I think I’m in love…with the Stone, Jabra’s lastest consumer grade Bluetooth headset.  We covered the launch announcement last month and so far it’s all that it promised to be, aesthetically of course.  I just unboxed it so I’m off to the wall socket to get it and the charger/carrying case juiced up.  More video and pics after the ‘leap’

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If you or someone you love has chronic heart problems, like the kind that took my grandfather, then you might well be interested to hear about the results of the three month test that’s currently in its second month for a kind of portable heart monitor that can send data back to medical professionals automatically on a regular basis.

In a partnership with Gen-i and Alcatel-Lucent, the gear in question uses a Bluetooth system (ah, Bluetooth–what can’t you do?) to, with the press of a button on the control unit, take blood pressure and weight readings from an electronic scale at the patients’ houses and sends them to hospital staff.

The technology in question is easily portable, allowing patients to continue living fairly normal lives while getting treatment, and allows medical professionals to free up hospital rooms and also keep themselves from getting tied down to their own offices.  In fact, the guy you see above is one of the current test subjects, and he’s reporting a whole lot of positives from the new technology.

The trial is expected to finish up in December and results released early 2010.

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Once again, Apple has blown us all away with its relentless flood of gadgetry, as a new patent has emerged.

It’s about what you’d get if you managed to combine an iPod Shuffle with a Bluetooth headset, and what it’s being called right now is a headset MP3 player.

You can see one of the patent design figures at left, but where this is amazing is that it can function on its own.  Yes, it functions as a wireless headset to a device it’s linked to, like a Bluetooth, but it also has the capability of storing its own MP3s within the headset itself.  And, as if that weren’t enough, your headset could also become a recording device at the touch of a button, allowing you to make your own MP3s of conversations you’re having.

These are all still somewhat speculative points, being as it’s still in the patent stages, but it’ll likely be another market-buster when it comes out.

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In a land where product names have nothing to do with anything, Yubz reigns supreme.  Put the word Magnum next to Yubz and now you’re onto something.

The Yubz Magnum is a wireless speaker that will connect to any BlueTooth device.  The Magnum is capable of playing music as well as acting as a hands-free loudspeaker for your cell phone.

Resembling a “pleather” meat log of sorts, the Yubz Magnum is a cylindrical device with speakers on both ends.  It feels really nice actually, and is soft and lightweight.

Taking power wirelessly through 4 AA batteries or a USB wall charger, the Magnum will also accept devices through its 1/8″ input.  That means it is ready for a host of scenarios making it accessible to those un-hip to BlueTooth or wireless styles.

Setting my iPhone up to “discover” the Magnum was quick and easy and I was playing tunes wirelessly as soon as I put in the AA batteries.  Even when the iPhone 3G shut off, the music was still playing and the 30 foot range between the two allowed me to put my phone in my pocket and walk around my house.  Very cool.

What is not very cool is the barely legible button markings on the Magnum.  It’s really, really difficult to tell what the buttons read.  Even with my glasses on with a light shining down I could barely distinguish the volume buttons from the…?  Yeah it’s that bad.

In regards to the sound, the Magnum was decent.  It could go pretty loud but was heavily distorted when it got there.  Due to the way the speakers are angled, it presents an interesting stereo field, but not one that’s unlikeable.  I didn’t mind the distortion too much actually, and you can really tell that the Yubz meat log is working its little ass of to bang out some tunes for you.

The loudspeaker feature was more novelty than anything else and while it works fine I probably never really use it just for that.  That basically means that I never use it to make a call but would take a call through it if I was already playing music.

The Magnum comes with a handy carrying case that lets you use it while on the go.  It has a shoulder strap and also what appears to be bike handlebar attachment straps.  Or you can wear it around your forearm.  What I didn’t like about that case was that it was hard to align the input jacks with with the cords because the holes are so small and everything is so black it’s difficult to see what you are doing.

Despite some flaws in design and performance the Yubz Magnum still finds itself in a good place among other similar gadgets.  The loudness and the wireless BlueTooth connectivity should attract consumers far and wide as this is a great item for the beach, campsite, or any other place you need loud music.  The BlueTooth feature should also allow groups with multiple iPhone users to connect back and forth and compliment each other on how tech they are.  Just stock up on some rechargeable AA batteries and you are good to go.

I like this product much better than the eWoo eFizz iPod Dock I reviewed a while back, and the Yubz is a lot cheaper.  Just for the record, my buddy Naiche’ has a Gen 1 iPhone and could not connect to the Yubz Magnum.  I’ll also mention that this does not work wirelessly with the “I Am T-Pain” App unfortunately.

Pros:

• Loud
• Easy to connect (iPhone 3G)
• Competitive price

Cons:

• Distortion
• Illegible buttons
• Carrying case could be easier to use

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Just in time for Halloween comes this funny BananaPhone BlueTooth Headset that will allow people around you to view you as you’ve always wanted to be viewed.  Absolutely crazy.  With an undisclosed amount of awesome scenarios you could use this in, it’s actually cheap enough ($18) to warrant a purchase.  Now all you need is a headband to keep it stuck to your head.  Just imagine the possibilities.

[via NerdApproved]

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Jabra’s newest headset, the Stone, is set to release on November 8th and it’s shaping up to be one of the most desirable headsets on the market.  It draws its name from the included carrying case that also doubles as a portable charger.  An external LED indicator light lets you know if you need to recharge the Stone while a small battery indicator on the inside of the ear hooks lets you know if you need to charge the headset. 

It uses dual microphones to process noise cancellation – something they call Noise Blackout Extreme – and Digital Signal Noise processing to insure there aren’t any sudden spikes in volume.  But the cool factor doesn’t end there.  Slide your finger over the external part of the ear loop and you can increase or decrease volume or tap it to answer a call.  The Stone is designed for right ear wearing only so if you’ve got a penchant for left ear action you might wanna look else where.  Expect the Jabra Stone to retail for $129.99 at select AT&T store locations.

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Just when you thought your Blackberry couldn’t get more addictive, along comes the crew out at Research In Motion to give you one MORE toy–the RIM Blackberry HS-500 Wireless Headset.

Targeted toward Blackberry purists who absolutely must own everything Research In Motion can put out, as well as anybody needing a headset for any device that runs Bluetooth (iPhone users take note–your Blackberry headset can also be your iPhone headset if you have both devices!)

Early remarks say that the HS-500 is an item of understated grace that does the job solidly well, but anyone who wants a really flashy headset should look elsewhere. There are some problems with it, apparently, like a lack of dedicated volume keys, but that’s not too much trouble alongside the benefits it offers.  The device costs a whopping $80 or less, so anyone out for a great utilitarian headset should look here.

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The day when the iPhone, or an iPhone app, can record my nefarious conversations has yet to arrive.  Until that time comes I’ll have to depend on my transposing skills, or perhaps I’ll just drop $109 on the VR1 Recordable Bluetooth Headset.  It’s like any other Bluetooth headset, except this one can record up to 8 minutes of voice calls, or voice memos, at the push of a button. Too bad the recording time is limited – a microSD card slot would’ve been nice.

[via Ohgizmo]

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If you’re anything like me, you’ve got an old cell phone or two laying around the house and you’re about dying to get rid of it.  But you’ve got no idea where or how to dump it.  We all know there are loads of hazardous material laws to grapple with, and those collection drives expect you to pay to dump your hardware.

Enter the EcoATM, a device the size of an actual ATM that’ll let you dump your hardware quick, easy, and sometimes, profitably.  Simply drop your old phone or other device into the EcoATM’s slot, and the machine will determine if it has any value.  The machine will then make you an offer for the device, which it will pay off from a separate slot, usually in the form of a gift card.

What if your device is worthless, you say?  Not a problem–there’s no such thing as a worthless device to the EcoATM.  Even if it has no residual value, you’ll still be able to leave the device with the EcoATM, but you’ll also get a “freebie item”, plus EcoATM will arrange for a tree to be planted in your honor somewhere, which still beats having to pay off the collection people all hollow.

EcoATM is actually doing pretty well so far–its first day in operation netted 23 phones and passed out a full hundred bucks in gift cards.  Word is it got a BlackBerry Curve in prime condition.  So chances are, this prototype will likely be coming to an electronics store near you.

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Cell phone buffs, listen up, because the long awaited arrival of the Samsung Behold II in the United States is coming on the order of soon.

The Behold II, which uses Google’s Android operating system along with Samsung’s own Touchwiz interface offers a 3.2 inch AMOLED touchscreen, a five megapixel camera, GPS and Bluetooth, plus a host of built-in Google services and a 3-D cube menu interface which is reportedly cooler than the other side of the pillow.

A lot more cell phones are working Android these days, and Google’s becoming almost ubiquitous in the cell phone arena.  It’s a wonder not every cell phone includes this by now, and leaves me wondering just how long until the Justice Department wants a crack at Google.

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Now here’s an interesting idea for you, folks–you’ve heard of the universal remote before, but now it’s gone to a whole new level with the BluLink remote, a Bluetooth universal remote.

The BluLink can control up to six devices, including the Playstation 3, and even offers onboard memory so that no special PS3 settings are lost, even if you take out the two AA batteries that run it.

So for now, it’ll handle your PS3 remote switching needs, along with tackling the rest of your home theater control needs, without caring a whit what all’s in the way.  I say “for now”, of course, because there’s one fatal flaw to the BluLink remote…it only has the Bluetooth profile to control the PS3.

This means, of course, when the rest of the Bluetooth-ready TVs and DVD players and Blu-ray players and DVRs and whatnot come out, your new $49.95 BluLink will still be controlling the PS3…and only the PS3.

But for now, you can’t do much better.

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Now available in the United States is the Viliv X70EX, a mobile internet device weighing in at just under one and a half pounds with a seven inch touch screen.

The basic model starts in with an Atom Z515 CPU and a hundred and sixty gig hard drive, while the upgraded model has an Atom z520 processor and a three hundred twenty gig hard drive.  A final version boosts the upgraded model to include a gig of DDR2 ram, wireless internet and Bluetooth, plus a web camera, a mike and speakers.

The idea of a really tiny netbook is actually kind of interesting, though I’m not really sure any of these will ever truly replace the laptop.  Especially when you consider the price–the entry level model retails for six hundred bucks whilst the next two are seven hundred thirty and eight hundred eighty respectively.  That’s pretty salty for a tiny little webcrawler.

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The current undisputed king of the geeky gadget may well have just been found, folks–brace yourself for the iPhone Arider.

It’s still in the prototype stage, but one day we’ll all be able to enjoy the iPhone Arider.  And what does it do, you wonder?  Simple–it’s a portable navigation system that feeds to a display in a pair of glasses.  It follows your head motion, so if you want to pan the map to the right, you just look right.  Pan any other direction and you just look that direction.  Even better, it also can be used as a Bluetooth headset, PLUS it will handle Twitter updates.

I couldn’t be happier about this one, folks–I’m eagerly awaiting the day I can buy Spider Jerusalem-style picture taking sunglasses, and every move like this brings me one step closer to my triangle-and-circle.

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Brando has made a “why didn’t I think of that” gadget in the form of their solar powered bluetooth headset.  Providing infinite standby time under direct sunlight, you can also charge it via USB through your computer or AC wall plug.  You can even buy two of them and use them simultaneously thanks to their stereo matching capabilities.  Why would you want to do that I wonder?  It would definitely look weird, but you’d at least have sides of your head displaying a bluetooth headset so you don’t look like you’re talking to yourself.  On sale now for $67 a piece.

[via Ubergizmo]

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So here’s a fun governmental conundrum for you, gentle reader–if you’re out driving, and you get a sudden message on your Twitter feed about road conditions issued by the state on whose roads you’re driving, would you consider this illegal?

The irony is, yes, it is.  Using text messages while driving, even those issued by the state about road conditions, is illegal in several states.  The no texting while driving idea sounds fair enough, until you consider that the states in question are texting drivers about road conditions.

Frank Hornstein, who co-wrote Minnesota’s no texting while driving law, said this, which effectively shattered the state’s Irony Meter:

“You shouldn’t be fiddling around with any kind of electronic gadget in your car while driving.”

And in Minnesota, of course, the state text messages people to describe road conditions.  So basically, use a state service while driving, go to jail.

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World War 2 buffs and sustainable survivalists rejoice as there’s a new bag in town.  Actually it’s rather old.  Using a German backpack and a satchel from the last World War over 50 years ago, Vancouver BC company KILLA claims that the durable fabric will last you another 50 years and hopefully through the next World War.

Made in an absolute limited quality (only 20 units of both bags produced each year), these bags have been retrofitted with solar panels for storing the sun’s energy for use later.  Each bag also contains iPod controls that KILLA partnered with QIO Systems to use their Paniq devices to control any iPod or Bluetooth enabled module.  Sounds very cool indeed.

No info on pricing at this time.

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Normally you think of a mouse as precious little more than a device used to point at things, but now, Philips is looking to expand the humble mouse’s role with the Bluetooth Notebook Mouse.

Granted, the name isn’t exactly inspiriting but there’s loads of time to fix that.  Anyway, the big question is how does it work.  In this case, by the sounds of it, pretty well.  It can alternate between being a normal corded mouse and a cordless mouse, with the cord also serving as a USB recharge cable for the cordlessness. Even better, it can become a presentation controller with its built-in 360-degree touch control.  Thus, it’s extremely versatile and almost two mouses in one.

Or is it mice?  Anyway–it’s good to see an invention work, for a change.

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You’ve got to hand it to Elijah Wood for just plain old dramatic tension, folks–the man’s convinced that, someday, our gadgets will destroy humanity.

Here’s what he had to say about the Blackberry Uprising:

‘It’s madness. If it gets out of control and if it’s used for the wrong reasons or if it takes us away from our own humanity, then maybe that will be our downfall.”

Okay, so you’d think that a guy who genuinely believed this might well choose to set an example for the rest of us and toss out his own hardware first, right?  Well, sadly, you’d be very muchly wrong.  The hobbit’s got a cell phone and a Blackberry, which he keeps on him at all times.  He even cites his iPod as the reason he got into DJing.  Though give him credit, he does keep them out of sight and out of use during restaurant meals and at movie theatres.

So maybe it’s not quite as dire as he predicted.  But I guess if your iPod ever announces it wants to take over the world, maybe you’d better take it seriously…

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Still can’t decide on the right pair of Bluetoth headphones?  Stop pondering, because Sony is about to introduce the DRC-BT30P, a Bluetooth dongle that let’s you use any pair of headphones with your Bluetooth compatible devices.  It includes volume and track controls and even a call answer button and mic.

There’s no word on a launch date or price, but this thing stinks of ‘Japan only’.

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So it’s making the rounds on the web that, should you lose your Kindle or your iPhone or your Sirius receiver, you can pretty much forget about getting any help from the company.  Well, now you can take matters into your own hands and mete out cyber-vigilante justice to anyone who sneaks off with your stuff.

It’s the TenBu Technologies’ nio (that’s not a typo–it’s all lower case) and it serves as a kind of wireless hub for all your various devices.  The nio connects to the Bluetooth tag in your devices, and sets a certain “zone” around itself.  Say, for example, fifty feet.  If your gadget ever leaves that fifty foot zone, an alarm on the nio goes off and you know your device is either rapidly moving away or is on the other side of the building where you left it.

If the nio can prevent people from losing their devices in the first place, then it really doesn’t matter what Amazon, Sirius and Apple do.  Even better if it can stop some thieves in the act.

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