03-26-2004, 09:00 PM
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Magi
Join Date: Feb 2004
Posts: 2,186
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The Mini Cooper Gets Bluejacked
"In Europe, where phones with Bluetooth are fairly common, cool affordable cars are starting to roll off assembly lines with Bluetooth hands-free kits built-in. In the US, it�s a different story. There are only a handful of cars that come with a Bluetooth kit.
Sure you can have an aftermarket one installed, but then something winds up sticking out, ruining the clean lines of your ride�s dash, no matter how pro the installation is. The Bluetooth Weblog, one of our blog cousins, has good news for all you hipsters craving a new Mini. A press release has just hit the web revealing (as often happens) that the new Mini Coopers will have a hands-free Bluetooth with noise canceling technology."
The press release: "Clarity Technologies� proprietary software suite includes multi-award- winning voice extraction and echo-cancellation software that adapts itself while capturing the voice of interest from background sounds (including other voices). This state-of-the-art technology is far more advanced than the more common noise cancellation approaches that simply suppress noise components. This makes the voice more intelligible to the human ear, more recognizable to computers and optimizes vocoders telecommunication devices and networks."
I'm not sure that I'm a "hipster", but I'm finding the Mini more and more attractive - maybe enough to get one instead of a VW Golf V when the lease on my GTI is up. :mrgreen: But that's beside the point. I think it's pretty cool that wireless is making its way into cars. The BT here is obviously meant for phone use, but the "creep" of BT in cars puts one of my personal dreams closer to reality - a built-in WiFi AP and storage brick. 
What do you think? Is wireless in cars useful?
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03-26-2004, 09:12 PM
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Ponderer
Join Date: Apr 2004
Posts: 65
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In my opinion, Bluetooth is a fantastic feature in a new car and one I'm sure to consider heavily. Why spend hundreds of dollars extra to have a nasty looking device installed on your dash that you can connect a phone to? As soon as you get a new phone, you will (most likely) have to replace this hands-free system. My lease is coming up on a Saab 9-5 and I keep looking at the Acura TL. Unfortunately, with a 10 month old and the desire to have another before the end of the next lease, I may need something bigger. One thing is for sure, my next phone will have Bluetooth (hear that Verizon!!!) and I want to use the phone hands-free in the car.
Rob
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03-26-2004, 09:12 PM
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Contributing Editor
Join Date: Sep 2006
Posts: 182
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Re: The Mini Cooper Gets Bluejacked
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Originally Posted by Pat Logsdon
What do you think? Is wireless in cars useful?
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NO WAY! I would wind up wrapped around a telephone pole or in a ditch or over a cliff or something while I was checking my email, managing my .mp3s or soft resetting my PPC to establish a connection.
Seriously, though (not that I wasn't already being semi-serious) as much trouble as some of these idiots (and I use that term in the kindest possible way) have driving as it is, when you add anything else that's a distraction . . . let's just say that I would seriously start looking for a job where I could telecommute so I could stay off the road.
Just my 2cents
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03-26-2004, 10:06 PM
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Pupil
Join Date: Feb 2002
Posts: 32
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It figures. I bought my MINI Cooper last summer. I hope that BMW will offer this to current owners as an installable upgrade.
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03-26-2004, 10:12 PM
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Ponderer
Join Date: Jan 2004
Posts: 68
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I don't know if you used the word intentionally, but Bluejacking is quite the sport in Europe right now. See this link
www.bluejackq.com
__________________
Moderator
gpspassion.com
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03-26-2004, 10:25 PM
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Magi
Join Date: Feb 2004
Posts: 2,186
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Quote:
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Originally Posted by bibap
I don't know if you used the word intentionally, but Bluejacking is quite the sport in Europe right now.
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Yup - I'm aware of bluejacking. I used it as a pun, along the lines of "carjacking". :mrgreen: Lame, I know, but hey - I gotta come up with a catchy title. :wink:
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03-26-2004, 10:40 PM
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Intellectual
Join Date: Jun 2002
Posts: 155
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Bluetooth will be in my next car period.
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03-26-2004, 10:56 PM
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Ponderer
Join Date: Dec 2004
Posts: 54
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Keep in mind that there are much worse security issues with Bluetooth than "bluejacking". Such as as "bluesnarfing" and "backdoor" attacks whereby your personal data can be stolen! 8O For more info, go here. I got a T610 specifically to use the Bluetooth with my PPC, but now I leave the Bluetooth off unless I am actually connecting. Makes the Bluetooth headset almost useless. 
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03-26-2004, 10:59 PM
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Theorist
Join Date: Dec 2004
Posts: 291
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Re: The Mini Cooper Gets Bluejacked
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Originally Posted by kpjackson
Quote:
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Originally Posted by Pat Logsdon
What do you think? Is wireless in cars useful?
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NO WAY! I would wind up wrapped around a telephone pole or in a ditch or over a cliff or something while I was checking my email, managing my .mp3s or soft resetting my PPC to establish a connection.
Seriously, though (not that I wasn't already being semi-serious) as much trouble as some of these idiots (and I use that term in the kindest possible way) have driving as it is, when you add anything else that's a distraction . . . let's just say that I would seriously start looking for a job where I could telecommute so I could stay off the road.
Just my 2cents |
Here in the UK there is a law saying drivers aren't allowed to hold the phone while driving, you are allowed to use them with hands free sets tho...
Small companies that offer company cars will like these as they won't have to buy car kits and have them installed in lease cars
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03-26-2004, 11:03 PM
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Ponderer
Join Date: Jun 2002
Posts: 65
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750 mile until my next scheduled visit to the dealer. I will be laying down the $400 or so they want for this. It is a OEM upgradable accessory. And McDeb. you know that middle button on the left hand side of your multifunction steering wheel. You know that button that doesn't do anything. That's the answer button when you install the BT kit.
Trust me Pat. If I'm hip enough. You're hip enough.
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