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View Full Version : GeekZone Reviews Parrot DriveBlue - And Gives One Away


Janak Parekh
05-30-2003, 05:57 AM
<div class='os_post_top_link'><a href='http://www.geekzone.co.nz/content.asp?ContentId=910' target='_blank'>http://www.geekzone.co.nz/content.a...p?ContentId=910</a><br /><br /></div>"One of the areas where Bluetooth is predicted to be of great impact is the automotive. Initiatives like Daimler Chrysler's U-Connect will bring this technology closer to the consumer. Just released in the market, by Parrot, a French company specialised in voice recognition and in-car technology, is the DriveBlue, an easy to setup and use Bluetooth car kit. This car kit enables handsfree operation of mobile phones, without the need of a cradle or cables. The device uses voice recognition technology, bringing true handsfree, voice activated operation for this kit. And because it uses Bluetooth to link to a mobile phone, no wires are required."<br /><br /><img src="http://www.pocketpcthoughts.com/images/parekh/news/20030530-Parrot-BluetoothCarKit.jpg" /><br /><br />Here, in my opinion, is an innovative yet practical use of Bluetooth technology. Mauricio, of GeekZone, reviews the Parrot DriveBlue Bluetooth-enabled handsfree unit for cars. He's even got a <a href="http://www.geekzone.co.nz/content.asp?contentid=911">giveaway</a>; one lucky winner will get this device, so check it out!

beq
05-30-2003, 06:12 AM
Road noise/echo reduction must work really hard in a car I guess. My BlueSpoon's microphone doesn't work so well there, it's noisy on the other end of the call. Then again the built-in OnStar mic around the ceiling of my car picks up my voice (and only my voice) better I think...

I'm still waiting for them to release that jawbone-vibration-mic thingamajic BlueSpoon...

jimski
05-30-2003, 06:18 AM
So what's it cost? This would be great to use in a rental car when traveling.

I WANT one today, pleeeeezzzzeeee!

Radimus
05-30-2003, 09:57 AM
sounds cool, but too complex for typical use and not enough of the 'right' features to offset it's expense.

a handsfree kit should have a single button, to mute the radio and prompt the phone for a voice dial/command... and then automatically unmute the radio when the call ends.

obviously, this would require a more builtin solution, than a cigarette lighter solution. since all these high tech bluetooth phones have all the voice activated dialing features and such, duplicating them in a second device is redundant and probably makes the device more expensive than necessary. and to make it worse, in 6 months and we get a new phone with a cool new feature, this handsfree device may not support it, or some of it's new features...

magic word is 'nice' but the last thing I want is my phone to automatically call... I do that enough sitting on my phone and having it redial the last caller...

mute the radio (not completely handsfree now is it)
say the magic word 'hello computer'
---wait for beep
say the person 'holly'
---wait for beep
say the location 'home'
--- hit a bump or the children can no longer remain quiet and start over again

jmbneaf
05-30-2003, 01:50 PM
I would like to hack my OnStar system to use my Bluetooth cell phone and not OnStar's service.

The OnStar hardware is second to none for handsfree calls (the reason to do it the first place) - but the premium is $43 for 100 min (anytime - good for 1 year) - prices get better as you buy more minutes.

The hack would allow me to get in my truck - and dial out via my T39 with no noticable differentiation. Then when I get out & take my phone no one would know the difference! And not buy minutes on a different plan.

Has anyone seen something like this as a afterthought? I know new cars are considering this (maybe doing it in Europe, as the USA is so far behind in Bluetooth and cell phones).

- JB

Mr. Anonymous
05-30-2003, 02:24 PM
I'm all for bluetooth, but what about design? This thing looks like an in car shower head :twisted:

HTK
05-30-2003, 02:30 PM
Where is the antialiasing on this photo? someone turned off the AA on real world!8O

thats weird.. :roll:

:lol: