Every now and then my natural talent for the evasion of unpleasant duties fails me. So it was that recently I found myself in a hotel chair, to my right some guy with dandruff and a Bluetooth in his ear, to my left his clone, listening to an analyst who works for a failing financial institution grill a variety of senior officers about the state of their businesses in this pesky economy of ours.
Dec. 25: I got what I wanted! A brand-new Bluetooth headset! Wow, it's tiny. A little swanky gizmo with a dingus that goes behind my ear and a piece that fits into it and a tiny wedge of plastic that sits near my jaw, blinking. Except, you know, it isn't blinking. It's just sitting there. Turns out I've got to charge it for eight hours before it will do anything at all. So here we go! Into the charger! See you tomorrow, itty-bitty electronic friend!
Every day, millions of people use social networking sites like MySpace and Facebook to stay in touch with friends, make business contacts and procrastinate at work.
Every year, the International Consumer Electronics Show yields dozens of exciting, useful and just plain silly high-tech gadgets. Sometimes they're even useful and silly at the same time, like a wristwatch cell phone.
Law enforcement officials in six states can now give you a ticket for talking on your cell phone while driving, so that hands-free device you should be using for your cell phone is going to become your best friend.
BlueAnt Wireless launched the first headset that recognizes spoken English commands, and responds, also in English
Now that stereo Bluetooth has become a common feature in a lot of music phones, it's no surprise that stereo Bluetooth headsets have become quite popular as well.
When the Jabra BT160 came out last year, we praised it for being one of the first Bluetooth headsets to come with interchangeable cover designs.
"I hope you're talking to me on a speakerphone," Devra Davis barks at me when I call her on my cell phone. "You'd better not be holding that phone up to your head."
As Jabra is one of the world's most well-known Bluetooth headset manufacturers, it only made sense that the company would leap headfirst into the world of Bluetooth speakerphones.
Every now and then my natural talent for the evasion of unpleasant duties fails me. So it was that recently I found myself in a hotel chair, to my right some guy with dandruff and a Bluetooth in his ear, to my left his clone, listening to an analyst who works for a failing financial institution grill a variety of senior officers about the state of their businesses in this pesky economy of ours.
Dec. 25: I got what I wanted! A brand-new Bluetooth headset! Wow, it's tiny. A little swanky gizmo with a dingus that goes behind my ear and a piece that fits into it and a tiny wedge of plastic that sits near my jaw, blinking. Except, you know, it isn't blinking. It's just sitting there. Turns out I've got to charge it for eight hours before it will do anything at all. So here we go! Into the charger! See you tomorrow, itty-bitty electronic friend!
Every day, millions of people use social networking sites like MySpace and Facebook to stay in touch with friends, make business contacts and procrastinate at work.
Every year, the International Consumer Electronics Show yields dozens of exciting, useful and just plain silly high-tech gadgets. Sometimes they're even useful and silly at the same time, like a wristwatch cell phone.
Law enforcement officials in six states can now give you a ticket for talking on your cell phone while driving, so that hands-free device you should be using for your cell phone is going to become your best friend.
BlueAnt Wireless launched the first headset that recognizes spoken English commands, and responds, also in English
Now that stereo Bluetooth has become a common feature in a lot of music phones, it's no surprise that stereo Bluetooth headsets have become quite popular as well.
When the Jabra BT160 came out last year, we praised it for being one of the first Bluetooth headsets to come with interchangeable cover designs.
"I hope you're talking to me on a speakerphone," Devra Davis barks at me when I call her on my cell phone. "You'd better not be holding that phone up to your head."
As Jabra is one of the world's most well-known Bluetooth headset manufacturers, it only made sense that the company would leap headfirst into the world of Bluetooth speakerphones.
Not everyone needs a Bluetooth headset for hands-free chatting while in the car. If you prefer to keep your ears unplugged, a Bluetooth speakerphone might be a better option.
Millions of California motorists have had to put down their cell phones or risk a ticket as a new law takes effect requiring hands-free devices for those behind the wheel
One of the best things about reviewing gadgets is the chance to play with something you've never played with before.
For 2008, Sony makes a minor update to its entry-level Bluetooth-equipped car stereo.
The 3200 LS Color represents the latest stage in the evolution of Parrot's in-car Bluetooth calling kits. The device builds on the simple design and great usability of the CK3000 and the CK3100 car kits.
With legislation on the horizon banning the use of cell phones while driving, we decided to take a look at the options for those drivers with too much self respect to wear Bluetooth headsets.
We'll admit that we're not normally fans of Bluetooth headsets with tiny LED displays. After all, it doesn't seem that convenient to be looking at the display while wearing the headset at the same time.
Jabra is a significant brand name in the Bluetooth headset business, but that doesn't mean Jabra is resting on its laurels.
Last year, Yamaha created a small portable speaker called the NX-A01 that delivered gutsy sound in a space no larger than a Rubik's cube. It had only two considerable drawbacks: it had to be plugged in; and the US model lacked the Bluetooth audio capability of the version selling in Japan.
Jabra made headlines early last year when it debuted the Jabra BT8010, the first mono-to-stereo convertible Bluetooth headset. The BT8010 was even awarded Best of CES 2007 in the MP3 category.
Marine Lance Cpl. Joshua Bleill lost both his legs above the knees when a bomb exploded under his Humvee while on patrol in Iraq on October 15, 2006. He has 32 pins in his hip and a 6-inch screw holding his pelvis together.
What if you could embed newspapers - and their ads - right into the tables where people sip their lattes? That's the idea behind TableTouch, a San Francisco startup that sells a coffee table with a built-in, Wi-Fi-enabled touchscreen and software that lets you browse the latest news stories with your fingers.
When we first saw the Motorola H9 Miniblue earlier this year, we thought it was the smallest Bluetooth headset we've ever seen. Samsung, however, has recently launched a Bluetooth headset that's just as tiny. Called the Samsung WEP500, this minuscule headset is about the size of a quarter and is even lighter than the Miniblue.
From the moment Apple announced its iPhone at Macworld 2007, the tech world hasn't stopped asking questions. Because Apple has kept many iPhone details under wraps until very recently, we've been forced to speculate. Until now. Is the iPhone pretty? Absolutely. Is it easy to use? Certainly. Does it live up to the stratospheric hype? Not so much.
By now, you're pretty savvy when it comes to buying a new car. You know all about dealer-invoice pricing, depreciation and extended warranties. There's still one last chance, though, for the dealer to get the better of you. A new model's options list can be a minefield, and if you're not careful you could end up spending 20% or more above what you intended for your car. So it pays to know whether an option is good for you or just for the dealer.
AS THE OWNER AND OPERATOR OF BLUE-SKY Solutions (blue-skysolutions.com), a graphic design and tech-support shop in New Jersey, I spend hours on my cellphone, usually in the car, client offices, restaurants, and anywhere else I can get a signal. Recently, wireless Bluetooth headsets have taken a stylish turn. I tested a few to see if they offered as much function as form.
The latest receivers for your car move with you in a whole new way. All the key features for easy navigation—touch-screen controls, spoken directions, and street maps for the entire lower 48—come packaged in pocket-size models that easily transfer between cars or slide into a suitcase. But the best add superior ergonomics and features that really take them (and you) the extra mile.
Easy Listening
There are a billion Bluetooth-enabled devices in the world -- cell phones, headsets, cameras, keyboards, printers. Another 13 million of them are being sold every week.
The newest generation of do-it-all handsets proves that a serious productivity tool needn't be a hulking package. Today's top-of-the-line devices feature Bluetooth, expandable memory, and quad-band...
Kyocera may be better known as a maker of hip cell phones for Virgin Mobile such as the Marbl and the Cyclops, but it has also churned out a number of Bluetooth accessories in the past.
We remember when Logitech released the first Bluetooth headphones for the iPod back in 2005. In fact, we still have those antiques here at our office.
Headset makers have been stocking up on fashion talent, hoping Bluetooth's day would come. And now it has. Global headset sales are projected to reach $3 billion.
Aliph has finally given their old wired Jawbone headset a much-needed upgrade for the Bluetooth generation. The Aliph Jawbone Bluetooth headset is quite simply one of the most eye-catching headsets we've ever had the pleasure of using.
They're becoming the new sunglasses. Bluetooth headsets, once exclusively the province of early adopters who didn't mind the cyborg look, have crossed over from geek to glam.
THEY'RE BECOMING THE NEW SUNGLASSES. BLUETOOTH headsets, once exclusively the province of early adopters who didn't mind the cyborg look, have crossed over from geek to glam. In a bid to make wirel...
Worldly Wanderer
Agency creatives enjoyed immense power during the go-go 1990s, but their clients' accountants stole much of it back after the tech bust and as ad spending has continued to flatten.
Music cell phones have become a hot commodity in 2006, with almost every manufacturer getting into the game. Sony Ericsson's Walkman handsets in particular have emerged as favorites of mobile music fans, but Nokia has countered with its quality N-series smart phones that come packed with multimedia features. But let's face it, not everyone needs a fancy smart phone such as the Nokia N91 so we're glad to welcome the new Nokia 5300 Xpress Music. Packed into a unique but user-friendly design is an exceptional music player and a broad range of features including a 1.3-megapixel camera, Bluetooth, and an expandable memory slot. And yes, it delivers on performance as well. As of this writing, the GSM 5300 isn't available with a U.S. carrier, so it will cost you. But even at $300, we reckon it's worth it.
I have seen the future, and it is run by nerds.
Here's the stuff these top execs would like to see in their stocking.
Do you have any tales from the digital frontier? What's life like in your digital world? These CNN.com readers sent us their stories and thoughts. Here's a sampling of the responses, some of which have been edited.
16 ways hackers can break in
Rand McNally GPS Navigator
MAGELLAN EXPLORIST XL $400; www.magellangps.com [3 stars]
When it comes to cell phones, the smarter they are, the harder they fall - for viruses.
1 IWC Watches
SAN FRANCISCO (Business 2.0 Magazine) - Wireless networks are only as useful as the devices we use on them. That's why the grainy screen of your trusty flip-phone probably won't cut it, and neither will its anemic processor.
You might think, "Who really needs a Bluetooth headset?" Well, do you drive? Do you like having the use of not one but two arms? If so, maybe a headset isn't such a crazy idea after all.
WHAT WILL BE this year's must-have cellphone? Last year Motorola's ultrathin Razr was the star of the CTIA Wireless trade show (where companies preview their models for the coming year), and it wen...
Scores of new phones were on display last week at the CTIA Wireless 2006 trade show in Las Vegas, ranging from simple handsets for making voice calls to fancy phone-shaped computers that receive television signals. Following are a few that stood out from the crowd.
You know those pizza coupons you find hanging on the doorknob when you get home?
A Better Mousetrap
I REALLY CAN'T WAIT FOR CHRISTMAS this year. I'm hoping for so many things under my tree, and I normally don't even have a tree. This year I put one up. That's how good I think this gifting season ...
Box Seat
Ideas That Are All Wet
The next big thing in car electronics isn't big at all--which is why some analysts think it's going to be a huge hit. After limited success selling operating systems with complex navigation technol...
Walter Elly, a software developer in Tampa, Fla., used to store separate headsets for his cell phone and iPod in a backpack, but the wires often became tangled. So when he came across the Plantroni...
A British computer scientist is developing a portable brain scanner that could help prevent people from suffering brain damage after they have a stroke.
WINDOWS SMASHER
In cities where there are lots of nightclubs to choose from it is hard to know what the music is going to be like until you have paid and gone inside, but not any more.
SUN SPOT
JUST SAY IT
ULTRALIGHT PRINTING
Smart Headset
Portable Radio Etón P7132 Satellite radio fans, rejoice: You're no longer limited to drivetime listening. This Porsche-designed handheld radio is built to go from the home office to your desk at wo...
The Music Aficionado
[HIT] The hot handheld. Road warriors have long scoffed at Danger's Sidekick, saying it doesn't run enough applications. But kids love the instant-messaging-friendly smart-phone sold by T-Mobile. A...
Is your Wi-Fi's WEP turned on? What's the difference between bluejacking and bluesnarfing? Do you know your SSID? Get a handle on the details behind the acronyms and jargon that is wireless technology with this Wi-Fi glossary.
Maybe it hit you this summer vacation, grinding your way through tourist-clogged traffic, utterly lost, a little voice from the backseat asking, "Are we there yet?" Wouldn't it be nice, you may hav...
Like the artist currently known as Prince, Bluetooth enjoyed a stunning resurrection in 2004. Introduced 10 years ago as a wireless way to move data across short distances, Bluetooth was initially ...
Spark looks at some of the latest gadgets and gizmos.
CRYSTAL CLEAR It's as if the other person were right next door. The Plantronics M3500 uses noise-muting software to deliver crisp incoming calls, while a smart microphone boosts outgoing transmissi...
BANTAMWEIGHT In your pants pocket, the 4-inch Nokia 6230 feels more like a cigarette lighter than a world phone. But when it comes to features, there's nothing small about it. The 6230 has built-in...
When the Palm V handheld computer made its debut five years ago, the typical buyers were male (80%), highly educated (over 33% had postgraduate degrees), and affluent (average income was $100,000)....
There's hijacking, carjacking, and now a far less dangerous but equally unsolicited form of harassment: bluejacking. Bluetooth, a radio technology that allows users to exchange data over short dist...
Picture Perfect
The CEO [1] IBM ThinkPad T41: You need a computer that knows how to keep a secret. This 4.9-pound laptop comes with built-in encryption to shield your proprietary data from prying competitors. $1,6...
It's tempting to call Palm's Tungsten T3 the Terminator, but in truth it's the most formidable PDA that Palm has yet produced. It's solid, compact, and fits in a pocket, but--surprise!--the bottom ...
Bright Move Running off juice from your laptop's battery, this portable lamp lets you work on a darkened plane or in a dimly lit hotel room. Kensington FlyLight USB Notebook Light: $23; www.kensing...
As we bid adieu to 2002--and not a moment too soon!--let's pause to appreciate the products that brightened an otherwise dull year in personal technology. How tedious was 2002? My favorite new prod...
Pocket Rockets
Tablet PCs
Here's our grade-A supply list -- some of it practical, some extravagant -- for kids heading off to start their new life as college students.
1 The tunes Napster's demise hasn't halted student demand for digital music. The latest generation of portable MP3 players just holds more of it. Leading the way has been Apple's elegant little iPo...
Newlyweds HP and Compaq have delivered their first offspring, a set of fraternal twins. Both weigh 6.5 ounces and are slightly more than five inches long, and oh, baby, are they expensive.
Computer makers -- as well as tech writers -- have long suggested making a laptop your only computer. The appeal is unmistakable: Without a bulky monitor and box, you have more room on your desk; you can use your computer in any room in the house, or even outside; and there's no need to own a second machine for travel.
In Las Vegas. Headliners like Gates, Ellison, Chambers, and Whitman argued that despite the downturn, technology is by no means dead. It wasn't just lip-synching, either. New products and platforms...
You have to admire the indomitable spirit of the technology industry. Businesses are running IT budgets through a wood chipper, and the industry still won't give up on its "next big things." Silly ...
It's just a fact of life That no ones cares to mention She wasn't good But she had good intentions. --Lyle Lovett
Nostradamus had it easy. He could write cryptic four-line poems and make vague predictions, letting the generations to come debate whether he was a seer or a faker. We here at FSB are held to a hig...
New on DVD
In the future mapped out by Cambridge Silicon Radio, life will become a breeze. Here is one scenario envisioned by Phil O'Donovan, a radio engineer who, with two other founding directors, spun off ...
The poor slob is sitting cross-legged on the floor of the airport waiting lounge, still sweating from his dash through the triple-digit Texas heat. He's balancing his laptop on one knee, and a phon...
The Internet has taken off like a rocket because it's a great platform for innovation. As long as you conform to the basic rules of the Net's digital language, you can enhance it with all sorts of ...
In the tenth century, King Harald Bluetooth unified Denmark. Some thousand years later an impressive alliance of electronics companies are counting on a wireless networking technology named for the...
Every clock in my home tells a different time. Each spring and fall, when daylight saving time comes or goes, I make the rounds with my wristwatch and try to put the microwave and the video recorde...
For years the mobile professional has had a tool belt to rival Batman's--equipped with a cell phone, a pager, a Palm. That's about to change, thanks to companies like Nokia, Ericsson, and Motorola,...
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