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Bluetooth Two-Way Earpiece Communicators Reviewed (Verdict: Spy Movie Fun at 75 Metres Or Less)
Posted by Jack Loftus at 9:00 AM on August 4, 2008
Like many geeks, the New York Times' David Pogue watches movies, like the Bourne Supremacy or Mission: Impossible, and yearns for the wireless earpiece tech they use to communicate with their buddies without microphones, headsets or mobile phones. He's right, they're cool, and recently he had the chance to review two consumer versions, the SM100 (SoundID.com, US$86), and the Dragon V2 (CallPod.com, US$100). The final verdict? Both are *really* just average yuppie Bluetooth earpieces like the ones you see stuck in people's ears on the subway. The catch, however, is that with the press of a button, they become "secret-agent two-way radios."
It works exactly the way it works for Tom Cruise: As you climb, work, drive or bike, both your hands remain busy with what they're supposed to be doing. And yet you're also in constant two-way conversation with whoever is wearing the other earpiece. It feels natural and creepy at the same time, as if you have one of those little angels (or devils) sitting on your shoulder feeding advice or wisecracks directly into your head. And it's free forever. No air time, no minutes, no monthly bill.
Unfortunately for the SM100, its standard Bluetooth connection keeps those conversations limited to 10 metres or less. The Dragon, however, is Bluetooth Class 1, and as such got to about 75 metres before the static started to kick in on Pogue and his son.
As a bonus, the Dragon can also pair up with two sources at once (are we sensing the winner yet?). This means you can have your easy listening tracks playing on your PC, and when a call comes in the Dragon switches automatically, and vice versa.
Further boosting the Dragon's spy cred is the accompanying Phoenix device, sold separately for US$300, which sits on a table top and expands your network to up to five earpieces at once. We thin it's a small price to pay for keeping your team of spy guy super geeks connected, informed, and ready to respond to a flamebait blog post at a moment's notice. [New York Times]
Comments (AU Comments · US Comments)
There are currently no AU comments for this post.
k4ffy
Posted 11:15 AM 4/8/08
@SMSDHubbard: because you still have to pay the monthly fee for the mobile plans, even with free in-network calling.
k4ffy
DisposableInterloper
Posted 10:59 AM 4/8/08
Okay, this is seriously awesome. I so want this.
DisposableInterloper
SMSDHubbard
Posted 10:33 AM 4/8/08
@nyaz: Why don't you just have all of the employees use one cell provider that gives free in-network?
SMSDHubbard
nyaz
Posted 10:08 AM 4/8/08
I can see using it for setting up networks, I should show these to my boss.
nyaz
utube2007
Posted 9:47 AM 4/8/08
Now only if this went a mile or 2 and used something besides bluetooth it would be worth it.
I can however see this being used in office buildings having a way for employees to communicate on different floors or areas; instead of paying to use cellphones in terms of minutes or im/text, or instead of using landline phone and being stuck to a desk or being stuck to a desk with a computer using im
utube2007
thegadgeteer
Posted 9:45 AM 4/8/08
Wicked!
I prefer the Jabra 250 form factor but this is still pretty cool.
thegadgeteer
tblain
Posted 9:44 AM 4/8/08
Paintball anyone?
tblain
jkr2
Posted 12:50 PM 4/8/08
@MichaelS: "radio" as in bluetooth is also a radio spec. I didn't bother w/ the distinction, since it was self evident. I must say though, outdoors I've gotten 3 mile ranges (no mountains, but lots of buildings/homes).
jkr2
dambo29
Posted 12:46 PM 4/8/08
@stlblufan: HAHAHAHA NICE! Very nice!
dambo29
Weihovah
Posted 12:38 PM 4/8/08
if sharper image was still around, this would be their top seller
Weihovah
WayGroovy
Posted 12:36 PM 4/8/08
I'm confused. Don't regular yuppie bluetooth thingies act like a two way radio when pressing the button, by calling the latest contact in your cell phone in your pocket anyway?
WayGroovy
MichaelS
Posted 12:35 PM 4/8/08
While the "radio" argument has its merits, it should be noted that no FRS / GMRS radio will go 12 Miles under "real world" conditions; regardless of what the packaging says. They usually operate more around the .25 to .75 mile range.
These Bluetooth communicators will also have to contend with the environments in which they are used. Multiple walls and or use between floors, will quickly cut the range in half or more.
MichaelS
stlblufan
Posted 12:20 PM 4/8/08
Radios have people? Now I'm scared.
stlblufan
jkr2
Posted 12:16 PM 4/8/08
wow, second most useless tech I've ever seen. Radio's people, radio's. 12 mile range for $60 bucks a radio, and you can also use vox and a headset and even duplex.
jkr2
TerryinSt.Paul
Posted 11:44 AM 4/8/08
I'll never have to get up off the couch again. "Honey, can you get me a beer?".
TerryinSt.Paul
MichaelS
Posted 1:03 PM 4/8/08
Agreed across the board jkr2. Just wanted to bring to light the 12 Mile (up to 30+ Mile now) fallacy on consumer radio ad-copy. I have no doubt a good GMRS can reach 3 miles under some conditions. Usually however, especially in car to car communications, it is much less.
Besides a GPS and Cell Phone, a good set of radios can be a god-send on a family road trip. A must-have in my book.
MichaelS
Wallmaker
Posted 2:16 PM 4/8/08
These things seem pretty useful, even though radio handsets have a better range; the callpods look better, though, and there's no handset to bother with.
Wallmaker
jkr2
Posted 4:24 PM 4/8/08
for some reason I thought it was $300 for the dragon pods. For $100, that's not to bad actually.
jkr2
KathyBestia
Posted 12:27 AM 5/8/08
The Dragon website lists some weird specifications: http://lee-phillips.org/dragon/
KathyBestia
craiglurey
Posted 2:46 AM 5/8/08
@KathyBestia:
Most people know the square footage of their home or business, which is important when discussing range. I don't see why that's so amusing.
craiglurey
cautionsupply
Posted 2:33 AM 5/8/08
I bought two of these from their website last week... the walkie-talkie feature is AWESOME, promotes laziness...
cautionsupply
cannonslate
Posted 4:10 AM 5/8/08
This new headset is amazing!! The best range of anything that is out there, and more comfortable than my jawbone 2. This thing blows anything that jawbone makes out of the water. With greater range, comfort, and the walkie-talkie function that truly makes this headset worth the price. Did i mention that it was comfortable? Cause it's worth saying twice, that and the sound quality are two upgrades that callpod really got right with this new headset. Amazing!
cannonslate