Bluetooth Ready Headphones coming

Brad Isaac · #1 07-01-2004, 12:56 PM

One of the limitations of the Bluetooth standard is that stereo sound wasn't considered early on in it's design. The engineers planned for it to produce local networking and cellphone headset sound (mono). However, with Bluetooth's recent explosion, people have longed for much more. iPodlounge has some info on the new i-PHONO Bluetooth headphones. These would provide stereo sound and allow you to make calls while using them.

"Bluetake has announced the i-PHONO, an iPod-compatible Bluetooth wireless stereo headset featuring DSP noise reduction, fold-out microphone for use with phones, collapsible behind-the-neck headband design for carrying and storage, and changeable color plates. More interestingly, because it can be paired with multiple Bluetooth devices, you can receive and make phone calls while listening to music. i-PHONO is priced at $249 and "coming soon."

jkendrick · #2 07-01-2004, 02:25 PM

how do iPods work with Bluetooth?

Brad Isaac · #3 07-01-2004, 02:57 PM

It appears there would be a little miniplug bluetooth module that would communicate the signal to the headphones.

bkbroil · #4 07-01-2004, 09:37 PM

They're $249

But I like the idea that bluetooth headphones are making their way to the market. I need to tell my brother who just purchased a Dell Axim X30 that has bluetooth. Cool!

jkendrick · #5 07-01-2004, 11:37 PM

But if you have a dongle anyway then why not just use regular headphones?

bkbroil · #6 07-02-2004, 02:18 AM

Quote:

But if you have a dongle anyway then why not just use regular headphones?

because they're bluetooth...you have to be able to say....."Look, I'm using bluetooth!"

bluemax · #7 07-02-2004, 05:07 PM

I've not been much impressed by bluetooth capabilites but I have to admit I really don't know much about it. Is there some web site or book that explains what bluetooth is able to do? I'd like something that explains the underlying technology a bit without getting too deep.
For example I've been told that I would not be able to use a bluetooth headset with a usb bluetooth adapter. I'd like to better understand why.
Thanks,

jkendrick · #8 07-02-2004, 05:14 PM

Start here- it's a good presentation overview of BT from BostonPocketPC
bt presentation

Brad Isaac · #9 07-02-2004, 05:23 PM

Bluemax, before you buy a book or something, these forums might be able to help.
When I first started getting into bluetooth, it was explained to me this way:
You'd have several BT capable devices like a cellphone, computer, desktop phone, PDA, car stereo, headset, GPS unit. You could then "pair" all of these devices with each other. Once they were paired, in order to say - send a contact from your PDA to your cellphone, you'd simply click a contact and choose "send to bluetooth device"/cellphone and the contact would be ready and waiting in your cell phone.
My most used bluetooth function is to connect my iPAQ to my cellphone and check email via the AT&T GPRS network. This happens so easily, that no matter where I am, as long as I have a cellphone signal, all I have to do is hit "send/recieve" in Pocket Inbox and the two bluetooth devices do the rest

BT headsets can be cool too. A call comes in, you push a button on your wireless BT headset and you are talking! No wires, no fumbling...
Think of bluetooth as a way to locally ditch wires. There are bluetooth mice and keyboards that operate where IR keyboards and mice fail. There are bluetooth dongles that let you connect your PPC to your home computer for wireless Activesync and Internet access. There are bluetooth GPS units that sit on your dashboard and let your PPC navigate from the back seat of a car if you want to - again, BT allows you to ditch the wires.
Hope this helps get you started!

Brad

bkbroil · #10 07-03-2004, 01:10 AM

I'm a little confused....My brother has the Axim X30 w/bluetooth....does he need the audio dongle with this bluetooth headset? (That would be a shame if he does.)

Brad Isaac · #11 07-03-2004, 01:04 PM

Here is my guess. It would depend on how the phones picked up the “stream”. If They utilize a standard TCP or UDP port (IE like shoutcast) to receive the transmission, then we might be in business. However, I think this is unlikely and that a custom app would have to be built.

bkbroil · #12 07-09-2004, 01:59 AM

Quote:

I'm a little confused....My brother has the Axim X30 w/bluetooth....does he need the audio dongle with this bluetooth headset? (That would be a shame if he does.)

From the Gadgeteer Hands On Review : Bluetake i-PHONO BT420EX Stereo Headphones :
I was able to pair up with the Pocket PC (HP 2215), but this pairing didn't allow me to use the headphones to listen to audio. The problem is that there needs to A2DP profile on the PPC that allows you to route the audio through Bluetooth instead of the built-in speaker. Such a profile does not exist.