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All posts tagged "bluetooth"


Thursday, August 23, 2012

Are you Ready for a Wireless Audyssey?

Posted by Hooch Tan in "Digital Home News" @ 02:30 PM

http://www.engadget.com/2012/08/22/...omputer-stream/

"The new Wireless Speakers are cut from the same mold, but feature redesigned drivers and Bluetooth functionality -- not to mention a snazzy matte white with glossy black finish. $250 snags you pair of speakers, each loaded with two .75-inch tweeters, a duo of three-inch woofers and a dual four-inch passive bass radiators, and all of which are aided by Audyssey's BassXT, EQ and Dynamic EQ DSPs for pushing sound out."

While there are options such as AirPlay or Squeezebox, another option for streaming music is through Bluetooth. Many smartphones and tablets come with this capability, and allow you to pipe your favourite tunes through something more substantial than speakers that are the size of your fingernail. Though with other solutions, including things like uPnP, I imagine that the only benefit of streaming through Bluetooth would be better battery life.


Thursday, May 5, 2011

Creative Goes Bluetooth Speaker Crazy with ZIISOUND DX Series

Posted by Jason Dunn in "Digital Home Hardware & Accessories" @ 02:48 PM

http://www.creative.com/corporate/p...e.asp?pid=13223

"Creative Technology Ltd today announced the launch of a brand new category of wireless speakers, the ZiiSoundTM Dx series of pure wireless modular speakers. The ZiiSound Dx series consists of the ZiiSound D5x wireless one-piece speaker, ZiiSound D3x wireless one-piece speaker and ZiiSound DSx wireless subwoofer. These speakers are set to redefine the home audio experience for consumers and establish a new standard for how retailers sell speakers. With the introduction of pure wireless modularity, Creative changes how consumers can purchase a home audio system."

Creative seems to be all-in on Bluetooth audio, which is something I can't say about Apple, Microsoft, or any other major player in this space. I honestly don't have enough experience with Bluetooth audio to understand how good the quality is, but Creative is going after this market with a lot of gusto - so it must sound decent enough for home theatre needs.

They've also released a new line of Bluetooth headphones and an affordable one-piece Bluetooth speaker.


Sunday, February 27, 2011

Altec Lansing InMotion Air Wireless Bluetooth Speaker System Reviewed

Posted by Jason Dunn in "Digital Home Hardware & Accessories" @ 01:00 PM

http://www.trustedreviews.com/mp3/r...eaker-System/p1

"Every year the gadget world is swamped by new buzz words, technological breakthroughs or product types that we simply must buy into. For music fans the must-have gadget is a dock and the buzz word it must now have is 'AirPlay' - Apple's wireless streaming connectivity capable of supporting lossless audio. So can we take a wireless speaker with none of this functionality seriously? Actually yes..."

Bluetooth-based speakers tend to be more on the "suck" side of the spectrum than the "awesome" side, but it seems Altec Lansing has pulled a rabbit out of their hat here and delivered a system that actually allows Bluetooth-transmitted audio to sound good. Go figure! If you've got a Bluetooth device and want to listen to music without having to connect it to a speaker dock, this looks like a good solution.


Thursday, December 30, 2010

Bluetooth Speaker Review: Jawbone Jambox vs. Soundmatters foxL v2

Posted by Jason Dunn in "Windows Phone Articles & Resources" @ 07:00 PM

http://www.engadget.com/2010/12/28/...-foxl-v2-fight/

"Two portable speakers clamber into the ring, each boasting big, beautiful sound for their diminutive size. Both cost $200. Both have the same technology inside. The Jawbone Jambox and the Soundmatters foxL v2 with Bluetooth each want to be your wireless audio wunderkind, blasting music and taking Bluetooth calls. At best, you're only going to buy one. Which speaker should you choose? Following our Jambox review, we got our hands on a foxL and put the two head to head, and after the break you'll see which one came out on top -- both literally and figuratively."

What's that? You have the powerful desire to be able to break-dance no matter where you are, putting on a show for passers-by? Then, boy, you'll want to read this review to pick the best wee speaker to allow said possibility!


Tuesday, August 10, 2010

Rock On With Belkin's Bluetooth Music Receiver

Posted by Hooch Tan in "Digital Home News" @ 11:00 AM

http://gear.ign.com/articles/111/1111257p1.html

"You never know how much of an inconvenience something is until you experience a functional alternative and Belkin's Bluetooth Music Receiver does exactly that for those listening to music in the home. If you have an existing set of speakers or home theater system and you want to connect your iPod, smartphone, or MP3 player to it, you either have to use a direct stereo jack or your stereo must support a dedicated dock connector."

Wirelessly streaming music is a wonderful idea! So wonderful that a few companies have made attempts at offering whole home solutions as impressive prices. While some may be able to afford the absolute best in a music system that spans dozens of rooms, all synchronized with block rocking beats, others wants a simpler, more economical solution. Belkin has made an entry that makes sense. A lot of PMP like devices, from iPhones to Android devices, to your laptop notebook include Bluetooth, with most of them capable of streaming through the A2DP profile. The music is not quite up to audiophile standards, but good enough for casual listening. I have used it in the past and have certainly been pleased with the results. Does anyone else have a low cost streaming setup?


Thursday, February 25, 2010

Can There Really be One Protocol to Connect it all?

Posted by Hooch Tan in "Digital Home News" @ 01:00 PM

http://jkontherun.com/2010/02/24/wi...pter-standards/

"Yes, I realize I’m ranting a little here and you’re probably thinking, “what’s the big deal as long as it works?” If you’re asking that question, you probably haven’t used a mobile device that has a limited number of USB ports. I have, and I simply don’t want to clog up a USB port needlessly for a mouse. I have 3G adapters, flash drives, portable external USB hard drives, phones and cameras that I’d rather — or must — use with those ports."

Bluetooth is great. I use a Bluetooth keyboard and mouse at home. I have a Bluetooth headset at work. My car talks to my phone through Bluetooth. Some of my best friends use Bluetooth. As flexible as it is, there are still some limitations that prevent it from becoming the all in one solution for peripherals that it was originally dreamed to be. First, and possibly most importantly is that the power drain, while improved, is still pretty high with Bluetooth. Bluetooth mice cannot hold a candle to ones that use a proprietary connector when those mice start boasting battery lifespans of six months or more. Second, Bluetooth is not simple. There is the whole pairing process that provides security and hassle. Sure, one can theoretically pre-pair Bluetooth devices with specific receivers like Logitech, but then you are back to the same problem as before. Of course, there is the potential that Wireless USB could be THE solution, but right now, it looks like the cost of using Wireless USB is about the same as the GDP of some countries. Until then, there are always mini USB hubs for when you run out of ports!


Thursday, October 15, 2009

Wi-Fi Trying to Replace Bluetooth?

Posted by Chris Gohlke in "Digital Home Hardware & Accessories" @ 03:30 PM

http://www.engadget.com/2009/10/14/...ifi-wares-sca//

"After years of waiting for some sort of serious rival in the short-range communication realm, the Wi-Fi Alliance is doing what it should've done eons ago. Starting sometime in mid-2010 (if all goes to plan, of course), a Wi-Fi Direct specification will be published, enabling WiFi'd devices to connect to one another without some sort of WLAN hotspot nearby."

About time, I always wondered why they didn't do this from the start. My one concern would be that too many devices could really pollute the spectrum.


Tuesday, May 12, 2009

Phoenix Freeze Bluetooth Authentication

Posted by Chris Gohlke in "Digital Home Hardware & Accessories" @ 03:00 AM

http://www.phoenixfreeze.com/

"Often the best ideas are the simplest. A laptop which locks itself as you walk away with your Blackberry® or iPhone™ and unlocks as you return. Cool, easy, secure! Just think of the benefits: One: More security - Freeze is designed to lock an XP or Vista based laptop when you walk away from it and unlock it when you return. All you need to activate the service is a Bluetooth® enabled mobile phone. Once you step out of the "zone of safety" your laptop is locked and your data is safe."

On the surface this looks pretty cool, I've seen versions of this idea using proprietary hardware, but letting it use a Bluetooth device you already have is a unique way to deal with it. Probably more than adequate for the home user, but without some further research, I'm not sure Bluetooth security is robust enough to make this the only form of authentication used on a corporate network. However, as part of a well-designed multi-factor authentication system, it certainly has potential. Notebooks.com has a video showing how this works.


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