Bluetooth

Over 20,000 new products were announced at the recent Consumer Electronics Show (CES), making it impossible to cover each and every product the week of the show. One little gem we wished we would have experienced hands-on is the iharmonix Q-i-sound Bluetooth speakers by Qmadix. Not your typical boxy design, these ultra-portable wireless speakers deliver stereo sound for a better music listening experience and also feature microphones for hands-free calling.

Great for use with laptops, tablets, smartphones, or any other Bluetooth-enabled device, the speakers – once paired with the device – can be separated from each other by up to 15 feet, and can be placed up to 33 feet away from the tablet or smartphone itself. Each speaker is equipped with a rechargeable lithium polymer battery which charges in 3 ½ hours and lasts for up to eight hours of continuous playtime, 240 hours (10 days) on standby.

A handy zip-up carrying case makes traveling easy and keeps the iharmonix Q-i-sound speakers protected when you're on-the-go.Read more

AVS Gear's ZIPPY BT-500 Bluetooth Wireless Keyboard is now better than ever thanks to a new media feature to control the iPad (both I and II), iPod Touch, and the iPhone 4S. But not just limited to Apple products, the keyboard supports most smartphones, PDAs and tablet PCs that are equipped with Bluetooth technology.

This compact wireless keyboard has a transmission range up to 33 feet and can be connected to six different Bluetooth devices simultaneously. Its fast switch technology allows you to switch between all six devices in a matter of seconds, and Media Function keys let you adjust the volume, scroll through sound tracks, launch the Web browser and more.

The ZIPPY BT-500 features ultra-flat scissor structure keys and is ultra-thin, making it a perfect companion when you're on the go. It is available now at Amazon.com, Newegg.com, and Eforcity.com with an MSRP of $49.99. The ZIPPY BT-500 comes with a three-year Limited Replacement Manufacture Warranty through AVS GEAR. Read more

Nokia hasn't been making huge splashes in the handset market lately; however they are developing headsets that seem to be landing on the 'favorites' list of many industry experts. We recently looked at the Nokia Luna Bluetooth headset, one of the many new gadgets they've brought to market in the last couple of months. Creative thinking went into the design and shape of the Luna. It looks like it fell right out of a spaceship.

The Luna includes a base for charging and storing your headset. Removing it from the base automatically powers on the Bluetooth and saves on battery life when it's not in use. When you place it back in the base, the Luna will power down.

But that's not your only connectivity option here. Nokia has incorporated an RFID chip inside, allowing you to pair it with a smartphone bearing the same technology simply by physically tapping the two together. Other handsets with built-in NFC, such as the Nokia C7, Oro, 600, 603, 700, 701 and N9, will all be able to play nice with it, freeing up Bluetooth for some other device to work with your phone.Read more

Bose technology in a headset? You bet. Bose this week introduced the Bose Bluetooth headset Series 2, a Bluetooth headset that lets you hear conversations clear and natural, even in challenging environments.

Featuring a proprietary dual microphone system, speech intelligibility is far better than your standard Bluetooth headset, rejecting background noise and reducing the audible effects of wind. The headset also has a new internal antenna and the company's TriPort acoustic structure and Adaptive Audio Adjustment technology, features that automatically react as noise levels change, so there's no need to adjust volume settings.

The Bose Bluetooth headset comes in both left and right side versions and include StayHear tips for long-wear comfort and stability. Taking calls requires just one easy top-to-bottom pinching motion on the buttons, and LED indicators allow you to check battery life and confirm the Bluetooth connection with just a glance. Read more

The past few years have seen a big influx of car gadgets, and many consumers will not consider even the best looking car if it doesn't have the gadgets and technology they need. Simply put, people are hooked on gadgets, gizmos and all sorts of tech for their cars and trucks. From music - to Bluetooth - to GPS - to onboard PCs, the automobile's primary attraction is not so much the big engine anymore, but rather, all of the bright shiny electronics that accompany them.

These are the top 5 car gadgets that people are interested in when purchasing a car:

Keyless Ignition: Cars with remote ignition make it easy to warm your auto during the winter. With this gadget, you can push a button and the car starts heating up for you, while simultaneously locking the doors and securing the car. But if you really want to keep your hands free to battle corruption, you should go keyless. With a keyless ignition system, you keep a key fob in your pocket. A sensor will detect the key fob's presence in the car and start. All the driver has to do is push a button on the dash and press the brake.Read more

Gone are the days when your space-saving, mini speaker upped the volume on your new gadgets and … well, that's basically it.

Star Rating:
Cost: $99
Where to buy: Amazon

Enter the iDM15 Rechargeable Portable Bluetooth Stereo Speakers w/ Speakerphone capability, by iHome. You know iHome. They're the makers of famous Apple-compatible clock/radios, and their speed at which they develop new products places them in the gadget news almost on a monthly basis. Read more

XtremeMac just launched one of the best road trip travel gadgets we've found this summer – the InCharge Auto BT (Bluetooth).

InCharge Auto BT allows users (in the front or back seat) to control the car stereo wirelessly through Bluetooth. Simply plug the device into the car's AUX port, pair any Bluetooth enabled device – such as your iPhone or iPad – and begin streaming all your favorite tunes wirelessly. InCharge Auto BT also allows for hands-free calling and provides 10 watts of charging power.

Features:

• Charger plugs into AUX port allowing users to make Bluetooth wireless calls and audio playback
• One-touch multi-function buttons allows users to pair phone with car stereo, answer calls and play/pause music
• Features include a self-resetting fuse to protect devices and a 10 watt standard USB connection for charging most mobile devices

XtremeMac InCharge Auto BT is available at www.XtremeMac.com for $79.99.

SuperTooth HD, the Bluetooth speakerphone that allows you to talk, send email, SMS messages and update your Facebook and Twitter – all via voice commands – is now available. Announced earlier this year at CTIA, SuperTooth HD is compatible with all Bluetooth-enabled phones, including iPhones, BlackBerrys and other smartphones with an Android or Windows Mobile operating system.

SuperTooth HD features include:

• Twin Speaker V Array Technology (two 2.5 watt speakers and a 5.4 watt amplifier) emits high-fidelity audio
• Built-in dual microphones pick up voices more clearly, with anti echo and DSP control for noise cancellation
• Advanced voice commands allowing drivers to answer incoming calls, select pre-dialed phone numbers, check battery level and retrieve voicemail
• SuperTooth Handsfree Assistant feature, powered by Dial2Do, allows drivers to compose and send Facebook, Twitter, e-mail and SMS messages via voice; these texts are posted as audio files recipients can listen to (Dial2Do is offered for free for the first 6 months and as low as $3.99 per month afterwards)
• Ability to read incoming e-mail messages out loud
• Ability to read incoming SMS messages out loud (for Android and BlackBerry only)
• A2DP audio streaming of music, podcasts and turn-by-turn navigation from smartphones and GPS navigators
• Multi-point technology connects up to 2 phones at the same time
• Up to 20 hours of talk time
• Durable, metal, magnetic clip that clips easily to the sun visor
• USB cable and in-car charger