Hasta La Gadget!

The headset news just keeps on rolling. Joining Sony, Bose, and Sennheiser, Logitech has announced the Wireless Headset H760 for VoIP calls.

Just because it’s designed for VoIP doesn’t mean it’s limited in use. You can also use the headset to listen to music or watch movies on the computer. While the headset probably isn’t ideal for  serious gaming, the casual gamer can use it for Facebook games or other Flash games online.

The wireless H760 has a built-in equalizer for optimizing sound for voice, music and movies. Step away confidently from the computer without losing the call, as long as you don’t go further than 40 feet.

Logitech claims the battery life is up to 6 hours, and it will take 2.5 hours or less to charge via USB.

The behind-the-ear headset has an adjustable headband and has a flexible microphone boom that can be moved out of the way when you are not on the phone. When it is moved out of the way, the noise-cancelling microphone automatically mutes itself. The sculpted, pivoting ear pads also makes it comfortable to wear..

The Logitech H760 is available for pre-order at $99.99.

If you’ve already got a headset, mouse or keyboard, here’s hoping they suit you just fine, because if they don’t you’ll be tempted to blow oodles of money on Logitech’s latest gaming peripheral lineup. Today, the company revealed (and is launching) the G510 keyboard, the G930 headset and G700 mouse, and while the first is merely an amalgamation of solid peripherals that have come before (customizable RGB backlighting, USB audio, 18 programmable buttons, the whole nine yards) the latter two are premium wireless products. That’s right, Logitech finally has an answer to Razer’s Mamba and Microsoft’s Sidewinder X8 with its own 2.4GHz, 1000 report-per-second hybrid wireless mouse (with thirteen programmable buttons on tap) and they’ve ripped the wires right out of the G35 surround sound headset to stuff a play n’ charge battery and two 2.4GHz antennas on board. They’ll run you a pretty penny, of course, at $160 for the headset, $120 for the keyboard and $100 for the mouse, but you’ll find out if two of the three are worth your while later today when we publish our full review. We’ll let you guess which two. Press release after the break.

Update: Logitech’s got a breakneck video rundown of all the hot new G-series features; spot it right after the break. All three products are also on Logitech’s website now, though the headset and keyboard are labeled “out of stock.”

Continue reading Logitech’s G700 mouse and G930 headset cut the cords, G510 chops price tag of primo keyboard parts

Logitech’s G700 mouse and G930 headset cut the cords, G510 chops price tag of primo keyboard parts originally appeared on Engadget on Thu, 05 Aug 2010 02:20:00 EDT. Please see our terms for use of feeds.

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BlueAnt Wireless’ Q2 Bluetooth Headset does more than just relay voice. The headset, released yesterday, is more of a peripheral for your mobile phone that accepts voice commands, places calls for you, alerts you to SMS messages and reads them aloud for you (with the help of a companion Blackberry or Android app), and even announces the name of an incoming caller so you don’t have to look at your device. The Q2 also integrates with Bing 411 for quick access to news, traffic, and weather using your voice.

The Q2 doesn’t skimp on audio quality to bring you all of these feature: It has built-in noise reduction so your caller doesn’t hear background noise while you speak to them, and BlueAnt’s proprietary “Wind Armour” technology reduces noise from wind up to 22 miles per hour. The device even supports Bluetooth audio, so you can use the headset to listen to music, podcasts, and GPS information. All of these features will cost you, since the Q2 is designed to be a high-end headset. It’s available now at $129 list. 

Etymotic unveiled a number of new headsets and headphones this week, along with a new program where buyers can have the in-ear tips for their Etymotic headphones custom molded and fitted to their ears. The new Etymotic MC3 and M5 in-ear earphones both bring superior audio quality to a colorful set of earbuds. The MC3 comes with an in-line control pod and noise-isolating microphone that allows you to adjust the volume when you’re listening to music or take phone calls. Both models are polished aluminum and come in black, red, blue, and green. The MC3 and its included headset retails for $99, and the M5 earphones retail for $79.

Etymotic also unveiled the $179 hf3 in-ear headset, which is a step up from the MC-series. It also comes in three colors and will work with any device with a 3.5-mm audio jack, but is designed for the iPhone, iPad, and iPod Touch. The h3 also features a noise-isolating microphone and three-button control pod that’s in-line with the audio cable.

If you prefer wireless headsets, the new etyBLU2 Bluetooth headset will run you $129, and features a noise-isolating boom microphone strip that attaches to the headset, unlike other so-called “cheekbone” Bluetooth headsets. It also uses Etymotic’s interchangeable fitted eartips for maximum comfort and noise isolation for call clarity.

In addition to the new line of earphones and headsets, Etymotic also announced a new program for all of its products where buyers can sign up for a voucher to see an audiologist to be fitted for custom eartips that match their ears for free. Once your custom fitting is complete, the audiologist will send your ear impressions to a lab where your impressions will become custom-molded, Etymotic-compatible eartips. Each set of custom eartips will be $100 and carry a 1-year warranty. The program begins on July 1, and buyers of any qualifying Etymotic product can participate.  

We’re sure that SteelSeries is mighty pleased with the audio quality of its brand-new Spectrum 5xb gaming headset, but company reps didn’t introduce the product as such. They wanted us to walk away knowing three things, and the first was that we could beat the living crap out of them. Right in front of our eyes a product designer twisted the headband a full 180 degrees, let it snap back into place, then started yanking hard on the braided nylon cord (video after the break) while a dumbfounded expression crossed our face. We tried the very same, but couldn’t get the cord to budge. On the off-chance you don’t care to test durability for yourself, the phones also break into three pieces for transport.

While the second tenet of SteelSeries’ presentation was comfort (and these circumaural cans are comfortable, to be sure), the third was a prototype Xbox 360 device called the AudioMixer that will ship both bundled with the peripheral and separately as well. Plugging into your console and the base of a controller, the AudioMixer lets you connect a PC headset, then automatically balances voice chat and game audio using an on-board processor chip. There are individual volume dials, too, if you just need to shut that swearing ten-year old up. No price as yet, but both this Spectrum 5xb and a less feature-packed younger sibling will ship in Q3. Full press release and semi-destructive video after the break.

Continue reading SteelSeries shows off ultra-durable Spectrum headset, we fail to rip it a new one (video)

SteelSeries shows off ultra-durable Spectrum headset, we fail to rip it a new one (video) originally appeared on Engadget on Fri, 18 Jun 2010 05:52:00 EDT. Please see our terms for use of feeds.

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