Choosing Sides

[David Tucker]

http://www.anythingbutipod.com/archives/2008/01/abi-starts-mutiny-at-zune-thoughts.php

Just because I can indulge myself and I find the exchange extremely amusing (I need to get out more) I am going to add one more thought to the discourse between Anything But iPod and Zune Thoughts. Grahm over at abi writes: "If we are keeping it simple and features out that only leaves Bluetooth headphone support. The problem is IEMs are becoming more and more popular being that they are excellent in sound quality and isolation. You cannot build wireless IEMs, Etymotic tried but they suck and they still have a wire. Sennheiser’s new high end wireless phones don’t even use Bluetooth. So my point is Bluetooth as a means to transport audio to headphones is not a good solution and Bluetooth being used in any other way is a feature to clutter the Zune."

Now Grahm makes a good point in there about there being no real good application for Bluetooth other than wireless transmit of audio. While wireless IEMs have been a flop so far I still believe that a Bluetooth headset is still a viable technology. Its hard to see a reason why many companies would have put much effort into developing high quality BT headphones when there's no market for them! And just making the headset wouldn't really create that market. Honestly I think the iPhone may offer the best chance of seeing quality headsets produced since there are a lot of people who would be obviously be willing to spend a lot of money.

And sorry Grahm, since we just can't see eye to eye on the issue, I'm afraid I'm going to have to keep my allegiance to my Canadian leader!

Oh, and one last thing. Make sure to head on over to abi. They're definitely cool!

[David Tucker]

http://www.anythingbutipod.com/archives/2008/01/abi-starts-mutiny-at-zune-thoughts.php

Just because I can indulge myself and I find the exchange extremely amusing (I need to get out more) I am going to add one more thought to the discourse between Anything But iPod and Zune Thoughts. Grahm over at abi writes: "If we are keeping it simple and features out that only leaves Bluetooth headphone support. The problem is IEMs are becoming more and more popular being that they are excellent in sound quality and isolation. You cannot build wireless IEMs, Etymotic tried but they suck and they still have a wire. Sennheiser’s new high end wireless phones don’t even use Bluetooth. So my point is Bluetooth as a means to transport audio to headphones is not a good solution and Bluetooth being used in any other way is a feature to clutter the Zune."

Now Grahm makes a good point in there about there being no real good application for Bluetooth other than wireless transmit of audio. While wireless IEMs have been a flop so far I still believe that a Bluetooth headset is still a viable technology. Its hard to see a reason why many companies would have put much effort into developing high quality BT headphones when there's no market for them! And just making the headset wouldn't really create that market. Honestly I think the iPhone may offer the best chance of seeing quality headsets produced since there are a lot of people who would be obviously be willing to spend a lot of money.

And sorry Grahm, since we just can't see eye to eye on the issue, I'm afraid I'm going to have to keep my allegiance to my Canadian leader!

Oh, and one last thing. Make sure to head on over to abi. They're definitely cool!

[onlydarksets]

Bluetooth car audio. I'm installing a Pioneer DEH-P7900BT in a couple of weeks, and it supports BT streaming of music. I'll be using it for my phone, and I'll be using the Aux input for my Zune. I'd love to be able to stream from the Zune.

Actually, I kind of agree that BT headphones aren't all that, just because of the added maintenance on the headphone side of it. However, there is more to BT audio than headphones.

[David Tucker]

Ok, so there is something!

[FiredCylinder]

You know, I heard an oddly vague rumor about zune bluetooth from a Zune rep where I work. He said that the zune 80 has bluetooth already built in, and an update in the coming months will activate it. I'm very dubious, of course, but all this talk of zunes and bluetooth keeps making me wonder if it's true at all.

BTW, I have the Motorola S9s and they are AWESOME. The sound quality is easily equal to my el cheapo Sennheiser headphones and they were cheaper to boot. The only real problem is microwaves tend to cause some serious interference. Boo-hoo, no listening while I'm making my dinner.

[Adam Krebs]

Originally Posted by FiredCylinder

He said that the zune 80 has bluetooth already built in, and an update in the coming months will activate it.

If true, I'm sure the FCC wouldn't be too pleased, and it would likely have shown up in the lobotomy shots. There was a similar rumor with the iPod Touch that was later proven false.

I'm not sure Bluetooth cans are the best idea at this point. Honestly, how far are you going to be from your player at any given time? I'd much rather be tethered to the thing while I'm listening. But hey, I never liked Bluetooth for my cellphone either.

[David Tucker]

Well, when I'm at work I'd be happy to dispense with the wires (I have enough wires anyway). I have to be careful not to pull my zune off the desk.

Also,when working out it would be nice to not have to deal with wires.

[Jason Dunn]

Originally Posted by onlydarksets

Bluetooth car audio. I'm installing a Pioneer DEH-P7900BT in a couple of weeks, and it supports BT streaming of music.

Wow, that's a great application - I hadn't heard of that before (though I'm really not into car audio, so no surprise there). That would sure eliminate all of the input hassles!

[onlydarksets]

Originally Posted by Jason Dunn

Wow, that's a great application - I hadn't heard of that before (though I'm really not into car audio, so no surprise there). That would sure eliminate all of the input hassles!

I've been using the Moto DC-800 to stream from my WM phone to the stereo via a cassette adapter, but the sounds quality is marginal. I'm looking forward to a wire-free life in my car!

http://www.pocketnow.com/index.php?a...reviews&id=808

[Sven]

I was going to bring up the car audio thing, as there are more of these things showing up. Headsets is the obvious thought whether headband style or small BT receiver with short corded IEM. Those are nice because you could wear your favorite In-Ears, leave the Zune in the stand charging, and move around the room freely. You wouldn't have to loose the social because you can do the discover and sharing thing over BT as well as over WiFi. I can't imagine you are going to Zune some tunes to someone you aren't relatively close to. While the WiFi in the Zune probably isn't set for full power, BT is more efficient, and would prolong battery life.

Only thing you might loose is the potential to download songs/buy music at a hotspot. Can you do that now? I really don't know and can't really imagine how you would considering the UI. I suppose with BT you could download using BT over your cell plan, if that sort of capability was desired.

I just think BT would have been a much better choice in the first place.

[FiredCylinder]

Originally Posted by onlydarksets

I've been using the Moto DC-800 to stream from my WM phone to the stereo via a cassette adapter, but the sounds quality is marginal. I'm looking forward to a wire-free life in my car!

http://www.pocketnow.com/index.php?a...reviews&id=808

Funny you bring that up, I'm considering doing something a little more permanent in my car when it warms up a bit. I have an auxiliary input on my car stereo, and want to use that to hook up a DC800, which I would put in the armrest cubby.