Hasta La Gadget!

Marking one more step in our journey to a completely wireless world is the Sennheiser PX 210 BT (catchy name), a set of Bluetooth-enabled mini-headphones with a range of 33 feet. Roam where you want to and don’t worry about a cord bogging you down. If you’ve been disappointed with Bluetooth headphones in the past, you may want to give these a try: Sennheiser has equipped them with licensed Apt-X coding technology, which is designed to create flawless sound that’s free of interference.

Stow your music player in your bag when you use the PX 210 BT, since audio controls are right on the headphones. You can turn the Bluetooth on or off, change volume, and move back and forth in a playlist all from the included controls. The company promises 12 hours of continuous operation with the rechargeable lithium polymer battery. These headphones are available now for a list price of $299.95.

Turns out that leak we saw of the Jawbone Icon was for real after all, but it was only one of the six designs straight out of Aliph’s oven: (clockwise from top left) The Thinker, The Rogue, The Hero, The Ace, The Catch and — our favorite — The Bombshell. While these are the smallest and lightest Jawbones ever, Aliph has managed to cram in an allegedly improved NoiseAssassin and simultaneous dual-phone linkage, along with an onboard ‘AudioApp’ which vocally broadcasts battery level and caller ID. If you prefer a visual indication, the Icon also does a battery gauge on the iPhone — a first on a non-Apple Bluetooth headset — and apparently “Apple’s aware of this” so a firmware update shouldn’t kill this Palm Pre-style. We’re digging the MyTALK website — currently in beta — where you can pick and install other AudioApps and DialApps (for the multifunction button; e.g. voice dialing, free directory assistance and voice-to-SMS) onto the Icon, and both will be free except for some DialApps which require subscription. Oh, and there are seven earbud sizes plus an earloop to keep everyone happy too. When you’re done with picking, hit the Verizon stores for the initial launch today and pony up $99.99. Press release and video walkthrough of the MyTALK website after the break.

Continue reading Aliph Jawbone Icon Bluetooth headset launched in six lush flavors (Update: video!)

Aliph Jawbone Icon Bluetooth headset launched in six lush flavors (Update: video!) originally appeared on Engadget on Mon, 18 Jan 2010 00:01:00 EST. Please see our terms for use of feeds.

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Don’t just hear your music, feel your music. That’s the message from Technocel, which just announced the Ear Vibe ear buds. This is the first stereo headset that vibrates to the beat of the music. When songs hit low-frequency bass, these vibrate, adding a whole new dimension to your songs. It seems a little scary, right? I’d like to try them out, but I’d want to have some aspirin nearby, just in case.

More than headphones, the Ear Vibe also includes a microphone for making hands-free calls. It’s compatible with most mobile phones that play music, and works with all MP3 players including the iPod. Look for the Ear Vibe January 15 for a reasonable $29.99.

Spracht. It’s probably not a company name you’re intimately familiar with, but as with Jawbone, we’re fully expecting it to become a mainstay in the Bluetooth earpiece sector after this unveiling. The Aura EQ earset is one of the wildest BT devices we’ve seen to date, boasting a slick, almost futuristic design and a smattering of features that are startlingly unique. For starters, it ships with twin switchable, focusable microphones, and if its ability to pair with up to eight phones doesn’t bowl you over, maybe the built-in six-band equalizer will. Essentially, this headset will amplify and equalize the voice of whoever is speaking, which compensates for volume loss in certain ranges when communicating on a windy day or over a lackluster connection. Finally, exterior touts a capacitive volume control: simply slide your finger up or down the base, and the volume increases or decreases. No knobs or minuscule rocker switches to fuddle with. You’ll be able to check this out worldwide in March for around $79 (estimated street price).

Spracht Aura EQ Bluetooth headset boasts dual mics, equalizer and capacitive volume control originally appeared on Engadget on Mon, 04 Jan 2010 14:04:00 EST. Please see our terms for use of feeds.

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Because nothing says “I ain’t afraid of no recession” like plopping down an excess amount of Benjamins for a Bluetooth earpiece, Vertu has unveiled its V accessories collection. $780 gets you a Bluetooth 2.1-compliant earpiece with 6 hours of charge time (same one we saw hit the FCC recently, we suspect), $490 for a USB memory card reader that as a consolation prize comes with a 2GB microSD card, and as for the ballpoint pen, asking price is a cool $330. For all three purchases, it’s recommended you purchase the special leather case for protection — and if these gifts are already comfortably in your price range, hey, why not?

[Thanks, Shayjd]

Vertu V makes no concessions: $730 BT headset, $490 card reader, and $330 ballpoint pen originally appeared on Engadget on Fri, 11 Dec 2009 01:53:00 EST. Please see our terms for use of feeds.

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