentiates this from other, how we say, ‘mash-ups,’ is that the click wheel has been replaced with a 360°TouchControl sensor, which is essentially a touchpad on the top of the thing. That’s right: lift this thing off the table and use the touchpad to move around on the screen. PowerPoint has never been this sexy! Hits the scene in select European markets soon for about $80.

[Via Engadget China]

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Philips puts a touchpad on a mouse, laughs maniacally originally appeared on Engadget on Sat, 12 Sep 2009 11:21:00 EST. Please see our terms for use of feeds.

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Sep 09

Microsoft’s Bluetooth Mobile Keyboard 6000: barely thicker than a stack of hundies

Posted in: bluetooth, Microsoft, Today's Chili

It’d be downright appalling to ever tote around a keyboard that’s thicker than your current laptop, and you can bet the suits in Redmond recognize that. To that end, Microsoft has introduced this ultraslim Bluetooth Mobile Keyboard 6000, which is just barely thicker than an AAA battery at the rear. Naturally, the curved board gets even thinner as it slopes toward the front, though it’s the optional number pad that really steals the show in terms of cuteness. The BT-only device utilizes a so-called Comfort Curve design to keep your wrists from cramping up after a few lines of text, and if you’re interested in claiming one as your own, get ready to shell out $89.95 when it ships next month. Oh, and as for that number pad? $44.95. Yeah, ouch.

[Via HotHardware]

Continue reading Microsoft’s Bluetooth Mobile Keyboard 6000: barely thicker than a stack of hundies

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Microsoft’s Bluetooth Mobile Keyboard 6000: barely thicker than a stack of hundies originally appeared on Engadget on Wed, 09 Sep 2009 12:41:00 EST. Please see our terms for use of feeds.

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Sep 06

Bluetooth headset use plummets in the US, humanity celebrates a small victory

Posted in: bluetooth, cellphone, headset, research, Today's Chili


Join us as we rejoice together: “Finally!” Look, we can’t straight up say that Bluetooth headsets don’t have their place in this world, but seriously, we’ve yet to not be freaked out when walking up to someone who’s apparently speaking to the ghost we can’t see. In a recent survey conducted by the quizzical minds over at Strategy Analytics, they found that only 26 percent of US-based Bluetooth headset owners use their device each and every day. That figure is down from 43 percent in 2008, proving that style may have just notched a minor victory over utility. Of course, the study also found that daily BT headset use was up slightly in Europe, but hey, it takes awhile for these so-called “trends” to float across the pond.

[Image courtesy of eHow, via HotHardware]

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Bluetooth headset use plummets in the US, humanity celebrates a small victory originally appeared on Engadget on Sun, 06 Sep 2009 03:34:00 EST. Please see our terms for use of feeds.

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Sep 03

GuidePoint Connect car kit promises to be “OnStar for everyone else”

Posted in: bluetooth, Today's Chili

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.

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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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Sep 01

Blu-Link universal remote for PS3 is your ticket to weight gain

Posted in: bluetooth, playstation 3, Playstation3, ps3, remote, remote control, RemoteControl, sony, Today's Chili
Sick of all the physical effort involved in shuffling multiple remotes? Back in the day (that is, until yesterday) if you wanted to use a universal remote control with your PS3 you had to get some sort of IR-to-Bluetooth adapter, like the one available for the Logitech Harmony. SMK, however, is looking to change that (and reinforce your inertia in the process) with Blu-Link. This bad boy combines a Bluetooth PS3 controller with a standard infrared universal remote. Other features include advanced learning (for gleaning button assignments from your other remotes) and support for more than 400 brands of standard and HDTV televisions and flatscreens, 150 VCR brands, 200 Satellite Receiver models, 100 Cable TV Receiver brands, 50 DVR models and 200 home theater surround sound systems. Available September 1st for $49.95. HIt the read link for more info.

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Blu-Link universal remote for PS3 is your ticket to weight gain originally appeared on Engadget on Tue, 01 Sep 2009 15:19:00 EST. Please see our terms for use of feeds.

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Aug 28

The O.R.B. is a Ring, A Bluetooth Headset, Possibly From the Future

Posted in: bluetooth, headset, Today's Chili

theorb.jpg

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.

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Aug 26

Jabra’s HALO now ready to make stereo Bluetooth look a little less ridiculous

Posted in: bluetooth, Today's Chili

By its very nature, stereo Bluetooth gear is never going to look quite as cool as its wired equivalent — but if we look back on the early days, we’re making progress. Jabra’s new over-the-ear HALO should appeal to some with its relatively convenient folding design, and as an added bonus, it kinda looks like you’re wearing a futuristic hair beret when you slip it on. How can you argue with that? Following an announcement earlier this year, the HALO’s now available at Best Buy locations for $130 promising 8 hours of music playback, 13 days of standby, seamless transition between calls and tunes, and an innovative corded mode with a 3.5mm jack. It’s tough to say whether you’ll get odd stares wearing these day in and day out — but if you’re not willing to find out the answer to that the hard way, we certainly are. Selfless, we know.

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Jabra’s HALO now ready to make stereo Bluetooth look a little less ridiculous originally appeared on Engadget on Wed, 26 Aug 2009 08:54:00 EST. Please see our terms for use of feeds.

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