Check out our full review of the BlackBerry VM-605 Visor Mount Speakerphone.
(Credit: Josh P. Miller/CNET)"If you have a third-party Bluetooth-enabled device, you might be able to pair it with the BlackBerry Visor Mount Speakerphone VM-605."
That is Research In Motion's official line about the VM-605's compatibility. In English, this means that while RIM would rather you use this first-party accessory with its BlackBerry smartphones, there's nothing proprietary about it to prevent you from using it with your iPhone, Android phone, or Windows Mobile phone.
But why would someone without a BlackBerry even want a BlackBerry branded accessory in the first place? Well, the VM-605 has a feature set similar to our Editors' Choice-winning Motorokr T505 (including the nifty FM transmitter) and its MSRP is about $30 cheaper. Unfortunately, some of the design choices that make the VM-605 a more beautiful device than the T505 also make it a more fragile one.
Check out the full review of the BlackBerry VM-605 Visor Mount Speakerphone for more details.
Are you looking for a stereo Bluetooth headset that works as well for music as it does for calls? After spending a week with Altec Lansing's $99 BackBeat 903, I think I've finally hit on a Bluetooth headset that can successfully juggle both tasks without breaking the bank or making me cringe.
It's hard not to be picky when it comes to technology you wear on your head. Some people can't stand headsets that pinch their ears or rub against the neck, or they hate designs that make them look like blinking Bluetooth cyborgs. There's no perfect stereo headset for everyone, but so far, the BackBeat is one of the all-around best-sounding, best-fitting models we've tested in this price range.
To read the full review on the Altec Lansing Backbeat 903, head over to CNET Reviews.
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Corinne Schulze/CNET)
We're big fans of Alpine's line of car audio receivers, particularly the mech-less media receivers like the iDA-X305 that we recently reviewed. These receivers have great interfaces and work extremely well with iPods and removable drives, but they don't really offer very many features out of the box. This is where Alpine's line of add-on modules comes in, such as the Alpine KCE-400BT Bluetooth Interface Module.
The KCE-400BT is a hideaway black box that connects to your Alpine headunit via a high-speed, proprietary Ai-NET connection to add Bluetooth connectivity. Powered by Parrot--makers of the excellent sounding Minikit Slim--the KCE-400BT features an external microphone and Active Echo Cancellation technology for clear voice transmission. The additional benefit of using your vehicle's speakers and amplifiers for audio output means that callers' voices come through loud and clear.
Alpine has taken advantage of the addition of Bluetooth connectivity to a car stereo by also including support for the A2DP audio streaming protocol, effectively giving users a bonus audio source for connecting music phones and Bluetooth-enabled MP3 players.
Check out the full review of the Alpine KCE-400BT Bluetooth Interface Module. To add even more functionality to your Alpine receiver take a look at the Alpine TUA-T550HD HD Radio add-on module.
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James Martin/CNET)
As an increasing number of mobile phones incorporate a music player, more and more stereo Bluetooth headphones are unleashed onto the market. The audio quality offered is still not on par with wired models, but the headsets offer the advantage of cord-free listening. Still, size can be an issue for some: very few models offer an earbud-style design, and even then, there are often larger earpieces attached.
Sony Ericsson addresses this issue with its HBH-IS800 Wireless Stereo Headphones, which are the tiniest wireless earphones we've ever come across. With a suggested retail price of $200, this set is far from the cheapest, but if you're after a cord-free pair in the most compact package, the HBH-IS800 is the best option.
The Alpine iDA-X100 is so digital audio focused that it doesn't even have a CD slot.
(Credit: Corinne Schulze/CNET Networks)Whether on an iPod, a USB drive, or a cell phone that plays MP3s, more and more drivers are carrying an ever-increasing percentage of their audio on digital audio players.
These users don't want to go back to shuffling CDs when it's time to get behind the wheel, so car stereo manufacturers have responded to the market by including aux-inputs, USB ports, dock connectors, and Bluetooth connections in their stereos. We've compiled a list of some of the best car stereos for use with digital media.
I don't often get excited about Bluetooth headsets, but Altec Lansing's BackBeat series is definitely worth a look. CNET's David Carnoy already reported the details of these Bluetooth beauties earlier in the week, but I thought I'd add some of my first-hand impressions, as well as a few photos. Hit up the Altec Lansing BackBeat slide show for all the details.
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Read the full post at CNET's CES 2009 blog.
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Amazon U.K.)
It's been awhile since we've seen anything from U.K. audio manufacturer Acoustic Energy here in the U.S., but the company is returning to the American market with a stereo Bluetooth speaker system. The AE-29 Bluetooth Speaker--already available overseas--is a three-part system, so the detachable speakers can be placed up to 3 feet away from the 20-watt amp for maximum stereo separation.
The AE-29 offers one-button pairing to any A2DP-compatible Bluetooth audio devices for wireless audio streaming from many cell phones and music players. Alas, that list doesn't include the iPod or iPhone, but you can either get a Bluetooth dongle or use the AE-29's line-in port instead. The Acoustic Energy will retail for $220 when it debuts in November (at which time we'll have a full hands-on review).
More Bluetooth speaker coverage on CNET:
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CNET Networks)
At first glance, the Motorokr T505 seems like an average visor-mounted speakerphone. Its calls are clear. Its design is unobtrusive.
However, when we looked a little deeper and really explored its features, we found a much more complex and flexible device hiding under the T505's simple exterior. A2DP music streaming, a built-in battery, and a built-in FM transmitter make this device much more than just a speakerphone.
Philips latest MP3 player combines Rhapsody DNA and wireless audio.
(Credit: CNET Networks/Corinne Schulze)It's not often we get excited about a Philips MP3 player, but the Bluetooth-wielding, Rhapsody-integrated GoGear SA5245BT is a notable exception.
The GoGear SA5245BT sports a video-worthy 2.8-inch screen, along with a photo viewer, FM radio, voice recorder, and music player, for about $130 (4GB) and $170 (8GB). This GoGear MP3 player also comes embedded with Rhapsody subscription music DNA and an A2DP Bluetooth audio feature that works with both music and video playback.
If you're in the market for a wireless MP3 player with an accommodating screen, then be sure to check out our full review of the Philips GoGear SA5245BT and take a peek at our Crave photo gallery.
The Sony NWZ-A820 series Walkman has arrived, and it's a stunner. As a follow-up to our beloved NWZ-A810, the A820 includes a larger screen, brilliant EX-style earphones, a detachable kickstand, and best of all--wireless Bluetooth audio.
As we reported back in February, the NWZ-A820 comes in both 8GB and 16GB capacities, priced at $270 and $320, respectively. If you don't care about Bluetooth, an identical-looking version of the player (the NWZ-A720) can be snatched at a discount.
We'll have our in-depth review of the NWZ-A820 Walkman up later this week. In the meantime, check out our Crave photo gallery.
