Logitech has announced the Solar Keyboard Folio iPad case which is a Bluetooth keyboard and case integrated into one accessory. What's different with this particular iPad case combo is that the keyboard is powered by any indoor or outdoor light source. Even more impressive is the charge that these on-board solar cells can hold. Logitech claims that a full charge can last up to two years even in complete darkness. These findings were based on an average use scenario of two hours per day.

“Now that people are seemingly inseparable from their tablets, using them for everything from sending emails to watching videos, they want accessories powered to meet their needs,” said Alexis Richard, director of product marketing at Logitech. “The Logitech Solar Keyboard Folio is a smart partner for your iPad. Its sleek built-in keyboard uses light to charge and it provides hassle-free protection for your iPad – both for the front and back. It gives you an ideal way to use and protect your tablet without adding bulk.”

The Solar Keyboard Folio case will be available in the US and Europe later this month and will cost $129.99. It is compatible with the new iPad as well as the iPad 2.

Source: Logitech PR

There are several good Bluetooth keyboard options for the iPad but the Brydge is simply cool. It aims to make your iPad look like a MacBook Pro, complete with aerospace-grade, anodized aluminum, and optional stereo speakers. Brydge connects to the iPad using a special hinge that "clicks-in" and provides almost 180 degrees of rotation. That means your iPad will be held securely, and at just the perfect angle for you to view it.

s it just us, or does it feel like the options for iPad keyboards and accessories are excessive in quantity, yet lacking in quality? This is why we created Brydge, which simply transforms your iPad into a laptop worthy of Apple.

This idea of turning your iPad into a high quality laptop seemed obvious to us and we were shocked when we could not find any accessory that accomplished this. So we set out to make such a product from the highest quality materials that would compliment your iPad perfectly.

The project is on Kickstarter now, so if this is the iPad Bluetooth keyboard look you've been dreaming about, head on over and get with the backing!

Source: Kickstarter

B is for Bluetooth, a wireless technology that lets your iPhone, iPod touch, or iPad talk to headsets, keyboards, speakers, computers, and other accessories

If you're new to iPhone, iPod touch, or iPad and are wondering just what exactly Bluetooth is and what it means to you, worry not -- iMore has you covered. Bluetooth is an open standard wireless communications protocol, which just means that it's a commonly available way for devices to talk to each other, and to other electronics, without having to be plugged in together. The most common things iPhone, iPod touch, and iPad users do with Bluetooth include connecting to headsets and speakers.

Bluetooth works over short-wave radio (between 2400 and 2480 MHz if you're techie) and has a range of about 30 feet. If you move further away than that, say leave your iPhone in your car and go into a store, you'll lose connection.

There are several different Bluetooth profiles, each of which enables its own type of functionality. iOS doesn't support all Bluetooth profiles, but it does support several important ones.

• HFP 1.5, the hands-free profile for connecting to hands-free headsets and speakerphones
• PBAP, the phone book access profile to allow for car kits to download contacts or display caller information (iPhone only).
• A2DP, the advanced audio distribution profile, which enables higher-quality audio, including stereo audio, to be sent to remote speakers
• AVRCP, the audio/video remote control profile, that lets pause, play, stop, next track, and previous track commands to be sent to headsets and speakers
• HID, the human interface device profile, or the protocol that connects to a wireless keyboard.
• PAN, the personal area network profile, which lets you tether to a computer and share your cellular internet connection. (Part of the Personal Hotspot system.)

Most previous iOS devices, including iPhone, iPad, and iPod touch support up to Bluetooth 2.1 + EDR (enhanced data rate). EDR allows for faster data transfers, meaning smoother, better sound support and internet speeds (between 2 and 3mbps).

Bluetooth 4.0, a newer specification is supported by the iPhone 4S and will presumably be supported by future devices like the iPad 3. Bluetooth 4.0 allows for BHS (Bluetooth high speed) and BLE (Bluetooth low energy), which aim to provide better, faster data with lower battery drain.

There are very few Bluetooth 4.0 accessories available yet, for example the Find My Car Smarter. However, Bluetooth 4.0 offers the potential for more ubiquitous, persistent, and useful peripherals than ever before.

Want to know more? Check out more of our iOS A-Z words-of-the-day, or jump ahead to our complete iPhone and iPad glossary for the full on dictionary list!

• Bluetooth accessories for iPhone, iPod touch, and iPad

One of the iPhone 4S features which was briefly mentioned during yesterdays Let’s Talk iPhone event was Bluetooth 4.0. Bluetooth 4.0 is a hybrid of current Bluetooth standards and Bluetooth Low Energy. It has many features that improve upon the current Bluetooth 3.0 standard which is widely used in current mobile phones. Apple has already introduced Bluetooth 4.0 into its latest MacBook Air and Mac mini lines.

Bluetooth 4.0 can offer a huge improvement in battery life as it consumes far less power than other Bluetooth versions when in Low Power mode. In fact, it is claimed that a Bluetooth 4.0 device can run for years on a standard coin-cell battery, it is that power efficient. Other features are low cost, multi-vendor interoperability, and enhanced range.

Low Power Mode is geared towards accessories with low power requirements such as in the health care markets; for thermometers, heart rate monitors blood pressure monitors etc.  It could be that you will see a ton of accessories coming to the iPhone 4S to take advantage of this new technology. Of course for most, you will not notice any difference, your current Bluetooth accessories will continue to work in exactly the same way!

Source: Bluetooth SIG

Steve Jobs began his introduction of iOS 4.1 for iPhone and iPod touch not by listing the new features, but by listing the bugs it fixes -- proximity sensor, Bluetooth, and iPhone 3G.

Each of those were annoying enough to be near deal-breakers for some, so their being fixed is certainly good news. Finally.

iOS 4.1 is scheduled to arrive next week. Is that soon enough for you?

Apple has updated a knowledge base article for those "Unable to use Wi-Fi or Bluetooth with iPhone or iPod touch because there's no address listed for the device", which is something we've heard quite a bit about lately. The four-pronged approach:

1. Settings > General > Reset > Reset Network Settings
2. Settings > General > Reset > Erase All Content and Settings.
3. Restore the device via iTunes
4. Take your iPhone or iPod touch in for repairs.

Apple finishes off with some extra advice:

If the device shows an address in the Wi-Fi Address field and you are still having issues using Wi-Fi, refer to article 305715 for additional Wi-Fi troubleshooting tips. If the device shows an address in the Bluetooth field and you are still having issues using Bluetooth, refer to articles HT1843 and HT1664 for additional Bluetooth troubleshooting tips.

If any of that works for you, let us know in the comments. If it doesn't, let us know as well...

[via iLounge]

PocketGamer tells about the Zeemote JS1 Bluetooth gaming controller:

while this is in no way official, it seems some clever clogs has now got the compact thumb stick and buttons working with the iPhone.

What with iPhone 3.0's API's for Bluetooth accessory access, Jeremy thinks we might see more devices like this -- if Apple's smart. What do you think? Do you want/need an BT thumbstick to really get your iPhone game on, or is multi-touch enough?

(via antonioj)

iPhone 3G uses Bluetooth 2.0 + EDR, but it seems like the folks behind the BT standard are ready to release the next big version, coincidentally sharing the same 3.0 version number as the next iPhone firmware update, coming this summer.

There's been no word on Apple adopting Bluetooth 3.0 for iPhone OS 3.0 or the next generation iPhone hardware expected to be previewed at WWDC in June, but according to BGR, it will be landing on April 21st and will enable:

Ultra-wideband (UWB) wireless technology to achieve transfer speeds of up to 480Mbps. No, seriously. Higher transfer speeds are actually achieved by enabling 802.11 standards when heavy lifting is involved and then switching back to an older, slower standard when big transfers are completed.

Of course, Apple's track record when it comes to BT is not good, so there's no saying whether or not they'll make the jump to Bluetooth 3.0 now... or wait for 2015 to roll around...

In the Box

The Motorola H15 box contains with the headset, two additional ear cushions for comfort, cradle and charge cable (it is not a USB cable, but it plugs into the headset and cradle only, not the computer).

Design

The Motorola H15 is one sweet looking headset! It is not only lightweight, but has a transparent earloop and a couple or selectable ear pieces with a flip microphone. The best way to describe the H15 is that is an evolution of the 700. There is also and accompanying charge cradle which makes for an excellent accessory addition. The noise cancellation feature is one of the main selling points of this device and Motorola states that it is best noise-cancellation headset currently available.

Daily Use

I found the noise-cancellation to work really well. I could not find any supportive documentation in Motorola's claims that it is the best (the Jawbone headsets are spectacular) however, I can honestly say that none of my call recipients ever complained of any poor call quality due to background noise from driving, shopping, etc. The flip microphone is one of my favorite features. It seems simple enough, but not all headsets implement it; the microphone flips to open and doubles as an on/off switch for the headset. The transparent earloop is quite handy and is somewhat invisible. It keeps the headset in place in conjunction with the ear piece.

Speaking of the ear piece, I swear I have malformed ear canals. Every headset I have used with an ear piece never seems to fit properly. However, this is the closest I have come across (yes, even better than the Jawbone). There are three included ear piece sizes to choose from, however, only one seems to work best for me with extended use; but one is all you need, right?

One of the really nice benefits to this headset is the cradle. I don't know about you, but I loathe having to plug my headsets into random wall sockets only to have my headset fall on the floor because it is not stationary. So the cradle Motorola provides is a great help to me; I have it sitting next to my iPhone on my desk and it's safe and stationary. There is also a light on the front indicating charge status, so you know when you are good to go.

The other convenient feature about this headset is that it is tested with over 200 existing phones. This is great because sometimes you might want to use the headset with an additional phone, or let your significant other or friend borrow your headset, and it may not work. This device is thoroughly tested to work with a wide variety of models.

Conclusion

It seems that lately I am on a stellar track of reviewing awesome accessories for the iPhone and the Motorola H15 does not disappoint. I love the look and feel, the call quality, comfort and cradle. All of these variables combine into a great, well-rounded Bluetooth headset. If you are looking for a headset in this price range, you cannot go wrong with the H15!

Pros:

• One of the hottest looking headsets (IMO)
• Very lightweight
• Love the collapsible flip boom for power on/off
• Comfortable transparent earloop to help keep the headset in place

Cons:

• No glaring negative issues!
• More ear cushion sizes would be nice
• True USB cable to plug directly into your computer for charging

TiPb’s Rating:

A while back Dieter asked for a fast way to toggle Airplane Mode on the iPhone -- a triple click of the home button, perhaps. Yesterday he and I were talking about all the new Bluetooth functionality in iPhone 3.0 and the same point came up -- right now, to turn Bluetooth on or off you have to:

Wake the iPhone, Slide to Unlock, (type a Passcode perhaps), (return Home perhaps), tap Settings, tap General, tap Bluetooth, and then toggle the ON/OFF switch.

That's a lot of overhead, in terms of mental "work" and physical interactions.

With Bluetooth headsets, Stereo Bluetooth speakers, Bluetooth connectivity for accessories, Bluetooth connectivity of tethering, P2P gameplay and P2P app exchange, etc. a much faster way to flip the Bluetooth switch would be really appreciated.

Triple-click may not work in terms of usability, but surely there must be some other way? Maybe surface the ON/OFF toggle on the main Settings page, just before the drill down arrow? Jeremy thinks letting users add Settings shortcuts as icons on the Home Screen (like we can currently do with Safari bookmarks) would work. Anyone have any other ideas?

We hear via Crave and confirmed via a quick check at the Apple Store that Apple is discontinuing their Apple-branded Bluetooth headset. It had a nice run, we suppose, but aside from a clever dual-charging iPhone accessory, the headset was actually pretty bare-bones compared with other options (My own personal favorite is the BlueAnt Z9i headset).

It's probably a safe bet that Apple is going to replace it with a set of Stereo Bluetooth headphones in the fairly near future, given that their A2DP implementation on iPhone 3.0 is pretty nice (check out the images in our walkthrough -- much easier to toggle it on the iPhone than it is on most other devices). Another safe bet may be that Apple's 'phones, as with their current headphones and also this now-discontinued Bluetooth headset, will be decent enough but not as good as what you can find from other manufacturers. I'm fond of the Motorola S9-HD, if you're curious, but the Voyager 855 is my day-to-day, as it's sorta-kinda safer while riding my bike as I can leave my left ear open to listen for cars.

[Thanks to all of you who sent this in!]

So much iPhone news came today that it's tough to keep track of it all. One thing we wanted to make sure didn't get lost in the shuffle was the iPod Touch news that came out today. Specifically, the iPhone 3.0 software will come to the iPod Touch for a $10 upgrade fee and will include an "unlock" to give the iPod Touch the Bluetooth functionality that's being added in iPhone 3.0.

Wait, what? Yes, the iPod Touch (at least the 2nd gen version) does indeed have a Bluetooth chip in it. We don't know exactly where or how the thing is hidden away inside, but Apple came clean today and said they could 'unlock' it. Longtime readers may remember that back in September this very issue raised its head and the verdict was that, well, we didn't think it was there. The deal is that modern devices like Smartphone and the iPod Touch often cram multiple radios and other functionality into a single chip. Back in September it looked as though the chip on the iPod Touch could support Bluetooth but that, well, it was more likely that it was there for Nike+'s "proprietary 802.11 protocol." So rumor smashed -- incorrectly.

There were plenty of things we were hoping for with iPhone 3.0, but that list definitely included improved support for the many things we can do with Bluetooth. The list was as long as the feature list for Bluetooth itself and though Apple didn't get everything, they certainly got a lot. Here's the list of what you can (and can't) do with Bluetooth on iPhone 3.0:

• A2DP Stereo Bluetooth. Yes, Virginia, there is a Santa Claus. And come this summer, your bluetooth stereo headphones and speakers will work with the iPhone 3G. Note, it will not work on the original iPhone 2G.
• Peer to Peer. This is a big one, folks, but it's a little strange. You can share files and talk to other apps over Bluetooth. This means you'll be able to do multiplayer games, for example, or 'beam' your contact card from one iPhone to another. Or heck, play a trombone duet. No pairing is required, either. Discovery of other iPhones happens with Apple's Bonjour ZeroConf autodiscovery protocols
• Control Accessories. In addition to the dock accessory control, you can now control Bluetooth accessories from within an app. The example from the event was a glucose meter, but the possibilities are honestly endless.
• Tops on my Bluetooth list: Bluetooth keyboard support. Technically, you will be able to do with with iPhone 3.0. The weird issue there, however, is that this keyboard support would have to happen on an app-by-app basis instead of happening device-wide. That, friends, is a bit of a bummer.

Biggest Bluetooth surprise of the event: confirmation that the 2nd Generation iPod Touch DOES have Bluetooth and they can 'unlock' it to reveal Bluetooth features.

UPDATED: iClarified has posted an extensive how-to for getting iBluetooth setup on your jailbroken iPhone so you can enjoy a little Apple-unsupported OBEX Bluetooth file transfer.

If you give it a try, let us know how it works for you.

ORIGINAL: [See comments and then move right along...]

Thanks to Antonioj for the tip and the screen shots, more after the break...

Want. This. Now.

ubiqkom.org (via Engadget Mobile) has posted a video of an Apple Bluetooth Keyboard hooked up and running alongside an iPhone. We've seen homebrew keyboard connectivity before, of course, but this is such a nicely packaged, Apple-centric solution is makes us dream again about what could have been -- and still could be if Apple gets its Bluetooth profiles sorted out.

Of course, we'd also expect a built in dock, and maybe a more portable keyboard in general, wouldn't we?

TiPb received a note from Andy at Polaroid concerning a campaign they're starting encouraging iPhone users to file a feature request with Apple for Bluetooth file transfer access. Polaroid wants this for their Pogo Instant Mobile Printer, but TiPb thinks it's a grand idea for better Bluetooth access of all sorts.

I'm pretty sure we don't have stereo Bluetooth (A2DP) because, well, it's not very good quality and Apple doesn't do "not very good quality" (outside of MobileMe launches, mice, and corporate printer support, of course), but how about letting that gorgeous Apple Bluetooth Keyboard (or any Bluetooth Keyboard) hook up with the iPhone?

There's a full range of Bluetooth functionality we haven't gotten on the iPhone yet. Sure, engineering talent is limited and Apple no doubt has a list of priorities based on maximum results for minimum dev time, but even Apple's been known to re-prioritize based on customer feedback, so if this is something you want, let Apple know! (Just don't ask for copy/cut and paste, MMS, video recording, Push Notification, and everything else at the same time, b'okay?)

The Parrot Minikit Slim is a portable Bluetooth hands-free kit sporting a profiled, sleek design.

Thanks to its space-saving design, it offers countless uses: in the car, in the office and at home. Its highly intuitive interface will automatically connect to your Bluetooth phone when nearby. Fixed to the sun visor or laid on a table, it adapts to every environment and can easily be carried around in your pocket.

Once paired, the Parrot Minikit Slim automatically synchronizes its phone book with the contacts on your mobile phone. The phone book on the Minikit Slim is updated seamlessly whenever it connects. The entire phone book is available at all times thanks to the voice synthesis of the names (Text-To-Speech function). Practical and indispensable.

Parrot Minikit Slim Portable Bluetooth Car Kit for iPhone 3G is available from the TiPb iPhone Accessory Store

The BlueTrek Mini Bluetooth Headset is available in two flavors, "Chrome" and "Gun Metal", and can be purchased at the iMore Store for $59.95 here. There are a ton of different bluetooth headsets to choose from for your iPhone, so when you have such a wealth of choices and different prices, how does the BlueTrek Mini compare? I've been using the "Gun Metal" headset and let me tell you what I think after the break.

In all fairness, I should start with the disclaimer that I'm a very picky bluetooth headset person and am hard to please. I don't wear them very often, and when I do, it should be comfortable and it should perform.

In the Box

At a fairly reasonable price of $59.95, the BlueTrek Mini comes with a lot of extras. Along with the bluetooth headset, you also receive the standard charger, a car charger, a lanyard that attaches to the headset so you can conveniently hang it around your neck when not in use, two ear clips, and three different sizes of rubber ear buds. Also, a USB charger is included - very handy when you're at your desk, working away, and still charging your headset via USB at the same time.

Design

The BlueTrek Mini is impressive in it's size and weight, or lack thereof. It weighs only .35 ounces and measures .75" wide, 1.60" long, and .50" deep. A round button is on the outside for answering and ending calls, as well as powering the headset off and on. A charging receptacle is located on the back, and a discreet volume rocker switch is placed along the side.

This headset boasts up to 7 hours of talk time and 10 days of standby time - quite impressive for such a small size. The provided lanyard and plastic ear hooks are well-intended, but unfortunately fall short of the bar set by the design of the earphone itself.

Performance

Once I fit the headset with the size of rubber earbud that fit snugly in my ear, I quickly paired the BlueTrek Mini to my iPhone and am glad to report that it's easy to do. Once paired, I used it to make and receive several calls, listened to voicemail, and then used it for phone calls on my drive home. The sound quality is loud and clear on my end and the people on the other end had no complaints.

The BlueTrek Mini allows call redial, call rejection and call waiting with a press of the side button. It supports voice recognition, muting, and has a dual-color LED display. Bluetooth version is 1.2 and, as I mentioned, is easy pairing and I noticed hardly any lag when connecting with my iPhone.

The issues I had with this headset have nothing to do with the sound quality or functionality, but much more to do with the uselessness of the lanyard and the poor quality of the ear hooks. The lanyard line itself is fine, but the metal ring at the end that attaches to the earpiece of the headset is surprisingly heavy for such a light headset. I found that the hefty metal ring kept pulling my headset loose and right out of my ear, so for me, it was pointless to wear it.

Another problem is the provided ear hooks. I can understand why there are two of them in the box. They seem to be not much more durable than uncooked spaghetti. As a sign of things to come, one of the ear hooks was broken in the box. The second one lasted one day. They are so flimsy and brittle that it was pointless to include them. Perhaps the lanyard would make more sense if the headset had an adequate ear hook to keep the headset in place.

Conclusion

The BlueTrek Mini is a decent headset - very light, good battery life, and seems to have adequate sound quality. The price is reasonable, but is less impressive when the lanyard and ear hooks are practically useless. The car charger and USB charger are nice additions, and most likely you will find that one of the included rubber earbuds will fit snugly in your ear.

If you can handle using just the headset itself sans ear hooks and lanyard, then you may be satisfied with the BlueTrek Mini. If not, you may want to keep looking.

Pros

• Very light.
• Decent sound quality, easy to pair and use.
• Great battery life.
• Lots of extras, like car charger and USB charger.

Cons

• Metal ring on lanyard is too heavy, pulling this lightweight out of your ear.
• Ear hooks are cheap, brittle, and break; box should have included 100 of 'em.

Rating:

Is there a difference between a high-end Bluetooth Headset compared to a normal one? With so many hands-free driving laws being passed these days, the question is obviously on many consumer’s minds. The BlueAnt Z9i ($74.95) is one of those high-end headsets that manages to combine a small and sleek form factor and with a powerful piece of technology, Digital Signal Processor (DSP). On paper, it is everything you want in a Bluetooth headset. How does it test? Does it accomplish everything it sets out to do?

Read on for the rest of the review!

Design

The Z9i’s design is extremely sleek and admirably compact. Whereas many headsets of comparable size focus on their notable lack of size over middling specs, the Z9i manages to pack strong, top-of-the-line technology in a very tight package.

The glossy black of the body is accentuated by chrome lining—it matches incredibly well with the black iPhone 3G. There are dedicated volume buttons on the top side of the headset and a multifunction button (power up/down, answer/end calls, and alternate between standard and max noise cancellation) on the headset’s body. Also, the Z9i includes two microphones which are dedicated to canceling noise.

There is an obscenely bright indicator light, which flashes the BlueAnt logo in well, blue (and red). Luckily, there is an option to turn this off because it is quite blinding in a dark room. The earhook design is quite ingenious—where most other headsets have a fixed earloop or one that moves horizontally, the Z9i moves vertically. This offers easier access and greater comfort. The only design quip is that one end of the earhook is strangely visible, an odd decision by the folks at BlueAnt that detracts from the overall sleekness.

In all, the Z9i isn’t exactly adventurous in its design but its execution is top-notch. You would be hard pressed to find a Bluetooth headset that matches great technology with great build quality—those who enjoy a Bluetooth Headset that is small, sleek, and compact will definitely love this headset’s design.

Usability

The Z9i’s packaging includes two earloops (one is transparent), two earbuds, a wall charger (MicroUSB), and a USB cable. The Z9i syncs wonderfully easy with the iPhone and as an added bonus, the Z9i is capable of being simultaneously connected to two different devices, offering seamless transition for those with multiple devices. It offers 200 hours of standby time with 5.5 hours of talk time. Taking advantage of a feature that is lacking in the iPhone, you are able to use voice commands with the headset as well.

I found the Z9i to be really comfortable in the ear. It has a basic earbud design that is really easy on the ears and plus its light weight makes it barely noticeable.

In testing, I found that the incoming calls sounded great, they were clearly audible with no distortion. I had absolutely no trouble hearing the conversation and thought the Z9i was better than most in regards to incoming audio. Though it doesn’t have any technology that adjusts the incoming audio to your background, the easily accessible, dedicated volume buttons do help. 

In quiet situations, the outgoing audio quality is also impressive. Callers didn’t even realize I was using a Bluetooth headset and stated that I sounded perfectly normal with no digitization. The performance in quiet surroundings certainly warrants its high-end price and is impressive due to its dimunitive size.

However, the noise cancellation is not as good as advertised. Though it does block out some background noise and isolates the outgoing audio, it is not the noise assassin that the Jawbone 2 is. When I had the radio on, callers could hear the song fairly clearly.

This might be a philosophical difference between the Z9i vs the Jawbone 2, where the Z9i chooses to accentuate the voice of the speaker and include the background noise while the Jawbone 2 seeks to simply eliminate the background noise. Both work, but if you’re expecting Jawbone-like ability in regards to background noise, you might decide that the Z9i isn’t for you.

Final Thoughts

Let it be clear, that the Z9i is better than nearly every other Bluetooth Headset available and its comfortable fit and long battery life should convince many users that the Z9i is for them. Add the bonus points for multiple device syncing, easy controls, and a small size—it clearly should be considered in every Bluetooth Headset purchase. Though it’s noise cancellation performance is not top notch, callers will definitely hear you a lot easier than other headsets. If you’re seaking a noise cancellation headset, you can do no wrong with the Jawbone 2. If you want something a little more versatile, the Z9i is a great, great headset.

PROS

• Small, Sleek Design
• Comfortable Fit, Easy to Put On
• Sync to Multiple Devices
• Great Incoming Audio Quality, Impressive Outgiong Audio in Quiet Surroundings

CONS

• Not an 'amazing' noise cancellation performer
• Odd Earhook Design Exposes chrome

FINAL RATING:

The Plantronics Voyager 520 is the follow up to the very popular Voyager 510 with newer features and better technology. The Voyager 520 is targeted at the user who is looking for supreme comfort and solid sound quality. It maintains professional styling and ease-of-use to provide the user a great Bluetooth headset. How does it perform? Does it measure up to the uber-popular Voyager 510?

Read on for the rest of the review!

Design

Let’s put it this way. The Voyager 520 isn’t the most stunning Bluetooth Headset you’ve ever seen. There are headsets that are smaller, sleeker, and use better colors. The headset is fairly large because of the locked-in, large ear loop. The front face of the Bluetooth Headset looks overly-complicated, with harsh lines, multiple patterns, and different colors.

Don’t get me wrong, the Voyager 520 is most definitely not an ugly headset—it’s just not the prettiest one either. The Voyager 520 looks like the Bluetooth Headsets of yore, more professional and business-like than sleek and stylish.

However, styling and design issues aside, I was amazed at how comfortable and light it felt when worn. The large ear loop rotates nearly 360 degrees and is made of a softer, silcone-esque material. It is likely one of the better, more comfortable ear loops on the market. You’ll barely notice it hanging on your ear

Also, the earbud of the Voyager 520 is unique because it sits soft in your ear canal. As opposed to a lot of classic earbud designs, the Voyager 520’s earbud sits naturally in the ear because of its almost funnel like shape. The earbud is the best compromise of in-ear designs and classic ear phone designs.

When you’re wearing the Voyager 520, the comfortable ear loop and the even more comfortable ear bud makes the headset essentially unnoticeable. Some headsets may be prettier but few even come close to the superb fit the Voyager 520 offers.

Usability

Syncing with the iPhone is a cinch. Plantronics chose to implement a multifunction button that doubles as a volume switch. I found the button to be easy enough to hit but switching the volume up and down proved to be more cumbersome. I accidentally ended a call when trying to turn up the volume.

As I mentioned before, the Voyager 520’s fit really stands out. Even after wearing the device for hours, my ears were perfectly fine and I didn’t feel the need to remove the device. Typically, my ears need a break when earbuds are lodged in but the unique design of the Voyager 520’s earbuds made it a joy to wear.

The incoming sound quality is rock solid. Because of the funnel shape of the ear bud, incoming callers were clear and pronounced. It felt like I was getting the best of both worlds—in-ear sound quality but classic ear phone feel. Also, Plantronics uses AudioIQ to smarten the audio, getting louder in noisier environments and softer in quiet surroundings.

Outgoing sound quality is also good. Though it does pick up some background noise, it wasn’t enough to be bothersome to the caller. Callers felt that I sounded clear with no digitization and preferred the headset to many competitors. In quiet environments the headset’s performance was simply stellar, callers never even imagined me being on a Bluetooth headset.

Talk time is 8 hours, which should be plenty for most users. You’re also able to pair to more than one device, which is definitely convenient. Unfortunately, the Voyager 520 uses a proprietary AC adapter.

Final Thoughts

The Voyager 520 really surprised me. When I first saw the headset, I was expecting middling performance and an uncomfortable fit. I could not be more wrong. The fit of the Voyager 520 might be best in class—it hangs light on your ear yet sits naturally in the canal. Also, the audio quality ranged from decent in noisy environments to simply superb in quiet surroundings. Though I still have a few quips with the design and styling, honestly, it’s closer to being pretty than ugly while still remaining professional. I think the Voyager 520 should be seriously considered by any potential headset user and should be considered a steal for the price!

PROS

• Very, very comfortable fit
• Smart Ear Bud Design
• Solid Audio Quality
• Good Battery Life

CONS

• Average Styling
• Fairly Large
• Weird Charger

FINAL RATING:

One of the big missing features on the iPhone is support for wireless bluetooth stereo, also known as A2DP. Naturally, the iPod Touch lacks the same, since it lacks a Bluetooth chip altogether. ...Or does it? Yes, it does. See, as MacRumors notes, the legendary disassemblers at iFixit took on the iPod Touch 2G and found a little chip called the Broadcom BCM4325 -- a chip typically used to provide WiFi or Bluetooth. There's already a separate WiFi chip, so Bluetooth is the natural assumption.

ZOMG, right? Well, no -- Engadget put the hammer down on the rumor and our childlike sense of wonder by pointing out that 1) the chip's presence doesn't necessarily mean that there's actual Bluetooth support in there and 2) that what the chip probably really does is interact with Nike+ (it's built-in, see), since Nike+ uses a "proprietary 802.11 protocol" that this Broadcom chip is almost surely able to work with.

In other words, move jog along, nothing to see here.

Many Bluetooth Headsets are beginning to make and market small, ultra-portable Bluetooth Headsets. Count Samsung as one of them because the Samsung WEP-500 Bluetooth Headset is a simple, stylish, and ULTRA-small Bluetooth Headset.

The headset itself is no bigger than a quarter, with such small stature does it sacrifice in performance? Or is the Samsung WEP-500 Bluetooth Headset the best of both worlds?

Read on for the rest of the review!

Design

The Samsung WEP-500 is a very impressive looking headset. It’s not the flashiest or shiniest headset around but I think that's a good choice by Samsung's Design Team. I think a lot of people will appreciate the WEP-500’s subtle style, it doesn't overwhelm you with bells and whistles. The headset’s color scheme is classy, with a matte black outlining a sleeker bluish black. It also comes in a version with muted silver outlining a tasteful black.

The Samsung WEP-500 is unique because of its circular design and of course, tiny size. Unlike other ultra-portable Bluetooth Headsets, the body of the Samsung WEP-500 is fairly thin. The indicator light is also unobtrusive but also can be turned off by holding the volume button. I definitely enjoy the overall look and build quality of this headset. Too many times, Bluetooth Headsets scream ‘Hey! Look at me!’. The Samsung WEP-500 is confident enough in its styling choices that it doesn’t feel the need to overcome any perceived shortcomings.

Usability

Because of the WEP-500’s small size, the button layout is rather simple. There’s a multifunction button and volume controls. I found the multifunction button to be much too easy to press and overly sensitive. I’ve hung up on a few calls while trying to adjust the fit and didn't know what hit me. The position of the button is expected but the button itself is just a little too sensitive for my taste; Samsung should have definitely made a stiffer, less obtrusive multipurpose button.

Another sacrifice in having such a small design is that it requires a charging cradle. I’m not a particular fan of charging cradles because it adds another item that needs to be carried. Luckily, the charging cradle doubles as a carrying case and the WEP-500’s battery life is better than similar headsets. Though 3.5 hours may be paltry to heavy users, for an ultraportable headset, it’s almost as good as it gets.

The fit is decent, the design is almost “in-ear” but it is not as bothersome as in-ear ear buds typically are. Though I did find a few instances where I felt as if the headset was about to fall out—the headset managed to stay fairly secure the whole time. However, I wouldn’t recommend running or even light jogging with this particular headset since there doesn't seem to be an ear loop option.

A notable feature on this headset is the addition of a secondary microphone. I found it very surprising for a device so small to have TWO microphones. And you know what? The addition of two microphones seemed to have helped and make this headset a standout performer. Callers heard me loud and clear, the echo cancellation really seemed to work. Even in noisier settings, the callers didn’t complain as much as they have in testing of previous headsets.

Incoming audio quality is also very impressive. It has similar technology as Plantronics AudioIQ, which essentially means it adjusts the volume to your surroundings. Specifically, it'll get louder in loud areas and quieter in quiet areas. Plus the in-ear design helps block out background noise, the incoming audio is really great.

Final Thoughts

Overall the Samsung WEP-500 is a solid performer. It combines subtle style with great audio performance, I am happy to use such a great piece of technology. The fit isn’t amazing but after a few times I’ve grown accustomed to it. The circular shape is unique in the world of Bluetooth Headsets and the indicator light isn't blinding.

My biggest gripe is the sensitivity of the multifunction button. Samsung really should have made it a bit stiffer, I have accidentally ended a call too many times. After a while I got used to the sensitivity and made it more of a point to handle the headset with care. If Samsung ever comes up with a solution to this minor problem, the WEP-500 will become an excellent headset that everyone should own. In the meantime, I can still recommend this to anyone looking for an ultraportable headset because it still works as advertised: great styling and great audio quality.

PROS

• Great Subtle Design, Classy Look
• Very Good Audio Quality
• Decent Enough Battery Life Compared to Similar Products

CONS

• Ridiculously Sensitive Multi-Function Button
• Charge via Charging Cradle
• Still Not Enough Battery Life

FINAL RATING: 4.3/5

Bluetooth headsets are becoming increasingly popular, on a common day you’d run into plenty of people using these hands-free devices. Some make you look like a bionic man, others simply look bland, but there are a rare few that makes your head turn. The Motorola H9 Bluetooth Headset ($89.95) falls in that head-turner, borderline sexy category.

Sculpted to be no larger than a quarter, the Motorola H9 is sleek, lightweight, and unmistakably TINY. How can they fit a capable Bluetooth Headset in such a small package? Does it sacrifice performance for the sake of good looks? Is it even useful?

Read on for the rest of the review!

Design

Obviously, with such a strong emphasis on the size of the Motorola H9, it better be jaw droppingly small and impressive. And to that fact, it is, the headset is amazingly small yet it still manages to remain sturdy and look sleek.

A blue indicator light illuminates the shiny silver on the front face of the Bluetooth headset. Though eye-catching to most, some may find it annoying so pressing all of the control buttons can turn it off. But there is no denying that the Motorola H9 is one of the better looking Bluetooth headsets available, its combination of good looks and superb build quality makes it without a doubt, a high end set.

However, with such a strong emphasis on the size and design, Motorola keeps the functions of the H9 to a minimum. The key control is simple—a main multi button and standard volume buttons. The H9 is designed as an in-ear headset, so those that dislike the in-ear design should obviously stay away. Also, though the headset is tiny in size, it is a bit thicker than expected.

Usability

Because of the H9’s in-ear design the headset will take some getting used to. Though the lightweight of the H9 helps this issue, the in-ear design may not be for everyone. Also, It doesn’t come with an ear loop so though it is secure for daily use—running or even light jogging will probably dislodge the headset.

The fit is decent, after you get used to the in-ear design it slowly grows on you. It isn’t immediately comfortable like those from the Plantronics Line but it’s not uncomfortable either. The fit will probably boil down to how forgiving you are of in-ear designs.

Since there isn’t room for a charging port on the headset itself, the H9 is accompanied by a charging cradle. To charge, you insert the mini-USB port to the cradle and place the headset on the cradle. The charging cradle doubles as a portable charging unit, which is necessary since the H9 itself only holds 1.5 hour of talk time. With the charging cradle, you can add an extra 6 hours albeit at a 1.5 hour a time pace.

Overall, the Bluetooth headset performs solidly—earning rave reviews in more quiet areas but having problems in slightly noisier environments. It’s amazing that such a small piece of technology can perform as well as bigger-sized products. Though callers complained of background noise such as other voices and wind, when I used the H9 in the car, it performed quite well. The in-ear ear buds worked to keep the incoming audio quality clear because it manages to block out exterior noise.

Final Thoughts

Let’s be honest, with such a tiny design the Motorola H9 will obviously have some limitations. Pointedly, the battery life is a concern for constant travelers not everyone may prefer the fit. Luckily, Motorola packaged a charging cradle that offers a boost to the headset’s battery life and the in-ear design blocks out background noise and isn’t all that uncomfortable.

The most important aspect of the Motorola H9 is that it attempts to be unique in the bland world of Bluetooth Headsets and to that extent, it succeeds. The audio quality is near flawless in a quiet setting and it keeps pace with comparable (but bigger) headsets in noisy environments. If you’re looking for a long-lasting Bluetooth headset and your commute is noisy, the Motorola H9 is not for you. But if you want a stylish design that doesn’t skimp on quality, look no further.

PROS

• Incredibly Small Design
• Great Audio Quality in Quiet Environments
• In-Ear Ear Buds Makes For Outstanding Incoming Audo
• Stylish Look

CONS

• Short Battery Life
• Average Performer in Noisy Environments
• In Ear Design May Put Off Some

FINAL RATING: 4.5/5

Bluetooth headsets often offer the same feature set, the same styling, and the same performance. Plantronics is known for offering unique takes on Bluetooth Headsets and often add a new wrinkle to each headset in their product line. Popular because of their comfortable fit and Audio IQ technology, the Plantronics line constantly innovates.

With the Plantronics Voyager 815 Bluetooth Headset ($89.95), the innovation is an in-ear earbud and a sliding boom mic. Do they create a better Bluetooth Headset? Or are these features just bells and whistles? How does the Plantronics Voyager 815 perform?

Read on for the rest of the review!

Ed note: people looking to future-proof themselves might consider the Plantronics Voyager 855, it's identical to the 815 but supports A2DP Stereo for music. If the iPhone ever supports Bluetooth Stereo, it's a good option. Note, however, that the 855 has a 2nd earbud attached to the earhook, which might be annoying

Design

The Plantronics Voyager 815 falls in line with the look of a classic Plantronics headset. The sleek black plastic is outlined by a silver strip that tastefully adds symmetry to the design. It is extremely lightweight and feels very durable, Plantronics succeeds again in creating another quality looking Bluetooth Headset. The build quality is definitely that of a higher end headset.

There are three different in-ear earbuds you can insert to fit your ear not to mention the standard, included one. The in-ear earbuds are soft and malleable, they fit gently yet securely, in your ear. I found that the in-ear earbuds were very similar to high-grade earphones such as those from V-moda and Shure. Also, there are 2 different ear loops that allow you to stabilize the headset, though not required, I found it more comfortable with the ear loops attached.

The sliding boom mic is a unique feature in that it is supposed to make your outgoing audio sound clearer. There is no lock or extra click to fasten the boom mic, rather just simply a smooth slide to utilize the mic. You can also answer and end calls via sliding the boom mic. Though when extended, I felt the mic extension wouldn’t be as durable as the rest of the body of the headset because the plastic thins out. The headset is charged via micro USB.

Usability

The overall fit of the Plantronics Voyager 815 boils down to if you prefer the in-ear fit of noise isolating ear buds over the classic, less immersive regular earphones. Because this is strictly an in-ear headset, those who prefer the alternative should reconsider. The earbuds are of high quality materials and fit snugly in your ear canal, though the in-ear design may rub off some, the comfortable earbuds combined with the lightweight headset equals a great, almost unnoticeable fit.

The benefit of an in-ear design is that it blocks out surrounding noise and allows for a clear conversation. I found that though I’m typically not a fan of in-ear designs, using this headset is almost enough to convert me. Combining the AudioIQ technology (which automatically adjusts the volume to your surrounding) with the in-ear design, the incoming audio is superb. No static, great volume, and no background noise.

In varied tests with the PLantronics Voyager 815, I found that the outgoing audio quality was absolutely superb in quiet settings. Callers could hear my voice clearly without any digitization and no echoing. I was stunned by the quality of the outgoing audio quality, it worked wonderfully.

However, the Plantronics Voyager 815 isn’t quite the noise assassin that the Jawbone is so background noise is a bit of a problem. Extending the boom mic does help outgoing audio quality in this regard but the overall effect is minimal. Given a quiet surrounding and the Plantronics Voyager 815 excels, with a noisier background its performance is middling.

Final Thoughts

The Plantronics Voyager 815 Bluetooth Headset has become my go-to headset. The in-ear design blocks out surrounding noise and allows you to focus on the conversation. The fit is perfect, its lightweight body resting gently on your ears. The outgoing audio quality is superb when it is quiet and performs as well as most other headsets when background noise exists.

I think this is the perfect headset for anyone who prefers an in-ear design. The sleek and modern look is an added bonus and the comfortable fit is consistent with the Plantronics platform. Overall, this is easily one of the better headsets on the market today. You should consider it a BUY if you are looking for an in-ear design and a comfortable fit with great audio quality.

PROS

• Very Comfortable Fit
• Stylish Design
• Superb Incoming Audio Quality, Outgoing Audio Quality Shines In Quiet Areas
• Lightweight, Great Build Quality

CONS

• Average Performance in Noisier Environments
• In-Ear Design Not for Everyone

FINAL RATING: 4.5/5

Can't find a Bluetooth Headset that fits your ear? Struggling enough with the headset that it defeats the purpose of being 'hands free'? Well, the Motorola MOTOROKR T505 Bluetooth In-Car Speakerphone ($99.95) is ideal for you. It is essentially a Bluetooth speakerphone, keeping your hands free and your ears clear while driving your car. Unlike a Bluetooth headset, the Motorokr T505 is meant to be used strictly in a car setting. How does it perform?

Read on for the rest of the review!

Design

The Motorokr T505 looks about the size of your average garage door opener, in fact, Motorola suggests that you clip it to the sun visor in your car. The build quality of the Motorokr T505 is superb. It has great texture to it, feeling soft yet sturdy. The buttons are defined and easy-to-reach, the overall look of the Motorokr T505 is subtly stylish, a gadget that looks more wonderous and mysterious than utilitarian and boxy. It will more often than not blend into your car instead of sticking out like an eye-sore.

Usability

The Motorokr T505 sets out to do a few things which are: keep your hands free while driving, provide a clearer and louder speakerphone than your iPhone’s, and transmit calls (and music) to your car’s stereo system via FM. It certainly can be considered a narrow scope to focus on, if you don’t drive a car you won’t need the Motorokr T505. But if you do drive a car, let me tell you this, I can’t imagine using anything other than the Motorokr T505 again.

Syncing your iPhone with the Motorokr T505 is easy as any other Bluetooth device. And I was able to use the speakerphone in seconds upon powering up. Also, charging is made available through mini-USB. What’s great about the Motorokr T505 is that there is no fumbling for the iPhone or having an earpiece attached to you the entire time you’re driving, it is truly a hands free device.

The speakerphone is clear, loud, and extremely audible. Callers were pronounced and unmistakably clear, this was as good as it gets for a Bluetooth speakerphone. Callers also agreed that I sounded great and hardly noticed that I was talking via speakerphone, they assumed I was on my iPhone the entire time.

When the FM transmitter in the Motorokr T505 transmits the call to your FM, it scans the best available station to broadcast to. Specifically, it searches for an empty signal and broadcasts your call to that transmission. Doing this, it gives your phone call a surround sound-esque platform. Though your mileage may vary with the FM transmitter, I live in Los Angeles, home of a multitude of FM stations and the Motorokr T505 still managed to find a signal that was empty and transmitted the conversation clearly to my car’s stereo.

However, because the Motorokr T505 is a speakerphone meant for in the car use, it can only fill a specific niche. For example, if you are always on the go but without a car, there is little need for a car speakerphone. But if you are a commuter who travels mainly by car, there are few better options. The only downside to the Motorokr T505 is when you are carrying passengers, your conversation is not exactly private since the whole car can hear and participate. For those worried about those situations, a Bluetooth headset might better fit that need.

Final Thoughts

I never imagined a car speakerphone to perform so well. I initially imagined the Motorokr T505 to be nothing more than a glorified speakerphone for the iPhone, but I was completely off base. It is a speakerphone that offers great compatibility, clarity, and flexibility. As a speakerphone it succeeds, but when transmitting to your FM stereo it surpasses all expectations.

This Motorokr T505 is a great solution for anyone who is looking for a hands-free device while driving in the car. I highly recommend it to all people who are in need of talking on their cell phone while driving.

PROS

• Great Sounding Speakerphone
• Transmits to FM stations well
• Stylish Design
• Easy-To-Use

CONS

• For Use in Car Only
• Conversations aren't exactly private

Final Rating: 4.8/5

With more and more Bluetooth headsets looking alike and new releases feeling like old ones, the Plantronics Discovery 925 Bluetooth Headset ($129.95) offers a much more unique take and infinitely more appeal. Its futuristic, luxury look was eagerly anticipated and has definitely shaken up the headset industry, putting all makers on notice.

Is the Plantronics Discovery 925 all show and no go? Or does it perform as good as it looks? And does it even look THAT good in your ear? Well read on for the rest of the review!

Read on for the rest of the review!

Design & Fit

Overall, the design of the Plantronics Discovery 925 is cutting edge, to put it mildly. With a sleek design that carves a hole in between the boom microphone, the headset truly looks like something from Star Trek. Personally, I am a fan of the design, I find it refreshing in the market of bland headsets and applaud Plantronics for creating such a bold headset.

From my experience, Plantronics headsets offer superb fit and comfort and the 925 is no different. Though the shape of the ear gels are a tad weird (they have a handle bar across the top edge that supposedly fits better to the interior of your ear, Plantronics calls it stabilizers), the gelly substance used in the ear tip is an excellent design choice in both style and comfort. I had no problem taking the 925 in and out of my ear.

The 925 is also very, very light. This is important since weighty or uncomfortable Bluetooth headsets often defeat the purpose of even using one, having a Bluetooth headset that is essentially unnoticeable is almost as important as the headset’s sound quality.

Usability

Because of the 925’s minimalist design, there aren’t too many buttons or features that complicate the process. Simply, slip the headset into your ear and you’re rolling. There are two buttons on the 925—one for volume control and the other to power up, make calls, and end calls.

I found that incoming audio quality performed fairly well. The AudioIQ technology works well and it is possible to hear callers loud and clear. There wasn’t many issues with static or feedback—it was very easy to hear the incoming caller. In louder environments, the 925 adapts to its surroundings and offers louder volume. I found this feature to be a great addition to the headset because I never had to worry about manually controlling the volume—the AudioIQ smartens up the headset.

Outgoing voice quality is good but falls short of being great. In regular usage—like in the car, or in a room, it is a more-than-able performer. Callers hear your voice loud and clear, without any digitizing or static. Few even noticed the difference between the 925 and the iPhone. However, the Plantronics 925 doesn’t do a great job of masking environmental noise. Callers complained about background noise that came from the TV, other people, and/or wind.

Final Thoughts

The Plantronics 925 is a good piece of hardware with a great design. Though it doesn’t offer much new features or innovative controls, the comfortable fit and fashion forward look should push those looking for a Bluetooth Headset to consider the Plantronics 925. In my experience, there are few headsets that fit as comfortably as the 925 and even fewer that look as striking as it does.

Though its high price may deter potential buyers from committing, the Plantronics 925 is a good headset that just falls short of great. If you are looking for a headset that will turn heads and fits great, this is the headset for you.

Pros

• Bold, Striking Design
• Extremely Comfortable Fit
• Easy Sync Process
• Simple Controls
• Carrying Case doubles as a charger!

Cons

• Fairly Expensive
• Not a Standout Performer

Final Rating: 4.5/5

Monday we asked you "What's the iPhone 3G Chip and When Will it Ship?". Tuesday it was "What is the iPhone 3G Going to Look Like?". Wednesday brought "What Surprises Will There Be in the iPhone 2.0 Software & Services?". Thursday questioned "What 3rd Party iPhone SDK Apps Will Be Available Launch Day?" Today we want to know what else the iPhone 3G will feature, both now and into the future?

GPS is the biggie (right after 3G!). What about a front-facing camera? VGA screen? Stereo Bluetooth? Wireless N? Full-sized querty keyboard? ... (Ha!) What do YOU think?

To give you some help, here's a HUGE roundup of all the iPhone SDK 3rd party apps rumors. Epic-style. Because let's face it, roughly 0.01 seconds after Steve Jobs pulled the first iPhone from his pocket back at Macworld 2007, and someone, somewhere, put aside their childlike sense of wonder long enough think: "Nice! What's the next gen going to be like?"

Complementary, contradictory, obvious, confusing, all but confirmed or from left field via outer space, the rumors have flooded the internet ever since. It's become almost impossible to keep track of them all.

Three days from today Steve Jobs takes Moscone Center stage for the sold-out WWDC keynote, and according to everyone and their newsfeed, announces the iPhone 3G. In eager anticipation, every day this week, TiPb wil be asking you to tell us what you think the next generation iPhone will be, from 3G to GPS, release dates to price points, colors to casings, 2.0 software to .Mac .Me services, and this weekend we'll wrap it all up with a look into the WWDC/iPhone 3G Crystal Ball, and a roundup of the very best of YOUR predictions.

So come on, let's get in on!

WWDC -3 and Counting: Hardware Features

As we mentioned before for purely cosmetic reasons, the first generation iPhone boasts a 3.5″ 320×480 display at 163dpi, a rear-facing 2.0 megapixel camera, 3.5mm recessed headphone minijack, 30-pin dock connector, speakers at the top and base, microphone at the base, accelerometer, light sensor, proximity sensor, top-mounted SIM slot, on/off button, mute switch, volume button, and home button. It's also packing internals like quad-band GSM (850, 900, 1800, 1900 MHz), Wi-Fi (802.11b/g), EDGE data, and Bluetooth 2.0+EDR.

But that's all soooo 2007 now, isn't it? What will Apple bring to the table for 2008? How will they not only surpass their own previous efforts, but tackle the plethora of feature-spouting iPhone-like devices their competition has been releasing as of late?

Let’s start at the beginning and work our way forward:

March 4, 2008: RBC Capital analyst Mike Abramsky predicted an iPhone 3G with higher def (HD?) video, voice capture, streaming HD video, and real-time GPS.

March 25, 2008: Digg founder Kevin Rose used his popular Diggnation internet video show to claim that the iPhone 3G would sport 2 cameras: one on back like the current version, and another on the front expressly for iChat video conferencing. Rose, however, had been spectacularly wrong with his predictions about the first generation iPhone...

March 27, 2008: Kevin Rose was back, back again, this time on Twitter where he claimed a source close to Apple told him the iPhone 3G would be released in June with GPS. Although not at the time, this one looked more and more credible as WWDC approached...

March 31, 2008: While claiming they would'a had'a need'a time machine to have emulated the iPhone's design, RIM's latest release, the Blackberry 9000 Bold, did raise the bar on some specs. According to Crackberry.com, who scored the first pre-release hands-on, it included UMTS: 2100 / 1900 / 850MHz, GSM: 1900 / 1800 / 900 / 850 MHz, GPRS, EDGE and HDSPA networks, GPS, and Bluetooth Stereo Audio.

For a company that makes its dough on email, offering BT stereo before media giant Apple was clearly a backatcha-for-ActiveSync challenge. And while Steve Jobs is notorious for not offering technology that doesn't (yet?) meet his perfectionistic standards, will the iPhone be able to avoid A2DP any longer?

April 2, 2008: With an eventual -- and unbelievable -- $100,000,000 in advertising behind it, Sprint aimed (both in terms of design and market!) Samsung's Instinct squarely at the iPhone, with some challenging specs like EVDO Rev A speed, GPS, Stereo Bluetooth, and mobile TV.

April 8, 2008: In one of the most obvious iPhone derived competitive offerings to date, Nokia promised the world the "Tube". While feature specs were not discussed, Nokia already shipped smartphones like the N95 with whopping big 5.0 megapixel Carl Zeiss-lensed cameras, the ability to shoot near DVD-quality video, and vblogger-pleasing compatibility with mobile streaming video capture services.

Can Apple, which owns everything from Final Cut and Aperture to iMovie and iPhoto, afford to fall behind in the mobile production space? And if not, how far will they be willing to bump their own 2.0mp, non-video capturing camera?

April 10, 2008: iPhoneBuzz reported that they found strings in the iPhone 2.0 beta that revealed support for A2DP stereo Bluetooth, Bluetooth remote control, GPS (though not whether it was internal or via Bluetooth to dongle), and something to do with printers. If true, it was a gold mine of discoveries.

April 25, 2008: Engadget claimed a source with hands-on info that the iPhone 3G would include GPS, and a flush headset jack.

May 7, 2008: The iPhone turned out to be the most popular camera phone on Flickr, despite its relatively poor 2.0 megapixel implementation. Imagine what it could do with a lens bump and a better software set?

May 9, 2008: In what might have been one of the most feature-packed competitors to square off against the iPhone, HTC announced their Touch Diamond, which according to WMExperts came spec'd out with an ultra-sharp 2.8", 640x480 VGA screen, tri-band (aka non-US friendly) HSPA 3G data, A-GPS, a 3.2 megapixel camera, and FM radio.

The iPod Nano already had a 202dpi screen, but would Apple go that high-end with the iPhone 3G?

May 14, 2008: Swisscome announced they would be selling the iPhone in Switzerland, and rumor had it it would feature video iChat, mobile TV, and GPS.

May 22, 2008: Gizmodo revealed that Apple had job postings up for both a camera engineer:

[W]ith responsibilities for evaluation, qualification, implementation and tuning of camera subsystems in iPhone products.

And an RF engineer:

Familiar with RF fundamentals and RF test equipments (spectrum analyzer, network analyzer, signal generator), hands on for wireless system validation automation. Familiar with PC and network architecture. [...] Design and qualification expertise with IEEE 802.11 [...] Knowledge about Bluetooth, 3G, UWB, WiMAX, GPS, Mobile TV and similar wireless technologies and/or experience with wireless module integration into PC system or consumer products is a strong plus. The system integration issues include: radio coexistence, platform noise, module and system power consumption.

Et tu, WiMAX?

At the same time, Apple Insider broke word on a "private" firmware update for "select developers" that included Geo-Tagging software, which often depends on GPS to add location data to photographs.

May 28, 2008: While still in beta, Google demonstrated their much-anticipated Android OS on an HTC Dream. iPhone inspired, Google advances the multi-touch UI and sensor interactions in many ways Apple will have to not only match, but surpass. And as everyone knows (and Microsoft has often used to their advantage), its almost impossible to market a shipping product against a vaporous competitor.

May 30, 2008: Apple Insider revealed a patent filing that could allow an iPhone with GPS and an accelerometer to predict when signal loss would occur and alert both the user, and anyone the user was communicating with at the time, with distance and speed specific cues.

In a separate filing, Apple detailed how improved Bluetooth functionality could allow the iPhone to help find other BT enabled devices, or even everyday BT tagged items such as your keys. (Not that it's unwanted, but how about some BT stereo and peripheral -- keyboard -- support?)

June 1, 2008: Battle of the biggie blogs as Om Malik of GigaOm said GPS was a go:

[T]here is one thing that’s for sure: The new iPhone has Global Positioning System (GPS) built into it, thanks to legal requirements put in place by the FCC.

And Brian Lam of Gizmodo responded with a thanks but...:

No thanks. Don’t need it. I’m fine with the current location technology. It works for walking and that’s all I need it for.

June 3, 2008: Samsung's SGH-i900 is detailed by WMExperts. Modeled after the iPhone but sporting an FM Radio. While very last century, it is a feature last centurions still request...

Your Turn!

So there you go, now it's your turn. Tell us what features you think the iPhone 3G will pack. FM Radio? HD Video? Better Bluetooth support? Espresso brewer?!

And after you're done telling us, don't forget to head over to our iPhone Blog's super Wait-a-Thon spectacular where you could win an iPhone 3G of your very own, whatever it looks like, on the very day it's released!

Go back and read Part 1: What's the iPhone's 3G Chip and When Will it Ship?
Go back and read Part 2: What’s the iPhone 3G Going to Look Like?
Go back and read Part 3: What Surprises Will Be in iPhone 2.0 Software & Services?
Go back and read Part 4: What 3rd Party iPhone SDK Apps Will Be Available Launch Day?