Gadgetell | Tech News, Reviews, and Interesting Things

Comfortable headsets are great when you can find them. If they are cordless it’s even better. Now add the ability to listen to your iPod wirelessly for up to 10 hours straight. If that is not enough – what if you and three other people could share the wireless connection? Have I peaked your interest yet?

Kleer (good name when talking about headsets) and DigiFi have joined their resources to give us a cordless headset with CD quality sound known as Opera. A bit rich at $98 but an interesting concept I must say.

Opera is not your ordinary headset. It wraps from behind your head and up over your ears. Earbuds make this headset unobtrusive and as far as looks are concerned – streamlined comes to mind.

Read [Kleer] Via [Gear Live]

Boosted has just introduced a trio of new headphones, the Grande (pictured above), Pequeno and Stiloso (pictured below), all of which are available in a few colors and are designed for the “technologically savvy individual.” The headphones all have a standard 2.5mm jack, come with a variety of adapters and feature an in-line microphone that will allow you to switch between your music and call.

The Grande headphones are an over-the-ear style, while the Pequeno are an on-ear style and both feature a soft touch surface with swivel earcups. The Stiloso offer a classic vintage look. The Stiloso and Grande headphones are currently available and retail for $52 and $70 respectively.

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While we certainly love our computers and gadgets, some times we just have to put it all aside and get out into the fresh air and sunshine. Skullcandy has just released a backpack that will not only keep you hydrated, but also entertained thanks to the built-in speakers.

The backpack allows you to plug in your MP3 player or cell phone and then listen to music or talk handsfree with the speakers that are located in the upper section of the arm straps. The Skullcandy Hydration backpack includes a 72-ounce water-tight bag that will keep your feeling fresh, along with plenty of storage room for the other items needed for your adventure.

The backpack also includes a built-in CD/DVD holder which although a nice option sounds like it goes a little against getting outdoors and making good use of the hydration pack. Either way, the Skullcandy Hydration backpack comes in gray/orange, is currently available and retails for $129.99.

Via [SlashGear]

“Athletic Performance Sensing and/or Tracking Systems and Methods” is the title of a new patent applied for by Nike, in relation to its collaboration with Apple on something called Nike+iPod. While you probably thought that Nike finally ditched Apple when it released the Nike+ Sportband, this new patent reveals that Nike and Apple are actually on planning a few new things for their Nike+iPod team up, including adding support for activities other than running (such as yoga, karate, pilates and free weights) aside from expanding into the iPhone and iPod touch lineup.

When the idea behind this patent bears fruition, expect it to provide you with ways to create customizable workouts, motivational playlists, and specific feedback for your sessions in order to help you keep track of your performance, whether you’re actually improving or not.

Well it’s about time they got to work on this thing. With all the gleaming tech under the hood of the iPhone, it’s not unusual to hear Nike+iPod being able to do all of this. And as with all great things, the question of course, is when, where, and how much?

Read [USPTO] Via [iLounge]

Iomega has announced the new ScreenPlay HD Multimedia Drive, a portable external data storage device touting a 500GB storage capacity provided by a 3.5 inch 7200rpm NTSF formated hard drive.

The ScreenPlay HD Multimedia Drive comes with a remote control to help you navigate through your collection of digital content and has support for various media formats including MP3, AC3, WAV, WMA, MPEG-1, MPEG-2, MPEG-4 and JPEG. It also features both HDMI and component video outputs that you can use to display high-resolution digital photos and video on your display of choice. With these connections, you can choose your preferred video settings from either 480i, 480p, 720p or 1080i.

The ScreenPlay HD Multimedia Drive is currently available in the US and retails for $209.95, and is expected to ship internationally sometime in May for around $282.

Via [Far East Gizmos]

Don’t think USB charger connectors are overrated? Maker of Bluetooth headsets JayBird does. That’s why it has implemented a new kind of charger for its new JayBird JB-200 Bluetooth headphones. The patent pending JayBird charging design consists of a “small flat metal charging material on the inside surface of the right ear piece, which when sliding the headset into the custom slot on the charging dock connects the headset to the power supply” for charging. And other than this novel new feature, this funky looking pair of Bluetooth headphones will do you good for 5.5 hours with music and 6.5 hours during calls. The standalone headphone set will set you back $130 a piece, although there are other choices for sales packages including one with a complementary Bluetooth adapter that’s compatible with 3.5mm headphone jack toting devices. It’s small enough to carry around everywhere you go, and yet it manages to pack some nice noise cancellation technology in its body. With headphones like these, who needs rock music?

Via [Just Another Mobile Phone Blog]

While we are taking some time getting our full thoughts down, we wanted to show off the pics of the latest gadget to make its way into the Gadgetell headquarters. Its the Kicker iK500 iPod speaker system. While we have the iK500 which is made exclusively for the iPod, Kicker also has the zKick ZK500 for the Microsoft Zune.

Aside from the obvious difference that one is made for the Zune and the other for the iPod, they both offer the same features. The systems both ship with a remote control that offers a full range of options, and have two 5-inch woofers, two 3/4-inch tweeters, one 6-inch square reflex subwoofer that are powered by a 40-watt stereo amplifier. In addition they both have a 1/8-inch stereo aux-in jack and stereo RCA out. They both measure in at 8.5 x 19.2 x 8.4-inches and weigh 9.2-pounds.

The iK500 includes eight dock inserts that will allow for just about any iPod to fit snugly in place, and the ZK500 comes with three inserts to fit the various available Zune players. The iK500 and ZK500 both retail for $299.99 and are currently available. During our (so far brief) testing the system sounded great and worked well with a variety of iPods, to include the nano, Shuffle and even the iPhone, while in airplane mode. Be sure to check back for our full review and in the mean time enjoy the pics…

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Only days after the announcement of the NFC-enabled Nokia 6212 Classic, there is already an NFC-compatible accessory that goes with it. The Parrot PARTY Black Edition, according to its makers, is the first in the world to commercialize Near Field Communications Technology or NFC. What this means is that not only is it small and portable, but it will be very easy to pair up with compatible devices and pump up the volume. It’s not just easy, it’s ridiculously easy. Think knocking the two devices against each other and you get the picture. Other than being NFC-enabled, this baby also comes with a built-in Class-D amplifier, two drivers that collectively pump out 6 watts of power, Stereo Widening, and a so-called Virtual SuperBass technology. It’s portable and will have a rechargeable battery, so you can take it anywhere you go with your NFC-enabled device. The cost? A mere UK£ 79.00 or about $160 US. Pirate crew not included.

Via [Pocket Lint]

Sennheiser is offering a trade-in program of sorts for your old headphones. Whether “new, old, broken or used” all you have to do is choose the style of headphones that you want to purchase, fill out their form, gather up your old headphones and mail them in. The trade-in value depends not on the style of headphones that you are sending in, but on the style that you are getting from Sennheiser. The value will range from $5 for Street Earbuds up to $25 for Noise Canceling models. So if you were thinking about replacing those nasty or broken headphones, Sennheiser may be worth checking out. The trade-in offer is valid from April 1 through July 31.

Read [Sennheiser (pdf)]

JVC is releasing a new high-end model to its bi-metal in-ear canal headphones – JVC HA-SX500. If you are wondering what a bi-metal headphone is? Just think of old times and try to recall those folding headphones that we used to wear to listen to our precious Sony Walkmans. Well, that’s exactly how the JVC HA-SX500 looks.

But don’t even think that this new JVC headphones is a clone of those old Sony ones. JCV is actually touting this product as a high-end addition to their bi-metal headphone lineup. By high-end it simply means that JVC has designed this headphone to produce high quality sound through a Bi-METAL structure. The HA-SX500 also reduces friction noise while increasing comfort during prolong used. Less friction noise means, better audibility.

Now for some even more good stuff, the HA-SX500 are lightweight and should fit comfortably and securely while at the same time delivering superior isolation from both external sounds and sound leakage. The headphone was designed ergonomically with silicon rubber earpiece supported by cushioned metallic foldable headband. What this simply means is you’d probably enjoy using the headphone without straining your ears that much.

And finally, as a way of responding to the sign of the times, JVC is throwing in a plug that connects the HA-SX500 with the iPhone. If you don’t mind pairing your iPhone with this old looking headphone, then be prepared to spare around $79.95 sometime this month when JVC officially released the HA-SX500.

Via [Crave] Read [JVC]