Like with any small speaker, if you crank it to max volume, there is some distortion on bass-heavy songs. But the distortion is slight, and the bass sounds great if you have the volume appropriately set for the type of audio you are streaming.

On that note, there is no remote. The only way to control the volume is the `volume up’ and `volume down’ buttons on the front of the speaker or directly from streaming device if it allows it. That is, my iPhone (3G – iOS 3.1.3) cannot change the speaker’s volume while streaming, but my laptop can. In my use, I have not needed a remote. Usually I directly set the speaker’s volume for the environment (e.g., bathroom, patio) and forget it. No remote also means you must control the streaming media from your device. There are no media control buttons on the speaker.

There is an auxiliary input on the back of the speaker, if you want to hook up a non-Bluetooth device, or maybe just to save battery by not using Bluetooth.

Pairing with Bluetooth-capable devices (in my case, iPhone 3G and HP laptop) is simple and quick.

Battery life (four AA) is excellent. It is so long I cannot even put an estimate in terms of hours. It also came with an AC adapter, but I have never used it. The battery compartment is underneath the speaker.

The speaker is fairly small and very light. I actually carry it from room-to-room to enjoy while I am doing chores.

My only concern with the speaker is the build quality. The plastic casing is sturdy, but the front face of the speaker (surrounding the name plate and volume controls) is made of cloth. The cloth is spongy, but I am worried that it will inevitably tear with my heavy use of the speaker. There is no travel case included with the speaker.

Looking for a portable Bluetooth wireless speaker, I also considered the Logitech Z515. I’ve never used that Logitech speaker, but I ultimately chose the Creative D100 based on superior reviews for sound quality and bass quality.

On the front of the speaker:

• Volume up button
• Volume down button
• Bluetooth connect button

On the back of the speaker:

• Power (on/off) switch
• Aux input
• 5V AC adapter input

Underneath the speaker:

• Battery compartment (four AA)

See larger image Creative D100 Wireless Bluetooth Speaker (Black) (Electronics) List Price: $79.99 USD New From: $59.95 In Stock Used from: $53.96 In Stock

My situation:

I’m using this Bluetooth keyboard with my Mac Book Pro connected to my LCD TV. I’m sitting on my couch, with the keyboard on my lap (actually the keyboard box is on my lap, the keyboard sitting on top of it (slight elevation). I’ve used it since it came out and I have no regrets. The keys have a nice touch to them (sort of a textured feel that just feels good on the fingers) and it’s very easy to get your work done. I keep the box on my lap and keyboard on top of the box.

This serves two functions, slight elevation (better for the wrists) and when I’m done I can put the keyboard back inside the case (thus keeping dust to a minimum).

Pros:

• Nicely designed keyboard with just the right amount of space between the keys (if you used the new thin keyboard from apple, you will fit right in, if you have used any of their laptops, the same applies).
• Pairing takes a few seconds (very easy), and couldn’t be easier.
• The keys have a nice textured feel to them, I love having the function keys and this keyboard really is all you need (it took me a while to see the light, don’t let that happen to you, less really is more).
• 9 month battery life
• Box makes a nice case, and a makeshift desk for your living room.

Cons:

• No full sized option (though I do like the smaller size and would not want to go back now)
• Not as nice as the keyboards on the key laptops (I was really hoping the new keys would be like the ones on the new Mac Book Pros (which I have and love the keyboard), but these are the same keys as from the previous keyboard. (Not really a bad thing, nor a con, but thought I’d bring it up).

Bottom Line?

Couldn’t be happier, I highly recommend checking out this keyboard and making it a part of your home. Just be sure to keep your box, it’s a nice “case” and “desk”.

See larger image Apple Wireless Keyboard (Retail Packaging) MC184LL/A [OLD VERSION] (Personal Computers) List Price: $69.99 USD Used from: $44.89 In Stock

Product Features

Technical Details

• Model Number: MC184LL/A
• System requirements: Bluetooth-enabled Mac computer; Mac OS X v10.5.8 or later and Aluminum Keyboard Software Update 2.0; existing keyboard and mouse for initial setup
• Connectivity: Bluetooth
• Power supply: 2 x AA batteries (included)
• Warranty: 1-year limited warranty
• What’s in the Box: Apple Wireless Keyboard, two AA batteries, printed documentation

• Two 2 inch speakers spaced about 4 inches apart.
• 122 Hz to 20k Hz frequency response
• 50 foot range wireless signal
• 2.4 GHz broadcast frequency
• 6 foot power supply cable
• Works with USB port
• Works on A2DP Bluetooth devices
• Works with Windows or Mac
• Has 2 year limited warranty
• Comes with travel case
• Has auxiliary port for any 1/8 stereo jack equipment
• Rechargeable battery charge lasts 10 hours
• Comes with power adapter for use or recharging
• Suggested retail price around $100
• Black case
• Works with Linux Mint version 9

I found that the unit was “plug and play” on Windows XP and Windows Vista. I got it to play on this OS on two netbook computers and one desktop. On the Vista computer it switched over the audio from the original setting to the USB wireless signal USB stick that sends a signal to the unit. It did reset the video that I was watching to the beginning. The instructions say that you should have all the audio programs you are using off before plugging it in. I did find that when I pulled the unit out that the sound reverted back to the original speaker settings, however the Youtube video I was watching remained mute until I exited the browser and re-entered.

I found that I could not get the Logitech speakers and my regular computer speakers to play simultaneously. I checked through my advanced settings and played around with all the settings I could find, but either one would play or the other, but not both at the same time. I was hoping for a kind of surround sound effect, but did not achieve it. In switching back and forth, I did lose my volume control icon from my lower right hand corner. I had to go to <control panel>, <sounds and audio devices>, and click before it came back (after rebooting).

I also tested the speakers on a Crunch Bang Linux OS and found it did not work. I have found, much as I like Crunch Bang, that it has a little trouble mounting hardware compared to other Linux OS. It either mounts automatically or not at all. There are no panels to manually install or set hardware that does not mount automatically, unless it registers in the audio mixer (which it did not). It seems that many who like Crunch Bang Linux are very skillful with the Terminal program which is command line driven and can sometimes make the adjustments necessary through this route. This usually entrails finding software code online. This is beyond my skill at present and I cannot confirm that this can be done with the speakers.

I did find, however, find that Linux Mint version 9 recognized the Logitech Speakers. I still had to go into the hardware manager and select it manually over the default internal speaker and also had to select the speakers as my output choice. Once this was done, it played very well. Neither Windows nor Linux required any drivers to be loaded. Since Linux Mint version 9 has Ubuntu 10.04 and Debian behind it, I suspect that these speakers could be made to work with Ubuntu or Debian, but I am not sure. My guess is that it should work about the same for Ubuntu 10.04 and would probably require one or two manual settings in the sound controller. I suspect that Debian would also need some manual adjusting as well, but am unfamiliar with how this operating system fully works.

The speakers recharged very fast. I wanted to know whether it could play by power coming straight from the adapter and tried to use it even before it fully charged up. It passed this test and therefore can be played directly from the adapter. I did not test the batteries to see if they could go the entire 10 hours, but played them for a long time and did not find any “battery fatigue”. The sound sustained its volume and quality very well.

The wireless signal was very computer like and did not have the “signal drift” of some of the remote audio speakers that work on the 900 MHz band (these need to be often adjusted through a manual dial). I could move the Logitech speakers around the house and not experience any crackling. It kept putting out good quality sound. I was able to soak in a nice hot bath listening to music without messing with any chords.

The power handling is a little weak, but I did not expect otherwise from its size. The speakers are 2 inches in diameter and sound very good, but they are not aluminum or titanium (which power handle better than paper/plastic cones of the same size). When pushed to full volume, the sound of the bass disturbs the speakers (do not do this for too long) and when a singer goes high volume some soft crackling is heard. Most speakers are optimal when the volume is in the middle of the dial or its range. This is no exception. If you are expecting a speaker system that can belt out sound, this is not the one for you. Within their range, the sound is very good and carries a lot of detail. They have a decent volume to fill a small dorm room or to function as high quality computer speakers.

The design is elegant and intelligent. It has a soft and tight compartment that holds the USB wireless stick very well. It is right in the speaker in a small compartment under the pop out stand. This is very good, because if these two things, the transmitter and receiver, are not kept together they tend to lose each other. The softer plastic grips the USBstick very snuggly and I am confident it will not fall out. The speakers have a fold out stand that lets it rest on a flat surface in a very stable position. It has an on and off button separate from the volume controls which means it remembers your volume setting, unlike a volume dial that has to move back and forth from zero. The three buttons work well (volume up, volume down, and on/off).

There is an auxiliary jack for a 1/8th inch stereo plug, so you can play your iPod or mp3 player with it. I have not yet tested this function, but hope to soon and I will update this review when I do. I have also not tested their blue tooth capability, but have indicated that the manufacturer says that it can. I suspect it will be at least as good as the USB wireless stick signal.

There are two LEDs on the front. One tells you when the unit is on (green) and also when the battery is low (turns yellow). The other indicates that it has hooked into the wireless signal. Both turn off when the power button is turned off.

The bag has two compartments so it can carry both the power adapter and the speakers (with the USB stick inside the speakers). I would have preferred that the bag be padded for just a little extra protection, but the speakers are very sturdy and the padding is not strictly needed.

All in all, I really like these speakers. Within their power handling range they are far better than the usual notebook computer speakers and can be positioned anywhere. They seem to have great battery life and seem to recharge very quickly. They double as speakers for mp3s that handle a 1/8 stereo plug. They are very portable with no detectable signal issues. There are only two improvements that I would like for this unit: One is that it would have been a bit nicer to use titanium impregnated foam speakers and two is that it would be nice if it could somehow morph into a surround sound effect by supporting another computer speaker set plugged into the stereo output jack. I do not think the surround sound is realistic, though, without a special driver or special software. The titanium impregnated foam would make it sound better without sacrificing its size, but would probably drain the battery quicker and increase the cost of the unit. (I can still simulate the surround sound by using my two netbooks at the same time driving different speakers and manually synchronizing them to the same playlist. I also might be able to simulate a surround effect by having one USB wireless stick signal to two Logitech Z515s.)

As stated before, I am committed to testing products on Linux OS (mainly on Crunch Bang and Linux Mint) and reporting which ones work and do not work. I would like the Amazon review system to be an indirect data base so that Linux users can know which products are Linux friendly. I am happy to add these USB speakers to the list of “Linux Mint compatibles” (and probably therefore Ubuntu and Debian). The Linux Mint version 9 OS was successfully tested on a Dell i5 laptop.

See larger image Logitech Wireless USB Speaker Z515 (Personal Computers) List Price: $99.99 USD New From: $69.99 In Stock Used from: $62.99 In Stock

I have no idea why some people have problems paring the device. It’s pretty simple and straightforward. I connected the headset to the PS3 and the red light on the Bluetooth came on. I let it charge for about 2 hours until the red light turned off. I then turned it on and got a message on the PS3 saying the blue-tooth device has been connected.

I went under Settings – Accessories – Blue-tooth Devices on the PS3 and saw my blue-tooth device listed there. You can easily connect and disconnect the device by clicking Triangle here. Sometimes when I turn on my headset I notice that it doesn’t automatically sync so I have to go here and just click triangle and then connect. No big deal to me.

I also saw another review saying that the audio comes from the TV instead of the device. You can easily change where the audio comes from by going under Settings – Accessories – Sound Settings on your PS3. You can make the audio come out of the TV or the Headset.

In conclusion, I think this device received some negative reviews just because the user didn’t take the time to configure the device properly or had no idea what they were doing. I would definitely recommend this headset. Works flawlessly on my PS3 and the sound quality is great. On top of that, the design is very nice and it works on either ear.

See larger image PS3 Bluetooth Headset (Accessory) List Price: $49.99 USD New From: $29.72 In Stock Used from: $23.90 In Stock Release date October 26, 2010.

Product Features

I can’t ever go back to living without 5 buttons again (great for browsing Forward and Backward, as well as gaming)! The two side buttons are positioned comfortably for quick pressing, too.
The shape is also perfect. The mouse is compact but the back is plump (roughly 3.6 inches long, 2.3 inches wide, and 1.5 inches high), so it fits perfectly into my palm, eliminating hand fatigue. Good size for everyday use for small hands, but travel-sized for people with bigger hands. The batteries (included) last a few months even without using the Off switch.

The mouse turned out to be reliable. I had it replaced twice due to my computer no longer recognizing it, only to figure out eventually that the fault was with Microsoft Windows Bluetooth, not the mice. Read on for details.

The only problem with the mouse is that the provided information and manual are sparse, making it hard to decipher the various indicator signals and troubleshoot the mouse, and not even mentioning the manufacturer warranty.

Deciphering the LED

It turns out that the mouse uses the same indicator light for all 3 purposes, which is confusing since the manual doesn’t detail this. The blue indicator light for DPI is also used as a “pairing mode” indicator and battery-low indicator. Here’s what the light means:

• Continuous blinking means the batteries are low
• Continuously on means it is in pairing mode. The mouse will give up and the light will go off if the computer doesn’t find it after a few seconds.
• Blinking a few times, then stopping, indicates which of the 3 DPI settings it is using. The faster the blinks, the higher the DPI.

Warranty

The warranty is not stated anywhere, which is unfortunate because it does exist (at least 1 year according to vendor websites). The mouse is actually made by Syba. You can also see the RMA instructions. They don’t bother to troubleshoot the mouse; they just ship out a new one to you after you mail them your defective one (you pay the return postage, though not the replacement postage).

Windows won’t recognize Bluetooth mice anymore issue

It turned out that these mice weren’t defective–turns out that Windows 7′s registry gets inexplicably corrupted from time to time and won’t recognize or pair with Bluetooth mice anymore! (I actually went out and bought a Microsoft Notebook Mouse 5000 to verify this.) (To deal with this problem, I have to regularly create System Restore points to backup the registry, then restore to an earlier point whenever the Bluetooth pairing stops working. Has happened twice so far in a few months!) But we should blame Microsoft Windows, not the mouse.
So for those of you whose mouse is longer recognized by your computer, first make sure that it is not actually a problem with the operating system. Switching DPIs can also help with using the mouse on different surfaces and software. Haven’t experienced the jiggling problem.

In sum, I would buy this mouse over and over again!

See larger image Connectland CL-MOU23014 Bluetooth Wireless Optical Mouse (Personal Computers) List Price: $16.90 USD New From: $13.08 In Stock

The Callpod Drone couldn’t be easier to use on the Mac; just plug it in and select it as the output source (you can ignore the window that pops up regarding a keyboard). The AVRCP controls on the headphones are automatically sent to iTunes with no configuration, which is great! Sound quality is fantastic.

Two downsides I’ve noticed (and they’re minor):

- Reconnect time takes a -long- time, far longer than with a previous transmitter I’ve used. Sometimes takes up to 30 seconds.

- I get intermittent drop-outs, usually only for a half-second or so, but sometimes so bad that I need to power off/on the headphones. This happens more frequently at the office where there are a *lot* of BT keyboards and mice around, so there might not be anything that can be done about it.

Overall a good product and highly recommended.

See larger image Callpod Drone VOIP Stereo Bluetooth USB Adapter - Silver (Wireless Phone Accessory) List Price: $54.95 USD New From: $39.98 In Stock

The sound on this box is phenomenal given the size. As another reviewed mentions, you need to take size in to consideration. This isn’t going to compete against a classic stereo system, but I challenge you to find another portable sound device that performs as well as this one. The highs/mids are very crisp and the bass packs a punch. The portability of this product is really the key advantage, as I can bring it with me to the park, or toss it on my overnight bag to use in my hotel room while on a business trip. The included protective case with magnetic clasps is a really cool too!

This device can also act as a Bluetooth speaker phone. This was novel to use a few times, but the quality is not superior to other Bluetooth headsets out there, so I don’t use it for that purpose. But it’s a nice bonus for anyone who might want to use that feature.

I agree the current $200 price tag is a little steep. Hopefully this product will come down in price.

Rock on!

See larger image Jawbone JAMBOX - Black Diamond (Wireless Phone Accessory) List Price: $199.99 USD New From: $140.00 In Stock Used from: $154.95 In Stock

The MW600 has a 3.5 mm jack, which allows you to use personal headphones, a big plus for me. The sound quality was excellent, and the Sony in-ear headphones that came with it reproduced wireless stereo sound very well. It has multipoint feature, because of which I was able to pair up to three devices as it claimed; my HTC Magic phone, Toshiba laptop and a Mac Pro. It allowed me to take calls from my phone seamlessly, the music stopped when a call came in and faded in again as I cut the call. Pairing with all three devices was seamless and without any problems, although I had to enter passcode “0000″ with Mac Pro and PC as it mentioned in the instructions, but strangely not with my phone.

The unit has a built in battery that lasted for about 12 hours of continuous playtime , an hour more than what the manual claimed. The black glossy polished display showed the battery indicator and beeped intermittently when the battery was low. It took about two hours to fully charge the unit. One disadvantage is that you cannot use the unit while it is being charged, but this wasn’t a big deal for me.

When used for calling, the other person could hear me very well, without any problems. The device has a bunch of features under the hood, which seem to contribute to the overall great experience. For example, it has some degree of noise cancellation, echo cancellation, whisper mode, SSP, eSCO, etc. It claims to have Voice Activated Dialing (VAD), but I haven’t used this feature.

Overall, I think this product is great; buy it for simplicity, elegant design and internal features that work without much hassle.

See larger image Sony Ericsson Hi-Fi Bluetooth Stereo Headset with FM Radio (Wireless Phone Accessory) List Price: $64.99 USD New From: $35.50 In Stock

I read several reviews here from people that had tried to use regular Bluetooth dongles to pair with their headsets, but none of them seemed completely happy with the result. I decided not to chance it and bought the BUA-100 even though it is somewhat pricey compared to other Bluetooth adapters.

It does not work with Bluetooth devices other than Plantronics headsets, so you are not getting a multi use Bluetooth adapter in this, more like just a dongle to connect your headset to your PC.

The button on the dongle allows you to easily pair it with your headset. Just put your headset into pairing mode then push the button on the dongle. They will be paired in a second or two.

For range, it behaves as standard Bluetooth. When I walk away from my pc, I can get about 15 feel or so before I hear a little static, which gets progressively worse the farther you go.

All in all I am very happy with the combination of this and the voyager 510 headset and would recommend it to others.

See larger image Plantronics Bluetooth USB Adapter BUA-100 (Electronics) List Price: $66.99 USD New From: $52.99 In Stock Used from: $39.99 In Stock

To summarize:

• Reliable Auto On/Auto Off.
• Reliable connection.
• Works with multiple phones. When it is turned on, it will always try to connect to the last connected phone. If that phone isn’t present, it will look for other paired phones. Works perfectly for my Blackberry Tour, Nexus One and my wife’s Samsung Alias 2. It always connects to the phone whoever is carrying, making car switching easier. It is actually better than the factory Bluetooth in my wife’s 2010 Prius. Prius doesn’t connect to a different phone automatically. You have to go down 5 levels of menu to select the phone if you switch phones. T325 doesn’t connect to multiple phones simultaneously though.
• Love the auto announcement feature. When you enter the car, it announces itself: “Battery level is high. Connected to XXXXXX”. You will know when to charge the speakerphone, and never find it out of battery when you need it. One of the reason I don’t like these ear pieces is because when I get a phone call and ready to use it, half of the time the battery has died. The auto announcement provides some passive feedback rather than yourself actively checking battery status on the device, which we always forget to do.
• Loud and clear speaker. Sound quality is a lot better than the speakerphone on Blackberry, much better than the one on iPhone. The person on the other end cannot tell I’m on a speakerphone.
• Easy pair with phones. No need to put the speaker into pair mode. Just turn off all the already paired phones. Turn on the speakerphone, do a search from your phone, and connect.
• Good battery life. After 4 weeks of daily usage (about 2-3 phone calls a day, a total of 10 minutes maybe), battery level just dropped to “medium”.
• It downloads phonebook quickly, and announces caller ID for incoming calls.
• Like the micro-USB port. I can share the same charging cable with Blackberry and Nexus One.
• Supports voice command if your phone can do it. When you press the big button, it basically activates voice command on your phone.

Things wish could be better:

• Kind of big. Not obnoxiously big, but bigger than I thought.
• Wish it had a screen, but for the price, it is expected. The auto announcement feature makes up for it though.
• Volume buttons difficult to reach, but I don’t change volume often.

See larger image Motorola T325 Bluetooth Portable Car Speaker (Black, Retail Packaging) (Wireless Phone Accessory) List Price: $49.99 USD New From: $29.00 In Stock Used from: $31.53 In Stock