GigaOM » Apple

Quick tip: Use a Bluetooth headset with your iPad for making calls

Geoffrey Goetz — Fri, 30 Dec 2011 19:13:37 +0000

Previously, we told you how you can use your iPad as a telephone. Using a Bluetooth headset with your iPad makes that idea even more practical. The Jawbone ERA is the one I happen to use, but others like the Jaybird Freedom we recently reviewed should work just as well. Here’s how to get set up, and a few apps to help.

To get started, you need to pair your headset with your iPad. In the Settings app, navigate to “General” and select “Bluetooth.” Make sure that Bluetooth is turned on, and at that point initiate your headset’s pairing mode. With the Jawbone ERA, you perform what is referred to as a “Double ShakeShake” to activate the pairing mode (a single “ShakeShake” is two quick successive shakes of the device), but you other headsets use different methods, like a long press of the power button. Once paired, you’re ready to use your headset with almost any audio app on the iPad. Here are four popular choices:

FaceTime. This was the first app I tried out and it worked perfectly on the first attempt. The Bluetooth headset is treaded similar to AirPlay devices, in the sources list. The only issue is that I noticed that I could not do was answer and hang up the call with the controls on the headset.

Skype. With Skype, the Bluetooth headset once connected will be enabled by default. Call quality was good on both ends in test calls. The added advantage of using Skype over FaceTime is that you have access to all of your Skype contacts, and you can place traditional ‘land line’ calls to any plain old telephone number if you have a paid account.

Google Voice (via Talkatone). With Talkatone, you can make calls using your Google Voice account and the Bluetooth headset worked like a charm.You can also use Google Voice to place calls to any traditional phone number. The difference here is that you can’t make video calls.

Unfortunately, you can’t answer calls with a Bluetooth headset using any of the apps above, even when they can receive calls running in background mode. Still, it definitely beats holding your iPad to your ear or always using speakerphone mode when talking to people through iPad voice and video chat apps.

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12 great gift ideas for any Apple fan for under $100

Geoffrey Goetz — Mon, 19 Dec 2011 20:10:32 +0000

According to both Apple and Amazon‘s shipping deadlines, there are still a few shopping days left this holiday season. But time may not be your biggest challenge. Apple gadget-lovers can be hard to shop for, since they tend to satisfy their own needs when it comes to accessories. Still, there’s probably something for everyone among the following 12 suggestions.

Stylish MacBook bag. No Mac owner wants to carry around their machine in the drap bags given corporate employees by the IT department. The Switch Messenger Bag from Brenthaven for around $99 online strikes a good balance between being too small to accommodate your peripherals, and too large to just grab-and-go when you’re in a hurry.

Protective iPhone case. When it comes to protecting your iOS device with style, Otterbox takes the cake. The combination of soft silicone, hard plastic and a screen protector makes the Commuter series of cases stand-outs compared to the rest of the crowd. For $35, it’s a great, cheap alternative to their somewhat bulkier and more protective Defender series.

Smart stylus. While many stylus devices for the iPhone and the iPad have mimicked the look and feel of a ballpoint pen, I’ve found that the form factor of a piece of chalk lends itself better to iOS touch screens. The Logiix Stylus Pro Jr fits the bill. And for just $20, it has a price that matches its size.

Portable iOS keyboard. More and more people are choosing to forgo desktops and even laptops entirely, in favor of the iPad. The more real work that can be conducted on just the iPad, the more one wishes they had a portable keyboard to carry around with them to make the process even easier. For $50 on Amazon, the Verbatim Wireless Bluetooth Keyboard is exactly what’s called for.

Affordable home headset. Everyone certainly has a favorite mobile headset. But some may want to have a second pair to leave either at the office or at home that offers both comfortable and economy. Amazon has a pair of Sennheiser HD 220 II Professional Headphones that are certainly hard to beat at a price of just $20. They’re lightweight, and provide decent isolation from surrounding noise. Most importantly, they’re comfortable even during long periods of use.

Desktop cable organizers. We all know how cumbersome a workspace can get when you have too many cables. That mess doesn’t mesh with Apple’s clean design lines. That’s where the Quirky Metal Cordies come in. For $15, you get a means of managing your cables that matches your Mac’s design aesthetics.

Bluetooth headset. It seems like wireless headsets have dropped in popularity since they first came out, but with Siri, there may just be a renaissance of wireless headsets on the horizon. There’s no reason to settle for less than the best, since the Jawbone ERA Bluetooth Headset is on sale through Amazon for just $88. The noise cancellation capabilities of the Jawbone are especially impressive.

AirPrint-enabled printer. Eventually, purchasing a new printer is just as cost-effective as buying more ink for your old one. And having an AirPrint capable printer on the network that does not require an intermediary solution like Printopia is always a good thing. Amazon has several AirPlay-capable printers on sale for less than $60 like the Epson Stylus NX430 Small-In-One Inkjet Printer.

Big screen game console. One of the most understated features of iOS 5 is the ability to broadcast to an HDTV connected to an Apple TV over the air. With the iPad 2 and iPhone 4S, you can now mirror everything you do on your device wirelessly. This can really change the way you play certain iOS games. For just $99, the Apple TV is one of the best iOS accessories you’ll ever buy.

Tabletop game cabinet. Certainly something that stands out in any game room, the iCADE is available from ThinkGeek for $80. This is no April Fool’s Joke; there are a growing number if iOS titles like Atari’s Greatest Hits that support the Bluetooth integration offered by the arcade-style game controls available on the iCADE, and they’re sure to be a hit with the gamer on your list.

Compact iPad stand. TwelveSouth makes some amazing products for your Apple devices. One is the Compass Mobile Stand for the iPad. At $40, it isn’t one of the cheapest solutions for supporting your iPad, but it is certainly one of the most compact. The advantage is the fold away storage size of the stand when not in use, making it is a great travel accessory.

Portable document scanner. The VuPoint Solutions MagicWand is more like a digital camera than it is a scanner. Yes you do manually drag the scanning element across the item, but you access the scanned images as you would using a digital camera — via a microSD card, which is good news for Mac and iPad owners (so long as you have an SD card adapter and the iPad camera connection kit). For $99, this scanner provides a quick and convent means of scanning documents when you’re on the go.

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Turtle Beach PX5 Review: Your Home Theater Mac’s New Best Friend

Darrell Etherington — Fri, 27 May 2011 21:01:19 +0000

All new and recent Macs (since the Power Macintosh G5 in 2003) come equipped with optical audio out, something not every Mac owner may be aware of. Using a mini-stereo adapter, Mac owners can stream full 5.1 or 7.1 surround sound with using a TOSLINK digital audio cable. But to do that, you need a receiver or speakers capable of decoding the signal. A decent quality full home theater audio system can cost many hundreds, or even thousands of dollars, and might be too loud if your system is in a small area.

Turtle Beach recently introduced a wireless gaming headset called the PX5, which features a mini receiver designed for use with PS3 or Xbox 360 gaming consoles, but it actually supports Macs, too, thanks to the optical audio out I mentioned above. I spent a week testing out the PX5 with my Mac HTPC setup, and here are my thoughts.

Not Cheap — In Both Good and Not So Good Ways

The PX5 system is the mostly costly offering in Turtle Beach’s lineup of gaming headsets, with an MSRP of $249.95. You can get it cheaper if you look around (Amazon has it listed for $212.99 as of this writing), but while it’s still not inexpensive even then, consider that Beats by Dre or Bose headphones will probably cost nearly as much, if not more.

Turtle Beach also packs a lot of value into that $250 price tag. The PX5 is wireless, communicating with the receiver base via 2.4 GHz RF signal. It supports pass-through audio if you want to use it in combination with a full home theater receiver, and it also offers Bluetooth connectivity. Finally, it’s fully programmable; the only problem is its programming software is Windows-only.

Downsides

Windows-only programming is a drag, but the presets Turtle Beach preloads onto the PX5 are probably adequate for most users anyway. Plus, if you have Windows installed on your computer via Boot Camp or virtualization software, you can still take advantage of this feature.

Also, as I mentioned, the PX5 communicates via 2.4 GHz RF. That means if your home wireless network is also on the same frequency, there can be some interference. In my usage with an older 2.4 GHz-only Apple AirPort Extreme router, I could hear audible clicks infrequently when I was very close to the router (within three feet), or when I was transferring large amounts of data over the network. But when I swapped out the router with my newer, dual-band switching 2.4 and 5.0 GHz AirPort Extreme, I heard nary a whimper of static while using the headset.

Note that in all cases, it’s recommended that the PX5 receiver is in the same room where you’re using the headset, and that line-of-sight seems to guarantee an optimal connection. Even with all these caveats, I found the connection was consistently strong, and even the occasional interference I experienced under the worst conditions was more than bearable.

Finally, note that the PX5 natively supports only Dolby Digital 5.1 and 7.1 for true surround sound. If your source uses DTS, the receiver will digitally process it using Dolby Pro Logic II technology, which, while not optimal, in my experience also didn’t detract from the experience enough to make me give it too much thought.

Strong Suits

First, the PX5 is remarkably versatile. It works very well not only with Mac home theatre setups, but also with PCs (so long as they have optical audio output), with the PS3 and the Xbox, and also with Bluetooth devices.

One really cool feature is that you can connect the PX5 to your iPhone as a Bluetooth headset (independent of the RF receiver), while also using it with an optical source through the RF connection. That means you can use it to talk on your Phone while playing games or watching a movie, by muting one and switching to the other on the fly. Or, you can stream stereo music via A2DP from your iPhone or computer to the PX5. In fact, as a stereo Bluetooth headset, I’ve yet to come across another product that matches the PX5 for sound quality. The detachable boom mic it comes with is also more than up to the task of making voice calls. Unfortunately, there aren’t any iPod controls on the headset for use with the iPhone, iPod touch or iPad.

The PX5 is also great for small spaces and for people who don’t want to clutter up their entertainment space with wires, big stereo system components, and speakers. It has about the same footprint as your average contemporary wireless router, or like a slightly thicker DVD case. The fewer wires I have in my office/gaming space, the better.

While the PX5 doesn’t offer the ability to connect more than one headset to the wireless receiver, it does provide a 3.5mm jack that can be used with any stereo headphones at the same time as the wireless headset, complete with virtual surround sound. That means if you have a friend over and want to watch a movie together, you can do it without any particularly complicated additional setup.

One last point that may be contentious as a strength: the PX5 uses regular AA batteries, both alkaline and rechargeable. Some may prefer a built-in rechargeable battery, since this device does tend to use a lot of power, but I’ve managed to get a lot of usage time out of a set of 2 AAs. The alkalines it shipped with lasted pretty near the 15-hour life in the official specs, and even a pair of well-worn rechargeables I’ve been using since have done very well so far. I prefer not having to deal with a proprietary battery when it comes time to seek out a permanent replacement, since the PX5 seems to be a product I could be using for a very long time.

Verdict

If you like watching movies on your Mac, and you’re looking for a surround sound experience that won’t break the bank or draw noise complaints from your neighbors, the Turtle Beach PX5 is a very good option. Consider that you get a high-quality Bluetooth headset in the bargain, as well as probably the best gaming headset on the market, and the value picture gets that much better.

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Secrets of the Camera Connection Kit

Josh Sunshine — Wed, 11 Aug 2010 19:00:06 +0000

While it may be intended as a tool for adding photos to your iPad, the Camera Connection Kit can do more than Apple tells you about. Having had one for the last week or so, I’ve tested what capabilities the kit has, and what secrets are hiding under the white casing.

Importing

It’s clear what the main purpose of the Kit is: importing and managing photos and videos from digital cameras. What Apple doesn’t tell you is that you aren’t limited to using an SD card or the USB cable for your camera.

Most of the time, when you buy a MicroSD card, it comes with an adapter that lets you use the MicroSD in an SD card reader. Since part of the Camera Connection Kit is an SD card reader, this means you can, perhaps unsurprisingly, use it to read a MicroSD card as well. This also works with Memory Stick Pro Duo, the card Sony uses in its cameras as well as the PSP. All you need is an adapter to change it into an SD card.

The Kit also works great if you have an all-in-one card reader. If you do, you can use it in a USB port to read CompactFlash, MMC, Memory Stick Pro Duo and other types of card as well. One half of the Camera Connection Kit is a USB port, so, although the functionality is undocumented, a USB card reader will work. Reading the card isn’t as fast as when using a card directly in the slot or a USB cable, but it works and doesn’t break the iPad or the memory card, which is always a good thing.

One last thing that Apple does mention, but doesn’t push much, is using the USB slot in the Kit to connect your iPhone to your iPad. Unfortunately, you can’t do anything fancy like transferring apps or tethering, but you can import photos from your iPhone camera roll to your iPad. You can even use the iPhone camera while the devices are connected, and any new photos you take show up directly in the list on your iPad.

Saving Space

If, unlike me, you’re running out of space since your iPad is host to thousands of songs, videos, photos and apps, you can use the Camera Connection Kit to your advantage. Memory cards are fairly cheap nowadays; you can pick up an 8GB SD card for around $20. You can save precious space on your iPad by storing videos, such as TV shows and movies, on an SD card instead of directly on your iPad. When you want to watch them, plug the SD card reader into your iPad, pop in the card, and import the video (you can’t watch directly from the card). When you’re done, delete the video to make room again. The downside is keeping enough space free on your iPad to import the video. However, keeping about 1.5GB free still gives you more free space than you’d have if you had 8GB worth of video on the iPad.

Other Accessories

Since the iPad was released, people have been upset that it didn’t have a built-in USB port. Apart from a camera cable, USB keyboard or a headset, what would you plug into it? Probably not much else.

There are some keyboards that don’t work with the iPad; the Apple wired keyboard for one. If you try to use it, an error message will be displayed saying the accessory uses too much power, probably because of the keyboard’s two USB ports. However, a cheap Windows keyboard works just fine.

Headsets have the same issue. Some models work; others don’t. While I haven’t been able to test any personally, some users have been able to get them to work and say they work well.

To my knowledge, those are the only accessories that work with the iPad, but let us know in the comments if you’ve found any others that work using the Connection Kit.

Related GigaOM Pro Research: The Case For Removable Media on the iPad

iPhone Headphone Freedom Coming Thanks to Third-Party Apple Remote

Darrell Etherington — Thu, 23 Jul 2009 19:00:36 +0000

My Apple in-ear headset is fine. Despite complaints that there’s too much cable noise, and that they don’t seal well, I’ve had little trouble personally (or I’m just good at overlooking flaws in Apple hardware). Still, I have some nice noise-canceling Sony DJ cups just sitting unused in my closet, and I’m actually far more partial to an around-the-ear than an in-ear design. But I need the in-line remote.

It’s a problem whose solution is obvious: build a third-party remote/adapter that will allow regular headphones to work with the iPhone, including all the fun new remote features available on the 3GS and the 2G touch. Unfortunately, I am not a third-party hardware peripheral manufacturer. iLuv, however, is, and luckily they had the same bright idea.

The iLuv iEA15 adapter has been announced, according to Crave Asia, and offers a solution for those unwilling to trash their current headphones of choice in favor of something with less sound/comfort quality with a built-in Apple remote. It’s compatible with any iPod or iPhone that supports remote functions, which includes the newest iPod Shuffle, and, I assume, the iPhone 3G, albeit without the use of the volume buttons, since those weren’t supported until the 3GS.

You’ll also get Voice Control and VoiceOver support via the in-line microphone, which is frankly the best part about this new remote. So long as quality isn’t an issue (and hopefully won’t be, since iLuv has a pretty good track record so far), I can easily see this taking over as my iPhone peripheral of choice. I may even spring for those Bose Quiet Comfort 2 headphones I’ve had my eye on.

No word yet on official release date or pricing, but you can bet it’ll be less than the $80 Apple charges for its in-ear headset, and probably well under what most third-party headset manufacturers charge, too. It’ll work with the 3GS, iPod touch 2G, and Shuffle 3G as mentioned above, and also with the iPod classic 120GB and iPod nano 4G.

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Apple Bluetooth Headset Discontinued: What’s Next?

Darrell Etherington — Mon, 23 Mar 2009 21:00:16 +0000

It probably wasn’t Apple’s best-selling or best-loved product of all time, but it was tiny and cute. And you could see the rather sub-par battery life dwindling away to nothing via a perfectly integrated indicator in the iPhone’s status bar. But I never had one, opting instead to use my Sony Playstation BT device.

I’m talking, of course, about Apple’s Bluetooth headset, which has been discontinued and as such is unavailable for purchase from the Apple Store online.

Apple might just be leaving the market to those who specialize in the field, which is becoming quite crowded, but they might have something else up their sleeve as well, considering the auspicious timing of the item’s removal from the catalog. iPhone 3.0 has only just been announced, and counts among its new features support for A2DP Stereo Bluetooth connectivity. Could Apple be working on a headset that makes use of this new protocol to deliver not only wireless talk, but wireless stereo headphone functionality as well?

I think they might be, if only because of the precedent they’ve set with their Remote app following the release of the iPhone 2.0 SDK. I expect them to lead the app charge once again, except that given the nature of the feature additions with iPhone 3.0, they’ll have to do one better. I suspect that means they’ll show off the full capabilities of peripheral-specific applications, and a stereo Bluetooth headset is the perfect candidate. They can build in an equalizer app for controlling stereo sound to the headphones, and show the other side of things as well, by allowing hardware buttons on the headset to perform customized functions when used with the phone app, or with iTunes.

Maybe it’s wishful thinking, but it does seem odd that Apple would completely abandon the iPhone Bluetooth headset market when they’ve just introduced expanded possibilities in that very area. June is stacking up to be quite the month either way, but an Apple Bluetooth stereo headset would definitely make my day (and take away some of the sting of becoming outdated when they announce a brand new iPhone).

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Apple Premium In-Ear Headphones Soon to Be in Your Ears

Darrell Etherington — Tue, 02 Dec 2008 18:00:02 +0000

It seems like only yesterday that articles were popping up around the web talking about the unavailability of Apple’s new Premium In-Ear Headphones with Mic and Remote due to the product being redesigned. Wait, it was only yesterday. Well, that was then, and this is now, and the headphones are now available at the Apple Store website, albeit with a shipping time of 7-10 days.

Originally announced at the “Let’s Rock” iPod even in September, and slated for an October ship date, the in-ear headphones are priced at $79. They’re meant to compete with high-end, audiophile-targeted devices from industry leaders like Bose and Shure, but according to some sources, they weren’t achieving that lofty standard, which lead to the extended delay.

The price point is significantly lower than the $200-range of the headsets the Apple-branded earphones are supposed to compete with. And with the inclusion of a built-in mic, without the need for bulky attachments or adapters, they provide a tempting option for users dissatisfied with the headset that ships with the iPhone. Users of the new iPod touch will also be a key target market for Apple, since the portable media player now supports audio input, though there is no mic on the device itself.

7-10 business days puts the new headset firmly in your hands in time for the holidays. The same cannot be said for the far less expensive Apple Earphones with Mic and Remote, which shows a 3-4 week wait for delivery. It’s possible that this is due to higher demand, but it’s also possible that Apple is showing short stock in order to push holiday shoppers towards the more expensive in-ear set. It’d be a risky move, since they’d lose shoppers unwilling to spend the extra $50 on a gift, but enough people might make the jump to make it a shrewd move on Apple’s part.

Oddly, the headset does not seem to be compatible with the iPhone, though it remains to be seen if this is a fact, or an oversight in the documentation.

Let us know if you’re placing an order, and whether you think $79 earphones actually can compete with much more expensive models.

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Logitech Premium Notebook Headset Review

Brian Warren — Thu, 11 Sep 2008 14:39:09 +0000

I received the Logitech Premium Notebook headset at a very good time; I was doing some podcasting at the moment and my setup was a bit complicated. Also, I had several Skype chats on a pretty regular basis. This gave me a great opportunity to put the headset through some extensive testing in a short period of time. I found it’s an excellent headset with only a few minor flaws.

First Impressions

The first thing that really impressed me about the headset was that I didn’t have to do a thing to get it to work with my Mac. Plug the USB cable in and boom, it’s a sound output option. No drivers, no nothing. I highly recommend using this simple menubar tool called SoundSource by Rogue Amoeba. It enables super-simple switching of audio inputs and outputs on your Mac.

Sound Quality

The second thing that impressed me in my experience is that this headset has excellent sound quality. It’s far better than the iPhone earbuds I was using at the time, and if you don’t mind the extra gear attached, it’s a nice pair of headphones to have around. I found myself on a number of occassions just keeping the headset on, listening to music, after my Skype chat was finished.

On the other side of this sound quality coin is the quality of the mic. You will not be disappointed. It’s fantastic. It minimises room noise while still getting a nice rich result. I wouldn’t recommend recording your next chamber music concert with it, but for voice work it performs well beyond the price range of this headset.

Comfort and Ease of Use

I found this headset to be a little awkward to get on your head and adjust. The way the earpieces slide in and out can be a little tricky to get positioned well. Once you get it how you like it it’s no big deal. However, if you’re like me, and you need to move it around from office to home, or for traveling, you’ll find yourself fiddling with it a bit more than you’d expect. Thankfully the headset comes in a nice hard-plastic case making travel a bit easier.

All in all…

I’m pretty impressed. I expected this to be a handy tool for the work I needed to do at the time, and in the end I found myself really raving to my friends and colleagues about how handy and cool this little headset is. You can pick up the Logitech Premium Notebook Headset for nearly 50% off on Amazon.com.

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Apple Tech Support Trials Begets Better iPhone Headset + License Woes

Bob Rudis — Mon, 23 Jun 2008 19:26:18 +0000

It’s been quite a while since my last post due in large part to my dead MacBook Pro. Perhaps, unstable would have been a better choice of words as my trusty 15″ developed a very nasty power issue where it would just randomly power off without warning. The instability made it impossible to do any serious work and the ensuing extended service call forced me to rely mostly on my iPhone for keeping up with the happenings of the internets. Our household has other systems but they were all taken up by end-of-school-year projects or dedicated for other uses…or were Windows-based. While Safari made the Windows work slightly bearable, I found living in an all-Windows world (for personal use) to be a less-than-stellar experience (and, I’m a very experienced 3.1 through Vista user & developer).

It took three visits to the local Apple Store – over the course of 8 days – to finally get my machine back. Two logic board swaps and keyboard + top cover replacement later and my MBPro feels like new again. I definitely want to give kudos to the team at the Alderwood Mall Apple Store for doing everything in their power to get me back up and running. While a loaner Air would have been nice, the techs did a good job giving me updates and making things happen as quickly as Apple processes would allow. If you haven’t had to deal with Apple support, they really do an excellent job between online scheduling, in-store attempts at problem resolution and speedy return of items in repair. Even though this fix took a while, they definitely showed they cared at every step of the way.

Service Generates Sales

During the course of those three visits I had a great deal of time to hang at the Apple Store waiting to be processed by a Genius (scheduled times can be off a bit as they do make every effort to fix problems right there). Staring at the walls of Apple-compatible products, it was difficult to resist the urge to buy…everything. I did manage to successfully leave twice without a single purchase, but one item caught my eye: the Monster® iSoniTalk™ Microphone Headphone Adapter for iPhone

From one of my earlier posts, you should know that I’m ever on the lookout for the best accessory for the job when it comes to my Mac’s, iPhone or iPod. While the Shure adapter reviewed in that post has done a great job, it is far from an optimal product. The headphone cable is extended way too much and the weight of the cable + mic is a bit much for the clip to support well.

While I generally find Monster products to be overpriced and not always better than their “normal” counterparts, the iSoniTalk has some definite merits (and a few detractions). First, you can find it online for close to $10.00 USD, which is significantly cheaper than the Shure counterpart. Second, because of the combination jack & extension you do not have to deal with a ton of extra cable to manage. Third, there are built-in clips along the adapter cable which make it very easy to manage the cable from your existing headphone sets.

Lastly, the mic + clip + button combo control attaches securely and works very well (not nearly as sensitive as the Shure, which for me is a good thing). I probably should mention that sound quality for music and calls is not impacted in any negative way by the adapter.

There are a few “gotchas”, however. The same jack + extension dongle combination can be a bit unwieldy, especially if you use any type of case with your iPhone. It just doesn’t hold in as well given the overall size of the unit. The actual cable itself could use a couple of inches as it comes up short to most headphones I own. One extra clip near the mic would also be nice in the event you just want to use it without talking.

I’d have to definitely recommend it over the Shure on price and convenience, but I’ve only had it a few days and would really like to hear from TAB readers on your experiences with the product.

Hardware-tied License Woes

While Apple managed to get some additional hard-earned cash out of me from my free repair (1-year warranty FTW!), my support saga continued with the annoyance of hardware-based software licenses. At least two products on my system – iTunes and launch2net tie themselves to data that is specific to the logic board of the system they are installed on. I had to burn an iTunes activation (no time to deal with Apple online support just now) and e-mail the customer service folks at nova media to deactivate my old launch2net code from their database. This should serve as a notice to consumers to ensure you deactivate your hardware-specific licenses prior to service (if possible) and a plea to developers to find an alternate mechanism to secure software purchases. nova media may have lost a future upgrade sale since Leopard works fine with my 3G modem without their software and I do not need the hassle of waiting 3 days for tech support to reset a license. I understand Apple’s constraints, but they should make it easier to manage authorizations online rather than the “reset all” feature once per year.

If you have had similar experiences with license woes post-repair or want to provide data on software that you use which ties itself to hardware, definitely drop a note in the comments.

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Rivet Stereo Headset for iPhone

Brandon Eley — Mon, 05 May 2008 00:39:29 +0000

I have been looking for some decent headphones for my iPhone for a while (I’m not a big fan of the white earbuds). I finally found the Rivet Stereo Headset made specially for iPhone and couldn’t resist.

First Impressions

My first impression after taking the headphones out of the package was “huh?” They are made to be worn like a lanyard around your neck, which takes some getting used to. At first, I thought it looked and felt pretty silly, but after some use I love them.

Have you ever needed to take your headphones off for a minute to hear someone? What do you do with them? With the lanyard, you just take them out of your ears and they stay put. When you’re ready to listen again, just pop them back into your ears and hit play.

Sound Quality

The Rivet Stereo Headset does a good job at isolating outside noise. You might think they were noise-canceling headphones if you didn’t know the price. With the excellent isolation comes deeper bass and richer sound. It’s quite different from the open earbuds that ship with the iPhone, and at first can make the sound quality seem low.

However, after listening to them for a while, you will notice that the sound quality is just as good, if not better, than the OEM headset that ships with the iPhone.

Durability

I’ve had my Rivet Stereo Headset for about 6 months now, and have worn them every day. The headset cord is wrapped in a woven fabric, not plastic like the OEM headset. After a while, this fabric gets worn and dingy. I think after about a year, I’ll have to buy a replacement just because they’ll be worn out physically. This is probably the only real drawback to the headset.

Personally, I can’t make it a year without replacing mine anyway. Just about every pair of in-ear headphones I’ve ever had gets pretty well used in a year. I wear them everywhere and all the time… to mow the grass, working out, sitting at Starbucks, etc.

Value

If you’ve been looking for a replacement headset for your iPhone, you know how expensive they can be. Good ones can cost upwards of $100. Some alternatives are coming onto the market, but I haven’t seen any with a lanyard design like the Rivet Headset.

They list for $39.99 but can be had from Amazon.com for only $26.62. That makes them a less expensive replacement than the OEM headphones, if (like me) you’ve done something to destroy your OEM headset (I washed mine).

I think they are an excellent replacement for the OEM headset, and a great value. You can find them at the Amazon link above, or on the manufacturer’s website.

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Apple’s iPhone Bluetooth Headset Now On Sale

Josh Pigford — Wed, 18 Jul 2007 15:04:13 +0000

Apple’s much anticipated Bluetooth headset is now available to order in the Apple store.

It will run you around $130 and is scheduled to ship in 2-4 weeks.

The headset also includes the iPhone Dual Dock and iPhone Bluetooth Travel Cable.

Thankfully there are no blinking lights on this headset. It keeps true to Apple design and is small, sleek, and unobtrusive.

Thanks for the tip Chris.

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