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Sony Ericsson, Maria Sharapova release accessory line

by Chris Ziegler, posted Jun 29th 2008 at 9:31AM


Like a dagger through Motorola's heart, we're sure, Sony Ericsson's collaboration with tennis superstar Maria Sharapova is starting to pay dividends with the Maria Sharapova Design Collection of custom phone accessories. Launching in the third quarter, wares include the "Courtside Case," Excercise Case, Travel Wallet, and "Party Bag" -- at least three of which we weren't aware we needed -- but the custom branding should push at least a few of these out the door. One word of caution, though: Miss Sharapova assures us in the press materials that "I am looking forward to using the collection with my Sony Ericsson T303," and if her phone of choice is seriously an EDGE-less slider with a 160 x 128 display, we're forced to cast her good taste into serious doubt.

[Via Engadget Spanish]

Motorola intros H560 and H620 Bluetooth headsets

by Chris Ziegler, posted Jun 12th 2008 at 1:50AM


Moto's rolled out a pair of new Bluetooth headsets for delivery in the third quarter, one ho-hum and one with a fairly unique distinction. Starting off with the boring stuff, the H560 (pictured left) features a three-color light to indicate battery level, echo cancelation, noise reduction, automatic volume adjustment based on ambient noise, and a selection of earpieces. Here's where it gets a little more interesting, though: Motorola is calling out its H620 as its first headset optimized for in-car use. None of the features of the headset itself seem specific to the model -- it just features the same auto volume adjustment and noise reduction as the H560 -- but it includes a dashboard headset holder and rapid car charger, which is kinda cool if a dedicated car kit isn't your cup of tea. Personally, though, we're still holding out for that bone conduction set we've been promised.

CSR crams Wibree, eGPS, and FM into BlueCore7 wireless chip

by Joshua Fruhlinger, posted Jun 3rd 2008 at 7:50PM


UK's CSR has been making waves in the Bluetooth and eGPS waters, so it's only fitting that it's the first to cram Bluetooth, eGPS, and FM all on one chip. The BlueCore7 silicon combines Bluetooth v2.1+EDR, ULP Bluetooth (or Wibree), eGPS (which they say works better in indoor and other non-GPS-friendly locales), and FM Tx and Rx in what they say is a major step in reducing the size, cost, and power needs of wireless devices. CSR boasts that this chip integrates "more wireless technologies on a single chip than any other product on the market." Who are we to argue? They expect to have BlueCore 7 to be available in volume starting in Q4 2008, when you'll be able to listen to FM radio on your Bluetooth headset while finding your satellite position indoors.

[Via CustomPC]

Motorola releasing first bone conduction headset this summer

by Chris Ziegler, posted May 14th 2008 at 6:27PM


We've learned from a source close to the project that Motorola is planning on rolling out a bone conduction headset "this summer" based on Nextlink's technology. This totally jibes with recent news that Moto and Nextlink had partnered up -- and furthermore, that the long-overdue Invisio Q7 would be straight up Moto branded by the time it actually hit store shelves -- and sure enough, the photo we've been provided certainly looks like a Q7 in Moto clothing. We don't have anything else solid at this point, but we're told that the headset performs brilliantly in windy conditions, a common complaint for Jawbone owners. Motorola, Nextlink, whomever, we don't really care what this thing is called, we're just happy to hear we'll finally have it out in the next few months.

HTC Touch Diamond dock stealthily makes the scene

by Nilay Patel, posted May 13th 2008 at 3:11AM


We're already big fans of the Touch Diamond's sleek black aesthetic, and it looks like the design language is going to carry over to the official accessories, like the dock. Yeah, it's just a dock with a USB connector and a headphone jack so you can listen to music while charging / syncing your phone, but it's definitely one of the slickest form factors we've seen -- too bad it's listed at £25 ($49).

[Via Tracy and Matt's Blog]

Aliph Jawbone 2 exposed

by Chris Ziegler, posted Apr 10th 2008 at 12:13PM


So there are a couple of big complaints about Aliph's otherwise-lauded Jawbone noise canceling Bluetooth headset: one, it's rather porky, and two, the charge connector is about as reliable as a Comcast installation appointment. Hang tight, though, because help is on the way -- help in the form of the Jawbone 2. The new model just broke through the FCC's surly bonds in full visual glory, showing a headset that maintains the distinctive industrial design of the original while getting just a bit smaller and adopting a new connector that looks moderately less sketchy. The last thing we all want to do is blow another hundred on the next best headset, but if this means we can run a teleconference standing next to a freight train traveling 40 miles per hour and do it in style, count us in.

Lamborghini offers Bluetooth headset that doesn't break the bank

by Sean Cooper, posted Mar 31st 2008 at 12:20AM

If you're not in the market -- or don't have the spare cake -- for your own Lamborghini, perhaps a Bluetooth headset featuring the bull logo might do? Lamborghini's founder's son, Tonino Lamborghini, has seemingly stepped into the design world by crafting a Bluetooth headset but ignored the time honored tradition of over charging. For $70 you get 6 hours of talk time, 160 hours standby time, the lovely charging bull logo, all in a pretty tiny 9-gram package. So if any of you are off to pick up a new Lambo this week, make sure you remind the dealer you expect one of these little guys free with your purchase.

[Via Engadget Spain]

The Motorola Z9's amazing, exciting accessories in the wild

by Chris Ziegler, posted Mar 26th 2008 at 5:54PM


Probably not worth rushing out to a store for, but some AT&T retail locations are starting to receive stock of the upcoming Motorola Z9's incredible batch of accessories. So, you know, if for whatever reason you were still holding out an irrational belief that the Z9 doesn't exist, this is probably the straw that breaks the camel's back right here. Now, let's just hope that we get something to actually put in the holster any minute now. Follow the break for another shot of the goods.

[Thanks to everyone who sent this in]

Continue reading The Motorola Z9's amazing, exciting accessories in the wild

AT&T may not have the LG Vu yet, but it has Vu accessories

by Chris Ziegler, posted Feb 29th 2008 at 11:05AM


We're still waiting on the Vu to make its grand entrance on account of legal and technical woes, or so we hear. We guess we can hold ourselves over for a bit by staring at those two simple letters on the packaging for this lovely mono earbud, though, and deciding to ourselves whether we prefer the "voo" or "view" pronunciation.

Please hurry, AT&T. We beg you.

[Thanks, anonymous tipster]

Sony Ericsson's HCB-150 car handsfree tells you who's calling

by Chris Ziegler, posted Feb 24th 2008 at 7:18PM


Since looking around your car to read a small display while you're driving seems like a somewhat poor plan, Sony Ericsson has introduced the HCB-150 that clips to a visor and reads out the caller's name with a (hopefully non-creepy) text-to-speech engine in addition to a more traditional OLED readout if you simply must take your eyes off the road. It supports up to five pairings, uses Bluetooth 2.0, is battery powered for double duty as a portable speakerphone, and should be available next quarter.

[Via PHONE Magazine]

AT&T offers **free Option GT Ultra and GT Ultra Express HSUPA cards (**must sell soul)

by Thomas Ricker, posted Feb 14th 2008 at 7:18AM


Check it data fans, AT&T just announced a pair of new HSUPA LaptopConnect cards from Option. The GT Ultra goes type II PCMCIA while the GT Ultra Express is, you guessed it, destined for ExpressCard34 slots. Both cards are tri-band UMTS/HSPA 850/1900/2100MHz and quad-band GPRS/EDGE capable for BroadbandConnect speeds of about 600Kbps to 1.4Mbps on the way down or 500Kbps to 800Kbps back up the tubes. Those bands should get your suit connected in some 140 countries spanning the US, Europe, Japan and Korea. The cards are Mac and PC compatible and will set you back $50 0$ (for a limited time starting tomorrow) plus a two year contract of at least $60 per month. After you mail-in the appropriate rebate forms of course... which you'll probably forget to do.

RIM's BlackBerry Remote Stereo Gateway on sale for $80

by Evan Blass, posted Feb 13th 2008 at 12:55PM

BlackBerry owners looking to wirelessly connect to a home stereo or portable speakers can finally pick up that Remote Stereo Gateway we first saw sneaking through the FCC at the end of last month, for $80 from Tessco. The matchbook-size dongle receives a Bluetooth signal from your compatible 'Berry, and then pushes the audio out a standard 1/8-inch jack. According to the retail description, the device is also capable of streaming tunes from your stereo to a pair of Bluetooth headphones, which would mean that we are in fact looking at an A2DP profile here and thus likely compatibility with non-BlackBerry devices. Anyone wanna do us a solid and test this out with a WinMo phone?

[Via The Boy Genius Report]

Zeemote JS1 brings analog gaming to your Bluetooth-enabled handset

by Sean Cooper, posted Feb 12th 2008 at 8:33PM Featured Story


We had an opportunity to play with Zeemote's -- this name is somehow familiar -- JS1 mobile joystick at MWC this week and while we first thought it a bit kitschy, it's actually a pretty amazing little device. Zeemote supplies an API to game developers and in short order -- apparently anyway -- the game can adapted to use the Bluetooth-enabled JS1as a controller. The device features an analog joystick and four user configurable triggers for control in a really comfortable controller that is small enough to pop into a pocket when not being used. The best bit is that it's not a gimmick, it works, and really well. We checked out the Heli game shown in the picture above and the JS1 really made the game fun to play. Games such as Tomb Raider, Hellstrike 3D, and Sonic have already been ported and we hope more to come, no word on pricing but we're not expecting this to be a pricey toy. Hit the gallery for pics and read on for some video footage

[Thanks to Ohad from Mobile Game Developer for the vid]

Gallery: Zeemote JS1 brings analog gaming to your Bluetooth-enabled handset

Continue reading Zeemote JS1 brings analog gaming to your Bluetooth-enabled handset

HTC, Parrot come clean with their love for one another

by Chris Ziegler, posted Jan 27th 2008 at 3:32PM


We though the whole idea behind Bluetooth was to create a universally compatible, short-range wireless protocol, but apparently that's not enough of a guarantee for HTC. The ruling patron saint of Windows Mobile devices has teamed up with Parrot, a rather large European manufacturer of Bluetooth accessories, to "align product roadmaps" in an effort to make their products more harmonious in each others' presence. All told, the announcement is rather vague, with the most telling line saying that the partnership will bring "expanded capabilities" to users' devices, whatever that means. HTC doesn't have much of a retail presence in the Bluetooth peripheral market, so could this be a prelude to an acquisition? [Warning: PDF link]

[Via the::unwired]

OgoClips make your Ogo CT-25 better, clippier

by Sean Cooper, posted Jan 23rd 2008 at 7:58PM


The IXI mobile Ogo CT-25 features a gimmicky -- but undeniably cool -- area on the hinge where they've left space to clip on one of a small pile of attachments. The list currently features the Handset OC-HS1, a wireless handset that clips on your shirt and uses the Ogo to charge, extending a small slider answers an incoming call and the reverse hangs up. Need blink? IXI also has the Lights OC-LT1, a multicolored LED light that can be configured to flash for different events, with different colors used for distinguish between say a text and an email. Also up on the site is the Stream OC-ST1, a Bluetooth headset that can be used with the Ogo for calls and streaming music. Last up -- yeah, we've saved the strangest for last -- is the Bottle Opener OC-BO1 (we're not making this stuff up) a, simple aluminum bottle opener that, umm, opens bottles. All of the powered devices use the Ogo as a charging station so they're ready whenever you need em, the other uses your lips and beverage of choice . No word on street date or pricing, but we're strangely drawn into the world of the Ogo now that they've brought all this nifty Kung-Fu to the table. Damn you IXI mobile!




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