headset

Finnair business travelers flying between Helsinki and Shanghai will soon have the chance to be test subjects on the effect that "brain stimulation" headphones have on jet lag.

The $240 earbuds, made and tested by Finnish company Valkee, already blast LED lights instead of music into desperate and willing ear canals with the intention of alleviating seasonal affective disorder. (The company has claimed, too, that the light helps improve reaction time--at least in Finnish hockey players.)

Now Valkee is working with the airline Finnair to determine whether the lights may instill a sense of well-being in long-distance … Read more

During my recent vacation, I rediscovered the importance of owning good headphones. Specifically, noise-isolating earbud 'phones, the kind that allow you to watch a movie on an airplane, listen to music in a noisy coffee shop, and go for a run without wind noise drowning out your tunes.

Alas, my earbuds are always going missing--or getting permanently "borrowed" by certain family members who shall remain nameless (all of them). That's why when I see a deal, I like to stock up.

While supplies last, J&R has the Altec Lansing Muzx Core MZX206 noise-isolating stereo headset for $12.99, … Read more

I'm one of those Bluetooth people--you know, the guy who's always got a weird flashing thing stuck in one ear and you can never quite be sure if he's actually listening to you. But I can take the stares and the eye rolls and the mockery, because I know the rest of the world just doesn't understand what we have; my old Jabra BT8040 headset and I have been through a lot together.

In the rural area where I live, many folks don't have e-mail or any kind of smartphone yet, so I can look particularly ridiculous jogging down the road or snowshoeing a high-altitude trail with an earpiece jammed in the side of my head. But it's worth it--my Bluetooth is my window on the world.

Most of my time online is spent on work, leaving little time to follow news and podcasts or check out new music. Whenever I'm not staring at a laptop, I'm probably driving, exercising, or doing chores with my trusty BT8040 in my ear getting caught up on those sorts of things, or with friends and family on the phone. In short, I constantly hear little voices in my head in more ways than one.… Read more

If you're in a healthy relationship, the last thing you should probably be doing this Valentine's Day is playing video games.

But if you're a "playa" who can juggle Gears of War and a significant other at the same time, be careful when using Microsoft's new wireless headset for the Xbox.

Former UFC champion Quinton "Rampage" Jackson learns the hard way in this commercial, which illustrates how things can quickly go from good to embarrassing while using the headset.… Read more

Smartphone buyers eager to grab the Nokia Lumia 800 face good news and bad news. The Windows Phone handset will reportedly hit the U.S. next Tuesday, but it could carry a price tag of $899.

Citing "sources close to Microsoft's Lumia launch plans," The Verge picked up this latest scoop on the phone (Note: this links to a Google-cached version of the story--the Verge link isn't working for unknown reasons.)

But consumers expressing shock over the price should know that it's for a so-called Lumia 800 "bundle" that includes a Nokia Play 360 Wireless Speaker, … Read more

Mark Ecko beefs up its Unltd.Sound series of streetwear headphones with two new over-ears blasted with bright colors.

The company today announced the Exhibit headphones that make bold statements in green, blue, red, gray, and white. The guts feature standard 40mm drivers but the presser makes no mention of an in-line remote control to control music on smartphones, which sounds irritating for users that prefer to keep their devices in a backpack or tucked away in a pocket.

The bright designs of the Exhibit headphones are inspired and extended to Ecko's matching CE accessories that include a range … Read more

Chalk this one up as one of those products that falls into the stupid but brilliant category.

In fact, the first time a lot of people see the direct-response TV ad for the GoJo Hands Free Headset, they're not sure whether it's a spoof or not.

But oh, no, it's real. Very real. And the GoJo's billed as "the only phone accessory on earth that's truly hands free." Better yet, it works with all cell phones, even cordless phones, and it doesn't require batteries. Rather, it simply has a suction cup that … Read more

TGIF, am I right? To help kick off your weekend, I've rounded up five eclectic deals--a little something for everyone, I hope. First up: a ridiculously inexpensive HDTV.

1. An story in today's USA Today suggests that pre-Super Bowl TV deals are "less super" this year, but apparently Walmart didn't get the memo. They've got the Sceptre X460BV-FHD 46-inch LCD HDTV for $409.98, plus sales tax where applicable. You can bag free shipping with the site-to-store option. The user reviews are overwhelmingly positive.

2. Today only, 1SaleADay has the factory-refurbished Jawbone One Bluetooth headset, in black or silver, for $9.99. … Read more

LAS VEGAS--Wireless headsets for consoles are nothing new, but one that's officially licensed by Microsoft for the Xbox 360 is totally unheard of.

Today Mad Catz introduced the very first of its kind under its newly acquired Tritton division, and it's shipping immediately. Dubbed The Primer, the wireless stereo headset was developed closely with Microsoft to "look and sound superb." Mad Catz claims it's the best value at its price ($100), but I'll be weighing in with what I think when I review the cans in the coming weeks.

Information is still vague on how exactly The Primer will connect to a 360, but a base station is still part of the setup. I'm not sure if the rig will bypass the annoying controller tether that all of these wireless headsets have historically required, but one would hope the codevelopment with Microsoft resulted in perks that go beyond just a seal of approval.

The rest of the headset's specs seem par for the course, including separate game and chat volume controls and an adjustable boom mic all operating on a 5.8GHz wireless spectrum.… Read more