Gadgetell | Tech News, Reviews, and Interesting Things

Product: Plantronics Explorer 370 Bluetooth Headset
Price and Availability: $79.95, Retail availability beginning in March 2008.
Rating: 8/10
Pros: Good sound quality, very solid and rugged design.
Cons: Headset fit was slightly uncomfortable, which could have been more of a personal issue.
Overall: Overall a nice sounding, durable and easy to use headset.

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Plantronics has announced a new rugged “military grade” Bluetooth headset, the Explorer 370. While it’s really just another Bluetooth headset, the Explorer 370 has been tested and certified under MIL Spec 810, which means it is resistant to water, dust, and shock. Most readers will probably not put the “military grade” headset to its full limits but the 370 should be more than capable to stand up to heavy outdoor use without having to worry much about. In addition to being water, dust, and shock resistant the Explorer 370 also has a new “windscreen technology” to “ensure users experience clear calls no matter what the environment.”

The Explorer 370 also has the standard features to include volume controls, answer and end call controls, last-number redial and voice-activated dialing. It has a micro USB adapter for charging and offers up to seven hours of talk time and eights days on standby. The Explorer 370 Rugged will retail for $79.95 and hit the stores in March.

Keep an eye out for a full Gadgetell Review on the Explorer 370 shortly.

Read [Plantronics]

Microsoft probably have a parking space permanently reserved outside the European Commission due to the amount of anti-competition investigations they have had thrown at them. So guess what? Yep, two more investigations are on the way, the first to look at whether Microsoft unfairly ties its Explorer Internet browser to its Windows operating system, the second will look at the interoperability of Microsoft software with rival products.

This inquiry follows on from complaints made by Opera which we covered at the time, and the pan-European software-makers group European Committee for Interoperable Systems.

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If you haven’t been following, we are in the middle of giving away tons of gadgets in celebration of our one year birthday and site redesign. We have already given away a sweet sounding iPod dock, a 1080p network media DVD player, an ultra zoom digital camera, and an super slim cellphone. For this week we are giving you four chances to win a set of Plantronics headsets. Complaints because we are going too big with this contest? (It is about 4 sets of $500 giveaways) Too bad, it’s Black Friday weekend!

What exactly can you win? How about:

• one Plantronics Pulsar 590 stereo headphones ($250)


• one Discovery 655 bluetooth headset ($150)


• and an Explorer 350 ($90) bluetooth headset for a friend

To enter: All you have to do is leave a comment, any comment. Extra points if you tell us a great Black Friday story or deal. This post will close Monday (the 27th), and then we will pick four winners at random, assuming you don’t cheat, as well as post a new giveaway!

The rules…

The Rules:

• You may only enter this contest one time


• You can only win once during the extent of the “v2 giveaway” contest, but can enter each one


• The winner will be sent a notice via email and has 72 hours to reply with their mailing address to claim their prize—make sure you use a valid email address
• You will be shipped your prize as soon as we get it into the mail, but don’t worry it’s coming

Good luck!

Plantronics held a savvy press event in New York last week. I was lucky enough to snag a ticket, drink some drinks, snap some pics, try on some new headsets, and got a few models back here in the lab for an upcoming Gadgetell review. Until then, enjoy these shots of the event and some commentary on the new headsets that will be hitting electronic and wireless stores in the near future.

In the end, all I have to say is that I had no idea that designing a headset was more than an art and some tech but a biological science--Plantronics has earned an A in my book.

The Plantronics Pulsar 590E Bluetooth Stereo Headset delivers stereo wireless freedom. Seamlessly switch between your phone conversations and your music so you’ll never miss a call. The cushioned earpieces provide comfort and the foldable headset design makes the headset portable. A retractable voice tube and omni-directional microphone allow for clearer calls. With up to 12 hours of talk time and 10 hours of listen time, you can enjoy hours of wireless listening on your stereo Bluetooth enabled mobile phone.

The Plantronics Discovery 655 Bluetooth headset is their top of the line unit that fuses technology with a sleek, ultra-light design. With Digital Signal Processing (DSP), the Plantronics Discovery 655 reduces noise levels to provide enhanced sound for clear conversations. It weighs only 9 grams, provides up to 10 hours of talk time, comes with an innovative AAA charging pocket (boosting 30 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. It will sell for $149.99.

Based on the Plantronics Discovery 640 Bluetooth headset, the Discovery 640E lets you stay connected with great comfort and convenience and a similar charging system to the 655. With multipoint technology, you can seamlessly switch between two Bluetooth audio devices making moving from your home, to the car, to the office extremely easy. It will sell for $119.99.

The Plantronics Explorer 330 is a affordable, lightweight headset that offers Bluetooth technology for a hands-free ticket free driving experience. The Explorer 330 headset incorporates all call features—volume, answer/end call, last-number redial, and voice-activated dialing—into one button, like its predecessor. Delivering up to eight hours of talk time, the Explorer 330 will sell for $79.99.

The Plantronics Explorer 350 is almost identical to the 340 but comes with convenient in-car accessories for charging and stowing, the Explorer 350 lets you keep your headset handy and charged while you are on the go. and in one place so you don’t have to fuss around while you are driving.