Tuesday, January 3, 2012

Wireless Speaker Pricing, Retailers, and Categories

!±8± Wireless Speaker Pricing, Retailers, and Categories

Wireless speaker systems come in a variety of prices, are offered by a variety of retailers, and come in a handful of categories. Generally, you can safely expect them to be more expensive than wired speakers. We'll break everything down by category.

Bluetooth speakers cater mostly to people who have a phone or MP3 player. These speakers are great because they allow the user to take control of a speaker without getting up from their couch or chair - effectively turning the music player into a remote control. One caveat here is the fact that mainstream iPods do not feature built in Bluetooth. So if you're looking into this option with an MP3 player in mind, look for one of the competing brands like Sony. These speakers will often come as a single unit (as opposed to two or more satellites), often with stereo configuration built in. Keep in mind Bluetooth does not have the same range as wi-fi, so you can use these across the room at best - not across the house.

Many Bluetooth speakers go for as little as , and a few are actually compatible with the iPhone (not the iPod), like the Yamaha NX-B02WH on Newegg.com. Amazon.com is showing the Altec-Lansing T515, which features a pretty nifty remote pendant, for just .99. This wireless audio set is pretty cool, considering it boasts a liberal range of 30 feet (many Bluetooth products only go out to about 15 feet or so). If you're leaning on the budget end, you can grab an NS-BT400 Insignia wireless speaker package from BestBuy.com for just twenty bucks!

The other popular form of wireless audio is radio frequency (RF). One of the biggest differences between this method and Bluetooth is the range. Most RF wireless products have a range of at least 100 feet. This obviously lends itself greatly to things like home theater setups and outdoor gatherings. BestBuy.com has a decently rated RF-RBWS02 Rocketfish speaker system that includes a transmitter/receiver and a speaker for 9.99. One of the customer reviews went as far as to say that the quality was as good as his Bose home theater system! The nice thing about these kind of systems is that you can often add additional speakers to an existing system, often with automatic detection. Still other speakers like this CABLES UNLIMITED SPK-POOL are waterproof - and actually designed for use inside the pool! Newegg.com offers this product for .99 with free shipping, too.

There are many different retailers, prices, and categories providing options for wireless audio. Take a look and see what best fits your needs!


Wireless Speaker Pricing, Retailers, and Categories

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Thursday, December 22, 2011

Using a Bluetooth Headset with your PC

!±8± Using a Bluetooth Headset with your PC

Bluetooth

For those of you not familiar with the term, Bluetooth refers to a wireless protocol (or set of rules) designed for short range electronic applications (usually less than 30 feet in distance). Although the technology has been around for several years, Bluetooth support for PC users has been limited due to hardware manufacturers focusing on the more traditional 802.11 wireless network protocols (wifi). In reality, Bluetooth and wifi achieve different purposes and each has its pros and cons.

Cellular Telephone Bluetooth Headsets

The cellular telephone community has long embraced Bluetooth technology, developing and refining numerous wireless devices. One of the more popular Bluetooth applications for cellular telephones has been cordless headsets which enable users to leave their telephone in their bag or pocket while still being able to make and receive calls. Bluetooth headsets are generally very lightweight, worn over one ear and achieve talk times from 1-4 hours before needing a recharge.

Bluetooth PC Headset?

So if cellular telephone users have warmly embraced Bluetooth headsets, why not the PC community? At the time of writing, this author knows of no PC hardware manufacturer who has designed a Bluetooth Headset primarily for use with a PC. However, there is nothing to prevent a PC user from using a cellular phone Bluetooth Headset with their PC. Keep in mind though, these headsets were originally envisioned for cellular phone use and may need a bit of 'tweaking' before they'll perform as well as 'corded' headsets on your computer.

USB Bluetooth Adapter

Unless you own a relatively expensive notebook PC, odds are that your computer doesn't natively support the Bluetooth protocol. If this is the case, you'll need an 'Adapter' or 'Dongle' in order to make your computer 'Bluetooth enabled'. Bluetooth adapters are generally very small (a few inches long) and insert into a vacant USB port on your computer. When purchasing an adapter it's critical that you buy one that supports the 'headset protocol'. The headset protocol is merely a set of rules which enables your Bluetooth adapter to communicate with and make use of Bluetooth headsets in its vicinity. If your adapter does not support the headset protocol, no amount of 'tweaking' will get your headset working with your PC. Adapters generally run between - USD and can be purchased at most PC retailers.

Buying a Bluetooth Headset

Bluetooth headsets for cellular phones are generally very expensive when compared with conventional 'corded' PC headsets. Depending on where you buy your headset, you could spend anywhere from to 0+ USD. If you're looking for a relatively inexpensive headset that'll simply enable you to make wireless VoIP calls using your PC, I recommend looking on Ebay. Although prices vary considerably on Ebay between merchants for similar products, overall they are considerably less expensive than purchasing the same headset from a telephone store. A word of caution about Ebay though; ensure that you read the fine print associated with shipping costs. Some Ebay merchants advertise Bluetooth Headsets for USD however the real cost quickly rises to + when you account for their often exorbitant shipping charges.

'Pairing' the Headset with your PC

Once your computer is 'Bluetooth enabled' and you've obtained a Bluetooth headset, you'll need to 'pair' the headset with your computer in order to use it for VoIP applications. This is usually just a matter of setting your headset in 'discovery mode' and allowing your PC to 'search' or 'discover' Bluetooth devices. The steps needed to enable discovery mode on your headset and adapter will vary between devices and should be clearly explained in the documentation accompanying your devices.

Adjusting your Audio Settings

Depending on your hardware and operating system, you may need to make adjustments to your audio settings after the headset is 'paired' with your PC. In the Windows operating system, this will involve accessing 'Audio Properties' through the 'Control Panel' and setting the audio and voice devices to your newly paired Bluetooth headset. Again, adjusting these settings should be covered in the documentation accompanying both your headset and Bluetooth adapter.

Once you're up and running, you'll wonder why you didn't adopt this wireless headset solution sooner. The freedom to wander away from your computer whilst maintaining voice over Internet conversations is something you'll come to appreciate and love.


Using a Bluetooth Headset with your PC

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