Arctic Sound, a division of Arctic Cooling, has recently unveiled a new set of headphones, the P311 headphones are over-ear stereo bluetooth headphones with built in microphone and audio controls. These headphones are perfect for any device with bluetooth support: music players, laptops, mobile phones, or even iPad. The P311s deliver big sound for a relatively small set of headphones. You can fold them up, pop them into the included carrying case, and take them on the go with you. They’re also the ideal set of exercise headphones; they’re sure to stick comfortably to your ears, there’s no cords or wires to get in your way, and you can keep your music player out of harms way.

Package Includes:
-Arctic Sound P311 Earphones
-USB charging cable
-Protective Travel Case
-User Manual

Set Up:
The set up is not much different than setting up any other bluetooth device. Put the headphones into discover mode by holding the play button for 7 seconds, then find P311 from your bluetooth device, and pair. There’s no passkey to worry about.

Design:
The Arctic Sound P311s are compact in size. They use the over-ear style with the frame that runs around your ear and behind your head. Visually, they don’t look like headphones that would fold up, but the headband folds in two areas and swivels at two points. With a bit of pressure, the headphones easily fold up to a much more portable size. Each ear phone has comfortable cushioned ear pads large enough to form a nice seal on your ear. On the outside of the right ear phone are five buttons. The center button is the multipurpose button, the four around it are next track, previous track, volume up, and volume down. The multipurpose button functions as On/Off, Play/Pause, Answer Call/End Call, and can even be used to call your last phone number, or access voice controls (if your device supports it). The other ear phone has the same design, but there are no functional buttons on it. Also on the right ear phone is the Mini-USB charging jack, covered by a small rubber flap, and a status LED with will blink red or blue. P311′s rigid frame is quite flexible, which allows it to function as a one-size-fits-all headset. The frame is all black and the ear phones are black and gun-metal gray.

Features:
Arctic Sound P311s are A2DP bluetooth headphones that deliver high fidelity audio. They have a bluetooth v2.1 + EDR profile. They’ll connect to just about any popular bluetooth audio device; cell phones, laptops, computers, and mp3 players. There is an invisible microphone built into the right ear piece for making phone calls or recording audio. It uses clear voice capture (CVC) technology to isolate the users voice from the unwanted background noises. The audio and volume controls can be controlled straight from the headset. If your bluetooth device supports it, you can even make, answer, and ignore phone calls by using the headset’s multipurpose button. With an iPhone, you can double tap the multipurpose button to bring up voice command. You can then request to call somebody or play any music you wish to hear.

Performance:
The Arctic Sound P311 headphones exceeded our expectations. For an inexpensive set of headphones, especially for stereo bluetooth headphones, Arctic Sound P311s deliver some awesome sound. We were just pretty satisfied with our last set of Arctic Sound headphones, but it seems that Arctic Cooling has come a long way since then. The bass in the P311 is deep and not overwhelming. The highs are clean and crisp. The mid-range audio was even pretty darned good for such a compact set of headphones. The P311 offers a great overall listening experience.

The bluetooth range of these headphones is also above average. The range is sufficient enough to listen to your music from the opposite side of a large room or an adjacent room. Once you get more than one wall away, or 15-20 meters, from the bluetooth device, the music will begin to cut out. The audio won’t degrade, it will just cut out. All bluetooth headphones and speakers have a delay. The delay on the P311s are also better than average; meaning when I press play my music starts playing immediately, not one second later. Videos are watchable, but the mouths can be slightly misaligned with the audio.

The headphones remain very comfortable even after a two hour workout or after a nap on the train. They do a great job of staying firmly in place. The headphone frame runs over the top of your ears and behind your head. This means they don’t have to squeeze the life out of your head just to stay in place. Making or receiving phone calls on your P311s is a treat because you don’t have to shut your music, or take off your headphones, or speak directly into anything. You can just talk regularly, and when the call is over your music will resume. I received feedback from my callers that there were times that the reception sounded grainy. I was still able to have full length conversations despite sounding grainy at times. The caller always sounded perfect on my end.

The only gripe I had with the P311s is the incompatible track control buttons with iPods, iPhones, and iPad. You can play and pause, but you cannot skip tracks or go to previous tracks. You can use voice commands on the iPhone to achieve this function, but it’s not quite the same as just pushing the button.

Conclusion:
For just $37.95, Arctic Sound is really offering us a lot of value here: A comfortable set of headphones, that sound great, are bluetooth wireless, have a microphone, built in controls, fold up, and come with a free carrying case. This is also a small price to pay for the ultimate set of gym headphones. There’s no cords getting in your way, they stay securely and comfortably against your ears, you can leave your phone or device out of harms way. Plus, you can totally rock out at the gym to these awesome sounding headphones. Even as just a bluetooth headset for making and receiving phone calls, they’re worth the $38. The Arctic Sound P311, by Arctic Cooling, is not yet available, but we highly recommend them, so jump when they do become available.

Good: Wireless! Great audio quality, Comfortable, Microphone, included carrying case, amazing at the gym
Bad: Previous Track and Next Track buttons are not compatible with Apple devices

Welcome to Engadget's Back to School guide! We know that this time of year can be pretty annoying and stressful for everyone, so we're here to help out with the heartbreaking process of gadget buying for the school-aged crowd. Today, we have mobile phones in our sights -- and you can head to the Back to School hub to see the rest of the product guides as they're added throughout the month.

Continue reading Engadget's back to school guide: Fun Stuff!

Engadget's back to school guide: Fun Stuff! originally appeared on Engadget on Thu, 26 Aug 2010 14:21:00 EDT. Please see our terms for use of feeds.

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Continue reading EFO rolls out credit card-sized iPazzPort mini Bluetooth keyboard

EFO rolls out credit card-sized iPazzPort mini Bluetooth keyboard originally appeared on Engadget on Thu, 12 Aug 2010 23:17:00 EDT. Please see our terms for use of feeds.

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We're admittedly using our Jump To Conclusions Mat a little bit here, but we're pretty sure Apple's Magic Trackpad (or whatever they'll end up calling it) just got FCC approval -- and considering how tightly Apple usually manages its FCC dealings, this could mean it'll be announced as early as this week. A device known only by its model number A1339 is the culprit here, described as a "Bluetooth Device" used in conjunction with a MacBook without any associated filings for WiFi or WWAN networks. The ultra-rough label location diagram is definitely the right shape for the accessory, and what's interesting is that the test report was completed way back in October of 2009. Has Apple seriously been sitting on this thing for the better part of a year? Keep a close eye on the Apple Store for this one, folks.

Update: It's been pointed out to us that the previous leak shows a model number of A1339... so yep, there you have it. Thanks, Eric!

Update 2: In case you needed any more evidence, page 45 of the test report specifically identifies the product being tested as a "Bluetooth Trackpad." Thanks, Tobias!

Apple's Magic Trackpad gets FCC approval? originally appeared on Engadget on Mon, 19 Jul 2010 13:13:00 EDT. Please see our terms for use of feeds.

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If you carry your sheet music in a laptop, AirTurn's got a USB dongle for that, but if you've migrated your musical cues to an certain slate, never fear, Bluetooth is on the way. The AirTurn BT-105 will bring the company's page turning technology to iPad, using a transmitter that attaches to standard professional footswitches, allowing you to turn full pages and half pages of sheet music while keeping hands firmly affixed to your instrument. Though there's no word on price, we imagine it'll cost close to the existing 2.4GHz version, which runs from $40 for a dongle to $100 for a package with two Boss pedals, and when it surfaces in Q4 of this year, we're hoping it will extend bicycling input to all the other wild and crazy apps you dream up. PR and video after the break.

Continue reading AirTurn's BT-105 footpedal is a real page turner (video)

AirTurn's BT-105 footpedal is a real page turner (video) originally appeared on Engadget on Mon, 19 Jul 2010 09:06:00 EDT. Please see our terms for use of feeds.

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Shocking as this might sound, there are no only a few games in which iPhone and Android users can go at each other in live multiplayer mode. Exploiting this vast void is Social Gaming Network, whose Skies of Glory aerial dogfighting title has been ported to Android (2.0 and above) while retaining the ability to communicate with iOS devices over WiFi, 3G or Bluetooth connections. Frankly, we can't think of a better game to get the cross-platform multiplayer movement going: fAndroids and iPhoneys gunning each other down while talking smack to themselves should prove therapeutic for both parties. On a more serious note, given the tireless growth that both platforms are showing, this kind of thing should hopefully tend toward being the rule rather than the exception.

Update: Our readers have sagely reminded us that Raging Thunder 2 and Homerun Battle 3D have done the cross-platform dance already. The more the merrier, we say.

Continue reading Android versus iPhone live multiplayer gaming made possible in SGN's Skies of Glory

Android versus iPhone live multiplayer gaming made possible in SGN's Skies of Glory originally appeared on Engadget on Mon, 19 Jul 2010 06:45:00 EDT. Please see our terms for use of feeds.

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Swept underneath the hype of the HTC Evo and Droid X lurks the Droid Incredible. Interest is still, well, incredibly high for this Droid but a growing number of users are concerned about the incomplete Bluetooth stack it shipped with. More »



Bluetooth - Wireless - Data Communications - Droid - Smartphones

The StyleSynch Ultra Slim Bling Bluetooth Headset is quite a mouthful for something so small! It does not disappoint though. Most notably, this headset has low radiation emission. So in ten years, your ear tumor will be smaller then everyone else’s. But seriously, we could all do with less radiation, and more sparkles.

Design wise, it lives up to it’s name. The StyleSynch Ultra Slim Bling Bluetooth Headset is impressively slim, at about a 1/4 inch thick exactly, and lightweight, about 6 grams. It is made with RoHS (Restriction of Hazardous Substances) compliant aluminum which explains how it’s light weight. It fits remarkably comfortably, even without the removable earwrap. The ear wrap was a bit of a bother for me. But that could just be my big ears. It seemed a little too rigid to properly hold to my ear and kept fighting with the upper flap of my ear, pushing it down. I just went without it and was very happy with how well it stayed in. It afforded me all kinds of movement without falling out. At the same time, it did not plug my ear so tightly that I felt deaf either, but rather was at a happy medium.

The applied crystals, or “bling” as they call it, sports sparkles galore in pink, red, and white. It really looks like someone took a sleek average earpiece and bedazzled the heck out of it with genuine crystal rhinestones. It raised a giggle here and there of how cute it is. It’s nice to see a company having some fun with a piece of technology that is normally so bland.

Operating this headset was easier then expected. It’s all in the light. It takes 2 hours to fully charge the set from nothing, with the included travel wall charger, or the USB charger. The light is red while charging then turns off when full. From that point you have about 3 hours of talk time, and 50 hours of standby. So you should probably charge this every night. Otherwise you will get a little blinking light asking for power.

Pairing is a simple process as well. It is Bluetooth V2.0+EDR enabled. All that is necessary to pair, is to hold down the button until it flashes blue and red alternatively. Then turn the bluetooth on of the device you are pairing it with, select the headset (U&I-21) and if necessary enter 0000 as a passcode to connect. If you walk out side of the 32 foot range of use, and it loses the connection, it will reestablish it upon reentry.

To pick up a call, one simple click, and to reject a call, hold down for 2 seconds. If your phone allows voice dialing, the headset facilitates this with one click. It even has a redial feature by clicking it twice. The voice clarity is very clear on both ends, filtering out the usual whirring sounds, with exception to wind, or car noises. It cannot be paired to two devices at a time like some other headsets do. Another down side is that there is no way to turn up or down the volume on the ear piece itself.

Coming in at $65, he StyleSynch Ultra Slim Bling Bluetooth Headset is priced in the mid-range of bluetooth headsets. It comes in the red, pink and white shown above as well as purple, and aubergine purple. It fits comfortably and is pretty adorable with its rhinestone bling – although this sort of design is obviously not for everyone. Overall, the low radiation, very slim and quirky design, and ease of use make it an attractive option. However, if you are looking to pair your headset with more then one device at a time, this might not be for you. However, most people just need it to work with one device at a time, so this won’t be a problem.

The Good: Low radiation, comfortable, blinged out design, easy to use.

The Bad: pairs only with one device at a time, no volume adjustment, battery talk time average.

In NYC, you often see people yelling at themselves. They are called crazy people, and most of us politely ignore them. There’s nothing worse than finding yourself getting “politely ignored” while walking down the busy streets of Manhattan and having to yell like a crazy person to be heard on your own bluetooth headset.  The Samsung HM3200 is a slim and beautifully designed bluetooth headset that addresses exactly that issue. Not only is this little gem super slim (only 6.5mm thick), it’s also packed with all the features you could want from a bluetooth headset. We have been using one extensively for the past few days, and we are impressed to say the least. This little guy addresses some of the most annoying issues we’ve had with bluetooth headsets in the past.

No more having to yell to be heard over the static- the Samsung HM3200 features noise reduction and echo crenelation using single mic DSP technology to eliminate all that distracting background noise. This headset also features automatic volume adjustment that detects the ambient noise levels and raises or decreases the volume accordingly, so there’s no more fumbling with the tiny buttons constantly. The resulting sound quality is excellent and crisp on both ends, as if we were chatting with the actual phone itself. The HM3200 also features active pairing for instant pairing with a nearby cellphone, and multipoint connection abilities to connect to 2 different phones! No more talking into your bluetooth headset with another cell phone attached to your other ear. We were able to pair this device with our computer for Skyping and our iPhone in about 10 seconds flat, no password necessary.

Did we also mention that this little guy packs a battery that gives you 5 hours of talk time and 100 hours of standby time? We had a hard time wearing the battery down, and it typically recharges in a few hours. Oh, and it looks good too with a thickness of 6.5mm making it one of the thinnest Samsung headsets available.

We liked the super slim profile of this headset, and also loved all the features it comes jam packed with. The over-the-ear clip held it on firmly but not uncomfortably so, and will fit on either ear. The only thing we didn’t like, and this is more of a personal preference, was the rubber in-ear pieces. They work great and block out noise, but for those of us who hate having things jammed into our ear canal and feeling deaf on one side, it gets a bit annoying. However, that’s a personal preference and not a reflection on the actual product.

Available soon for $59, the Samsung HM3200 Bluetooth Headset is somewhat at the higher end of the bluetooth headsets made by Samsung, but it’s still affordable and it doesn’t fail to impress on style, or deliver the functionality of even the much more expensive bluetooth headsets out there. With this little guy, you’ll never have to worry about looking like a crazy person on the phone again… now about that shopping cart you’ve been pushing around…

The Good:
• Tons of high end features for mid range price
• Easy no password bluetooth pairing
• Crisp sound on both ends
• Slim design is bringing sexy back

The Bad:
• In-ear earpiece is slightly annoying

When it comes to designing Bluetooth “headsets,” most companies work on the function first, and form follows afterwords. In the case of Novero, they do things just the opposite. They work on the design and fashion of their Bluetooth pieces first, and they worry about fitting in the technology afterwords. Unlike other electronics companies that throw on colors, designs, or crystals on to a Bluetooth earpiece, these Bluetooth accessories are truly designed from the ground up to be jewelry.

Believe it or not, Novero roots stem from the wireless accessory division at  Nokia. Two years ago, the head of the division approached Nokia and requested to buy and severe the division off from the company in order to create Novero. Two years later the company is employing over 400 employees worldwide and reeling in in over 150 million dollars in profits, mostly from providing Bluetooth solutions for luxury clients like Bentley, Jaguar, Land Rover and Mercedes-Benz. But the company doesn’t just employ engineers for making their Bluetooth accessories, they also employ people from the jewelry and fashion industry, including gold craftsman. That is why their new Victoria collection first and foremost looks like jewelry, and not technology. The pieces hardly resemble a Bluetooth headset at all, until you notice that a piece of the necklace can be discretely attached and placed in one ear when in use. Even the LED battery indicator is hidden on the backside of the product so that no on ever be the wiser that you’re a spy – or that you’re just a really big gadget fashionista.

The new Victoria collection includes several contemporary Bluetooth jewelry pieces Like the Victoria Lapis, Victoria Pearl, Victoria Stripes, Victoria Wave, and Victor which will each retail for around $250 to $350 when they go on sale in the fall. And for those with real money to burn, they’ll also be offering the Premier Edition handmade pearl necklaces with several variations of pearls, diamond and gold. These necklaces will cost 6 figures at $100K plus.

Victoria Lapis

Lapis lazuli is a breath taking stone, prized since time began for its intense shade of blue, and dusted with distinct, golden flecks of pyrite. The lapis is a stone set in history, hand polished to the highest degree, and framed in beautiful, brushed silver.

Designed to sit low and long around the neck, its contemporary design, culminates in a six thousand year old journey from precious blue, to precious Bluetooth.

Victoria Pearl

A pearl on its own may just be a pearl, but in the hands of novero’s craftsmen, they are enchanting, enthralling, and timeless objects.

Re-crafting this classic accessory for the 21st century, the “matinee length,” necklace is hand made beautifully in gold, and polished to the highest standards.

Victoria Stripes

Stripes is molded from contemporary, black silicone, but hatched with bright shafts of traditional, brushed gold. Stripes is the embodiment of the spirit of Victoria; the drama, the elegance, the love of beauty, the thrill of innovation – all side by side.

The piece wraps close to the nape of the neck, like a conventional choker, yet plunges past the neckline to a round, polished pendant.

Victoria Wave

Wave speaks a modern, minimalist language of its own. It is the complex, encased in simplicity.

The elegant choker’s centerpiece is a stunning yin-yang white and blue pendant – the irony of the piece’s two sides living in one beautiful object – in perfect harmony.

Victor

Hand-crafted in highly polished, piano-black cubes and finished with a brushed, silver plated cap, Victor allows for every call to be made in style.

Victor is designed as a discrete pendant, which arcs around the neck, and clips to the shirt or jacket, so it’s always fashionably there.