Gaming : New Xbox 360 Bluetooth headset unlocks business casual achievement

The new Xbox 360 wireless headset has a form factor that ought prove familiar to anyone who has ever watched a businessman chew out his secretary while ordering at latte at Starbucks. The peripheral connects wirelessly to the console via its standard radio frequencies -- its similarities to a non-gaming Bluetooth headset are more than just skin deep, however, with the earpiece doubling as just that, making it compatible with Bluetooth-ready phones and PCs. This one says "Xbox 360" on it, however, to help you avoid accidentally being mistaken for a stock trader. The headset will go on sale in November for $60. Also newly announced is the Xbox 360 Media Remote, which controls streaming content, CD / DVD playback, and live TV viewed through the console. The remote will be available for $20 around the same time as the headset.

 

Tech : Check out Canon's X Mark I Mouse Lite, pairs ten-digit calculator and Bluetooth laser mouse

Have you ever looked longingly at your mouse, noting its underutilized input device real estate? Canon has, replacing that excessive unused space with a built-in calculator in its X Mark I Mouse, announced today for folks in the US. (If you'll recall, we spent a few quality moments with this guy in Germany last year at Photokina.) The combo device provides users with both a physical ten-digit adding machine and a numeric Bluetooth 2.0 keypad, which you can use seamlessly with a variety of apps, replacing the number pad now absent on many desktop and portable keyboards. The company's camera design team helped to create the hybrid input device, which also includes a trio of mouse buttons and laser tracking. Canon also announced its X Mark I Keypad, a full-size calculator with Bluetooth support that's powered by either AAA batteries or a built-in solar panel. Both devices will be available for $60 in August and September, respectively, and will ship in both black and white.

Canon X Mark I Mouse Lite

Press Release

CANON U.S.A. ANNOUNCES NEW DESKTOP ACCESSORIES FOR TODAY'S BUSINESS PROFESSIONALS

New Products Expand Canon Technology into New Markets

LAKE SUCCESS, N.Y., July 26, 2011 – Canon U.S.A., Inc., a leader in digital imaging, has strengthened the X Mark I series of products today with the launch of two new desktop business accessories, the X Mark I Mouse Lite and the X Mark I Keypad. Designed with input from Canon's Camera design team, these sleek and stylish products are the ideal extension to a laptop's standard keyboard, helping to improve overall work efficiency for business professionals working remotely.

"The addition of the X Mark I Keypad and X Mark I Mouse Lite marks Canon's entry into a new product category," said Yuichi Ishizuka, executive vice president and general manager, Imaging Technologies and Communications Group, Canon U.S.A. "Canon recognizes that business professionals are always on the search for tools that help improve work efficiency and we feel these new products will certainly accomplish this task."

The three-in-one Canon X Mark I Mouse Lite combines the functionality of a laser mouse in addition to a keypad and 10-digit calculator making it ideal for the traveling business professional along with anyone interested in minimizing the number of accessories in a workspace. Available in either black or white, the X Mark I Mouse Lite is compatible with Windows PC or Mac laptops, has three mouse buttons and Bluetooth 2.01 connectivity. In addition, this new mouse has a low battery indicator to avoid running out of power unexpectedly.

Designed for the on-the-go business professional, the Canon X Mark I Keypad provides users with a two-in-one keypad in addition to a 10-digit Semi-Desktop Calculator that can be easily paired with either a Windows PC or Mac laptop through Bluetooth 2.01. Powered by solar and AAA batteries, the X Mark I Keypad is available in black or white.

The Canon X Mark I Mouse Lite will have an estimated selling price of $59.99 and is expected to become available in August while the Canon X Mark I Keypad will have an estimated selling price of $59.99 and is expected to ship in September.

Car Tech : Jabra Freeway Bluetooth in-car speakerphone hands-on

 

Jabra was parading its Freeway in-car speakerphone last night at CTIA so we took a chance to watch the show. So what separates it from the myriad of like devices? Well, for one it sports 3 speakers for decent stereo audio quality -- for a change -- a couple mics to reduce ambient noise, a motion sensor that turns the set on automatically when you hop in the car, and voice control for just about every control on the device. Talk time is touted as 14 hours with 40 days standby time and retail pricing looks pinned at $129. Our demo included some music playback in a very noisy space, and while the high end sounded a bit harsh we were suitably impressed coming from a rather thin and light device. Follow on for a few more pics of the Jabra Freeway.

Jabra Freeway bluetooth in-car speakerphone hands-on

Tech : Video - inPulse Bluetooth smartwatch gets Facebook Places check-in app for Android

Ever since Allerta released an SDK for its well-hyped inPulse smartwatch, it was only a matter of time before we start seeing more practical applications that take this Bluetooth peripheral beyond the BlackBerry ecosystem. For instance, the latest example comes from the inPulse's very own Lead Designer Eric Migicovsky, who happens to be a fan of Facebook Places and possibly an Android convert. Rather than having to pull out his Nexus One for every check-in, Migicovsky can now use his simple app on his inPulse to grab a list of nearby locations off the phone, and then check in with just a click of a button. Pretty neat, eh? For those interested, you can grab the project code off inPulse's website and get programming. 

 

5 reasons to get the BlackBerry Wireless Headset HS-300

For a little while now, I’ve been using the BlackBerry HS-300 Wireless Headset. I’m very fond of it at the moment now, more than my other headsets for many reasons. I’m pretty much wrapped up with the review and will be posting it up here in the next few days, but I thought I’d give you some key reasons why the BlackBerry HS-300 is the headset to choose. Usually I throw in the price factor, where I didn’t this time since you all know by now that the HS-300 retails for only $49.99. I saved the 5 reasons for other valuable ones instead .

It’s small and compact

The HS-700 is a really nice headset but my biggest issue with it is that it’s way too big. I’m a fan of the Jawbone ICON which is small and compact. When the HS-300 launched, I couldn’t believe its size so it definitely attracted my attention. Some of you may favor it being big, but I think smaller headsets are more “in this season.”

It charges fully in 30 minutes!

Chargining for 15 minutes gives you 2 hours talk time, and 30 minutes gives you 4 hours respectively. The HS-300 makes it real convenient for a short time charge, making it more possible to have it around with you all day.

Talk time up to 4 hours

Most headsets get this any way so it sounds like no big deal. But this statistic factors in with the whole 30 minute full charge so it definitely is a plus.

Audible voice prompts

It may not be your cup of tea, but having voice commands through your headset is awesome. You can perform actions such as checking the battery life where you’ll be told right through the headset how much talk time is left with you current battery charge.

Easy ON/OFF switch

If there’s anything that pisses me off, it’s headsets where you have to hold down a single button for a few seconds to turn it on and off. The BlackBerry HS-300 gives you a dedicated power key that’s very straight forward: flick one way for on and the other for off.