Bluetooth Headset Roundup

An anonymous reader writes "Here is an interesting comparison of four of today's best Bluetooth headsets. These devices are becoming increasing popular, both as a gadget and accessory, but despite how stylish they get, performance and comfort are still serious issues. Joe Selim takes a look at four very different products, two from Jabra and two from Plantronics, in order to make some sense of things."

Security and other Bluetooth bits

[Nefarious Wheel]

Commercial PIN pads used in EFTPOS transactions use Bluetooth too. While trying to get one certified recently I came up against a lot of anti-Bluetooth sentiment from the Security folk. Why does BT have such a bad name re security?

Re:How much longer?

[no_mayl]

http://www.med.harvard.edu/publications/On_The_Bra in/Volume3/Number4/Cochlear.html [harvard.edu]

Upgrades tend to be painfull.

Stereo headsets

[sonamchauhan]

Good to know the best of the mono headsets, but how come these stereo wraparound headsets+microphones aren't more popular?

Motorola Stereo Bluetooth headset [ebay.com]

Generic Bluetooth Headset : Headphone MP3 Player FM Stereo Radio [ebay.com]

Re:headset in public?

[monoqlith]

Could they do something about the "crazy person" headset wearing phenomenon? I can't count how many times I've walked down a city street thinking I was being followed by a schizophrenic talking to himself when it was actually a business executive wearing a headset talking to payroll, for instance. I know this isn't a fair portrait of schizophrenics, who are usually non-violent, but it's still creepy to have someone follow you who appears to have an imaginary friend.

I understand the hands-free necessity in cars - but is it necessary to wear a headset all the time? Are we getting too lazy to hold a phone up to our ears while walking? It may be uncomfortable and inconvenient, but it certainly clearly labels anyone talking on a phone as talking on a phone.

Re:What about while wearing glasses?

[Anonymous Coward]

Oakley's got you covered - RAZRWIRE (what a catchy name, BTW, even if it has nothing to do with glasses or bluetooth) - check http://oakley.com/o/o2261d [oakley.com]

Next you're going to tell me 'I was talking about _prescription_ eyeglasses'. So, trendy enuf to go Bluetooth, but not to go Lasik? Like, 'modern nerd'? Let me share a little secret with you - no Bluetooth headset is going to help you get a date with that cute redhead from Accounting, no matter how cool, if you don't drop first those 2-inch deep glasses ;)

Startlingly functional

[virgil_disgr4ce]

Something that continually impresses me is the prevalance of these devices among drivers and deliverers in New York. It's kind of amazing to see these near-future quasi-cybernetic earpieces worn by all sorts of very different people.

I think it's an excellent example of the fact that functionality and sheer usefulness will make or break any technology, and furthermore, that even the most "far-out" technology can and will be embraced by all walks of life if it fills a genuinely useful function. Some might see these devices and assume only the geeks or early adopters would give them any attention, but all over Queens and Brooklyn I see car service drivers with them, bicycling delivery guys, etc..

Re:Security and other Bluetooth bits

[Malor]

That's with standard antennas. If you deploy an antenna with enough gain, and a loud enough signal, you could talk to a Bluetooth device from kilometers away.

Kilometers would be extremely expensive, but a few hundred meters should be doable with Pringles-can-level equipment.

Re:Security and other Bluetooth bits

[plover]

A year ago Tom's Hardware ran this article [tomsnetworking.com] describing how some guys built a "Bluetooth Sniper Rifle". It has over a mile of range, and cost only a few hundred dollars to build. Less if you build it without the gratuitous gun stock.

Who Amazon.com thinks wears bluetooth headsets

[mopower70]

I hate these things. Of all the obnoxious, pretentious accessories to one of the most obnoxious pretentious pieces of technology ever invented, bluetooth headsets are the worst. I was therefore a little shocked when Amazon.com recommended that I might like one. Luckily, Amazon has this nifty little feature that lets you see why they made a recommendation, and lets you edit the triggers to refine future suggestions.

To set this up, earlier in the day I was reading a Fazed article about Amazon's new "personal care products" lines. One of the items they had under "personal care" was the Doc Johnson fist-shaped dildo. Hardy-har... Amazon's selling fisting aids.

Later in the day, I went back to Amazon to do some Christmas shopping, and there's this recommendation to purchase a Motorola HS805 Bluetooth headset. I've never bought anything related to a cel phone on Amazon so I couldn't figure out why it would make this suggestion. I clicked on the "Why was I recommended this?" link, and up pops this window http://www.juric.org/images/who_buys_borgsets.JPG [juric.org].

To this day, I can't look at anyone wearing one of those things without bursting out laughing.