Pre-Review: Motorola MOTOROKR S9-HD A2DP Stereo Bluetooth Headset for iPhone 3.0
Come this “summer”, iPhone 3.0 — see our walkthrough — will allow iPhone users to enjoy new Bluetooth functionalityincluding stereo headsets, both the A2DP audio and ARCP control protocols. And if you’re a developer, you likely have this functionality already for testing purposes.
A while back I took a preview look at the Motorola S9 Stereo Bluetooth Headset for iPhone 3.0. Looks like they’ve gone and grown up! If budget is less of a concern to you than sound, and you want to enjoy your audio on the go, the Motorola MOTOROKR S9-HD (the “-HD” being the key — and really only — differentiator here!) are something you definitely want to consider (available now from our sibling store at WMExperts).
Note: This pre-review will not be focusing on iPhone 3.0 functionality, which is currently in closed beta. It will concentrate only on the headset itself. However, for those developers needing an A2DP headset for testing 3.0, it’s our understanding this one works well on multiple units, over multiple carriers.
About that -HD
I’m not going to bore you with a re-hash review. This headset, as mentioned above, is almost identical to the non-HD version reviewed previously. The big difference, of course, is the “-HD” itself, and that’s what we’ll focus on here. Starting with: how big a difference is it?
BIG. The bass is bigger, the emersion experience is better, the depth and scope of the sound in general is brighter. They call it SRS WOW HD technology. Given that A2DP will never equal great wired earphones, and great wired earphones will never equal vinyl and vinyl will never equal great live music, as far as stereo Bluetooth headsets go, these S9-HD certainly nail the WOW.
Conclusion
The same sizing and form factor issues plague this headset as did it’s non-HD sibling. If your head doesn’t fall into the comfortable rang, and you want to be able to lie on your back while listening, these aren’t the headset for you. Likewise, if you value price over performance, look at those non-HD siblings. If you want this form factor and sound quality matters to you, these are top of the charts — easily.
Addendum: In the previous review, one of the commenters asked about glasses. I wear glasses, and while all glasses will vary in size and form factor, I had no problem wearing the S9-HD for lengthy periods. Your mileage may, of course, vary.
Pros
- Great sound
- Good battery life
- Light and comfortable
- Well suited for on-the-go use.
Cons
- May not fit all head sizes
- Not well-suited for lying down
TiPb Accessory Pre-Review Rating
Doom for iPhone Update
John Carmack has written an update on his Doom port for the iPhone, and he’s continuing the same candor he began with his Wolfenstein 3D post. What are we getting? A classic in almost every sense of the word:
Before I actually started coding on the project, I had visions of adding a lot of modern tuned effects to the core gameplay experience. It would certainly stay a sprite-and-sector based game, but there are many things that would be done differently with the benefit of a GPU and the wisdom of hindsight. Once I began actually working on it, it started to look like a bad idea for a number of reasons. I am trying to not be very disruptive in the main codebase, because I want it to stay a part of prBoom instead of being another codebase fork. While I can certainly add a bunch of new features fairly quickly, iterating through a lot of user testing and checking for problems across the >100 commercial Doom levels would take a lot longer. There really is value in ” classic” in this case, and there would be some degree of negative backlash to almost any “improvements” I made. There will still be a couple tiny tweaks, but nothing radical is changing in the basic play. It would be fun to take a small team, permanently fork it, and make a “Doom++” just for the iPhone, but that wouldn’t be the best first move. Maybe later.
Motorola H385 – Headset ( in-ear ear-bud (with over-the-ear mount) ) – wireless – Bluetooth
Marketing description is not available.
Apple iPhone Bluetooth Headset
Enjoy wireless convenience and crystal-clear audio when talking on your iPhone. The iPhone Bluetooth Headset features a single button that lets you make and receive phone calls simply and intuitively. And the innovative design is sure to turn a few heads.
Kensington K33440US Hands-Free Visor Car Kit for iPhone and Bluetooth Phones
One touch dialing - now you're talking! Speed dialing and hands-free calling hit the road with the Kensington Hands-Free Visor Car Kit for iPhone and Bluetooth Phones. Simply clip it on your car´s sun visor and pair with your iPhone or Bluetooth enabled phone for one-touch speed dialing of your three favorite numbers and crystal-clear, hands-free talking. Includes two rechargeable battery packs so one is always charged and ready to go. USB power port on car charger can charge your iPhone or other mobile devices (USB charging cable sold separately). User swap button allows you to switch phones without having to re-establish pairing to the speakerphone.
Plantronics Voyager 510 Bluetooth Headset [Retail Packaged]
![Plantronics Voyager 510 Bluetooth Headset [Retail Packaged]](http://ecx.images-amazon.com/images/I/41XB1238FJL._SL500_AA280_.jpg)
Amazon.com
For the ultimate in wireless freedom, look no further than the Plantronics Voyager 510 Bluetooth headset, which represents a generational leap in Bluetooth headset technology. It's comfortable and light enough for all day wear, and it offers unprecedented clarity and sound quality. These are great features, but the real revolution involves Plantronics' exclusive Multipoint technology, which allows the headset to function as a powerful communication solution for up to two Bluetooth devices. With Multipoint technology you can switch between your voice-enabled Bluetooth mobile phone, PDA or laptop. The headset's "smart" technology knows which device you are using and allows you to take calls from any device at the touch of a button. With the optional Plantronics Bluetooth Deskphone Adapter you can even switch between your office phone and your Bluetooth mobile phone. You'll never need to use a dedicated "landline" phone headset again. The 510 features WindSmart (more...)
How to Enable 3G Tethering in Your iPhone 3.0 Now
We haven't tried this but someone has published a tutorial about how to enable 3G tethering in the iPhone OS 3.0. [Update: It works with AT&T]
Warning: ONLY DO THIS IF YOU KNOW WHAT YOU ARE DOING AND CAN ACCEPT THE RISK*
To get this to work with AT&T, follow these instructions:
1. Download this file. The image files contains a modifid ATT_US.ipcc file, which is a bundle that contains different property list XML files. These text files enable or disable functions in the iPhone.
2. Plug your iPhone with iPhone OS 3.0, and wait for it to connect to iTunes.
3. Option + Click on the "Check for updates" in the iPhone screen.
4. Select the ATT_US.ipcc file.
5. The iPhone's version of the file will update.
6. Once it restarts, go to Settings > General > Network and turn on tethering.
7. Enable the USB connection, but say no to the Bluetooth tethering.**
Done. Now connect your iPhone to the computer. The computer will automatically detect a network connection on the USB port. It just works.
Turn off your Wi-Fi or unplug your Ethernet to check how it works.
** Tethering over Bluetooth only works with older hardware, before the current revisions (Bluetooth to 3G tethering won't work in the unibody MacBooks.)
*WARNING: A reader reports that since installing this file this morning, he ran into some problems:
• Camera icon is gone in the messages app (doesn't matter, since there's no MMS capability yet).
• Voicemails are not coming in.
• There's no data on 3G bandwidth consumption in your online AT&T account. BEWARE: SINCE TETHERING IS NOT SUPPORTED BY AT&T, THERE'S THE POSSIBILITY THAT THEY MAY BE CHARGING YOU FOR USING IT
[File from joachimbeam—Thanks J.]
