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iPhone Update 3.0.1 Does Not Disable Tether Hack

Roberto Baldwin — Fri, 31 Jul 2009 16:01:21 -0500

We just tested Bluetooth tethering on our 3.0.1 updated iPhone and were still able to surf the Internet with no problem.

Now we're safe from MMS attacks and AT&T's inability to deliver features.

Tether hack.

Apple Going the Way of the Wiimote?

Arvind Srinivasan — Thu, 18 Jun 2009 12:34:03 -0500

Apple remotes are noted for their simplicity. After all, they have less buttons than TV remote. Now, they are about to become even simpler.

Apple has filed a patent that shows a 3D motion remote that you would be able to control by pointing at items on the screen. It would communicate with Apple TVs via IR, Bluetooth, or Wi-Fi.

Furthermore, this magical remote-like device could include non-traditional input methods.This would most likely entail a touchscreen, given Apple's fetish for aluminum and glass, which would dramatically improve the utility of the remote. For example, searching for a movie in the iTunes store with the remote would no longer require a 20-minute excercise in frustration.

As always, there is no guarantee this will ever come to fruition. We think touchscreen remotes are too low-tech for Apple. A more likely candidate would be a remote CONTROLLED BY YOUR BRAIN.

No Strings Attached

Roman Loyola — Wed, 05 Sep 2007 13:08:10 -0500

Clockwise from top: Lubix UBHS-NC1, iSkin Cerulean F1 earphones, iSkin Cerulean TX Bluetooth transmitter (sold separately), and Lubix UBHS-LC1.

Thanks to Bluetooth wireless technology, you no longer have to be tethered to your iPod or iPhone. Lubix’s UBHS-LC1 and UBHS-NC1 are Bluetooth headsets you can use with the iPhone, while iSkin’s Cerulean F1 works as either a Bluetooth iPhone phone headset or as Bluetooth headphones for an iPod equipped with a Bluetooth transmitter.

Unfortunately, however, you can’t use any of these headsets to listen to an iPhone’s iPod because Apple didn’t implement the Advanced Audio Distribution Profile (A2DP) in the iPhone’s Bluetooth. This is not the headset makers’ fault, but it certainly makes buying a Bluetooth headset for the iPhone a limited-return investment. We hope Apple will release an update to remedy the situation.

Cerulean F1. The Cerulean F1’s right earphone as a mini USB port; easy-to-access controls for power, volume, and track forward and back; and a multifunction button. The left earphone contains the battery that recharges via USB. The cord connecting the two earphones was long enough for comfort, even for those of us with beefier necks. For the iPod, you need to use iSkin’s Cerulean TX Bluetooth transmitter (part of the Cerulean TX+RX, $149.99), which connects to the iPod dock.

The Cerulean F1 easily paired with the Cerulean TX–equipped iPod. The sound was clear, but lacked warmth and richness. Pairing the ’phones with an iPhone was a snap, but call quality was degraded with static. The Cerulean F1’s audio quality when connected to a Mac is disappointing - you’re limited to monaural audio, so music sounds like poor AM radio. The audio quality was fine for Skype calls, however.

But after 20 minutes of wearing the Cerulean F1, our ears started to hurt. The ear clips, made of wire and set inside rubber tubing, were the culprit, but the headset falls off without them. After some fiddling, we were able to shape the clips to a position that was more comfortable, but not ideal. You get two sets of ear clips.

UBHS-LC1. The left earphone on the Lubix UBHS-LC1 has an LED for caller ID; the volume, track, and power controls; and a USB port for charging. The two earphones snap together with magnets, and a rubber piece holds the cable so you can wear the UBHS-LC1 securely around your neck when not in use. But football players, weightlifters, or anyone else with a large neck won’t like this necklace design: When you put the earphones on, the rubber cable holder slides up, tightening the cable in a noose-like fashion. You could always cut the rubber holder off, but that seems like notable design flaw. Despite the noose-like design, we were able to wear the UBHS-LC1 in relative comfort for over an hour.

After the breezy pairing with our iPhone, we found that calls came in loud (enough) and clear, and sounded much better than they did with the Cerulean F1 headset. The caller ID LCD works well and comes in handy for screening calls from your boss while you’re hanging out with your drinking buddies. We were able to pair the UHBS-LC1 with our Mac, but we never actually got the headset working. Every time we tried to open the Sound System Preferences to select the UHBS-LC1 for output and input, System Preferences froze.

UBHS-NC1. Using the UBHS-NC1 was a similar experience to using the UBHS-LC1. The controls are on the left earphone, and the UBHS-NC1 also has the same magnetic snap-together design and necklace cord. The earphones fit comfortably too. The main difference is the rounder, smaller shape of the UBHS-NC1, which lacks an LCD screen for caller ID.

With the UBHS-NC1, we had the same Mac-pairing problems that we had with its $99 sibling. When it came to audio quality when used with the iPhone, we couldn’t tell the difference between the two Lubix headsets.

The bottom line. Both Lubix headsets are solid contenders for the iPhone (that is, the phone part, not the iPod), but don’t bother trying to use them with your Mac. The Cerulean F1 headset, on the other hand, is big and bulky and was the least comfortable of the three, even after we adjusted the ear clips.

UBHS-LC1

COMPANY: Lubix

CONTACT: www.lubixmobile.com

PRICE: $99

REQUIREMENTS: iPhone or Bluetooth on Mac

Easy-to-use controls. Caller ID display. Good phone call quality.

Cable fits tightly around large necks. Didn’t work with Mac audio.

UBHS-NC1

COMPANY: Lubix

CONTACT: www.lubixmobile.com

PRICE: $85

REQUIREMENTS: iPhone or Bluetooth on Mac

Easy-to-use controls. Small. Good phone call quality.

Cable fits tightly around large necks. Didn’t work with Mac audio.

CERULEAN F1

COMPANY: iSkin

CONTACT: www.iskin.com

PRICE: $129.99

REQUIREMENTS: Bluetooth transmitter on iPod, Bluetooth on Mac

Easy-to-use controls.

Poor Mac audio.

iSkin Cerulean F1: First Look

Roman Loyola — Wed, 27 Jun 2007 12:49:21 -0500

As I write this, I'm listening to 311's "Large in the Margin" using iSkin's Cerulean F1 Bluetooth earphones. The Cerulean F1 uses Bluetooth to wirelessly connect between the (whoa, track change - now I'm listening to The Jon Spencer Blues Explosion's "Bellbottoms." Yup, shuffle's on) earphones and your audio device, which in this case, is an iPod. Since the iPod doesn't have Bluetooth, you need to connect a Bluetooth transmitter. I'm using iSkin's Cerulean TX, part of the Cerulean TX+RX package.

(Track change: Led Zeppelin's "Kashmir." Hey Apple, how 'bout getting Led Zeppelin in iTunes?)

Insert your own Lt. Uhura reference here.

If you think that people who wear single-ear Bluetooth headsets look silly, wait until you put on the Cerulean F1. You'll have a protuberance for each ear. The right earphone has a mini USB port and all the controls: power, volume, track forward and back, and a multifunction button. (track change: a mashup by Aggro1 called "Roxanned to Death." Yeah, I'm a slow typist.) The left earphone has the battery, which recharges via USB. There's a cord that connects the two earphones.

In case you haven't figured it out: the cord goes behind your head.

The Cerulean F1 easily paired with the Cerulean TX. The sound is clear, but lacks warmth and richness. And as the track changes (Elliott Smith's "A Distorted Reality Is Now a Necessity to Be Free"), one things for certain: my ears are starting to hurt. Not really painful, but enough to make my ears feel warm. Perhaps some adjustments need to be made. I'm already using the larger pair of the two earclips that iSkin includes with the Cerulean F1.

The Cerulean F1 have been out for a few weeks, but there's a reason why we've held off on doing a full review. The earphones also have headset functionality, so they could work with the iPhone. We'll have an in-depth review of the Cerulean F1 including testing with the iPhone, in the October issue of Mac|Life, and on maclife.com in the coming weeks.

(Final track change: "Danse Med Meg" from Hurra Torpedo.)

iMuffs

Susie Ochs — Wed, 20 Jun 2007 18:48:26 -0500

The newest version of Wi-Gear’s iMuffs, model MB210, include an adapter that connects to your iPod’s dock port and lets you listen to your tunes wirelessly. The iMuffs resemble street-style headphones, with a curved piece of plastic that goes around the back of your head. The plastic is flexible, but those with large heads may find that the headband twists when you stretch it to fit around your melon. If that happens, it’s hard to get the earphones to lie flush against your ears, leading to lots of sound leaking out and annoying your fellow commuters. The headphones are light and easy to wear, though, if they fit your head right. It would have been nice to be able to adjust the headband.

The sound is respectable, but may not seem full and crisp enough if you’re used to in-ear canalphones. These are more like the old-school headphones that are basically just small speakers held up against your ears. The right earphone sports buttons for Play/Pause, Forward, and Back, and a small switch for Volume. Even though you can’t see them, the controls are laid out well and generally easy to find and use. The iPod’s clickwheel can still control the playback, but not the volume - for that, you must use the switch on the iMuffs. We got great range with the Bluetooth adapter, up to 25 feet.

Paired with your Bluetooth phone, the iMuffs can work as a handsfree headset. The music from your iPod pauses when the phone rings and restarts when you hang up. You can even pair the iMuffs with your Mac and use them as a Skype headset. The integrated, nearly invisible mic uses Clear Voice Capture technology to cancel noise and echoes, and we were incredibly pleased with the results. You can also stream music from a Bluetooth cell phone if it supports Bluetooth 2.0 A2DP (Advanced Audio Distribution Profile) for stereo sound. Mac OS 10.4 doesn’t have support for A2DP, so you can only stream mono sound from your Mac (as in, the music still comes in both earphones, but it's mono, so you hear the same sound in both ears), although Leopard should have A2DP. Intel Macs can already support A2DP with a hack found here.

The iMuffs’ lithium polymer battery can be charged via USB or an AC adapter. The headphone battery can get about 16 hours of playtime when fully charged, but the iPod adapter is powered by the iPod’s battery, so expect a hit in your ‘Pod’s life. Our 3-year-old 4G iPod lasted just 3.9 hours with the iMuffs before the ’Pod’s battery pooped out (it normally goes for 6.6), but our newer 2G iPod nano kept chugging for 8.7 hours (it normally gets nearly 16).

The bottom line. If there’s a way to try them before you buy them, do it. Because they work great, especially for hands-free calling and Skype, but if the nonadjustable headband has to twist to get around your noggin, you probably won’t be pleased with the resulting fit, or the leaky sound.

COMPANY: Wi-Gear
CONTACT: www.imuffs.com
PRICE: $179.99
REQUIREMENTS: iPod with dock connector and/or Bluetooth-capable cell phone and/or Bluetooth-equipped Mac with Skype
Pauses your music when your Bluetooth phone rings. Built-in microphone has echo and noise cancellation. Works with Skype.
Can’t adjust headband. Can’t use volume controls on the iPod. Adapter saps iPod battery life.

iLuv i199 and XtremeMac Luna

Roman Loyola — Wed, 06 Jun 2007 19:07:02 -0500

Wake up to your iPod music with either the iLuv i199...

...or the XtremeMac Luna.

The iPod has become more than just a music player: With systems such as iLuv's i199 and XtremeMac's Luna, the iPod becomes the heart of home entertainment. And the i199 and Luna both let you get the most from your iPod.

iLuv i199. Though it looks like a digital alarm clock, the iLuv i199 is actually a shelf-sized media player (it measures 15.5 by 4.8 by 9.375 inches). It's a CD/MP3 CD player, AM/FM radio, and it also has an AV-out port so you can connect it to a TV for playing iPod videos - kudos to iLuv for including an AV cable. It has a USB port and can play MP3 or WMA files on a USB flash drive. You can use the auxiliary-in jack to connect other audio devices too.

Bluetooth support via iLuv's BluePin transmitter/receiver makes the i199 even more versatile. Paired with Bluetooth headphones, you can listen to the i199's audio discreetly. If you have a Bluetooth-enabled mobile phone, you can easily transmit songs wirelessly from the phone to the i199. The BluePin uses Bluetooth 1.2, has a range of about 25 feet, and maintained a connection while we wandered into an adjoining room.

The i199 produced warm sounds that are great for rock, pop, and hip-hop. Its bass response is heavy without distortion. The i199 faltered a bit on the high notes, though. Classical pieces sounded clipped, and midrange and low notes often drowned out the high tones. This exposes one major missing feature from the i199: treble and bass controls that would allow for fine-tuning.

Luna. The Luna is designed from the get-go to be an alarm clock. At 11.3 by 6.5 by 3 inches, it won't crowd your nightstand. It also has an AM/FM digital radio receiver, two alarm clock settings, and a line-in port.

Four large, shiny control buttons grace the top of the Luna - kudos to XtremeMac for coming up with a control panel design that is both useful and eye-catching. The Luna uses iPod-like menus that appear on its LCD screen (at some angles, the glare off the clear plastic that covers the LCD makes it hard to read the display). The front right button lets you breeze through the menus, similar in action to the iPod's clickwheel. The front left button controls volume, snooze, and the audio source, while the two rear button control the alarms.

The Luna's pair of drivers are loud enough to fill a medium-sized bedroom, and they produce clear, warm sound that focuses on the midrange. It doesn't produce thumping bass, nor does it create high-range notes that'll widen your eyes. Fortunately, the include remote has bass and treble adjustment controls, so you can tweak the audio to your liking.

The bottom line. The i199 is a great solution as a mini stereo for an office, bedroom, small living room, or kitchen. If you're just looking for a way to wake up to your iPod music, you can't go wrong with the Luna.

i199
COMPANY: iLuv
CONTACT: www.i-luv.com
PRICE: $249.99
REQUIREMENTS: 4G iPod or later, iPod nano, or iPod mini
Can transmit songs from mobile phones via Bluetooth. CD player. Can play MP3s on a USB flash drive.
No bass or treble controls. Weak high notes.

- - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - -

Luna
COMPANY: XtremeMac
CONTACT: www.xtrememac.com
PRICE: $149.99
REQUIREMENTS: 4G iPod or later, iPod nano, iPod mini
Small footprint. Nice design. Great controls.

No radio-station autoscan. Infrared remote requires line of sight.

TuneStage 2 for iPod

Roman Loyola — Fri, 01 Jun 2007 16:07:52 -0500

The TuneStage 2 has a surprisingly good range.

Mention Bluetooth with an iPod device, and you might find us shaking our heads in doubt. That's because our experience with Bluetooth devices has been mixed - Bluetooth isn't bad, if you don't mind a limited range. But sound quality? Forget it. But then Bluetooth 2.0+EDR was released, offering better data rates and reliability than its predecessors. And as it turns out, the TuneStage 2 for iPod, which uses Bluetooth 2.0+EDR to provide wireless connectivity between an iPod and a stereo-connected base station, is a great example of how far Bluetooth technology has come.

A Bluetooth transmitter that extends about 1.5 inches from your iPod's dock connector sends your music wirelessly to the base station, which has stereo-out jacks for connection to a stereo receiver or powered speakers. The transmitter's range was a pleasant surprise, reaching beyond 40 feet with walls in between, and without any response lag, though the TuneStage 2 wasn't able to transmit a signal through the floors. There's no compromising with the sound, either. Our music, ripped from CDs at 256Kbps in iTunes, didn't suffer from any noticeable degradation in quality.

Perhaps the main reason we like the TuneStage 2 is that it lets us use the clickwheel to control the iPod. Other home stereo devices force you to dock the iPod and then use a remote control with an unfamiliar button layout. Or worse, they lack an LCD, so you can never be farther that an eye squint away from your docked iPod. There's no good remote control substitute for the iPod, other than the 'Pod itself.

The one main drawback of the TuneStage 2 is its effect on battery life. Our 80GB iPod, which usually lasts about 16 hours, lasted 10 hours when we used the transmitter. Fortunately, there's a USB port on the transmitter, so you can charge the iPod while still transmitting songs to your stereo.

The bottom line. With its effortless ease of use, great range, and smart design, the TuneStage 2 is an ideal way to add iPod support to your home entertainment center.

COMPANY: Belkin
CONTACT: www.belkin.com
PRICE: $149.99
REQUIREMENTS: 4G iPod or later, iPod mini, or iPod nano
Easy to use. Good wireless range. Bluetooth transmitter has USB connector for syncing with iTunes.
Cuts down on iPod battery life.