Apple discontinues its iPhone Bluetooth headset
(Credit:
Apple)
Another day, another tidbit of news about a minor Apple product that most people don't care about.
In this case, it's the company's $100 iPhone Bluetooth headset; a MacRumors forum commenter noticed that Apple's Web site had a "discontinued" notice on the product.
When the headset came out in late 2007, we gave it a fairly positive review (it got 3.5 stars). However, readers weren't as keen on it, rating it at 2.5 stars. Buyers seemed to like the design and build quality but weren't as impressed with performance (sound quality, battery life).
Does this mean that Apple is out of the Bluetooth accessory game? Probably not, because the accessory game is such a good game to be in (as far as margins go). But the big question is whether Apple is getting ready to launch stereo Bluetooth headphones, now that the iPhone and iPod Touch will offer stereo Bluetooth support.
Good stereo Bluetooth headphones are hard to come by, so we'd like to see what Apple can deliver. Anybody else interested? Or are all Apple accessories (with the Apple name on them) overpriced for what you get?
(Source: Gizmodo via MacRumors)
Hunkered down in New York City, Executive Editor David Carnoy covers the gamut of gadgets and writes his Fully Equipped column, which carries the tag line "The electronics you lust for." He's also the author of "Knife Music," a novel. E-mail David. Follow David on Twitter. 
I doubt bluetooth earbuds are going to come around any time soon. Their too hard to build that small with any kind of good quality, and you'd lose them right away!
Ask yourself this question - who besides Apple is driving the technology in this market? Since the iPhone, nearly every single smartphone RIM or Google/Android have made, or even the much-anticipated-yet-sure-to-disappoint Palm Pre bear a striking resemblance to the iPhone in some form.
Plus, what Apple says, Apple delivers. Just look at Dell's smartphone status (cancelled due to lack of interest) and you'll see why people like reading about anything Apple. Hearing about what Motorolla is discontinuing to try to offset sliding profit margins is hardly news, this has been going on for a few years now.
My advice to you is to discontinue your internet service as the buzz surrounding the next gen iPhone gets into full swing sometime next month.
Just look at the Palm Pre - a more correct name would be Palm Post, as in "look what we can do Post-iPhone".
Now all the apple fans are saying 'oh we didnt need bluetooth anyway.. it really isnt useful, etc...'
Typical and comical!
Thank you guys for always giving the rest of the IT community a good laugh!
Now back to other devices that work, and other phones that actually support stereo bluetooth!
Yeah, Apple and their crappy devices...iPhones not working, iPods not working, Shuffles with no buttons...
Wait, the IT community has a sense of humor? The jury is still out on this... ;)
Trust me...
I love BT, but never tried Apple's.
Maybe it's time for them to make a better BT headset?
Earbuds?
At least Apple know when to QUIT!
Unlike the makers of the ZUNE!
And you laugh at US?
ROFL
I'm not sure what all of the other complaints are all about. Obviously I'm now more concerned about replacement or repairs.
And then they publically say it will be available after you pay for the OS upgrade:
http://news.cnet.com/8301-17938_105-10198524-1.html
I expect since the Touch is not meant to be a phone, that it will have a stereo headset and removing the mono earpiece from the offerings would tend to back this up.
Some day Apple will simply just tell it like it is without playing all these games. It's getting old, Apple. You're not helping your fans any with this sort of treatment.
This is the first Apple product that I was completely disgusted with. Although the design looks cool, for me, this headset simply didn't work well. It was always disconnecting from my phone. And, while I bought this so that I could talk on the phone while driving, I found that it was forcing me to take my eyes off the road to look at the phone to see if the thing was making a connection or was still connected. It was terrible.
Also, the audio frequently had static. There was no volume control. And whenever I talked on it, people would ask where I was because the sound quality from the microphone was so bad. Battery life was terrible as well. With normal use, I found I had to recharge it on a daily basis.
I think I paid $100 for it and felt that I was completely ripped off. This product certainly didn't live up to the Apple brand that appeared on it.
- by seven7dust March 24, 2009 12:26 PM PDT
- see even Apple make mistakes !
- Like this Reply to this comment
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(27 Comments)but unlike others they admit them and move on { eg-:Vista }