The Jabra Halo stereo Bluetooth headset, open and folded.
(Credit: Jabra)I was quite impressed with the Jabra Halo stereo Bluetooth headset when I first saw it at CTIA 2009 in Las Vegas. It looked thin and lightweight, and promised to be the first wireless stereo headset with dual-microphone noise cancellation. Indeed, it was our cream of the crop nominee for best accessory at the show.
Now Jabra has made the Halo official, announcing that it'll be available for sale in Best Buy retail stores next week. Other features of the headset include multipoint technology, eight hours of talk or music time, Zirene Power Bass, and a 3.5mm cord option in case you can't or don't want to use Bluetooth. It also folds down to a more compact shape. The suggested retail price is $129, which may seem a bit costly, but if the HALO delivers on its promise, it would be well worth it.
The Jabra HALO Stereo Bluetooth headset can play music wirelessly as well as make and receive calls.
(Credit: Jabra)Jabra introduced two new devices today at CTIA 2009, and neither of them are traditional mono-Bluetooth headsets. They are the Jabra HALO stereo headset and the Jabra SP200 speakerphone.
The Jabra HALO stereo headset uses stereo Bluetooth or A2DP to stream music wirelessly from a stereo Bluetooth-compatible handset or MP3 player. It also has a wired option if your device only has a 3.5-mm headset jack and no Bluetooth. Like other stereo headsets, you can also use the HALO to make and receive calls; the music will fade out whenever there are incoming calls, for example. It boasts Zirene Power Bass for better audio quality and Noise Blackout for background-noise reduction. The Jabra HALO claims to be the first and only stereo headset with dual microphone noise cancellation.
The Jabra SP200 Speakerphone is for in-car use.
(Credit: Jabra)As for the speakerphone, the Jabra SP200 is a simpler version of the Jabra SP700 of last year. This speakerphone is designed to be used in the car for hands-free calls. It boasts excellent audio quality, background-noise reduction, and can also be used as a standalone speakerphone in the home or office.
The Jabra HALO stereo headset will be available for $129.99 in May, while the Jabra SP200 speakerphone will be available for $59.99 in April.
(Credit:
Jabra)
Another case of life imitating art. Jabra has made a reality out of the cliched scene depicting a harried broker with a phone receiver in each ear.
Having long prided itself for its multitasking abilities, Jabra is once again showing off that prowess with its M5390--which allows for the use of two headsets simultaneously. That way, according to Tech Digest, you can use your mobile phone device in one ear and a desk or Skype headset in the other.
It's not the first time that Jabra has come up with a dual-receiver product, though the earlier version was designed to provide stereo music. The latest offering, on the other hand, is for the true telephonic addict.
Jabra has just announced the Jabra BT4010, which is the latest Bluetooth headset with a LCD display to hit the market. Sometimes we like headsets with displays, since it can help in displaying caller ID, but the BT4010's screen is so small, it looks as if it can only show battery and pairing status. We'll have to wait until we get more information about it to know for sure. It has the usual digital signal processing and a rated six hours of talk time, though we don't know the availability and pricing yet. [Source: Phone Arena]
(Credit:
Crave Asia)
If you've always wanted to create your own design on your Bluetooth headset, here's your chance. The company behind the Jabra brand is holding a contest in Singapore for budding product designers.
Create a winning faceplate look, the company promises, and you'll get to see it in a new headset. The "Design By You" contest, which runs until December 14, hopes to pick five top designs to be made into faceplates for the upcoming set of Jabra BT3010 headsets.
The current BT3010 headset already comes with 33 interchangeable faceplates designed by winners of an international design competition who hail from countries all over the world, including Japan, Australia, Turkey, Italy, France, Honduras, and the United States.
(Source: Crave Asia)
(Credit:
Fareastgizmos)
Optimus Prime it's not, but the latest Jabra headset does something of a Transformer act of its own. The BT8030 model at first looks like a conventional set of headphones until it changes into a pair of laptop speakers or even a conference phone when connected via Bluetooth.
And if a call comes in while music is playing, the headset will automatically pause the MP3 file so you can answer it, according to Fareastgizmos. The multi-tasking gadget is kind of the big brother of the BT8010 earphone combo we saw earlier this year.
There's been no word yet, however, when either version will come out in gold.
Good
(Credit: Jabra)
Bad
(Credit: Gadget Candy)Contrary to popular belief, Crave doesn't hate every attempt to adorn gadgets and their accessories. It's true that the fashion gremlins have been hard at work spreading their atrocious taste to headsets, for example, but every once in awhile they miss one--and the result is something as beautifully designed as Jabra's JX10 Bluetooth line.
Thankfully, the company exercised sufficient self-restraint with its luxury versions, which Luxurylaunches says come in 24k gold plate and stainless steel. Of course, once we learned that the headset was the work of a former Bang & Olufsen designer, it all made sense.
Jabra's BT8010 expandable stereo Bluetooth earphones
Sometimes you chat. Sometimes you listen to music. Sometimes you alternate between the two on your music phone. And sometimes you alternate between the two using two different devices. Oh, why can't there be one Bluetooth earphone to handle all these situations?
Well, there is--the Jabra BT8010, to be released in the next couple months. First, it's a regular, single, over-the-ear Bluetooth earpiece with an OLED display that shows caller ID. You can also transfer up to 30 contacts to the headset in case you don't want to reach for your cell phone to make a call. Jack in the second earpiece and now you have a Bluetooth 2.0 stereo headset with AVRCP--Audio/Video Remote Control Profile--that lets you pause, skip, and reverse from the headphone (assuming the music device is equipped with the AVRCP profile).
But even better, the BT8010 ($149) earphones can connect to two Bluetooth devices simultaneously, such as a phone and a music player equipped with Jabra's A120S stereo Bluetooth adapter. You'll be able to talk for up to 10 hours or listen to music for up to six hours on a charge, or keep 'em in your pocket for nearly two weeks of standby tine.
The one drawback to this dual earpiece arrangement--one more small gadget to charge and then lose.
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