So you’ve got to go somewhere this Labor Day weekend, huh? Looking for the right GPS to take you there? But you want one with some sweet swag? Easy to use? Maybe even something the “other guys” don’t have? But, its got to be a good brand. Well, the TomTom GO 930 may be your catch. With address voice input, Bluetooth speakerphone, Advanced Lane Guidance, traffic updates, and Mr. T to tell you where to turn, we couldn’t think of another GPS to suggest (until our next review, maybe.)
Before you shove off to your long weekend, we suggest reading the long and full-of-meat review of the TomTom GO 930. If you don’t have too much time, like all of our reviews, you can read The Bottom Line and the Overview for the quickie. But do at least print it out and read it sometime this weekend. It took us a long time to write. 
‘SouthWing,’ you ask yourself? Yup, SouthWing. Not well known here in the States but very much so in Europe where it has ranked as the best Bluetooth headset in the UK for years now. Mobile operators such as T-Mobile, Orange, and Telfonica sell SouthWing offerings throughout its stores. Now SouthWing has touched down in the US and came to the most known of all names in the telecommunications market, AT&T.
Releasing the SH241 exclusively to AT&T, the Barcelona-based, Ericsson-roots company touts some interesting features not found on other Bluetooth Headsets (BTh). One such feature, Whisper Mode, announces the phone number audibly in your ear so you know who’s calling without the need to look at your cellular phone. Perfect for meetings where distractions can be unfavorable. PUSH4 gives you the ability to program a favorite number or allows direct integration with AT&T’s *8 VoiceInfo for the latest in sports, stocks, weather and other news worthy items. Additionally, the SH241 allows you to pimp your BTh with 3 interchangeable covers, 12 ring tones, and 4 different ear buds. (I don’t know if the latter really is a pimp feature.) All this with 7 hours of talk time and automatic power save after 12 hours of idle use.
The SouthWing SH241 retails for $39.99 at AT&T company-owned stores or can be had at www.wireless.att.com (though we couldn’t find it on the web site.)
We’ve requested a unit for review and will let you know what we think of it when we get it.
Feeling a bit like grandpa with this statement, I can remember the days when Bluetooth headsets (BTh) where just a few and even those where difficult to find. Today with many states going with hands-free laws (California to join the fray four days prior to our Nations birthday,) headsets are a dime a dozen now. Many offer a wide range of differing features but none seem to offer what LG’s Decoy does. You see, the Decoy docks its Bluetooth headset in the phone!
According to the Verizon press release SvenOnTech received, the headset attaches to a “discreet docking port” on the back of the slider phone. With the 2.2” mirror-like LCD screen and five-way joystick, you’ll be able to navigate through the multimedia friendly phone that supports mp3, .wma, .aac and unprotected .aac+ files as well as doing the V-CAST thang. You’ll also be able to do email (access MSN® Hotmail®, America Online® and Yahoo!®) along with web surfing. Speakerphone, 2.0 MP camera, and Bluetooth 2.1 pretty much round out this phone. Full set of features after the jump.
The LG Decoy will be available beginning on June 16 for $179.99 after a $50 mail-in rebate and a new two-year customer agreement through Verizon Wireless’ online store at www.verizonwireless.com and in Verizon Wireless Communications Stores, including those in Circuit City.
I bet there are a lot of you starting to get jealous of those other people that can listen to their tunes from their Bluetooth device, such as a smartphone, right on their car stereo without every plugging in a wire to anything. With rumors of the iPhone update supporting full Bluetooth stereo, the doors may just be blown open wide real soon with Bluetooth audio.
Now if you’re one that spent all their cash on such a device and can’t yet afford the upgrade to a nice slick Alpine or Pioneer that supports Bluetooth connectivity, then maybe you should take out that old mix tape and throw in the Flexii Bluetooth Cassette Adapter. With this sweet adapter, you’ll be able to do what those other cassette adapters for portable CD players did and play music from a really cool high tech gadget! Cheap. For $40, you’ll get to play jams from your PDA, smartphone, or laptop all without a single wire. In fact, the Bluetooth Cassette Adapter has a built-in rechargeable lithium battery that will give you up to 5 hours of play time. The included USB cable lets you charge that bad boy in not time!
So now enjoy your high tech gadget on your “low” tech radio. Bring your car into the future, baby!
First unveiled during CTIA WIRELESS 2008, the Verizon Wireless XV6900 is a stylish, compact and versatile touch-screen smartphone that gives busy professionals the high-speed connectivity of the Verizon Wireless broadband network. In addition to its luxurious white package, the XV6900 includes:
- EV-DO, 1XRTT-capabilities
- Touch technology allows finger and stylus input
- Virtual, all-touch QWERTY keyboard with additional input options
- Five-way ENTER/NAVIGATION button
- 2.0 megapixel camera with auto-focus, zoom and video capture
- Built-in speakerphone
- One-touch access to e-mail, text messages, calendar appointments and contacts, weather conditions and forecasts
- Equipped with Windows Mobile® 6 Professional with access to Microsoft® Office Word Mobile, Excel® Mobile, and PowerPoint® Mobile; Adobe® Reader® LE PDF viewer
- View, edit, create Word and Excel files; view only PowerPoint and PDF files;
- view, extract, create Zip files
- Web browsing with Internet Explorer® Mobile
- Windows Media® Player 10
- Instant Messenger capabilities with AIM®, MSN®, and Yahoo!®
- Bluetooth® v. 2.0 with support for stereo, hands-free, and headset profiles
- microSD™ memory card slot with support up to 8 GB
- Voice command-capable
- Security locking features
- Text, picture and video messaging
- BroadbandAccess Connect-capable
- Wireless Sync-capable
- ActiveSync® (v.4.5) and Windows Mobile Device Center®
- Support for Office Outlook Mobile and Microsoft Exchange® with Direct Push
- 256 MB ROM / 128 MB RAM
- 2.8” TFT-LCD touch-screen with LED backlight: 240 x 320 pixel; 64K color TFT
- 3.98” (l) x 2.35” (w) x 0.56” (d)
- 3.95 ounces
- Battery: 1100mAH standard, and 1880 mAH for XT Battery
Standard battery usage times:
- Usage: 210 minutes
- Standby: 250 hours
- XT battery usage times:
- Usage: 360 minutes
- Standby: 427 hours
- SAR: Head – 1.250 W/kg; Body – 0.457 W/kg
The XV6900 is available for $349.99 after a $50 mail-in rebate with a new two-year customer agreement. An additional $100 credit toward the purchase of the handset is available for customers who sign up for qualifying voice and data plans at the time of purchase.
For more information on the XV6900 and other Verizon Wireless products and services, customers may visit a Verizon Wireless Communications Store, call 1-800-2 JOIN IN or go to www.verizonwireless.com. Business customers should call 1-800-VZW-4BIZ or contact their Verizon Wireless Business Sales Representative.
Do you remember the Freedom Keychain GPS SiRF III Receiver that Proporta released back in September? Well, they’re back with one that weighs 8 grams less and has a connectivity level that’ll knock your socks off. Introducing the Freedom Keychain GPS 2000 Receiver.
It comes with the latest of GPS technology. Works from your pocket, handbag or briefcase, and is compatible with all the mapping software currently available.
Using state-of-the-art Bluetooth Technology, making it ideal for connecting to your notebook, PDA or mobile phone, the Freedom Keychain GPS 2000 Receiver also comes with a USB charger cable and car charger cable, giving you the advantage of being able to charge from home or in the car.
Now, you’re probably thinking that this little piece of GPS equipment is very similar to its predecessor, the Freedom Keychain GPS SiRF III Receiver, well here’s where they differ. The GPS 2000 Receiver is capable of connecting simultaneously to up to 51 satellite channels as opposed to 20, and has a solid working time of ten hours. Phew.
If you are interested in how small it really is (yes, size does matter), the dimensions are right here: 46mm (1.81in) x 32mm (1.26in) x 14.7mm (0.58in), literally weighing 22 grams. Amazing right?
Don’t get lost, get wise – visit www.proporta.com and grab yourself one of these little stars.
Looking to get that new Apple Bluetooth headset for your iPhone, huh? Kinda wondering if it’s worth it due to the high price and mixed reviews from buyers on Apple’s site? Well, maybe you need to spend a few minutes reading our review and getting a good solid understanding if this is the Bluetooth headset for your or not.
Based on the lack of other reviews I’ve seen out there, this may be your best place to determine if Apple scores more money from you or not for your iPhone pleasures.
I started off this review as a “mini” review and it just kept going and going. So, it’s a full blown review with a lot of details that will hopefully be helpful for you if you’re interesting in getting Apple’s headset.
I don’t get why when I go to an electronics or computer store other than the Apple Store, I can’t find a Bluetooth mouse. Other than gaming, there really is no excuse for not having a Bluetooth mouse. Since all Mac laptops and some PC laptops now come with Bluetooth pre-installed, it’s just silly to use an RF wireless mouse that requires an USB receiver. I’ve been using my Logitech Bluetooth mouse for over a year and I love it. Heck, I bought one for my wife’s Mac mini I loved it so much (and she loves it, too.)
Looks like the folks at Proporta understand this issue as well as it has just released the Bluetake BT510 Bluetooth Mouse. Its optical sensor will scan your surface at a rate of 800dpi giving you precise and quick movement. It’s comfortable shape will allow both lefties and righties to enjoy the mouse within their hand. A middle scroll button resides, well, in the middle. With its nice little black bag, and 2 AAA batteries, you can purchase direct from Proporta for VAT 40.95.
A lot of people are pretty giddy about the iPhone and it’s all understandable. However, if you can’t wait three more months to shell out $500 for a phone that will only be on one network, then maybe stick with what you got…plus one accessory.
Gear4’s BlueEye is a similar Bluetooth device we reviewed last year called the Tekkeon myTalker ET7000 (review). While we really like myTalker, BlueEye takes it a step further and displays Caller ID information (when available) on your iPods screen. It also uses the dock connector to tap into your iPod so newer generation users are not left in the cold due to the removal of the remote port on top of the iPod.
Like we already stated, you plug in the BluEye into your iPods dock connector and then your headphones plug into the port at the other end of the remote. The remotes layout is identical to that of the Apple Remote and iPod shuffle, so the learning curve is lessened with this smart replication move. You pair your phone to the remote and then you simply enjoy the tunes. Well, until someone calls. Gaze at your iPods screen and see if the caller is worthy of being spoken to. If so, press a button on the remote and up comes your caller and off goes the music. Don’t worry about missing the rest of Xanadu either, BluEye goes ahead and pauses the current track playing and resumes play where you left off after the completion of your call. All automatically. Very nice.
You’ll have to hunt for the BluEye in the States as this a UK product, though it’s not tough to find. It’ll cost ya around $100 but hey, it’s still less than the iPhone and the phone you’re probably pairing the BluEye up to was most likely a freebie for that two year contract you signed anyway.
From the CTIA WIRELESS 2007 show today, Verizon Wireless, operator of the nation’s most reliable wireless network, and Motorola, Inc. announced the exclusive availability of the new Motorola Automotive Music & Hands-free System T605. Available at Verizon Wireless Communications Stores across the country on April 6, including those within Circuit City stores, this new car kit gives music-lovers access to digital music and phone calls directly through one car sound system.
“Customers will enjoy the fact that their music will stream wirelessly from any Bluetooth stereo mobile phone, but when a call comes in the T605 pauses the music and resumes it when the call ends,” said Patrick Bucci, director of accessories for Verizon Wireless. “This is an easy way for Verizon Wireless customers to take their music with them wherever they go.”
“We are thrilled to team-up with Verizon Wireless for our first in-car streaming audio solution,” said Robert Levine, general manager, North America, MobileME, Motorola. “The T605 expands Motorola’s Bluetooth enabled automotive solutions to give people choice and flexibility for their connectivity needs in the car.”
The T605 also lets Verizon Wireless customers enjoy uninterrupted conversations. Just turn on the ignition and the T605 automatically syncs with a compatible Bluetooth-enabled mobile phone.
Equipped with digital signal processing for noise and echo reduction and enhanced technology that lets the volume increase as background noise increases, full duplex capabilities and version 2.0 Bluetooth wireless technology* the Motorola T605 is engineered for advanced call quality and clear connections.
Complete with a sleek, dynamic finish, an improved user interface for intuitive navigation, and Motorola’s exclusive EasyPair technology, this hands-free system promises ease-of-use.