November 1st, 2009

Making Apple's Magic Mouse and Wireless Keyboard work in Windows

Posted by David Morgenstern @ 9:39 pm

Categories: Bluetooth, Boot Camp, Windows

Tags: Mouse, Wireless Keyboard, Apple Inc., Wireless, Keyboards, Microsoft Windows, Mice, Hardware, Peripherals, Operating Systems

A recent Apple Support Note says that “certain features” on the new Magic Mouse and the Apple Wireless keyboard are having trouble in Windows on Boot Camp.  A fix was posted for downloading late last week.

Certain features such as up-down scrolling on the Apple Magic Mouse and brightness controls, volume controls, the Eject key, and the key combination Control-Alt-Delete on the Apple Wireless Keyboard (2009) may not work with Boot Camp.

The fix is the Bluetooth Update 1.0 for Windows and must be downloaded to your copy of Windows XP or Vista running in Boot Camp. Hey, not a word about System 7.

June 26th, 2009

Review: iSkin CERULEAN F1 stereo bluetooth headset

Posted by Jason D. O'Grady @ 12:03 pm

Categories: Accessory, Bluetooth, iPhone, iPhone 3.0

Tags: Apple iPhone, Audio Quality, Headset, Bluetooth Headset, Stereo Bluetooth Headset, A2DP, F1s, Bluetooth, Wi-Fi, Cable

One of the most powerful new features in iPhone OS 3.0 is also its least discussed: Bluetooth 2.0, more specifically, the A2DP (a.k.a. stereo Bluetooth) profile. A2DP allows an iPhone running 3.0 to transmit stereo audio to a Bluetooth receiver — enabling an entire category of stereo BT headphones to work with the iPhone.

A2DP allows the use of stereo Bluetooth headsets with your iPhone. You can listen to the iPod application and even use it for phone calls — including Skype. It can also be used to transmit audio to compatible BT car stereos.

I’ve been testing the new CERULEAN F1 ($99, pictured) stereo Bluetooth headset from iSkin and I’m impressed by the sound quality and its ease of use. I was initially relegated to using the F1s with my Android-powered G1 phone because the iPhone lacked A2DP. I began testing the F1s with iPhone when OS 3.0 was distributed to developers.

I have to admit to being skeptical initially about stereo Bluetooth because of the audio problems and dropouts that plagued many of the early Bluetooth headsets. Boy, have we come a long way since then. Audio quality is good and clean with the F1s and I was able to walk almost 20-feet away from my iPhone before I got my first dropout.

The battery is estimated at eight hours for music, but I haven’t yet run into that limit yet because I’ve been using the F1s mostly while working out and bike riding — where they really shine. If you don’t like dealing with cables and having to be tethered to your iPhone, BT headphones are an indeal solution.

The Type A (”micro”) USB port on the F1s is a minor annoyance (I’d prefer mini USB) but now that it’s a pseudo-standard for charging mobile phones, its here to stay. I’d also like it better if the cable that connects the two earpieces came out of the bottom, but other than that I have little bad to say.

Sound  quality and range make the CERULEAN F1 a great companion to the iPhone, especially if you want to jam cable free.

May 18th, 2009

Review: Jawbone PRIME Bluetooth headset

Posted by Jason D. O'Grady @ 8:22 am

Categories: Accessory, Bluetooth, Review

Tags: Headset, Bluetooth Headset, Jawbone, NoiseAssasin 2.0 Technology, Jason D. O'Grady

I just received my Jawbone PRIME Bluetooth headset and I love it. PRIME is the successor to the Jawbone 2 (which I reviewed in July 2008) and it doesn’t disappoint.

PRIME is a little sleeker than the Jawbone 2 (but not by much) and comes with a re-designed “new fit” earbud that allows you to wear it without an earloop (the piece that goes over your ear). The earbud that was attached in the box happened to fit me perfectly, but they also include three traditional earbuds, three new fit earbuds and one earloop in the box - which should fit most ears.

Although you don’t need to use it with an earloop, I prefer to. It’s partially out of habit (I always wore one with the Jawbone 2) and partially for safety. No one wants to lose their $130 Bluetooth headset, and wearing the earloop gives me a little extra piece of mind.

Sound-wise it’s amazing. Jawbone uses a proprietary noise cancellation technology called NoiseAssassin 2.0 that blocks out almost all ambient noise, including wind noise while driving, construction equipment, loud concerts, noisy bars, you name it.

The new NoiseAssasin 2.0 technology is really what sets Jawbone apart. Of the dozen or so Bluetooth headsets that I’ve used, there’s simply no comparison to Jawbone. Check out the noise cancellation demonstration video on the Jawbone site, it was recorded using a standard Bluetooth phone over a national network with no modifications to the sound quality.

Jawbone PRIME comes in several colors (including green, red, yellow and purple) which makes it stand out from all the black/silver headsets out there. I prefer a color (purple actually) over black because it’s easier to find in a dark bag. If you’re more of a traditional type you can choose from black, coffee or platinum.

Jawbone is best Bluetooth headset on the planet because its noise cancellation is second to none. If I had to complain about one thing, it would be the proprietary charger. If Jawbone included a standard mini-USB port and cable it would be true Bluetooth nirvana.

What Bluetooth headset are you using?

March 23rd, 2009

Apple discontinues Bluetooth headset

Posted by Jason D. O'Grady @ 7:36 am

Categories: Accessory, Bluetooth, iPhone

Tags: Apple iPhone, Headset, Apple Inc., Bluetooth Headset, Jason D. O'Grady

Apple has discontinued the $99 Apple Bluetooth headset (MB536LL/A) that it announced in January 2007 alongside the original iPhone.

A MacRumors forums member discovered last Thursday that the headset had been changed to a status of “discontinued” on the Apple Store.

The move is widely speculated as being house-cleaning related to Apple’s June iPhone refresh. While it could simply be End-Of-Life (EOL) because Apple is leaving the Bluetooth business to others, many believe that it’s a harbinger that a replacement is coming.

Since Apple announced support for A2DP (stereo Bluetooth) in iPhone OS 3.0, there’s a good possibility that Apple’s next headset will support it. I just hope that Apple keeps the iPhone Bluetooth Travel Cable, one of its best qualities:

This handy cable does double duty: It syncs and charges your iPhone or iPod, and it charges your iPhone Bluetooth Headset. Just plug it into a computer or an Apple USB Power Adapter.

August 6th, 2008

Logitech diNovo Edge Mac keyboard

Posted by Jason D. O'Grady @ 11:03 am

Categories: Accessory, Bluetooth, Keyboard, Peripheral

Tags: Apple Macintosh, Logitech, Keyboards, Hardware, Peripherals, Jason D. O'Grady

Keyboards are keyboards, right? Not exactly…

I’ve taken Apple to task before about their new thin-profile aluminum keyboards, but like anything, you get used to them eventually. If you’re looking for something completely different in the keyboard department, check out the Logitech diNovo Edge Mac Edition. It’s the newest addition to Logitech’s line of diNovo keyboards and the first diNovo keyboard specially designed for the Mac.

It features Bluetooth wireless technology, one-button access to Mail, Safari and iTunes and has Command, Option, and Control keys. Other innovative features in the diNovo include a built-in TouchDisc touch pad that allows you to scroll and navigate without having to reach for a mouse and a unique upright charging base that keeps the unit powered for up to one month between recharges. The piano-black finish is a nice touch.

If US$160 is a little spendy for a wireless keyboard, or you’re looking for something a little cheaper for your Mac mini media center setup, check out the US$79 Logitech Cordless Media Board Pro which I reviewed on 14 March 2008.

The Mac version (PN 920-000924) will sell for US$159 beginning this month and they’re taking a notification list.

July 18th, 2008

Review: Jawbone 2 bluetooth headset

Posted by Jason D. O'Grady @ 9:58 am

Categories: Accessory, Bluetooth, iPhone

Tags: Headset, Bluetooth Headset, Battery Life, Jason D. O'Grady

Back in June 2007 I reviewed the original Jawbone bluetooth headset and despite its drawbacks I found it to be the standard by which I judge all other BT headsets. Its military grade noise cancellation is second to none and of dozens of Bluetooth headsets that I’ve used over the years everything else pales in comparison to Jawbone.Recently Aliph released the successor, the Jawbone 2 (US$129) and I’m happy to report that it fixes almost all the things that annoyed me about version 1 and it’s even smaller. Battery life is better, the Jawbone 2 easily lasts for three to four days of light use when I turn it off when not in use. The J2 earloop is smaller and more streamlined, making it easier to pop on my ear when the phone is ringing. The power down sound is also quieter and doesn’t deafen you when powering the unit down like the original Jawbone did. Most importantly, Aliph made the rubber earpiece attach more firmly to the body of the Jawbone 2. The old, Jawbone 1 earpiece would constantly wriggle off, promptly me to have to add a dab of hot glue to keep it in place.

Unfortunately,  Aliph continues to use a proprietary power charger with the Jawbone 2 and while it’s better than the original – it now connects to the headset via a magnetic latch – it still requires Jawbone’s proprietary, expensive (US$30) charger. It baffles me why companies continue to force their proprietary chargers on us when they could easily switch to a micro USB connector. The only factor preventing the Jawbone from being the perfect Bluetooth headset is the fact that they elected to force their proprietary charger down our throats. If you forget the adapter while traveling you’re hosed and your Jawbone becomes a brick when it runs out of juice. Unacceptable.

June 17th, 2008

Nova Media restores Leopard's "missing" Bluetooth phone functions

Posted by David Morgenstern @ 3:21 pm

Categories: Bluetooth, Software

Tags: Phone, Media, Plug-in, Telecom & Utilities, Bluetooth, Wireless, David Morgenstern

Many Mac users were upset with Apple’s decision to remove several useful features from Mac OS X 10.5 Leopard, including Bluetooth cell phone dialing within Address Book and support for SMS text messages. However, Nova Media on Tuesday announced its inexpensive Phone Plugins utility that restores the functions.

When it was discovered that Apple had pulled Bluetooth dialing support from Leopard, a cry went up from users. There were many discussion threads on the subject and calls to flood Apple’s Mac OS X feedback page.

A rumor went up this spring that it would be restored in the 10.5.2 update, however, this was proved wrong.

According to Nova Media, users can dial the phone or send a text message using the Services submenu found in the application menu. This means that customers can dial any number found in an e-mail message or non-Apple PIM.

Phone Plugins will either have the cell phone issue a call and bring up a status window on the screen or open a text message window on the screen accordingly. If the selected number is known to Address Book, Phone plugins will display the appropriate name in the new call window or text message window automatically.

The utility cost $9.95 and works with Leopard v.10.5.2 or higher.

April 11th, 2008

iPhone beta presages A2DP, GPS

Posted by Jason D. O'Grady @ 7:01 am

Categories: Bluetooth, Firmware, GPS, SDK, iPod

Tags: Apple iPhone, String, Beta, iPhone Beta, GPS, Bluetooth, Handhelds, Wi-Fi, Consumer Electronics, Personal Technology

Greek technology site iPhone Hellas has been combing the text strings in the recent beta of Apple’s iPhone 2.0 firmware. As we’ve seen in the past, the text strings refer to unannounced iPhone features and also mention extra steps included to prevent unlocking.

Strings were found containing “A2DP” and “HeadphoneBT” implying stereo Bluetooth and possibly a Bluetooth remote control feature. Strings for “RoleGps,” “RoleRemote,” and “RoleA2DP” allude to potential GPS navigation funtions. There’s a “Printers” directory in the /Library and a new “YouTubePlugIn.webplugin” string presumably for the Safari browser. A “Google411″ text string may reference Google Maps and local directory services.

Finally, the ominous sounding “BRICKED_AND_SIM_LOCKED_STRING” implies that Apple is taking further steps to prevent unlocking.

The final version of the iPhone 2.0 firmware is due in June 2008.

March 14th, 2008

The media center keyboard Apple should have made

Posted by Jason D. O'Grady @ 11:00 am

Categories: Accessory, Bluetooth, Keyboard, Peripheral

Tags: Jason D. O'Grady

I’ve been bugging Apple forever to release a Bluetooth keyboard with a built-in trackpad for use with a Mac media center. The problem is that Apple won’t listen because they’d prefer that we buy an Apple TV and use their teensy stick-of-gum Front Row remote. Bah.

The problem is that I have an Apple TV and a Mac mini, but I greatly prefer the mini as my media center – thank you very much. The Mac mini is a drag to navigate in the living room however because I’m always hunting for the BT keyboard and mouse. As anyone in a home with pets and/or kids can confirm, they frequently go missing and/or have their batteries drained at the most inopportune time.

After lamenting the fact that Apple doesn’t make a decent media center keyboard on my Podcast, listener Michael Peay tipped me off about the Logitech Cordless MediaBoard Pro which was released last fall. It’s a Bluetooth keyboard and trackpad that was designed for use with the Playstation 3 but works just fine with a Mac. Peay uses his with a Mac mini running El Gato’s EyeTV hooked up to a Sony HDTV.

My only complaint is that while the ALT key can be remapped to Command there is no valid key to use for Option. Granted, you don’t often need Option, but does keep it from being the perfect keyboard. To map keys in Mac OS X:

System Preferences > Keyboard & Mouse > Keyboard tab >”Modifier Keys…” button.

Although the Cordless MediaBoard Pro lists for US$79 you can find it on Amazon for US$67 (new) or US$54 (used).

What kind of wireless keyboard/mouse setup do you use with your Mac media center?

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October 1st, 2007

A2DP Bluetooth profile enabled in iPhone firmware 1.1.1

Posted by Jason D. O'Grady @ 6:41 am

Categories: Bluetooth, Firmware, Music, iPhone, iPhone Diary

Tags: Apple iPhone, Audio, Problem, Headset, Bluetooth, Apple Inc., Firmware, Bluetooth Headset, Jason D. O'Grady

When Apple released iPhone firmware 1.1.1 they may have inadvertently enabled a new, undocumented feature.

According to AppleInsider, iPhone 1.1.1 allows you to stream all audio, including iPod songs, audio from movies and TV shows and even keyboard taps and system sounds to a Bluetooth headset. Previously, only phone calls and voicemail (when enabled) were streamed to Bluetooth headsets.

Apple appears to have enabled the A2DP (Advanced Audio Distribution Profile) Bluetooth profile in the 1.1.1 firmware update. The only problem is that it isn’t implemented properly. While streaming audio to a Bluetooth headset iPhone simultaneously outputs the same audio through its built-in speaker, which makes the feature much less useful. Plugging in headphones only serves to cut off audio to the wireless headset.

The question is what Apple will do to “fix” the bug. Will they silence the speaker when using A2DP or will they remove A2DP streaming for audio other than voicemail? I hope that it’s the former.

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Update: I removed a portion of this post that referenced streaming voicemail messages to a Bluetooth headset which erroneously stated that this functionality was added in firmware 1.1.1. The PowerPage’s Rob Parker informed me that this has been possible (via the “Audio” button in voicemail) since the beginning.