Bluetooth Technology

Sensory To Ship 'Speech Trigger' SDKs for iOS, Android

By: Mark Hachman

On Monday, speech technology company Sensory will release software that allows true hands-free speech triggers for both the Android and Apple iOS operating systems, Sensory's chief executive said Friday.

Sensory will release its Truly Handsfree Trigger SDK for both platforms, allowing each device to constantly "listen" for voice commands.

The Sensory hands-free trigger is already being used in the Vlingo InCar app for Android phones, where users merely have to say "Hey Vlingo" for the app to wake up and interpret commands, such as navigation and search queries. (Vlingo then reads back actual answers to your queries, a function that Vlingo provides, not Sensory.)

One of Vlingo's selling points for the InCar app was that users didn't have to fumble about for a touch trigger before using the hands-free device. As Mozer noted, "hands-free" solutions, like Ford's Sync, require users to push a button to initiate a call.

"Speech is popular, but it's still controlled by touch," Mozer said. "If you watch their [the Sync] videos of hands-free devices, it all starts with a touch."

"We do think that in-car is the low-hanging fruit, and that there's an immediate desire for this," Mozer added. "But there's a lot of opprtunities for triggers in the home and in the home gaming market."

Mozer said that Sensory was working with a number of car manufacturers, but that he wasn't allowed to name who, nor when they would ship. "However, it's very fair to say that nothing will be built into a car this year," he said.

Because Google and Microsoft give away their speech-recognition SDKs for processing voice commands via the clouds, there are numerous opportunities for what Mozer called SCIDS: Speech-Controlled Internet Devices, in the home.

For example, Google and Logitech developed an Android remote-control application for the Logitech Revue and other Google TV devices that allows voice-controlled search. But it still requires navigating to the app to launch, plus a touch trigger. Google has also said that 25 percent of all Android-based searches are now done by voice.

The problem with enabling voice triggers on mobile devices, Mozer acknowledged, is that the need to constantly "listen" for the speech trigger can use up a device's battery at an advanced rate. Dedicated devices, such as the BlueAnt Bluetooth headset with Sensory trigger technology built in, can be optimized for low power, with the device operating in a quiescent, low-power mode as much as possible to optimize battery life. Current Android and Apple iPhones can't quite offer the same capability, Mozer said.

"Android's better than most OSes, where you can tune things and offer more system control," Mozer said. "You really do want to turn everything off - the screen, everything - except for the microphone... and a low-power DSP" to process the speech, he said.

"I'm not an app development expert, but none of our developers have come up with an app that's optimized for battery consumption," Mozer added.

It's possible, Mozer acknowledged, that Google could develop its own hands-free trigger. However, Sensory has been working on the technology for more than fifteen years, with some "extremely novel approaches," he said.

For that reason, Mozer said, Sensory recommends its speech trigger technology only be used on rechargeable devices or those that can be plugged into a wall or another fixed power source.
The Sensory Truly Handsfree Trigger SDK costs $2,500 and includes five hours of development support, Sensory said.

BlueAnt T1

by Jamie Lendino

I've tested so-called rugged Bluetooth headsets before, but this is the first I've seen with removable sleeves. The T1 includes two included sleeves, which you can use to protect it when you're expecting harsh conditions like heavy winds and rain. Otherwise, you can leave the sleeves off for a slightly smaller, more traditional design. Fortunately, the T1's sound quality and battery life both measure up no matter the conditions, and it's pretty comfortable to wear, too.

Design, Fit, and Setup

The T1 is made entirely of black plastic. It measures 0.6 by 2.0 by 0.9 inches (HWD) and weighs 0.4 ounces with the ear hook attached. The sharp edges and thick design looked ungainly in person; there's no mistaking this thing once it's on your ear. On the plus side, the two big volume buttons on the top edge are easy to use, and the back panel contains a sizable, sliding power switch. The thin multifunction button on the front panel was a little difficult to press, though.

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Once I inserted the translucent plastic ear hook, the T1 felt comfortable to wear using the default rubber ear tip. The company provides four others in the box in varying sizes, in case you can't get a good fit with the first one. The two included rubber skins help protect the unit against dirt and moisture, and are easy to quickly slip on and off. The bundled AC adapter connects to the T1 via a removable USB cable, which you can also use to charge the T1 via a computer.

For this review, I paired the BlueAnt T1 with an iPhone 3GS ($99,

) and a Samsung Captivate ($199.99-499.99,

), both on AT&T. Setting up the T1 was a cinch: when I first paired the T1 with the iPhone 3GS, the T1 walked me through the pairing process using voice prompts. Then it automatically transferred the 350-entry address book, which took about a minute. Controlling the headset with my voice generally worked well, and made it easy to check the unit's battery life or pairing status, as well as initiate voice dialing with compatible phones.

Sound Quality, Other Features, and Conclusions

In a series of voice tests, the T1 sounded clear, warm, and punchy, both to me in the earpiece and to other callers through the mic. Transmissions were clear; I heard a little static during one pairing with the iPhone, but otherwise performance was good overall. The T1 features BlueAnt's new Wind Armor technology for suppressing extraneous external noise. Still, noise suppression remains second-class next to the Aliph Jawbone Icon ($99,

) and the Plantronics Voyager Pro ($99.99,

). With the T1, callers could still hear a fan I had running in the office in the background.

Other features are relatively standard fare for Bluetooth headsets. The T1's multi-point design lets you pair it with two devices simultaneously, so you can use it with a second cell phone or a VoIP app on a PC (assuming the PC has Bluetooth). The T1 also supports A2DP audio streaming, which makes it an ideal companion for listening to podcasts, audio books, and Internet talk radio through your cell phone. Range was average; I could walk about 15 feet from the handset before the audio signal began to degrade noticeably. Battery life was solid, at 5 hours and 54 minutes of talk time.

The market is flooded with Bluetooth headsets, but the T1 distinguishes itself with its removable rugged sleeves, voice control, and A2DP audio streaming. It's a good value at $79.99; that's $50 less than the flagship BlueAnt Q2 ($129,

), which lacks the rugged sleeves, but is slimmer and sounds a bit better. Our Editors' Choice headset remains the Aliph Jawbone Icon, which offers the best noise suppression on the market and the clearest sound to other callers, even if it's not particularly comfortable and has shorter battery life than most.

Bose Bluetooth Headset

by David Pierce

Bose is known for its attention to comfort and design, for excellent noise cancellation technology, and for charging a premium. The new Bose Bluetooth Headset ($149.95 direct) is both comfortable and expensive, but its middling noise cancellation and a price tag that's 50 percent higher than the Editors' Choice Aliph Jawbone Icon ($99.99, 4 stars) and the excellent Plantronics Voyager Pro+ ($99.99, 4 stars) make this Bluetooth headset a tough sell.

Design

The Bose Bluetooth Headset is a tiny trapezoid that's hardly bigger than a AA battery. The headset measures .7 by 1.8 by 1.3 inches (HWD), and weighs .48 ounces. It's mostly black, with a silver line running around the edges and a silver Bose logo on the front. Volume controls and a large button for initiating and ending calls sit on top of the headset. The power slider is on the bottom, a welcome change from headsets that require holding the call button for various amounts of time to turn on and off. Buttons were easy to press and easy to distinguish from one another, and I never hung up a call while trying to turn up the volume.

On the back of the headset are LED lights for battery status and Bluetooth connection status. The battery light flashes green, yellow, or red, depending on the power remaining.

In the package with the Bose Bluetooth headset are a carrying case for the headset, a USB charger and wall adapter, and small, medium and large tips for your ears. The tips may be different sizes, but they've got one thing in common: they're all for your right ear. The Bose Bluetooth Headset only works in your right ear, and Bose gave no indication that it planned to release a lefty version.

Connecting, Comfort and Extras

Pairing the Bose Bluetooth Headset, which I did with a Samsung Fascinate and an iPhone 4, is incredibly simple. By pressing and holding the Call button for about five seconds, I got the blue Bluetooth light on the Headset to blink slowly, which means it's in pairing mode—both phones found it immediately and paired in seconds.

The Bose headset doesn't show its battery life in the iPhone's status bar, like competing Aliph and Plantronics products do, and it doesn't have apps like the Jawbone or built-in voice commands like high-end BlueAnt products.

On the other hand, this is the single most comfortable and secure Bluetooth headset I have ever tried. Bose uses the same StayHear tips that are on the IE2 earphones ($99, 4 stars), which fit inside the inner portion of your ear. There's no pressing anything into your ear canal, or awkwardly hanging something over your ear. It sits snugly and securely, and though it felt like it might fall out since it feels so loose, it never did. For road warriors who will get hours of use from their Bluetooth headset every day, the Bose is uniquely ear-friendly.

Quality and Performance

Voice quality with the earpiece was good, but not as good as either the Voyager Pro or the Jawbone Icon. The Voyager Pro was warmer and louder, and the Icon was clearer.

Bose touts two specific features for its headset. First is its ability to automatically adjust volume on both ends, so that whether you're in a quiet room or a noisy crowd, you'll hear and be heard equally well. (Plantronics calls their version of this technology Audio IQ.) In my tests, Bose's adaptive volume control worked surprisingly well. I began a call indoors, and then walked out the door and down the street in midtown Manhattan, and I could hear and be heard the entire time. I could occasionally hear the volume adjusting as noise levels changed, but volume as the caller heard it stayed mostly consistent.

Bose's other flagship feature is noise cancellation, and that was less impressive. Noise was certainly diminished, but callers could hear when I was in a windy spot, or if there was significant background noise around me. When driving with the windows down at 50mph, I was able to hear and be heard, but the caller heard the wind as well.

Battery life, at 5 hours and 10 minutes of talk time, is terrific for such a small headset (Bose also rates it at 175 hours of standby time, which is over a week). Larger headsets like the Motorola Endeavor HX1 (4 stars) get even longer life, but for its size the Bose's performance is excellent. Range was good as well—I could walk about 20 feet away before the audio began to noticeably degrade.

The Bose Bluetooth Headset is a solid headset; it's long-lasting, supremely comfortable, and works well. But for $149.99, I expected either more features or better sound performance. The Aliph Jawbone Icon remains our Editors' Choice for Bluetooth headsets both for its class-leading noise cancellation and its feature-expanding app ecosystem—not to mention its $99 price tag.

Bluetooth Bound for Visor

Acer partners with Widcomm to bring Bluetooth technology to Handspring devices.

By Eileen Smith, PCWorld

Acer NeWeb expects to ship by mid-2000 the Blue-Connect, which provides plug-and-play wireless connectivity to Handspring's Visor, and compliance with the emerging Bluetooth technical standard.

Bluetooth is a low-power and short-range radio link technology that allows up to eight devices, such as portable PCs and mobile phones, to wirelessly communicate with each other. More important, it's affordable.

Blue-Connect could be the first marketed Bluetooth-enabled consumer electronics device to comply with Version 1.0 of the specification. Acer NeWeb, a division of the Acer Group, is making the leap through a partnership with Widcomm, a Bluetooth technology provider of wireless communication solutions. The companies made the announcement at the Comdex trade show here this week.

The Blue-Connect snaps onto the back of the handheld device. It conforms to the Springboard interface on the Visor PDA.

The Blue-Connect "beams" applications from Visor to Visor or from Visor to desktop and notebook using Blue-Share synchronization. You can also beam address-book entries and transfer images from Visor to digital cameras.

"We're going to be an Internet enabler in an Internet era," says Simon Lin, chief executive officer of the Acer Group. Lin called Bluetooth a major investment and said this partnership was a major step.

Hiep Pham, Widcomm's CEO, called Bluetooth technology the "evolution of the cellular system."

Wireless Security Keeps Drivers off Cell Phones

By Network World staff, Network World

University of Utah researchers have invented technology that could come to be embraced by teenagers with the same enthusiasm they have for curfews and ID checks. And like those things, it could save their lives.

The Key2SafeDriving technology uses RFID or Bluetooth wireless capabilities to issue signals from a car key to a cell phone to prevent drivers from talking on their phones or texting while driving. Some research shows that as many as one in 10 teen drivers talk on cell phones or send text messages while driving, and the consequences of such ill-advised multitasking have grabbed many a headline in recent years.

A company called Accendo LC of Kaysville, Utah, has licensed the technology and is working to build it into commercial devices that could be on the market next year. The company is sorting out how to bring the technology to market, but one possibility is that it would be made available through cell-phone service companies and could be tied in with insurance companies, which might offer discounts for users.

Xuesong Zhou, assistant professor of civil and environmental engineering, sums up the purpose of the technology this way: "The key to safe driving is to avoid distraction." He invented Key2SafeDriving with Wally Curry, a University of Utah grad student.

The system involves a device that envelops a car key and that signals the cell phone to prevent calls and texting when the key is removed from it. The cell phone would steer callers automatically into a voice mail system alerting them that the intended call recipient is driving and will return the call later (the system does enable 911 calling, however).

In theory, the technology could be used by adults, but the reality is they are more likely to have their kids use it. If insurance discounts were part of the mix, however, adults could be swayed to use it, too.
The issue of using cell phones while driving has become something of a focus at the University of Utah. Earlier this year it released findings that showed cell-phone-wielding drivers tend to drive more slowly and can create traffic jams.

For more information about enterprise networking, go to NetworkWorld. Story copyright 2010 Network World Inc. All rights reserved.

10 Mobile and Wireless Technologies To Watch

By Computerworld Philippines staff, computerworld.com.ph-

Gartner is highlighting 10 mobile and wireless networking technologies -- including new versions of Bluetooth and location-awareness -- it says will play a big role in business-to-employee and business-to-consumer interactions over the next couple of years.

"These mobile technologies were selected because they will evolve in ways that affect corporate strategies, significant numbers of customers or employees will adopt or expect them, or they will address particular mobile challenges that organizations will face through 2011," said Nick Jones, vice president and distinguished analyst at Gartner, in a statement.

The list:

Bluetooth (3 and 4): Both Bluetooth updates are coming by next year, with Version 3 exploiting 802.11 for a speed boost and enabling transfer of multimedia transmissions, and Version 4 featuring a low-energy mode that will allow devices to work with external peripherals and sensors, such as laptop autolocks.

Mobile Web: Look for much more widespread use of smartphone Web browsers as better screens on smartphones make surfing the Web more inviting from these devices. Vendors such as Microsoft are said to be building much better mobile browsers, such as for Windows Phone 7.

Mobile Widgets: These will rely on technologies such as JavaScript and HTML to provide handset users with real time updates on everything from the weather to blog posts.

Platform-independent mobile app development tools: These will be needed to enable apps to run across the increasingly dizzying array of mobile devices, such as those debuting at the CTIA show.

App Stores: Look for even more app stores beyond the most famous, Apple's, such as the one being coordinated by major mobile carriers. Gartner expects organizations to create their own app stores in some cases to distribute apps to customers and employees.

Enhanced location awareness: Gartner says GPS will be on more than three quarters of mobile handsets by the end of next year, and this should spur an explosion in apps to exploit location-awareness. Privacy issues will require constant attention though.

Cellular broadband: The rise of 4G wireless, fueled in part by FCC directives on national broadband, should enable wireless users to do more than ever with their existing devices and open the door for new types of mobile devices.

Touchscreens: Recent research shows that most smartphones now have touchscreens, so application developers will need to take this into account as they build programs.

Machine-to-machine communications: Advances here will enable new smart grid, security and retail applications and devices.

Device-independent security: Look for cloud-based security to help CIOs better safeguard corporate data and devices.

UWB Group Hands off to Wireless USB, Bluetooth

By Stephen Lawson, IDG News

The WiMedia Alliance, the industry group organized to push UWB (ultrawideband) technology, will disband after it finishes transferring its technology to two other personal-area network organizations.

UWB is designed as a personal-area network for high-speed transfers of data, especially multimedia content, among devices at close range. It has a signaling rate of 480Mb per second (Mbps), with real-world throughput ranging from 50Mbps to 300Mbps, according to the WiMedia Alliance. WiMedia was formed in 2002 to promote adoption of the technology and ensure interoperability among products that use it.

The technology can reduce the clutter of cables and allow fast, easy transfers of large multimedia files among PCs, consumer electronics such as TVs, and handheld devices, according to WiMedia President Stephen Wood.

Although UWB became the foundation of Wireless USB and the Bluetooth SIG (Special Interest Group) is still studying the technology as the basis of a future specification, it hasn't taken the home or enterprise worlds by storm. The Wireless USB Implementers Forum, which is affiliated with the sponsors of wired USB, lists 114 products or sets of products with Wireless USB, including notebooks from Lenovo and Fujitsu. By comparison, Wi-Fi is available in almost all laptops and an increasing percentage of smartphones.

Wireless USB is still in its infancy as a commercial product, Wood said.

WiMedia has reached agreements to transfer technology to both the Wireless USB Implementers Forum and the Bluetooth SIG, and it will cease operations after it completes those transfers, Wood said.

Now that those groups have adopted the system to use with their specifications, WiMedia is no longer necessary, Wood said. Having a single organization to finalize the UWB specification helped to ensure one standard that both Wireless USB and Bluetooth could use, preventing interference or conflicts, according to Wood. The group also achieved more widespread approval for the use of UWB, which is now legal at various frequencies in U.S., Europe, Japan and South Korea.

But industry analysts said UWB has never gained much traction, for a variety of reasons.

"If UWB were successful, the WiMedia Alliance wouldn't be shutting its doors," said In-Stat analyst Brian O'Rourke.

The technology is hobbled by both relatively high price and the lack of urgent uses, O'Rourke said. Because UWB chips are not shipping in the same kinds of volumes as Wi-Fi or Bluetooth, they remain more expensive and there is a premium for products that include UWB. A typical use might involve networking a printer to a PC from across a home office, he said. But the number of people who need to do that is relatively small, and the extra cost of a Wireless USB printer or an add-on network limits the appeal, O'Rourke said.

UWB chips cost between US$6 and $7 and need to fall about another $1.50 before they start selling in higher volumes, said WiMedia's Wood.

Clouds have been gathering on the UWB horizon for some time. The Bluetooth SIG turned to IEEE 802.11 as the basis of its Bluetooth 3.0 standard, coming in April. Texas Instruments pulled out of WiMedia last year, and Intel has stopped developing its own UWB silicon. Also last year, Sony introduced another short-range, low-power technology called TransferJet, which has been adopted by several consumer electronics companies.

Technology is not the problem with UWB, which is much faster than Wi-Fi and consumes much less power, In-Stat's O'Rourke said. But while high-bandwidth uses such as grabbing a TV show off a digital video recorder for viewing on the road are interesting, they won't sell many products, O'Rourke said.

"A lot of their scenarios are really future-based. They're not in the here and now," he said.

Gartner analyst Ken Dulaney was more blunt.

"Great that WiMedia Alliance has given up," Dulaney wrote in an e-mail interview. "They could have tried again and again to make this work, taking a lot of unsuspecting users' money in the process. I wish more vendors would call it quits when appropriate."

For one common use case, transfers between PCs and cell phones, Wi-Fi will take up the slack, he said.

Wacom Announces Intuos4 Wireless Pen Tablet

By Jackie Dove, Macworld

Wacom has introduced the Intuos4 Wireless professional pen tablet, featuring Bluetooth technology. The device will cost $399 and begin shipping in the U.S. and Canada by early March. It's compatible with OS X 10.4.8 or higher.

Targeted to the creative community of photographers, designers, and artists, the device is designed for collaborative work, classroom settings, home and office, and any occupation in which users want freedom of movement without having to attach the tablet to their computer. Bluetooth, a communications protocol, lets the tablet communicate reliably over a range of up to 33 feet, according to the company. The Intuos4 Wireless features USB charging directly from the computer.

"Professional and serious creatives are drawn to the intuitive nature and overall experience offered by the Intuos4," said Don Varga, senior product manager for Wacom's professional products. "By combining the successful Intuos4 pen tablet design with Bluetooth wireless technology we are able to provide users with the flexibility and freedom to work in the most comfortable way for drawing, editing, painting, retouching, or general computer work."

Design details

Available in medium size only, with an active area of 8.8 by 5.5 inches, the Intuos4 Wireless has a slim, ergonomic, and asymmetrical design that puts its Touch Ring and customizable ExpressKeys on one side of the tablet. This makes them all available to the user's non-dominant hand. The application-specific ExpressKeys give users easy access to commonly used commands.

Illuminated (OLED) displays remind users of the function of each ExpressKey. The settings are application-specific, and the displays update as the user switches between applications. To switch the tablet from right-hand to left-hand use, the user can rotate the tablet 180 degrees and change the orientation of the illuminated icons within the Wacom Tablet driver software.

The Touch Ring can control up to four different functions in any program. A button located in the center of the ring toggles the ring between application-specific functions such as zoom, scroll, brush size adjustment, or canvas rotation. The position of the illuminated LED along the Touch Ring's perimeter indicates the current function.

Intuos4 Grip Pen

The Grip Pen that ships with the Intuos4 Wireless features the company's proprietary Tip Sensor technology. The pen offers users near-zero (one gram) starting pressure and has 2048 levels of pressure to enhance feedback and control in applications that support pressure sensitivity. The Grip Pen also features a pressure-sensitive eraser and two customizable side switches that can be set for commands such as double-click and right-click. A clip-on pen holder secures the pen to the tablet when not in use. A weighted desktop pen stand functions as both a pen holder and a twist-off storage compartment for pen nibs and a nib removal tool. The tablet ships with standard, felt, stroke, and flex nibs.

Software and accessories

Besides the tablet driver, Wacom has also included a choice of bonus software via download at no extra charge. Buyers can download Nik Color Efex Pro WE6 and Wacom Brushes 3.0, both plug-ins for Adobe Photoshop and Photoshop Elements. They can also choose two out of the following three programs: Abobe Photoshop Elements 6, Autodesk SketchBook Pro 2010, and Corel Painter Sketch Pad.

Bluetooth v4.0 Enables Low-Power, High-Speed Wireless Devices

By Tony Bradley, PCWorld

The core specifications for Bluetooth v4.0, a technology declared one of the "10 Mobile Technologies to Watch in 2010 and 2011" by Gartner based on its perceived potential to evolve and impact short-term mobile strategies and policies, have been finalized by the Bluetooth Special Interest Group (SIG). The next-generation Bluetooth wireless protocol promises lower power consumption and faster transmission speeds than existing Bluetooth.

Bluetooth is the less-capable, but still ubiquitous cousin of Wi-Fi. It is an open wireless technology standard used for transmitting data over short distances using short-length radio waves. It is the technology responsible for elevators full of business professionals with little device plugged into their ears appearing to talk to themselves, and the technology found in many vehicles to pair with mobile phones and provide hands-free communications.

Many wireless computer peripherals rely on Bluetooth as well. Wireless keyboards, mice, and headsets enable users to be comfortable and productive at the same time--untethered by oppressive cords getting tangled and restricting movement.

"Bluetooth v4.0 throws open the doors to a host of new markets for Bluetooth manufacturers and products such as watches, remote controls, and a variety of medical and in-home sensors. Many of these products run on button-cell batteries that must last for years versus hours and will also benefit from the longer range enabled by this new version of the Bluetooth specification," said Michael Foley, Ph.D., executive director of the Bluetooth SIG in a press release.

Bluetooth v4.0 is described by the Bluetooth SIG as a versatile combination of three different Bluetooth protocols--the classic Bluetooth we know and love, the low-energy Bluetooth, and the high-speed Bluetooth. The three faces of Bluetooth v4.0 can be implemented individually or in combination with each other.

One of the defining characteristics of Bluetooth--especially compared with Wi-Fi--is the short range. Standard Bluetooth devices are generally restricted to about a 30 foot range in order to maintain the wireless connection. With Bluetooth v4.0, it's possible to optimize the range of Bluetooth devices up to 200 feet or more.

The Bluetooth SIG expects the integration of classic Bluetooth with the low-energy Bluetooth specification by June 30, 2010. Devices built with the Bluetooth v4.0 protocol are expected to be available by late 2010 or early 2011.

Tony Bradley is co-author of Unified Communications for Dummies . He tweets as @Tony_BradleyPCW . You can follow him on his Facebook page , or contact him by email at tony_bradley@pcworld.com .

Bluetooth Speakers

By Lex Friedman, Macworld

Bluetooth isn't just for hands-free cell phone calls. The technology can also support the Advanced Audio Distribution Profile (A2DP), which allows for wireless stereo streaming as well as remote interactions between devices. In other words, with the right equipment, you can stream music from your iPhone or Mac to wireless speakers, and even control playback of that music from the speaker system itself. (Bluetooth-enabled Macs support A2DP if they're running Mac OS X 10.5 or later. Any iPhone or second-generation iPod touch running iPhone OS 3.0 or later also supports A2DP.) When used with an iPhone, many A2DP speakers can also serve as Bluetooth speakerphones.

Generally, the process--called pairing--required to get an A2DP speaker system working with your Mac or iPhone is simple: You enable Bluetooth on your Mac or iPhone, look for devices (in Settings: General: Bluetooth on the iPhone or using Bluetooth Setup Assistant on your Mac), and pair one with the other. Pairing is usually straightforward and generally takes just a few seconds.

Interestingly, Apple's support for A2DP differs substantially between Macs and iPhones. When you pair Bluetooth speakers with your Mac, you can adjust the remote speaker system's volume from the computer, and you can play, pause, and skip tracks using the speaker's buttons (assuming it offers such playback-control buttons). With the iPhone, though, volume control is limited to the hardware buttons on the speaker itself, and you can only pause and restart playback, not change tracks. These iPhone limitations are Apple's doing and can be quite frustrating given that other Bluetooth phones and media players have supported such functionality for years. I hope a future iPhone OS update will enable these features.

I looked at (and listened to!) five Bluetooth speaker systems, testing them with both an iPhone and a Mac. Each of the systems offered varying levels of sound quality, a unique look, and different features. Dig in to see how they stack up.

CyFi Wireless Sports Speaker

MyCyFi's Wireless Sports Speaker looks awesome. It's shaped like an aerodynamic bicycle helmet, which makes sense: It's packaged with hardware to mount the speaker to a bicycle's handlebars. It's also designed to be rugged enough to use while enjoying other outdoor activities, such as boating and camping. That ruggedness, unfortunately, makes the CyFi's buttons surprisingly difficult to press, and the button design--black icons on black buttons--makes it difficult to identify which is which, even in bright sunlight. The speaker includes a charging base, and a fully-charged Sports Speaker can play for nearly six hours. The CyFi's manual is rather frustrating, but getting the device paired and working isn't too complicated.

Given the Sports Speaker's focus on outdoor use, it's not surprising that the speaker can get very loud.

However, while it does offer stereo playback, the system's small size (just 4 inches across at its widest point) limits stereo imaging. And the sound of the CyFi unit is clearly geared towards the athlete, not the audiophile: The speaker packs little bass punch, and the overall sound is very tinny. If you're a cyclist looking to enjoy some tunes on your rides, a speaker is certainly a safer option than headphones, and the CyFi is an adequate choice for entertaining an outdoor crowd via your iPhone. But the system's sound is the weakest of the speakers I tested, and is too muddled for serious listening. It's the CyFi's cycling focus and compatibility that earns it a limited recommendation here.

The Wireless Sports Speaker's performance as a speakerphone is adequate, although I found that the speaker volume needs to be cranked up to the maximum to hear the person on the other end. The folks I called said that they could hear me fine, though wind noise became a factor when I tried to use the phone while biking.

Spracht Aura BluNote

The Aura BluNote from Spracht is a small (7 inches wide by 3 inches tall by 1.3 inches thick), curved speaker. Instructions for pairing the speaker are printed on the back of the device itself, which is a nice touch. The speaker paired with my Mac and iPhone quickly, and the system's built-in memory allows it to remember how to pair with up to eight devices. However, the BluNote doesn't include buttons for pausing playback or skipping tracks--a tremendous oversight for a device that claims to cater to music playback.
The BluNote can run for up to 10 hours on four AA batteries (included). You can also power the speaker using the included AC adapter. A 1/8-inch (3.5mm) line-in port lets you connect the system with a non-Bluetooth audio source.

On the plus side, the BluNote can sound pretty good. For a speaker of its size, the sound is impressively large--the BluNote filled my office respectably. Two buttons directly impact the audio: Bass boost does just what you'd expect, and is essentially a necessity--the speaker sounds tinny and skews strongly towards treble frequencies without it. The boosted bass sounds a bit hollow for my taste, but with the feature enabled, upper bass is certainly present and solid. The second audio button is for a feature called Stereo Widening. Meant to simulate a 3D audio experience, it seems to add reverb and enhance left- and right-channel panning. However, I found most songs suffered with this feature enabled; it gave the audio a noticeably "muffled" character. With bass boost turned on and Widening off, though, the BluNote sounds pretty good for a portable speaker.

Phone calls sounded fine with the Aura BluNote, although everyone I called knew immediately that I was using a speakerphone; they also reported a slight buzz whenever I spoke.

Yubz Magnum

Yubz's Magnum is an awesome-looking, faux-leather-covered tube, 9 inches long and about 3 inches in diameter. It comes packaged with a zippered, padded carrying case and a shoulder strap. As with the BluNote, you can power the Magnum using the included AC adapter or four AA batteries (not included).
The system's power cable is annoyingly short, but far more annoying--to the point of frustration--is the Magnum's interface. The black model we tested (the system is also available in tan, green, and red) sports seven tiny, nearly identical black-on-black buttons, all in a straight line, which take far too much effort to tell apart. But even if we could tell them apart, two of the buttons were backwards on our review unit: the Previous button advanced to the next track, and the Next button skipped to the previous track. To add to the confusion, one of those seven "buttons" actually isn't a button at all--it's the microphone for the speakerphone, mysteriously designed to appear identical to the six buttons on either side of it.

The Magnum provides a line-in jack, although the jack is unmarked and positioned next to the identically shaped AC-adapter jack--a truly maddening example of form over function, as I often tried to plug an audio cable into the power jack or the power cable into the audio jack. Fortunately, the Magnum enters pairing mode instantly when you first turn it on, so you won't need to push any of those hard-to-distinguish buttons.

How does the Magnum sound? Amazing, given the size. Despite the Magnum's good looks, I didn't expect to be impressed by its audio quality, but bass response is strong, audio range is good, and the speaker can get surprisingly loud. Since the system's left and right speakers are on opposite ends of the tube, the Magnum also does a better job of creating a true stereo effect than some of its competitors. Snare drums and higher-frequency vocals get a bit muddled at times, but on the whole the Magnum sounds very nice, and that performance makes it easier to live with the system's control deficiencies. If you can center the speaker in a room or in front of you--which, on AC power, may require an extension thanks to the too-short AC cord--the sound won't disappoint.

As a speakerphone, the Magnum works a little better than the other speakers I tested; people I called indicated that I sounded like I was talking on a headset.

Altec Lansing SoundBlade Wireless Speaker System

The Altec Lansing SoundBlade is the largest speaker I tested, at approximately 11 inches wide by 6 inches tall, though less than an inch thick. In a brilliant and much-appreciated change of pace, its buttons are clearly labeled, in white on black, across the top of the device, and are as easy to press as they are to read. The SoundBlade can be powered by the included AC adapter or six AA batteries (not included). On the back of the SoundBlade is a small button that unlocks a flip-down stand that also hides the AC-power and auxiliary-in jacks. The SoundBlade includes a thin carrying bag that doesn't offer much cushioning but should help keep the speaker looking pretty.

Pairing the SoundBlade with your iPhone, iPod touch, or computer is a little more work than it should be, and instructions in the included quick-start guide didn't work for me at all. Following the instructions in the lengthier manual, though, worked fine; those steps included an extra button push to put the speaker in pairing mode. Oddly, to place calls with the speakerphone, you press the "back one track" button, rather than the button with the phone icon. It's not a huge deal once you get used to it, .

As you may have noticed, I've been impressed at the loudness a number of these Bluetooth speakers can achieve. That's especially true for the SoundBlade, which can fill a large room. I'd be comfortable relying on the SoundBlade to provide the ambient audio at a small party--its sound is that full. Thanks to SRS Labs' TruBass technology, the SoundBlade also provides ample upper-bass presence, and there's none of the tinniness found in many speakers of this size, although I did occasionally hear a small amount of treble distortion at louder volumes. Still, the overall sound was impressive.

On the other hand, the SoundBlade's speakerphone performance was only average. I found I needed to be right on top of its built-in microphone to be heard by those on the other end of my calls.

Soundmatters FoxL

If I didn't have high expectations for the Magnum, I really didn't expect much from Soundmatter's FoxL. This diminutive speaker is almost comically tiny, just 5.5 inches wide, 2 inches tall, and barely more than an inch thick. Like the SoundBlade, the speaker includes a fold-out stand, though this one popped off about half the times I opened it. The box includes a tiny carrying pouch for the speaker, an AC adapter, and a USB cable (for slower, computer-based charging). The built-in rechargeable battery takes four hours to charge, and provides music for five hours. The FoxL includes an auxiliary-in port, and you can even connect a subwoofer to boost the bass. The speaker has volume-control buttons and a power switch, but disappointingly lacks any track or pause buttons. Pairing the FoxL is simple, and the system reconnects to your phone or computer just by turning on the FoxL.

About that subwoofer? You won't need it. The FoxL's sound is jaw-droppingly big, in dramatic inverse proportion to its size. Upper-bass response is very impressive for such a small device, especially when the FoxL is positioned near a wall. (The packaging includes a miniature rubber mat to prevent the speaker from hopping across the table as it plays; you'll need that mat with bass-heavy music.) The FoxL automatically reduces volume a bit when powered off the built-in battery, but even then it gets very loud. Overall, the FoxL actually sounds beefier than the not-too-shabby-itself SoundBlade--the audio here is, frankly, amazing given the size of what's producing it.

The speakerphone function of the FoxL is, unfortunately, much too quiet. I had to pump up the volume to hear the person on the other end...which meant I nearly blew out my eardrums when the music automatically resumed--at full volume--after I hung up a call. The folks I called heard an occasional echo when they spoke, but said that I sounded fine.

Macworld's buying advice

Each of these speaker system has disadvantages compared to a traditional portable iPod/iPhone dock. For example, sending audio over Bluetooth drains your device's battery much faster than a direct connection, and none of these speakers can charge your iPhone or iPod touch like a dock-based system could. On the other hand, Bluetooth speakers work wirelessly, letting you keep using your iPhone or iPod touch in your hand, and they can also pair with your Mac.

Of the systems I tested, the Soundblade and FoxL are clearly the two best. The FoxL is painfully close to excellence: If you could control playback from the speaker and if the speakerphone volume were a bit louder, there would be no competition at all--and another mouse added to its rating. Still, on sound alone, the FoxL clearly wins. But the Soundblade provides a bit more functionality in terms of navigating your music, and its stand feels more solid, while still offering very good sound. If portability or sound quality is your number one goal, go with the pocket-sized FoxL. If you'd instead prefer better control over your music playback, the Soundblade is still a great choice.

Low Energy, Faster Bluetooth Products Imminent

By Matt Hamblen, Computerworld

In the 11 years since the creation of the Bluetooth Special Interest Group, about 2 billion devices with the wireless technology have shipped globally. The products range from hands-free headsets to medical devices, but Bluetooth innovations expected in 2009 should rapidly expand the number of devices available, Bluetooth officials said at the International Consumer Electronics Show.

The big innovations expected this year include a low-energy version of Bluetooth and a version using Wi-Fi at speeds 10 times faster than the 3Mbit/sec. speeds of the Bluetooth 2.1 standard, Bluetooth SIG spokeswoman Kari Hernandez said in an interview.

The low-energy version, called Wi-Bree, is expected to use one-tenth the power of existing Bluetooth and will be especially useful for medical applications, Hernandez said. With Wi-Bree, a medical device, such as a Bluetooth pedometer or heart rate monitor, could run off a tiny battery for months or even years.

The Bluetooth over Wi-Fi concept means that a device like a cell phone could easily send video files to a large display, taking advantage of speeds of 50Mbit/sec. or even faster, she said. The SIG is expected to ratify the specification by mid-year, meaning products could emerge by later in 2009. Another high-speed Bluetooth specification that relies on ultrawide band wireless technology has been delayed and isn't expected to emerge until later in 2009.

For products to take advantage of new Bluetooth specifications, Bluetooth chip makers such as CSR Plc and Broadcom Corp. would need to manufacture new chips that meet the new specifications and equipment makers would need to incorporate the chips into their devices.

The economic slowdown has hurt Bluetooth just as it has nearly every other product category, Hernandez noted. While the SIG in recent years had predicted shipments of 2 billion Bluetooth chips in a single year by 2010, that threshold now isn't expected to be reached until 2012.

Next-Generation Stereo Bluetooth Headsets

We examine five of the latest stereo Bluetooth headphones to reach the market, and discuss the state of the technology today.

By Aoife M. McEvoy, PCWorld

Imagine a world where you can listen to music and make calls with a set of luxurious wireless headphones that fit your ears perfectly. You encounter astounding audio quality, intuitive controls, and seamless switching between music and calls. And you can wear your headphones all day without feeling as though your ears are getting stretched to Easter Island statue proportions.

Well, keep dreaming. Stereo Bluetooth headphones, alas, have a long way to go. After testing the latest crop of products, which enable you to listen to music tracks and manage your phone calls wirelessly, we were disappointed.

Unlike monaural (or mono) Bluetooth headsets, which require you to insert a single earpiece in your ear, stereo units consist of a separate earpiece for each ear. As the name suggests, these devices are designed to deliver stereo sound. The whole listening experience should feel richer, with a more natural, lifelike audio--a bit like a surround-sound effect. (For more information about Bluetooth standards, see "How to Buy a Bluetooth Headset.")

Stereo Bluetooth headsets generally come in two styles: earbud-oriented units, in which a narrow-gauge wire connects the two buds, and headphone-style units, in which a band or stiffer cord connects the earpieces. All of the units on our chart are worn with the cord or band behind the head.

I tested each set of stereo headphones across a wide range of objective and subjective criteria. I integrated the headphones into my daily life, examining audio quality, range performance, comfort and fit, layout and button design, and intuitiveness (or nonintuitiveness) of the controls. I found that each product excelled in one or two areas, and that's about it. For example, I liked how cushy the $80 LG Electronics HBS-250 earpads felt on my ears, but I struggled with the small controls, which were tricky to access. And while I enjoyed the rich music played through the Motorola MotoRokr S9-HD headphones ($130), the device's headband and earpiece design felt awkward after a while. Even our top-rated product, the superlight Sony Ericsson HBH-IS800, had shortcomings--failing to include volume controls and track skipping on the headphones themselves, despite costing $200.

Some good news: Except for LG's HBS-250, all of the headphones did a great job handling incoming calls while I was listening to music. When a call comes in, the headset pauses the track, and pipes a ringing tone into your ear; when you end the call or reject it, the music (or whatever you were playing) resumes. With the LG headphones, though the music stopped, there was no further indication that a call was coming in--just dead silence. A company spokesperson for LG suspected that our test unit was defective in this regard, saying that the headphones typically do multitask and alert users of incoming calls. (In every other respect the LG headphones seemed to work normally.)

Company-advertised maximum playing and talking times for these units range from 4 hours of play time or 5 hours of talk time (for the Sony Ericsson HBH-IS800) to 10 hours of play or talk time (for the LG Electronics HBS-250). I didn't attempt to measure the stereo headphones' battery life for this review.

Before buying, you should make sure that the stereo Bluetooth headphones you're considering are compatible with your Bluetooth cell phone. Your phone must support the Advanced Audio Distribution Profile (or A2DP) and the Audio/Video Remote Control Profile (or AVRCP). A2DP is the Bluetooth profile that enables your music source and the Bluetooth headset to stream music wirelessly in stereo; AVRCP is a Bluetooth profile that enables your Bluetooth headset to wirelessly control your music source. Most Stereo Bluetooth headphones also support the Handsfree and Headset profiles, permitting you to make and receive phone calls with your stereo Bluetooth headphones.

Note that the iPhone currently does not offer stereo A2DP Bluetooth support, though Apple's upcoming iPhone 3.0 software will. The update is planned for release in this summer.

For complete reviews of each of the five stereo Bluetooth headsets I examined and tested, click the following links:

For a comparison chart of the five stereo Bluetooth headsets I reviewed, see "Stereo Bluetooth Headsets Offer a Range of Strengths and Weaknesses."

And finally, for a slideshow of the various headsets, see "The Best Stereo Bluetooth Headsets."

Bluetooth 3.0, WirelessHD Show up in Laptops

By Agam Shah, IDG News

Laptops packed with Bluetooth 3.0 and WirelessHD are being shown at the Computex trade show in Taiwan and will be on the market this year, offering faster wireless data transfer speeds between PCs and TVs or mobile phones, for instance.

Laptops shown by Acer and Asus with the latest technologies could help wirelessly transfer larger files and high-definition images at faster speeds. The technologies have been under development, but are now slowly making their way into PCs.

Asus announced the G73JW and the G53 gaming laptops with WirelessHD, which allows the transmission of high-definition video from laptops to larger TV screens. That could let users turn their PCs into game consoles or Blu-ray players.

The laptops integrate Sibeam's WirelessHD technology and use the 60GHz frequency band to transfer data. The data transfers will not interfere with wireless communication through Wi-Fi or cordless phones, which use separate frequency bands, SiBeam said in a statement.

The laptops will be available with 3D screens, Asus said. The G53 will come with a 15.6-inch screen and the G73JW laptop with a 17.3-inch screen. Laptop prices were not announced, and they will become available later this year.

Acer at the show said it would bring Bluetooth 3.0 technology to its laptops, though it didn't announce specific models. However, an Acer Aspire 533 on display included a Bluetooth 3.0 port, according to enthusiast Web site Netbooked, which did a hands-on review of the device.

Acer has also indicated it would implement Bluetooth 3.0 in its Timeline laptops on a BIOS support page.
Bluetooth is commonly used in mobile phones with wireless headsets for hands-free talking. Bluetooth is also used in laptops to transfer multimedia files or sync data without using wires.

The new Bluetooth 3.0 standard boosts wireless data transfers between devices to 25M bps (bits per second) from 3M bps, according to the Bluetooth Special Interest Group, a group developing the standard. The Bluetooth 3.0 specification, which is based on Wi-Fi, is an update from the Bluetooth 2.1 protocol, which was adopted in 2007.

Bluetooth 3.0 piggybacks Wi-Fi connections to transfer short bursts of data at fast speeds from devices like mobile phones to PCs. Bluetooth 3.0 will transfer images or movies at faster data transfers while using less power, said Michael Foley, executive director of the Bluetooth SIG.

The Wi-Fi backbone helps shut down the Bluetooth radio a lot quicker as data transfers are completed faster, Foley said. The new standard also increases the range and stabilizes connections between devices. In earlier standards, connections easily broke when devices went out of range, Foley said.

Foley hopes the adoption of Bluetooth 3.0 in PCs will spur other device makers to adopt the standard. The technology has already appeared in smartphones, but Foley said it will ultimately make its way to cameras, camcorders, projectors and TVs.

Asus also included a Bluetooth 3.0 port in its EeeTop PC ET 24, all-in-one 3D desktop designed to replace home theater systems. The desktop was announced at Computex.

Semiconductor companies are also developing chips that include Bluetooth 3.0 radios. Ralink Communications showed the RT3592BC8 chip that combined Wi-Fi/802.11n and Bluetooth 3.0 technologies. The Taiwanese company said the chip could be used in laptops, and could enable applications like peer-to-peer gaming.

Broadcom announced that its InConcert communications module, which combines 802.11n and Bluetooth 3.0, had been selected by PC makers like Asus and Samsung for implementation in laptops and netbooks.

Sound ID 510 Bluetooth Headset: There's an App with That

By Robert S. Anthony, PCWorld

For Sound ID, a company with roots in audiology, the Sound ID 510 Bluetooth headset, billed as the world's first wireless headset with its own personalized iPhone app, has been a labor of love.

Instead of developing the slim unit as just another Bluetooth device, it was designed from the ground up with "ear-gonomics" in mind, says CEO Michael R. Jones.

The $130 Sound ID 510 comes with multiple earpieces and an earhook so each user can get a comfortable fit, but also works with Sound ID EarPrint, a new iPhone app, to tune its audio quality to your own ear. The free app is available for download in the Apple iTunes App store now, but the unit, available in black or white, won't arrive at AT&T stores until June 6.

"Your ear's like a room. It has its own frequency response [characteristics]," Jones said during a recent meeting in New York.

The EarPrint app, he explains, works as an equalizer while adjusting audio compression as well. Users are presented with a simple line grid with a Sound ID logo at the intersection of two lines. Tap the iPhone screen and move the dot around with your finger and the quality and tone of the sound changes. Depending on where you stop, the unit may be set to soften loud noises or increase soft ones, Jones says.

You can also use EarPrint to enhance your hearing when you're not in a call. Setting the unit to "Environmental Mode" passes ambient sounds through to your ear; thus, the headset doesn't serve as an earplug when you're not in a call. EarPrint works only with the Sound ID 510 -- it needs to connect with and identify the unit before its functions become available.

Three microphones and Sound ID's noise-suppression technology separate voices from other sounds, thus making outgoing audio clearer. "That really takes care of the people on the other end," Jones says.
The Sound ID 510 has a simple on-off switch and volume is controlled by sliding a finger up or down the length of the unit. EarPrint offers a sound level meter so you can monitor whether the incoming audio is approaching harmful levels. While it appears to have a solid color, the unit is actually encased in a clear, hard, scratch-resistant coating.

Absent-minded users can use EarPrint's Find Me function to locate the unit if it's misplaced nearby. Once triggered, the headset's LEDs will flash brightly and if you don't find it within a few seconds, the headset begins to squeal -- first quietly and then loudly. EarPrint also includes a battery status indicator.

The unit, which supports Bluetooth 2.1+EDR, is rated for 5.5 hours of talk time and 135 hours of standby time per charge. While it doesn't support A2DP at the moment, a free downloadable firmware update slated for June will enable the unit to connect to and stream music from digital audio players. Jones says the delay in implementing A2DP support was to make sure the firmware worked with as many Bluetooth devices as possible.

"The myth behind Bluetooth is that it's a standard," he said with a chuckle. "Everyone does it differently." EarPrint apps for the BlackBerry and Android platforms are forthcoming, he adds.

Bluetooth USB: Linking History with Technology

By: Sandra Stammberger

In the 10th century, a Danish king united into a single kingdom some parts of Norway and Denmark (Scandinavia). He then introduced Christianity in Denmark. However, in the year 986, he was killed in a battle with Svend Forkbeard, his son. But before the event, he was able to construct a big monument for his parents, it was named the Jelling Rune Stone. His name was Harald Blatand ( the surname roughly means Bluetooth if translated in English).

The name was chosen to stand for the significance the Baltic Regions in the communications industry have ( including Sweden, Denamark, Finland and Norway from which the leading companies in the industry came from), though the term Bluetooth has little or no connection at all with how the technology applies. Also, Blatand's historical significance neatly resembled how the Bluetooth technology unites companies, industries and devices.

The technology was first conceptualized and researched by Ericsson. However, the Bluetooth technology (and Bluetooth USB) were duly credited to the SIG or Bluetooth Special Interest Group. The core group is composed of the companies- Ericsson®, Microsoft®, Intel®, Nokia®, IBM, Lucent®, 3Com®. However, it is composed of more than 2000 members. The SIG is not a single company, but it is a group of companies covered by legal aggreements.

The bluetooth usb networking works by data transmission through the radio waves with low power. It communicates on 2.45 frequency; this frequency was designated purposely for ISM band use only or Industrial, Scientific and Medical devices. Garage door openers and a number of cordless phones are some of the examples of devices, which makes use of the same band frequencies.

However, the problem with how these devices and BluetoothUSB would not interfere with each other was a crucial aspect of the design.

Bluetooth USB is a wireless technology, which in principle eliminated the bulk of cables and wire connections. It employs the advantages of the technology for short-range radio frequencies. Bluetooth USB made possible short-term signal transmissions between computers, telephones and other gadgets. Additionally, Bluetooth USB has made the synchronization and communication between the devices easier.

More and more, the process of connecting devices has become overly complicated. The pieces and parts in a computer, telephone and entertainment comprise the system of electronic devices installed in each part. To be able for these items to send signals, one has to supply the cables, connectors, wires, protocols and plugs. With the advent of bluetooth technology and Bluetooth USB, these factors were taken away.

However, in the early years, computer users had to deal with the difficulty of not using the full potentials of their units because of the dilemma in connecting the parts to the main host which may either be a computer, and a number of technological systems.

Bluetooth USB has set the standard for newer versions of computer systems and the majority of laptop units.

The growing consensus among computer users these days is the switch from desktops to laptops as their major PC units. This then brought the needs and sales for Bluetooth USBs due to the fact that the Bluetooth USB technology covers the application for the majority of laptop productions. The old RS-232 interface installed in older computer units is now outdated and no longer apply with the newer versions of USB computer peripherals, specifically the 2.0 USB Version and the Bluetooth USB.

Other items that make use of Bluetooth USB are the Palmtops, PDAs and mobile phones, Pocket PCs, tablet PCs, speakers, modems, webcams, video phones, digital cameras and the likes.

Security Of Your Bluetooth Devices

By: David Hill

These days, all forms of communication technology face the problem of security and theft of personal details , and 'bluetooth' is no exception to these concerns, nor should it be. Most everybody knows by now that all email programs and networks need protection and security. What users of 'bluetooth' really do need to comprehend is that 'bluetooth' requires the same protection measures as email programs and other communication programs.

The upside for 'bluetooth' users is that the recent breaches-of-security scares, as in all scares, are usually way over - dramatized and blown way out of all reasonable proportions. The reality being told, these issues are simple to control, using several protocols now in place to ensure protection for 'bluetooth' technology.

It's very true that there has been several 'bluetooth' phones subject to attack and have been hacked into. The majority of devices which are hacked are usually those that don't use any form of protection or security at all.

Bluetooth specialists say that, in order for anyone to hack their way into a 'bluetooth' device, the person hacking has to:
1. Convince two coupled devices to shut down their link.
2. Take the packets that are required to resend the pin.
3. Unscramble the pin.
Of course, the hacker most certainly will be within limit of the phone, and using extremely costly developer - style , high quality, equipment. Top specialists strongly suggest you use a longer pin, using more than 8 digits as being the minimum recommended.

Basics of security.
The "pairing procedure" is the main fundamental level of protection for 'bluetooth' devices. Pairing, is the linking of two, or even more, 'bluetooth' devices which identify themselves by the profiles they have in common - in the majority of cases they both must use the identical pin.

The central specifications for 'bluetooth' use an encoding algorithm, that is is absolutely and safe and secure . As soon as the devices link up, they too become completely protected.

Until they have actually linked, the 'bluetooth' devices won't make contact with each other. Due to the pairing technique and that the range is very short it is - 'bluetooth' technology is thought to be well and truly secured.

As the recent news has shown, expert hackers possess sophisticated ways to get past most levels of fundamental security. There are ways to get protection from this type of threat, as you can have installed software to stop hackers from hacking their way in.

Now that 'bluetooth' has become popular and more in demand, it's no wonder safety is constantly in the public eye. As 'bluetooth' gets more popular and more improved, security can usually be something that no one will ever take lightly.

If you've been thinking about 'bluetooth' protection in the past, be safe in the knowledge that newer devices can give significant and much-improved protection. Stopping hackers from creeping in is something every phone-owner is thinking long and hard about - and the maker's are very much aware of this.

Bluetooth Technology: Hype Or A Glimpse Into The Future

By: Christopher Smith

Although the average consumer has only recently begun to discover the joys of Bluetooth technology, it has been around for quite a while now. The fact that it has been around means that there are quite a few products that are now able to support and utilize this technology and those numbers are growing each year. Currently you can find many Bluetooth supported laptops, cell phones, and PDAs.

The recently discovered technology that Bluetooth offers uses short range radio signals in order to replace wires and cables that were once required to transfer information from one device to another. The most hallowed capabilities of this technology is its use friendly lack of complexity, its ability to hold a true connection without constant interruptions, its lower power consumption, and its affordability. Bluetooth was made to operate in areas where 'noisy' frequencies often prevent other wireless connections to flourish. Bluetooth uses a fast acknowledgement and 'frequency hopping' application in order to maintain a smooth connection.

Bluetooth radio frequencies move at 2.4 GHz, which requires no licensing in order to use. Using this particular frequency allows the avoidance of interruptions from other frequencies and signals. Bluetooth radio also moves much more quickly than other similar systems because it utilizes shorter packets.

History of Bluetooth

Bluetooth can be traced to the King of Denmark from 949 to 981. Harold Bluetooth was famous for his ability to help people communicate with one another more effectively. The characters on the Bluetooth logo come from characters in the runic alphabet. The reference to this particular king is somehow appropriate as Bluetooth technology also accomplishes the often-difficult task of keeping people connected and communicating effectively.

Bluetooth.org defines Bluetooth as a worldwide specification low cost radio solution. This small factor enables the communication of mobile devices with one another.

Bluetooth operates by using 2.4 GHz radio signals that are very similar to those used in many cordless home phones and wireless networking systems. Bluetooth has found a manner in which to limit interference while improving the quality of the transmission because of its heavy reliance on this frequency range. Bluetooth version 1.1 has made leaps and bounds in progress and as a result is not backwards compatible with previous versions.

The maximum rate at which Bluetooth can transfer data is 723 kbps and a range of anywhere from 60 to 120 feet. Bluetooth can be used for a wide variety of applications. Some of the more common current applications include laptops, PDAs, headphones, and printer adapters. Many laptops have Bluetooth adapters built in so that the laptop can easily communicate with other Bluetooth enabled devices. You can also use many USB adaptors in order to communicate with devices that are not graced with a Bluetooth adaptor.

Another great benefit of Bluetooth is the fact that it allows PDAs to easily sync wirelessly as well as to transfer data. Bluetooth is useful in headphones for cell phones in particular to allow hands free, wireless cell phone communication while driving, working, or performing any number of tasks that require the use of your hands.

Many new gadgets are wireless through the technologies that Bluetooth has introduced. A Bluetooth mouse and/or keyboard can be used at a distance of up to 30 feet for those who need to be farther ways from the computer. Bluetooth printer adaptors are particularly useful as they allow multiple users in a network to share printer access without a snake pit of wires to really confuse things.

While Bluetooth is inexpensive to use, the main reason it isn't more widely used is the initial costs required to implement this technology. The initial costs of installing a Bluetooth system are somewhat prohibitive and most companies aren't prepared to make this sort of investment in emerging technology.

What's In The Nintendo Wii Bundle Package In The United States

By: Karin Manning

After almost two years of waiting, Nintendo finally launched their latest video game console on November 14, 2006 in North America. Formerly called "Revolution", Nintendo decided to change the name to "Wii" (pronounced as "we") to capture wider audiences including the non-gamers who never thought of video games as a cup of tea.

On its launching date, Nintendo confirmed the number of Wiis that will be distributed to retailers worldwide.would be six millions units. To date, over one million Wiis have been sold with the highest sales coming from the Americas, Japan, and UK in barely two weeks.

Nintendo Wii bundle package in the United States includes the console, sensor bar, Wii Remote, Nunchuk, Wii Sports Disc, Wii Console Stand, Wee AC Adapter, and Wii AV Cable.

Nintendo Wii bundle package in the United States may be bought as a whole but many consumers are still asking about the price of the console. The Wii's makers revealed that the console may purchased separately, however, what is so distinct about the Wii is not just confined in the console itself but in the unique and cutting-edge controllers.

As said, included in the Nintendo Wii bundle package in the United States is the console which has dimensions of 8.5 inches long, 6.5 inches wide, less than 2 inches thick, and weighs only 2 pounds. It is the smallest console so far in the third generation consoles.

Nintendo Wii console received "The Best Show" award in the 2006 E3 and won high acclaims from video critics. The console also accepts 12cm Wii discs or 8cm GameCube discs and plays them on a self-loading optical media bay.

The Sensor Bar uses bluetooth technology allowing the Wii remote to send signal to the console within a 30-foot distance. The Wii Remote serves as main controller of movements of games' characters. At most four of this device can be hooked to the console at once for multiplayer fun.

Also included in the Nintendo Wii bundle package in the United States is the Nunchuk that features a contour design to fit a player's hand perfectly. It is fitted at the expansion port of the Wii Remote and takes an extra role in operating several games. The Nunchuk uses the same technology as the Wii remote, but it contains an analog stick that also regulates characters movements.

The Wii Sports disc is a compilation of games in the Sports of baseball, tennis, bowling, golf, and boxing. The character movements in these games comprehensively exemplify the uses of the Wii Remote in the more in-depth and complex games like the Wii version of the Zelda series.

Recently, retailers warn that there will be a real shortage of the Nintendo Wii bundle package in the United States due to a very high demand and not because manufacturing is slow. Nintendo Wii is the fastest-selling video game console ever in the U.S., Japan, and the U.K.

Bluetooth Headsets

By: Anand Dongre

The world is changing fast and so is everything around you. For instance, the existence of a wired world seems to be history with the invention and use of many wireless technologies. One such wireless technology is the Bluetooth Technology. In this article we will cover the Bluetooth headsets, which are fast getting popular and finding extensive use in the households. The Bluetooth headphones are based on a fairly new technology that is going to eliminate the need for wires and cables.

The bluetooth technology enables a short-range communication system that costs less money to operate and gives good results on short distances. The Bluetooth headsets can be used to fit several brands of electronic equipment. The Bluetooth headsets are fairly popular to give you a wire-free experience with your music system and the sound quality is even not compromised with the use of this technology. Here are many types of Bluetooth headsets available in the market and with the best quality you can afford to buy, you are guaranteed crystal clear sound each and every time that will make your listening a pure pleasure. With the technology getting better and better with each day, you can be sure that the latest headsets from Bluetooth will only have the best and latest equipment that is available.

One of the major problems, which used to occur while using a Bluetooth headset was of the noise it generated due to the disturbance in the flow of data. Bluetooth headphones today are great about blocking out unwanted noises while you are using them. The Bluetooth headsets, which eliminate the unwanted sound, are known as noise canceling headsets and are now widely used to cancel the noise and to get the best sound quality. It is important to choose the right kind of Bluetooth headset with all the features you require. Choosing the right bluetooth stereo headphones can make enjoying your favorite music and your favorite audio a lot more pleasurable as well as a great deal more comfortable. A noise dampening blue tooth stereo headsets will keep the noises of the outside world at bay while allowing your favorite music to flow through. This noise-dampening feature is one of the most important things to look for when shopping for a quality set of bluetooth stereo headsets. This ability to reduce outside noise and block out distractions will vary from model to brand, so it is important to shop around with this important feature in mind.

There are also many other factors to consider when shopping for the best bluetooth headsets. It is necessary to remember that when it comes to wireless and Bluetooth headphones one of the most important things to consider is the effective range of the headphones. The range plays an important in the Bluetooth and can define its productivity. It is therefore very essential to look for the Bluetooth headset range and also to compare various products on this feature.

What is a Blue Tooth Home Security System?

By: Sandra Wilson

Over the last few years there has been a surge in the number of wireless burglar alarm systems. Many of these are thanks to the security systems companies that are now carrying the blue tooth home security system. We will overview just what the bluetooth technology provides us and the benefits we get from having these systems in our homes.

First off, the bluetooth technology offers us speed with these systems over the traditional wired systems. The data can be transmitted more rapidly through the use of short range radio frequencies. Once the alarm is triggered, the monitoring service you have watching out for your home burglar alarm system will quickly get the information and be able to pass it on more quickly as well.

Because of its design Bluetooth is able to synchronize and then transfer the data it is collecting to various different devices. Although it was first used in order to allow a person to synchronize information contained on their palmtop PC with their desktop or laptop without the use of wires. Today it is becoming an important part of home security systems as well. Simply because there are no wires so nothing for the burglar to be able to cut to hopefully stop the system from working.

Security of the data that is sent from your home to the monitoring service is another point in favor of a bluetooth home security system versus the traditional ones. Before the information is sent from the control panel in your home via the system, it is encrypted. It must be unencrypted on the receiving end after authentication thus providing the additional security.

Yet another security measure by the blue tooth home security system is the number of differing frequencies that are used. Only a receiver that is matched up to your particular transmitter should be able to get the data transmitted from your home and therefore only the people with access to that matched up receiver.

What's more, you will find that this security system will cost less than a more conventional wired system simply due to the less amount of work which will need to be done. A wired system requires those wires be run and probably means holes being put into your house all over to run those wires. You just might even consider a do it yourself security system installation.

Now if you do want to go ahead with a diy install, read and understand thoroughly the documents that come with the system from the manufacturer. You will have to plan out your components installation sites so they will be in the right places to provide the best coverage before you actually start installing.

But one of the biggest advantages to be gained from using a blue tooth home security system is that you can actually control the system even when you are away from home. All you need to do is set up the system on your laptop or PC at work and then you can disarm, arm and carry out other tasks on your alarm system without actually having to be there in person. So if on your way to work and you suddenly remember that you have forgotten to arm the alarm, by quickly entering in to the program on your laptop or PC you will be able to do so.