Note:  I had been accidentally sent a case for the original iPad when I wrote this review, and I had drawn some erroneous conclusions based on the fit of the iPad 2 in the wrong case.  I have received the proper case, and I have revised my review and inserted corrected pictures.

As I have said before, the only thing I don’t like about my iPad is using the on-screen keyboard to type long emails.  I’m always happy to try out a new keyboard case, so I asked Julie if I could give the Keyboard Folio for Apple iPad 2 a try when Sena offered one to The Gadgeteer.  Let’s give it a closer look.

Some images in this review can be clicked for an enlargement.

The Keyboard Portfolio for Apple iPad 2 is made of handcrafted European genuine leather in black, red, and brown.  You’ll notice I received the red, and it has a shiny, smooth surface.  The stitching is done in red thread, and it is very even and straight with no loose strings.  The only branding on the case is “SENA” embossed on the bottom right corner of the front.  The case measures 9.5″ long X 8″ wide X 1.4″ thick with the iPad 2 in place.  Empty, it weighs 1.1 pounds.  It adds considerable bulk and weight to the iPad 2.  There are no magnets in this case, so it cannot automatically sleep/wake your iPad.

The back has a long strap that’s sewn to the case near the middle of its length.  One end wraps around and becomes a snap closure for the folio.  The other end snaps flat to the back for storage, and it opens up to become an easel-style stand for the iPad 2.

The interior is lined with a red velveteen-type fabric to prevent scratches to the iPad.  You’ll notice there are cutouts for the iPad 2′s front-facing camera and the home button.  The keyboard is held in a leather frame inside the front cover.  A flap wraps around the top of the keyboard and folds under to hold it in place.  You can remove the keyboard from the case, if desired.

The Keyboard Folio comes with a micro USB cable for charging the built-in 450mAh lithium-ion battery.  Sena says you can expect about 45 hours of use or 55 hours of standby time.  They also say you can expect about 20 days of usage between charges.  It took about 4 hours to charge the keyboard with the USB port on my laptop.  A red status light blinks to indicate when the battery is low and is on steady while the battery is charging.

The keyboard is covered with a rubbery black silicone.  You can see the covering completely encapsulates the keys, which should protect against dirt and spills.  You can also see the silicone surface is a dust magnet.

The Bluetooth (v2.0) keyboard connected very easily with my iPad 2.  You simply put both the keyboard and the iPad into pairing mode and enter the supplied 4-digit code into the keyboard to establish the connection.  I had to go through the pairing steps each time I wanted to use the keyboard; it didn’t remember my iPad 2 and automatically connect.

The keyboard can be used with other Bluetooth devices, such as some smartphones or tablets, and with computers .

You’ll notice that the keyboard is a not-quite-standard QWERTY format.  All the keys on the left side are as expected, but there’s no shift key on the right and many punctionation keys aren’t where you expect them.  There are function keys on the top row, including a “home” key that returns the iPad 2 to the home screen, volume/mute controls, media playback controls, and a search key that opens spotlight search.  There’s also a keyboard function key that sometimes, but not always, opens the on-screen keyboard in apps that accept keyboard input.  The other function keys performed as expected.

The keys had a nice touch, but it took some getting accustomed to typing on the keyboard because of its small size.  It was also hard to do capital letters without both shift keys, and adding punctuation always required me to stop and search for the key.  I’m a touch-typist, so these problems slowed me down.  However, typing on the keyboard is much better and faster than using the iPad’s on-screen keyboard.

You’ll also notice in the above picture that there are three narrow slots along the length of the leather strip above the keyboard.  I’m not sure what the purpose of these is.  They aren’t little pockets that could be used to store memory cards.  They extend the full length under the keyboard, so small things would disappear in there.

There isn’t a way to snap the front closure tab to the back of the case while you’re using the stand.  However, this flap is flexible, and you can straighten it to keep it out of the way. 

The easel stand is attached to the back of the case with a ribbon to limit how far it can open.  There’s only one angle possible with this case.  Hopefully it’s a good one for you, but it tilted the screen back a bit too far for someone as short as I am.  I could see the screen, but I would have preferred it to be a bit closer to 90 degrees.

The Keyboard Folio is designed to allow you to use the iPad while it’s in the case.  The sloped back of the iPad and the hard back of the case that extends past the iPad itself combine to make it a bit difficult to get your fingers in to access the controls.  In the topmost image in the above photo, you can see there are cutouts for the headphone jack, microphone and the sleep/wake button.  Second from top shows that the cutout for the mute/screen lock button and volume rocker; it’s a good fit.  The next image shows that the back speaker and the dock connector are both uncovered, and I could charge the iPad 2 while in the case.  The sound wasn’t really affected by the case.  You can also see the micro USB charging port and the power switch for the keyboard.

The last image shows the flap that holds the iPad 2 in the leather frame.  This flap simply slides into a pocket under the iPad; there is nothing to secure it.  The iPad 2 fits snugly inside the leather frame that holds it.  It’s held in position tightly enough that the ports and buttons stay lined up properly with their openings. 

You can see that Keyboard Folio for iPad 2 has a teardrop-shaped opening for the front-facing camera and the ambient light sensor located just above the camera.  There’s also an opening in the back for the rear camera.  Neither opening interfered with taking photos.

Although the keyboard has some non-standard features that are to be expected in these small tablet cases, it actually works pretty well.  The case itself is made of beautiful leather, and it was well-constructed.  The iPad 2 is held snugly in the Keyboard Folio, and all ports and controls are accessible and useable.  The Keyboard Folio for iPad 2 is an elegant, useful accessory for folks who often need a Bluetooth keyboard and who like a folio case.

I apologize to the readers and to Sena for the confusion and incorrect information in original version of my review.  I should have suspected that I had received the wrong case, because the other Sena product I reviewed (the Viajero MacBook Pro case)  was beautifully constructed and thoughtfully designed.  I hope the corrected information and the new pictures set the record straight.

Filed in categories: iPhone, iPad, iPod related, Reviews

Tagged: Bluetooth Gear, iPad 2, iPad case with Bluetooth keyboard

Sena Keyboard Folio for Apple iPad 2 Review – Revised originally appeared on The Gadgeteer on January 3, 2012 at 1:00 pm.

Have an awesome stereo speaker system but no way to get your music to it wirelessly?  That’s where AirBlue from Kanex comes in.  Shaped like a hockey puck, it’s a Bluetooth audio receiver into which you can plug a 3.5mm audio cable.  Just pair your iPhone (or any Bluetooth-enabled music player) to AirBlue, and you’ll be able to play your music wirelessly up to 33 feet away.  The AirBlue has an internal rechargeable battery that lasts up to 10 hours.  AirBlue is priced at $49 direct from Kanex.

Filed in categories: Audio, Video, TV Gear, Bluetooth Gear, News

Tagged: Bluetooth Gear, Music

Add Bluetooth to your non-Bluetooth audio devices with AirBlue originally appeared on The Gadgeteer on November 26, 2011 at 10:00 am.

I for one vastly prefer listening to speakers than headphones and I am always on the search for both the perfect personal portable speaker for general use, and amplified travel speakers to use in class. It would be great to get both in one package!

The Muse Mini Portable Bluetooth Speaker is certainly small at just under 2″ tall and a bit less than 1 3/4″ across! I could not wait to try it out!
Some specifications from the site for the tiny speaker include:

• Dimension (LxWxH) : 43mm x 50 mm
• Net weight: 178g
• Loudspeaker Output: 2.2w
• Frequency range: 2.401-2 .480 GHZ (2.4GHz ISM Segment
• Signal to noise: -95db +-2db
• Play backtime: up to 4 hours
• Battery charging voltage: 5v/+0.5v
• Battery charge time: 5v input – 1.5 hours
• Work Current: <400mA
• Standby Current: <3mA
• Play backtime: up to 6 hours
• Range: <10M (Bluetooth Class 2)
• Bluetooth Versions: V2.1, V2.0, V1.1, and V1.2 Standard (A2DP, AVRCP)
• FCC, CE, RoHS Compliant

The package includes the speaker, a M to M 1/8th inch stereo cord, a USB charging cord, instructions, and a 20% off coupon for your next purchase.

Included in the box: audio cord, charging cord, instructions, speaker

The speaker is available with or without Bluetooth, and in black, white, silver, blue, and green (they also show red on the site, and say they can do other colors as well.) I was sent a black version with Bluetooth to trial. The cylinder has a silver speaker grill and logo on top; an audio jack, status light, charging port, and logo on the body, and the ‘on/off’ Bluetooth’ switch on the bottom.

Front view, showing an idea of how small it is

Bottom and back view- switch, charging port, status light, and audio port

My experience with Bluetooth is usually pretty good with my Android (Samsung Epic) and laptops, and this was certainly a straight-forward process. I was synced in about a minute all total on every device I tried it on. Very nice. The instructions could be done a bit better, but are tons better than a lot I have seen! A blue light blinks occasionally to show you are connected.

Don’t want to, or can’t do Bluetooth? Just switch it to ‘On’, and use the included cable. A red status light will show. The cable is a bit short- great for travel and packing, but a longer cable would be nice to have available. They are easy enough to find so this is not a problem. Charging is also straightforward… unless you don’t have a powered USB port available. The package does not include a USB to AC (or auto) adapter. Not a problem for me, I have bunches of them laying around with all my phones and other stuff. (The tip seems to match up to a Radio Shack ‘K’ tip if that helps).

Sound quality is amazingly good. I am not an audiophile, but everything sounds accurate, crisp, and clear. Some distortion at high volume, but that is typical of almost every speaker. Bass and treble are better than expected in such a small speaker, just remember that if you want to adjust them, you have to do it on your player.

Volume is better than a non-powered speaker would provide, but is not as loud as I was hoping. It is a little louder (and clearer) than my Epic’s built-in speaker. Loud enough to play background music in my office (I like it on the quiet side) and at full volume it can do a decent job of filling my den with sound, but I doubt anyone will ever shout at you to turn it down.

The small size, light weight, and decent built-in battery makes it very portable, but the cylindrical shape means it does not pack flat or tuck neatly in most pockets. It also seems a bit odd to me that there is no case or bag for the speaker and the cords. Certainly not a deal-breaker on such a nice speaker, but I really wish I could keep the elements together better.

There is a lot of competition at the ‘around $50′ price point for portable speakers. The Muse Mini Bluetooth Speaker offers good sound and great portability for its price, but if you need more ‘umph’ you may want to look for something else.

Filed in categories: Audio, Video, TV Gear, iPhone, iPad, iPod related, Reviews

Tagged: Bluetooth Gear, Portable speakers

Muse Mini Portable Bluetooth Speaker Review originally appeared on The Gadgeteer on November 10, 2011 at 11:00 am.

My airline travel has recently picked up the past year and I find myself on planes for more hours than I can remember. And if you have ever spent any time in coach on an airline, you know the value of a good set of headphones. I have tried every earbud known to man and have come to the conclusion that there is no good earbud. So wanting to avoid wires altogether, I have recently been trying Bluetooth stereo headsets. My most recent foray into the wireless Bluetooth headset arena is the Leo Stereo Wireless Bluetooth Headset from Arriva. With a name like Leo, it better have some teeth, right?  Let’s find out if it does!

Before getting my hands on the Leo my day-to-day stereo Bluetooth headset was the Motorola S10-HD. This isn’t a review of that headset, but I will compare the Leo to that headset simply for the sake of those of you who may own that one.  I like the S10-HD, so I was really curious if the Arriva would take its place as my go-to headset.

Let’s start out with some photos:

The Arriva comes with a micro-USB charger, 3 sets of earbud covers in addition to 1 set already on the earbuds, and a hard foam round carrying case that holds the Arriva quite nicely. The headset folds up nicely in that case, and they are great for traveling because they take up so little space.

2 sets of the earbuds have a little loopy things (yes, that is a technical term) that extend from the earbud to push against the inside of your ear to hold the earbud in place.  I tried the foam and plain earbud covers and neither worked for me, so the loopy earbud covers were a must for my ears.

Here is a better picture of what it looks like on the back of my head. You can see the main unit rests at the base of your skull, allowing you to wear a helmet, glasses, hat, etc, and be unobstructed.

The next picture is a closeup shot of the main unit on the headset.

The micro-USB charging port is on the bottom of the unit.  It has a power button and a plus and minus button on the front. Each button performs several functions. Holding the power button turns the headset on, and if you keep holding it down for 7 seconds, the headset goes into pairing mode.  You hear some tones when it turns on, but oddly you don’t heard anything when it goes into pairing mode. Every Bluetooth headset I have ever owned makes a “pairing” sound, so when I first tried to pair it with something I thought something was wrong because I didn’t hear any tone or indications that I was pairing.  If you receive a phone call while listening to music,  pressing the power button will answer the call and when you hang up the music will start again. While listening to music a tap on the power button will pause the music.

The plus and minus buttons will increase and decrease the volume of the sound and long-pressing the buttons will advance to the next or previous songs in your playlist.

And here is a picture of the size comparison between the Arriva (left) and the Motorola S10-HD (right)

The Arriva, just like the Motorola, is one of those Bluetooth headsets that can also answer calls on your phone because it has a mic built into the left earbud. When I used it to talk on the phone I wasn’t that pleased with the results. The call quality to me was what I experienced with Bluetooth headsets a few years ago. It was susceptible to wind noise and more often than not the person on the other end of the call would ask me to repeat myself.  I used both headsets to call myself and leave a voicemail and then I listened to the messages.  While the Motorola provided slightly better sound quality than the Arriva, I just don’t think either one of these headsets are meant to be used for making calls all day. They are fine if you want to answer a quick call while you are listening to music, but I don’t think that long conversations are suited for this headset and I wouldn’t buy this one if that was your intention. There are many other Bluetooth headsets that are designed for making calls. For example, I can listen to music using my Plantronics Pro headset, but I wouldn’t do it because it sounds bad and that headset wasn’t designed for listening to music.

Where the Leo has no teeth:

When I first took it out of the package and tried to place it on my head I am glad someone wasn’t videotaping me. I initially thought that maybe I had received a defective unit because I couldn’t get the darn thing to stay on my head for more than a few seconds and it just looking all mangled and funny. After much weeping and gnashing of teeth, I was able to bend and shape the Arrive to fit my head and my ears. So what started out as a big negative in my initial impression turned into a good experience when I realized I could bend and mold this thing to fit my head perfectly.  I can now wear it for hours and not realize I have it on. So you’ll need to be patient when you first start wearing it and find out what fits best for you.

I mentioned that I expected to hear some sort of audible tone when pairing the device, and I didn’t hear anything.  You also don’t hear anything after the headset connects to a device. I expect to hear something when that happens too, but I heard nothing. So I had to actually play some music to make sure that it was working with my tablet or phone.

With other Bluetooth headsets, for example, if I walk away from my phone beyond the range of the Bluetooth I get some sort of audible indication that my headset is no longer communicating with the phone. This has saved me countless times from leaving my phone someplace on accident. The Leo doesn’t do that either.

I experienced a big problem with my Verizon HTC Thunderbolt and the Leo. I won’t go into all the techy detail but here is the bottom line: if you own the Thunderbolt, then when using the Leo, don’t use the “LTE On/Off” app that allows you to turn off the 4G connection on the phone to save your battery. When you do that the Thunderbolt will lock up on an incoming call if you are using the Leo. When I used the Thunderbolt in normal mode (with the 4G connection on) then everything was fine. Not sure what that was about, but now I know, and so do you.

Where the Leo has some teeth:

The sound from this headset is top notch. It is quite literally the best sounding Bluetooth headset I have ever heard. The highs and the lows are wonderful. I couldn’t turn up the volume all the way on any device for fear of blowing out my eardrums, so you will enjoy the high quality sound. I’ve already mentioned how comfortable it is, so you should have no problems with getting this to fit.  While the Motorola is comfortable, the Arriva feels nice. I don’t do extreme sports of any kind, so I can’t speak to how well it would stay on my head while hang-gliding, but the headset stayed on my head while jogging and working out.

And the price is just right. It is now $69.95, which is cheaper than what I paid for the Motorola S10.

Miscellaneous information

While I experienced no problems with sweating while working out, Arriva does state that this is not a waterproof headset, so no swimming with this thing.  The battery (140mAh) lasts about 5 hours before needing a charge and it is supposed to last 20 days on standby. It takes about an hour and a half to fully charge and the battery, and the headset has an indicator light to let you know when it is done charging.  Their website also has some guides on how to pair with various phones and how to get the Leo adjusted to fit your head.

The bottom line

The Leo is the best sounding and most comfortable Bluetooth headset I have ever owned. I used it successfully with my HTC Android cellphone, my HTC Flyer tablet, my ASUS Eee Pad Transformer tablet, a Samsung Fascinate cellphone, an iPhone, and an iPod Touch.  Aside from the aforementioned issue with the phone-locking-up thing I already mentioned, it worked flawlessly.  I did not experience any skipping or signal dropping.

I should also mention that when I had the issue with the phone locking up I contacted Arriva via email (they have no published phone number) and they responded quickly and provided me ideas and suggestions about what might be happening.  They even offered to send me another headset, and they sent all the information I gave them to their technical folks to find a solution.  Their folks were really nice about the whole thing and they took my suggestions for how to improve the product and seemed genuinely interested in making me happy, so I give them props for that.

I like the Motorola S10 HD, I really do. It’s a good Bluetooth headset.  But I like the Arriva even more, so the Motorola will be delegated to the gadget drawer as my back-up device.  I am going to give the Arriva an 8 out of 10, so I do recommend it to anyone.

Filed in categories: Audio, Video, TV Gear, Bluetooth Gear, Reviews

Tagged: Bluetooth Gear, Headphones, Wireless

Arriva Leo Stereo Wireless Bluetooth Headset Review originally appeared on The Gadgeteer on November 8, 2011 at 11:00 am.

The K-Bow from Keith McMillen is a Bluetooth enabled bow for the violin, viola, cello and bass, which is constructed of Kevlar and graphite. While the K-Bow may look similar to a normal bow, it’s actually a real-time controller that will allow you to manipulate the sounds coming out of the stringed instrument for which the bow is being used. The bow has sensors for grip, bow tension, force, angle, and more. The sensor data is used with the included software to translate to MIDI or for live looping, reverb, etc. The K-Bow is available now at prices starting at $2995.00.

Filed in categories: Bluetooth Gear, Musical Gear, News

Tagged: Bluetooth Gear, Musical instruments, Violin

Play The Devil Went Down to Georgia on your Fiddle with the Bluetooth K-Bow originally appeared on The Gadgeteer on October 29, 2011 at 2:30 pm.

I like keyboards; I like big, full-sized keyboards like my Logitech G15 on down to my one-handed Lenovo N5902 Multimedia Remote. I could barely play “Chopsticks” on the piano and when it comes to 0n-screen keyboards. I’m all thumbs…in the wrong way. We have three tablets in our home (Apple iPad, Asus Transformer and HP TouchPad), all of them are paired with keyboards that make typing anything over a few words much more pleasant.

There’s a trade-off to carrying a physical keyboard though, and that’s the added size and weight. When you start lugging around a separate keyboard maybe it’s time to consider going with one of the new “ultra-thin” laptops like the Apple MacBook Air or one of the new slim Windows machines by companies like Sony, Lenovo and Asus and reap the benefits of using full-fledged desktop operating systems and applications.

It appears that selecting your mobile computing device and the matching input method to fit your needs could become more difficult than choosing the right outfit. Okay, I admit, in my case, that might be a bad example as my clothing selection usually comes down to whatever is clean, but you get the idea.

So, what do you do when you don’t want to use the on-screen keyboard on your phone or tablet, but carrying an extra keyboard is too much? Well, that’s where Magic-Pro’s ProMini BT-Joy might meet your needs. Pyramid Distribution sent us the ProMini, which is a Bluetooth-enabled, physical thumb-board that includes a working joystick-type of pointer control that they call a “Sliding Jog Mouse”. If you have ever used the IBM/Lenovo TrackPoint device that appears on many of the ThinkPad notebooks you have an idea of how the ProMini’s pointer works. Right and left mouse button functions are handled nicely with one button on the top edge of the keyboard, easily accessible to your index finger and the right button situated just to the right of the pointer-stick.

Specifications
(as Supplied by Magic-Pro)

• Dimension : 110mm x 59mm x 10.3mm
• Weight : 50 grams – 58 games (two different weights listed)
• Battery Type : Built-in rechargeable Lithium-ION Polymer
• Battery Life: Use 30 hours plus, Standby 30 days
• Operation range : up to 10 meters
• Operating Voltage : 3.7V
• Bluetooth version: 2.0 HID
• Frequency: 2.4-2.48 GHz
• Charging Time: Under 3 hours
• Comparability: Apple iOS 4 or above, Google Android (please read below), Nokia Symbian 560, Microsoft Windows 2000, XP, Vista and 7, Mac OSX 10.2.8 or later, Linux OS, Sony PlayStation 3.
• Warranty: One year limited

What's in the box.

The ProMini has a back-lit, five-row, QWERTY layout. The keys all have discernible travel and a reassuring and slightly audible click when pressed. The punctuation keys except the period require holding one of the two shift or Fn (function) keys. Four standard cursor keys (up, down, left, right) are included on dedicated keys.

Special function keys like a “.com”, “www” and play/pause, fast-forward, rewind and volume-up, volume-down, and mute are available when you hold down the function key.

There are two buttons above the keys that the documentation explains are to serve as a home key for iOS and Android. They do this, but instead of one working with iOS and the other for Android as described. I found that one worked for both functions and the other didn’t have any effect whatsoever. That same key also launched a browser on my Windows and Ubuntu machines.

The keyboard connects to your device through Bluetooth, and Magic-Pro included a small USB Bluetooth dongle for PCs that don’t have native Bluetooth support. There are no drivers included and with one exception they shouldn’t be necessary.

Power is provided by a Lithium-Ion battery that charges with a USB (micro) connection from either your computer or many USB chargers. I appreciate the use of standard charging ports as it means there’s one less cable to pack and they’re easily obtainable when I forget to bring it or, leave it plugged into the outlet at a hotel.

Apple iPod Touch, iPad or iPhone sync/charge cables are not compatible, but depending on which charger you’re using it may work with the ProMini’s cable. Battery life of the ProMini (30 hours of use or 30 days on standby) is such that you really shouldn’t have to worry about charging unless you’re going away for a long time or have to do a lot of typing. If it’s the latter, you probably won’t want to be using the ProMini anyway. The battery is not easily user-replaceable.

The ProMini’s case is made out of plastic and while it doesn’t look like the most well-built/sturdy device I’ve seen it felt relatively solid in my hands. The keyboard tested was black, but Magic-Pro’s literature and website also indicate that it may be available in white.

Testing

I set out to test the keyboard with a variety of devices including my T-Mobile/HTC G2 smartphone running Google’s Android 2.3.4 (Gingerbread), an Apple iPad running iOS 4.3.3 (Jail-broken), an Apple iPod Touch (4G) running iOS 4.3.5, a PC desktop running Windows 7 x64 SP1, an IBM ThinkPad T42 running Ubuntu 11.04, and an Asus Transformer tablet running Android 3.2 (Honeycomb). I added a Sprint/Samsung Nexus S running Android 2.3.5 (Gingerbread) to the testing after having problems connecting the ProMini with the G2.

Other than the two Android-powered smartphones the ProMini paired, connected and worked very well. The mouse functions did not work with the Apple devices, but that’s related to the lack of mouse support in iOS and not a failing of the ProMini.

Android Issues

There is a tiny asterisk next to the Android compatibility statement on the back of the ProMini box for good reason. Android does not include Bluetooth keyboard drivers as part of the operating system. Compatibility is on a device-by-device basis.

However, even if the ProMini doesn’t work out of the box with your Android phone it’s not impossible to get it up and running. I had a similar problem when trying to connect my Apple Wireless keyboard to my Asus Transformer. I rooted through through the Android market for a solution, and found the “BlueKeyboard Pro JP” by Elbrain it worked for the Transformer and the Apple keyboard, and worked again on both phones with the ProMini. BlueKeyboard has a free version or for roughly $2 you can buy the upgrade that incorporates additional features like a user dictionary. While it’s not a difficult task to download, install and configure this keyboard driver it is an extra step and could be confusing to some.

Pairing and Connection

Other than the aforementioned Android phones, pairing the keyboard was pretty much the standard Bluetooth experience. You start by turning the keyboard on and then pressing the “connect” button which sits next to the power switch, and is slightly recessed to prevent accidentally activation. A blue light begins to blink and you then start the Bluetooth device scan on your device. Follow a couple of on-screen instructions and it should take the place of, or work in addition to any keyboard and mouse. As with most Bluetooth devices you only need to go through the pairing process once per device with connection occurring automatically thereafter.

It Works Quite Well

So, how did the keyboard work? Well, about as I expected with a couple of minor flaws. When I compared it to the built-in hardware keyboard on the T-Mobile G2 I found it slightly easier to use. Its keys are a bit larger and it has a full five rows of keys rather than four on the G2. They’re both still thumb keyboards though so the advantage wasn’t enough for me to want to carry the ProMini around in addition to my phone. I’m sure some former Blackberry/Treo owners that are now using iPhones might be interested in the ProMini.

Tablet owners with small hands could potentially find use for the device, but it would be difficult to use the ProMini while also holding the tablet. I thought of duct-taping it to the bottom of my iPad, but it covered up the sling-shot in Angry Birds so I had to abandon the idea.

On the PC and ThinkPad the keyboard/mouse worked as well as you would expect any combination keyboard/mouse to work. While I did not test the ProMini with a Macintosh, I expect that it would work with OSX without significant issues.

I can think of a couple of uses for a device this small and a PC; Home Theater PC use and as a substitute for a remote mouse when giving presentations. I tried the ProMini with our HTPCs and it worked well, but there are better alternatives with dedicated media keys  like the Lenovo Multimedia Remote/Keyboard in the same price range. As a presentation mouse it serves adequately.

Two Minor Complaints

Other than the Android connection problem I had a couple of very minor issues with the ProMini. The backlit keyboard is controlled by a button that works at any time except when you’re initially pairing the device. So, when you have to type in the numeric code to complete the initial pairing you have to make sure you have enough light in the room to see the keys.

My other nit involves the alternate uses for the keys. On the black keyboard the key caps have the main character in white and then one or two alternate characters/functions in much smaller red or blue font.  For anyone without very sharp vision these are going to be difficult to read.

Conclusion

So, that’s about it for the ProMini BT Joy. If you have a need for a very small “thumb-board “ it seems as though it will do the job. I’m sure some people will consider it small enough, and inexpensive enough (list price is $69) to carry around  for the every-so-often situation where it can make input into a variety of devices a bit easier and faster. To me it’s a bit pricey, and I’m not sure if I see a real need, but it does what they say it will do so I’ll still give this “thumb board” a thumbs up.

Filed in categories: Bluetooth Gear, Reviews

Tagged: Bluetooth Gear, Keyboard, Mobile gear

Magic-Pro ProMini BT-Joy Bluetooth Keyboard Review originally appeared on The Gadgeteer on September 16, 2011 at 12:00 pm.

These iharmonix Qi-wear glasses from Qmadix offer stereo Bluetooth connectivity and eye protection in one package.  They have on-frame controls and an internal rechargeable lithium-polymer battery that provides 7+ days of standby.  The glasses use 2.1 + EDR Bluetooth to connect with any Bluetooth-enabled device; dual microphones cancel ambient noise for clear communication (up to 6 hours of continuous talk time).  Knowles balanced armature drivers provide up to 8 hours of continuous music.  Qmadix says “Howard Leight SmartFit 300 replaceable noise reducing ear-tips provide up to 42dB of noise reduction and an NRR rating of 21″.  The lenses are scratch-resistant and replaceable; Qmadix says they meet and exceed ANSI Z87.1-2003 and CAN/CSA Z94.3 impact requirements.  Read the Qi-wear brochure here.  The glasses have a list price of $299.99.  Qmadix seems to be out of stock, but the glasses are available at online retailers, like Brookstone.

Filed in categories: Audio, Video, TV Gear, Bluetooth Gear, News

Tagged: Bluetooth Gear, Sunglasses

iharmonix Qi-wear Extreme Performance Eyewear with Stereo Bluetooth originally appeared on The Gadgeteer on September 14, 2011 at 9:31 am.

MobileFun brings us a this super cute Android Bluetooth 3.0 speaker for your car or desk. It’s small but still packs 2W of sound. The Android’s head doubles as a control to let you change tracks with a twist or pause with a push. It also has a built in microphone for hands-free calls. The rechargeable battery will last up to 10 hrs and can be topped off by using a mini USB cable. This speaker is available now via MobileFun for £19.95 (approximately US $31.33).

Filed in categories: Android related, Audio, Video, TV Gear, Bluetooth Gear, News

Tagged: Android, Bluetooth Gear, Speaker

Show your Android pride with this Bluetooth speakerphone originally appeared on The Gadgeteer on September 9, 2011 at 2:00 pm.

Whether it’s my mobile phone or tablet it seems I’m always looking for new ways to make text input easier and faster. I already own a slew of Bluetooth keyboards, different on-screen Android keyboards, voice input, and somewhere I have a weird stylus that feels like I’m writing with a Slim Jim.

The folks at ApenUSA are taking us back a bit in an attempt to move forward with the A3 Smart Pen. The company has created a pen and receiver unit which can hold and transfer whatever you write to a Microsoft Windows or Apple MacOSX based computer, or a smartphone or tablet running Android or Blackberry OS. You just clip the receiver on to the paper you’re working on and start scribbling. The writing is then digitized and held for later transfer or immediately sent via USB cable or Bluetooth to your computer or smartphone in real-time.

ApenUSA also offers a model that is compatible with Apple’s iOS (A4 Smart Pen) as well, but it appears not to have the wireless functionality instead requiring a cable connection to your iPhone or iPad. List price for either product is $129. Check out a short
video of the Smart Pen in action after the jump.

Filed in categories: Android related, Blackberry related, Bluetooth Gear, iPhone, iPad, iPod related, News

Tagged: Android, Blackberry, Bluetooth Gear, Digitizer

Tired of tiny keyboards and thumb taps? Use an APEN originally appeared on The Gadgeteer on August 28, 2011 at 9:00 am.

We all know that using a hands-free device (speaker or headset) in our cars is great safety advice, not to mention the fact that not using one can be illegal in some states. The FoxLV2 Hi-Fi Bluetooth Speaker will work fine in your car, but it will also work on your bike! Hey, it’s important to be hands-free on them too right? The FoxL (pronounced fox-ul) is a pocked-sized rev 2.2 Bluetooth speaker that features:

“foxL’s patented “Twoofers,” “BassBattery,” and other technologies.  foxL provides amazingly smooth deep bass and an “open & airy” listening experience that provides iPhones, iPads and other Bluetooth devices with the superior sound quality”

The FoxLv2 Bluetooth hi-fi speaker is priced at $199 and the mounts are priced at $65 for the Vehicle Bracket Mounting System and $49.95 for the Universal Bicycle Mount from Soundmatters.

Filed in categories: Bluetooth Gear, Car Gear, News

Tagged: Bluetooth Gear, Speaker

FoxLV2 Hi-Fi Bluetooth Speaker Now Available for Cars & Bikes originally appeared on The Gadgeteer on August 7, 2011 at 10:00 am.

If you keep your mobile phone in a purse or pocket, this Bluetooth bracelet from My Transformer Toys will alert you with vibration and a Caller ID display for incoming calls. It’s more feminine than similar products we’ve looked at here on The Gadgeteer, and doubles as a clock. It’s available in Red, Pink, Gold, White, Blue. The price seems pretty decent at $65.99. What do you think, would you wear one?

Filed in categories: Bluetooth Gear, News

Tagged: Bluetooth Gear

Geek Jewelry – Bluetooth Bracelet / Clock originally appeared on The Gadgeteer on July 3, 2011 at 11:03 am.

I recently reviewed the Jabra Wave Bluetooth headset, which I totally love.  But before that, Jabra had sent me the Jabra Extreme by accident.  The Jabra Extreme has great features and works just as well as the Jabra Wave.  Let’s give it a look, too.

Inside the package, you’ll find the Extreme headset, 2 Ultimate-fit Eargels, 2 ear hooks, AC charger, USB charger, car charger, and the manuals.

An added advantage of the Jabra Extreme is that it includes a car charger.  Just plug in the charger to the cigarette lighter port in the car , attach the USB to micro USB adaptor, then attach the Extreme headset.  It’s a pretty convenient accessory to use if you’re on the road a lot.  The AC charger on the other hand has a very short 10 inch cord which doesn’t make any sense at all.  Using the AC charger with a standard house outlet will force you to put the headset on the floor.  I, for one, don’t feel comfortable sticking things in my ear after they sat on the floor while charging.

Pairing the Extreme headset was pretty straight forward.   This headset has the standard bluetooth range of about 30 feet away from the cell phone.  The Jabra logo on the headset is the Answer/End button, and on each side of that are the volume up and down buttons.  Enlarge the picture (above) and you’ll see 2 noise cancellation microphones hidden beneath the grill.  There’s also a dedicated on/off switch on the bottom side.

Features of the Jabra Extreme :

• Eliminates background noise with dual microphone technology
• All day comfort with Ultimate-fit Eargels™ and ear hook
• Adjusts volume automatically
• Convenient car charger and headset holder in one
• Easy to use with dedicated on/off slider and auto-pairing
• Multiuse™ – connect to 2 devices at the same time
• Up to 5.5 hours talk time and up to 10.5 days standby time

Call quality to a land line sounded crystal clear with calls made both indoors and outdoors on a windy day in the busy Manhattan streets.  I got up to 5 hours of talk time before it turned off on me.

Wearing the Jabra Extreme wasn’t that comfortable for me.  This is just my personal opinion since I never liked the over-the-ear and in-ear style headsets.  And that’s the reason why I chose to review the Jabra Wave in the first place, which had the behind-the-ear style.  My cousins tried out the Jabra Extreme, and they said it was comfortable to them.  So I guess my ears are just a bit picky about earbud styles.

The Jabra Extreme is priced at $79.99 direct from Jabra.  It’s a pretty decent price since it includes the car charger also.

Filed in categories: Bluetooth Gear, Car Gear, Reviews

Tagged: Bluetooth Gear, Headset

Jabra Extreme Bluetooth Headset Review originally appeared on The Gadgeteer on May 31, 2011 at 1:00 pm.

Clip MusiCALL from Bluetrek to your clothing, plug any headphones or earbuds into the 3.5mm jack, and you can listen to music from your smartphone without being physically connected to the phone.  MusiCALL uses Bluetooth to connect to your phone, and it has navigation buttons that are used to control music playback on the smartphone.   You’ll never miss a call, either, because music stops for an incoming call and restarts when the call is disconnected.  The MusiCALL from Bluetrek will sell for $69.99 and should be available soon.  Read the full press release here.

Filed in categories: Bluetooth Gear, News

Tagged: Bluetooth Gear

Make Any Headphones Bluetooth with MusiCALL from Bluetrek – and Control Your Smartphone, Too originally appeared on The Gadgeteer on May 10, 2011 at 8:01 am.

The iHome iDM12 Rechargeable Bluetooth Speaker System for iPad/iPhone/iPod is iHome’s entry into the every growing portable/battery powered Bluetooth speaker market. Like the Monster iClarityHD speakers I reviewed in January, the iMD12 aims to give you mobile sound without the headphones. Unlike the iClarityHD, the iDM12 doesn’t bother with a microphone – it’s not a substitute hands-free system, it’s just a speaker. The overall package is a bit more portable thanks to the combination speaker cover/iPad base – when snapped on the front you’re left with a 7″ cylinder that’s about 2 1/4″ wide – easy enough to toss into a gear bag or luggage.

Inside the Box

The iDM12 package includes a Bluetooth connect guide (with no mention of the wired connection, or use of the stand – but it’s obvious enough) – the speaker & base/cover, and the USB + 3.5″ headphone plug to micro-usb cable. You’ll want to hang onto this cable, as it’s used to both charge the iDM12 and to route wired audio to it, should you want to forgo Bluetooth. In theory you can use any micro-usb cable to charge the IDM12, and the micro-usb/stereo connection is also standard – but I just used the supplied cable in my testing.

The top of the iDM12 has the interesting controls:

Press and hold power to power it on. You’ll see a green LED in the top center of the speaker grill when it’s on. Press power again to turn it off. The -/+ keys do what you’d expect with the volume, while the pause/play/pairing button does the pause/play function on a short press. Press and hold to enter into pairing mode.

The back of the iDM21 has the micro-usb port and the Bluetooth/aux switch, along with the flip-out stand to hold the speakers up when in use.

Flipping to aux-in turns off the Bluetooth radio in the iDM12, probably increasing its battery life. The internal battery, at 1800mAH, is rated at 4.5 hours – in my actual use it lasted 4 when playing music via Bluetooth.

The split USB cable gives you about 6 inches to work with, if you’re going to try connecting both the audio and the USB plugs into a laptop or other source. That’s doable on a Macbook Pro, for example, as shown below:

The cover/base is a notched bit of plastic with two feet that swivel out – without those feet it’s not stable with an iPad resting in it!

The feet rotate and stay (snugly) under the base when not in use, and the base just magnetically snaps onto the front of the iDM12 when you’re not using it. If only there was somewhere to stash that cable…

iPad Mode

I borrowed a handy iPad (first gen, but the slot should work the same for the slightly thinner iPad 2) to grab some action photos, and indeed the base does a fine job of securely holding an iPad on a flat surface:

You’ll want to put the speaker off to the side though, unless you like peering over it, while looking at its reflection in the glass of the iPad:

Bluetooth Performance

Paring was automatic, as expected, with iOS devices, iMacs, Linux boxes, and Windows machines. The iDM12 will re-connect to the last device that connected to it – if you’re moving it between several devices, you’d just need to select it in that device’s list of known Bluetooth speakers.

Range was also as expected – this is a 30′ device, and it was solid for me at the limits of that range.

Audio Performance

According to the iHome site, the iDM12s include 2 active and 1 passive radiator (that’s a left and right speaker, and a bass-reflex passive “woofer” for some low end help.)

I found the iDM12 to have an audible amplifier hum when connected, but when nothing was playing, even at low/mid volume settings, with either Bluetooth or the wired connection. The hum wasn’t audible during playback. Bass reproduction was as good as you could hope in a package this size, which is to say not very. There’s no doubt these little speakers can put out a decent volume of sound – just don’t expect to host your next rave with them. When compared to the Boston Acoustics BA635 speakers on my work machine, I can clearly hear the narrow range, lack of bass, and even a bit of distortion at the same volume. Even with that, the little iDM12s did a admirable job of matching that volume well past the point where I would normally listen to audio material.

Conclusion

The iDM12 is a very portable, versatile battery powered Bluetooth/wired speaker system. The integrated iPad base/cover is a nice touch – useful even if you’re not primarily using it for an iPad. The sound quality is about where I’d expect at this price, which is a bit higher than the very low end speaker systems, but under the high end ones.

Filed in categories: Bluetooth Gear, iPhone, iPad, iPod related, Reviews

Tagged: Bluetooth Gear, iPad, Portable speakers

iHome iDM12 Rechargeable Bluetooth Speaker System for iPad/iPhone/iPod Review originally appeared on The Gadgeteer on April 13, 2011 at 12:00 pm.

A few months ago, The Gadgeteer told you about TuneLink Auto from NewPotato Technologies that allowed you to play audio from your Apple iOS device through your car’s stereo.  Now, NewPotato has made the TuneLink Auto system available to Android phone users.  You plug the TuneLink Auto into your car’s power port and pair it with your Android phone via Bluetooth (only necessary once).  You can now transmit music to your car’s music system through FM transmission or by plugging the TuneLink Auto into the Aux port on your car’s system.  The TuneLink Auto even has a USB port so you can charge your Android phone while you listen.  The free TuneLink app lets you configure and control your TuneLink Auto, and lets you connect multiple phones and alternate music playback from each, use the phone’s GPS to suggest local radio stations, and more.  The TuneLink Auto for Android is $99.99 at the NewPotato Technologies website.

Filed in categories: Android related, Audio, Video, TV Gear, Car Gear, News

Tagged: Bluetooth Gear, car audio

NewPotato TuneLink Auto Now Available for Android Phones originally appeared on The Gadgeteer on March 29, 2011 at 9:00 am.

MoGo case and earpiece

BlueTooth earpieces have been around for quite a while now. Most phones on the market and many computers can use this wireless technology with ease. While I’m not a fan for several reasons (detailed below), I keep coming back to the idea of using one every few years. MoGo sent me one of their units to test with my iPhone 4, and it solved several of the problems I generally have with earpieces – but let’s not get ahead of ourselves. The MoGo Talk XD2 is a case for the iPhone 4 that completely covers the back and sides of the phone. Built into the back of the case is a holster and charging cradle for the earpiece. The case itself adds a bit of bulk and weight to the iPhone, but the edges give a good grip and hold the phone’s face above a surface, should you happen to place it face-down. The back is somewhat of a camel’s hump on the back, but it fits nicely in your hand.

Volume buttons and hole for mute switch

Bottom ports

Ports and cable

The earpiece holds tightly, yet releases easily.

Filed in categories: Bluetooth Gear, iPhone, iPad, iPod related, Reviews

Tagged: Bluetooth Gear, Case, iPhone 4

MoGo Talk XD2 Headset and iPhone 4 Case System Review originally appeared on The Gadgeteer on March 2, 2011 at 1:30 pm.

If you’ve tried Bluetooth headsets and speaker phones before and didn’t find them to your liking, I have another option to try for hands free calls. It’s the Earzee Bluetooth Wristband from MobileFun. This wristband pairs with your phone and vibrates when it detects a call. You can then pull the earphone speaker between your fingers, hold your hand up to your ear and talk into your wrist. It’s a toss up as to whether people will think you’re with the secret service, or crazy. The Stretch Earzee Bluetooth Wristband is available now for £19.99 ($32.32).

Filed in categories: Bluetooth Gear, Car Gear, News

Tagged: Bluetooth Gear, Hands Free, Spotlight Gadgets

Talk to the Hand with the Earzee Bluetooth Wristband originally appeared on The Gadgeteer on February 17, 2011 at 1:45 pm.

Conran Audio has recently announced their new iPod/iPhone audio dock. In addition to its ability to play music from physically docked iPods and iPhones, the Conran dock can also play ‘wireless audio’ from any (stereo) bluetooth enabled device. The Conran dock is available for pre-order in black and white for £249.

Filed in categories: Audio, Video, TV Gear, Bluetooth Gear, iPhone, iPad, iPod related, News

Tagged: Bluetooth Gear, iPad, iPod, Spotlight Gadgets

Conran Audio’s New iPod Dock originally appeared on The Gadgeteer on February 4, 2011 at 1:00 pm.

The Monster iClarityHD Precision Micro Bluetooth Speaker 100′s name might be bigger than the speaker itself, but it packs a lot of sound into that small space. It also makes a fine hands-free audio bridge (speaker & mic) for your Bluetooth-enabled devices. It does this in an attractive and very portable package that will grind out sound for many hours on a charge.

Inside the Box

The box contains a manual, the Speaker unit, a USB cable (not shown – it’s a standard USB cable!) and a carry bag. You’ll need the manual for about 2 minutes, then you can stick with just the speaker unit and bag.

The speaker system is stereo, with what looks to be some “bass” porting at the top. The front facing speakers flank the brightest LED you’ll ever see – more on that later!

The back has the On/Off switch, a USB port for charging only (it charges off anything that provides powered USB) and a 3.5mm standard audio input jack if you want to go old-school wired.

The right side has the power/pairing button, volume up/down, and “hands free” phone button.

It looks pretty big until you put it next to an iPhone 4. This is pretty much a hand-sized unit. Small enough to toss into your gear bag/back pack/suitcase on a trip. It weighs in at about 8 ounces so it’s not likely to weigh you down on a trip. The bottom (not shown) has 4 thin “feet” with good grip, so it will stay put when you put it down. This somewhat supports Monster’s claim that you can use it as an hands-free device in your car, but it’s probably not my first choice for that.

Pairing

Pairing is a breeze as with most modern Bluetooth devices. First, you put the iClarity in pairing mode by switching the power on, and then pressing and holding the power button on the side for many seconds until the front LEDs flash Blue/Red. At that point the iClarity will show up in the device list if you’re looking for new devices. For example, in an iPhone it looks like this:

Tap that entry and the two devices will pair up.

Pairing is similar on MacOS and Windows 7 – once in paring mode, selecting the iClarity in the list is sufficient to pair up the device. On all three OSes the device paired as a hands-free (speaker + microphone) device and as an audio output device.

It’s not documented anywhere I could find how many devices the iClarity can partner with – I am up to three without problems. Typical Bluetooth headsets can partner with 4 or 8 other devices, so I expect the iClarity is similar.

Range is listed as the standard “low power” 33 feet. In testing at my home, I had no trouble staying connected up to, and if in line of sight even beyond 30 feet.

Playback

When paired, and connected, your iPhone will, by default, route everything through the iClarity speakers.

You can change that, of course! Incoming/outgoing calls also route to the speakers:

You can use the Speakerphone button on the iClarity in the same way as you would the accept/hangup/reject button on a Bluetooth headset. Press once to answer the call, press again to hang up, long press for reject call. The button placement on the side of the device makes for somewhat awkward “hands free” use – especially if you’re driving in a car.

Mac/Windows too

The iClarity is a standard Bluetooth device, so for completeness I hooked it up to Windows 7 and MacOS. You can see that iChat is happy to use the iClarity as its speaker/mic in the shot below. You also get a good look at that incredibly bright front LED. Yes, it’s always on when the device is on. Yes, it really is that bright.

Sound Quality

Sound quality is subjective, and I have slight but measurable hearing loss to boot. That said, the iClarity will likely surprise you, in a good way, with its sound quality. Volume is certainly ample, the low end is reasonably well presented and the sound isn’t too flat. You already lose a lot of range in sound when going over Bluetooth, but given the size of these speakers I wasn’t shocked to find they sounded the same (to me, anyway) when hooked up via the 3.5mm jack vs. over Bluetooth.

These aren’t 12″ drivers, and this isn’t a 200 watt amp. Don’t expect concert hall sound – expect sound about as good as high end “hifi” laptop sound, and you’ll have a good idea of what you’ll get. On the microphone side of things, it seems about the same – when testing the sound quality in a call, my spouse could tell the difference between the iPhone 4 speakerphone and the iClarity, but not in a bad way – both were clear. Similar testing between the built in mic in a MacBook Pro and the iClarity over iChat yielded the same results… the two sounded noticeably different, but neither was “better” or “worse”.

Battery/Portable/Plugged

I can’t really comment on the battery life – it’s rated at 5 hours at full volume. I had the unit on all day partnered with a MacBookPro and it was still going after 9 hours of the odd beep, boop, and a few hours of soft music. I used it overnight to play white noise while plugged in to USB power – after an hour the LED switched from charging (annoying flashing blue) to charged (annoying solid blue.)

Wrapup

I like the iClarity, it’s a highly portable Bluetooth system with good sound, and it’s a handy hands free device for talking. The price is a little high (a set of battery powered wired speakers might run you $20, a Bluetooth headset $40, together half the cost of the iClarity) but it does pack a lot of functionality into a small space for that price. If you can use it with a few devices (or you’re a road warrior) it’s a compelling little device.

Filed in categories: Bluetooth Gear, iPhone, iPad, iPod related, Reviews, Travel Gear

Tagged: Bluetooth Gear, Bluetooth speakers, Speaker

Monster iClarityHD Precision Micro Bluetooth Speaker 100 Review originally appeared on The Gadgeteer on January 25, 2011 at 12:00 pm.

Jawbone has just launched the first Bluetooth headset with a built in accelerometer that enables the wearer to shake the headset to initiate pairing with a mobile phone, and tap tap the headset to answer or end a call. In addition to the new motion sensing technology, the Jawbone ERA also has a 25% larger wideband speaker that claims to offer HD audio for improved call quality, music and game audio. This headset is available now online and at Apple Stores, AT&T and Best Buy stores on Sunday, January 23 for $129.

Filed in categories: Bluetooth Gear, News

Tagged: Bluetooth Gear, Headset, Spotlight Gadgets

Jawbone ERA – Accelerometers aren’t just for smartphones originally appeared on The Gadgeteer on January 20, 2011 at 3:20 pm.

The Arriva Leo Bluetooth headset might look familiar to you as we reviewed their Shuffle headphones a few years ago. They have bendable wire cables that allow you to completely customize the fit to your noggin. The Leo is a 2.1 + EDR Bluetooth headset that is rechargeable and a features a built in microphone and media controls for skip forward, back, volume up/down and pause. It’s currently available for pre-order and will be available in March for  $99.95.

Filed in categories: Audio, Video, TV Gear, Bluetooth Gear, News

Tagged: Bluetooth Gear, Headphones, Spotlight Gadgets

Arriva Leo Bluetooth Headset offers bendable comfort originally appeared on The Gadgeteer on January 17, 2011 at 1:00 pm.

Over the years, I have tried/reviewed many bluetooth headsets designed to free you from the hassle of having to hold your cellphone to your ear. Since they first came on the market, bluetooth headset technology, capabilities, and reliability have come a very long way.

BlackBerry has recently introduced three new bluetooth headsets and a visor mounted handsfree car kit. The BlackBerry Wireless Headset HS-700 is RIM’s high-end, feature-rich headset chalked full of capabilities. Being a longtime BlackBerry user, I quickly raised my hand to review the HS-700 and truly test its ability to work with my BlackBerry.

The HS-700 design looks just like a Blackberry device; black leather with a silver bezel. Personally, I like the look and feel of the HS-700. It is not the most high-tech looking bluetooth headset out there, but its simple, clean look is very nice and would definitely do well while wearing jeans to a suit and everything in between.

The HS-700 quickly and easily paired with my BlackBerry Storm 2.

Package Contents:

• HS-700 bluetooth headset
• MicroUSB cable
• Wall charger
• 1 regular, 3 stabilizing & 1 cushioned ear gels
• 2 ear hooks
• User guide

Bluetooth:

• Bluetooth 2.1 (for simplified pairing)
• Bluetooth HFP and A2DP Bluetooth profile
• Range: 10m/33 feet

Power:

• Dedicated on/off switch
• 200 hours standby time
• 4.5 hours talk time

Voice Commands:

• Status info and call tasks:
  • Options
  • Battery
  • Redial
  • Call last
  • Call <phone number>
  • Call <contact name>
  • Answer
  • Ignore
  • Mute
  • Unmute

• Music tasks:
  • Play
  • Next track
  • Previous track
  • Pause
  • Stop
  • Volume up
  • Volume down

Other features:

• Caller name announcement
• Audible voice prompts
• Advanced noise-cancellation technology
• Audio streaming

Unlike many other bluetooth earbuds, the HS-700 has a positive motion (vs pressing and holding a button) for turning the headset on. To turn it on, you twist the earpiece 90 degrees. At that point, the headset welcomes you and lets you know the earbud is connected to your BlackBerry and ready for use.

The HS-700 has a very simplistic in design; it does not have volume or power buttons. There is only a single button visible. This is used to issue voice commands. When you wish to give a voice command you push the button and say the command or as a call comes in you simply say ‘answer’ or ‘ignore’. The fact that you control the volume via your BlackBerry is not an issue for me but might be for some. The HS-700 automatically adjusts the volume of your call based on the noise level of your ambient environment.

Comfort and fit:

If you prefer more stability than just the cushioned or stabilizing ear gels provide, an ear hook can be attached to the HS-700.

Along with the ear hooks, BlackBerry includes various different sized silicone ear pieces for you to get the best fit of the bluetooth device in your ear.

With so many options and combinations, nearly everyone should be able to find a comfortable fit. I like the placement that just the stabilizing gel bud gave me. But it felt as though the earbud was going to fall out a majority of the time.

I preferred a stabilizing gel bud plus the ear hook. It felt much more secure and would not fall out if I had to sprint for my bus. Although, it did have a tendency to flop around (outward) a little while moving.

Call Experience:

The call quality on the HS-700 was excellent. The speaker provided a loud and clear in coming portion of the call experience. Like most modern day, upper end headset, the noise canceling technology was very good. Those that I talked with said they were able to hear me loud and clear.

Noteworthy Features:

There were several features/capabilities that made me appreciate the HS-700 more than some of the other bluetooth earpieces I use.

Music Playability: I love fact the HS-700 can stream music from my BlackBerry. While the earpiece is only in one ear, it does a good job of simulating stereo sound. All things considered, the sound quality is somewhere between good and excellent depending on where and how far away my BlackBerry is.

Voice Commands: The HS-700 has a very large number of possible voice commands, enabling you to control a good deal of your BlackBerry’s functions without having to access the device. Funny story…..I was listening to music and testing out the music control commands while cleaning the kitchen one day. The Gadgeteer Kid was walking by as I firmly said ‘Stop’ and he froze in his tracks, thinking he was busted for something .

Verbal Feedback: I like how the HS-700 gives you so much feedback on its status and what is going on (aka better situational awareness). As I mentioned above, when you turn on the earpiece, it welcomes and lets you know its connected to your BlackBerry. It informs you who is calling. Plus if you forget a command it lets you know your possible choices.

Overall, I am very pleased with the HS-700′s performance, form, and features. That said, this high-end bluetooth headset has a pretty steep price tag as well. At $129 MSRP, RIM’s flagship headset is priced alongside other upper-end, feature packed earpieces like the Plantronics Discovery 975 or the BlueAnt Q2. Although, it can be found online for about $80 like these other headsets as well. Price not withstanding, the HS-700 is well made, nicely designed/engineered. This headset is an ideal companion for those BlackBerry owners in search of a great bluetooth headset.

Filed in categories: Blackberry related, Bluetooth Gear, Car Gear, Reviews

Tagged: Blackberry, Bluetooth Gear

BlackBerry HS-700 Bluetooth Headset Review originally appeared on The Gadgeteer on January 16, 2011 at 10:30 am.

The Mynah Cell Phone Recorder from Spy Gadgets is a Bluetooth recorder that pairs with any Bluetooth enabled phone to automatically record your calls. It looks like a small candybar cell phone and has 340 hours of call storage. It saves all call details including date, time, number, duration and call type. You can even flag calls as important and add comments to them. Recordings can be transfered to a PC (sorry, Mac users are out of luck) via a mini USB cable. The Mynah will cost $249.00 and will be available in February.

Filed in categories: Bluetooth Gear, News

Tagged: Bluetooth Gear, Recorder, Spotlight Gadgets

Record your Next Mobile Call with the Mynah Cell Phone Recorder originally appeared on The Gadgeteer on December 22, 2010 at 1:56 pm.

Arctic Cooling has released a series of audio gear under the label Arctic Sound, and I get the chance to try out three of their offerings- behind-the-ear Bluetooth headphones (P311), big ‘ear cans’ with microphone (P301), and a USB gamer headset (P531).

The silver-grey packaging motif Arctic Sound is using is nice, but the real sign that this is going to be a high-end product are the little touches like the nice molded case for the P311.

The short version is these are all good units- great sound, great comfort, great build. Lets look at them more closely.

P311 Stereo Bluetooth Headphones ($37.95 MSRP). These are a behind-the-head style set of, well, stereo Bluetooth headphones. They include an ‘invisible microphone’, travel case, USB to mini-USB cable, and instructions.

You can see the controls on the earpiece.

While I am not a fan of this style, I have to say that these are the most comfortable I have found of this type. They are easy to work with- they connected to my Android phone quickly and reliably. The company claims a typical Bluetooth range, and there is a bit of typical wireless sound degredation but all in all this is a nice set.

The right side unit has all of the controls- the mini-USB jack, the ‘multi-function button’ in the middle (with the phone icon), and four buttons- vol. up/down and forward/back. The placement and usage is fairly logical. A long press to the ‘phone’ button toggles it on and off- a blue LED indicates that it is on and the signal status.

The vol. and skip buttons only work with some devices- iPhone 3G ad 3GS, iTouch and iPad, but not with my Android (sniff).

As a phone headset, it supports voice dialing, etc. like many other hands-free systems. I found the voice quality to be OK- somewhat better than more earpieces and the speakerphone of my phone.

With all this good stuff, my big question is that I am not sure when to use it. It is not quite small enough for routine carry, and I’d rather not use headphones when driving.

P301 Professional Headset ($26.95 MSRP). This is a big, comfortable rig with a wide headband, thick ear cushions that completely surround the ear, two gold-plated plugs, an in-line volume control with pocket clip, lots of size settings, and a nice little slide-out microphone.

The techno-specs are:

• Frequency response: 12 Hz -24k Hz
• Sensitivity: 97 dB/mW
• Impedance: 32 Ohm
• Drive unit: Ø50mm

Shown with microphone 'boom' extended

The ads claim deep bass and crisp highs- but don’t most audio ads? This set does deliver great sound- music sounds about as well through the headphones as it does through my Bose radio- great sound for the price!

Using it as a calling headset with Google Voice was comfortable and the sound quality for both the mike and headphones was very good. Of course, my HP Mini 1000 Netbook shares a mike and headset jack- D’oh!

This has become my ‘go to’ set for use at home. While it is not sound cancelling, the padding is thick enough I can listen to my stuff while my wife listens to hers and we don’t disturb each other at all. The wide headband, big padded cups, and the low weight of only 8 ounces makes it a really, really comfortable unit to wear even for a long time.

P531 5.1 Channel Gaming USB Headset ($66.55 MSRP). This is one fancy headset- far too fancy for a simple guy like me. Most of my computer gaming is playing Spider Solitaire, which apparently does not support 5.1 channel sound so I loaned them to my game guy who actually plays the sorts of games that use this sort of technology.

I wanted a photo of my game guy wearing them while in a full 'Game Rage', but this will have to do!

The P531 in-line controller

This ‘more than a pound’ monster features 4 drivers in each full-ear earcup- front, center, surrounding, and sub-woofer- as well as vibrational units! A big boom mike, USB plug, an in-line volume and balance control and noise suppression padding complete the package.

If you want the techno-specs, you’ll have to go to the website- each set of the 4 drivers has different, tuned specifications.

My game guy reports that the sound is fantastic with good 3D sound imasging, and that the unit was comfortable to wear for longer periods. I could not pry it off him long enough for a more detailed review.

I am not an audio-head. When I buy speakers or headphones, I try to find something I like, but I also keep a close eye on price. These headphones (especially the P301) easily satisfy my goals of good sound, good comfort, and good price.

Filed in categories: Audio, Video, TV Gear, Bluetooth Gear, Gaming Gear, Portable and Console Gaming, Reviews

Tagged: Bluetooth Gear, Gaming, headphone

3 Arctic (Cooling) Sound Headphones Review originally appeared on The Gadgeteer on December 21, 2010 at 10:48 am.

This is for all of you forgetful smartphone owners out there. I have cool gadget for you. It’s the Bringrr; a small Bluetooth module that lives in the power socket in your car. It senses when you start your car and searches for your phone. If it doesn’t connect to it, it will sound an alert and an LED will blink in Red. Bluetooth enabled Smartphones and most feature phones from 2008 and later will work with the Bringrr. The Bringrr is available now for $29.95. There are also versions that has the ability to charge micro USB phones, iPhone and other phones that can be charged with a USB cable.

Filed in categories: Bluetooth Gear, News

Tagged: Bluetooth Gear, Spotlight Gadgets

Bringrr makes sure you don’t leave the house without your phone originally appeared on The Gadgeteer on December 19, 2010 at 8:01 pm.