bluetooth - 6/8 - Android Police - Android News, Apps, Games, Phones, Tablets

Dec

Review: AKG K 830 BT Bluetooth Headphones Get High Marks For Controls And Comfort, But A2DP Is Still A Compromise On Sound

Posted by David Ruddock in Other Reviews

I've been on a bit of a headphone kick lately, and have tried out a number of sets from various manufacturers. The only on-ear headphones I've tried during this time, though, have been AKG's K 830 BT's, the company's only high fidelity Bluetooth headphones. Bluetooth headphones remain a relatively young technology, and have been growing steadily as more and more computers and smartphones adopt the A2DP Bluetooth audio transmission standard.

The 830 BT's are a very comfortable pair of headphones with some nicely designed (if plasticky) on-ear controls (track skip, volume, answer call, play/pause). But like all Bluetooth headphones, they suffer from diminished audio quality when compared to their corded counterparts, particularly at high volume and high frequencies.

Dec

[Updated: Here Is The Winner!] Mega-Holiday Lightning Giveaway #4: Win A Toshiba Thrive 8GB And Wireless Keyboard

Posted by David Ruddock in Contests / Giveaways, Thrive / Regza / Antares / AT100, Toshiba

Last Updated: January 5th, 2012

Do you like connectivity? Well, today you're getting a chance to win what is probably the most connectable Android tablet around, the Toshiba Thrive. Our friends at Toshiba have graciously provided us with one, along with a Toshiba Wireless Keyboard for maximizing your tablet productivity.

This contest is now over. Here is our winner, selected at random:

Daniel James

Congratulations, you will be contacted for your information in the near future!

Everyone else - keep participating and stay tuned to Android Police so that you don't miss our upcoming giveaway announcements. You can follow AP on Twitter, Facebook, Google+, and RSS.

Nov

[Deal Alert] Best Buy Offering Logitech's Bluetooth Keyboard For Android 3.0+ Tablets For Just $39.99 (That's $30 Off)

Posted by Liam Spradlin in Deals, Logitech

When I first picked up my Samsung Galaxy Tab 10.1, I didn't see any reason to pick up a Bluetooth keyboard. After all, how could a keyboard improve my tablet experience? After finally giving in and trying out Logitech's Keyboard Case, I was convinced. Bluetooth keyboards seem to make tablets infinitely more productive, and make an extremely handy accessory. The only trouble is, they seem to be rather expensive. Luckily, Best Buy has Logitech's Bluetooth Keyboard for Android 3.0+ tablets on sale for just $39.99.

Logitech's keyboard, which comes with a handy carrying case/tablet stand, is normally priced at $69.99 ($63.99 over at Amazon), making Best Buy's price quite a bargain.

Nov

[Download] Latest Android Wi-Fi Tether 3.1 Update Finally Brings Inactivity Shutdown, Stops Turning Off Bluetooth On Start

Posted by Artem Russakovskii in Applications, News

In the last couple of days, I've been closely interacting with Harald Mueller, the developer behind Android Wi-Fi Tether for root users, a free and open source tethering app for Android. Android Wi-Fi Tether is pretty much a de-facto app when when it comes to tethering on Android devices that have native Wi-Fi tethering disabled (thanks, carriers), and is what I consider one of the most important apps in our supposedly open ecosystem.

In my correspondence with Harald, I have brought up 2 specific issues that have been on my mind for a while now, and to my surprise, Harald solved them both in a matter of days.

Nov

This Tasty Cotton Candy Is A Dual-Core Android Powerhouse On A (USB) Stick

Posted by Charles Beel in Android OS, Development, Gingerbread 2.3, News

This diminutive little guy is more than meets the eye. It weighs 21 grams, which is the same as the bag of the Cotton Candy it is codenamed after. The unassuming USB stick is actually an Android 2.3 Gingerbread powered device that packs a wallop. Here are its specs:

Dual-core 1.2-GHz Samsung Exynos ARM CPU
802.11n Wi-Fi
Bluetooth
HDMI-out
microSD card slot

The magic happens when you plug Cotton Candy into a Windows or OSX device. A secure window running a true Android 2.3 environment will open, which FXI Technologies refers to as "Any Screen Connected Computing":

New York, NY and Trondheim, Norway – November 17, 2011 - FXI Technologies, a hardware and software startup based in Trondheim Norway, demonstrated today the world’s first any screen, connected computing USB device. Codenamed “Cotton Candy”, this sweet little device serves as a technology bridge between any display, the Cloud, and any input peripheral.

Nov

Review: Samsung HM7000 Bluetooth Headset - You'll Still Look Like A... You Know. But It Works Great

Posted by David Ruddock in Other Reviews, Reviews, Samsung

People who constantly wear Bluetooth headsets annoy me. I'll admit it. Yep, it's probably pretentious, judgmental, and just kind of mean, but nonetheless, that's where I stand (see: this highly relevant video). I figure it's only fair warning for you, our readers, going into this review. So, when Samsung offered me a chance to spend some time with their latest high-end Bluetooth headset, the HM7000 (the product naming department was on vacation), I accepted with a good deal of hesitancy.

Overview

Samsung HM7000 Bluetooth Headset

Price: $100 (less on Amazon)
What is it? A Bluetooth headset - as you might have guessed.

Nov

[Review] Jaybird Freedom Stereo Bluetooth Headset: Awesome... If You Don't Actually Talk On Your Phone

Posted by Cameron Summerson in Reviews

Last Updated: November 11th, 2011

How many times has this happened to you: While listening to music, something snags the chord of your earbuds, forcefully ripping them from your head. Yeah, I know what you're thinking, and I agree -- there are few things in this world that make me that mad almost instantly. Fortunately, there is an easy way to avoid such a catastrophe from ever happening again: a stereo Bluetooth headset.

Today we'll be taking a look at one such headset: the Jaybird Freedom Wireless Bluetooth (isn't that sort of redundant?) Buds. I've used this headset nearly everyday for the last few weeks, and I can honestly say that I like it -- but it's not perfect.

Oct

Review: Philips Fidelio AS851 Android Speaker Dock - When An Awesome Speaker Meets An Amazing Dock

Posted by David Ruddock in Other Reviews, Reviews

I wouldn't exactly say it's a secret, but I'm a bit of a closet audiophile. I've reviewed a couple of audio products for Android devices in the past (like portable speakers and headphones), and am always interested in Android-friendly sound solutions.

Today, I'm taking a look at the Philips Fidelio AS851 (yes, that is kind of a lame name), Philips' top-of-the-line Android speaker dock. How can a speaker dock be designed for Android, you ask? Well, Philips realized that their popular line of iPhone docks could pretty easily be converted to be Android friendly by changing the dock connector to a microUSB connection, and releasing the Fidelio app for Android handsets.

Oct

Astro Updated With Honeycomb Hotness

Posted by Ron Amadeo in Applications, Honeycomb 3.0/3.1/3.2, News

Nothing excites me more than a new app for my poor, neglected tablet. Today, Astro is joining the party with version 3.0 of their venerable file manager. The new Astro sports a completely redesigned UI and icons, and drag and drop support. Look how pretty:

And it still works with all the cool Astro plug-ins, like Bluetooth and SMB networking. You know the drill, Astro is available in the Android Market. Go. Download.

ASTRO File Manager

QR code for https://play.google.com/store/apps/details?id=com.metago.astro

Oct

Nintendo 64 Emulator 'N64oid' Updated To Support Multiple Bluetooth Controllers Simultaneously, Awakens The 1996 In All Of Us

Posted by Cameron Summerson in Applications, News

Ever dream of going back in time, kickin' it with your homeboys in an old school style sleepover, and rocking the Nintendo 64 until the wee hours of the morning? That dream can now become a reality (well, aside form the actual time travel part) thanks to the updated Nintendo 64 emulator N64oid.

You may remember a few months ago when N64oid and a slew of other emulators were pulled from the Android Market for a violation of policies, but that didn't stop developer Yongzh from keeping up work on the project. It simply found a new home where it could live in peace, and everything has been rainbows and butterflies for the app and its brethren ever since.