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Headset + Wristwatch = Bluevoice

Talk about innovation, how come no one think of this before, or maybe somebody did but did not have the guts to follow it up and develop it. Imagine a headset with a wristwatch on it, or is it the other way around? Anyway, Chronotech combined these two to make something new, something special, the Bluevoice. It is a wristwatch available either a digital or an analog one whose face doubles up as a detachable Bluetooth headset. Instead of wearing your headset around your neck or in your pocket why not put it in your wrist as a watch so it can still be of use even if you’re not using its headset functions.

Using it is very simple, when a call comes in; you just pop the face off the wrist strap and put it on, simple eh. It is priced at $119.95 in digital and $127.95 in analog configurations.

Now what would they think of next? A headset that doubles as a compass for those inclined to the great outdoors? Or a flashlight? Maybe I’ll just leave the thinking to the experts.

Not Just Another Bluetooth Earbud

Whether you use your Bluetooth earbuds for your cell phone or for your audio player, you won’t go wrong with the new Philips Voyager 510 Bluetooth Headset. You only need to touch a single button to switch from cell phone to audio player and vice-versa. This ear bud can work with Bluetooth 1.2 compatible cell phones with HSP, HFP, A2DP and AVRCP profiles and has a universal audio adapter to be able to connect to a variety of audio players out in the market. Its main control has the Play, Stop, Fast Forward, Rewind buttons and the volume control. For cell phone use, it has a built-in microphone so if a cal comes in while you are listening to music you can just switch the music off and take the call.

Aside from these features, you can monitor Bluetooth connection, call status, and low battery through green and red LEDs. Not only that, it packs a respectable 10 hours of music time or up to 12 hours talk time and 400 hours standby time. 10 hours may not be too long for some of us but it is quite respectable in its class. It also includes an adapter that can be used to charge both the audio adapter and the main unit control simultaneously.

Belkin Joins The Bandwagon

The need for Wi-fi phones is accelerating, this is what Belkin’s launch of its Wi-fi phone for Skype shows. Following D-Links Wi-fi phone launch closely. With these Wi-fi phones, users can make free, unlimited domestic and international calls to other Skype users even without a computer. And it doubles as an ordinary landline phone. Using the phone is just like using Skype phones. You use the menu to find your contact and check your online availability, pretty much the same with other Wi-fi phones.

The launching of Belkin’s new phone for Skype just shows the growing market for for such phones. It shows how fast VoIP technology is getting bigger everyday. And the influx of these devices can only be good for this continually growing technology. Innovations in this field will continue and much better peripherals will be developed in the near future packed with different features. The present looks good and it could only get better.

Feast your Eyes on the New AMOLED Display

What does every body want from their display? Whether it’s a cell phone or a portable media player or any other similar devices, we all want a brighter display, crystal clear images, and higher contrast ratio. What we have now are TFTLCDs which has a god contrast ratio in their own right. But man, being the insatiable creature that he is always looking for ways to improve what he already has. And it’s a good thing that the people at Samsung never rest on their laurels, if they had, we would still not be blessed with their new AMOLED display which is far more superior than the traditional LCD.

It has a much brighter display and higher contrast ratio of 1000:1 with no apparent quality loss even at a 30 degree viewing angle. This definitely transcends the images of those on an LCD. AOLED display really shows lifelike images crystal clears images. This display supports a maximum resolution of 240×320 and can display a stunning 16 million colours with a brightness of 200cd/m2.

But it doesn’t stop there, although it is far brighter than the traditional LCD, such performance comes at a lower power cost! What more can you ask for? World peace perhaps…

New Philips VoIP Phones

The increasing need for immediate access to digital content prompted Philips to develop and launch two Internet/DECT phones with help from Skype and Microsoft. These are the VOIP321 and the VOIP433.

The VOIP 321 priced at $129.95 for a handset and $199.95 for two handsets is a cordless phone that users can use to either make Skype calls via broadband internet connection or as an ordinary landline phone using the Skypeout service for a lower rate. This phone is equipped with DECT digital voice technology. This needs a base station which connects to a regular phone outlet or to a USB PC socket. Hands-free speakerphone and caller ID are among its features.

On the other hand, the VOIP433 costs more at $159.95 for one handset and $ 249.95 for two handsets. This phone operates on the same principle with the other unit with the use of Microsoft Windows Live Messenger service. What it has as an addition is a colored screen so users can tell whether their contacts are online or not.

The release of these phones shows how VoIP has changed the way people communicate especially online. Philips has now joined the caravan of companies riding on the waves of this revolutionary technology.

Plantronics Launches CS60-USB Wireless DECT Headset

March 22, 2005

Plantronics has just launched their CS60-USB wireless DECT headset. This latest offering is designed for use along with Voice over IP software. Additionally, this is the only wireless USB headset system, according to Plantronics, that is capable of detecting that the phone is ringing and informing the user to this.

Its wireless capability now allows the user to roam up to around 100 metres away from their PC and be able to provide around nine hours of talk time before needing to be recharged by docking with its included docking station. Users are able to select from three different ways of wearing the headset, namely either using a headband, the unique behind-the-head neckband that Plantronics is known for or using a simple earloop. This selection will allow the users to be comfortable while wearing the headset, comfort that is enhanced by its low weight of 28 grams.

Skype’s Troubles

A division of eBay, Skype Technologies, a large technology company with a big developer community is now being questioned about its concern for its developer. For habitually taking it’s developer community’s innovation and reinterpreting them under their own label.

Nowadays, a huge number of developers are looking to create software and hardware for Skype phones and to make money out of their efforts. But some of them are now wondering if Skype Technologies really care for its developer community. Skype’s track record prompts them to worry about its dedication towards the developer community. And Skype hosting a lavish developer conference in Las Vegas did nothing to ease the minds of these developers. Some developers even say that the company has one of the worst developer programs today. Even its former production manager, Lenn Pryor has pointed out that the company hasn’t really done much to explain to the developer community how they can profit from Skype applications.

Although Skype says in a press conference that 300 software and 100 hardware products have been created with the support of its developer program last year, some companies, EQO for example, a company who actually developed software for Skype and hasn’t fared well is still not pleased with what Skype has done for its developers.

Skype’s developer program still has to mature and we don’t know how will it happen or when are we going to see a change. And the departure of Lenn Pryor touted as a much loved executive and a developer favorite won’t certainly help. But the silver lining here is that Skype knows its problems and is making ways to amend it. When it will its program get better, we just have to wait.

SIP or Skype?

In London, after years of endless speculations and rumors, Netgear’s Skype Wifi phone finally hit the shelves to end so much anticipation from the public. Skype calls without wires nor computers have aroused a certain amount of eager anticipation regarding the launch of these phones especially from Skype’s huge and dedicated user base, the prospect of making cheap calls over the internet without a computer being the main contributor to these anticipations.

However,many people are not aware that these calls have been available through SIP services for a long time now. Bable, Gradle, and the VoIPBster family of companies have been offering their own VoIP tariffs and rates and not only that, they also frequently charge cheaper than Skype. What more, they also have their own Wifi phones.

The difference between Skype and SIP services is that Skype phones are locked to Skype while SIP Wifi Phones can be configured and re-configured to use the provider of the user’s choice. But they pretty much function the same way and has the same benefit of wireless VoIP phone calls.

Music Lovers Treat

Music lovers, you’re in for a treat. Jabra launched two new Bluetooth headsets this month both packing a variety of cool features to make listening to your favorite music much much better. The Jabra BT325s, the first one is a corded stereo headset with a 3.5 mm. jack that connects to an MP3 player, PC, mobile music phone or other similar devices, but can also connect wirelessly to Bluetooth enabled cellphones. The BT325s promises 8 hours of talk or music time and up to 240 hours of standby time. This headset features a multi-colored light LED indicator for the user to check Bluetooth, battery and charging status. It also includes typical Bluetooth phone controls. And what’s more this headset worth $89 is also water resistant.

The other one, the Jabra BT620S, according to the manufacturer is the longest playing stereo Bluetooth headset on the market today, with an awesome 16 hours of music time or 240 hours of standby time. Talk about music for hours. The headset is meant to be used wirelessly with both phone and music products and it can also be connected simultaneously with both products. It features phone controls on the left and music controls on the right for the user’s convenience. It comes with an AC adapter and a mini USB jack so the product can be charged from a PC. It has a price tag of $129

So whether you’re talking endlessly on the phone or chilling out with your favorite music, these headsets are definitely a good choice.

GIPS and Skype Extends Working Relations

Since Skype licensed the GIPS Voice Engine PC in the summer of 2003, the two companies (Skype & GIPS or Global IP Sound) have revolutionized global personal communications. They gave us the first PC-to-PC VoIP which is now being enjoyed by millions of users to make free phone calls, not only are these calls free but also of high quality. These two companies gave us something what we could have only dream of before.

And now, the good times just keep rolling with the announcement from the two companies that their working relationship will be extended. This means that hardware manufacturers will be able to offer Skype-compatible IP phones. These hardware solutions will be benefiting from from the GIPS technology, the GIPS Voice Engine Embedded to be specific.

This continuing working agreement between theses two forward-thinking companies will be a key to further accelerate VoIP migration since the North American market for IP phones may double between 2006 and 2009 according to Infotecs Research.