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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."
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
Generic Bluetooth Headset : Headphone MP3 Player FM Stereo Radio
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.
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..
Limina.Log
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.
A year ago Tom's Hardware ran this article 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.
John