Articles about Bluetooth

One of my favorite things is my Philips Sonicare toothbrush. While I used to think folks that spent so much money on a fancy toothbrush were a bit crazy, my dentist always recommended it. I ended up receiving one as a Christmas gift, however, and I couldn't be happier. The Sonicare not only makes my teeth feel cleaner, but is more hygienic, thanks to the UV light holder for the replaceable head.

If you take your dental health seriously, and value a quality toothbrush, Philips has a new product that will make tech nerds giddy. The Sonicare FlexCare Platinum Connected is a smart toothbrush that connects to your smartphone using Bluetooth and can even map your mouth. Is this needed innovation, or just overkill?

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When I think of horseback riding, my mind drifts to simpler times. It also conjures thoughts of cowboys, farming, and the Amish. Since the invention of motorized vehicles, equestrian travel just seems a bit old fashioned.

With all of that said, there is an apparent need to bring technology to horseback riding. How, you ask? With the Hoofbeatz Audio 'i Rock N Ride' Bluetooth speaker, currently on Kickstarter. You can now listen to music and answer telephone calls from the convenience of your saddle!

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Bluetooth speakers are a dime a dozen nowadays. Quite frankly, there are so many on the market, that it is almost impossible to impress me with one. With that said, last year, Ultimate Ears did exactly that with the UE ROLL. That speaker was diminutive, durable, and most importantly, sounded insanely good.

Today, Ultimate Ears announces the sequel to its popular offering, the UE ROLL 2. Amazingly, the speaker retains the same $99 price as its predecessor, while also improving on it. The still-round speaker looks to be another winner.

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Bluetooth headphones are a godsend for those that run and exercise. Heck, they are convenient for sedentary users too. Traditional analog variants -- which use a wire -- can get tangled and stuck on equipment. This can be dangerous to both the user and the device to which the wire is connected. With rumors of future iPhone devices ditching a 3.5mm jack, wireless headphones could become even more important.

Today, Jaybird -- a company recently acquired by Logitech -- releases the Freedom Wireless Bluetooth Buds. The "smart" headphones are designed for active people -- they are resistant to sweat, and offer up to eight hours of battery life. It can even interact with a mobile app called 'MySound' for iOS and Android.

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People are seemingly addicted to their smartphones nowadays. You know what I am talking about. Everywhere I go, I see people glued to their phones like zombies. You know what? I am guilty of this too. While I am texting and tweeting while walking or eating in a restaurant, I never do so while driving -- that is just plain stupid. Unfortunately, many people are guilty of texting and driving. It became so prevalent here on Long Island, that some rest stops on the expressway were re-purposed as "text stops", so people can pull over to interact with their tech.

If for whatever reason you need to interact with your phone while driving -- texting, making phone calls, playing music, etc. -- Logitech has a new solution so that it can be done more safely. The Logi ZeroTouch is a car mount for your Android phone, but it is more than that. It is "smart", meaning that your phone knows when it is in the mount, enabling a hands-free experience.

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Bluetooth tracking devices to help stop you forgetting your phone have been around for a while, but they've generally been quite functional in design, looking like a remote car key.

Chinese smartphone maker Oukitel is launching its own take on the lost phone finder with a new gadget that looks like a piece of jewelry but also functions as more than just an alarm to tell you you've left your phone behind.

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I know what you're thinking, "another Bluetooth speaker". Yes, there is a flood of them on the market. We've had our fair share pass through the BetaNews office and most are comparable and a few even stood out for one reason or another.

Now Braven is announcing its latest offering. It's a name that's no stranger to us, we've reviewed previous models. This one is a bit different though.

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In the business world, there are many constants. You probably aren't appreciated by your boss. You likely don't get paid enough for all you do. And of course, you probably have to sit through many horrible PowerPoint presentations.

Don't get me wrong, PowerPoint presentations aren't always bad, but there's a good chance that a large number of them will be boring. If you ever find yourself needing to present your own such presentation, you should invest in a wireless presenter. Not only will it make you look more prepared and professional, but it can allow you to move about the room to keep your audience engaged. Today, Satechi announces an affordable such Bluetooth presenter, with a beautiful aluminum body.

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While many people type with on-screen keyboards every day, let's be honest -- a physical variant can be much better. Typing on a piece of glass fails to give the user true feedback, which can lead to typos. Even worse, auto-correction on those typos can create messages that are not only wrong, but potentially embarrassing. On a smartphone in particular, the smaller screen means a smaller keyboard -- that can be frustrating.

Luckily, Bluetooth keyboards have been a godsend in this regard. While a smartphone or tablet are primarily consumption devices, a good wireless keyboard can make them productivity powerhouses too. Today, VisionTek unveils a new such Bluetooth keyboard. This wireless input device has one really cool feature that sets it apart from many -- it is waterproof.

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Bluetooth speakers are awesome. They are convenient, often inexpensive, and sometimes portable. If I want to listen to music in my backyard, at the beach, or in my home, an inexpensive unit can do the trick.

Unfortunately, these little speakers are often lacking in sound quality. Yeah, they are usually better than integrated smartphone and tablet speakers, but hardly up to snuff for audiophiles or hardcore music enthusiasts. Enter the Fluance Fi70. This elegant three-way music system looks to be the Bluetooth speaker of which many of us have been dreaming.

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Listening to music is probably my favorite hobby. No matter what I am doing -- working, relaxing, showering -- I like to have some tunes playing in the background. My most common source of music is Spotify on my iPhone or iPad.

While the integrated speakers on Apple's devices are decent, I crave more volume and improved quality. To achieve this, I use a Bluetooth speaker. One of the best line of such speakers comes from Ultimate Ears. Its UE ROLL, UE BOOM 2 and UE MEGABOOM are all exceptional. Today, the company announces a limited edition 'Rabbit Eye Movement' version of the UE BOOM 2, designed by Austrian graffiti artist Nychos.

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We live in a world where we increasingly expect everything to interface with everything else. New cars come with Bluetooth and wireless connections for example to access information from your phone, and audio systems are able to stream music around your home.

But what if you have an older car, or if you want to link a smartphone to your non-smart home Hi-Fi? Inateck has an answer in the form of the BR1002, a neat little gadget that can turn your older devices into Bluetooth enabled ones.

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As someone who just bought an iPhone, I find myself investing in Lightning cables. I needed one for my car, one for my backpack, one for my office and one for bedside charging. Apple's cables are well-designed, so I don't mind it, but many accessories, such as mobile keyboards and speakers, charge with micro USB. it would be nice if more things used Apple's connector.

Today, Beats by Dr. Dre, an Apple-owned company, announces the Beats Pill+. This Bluetooth speaker looks elegant, and should offer wonderful sound. The really cool aspect, however, is that it charges using a Lightning cable.

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Buying a Bluetooth speaker generally presents you with a choice between style and sound quality. The latest MarsBox from Inateck immediately scores on the style front. The red and black design certainly looks different -- though it might not be to all tastes -- and the speaker has a smooth matt finish which is pleasant to touch.

There are four main controls on the top, a multi-function button to make calls or switch on the tuner, a play/pause button and +/- controls, these are easy to use though there's a hint of the playroom in the bold rubbery buttons. On the back are a power button, a USB charging port and an aux-in socket. When it's powered on there's a blue status LED behind the front grille though this is difficult to see unless you're looking at it head on.

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Many laptop keyboards, and some desktop variants, don't have number pads. This is not because people don't use them; quite the contrary. Actually, it is typically due to space constraints -- you cannot fit a full-size keyboard and a number pad on an 11 or 13 inch laptop. Those two sizes have become increasingly popular. Typically, a number pad, or numeric keypad, would be reserved for a 17 inch laptop or the occasional cramped 15.6 variant too.

If you want a number pad for your Surface Pro 3, MacBook or any other Bluetooth-enabled machine, Satechi has a new product that may meet your needs. The Wireless Numeric Keypad can be connected to your machine when needed, and stored away when not. Very cool.

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