Gadgetell | Tech News, Reviews, and Interesting Things

LG was showing off their line of mobile phones and accessories at tonight’s last night’s CES Unveiled. While we have played with many of the handsets before (the Chocolate, VX8600, enV...) there were a few bluetooth headsets that we had not yet touched—but we can’t say that anymore. We also threw in a runway shot of all the flavors of the chocolate family as well as an extremely dusty micro DVD player system.

Earlier today, we had a chance to talk to Gennum at CES Unveiled.  The product they were highlighting was their new nX6000 Bluetooth headset.  The device, which I have to say looks like a little mouse, is a slick new addition to your ear.  It’s light-weight - at only 10.9 grams - and fits snuggly on your ear.  Battery life is impressive as well, coming in at 6 hours of talk time, and 90 hours of standby time.  It’s also got Gennum’s new FRONTWAVE Extreme noise cancellation technology to filter out unwanted noise.  Check out some more shots and other products after the break…

And a box shot of the nx6000…

The company also showed off their semi-new Skype certified nXZEN VoIP headset, which offers the same noise cancelling technology as the nx6000.  When combined with the nXZEN USB audio dongle, you’re on your way to wire-free VoIP talkin’.  The unit also has a button that allows call answer/terminate
and last number redial so you can control your Skype when you’re walking around the house / office.  7 hours of talk-time, 100 hours of standby.  The nXZEN is now available for $169.

Read [Gennum]

Here’s an interesting piece of accessory: a Bluetooth headset the size of a coin that doesn’t hook to your ear, but fits inside it. The Argard M10 looks quite stylish, and apparently will be quite light, only 5 grams in weight and 23 mm x 22 mm x 31.5 mm in size according to the specs. Argard claims that it uses energy saving and battery technologies to squeeze up to 3 hours of talk time and 100 hours of standby time.

It’s a nice concept, but with a bigger part of the headset (the coin looking part) blocking someone’s ear to replace the hook, won’t that act as a muffler and make them half deaf most of the time? Also, this will make people look even sillier in public (yes you look silly always walking around with your headset, not cool). Whereas before you could tell that they were on a call with a BT headset, with this M10, they’d just look like they’re talking to themselves PERIOD. Not sure if that’s a good image for a society already overloaded with weirdos and lunatics.

There’s no information about release date or pricing as yet, and this seems like the only product the company has. I’m not even sure how long this company has been in business, as their site says very little about who they really are, other than that they are located in Bangkok, Thailand. So I say it’s either going to be very good because they need to make a great first impression, or full of issues since they’re not that experienced. This remains to be seen until the product comes out.

Product Page [Argard] Via [Electronista]

The Aliph Jawbone has an appropriately striking name to go with the striking Yves Behar bluetooth headset design. The Jawbone is the first adaptive Bluetooth headset with military-grade noise-canceling Noise Shield technology, in an effort to virtually eliminate background noise. The headset continuously adapts to users’ changing environments (500 times per second to be exact), originally developed by Aliph for DARPA (The Defense Advanced Research Projects Agency) to enhance communications hostile and rugged environments (like NYC streets on the way to work).

The Jawbone is able to determine precisely when you are speaking and separates your speech from other sounds nearby and then subtracts external environmental sounds from your speech signal. The headset comes in at 14 grams and can be worn on either ear. Earloops are included in four different sizes and shapes to ensure a customized fit and feel.

The Jawbone Bluetooth headset was awarded an CES Innovations Design and Engineering Award and an iF Product Design Award. The first version of Jawbone has been exhibited at both the New York Museum of Modern Art and the San Francisco Museum of Modern Art.

Jawbone is currently available exclusively at select Cingular Wireless retail stores nationwide for $119.99 and is compatible with all Bluetooth handsets.

Read [Jawbone] Via [Slashphone]
Read [Gizmodo Review]

MobileBurn thinks it looks like a needle, SlashPhone thinks it looks like an in-ear thermometer, and Gadgetell thinks it looks like a Bluetooth headset (just giving you a hard time, guys).  Sony Ericsson’s new Bluetooth headset, the HBH-IV835, is clearly meant to be simple.  The design is sleek and slim, with only an ear-bud, a microphone, and a button for control. 

You’re asking yourself, “but where are the volume controls?” The answer is simple… there aren’t any.  The volume is actually adjusted automatically so you don’t have to fumble with it while you’re driving or typing, or whatever it is you do.  Looks like MobileBurn also noted that the IV835 wiggles freely from your ear if you’re doing much more than just sitting still.  Let’s just hope the volume doesn’t blast you away and give you no way to control it.  I assume you can still control it manually on your phone if you find the need.

Read [MobileBurn] Via [SlashPhone]

A while back we went to a Plantronics press event where they showed off a bunch of their new headsets. After the plush party we got some hands on time with the Discovery 655, meaning that we can bring you another peep show. The Plantronics Discovery 655 Bluetooth headset is their top of the line unit that offers a bunch of unique features and accessories. It has Digital Signal Processing (DSP), weighs only 9 grams, provides up to 10 hours of talk time, comes with an AAA charging pocket (boosting 10 more hours), a vibrating docking station, an USB charger attachment, 3 ear gel sizes, and an ear hook that is so unnecessary because the headset is already so comfortable. I feel that it is the best headset that i have ever used. There are no complaints from the ginny pigs on the other end of the line and I find it to be extremely comfortable. I do have some issues with the 3 buttons: the multifunction call/answer/switch calls button is very hard to press. It is going for $149.99.

Click on for more snap shots.