Headsets

The Motorola Endeavor HX1 that we told you about back in June is now available in the United States. This bluetooth headset features CrystalTalk noise cancellation and a new stealth mode, which, when activated, true bone conduction technology lets the caller hear only your voice and blocks out all outside noise.

The Endeavor HX1 was created with the same bone conduction technology that special military forces use. To activate stealth mode, simply touch a button and stealth mode triggers bone conduction technology which uses an ear sensor to seal off outside noise. When you talk, the sensor taps your vocal vibrations and converts them to speech so only your voice is heard.

Motorola Endeavor HX1 is available only at Sprint starting today for $129.99.

Gamers take notice! TRITTON Technologies just announced that two of their headsets will be available exclusively at Best Buy stores beginning September 1, 2009.

Both the AX 720 and AX 180 gaming headsets are optimized for computer gaming and have a USB connection for both PC and Mac. Adding value to these headsets is their breakaway cables that allow you to connect them to your MP3 player or iPhone.

The AX 180 headset gives you outstanding stereo sound through its performance balanced speakers. This headset also has independent game and chat volume controls. Not only does this headset give you excellent audio from the Xbox360, PS3 and PC, it works with the Wii, thanks to its analog connectivity. Best of all, the AX 180 is a high performance universal stereo headset priced at just $69.99.

For those wanting even more out of their gaming headset, the AX 720 headset takes advantage of the Dolby 5.1 audio found on Xbox360, PS3 and PC games. It replicates individual audio details, so you hear sounds as they were meant to be heard. And the included Dolby Digital decoder gives you an impressive 3D audio environment. You can chat online with your teammates on the XBox, PS3, or PC using the detachable microphone. Its inline audio controller also has independent voice and volume controls. The TRITTON AX 720 sells for $129.99.

The TRITTON AX 180 and AX 720 will be available at Best Buy retail stores and at www.bestbuy.com beginning September 1st.

Jabra just announced that their new HALO Wireless Bluetooth Stereo Headset is now available at Best Buy stores in North America. This new headset is compatible with Blackberry smartphones, as well as Apple's iPhone and iPod touch.

Weighing in at just 3 ounces, the Jabra HALO is a compact, over-the-head, foldable headset that is small enough to take wherever you go. The HALO offers wireless connectivity with a 30 foot operating range, as well as the ability to connect to 3.5 mm multimedia playing devices such as cell phones and laptops.

The Jabra HALO lets you connect two Bluetooth-enabled devices such as mobile phones, MP3 players, or laptops. It also includes an intuitive on/off functionality, a display that shows battery and connectivity status, a touch volume control, and to make sure you don't miss a call, the HALO fades out music when you receive an incoming call. Read more

The Alienware OptX AW2210 21.5-inch gaming monitor features a nice 1920x1080 resolution with an 80,000:1 contrast ratio, 2ms response time and 2 HDMI inputs for just $299!

Key features:

• 21.5-inch Widescreen Flat Panel LCD
• 1920 x 1080 Full HD Resolution
• Ultra-Fast 2ms Response Time
• Low Input-Lag for Intense Gaming
• 16.7 Million Colors for Vibrant Images
• 80,000:1 Dynamic Contrast Ratio
• Tilt, Swivel and Height Adjustable Stand
• 2 x HDMI ports
• 4 x Universal Serial Bus ports

AT&T just announced that on July 19th the BlueAnt Q1 Voice Controlled Bluetooth Headset with Multipoint will be available in AT&T stores and online at www.wireless.att.com.

The BlueAnt Q1 is a noise-cancelling headset that you control using your voice. All you have to do is push a button and say, "What can I say?" and the headset will give you a menu of voice commands. Much easier than memorizing different button combinations.

The Q1 also features BlueAnt's Voice Isolation Technology software which distinguishes your voice from other background noise. This makes your call much clearer than some of the other headsets in the marketplace. And with true multipoint technology, calls can be managed from two phones at the same time.

The BlueAnt Q1 will be available for $129.99 on July 19th at AT&T stores and online at www.wireless.att.com. To learn more about the BlueAnt Q1, visit www.myblueant.com.

The Motorola Endeavor HX1 will be the first headset to combine Motorola's CrystalTalk noise cancellation technology with a stealth mode so you can hear and be heard in the fiercest environments.

When stealth mode is activated, true bone conduction technology relays only your voice while knocking out the most extreme noise and wind for a revolutionary premium headset experience. This experience makes Motorola Endeavor the only Bluetooth headset to use true bone conduction technology, all without compromising comfort.

The HX1 was created with the same bone conduction technology that special military forces around the world use. Activated with a touch of a button, the stealth mode instantly triggers bone conduction technology. This technology uses an ear sensor to seal off outside noise, rather than relying on an exposed exterior microphone. As you speak, the sensor taps your vocal vibrations and seamlessly converts them to speech so the listener hears your voice and only your voice.Read more

The Jabra BT2080 is designed for anyone to use, from first-time headset owners to experienced users, and it features Jabra's StatusDisplay LED indicators.

The BT2080 also features intuitively placed buttons - an answer/end button is located on the front of the headset and a dedicated on/off button in the back, with a volume control located on the side of the headset. There are StatusDisplay LED indicators, created by Jabra's research and development team, that display multi-colored lights that correspond to the headset's battery level and Bluetooth connection status.

Other key features include:

• Dual wearing style: Over the ear with ear hook or in ear with Jabra Eargel
• Up to 6 hours talk time and 8 days standby
• Weight = 2.8 ounces
• EDR and eSCO technology for clear audio quality

The Jabra BT2080 will be available at retail stores nationwide in July for a suggested retail price of $39.99.

Talking on a cell phone with a Bluetooth headset has become the norm for today. The technology continues to improve, and the styles available have also become abundant. The Jawbone from Aliph is a quality earpiece, and the Jawbone with NoiseAssassin 2.0 raises the bar for the competition in this space. Aliph claims theirs has five-times better call clarity than the previous generation.

I like the Jawbone PRIME because it includes multipoint functionality and can be simultaneously connected to two Bluetooth enabled devices. Meaning you can talk on your SIP phone (Magicjack, Gizmo, etc.) and your cell phone (not at the same time of course).

The technology and design from Aliph in this new Jawbone PRIME means that the company is delivering what customers want. I would prefer that the device was not as good looking because it really bugs me when people wear their device all day long and only have a few short conversations on the phone.

The Jawbone PRIME will be available at retail stores on May 2, 2009. Prior to launch, consumers can pre-order it at www.jawbone.com.