YUBZ has released a new entry in its line of Bluetooth cellphone headsets, the CLIPO. The device features a separate earpiece with a retractable cord; this allows the main portion of the CLIPO to be attached to a person's shirt or jacket. The earpiece also fits directly inside the ear, in order to cancel out background noise.
At least two new BlackBerry accessories are well into development, according to RIM accessories VP Antoine Boucher. The first is a new Bluetooth headset, so far codenamed the Alpha 1, which uses an over-the-ear loop combined with a molded in-ear bud. The unit is said to be larger than the BlueAnt Q1 but smaller than the Jawbone Prime, and equipped with noise cancellation as well as a micro USB charging port, now standard on RIM hardware. The device is however limited to mono output, as well as simple on/off and dial/hangup controls. Text-to-speech and speech-to-text functions may be supported in the future.
Electronics maker Jabra, presenting at the CTIA Wireless show, has unveiled the HALO Bluetooth headset, which provides A2DP stereo support. The minimalist headset also has a 3.5mm audio jack for use with devices without Bluetooth transmitters, and noise cancelation managed through a combination of dual microphones and Jabra's Noise Blackout technology.
Apple has stopped selling its official Bluetooth headset for the iPhone, store listings reveal. Though the product's page exists, and it can still be added to online shopping carts, Apple has newly marked the device as "discontinued." The headset was first launched with the original iPhone in June of 2007, and dropped in price from $129 to $99 in 2008, while also losing its bundled dual-dock.
Peripheral maker Razer has announced a new headset, the Megalodon. Intended for gaming, the unit has a microphone for voice chats and commands, with sensitivity adjustable through a desk-based control module. The headset's focus however is on simulating 7.1-channel surround sound, a task handled through a decoder which Razer claims is eight times faster than similar chipsets. As necessary, the control module also lets users toggle back to 2.0-channel sound, and tweak settings for bass, volume and positioning.
Headset manufacturer Jabra has scheduled another Bluetooth device, the BT530, to be released in September. Weighing only .35 ounces, the headset is claimed to be one of the smallest available, and capable of pairing multiple desk and cellular phones at the same time. The ear hook can be removed, and Jabra includes eight different sizes of "Eargel" to customize for a user's particular ear shape.
Not every computer has a built-in microphone or speakers, and to fix this problem, you typically have to connect your own peripherals through multiple cables. Worse may be that if the cables aren’t long enough, you’ll still be tied to the computer if you want to make use of the hardware. To avoid these two problems, Logitech offers its ClearChat Wireless headset.
Accessory maker H20 has introduced a new product for iPods, the iSH2 headset. The unit is designed explicitly for second-generation Shuffles, and waterproofs them to a depth of 10 feet. The Shuffle is safeguarded in a case on the back of the head, which still has controls for playing, pausing and skipping tracks; the silicon earbuds are meanwhile designed to hold out water, when used in tandem with included earplugs, and can clip to swimming goggles.
New versions of Aliph's popular self-titled Bluetooth headset have been released, according to an announcement. By default, Jawbones are available in grill-shaped red, silver or black designs; celebrity designer Yves Behar, however, has helped fashion three new models, part of a "very" limited-edition run. The Sweet Talk Jawbone is gold-tinted, and has a small floral etching. The Trash Talk headset is white, and has a "censored" expletive on its side; the Dirty Talk model is all-black meanwhile, and is engraved with a woman's silhouette.
Timing the launch with this week's Macworld Expo in San Francisco, Etymotic has released two new cellular headsets, the hf2 and the etyBLU. The hf2 is based on the company's ER-4P audiophile earbuds (pictured), but is intended specifically for iPhones; this means the inclusion of a microphone, as well as an end/send switch which doubles as a track skip button. The primary feature of the headset though is noise isolation, which may cut out as much as 42dB of external sound. It can be used with standard 3.5mm audio outputs when not attached to an iPhone. The hf2 set is selling now for $179.
Bluetooth purveyors BlueAnt have announced two new devices through the CES expo in Las Vegas. The first of these is the V1 Voice Controlled Headset, which as its name implies, allows users to control "most" functions through audio commands rather than pushing buttons. Pressing a single button activates the voice system, which will list available commands if the user asks for help. The headset uses Bluetooth 2.1, and actually supports connections with two phones simultaneously, by switching to the ringing phone when necessary. The V1 comes with car/desk and USB chargers, and can handle up to six hours of talk time, or 200 hours (over eight days) of standby. It should be available soon for $119.
