(Credit:
Josh Miller/CNET)
While we're sure there are more accessories to come, two add-ons that will be readily available when the Motorola Droid launches on November 6 are the Multimedia Station and Phone Holder for Droid. Verizon announced their official pricing on Thursday with each device costing $29.99.
The multimedia dock turns the Droid into a hub where you can easily access your music, photos, and videos and use it as a bedside alarm clock and weather station. It also serves as a charger.
Meanwhile, when the smartphone is placed in the Phone Holder, it will automatically bring up a navigation menu where you can view maps, search for points of interest, or get voice-guided turn-by-turn directions with the new Google Maps Navigation app.
The only accessories packaged with the Motorola Droid include an AC adapter, a USB cable, and a 16GB microSD card.
(Source: Gearlog)
(Credit:
CrackBerry.com)
As if checking e-mail on your BlackBerry wasn't addicting enough, there may be an accessory in the works that may just fuel your habit. CrackBerry.com has posted images of what it's claiming to be actual renderings of a BlackBerry watch.
The site claims that the Bluetooth accessory is being developed by a new, dedicated BlackBerry accessory company and will be branded as the inPulse Smartwatch. It's not meant to be a replacement for your BlackBerry but rather shows your notifications and previews of incoming messages for those times when you can't pull out your BlackBerry; for example, during meetings, while driving, and so forth.
CrackBerry says the InPulse will have an OLED screen that's optimized for displaying text clearly and will have solid battery life.
"Connected watches" haven't had the most successful run in the past (read: Microsoft Spot watches), though the LG Watch Phone certainly has piqued some people's interest. While the InPulse is just a rumor right now, what do you think? Useful or a waste of time?
Sony Ericsson's MS500 is the company's first outdoor Bluetooth speaker system.
(Credit: Sony Ericsson)They're a far cry from the classic boombox and they don't carry that bit of nostalgia of the good 'ol days (shoot, am I dating myself here?), but Sony Ericsson's new Bluetooth speakers will certainly turn heads and achieve the same goal of broadcasting your music wherever you go.
The Sony Ericsson Outdoor Wireless Speaker MS500 is the company's first outdoor Bluetooth speaker system and is powered by two AA batteries so you can bring it with you anywhere and stream music for up to five hours.
Using Bluetooth, you can wirelessly stream music from "most" of Sony Ericsson's Bluetooth-enabled phones as well as other manufacturers. (You can find a list of compatible phones from Sony Ericsson's Web site.) In addition, you can use your handset as a remote control to change tracks and adjust volume.
The egg-shaped MS500 weighs a lightweight 5.4 ounces (with batteries) and features a splash-proof shell and a strap for attaching to your bag or wrist. The speaker will be offered in two color combo options: orange/black or white/pink. Sony Ericsson said the Outdoor Wireless Speaker MS500 will ship in the next three months, though pricing was not yet revealed.
The BS300 is truly pocketable.
(Credit: Samsung)You don't need much more than your MP3 player--whether it's a standalone device or an app built into your cell phone--to enjoy all your favorite tunes on the go, but certain accessories can up the entertainment factor.
For example, if you spend a lot of time in hotel rooms, a portable speaker is practically a necessity, allowing you to rock out without being tethered to your headphones. In fact, why not do away with the wires entirely? One of the more advanced features you can find in portable speakers on the market today is built-in Bluetooth technology. This wireless protocol lets you stream music from any device with integrated A2DP technology, which can be found in most media-centric cell phones (save the iPhone) and even a handful of dedicated MP3 players.
The speakers often include integrated keys for controlling music playback, and some even offer mics for use as a speakerphone--and, really, we see no reason not to kill two birds with one stone.
Jawbone's new fit earbuds are among the new accessories announced by Aliph.
(Credit: Nicole Lee/CNET)Accessories for a Bluetooth headset may seem a little much, but Aliph has recently announced a few new add-ons to its popular Aliph Jawbone 2 Bluetooth headset. First, it addresses a few complaints about the Jawbone 2 fit with these new fit earbuds. These rubber ear cushions come with an additional rubber loop made to fit securely within the folds of the outer ear, so you won't need the Jawbone ear hook any more. Aliph also claims that these new ear cushions will make it easier for consumers to place the Voice Activity Sensor correctly.
The Jawbone car charger has a USB cable.
(Credit: Aliph)Next is the Jawbone car charger with USB cable, which is exactly what it sounds like. Nothing much more to say about this silver-looking bullet, except that it will cost you around $29.99. The aforementioned new fit earbuds are free with any new purchase of the Jawbone 2; we're currently checking to see if existing customers will have to pay for them.
UPDATE 11/11/08: According to Aliph, the new fit earbuds will be available around the end of November, free of charge to new and existing customers.
(Credit:
GeekAlerts)
I've seen some hair-brained (hey-ooooo) ideas in my time, but this just might take the cake. For those of you who find Bluetooth headsets or the wired headsets that come with your cell phone too pedestrian, here's something that will certainly turn heads: a wired headset that looks like a hair dryer. Trust me, I wish I were making this up.
Yes, for just $7.59, you can talk to your family and friends through a hair dryer and be the object of various onlookers' ridicule envy. The cell phone hair dryer headset comes with various adapters that should work with most Nokia, Samsung, and Sony Ericsson cell phones. But all I have to say is: really? Really?!
Yeah, I'm going to go ahead and nominate this for Brian "Flash" Tong's "Do Not Crave" segment on the weekly Crave vodcast. Do not want.
(DealExtreme via GeekAlerts)
Click the pic for more photos
(Credit: Logitech)If there's one thing Logitech does right, it's progress. The accessories company has been churning out iPod speakers for years, and its experience in this area shows in each new product. Rather than resting on its laurels, Logitech chugs forward with tweaks and improvements. Such is the case with the Pure-Fi Mobile speaker, the company's first stereo Bluetooth model. This ultracompact unit features a sleek, high-quality design, compatibility with all audio devices, and some nice extras. The $149.99 price tag isn't exactly a bargain, and audio quality isn't stellar, but the speaker is a good value given the features and travel-friendly design. Read the full review.
The Logitech Pure-Fi Mobile: Bluetooth speaker with rechargeable battery
(Credit: Logitech)As it's moved beyond PC speaker systems, Logitech has produced some of the better "cheap but good" iPod speakers we've seen in recent years. And now the company is adding a portable Bluetooth speaker to its lineup. The Logitech Pure-Fi Mobile boasts four 2-inch speaker drivers--two active, two passive--and a rechargeable battery that (according to Logitech) will deliver 12 hours of AC-free playback time. In addition to supporting wireless streaming from A2DP-enabled audio players, the Pure-Fi Mobile can double as a standard Bluetooth speakerphone. If wireless isn't your thing, the speaker can also accept any stereo audio source via its auxiliary line-in jack. And to round things out, it can double as a PC speaker via the USB port, which can also be used to recharge it. To complete its travel-ready pedigree, Logitech also throws in a soft carrying case.
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The Gold Lantern VisorTalk adds caller ID to the hands-free equation.
(Credit: Gold Lantern)There are plenty of Bluetooth hands-free speakerphones for the car out there, but the Gold Lantern VisorTalk distinguishes itself with a caller ID display--all the better to screen calls while you're on the road. Otherwise, the VisorTalk--so named because it clips to the sun visor--has all the standard features covered: It sports Bluetooth 2.0 (for pairing with any compatible cell phone) and a full duplex speakerphone, and the rechargeable battery is rated at 8 hours talk time and 200 hours standby (a car charger is included). And that "H" button centered below the display is a "hot-line" number that you can set for any favorite number you choose. Sure, it may not beat the text-to-speech caller ID feature on the Sony Ericsson HCB-150, but the $75 street price on the Gold Lantern is less than half what you'll pay for the Sony Ericsson. The VisorTalk is available now.
(Credit:
DLO)
There's clearly no shortage of speaker sets for the iPod, but what about its call-happy brother the iPhone? In fact, since it uses the same proprietary 30-pin connector as its phoneless counterparts, the iPhone works with many of the sound systems that were designed with the iPod in mind. However, none of those speakers have integrated technology to prevent electromagnetic interference. That's where the new DLO Portable Speakers for iPod come in. (How's that for creative naming?)
The speakers, which cost a reasonable $49.99, offer an interference-free amplifier. The unit also comes with two orbiting speakers that can be placed in any configuration around the base, which can hold the iPhone--or iPod Touch, for that matter--in either portrait or landscape orientation. As such, there's no dock connector, and the iPhone/iPod won't be charged in the base. You can, however, use the 3.5mm connection to connect any audio device. The speaker can be powered by the included AC adapter, or by four AAA batteries, making it quite the versatile unit. Plus, each speaker snaps onto the base to create an enclosed, six-inch ball for easy transport. Neat!
Nope, that's not a Sony Rolly.
(Credit: DLO)
(Credit:
DLO)
