PocketNow Reviews the i.Tech Clip S Bluetooth Headset

[Ekkie Tepsupornchai]

<div class='os_post_top_link'><a href='http://pocketnow.com/index.php?a=portal_detail&t=reviews&id=675&p=1' target='_blank'>http://pocketnow.com/index.php?a=po...iews&id=675&p=1</a><br /><br /></div><i>"Recently, Bluetooth stereo audio has hit the market, and we've slowly seen products emerge to offer it. Many of these new Bluetooth Stereo Headsets not only include stereo audio, but also include the requisite handsfree headset capability as well. This means that you can listen to music, and make or receive calls all with one device, no swapping headsets or wires. This sounds great, one device to do it all. Being a music fan, I've been watching this space with great expectations, only to be disappointed with each new launch. These new devices offer handsfree and stereo music, why do they disappoint? Form Factor! These devices have largely focused on stereo, and have a form factor that matches traditional stereo headphones. This is fine for a walkman, and if you're a jogger they're just fine. I however use my handsfree while driving, and having stereo headphones over both ears while driving is illegal. That means that most of the now available Bluetooth stereo headsets (with handsfree capability) cannot be used in a car for handsfree calling... All that changed when I got a glimpse of the i.Tech Bluetooth Stereo Clip headset."</i><br /><br /><img src="http://www.pocketpcthoughts.com/images/web/2003/ekkie_Clip_and_Dongles.jpg" /><br /><br />Is this the Bluetooth headset for all seasons? It's small, portable, and versatile. It just might be perfect, though I have to admit I'm not a big fan of the traditional foamed-earbud design, not unless it's the Sony Fontopia-style earbuds!! Anyway, if you like the idea of carrying around one BT headset for both music and phone conversations without having to sacrifice its use while driving, then take a look and let us know what you think. Unfortunately for us US residents, the item is only available overseas!

[UnLoGiC]

This would be an awesome product if it let me connect my sony mdr-ex71sl headphones or any other headphones of my choice using a STANDARD 3,5 mm stereo jack! :?

I mean this is like selling you a car that you cant change the tires on....

[OSUKid7]

This would be an awesome product if it let me connect my sony mdr-ex71sl headphones or any other headphones of my choice using a STANDARD 3,5 mm stereo jack! :?

I mean this is like selling you a car that you cant change the tires on....
Really! I would definitely buy this if it let you use any standard stereo headphones.

[dhpss]

This would be an awesome product if it let me connect my sony mdr-ex71sl headphones or any other headphones of my choice using a STANDARD 3,5 mm stereo jack! :?

I mean this is like selling you a car that you cant change the tires on....
Really! I would definitely buy this if it let you use any standard stereo headphones.

Another quick review here: http://www.aximsite.com/boards/showthread.php?t=82948

Yes, there is the version with 3.5mm jack: http://cgi.ebay.com/Bluetooth-1-2-Headset-Stereo-3-5-Adaptor-A2DP-MSI-Stack_W0QQitemZ5794684056QQcategoryZ48500QQrdZ1QQcmdZViewItem

[OSUKid7]

Another quick review here: http://www.aximsite.com/boards/showthread.php?t=82948

Yes, there is the version with 3.5mm jack: http://cgi.ebay.com/Bluetooth-1-2-Headset-Stereo-3-5-Adaptor-A2DP-MSI-Stack_W0QQitemZ5794684056QQcategoryZ48500QQrdZ1QQcmdZViewItem
Cool, thanks! I'll check into that. :)

[burtcom]

Speaking about hands-free...

Haven't some recent studies shown that it's the act of talking on a cell phone that is dangerously distracting? Hands-free or not, if you're talking to someone while driving, are you paying enough attention to safely operating the vehicle?

[OSUKid7]

Speaking about hands-free...

Haven't some recent studies shown that it's the act of talking on a cell phone that is dangerously distracting? Hands-free or not, if you're talking to someone while driving, are you paying enough attention to safely operating the vehicle?
Doing anything other than driving is dangerously distracting. :lol: It all comes down to how much of a risk you, the driver, wants to take (and how much your government allows you to take ;)).

[dhpss]

This would be an awesome product if it let me connect my sony mdr-ex71sl headphones or any other headphones of my choice using a STANDARD 3,5 mm stereo jack! :?.

It is OK to use your own headphones for comfort but do not expect to have same sound quality as wired.

The sound quality with this type of connection is only as good as your Bluetooth Audio profile can deliver.

I am using the BT High Quality Audio on my PocketPC Dell Axim X50v. The quality is very acceptable to my taste!

[Sven Johannsen]

Speaking about hands-free...

Haven't some recent studies shown that it's the act of talking on a cell phone that is dangerously distracting? Hands-free or not, if you're talking to someone while driving, are you paying enough attention to safely operating the vehicle?

Sure, so is listening to a ball game on the radio (some more than others), kids in the back seat, a wife next to you, a DVD player on the dash, or a paperback on the steering wheel. All that stuff happens. Some you can't avoid (well you could stay single and that solves two of them), some you can criminalize (not stop), and some you can do what you can to mitigate.

[Sven Johannsen]

Another quick review here: http://www.aximsite.com/boards/showthread.php?t=82948

Yes, there is the version with 3.5mm jack: http://cgi.ebay.com/Bluetooth-1-2-Headset-Stereo-3-5-Adaptor-A2DP-MSI-Stack_W0QQitemZ5794684056QQcategoryZ48500QQrdZ1QQcmdZViewItem
Cool, thanks! I'll check into that. :)

Just ordered one of the ones shown at the top of the thread from there. I figure I'll splice in a 3.5mm stereo jack and plug so i can use it one of three ways, mono, their stereo, and my headphones. The one i got didn't come with the BT dongle thing though, so it is gioing to depend on my PPC having A2DP capability. We'll see how that goes.

[OSUKid7]

Just ordered one of the ones shown at the top of the thread from there. I figure I'll splice in a 3.5mm stereo jack and plug so i can use it one of three ways, mono, their stereo, and my headphones. The one i got didn't come with the BT dongle thing though, so it is gioing to depend on my PPC having A2DP capability. We'll see how that goes.
Hmm, interesting. Let us know how that goes. :)

[rmasinag]

From the last time I heard, IPAQ 2200, series would be compatible with BT 1.2 right, because the IPAQ BT headsets are 1.2??

[Sven Johannsen]

From the last time I heard, IPAQ 2200, series would be compatible with BT 1.2 right, because the IPAQ BT headsets are 1.2??

That's my hope. The software that comes with the headphones, and the update available from HP, does add the A2DP profile to any HP PPC you load it on, such as my 3715. Presumably it does the same for any HP PC they list as compatible. The one on their web support site actually works on my X50v with the HP BT headphones. I'm hoping both HP and the i-tech guys were sufficiently in compliance with the profile specs for them to work togeter.

Just boggles my mind why HP hasn't realeased desktop/laptop drivers for their BT headphones. Be a great addition to a MCE PC or laptop.

[Sven Johannsen]

Hmm, interesting. Let us know how that goes. :)

Not that well. Got the ClipS and it paired OK with my SMT5600. Acts a bit strange in that the phone doesn't immediately show the headset icon when I turn the ClipS on. If I make or get a call, the icon does appear and the headset works as expected. Then the icon stays, until I turn the ClipS off. It's a different feel for a BT headset, and I kind of like it. Even with my BlueTrek G2, which as about as small as they come without having to get a second mortgage, it is something hanging off your ear. The ClipS is an earbud. You just need to find a good place to clip it, where the mic on the body is effective.

Now for the stereo stuff. Didn't work. Both my X50v and 3715 have HP headphone drivers loaded which work fine with HP's BT stereo headphones. The Clip S would pair fine with the PPCs, but whenever I tried to connect with the thing, it would lock up. The sound would disappear from the PPC, the BT headphone icon would show connected, but the ClipS wouldn't have sound, would quit flashing and wouldn't respond to any more button presses. Reseting it brought it back into control, and would drop the connection from the PPC point of view (sound would come back out of the PPC). Trying to connected again would do the same thing. Both PPCs identical. The stereo did work on the PDA2K according to PocketNow. Got to be an HP driver issue. Not surprising actually.

Additional observation. I got a BlueTake BT Dongle (BT007Si) for my PC which has a stereo (A2DP) profile. Both the HP Headphones and the ClipS work fine with that guy and it's BlueSoleil drivers. It too is a little strange, in that it doesn't snatch the sound when you connect. If you connect and then fire up MP or whatever, it works fine. It doesn't transfer currently playing music when you connect, and it doesn't release the music back to the PC speakers when you disconnect either. That's the same for the HP headphones and the ClipS.

I downloaded some BlueSoleil drivers for WinCE and am going to give those a shot, but i am charging up my dusty 4155 for that experiment. I figure I'll be hard resetting and don't feel like messing with PPCs I actually use for this fun and games.

I did discover something that escaped me when I skimmed the PockeNow review. The Multi-Function Button (MFB), that which turns the ClipS on and off, etc, is actually on the side of one of the earbuds. That kills my idea of replacing the buds and connector with a standard 3.5 mm one, unless i can figure out what that button physically does and provide for that. I expect it just shorts the earphone leads together, but there could be a third wire in there (or second along with the shield). Pretty skinny wires though. I would have to cut the wire to find out, and at that point would be pretty committed, and it isn't working for what I intended to begin with.

As an interesting aside, the Clips actually came with a British (Hong Kong) power supply, but they did include a conversion to US outlet. First thing I've gotten that I had to adapt to use here :) . Also comes with a USB charge cable, so that is likely what will get used.

[chrischarles2002]

Since there is no software provided with the Sonorix OBH-0110, and there are no updates on the Sonorix WebSite for iPaq, you must download the updated BIOS and the updated driver from the HP website. It says the update is only for the iPaq Pocket PC h5500 series and / or the iPaq h5555 Pocket PC, but it will work fine for the 3715 and I'm sure other Bluetooth enabled iPaqs. Bluetooth Audio and / or Bluetooth High Quality Audio is NOT part of the iPaq rx 3715 default load, under the "Bluetooth Connection Wizard" , which is the Bluetooth service that is required on the 3715 in order to connect to ANY Bluetooth audio device. The Sonorix OBH-0110 supports A2DP (Advanced Audio Distribution Profile) that allows it to connect to the iPaq and also manipulate the play/pause, next track and volume controls from the headphones. The "previous" track only goes to the beginning of the current track, and does not go the previous track.

Step 1: Download HP iPAQ rx3700 Series Mobile Media Companion ROM Update

http://h18000.www1.hp.com/support/files/handheldiPAQ/us/download/22475.html
or
Go to "software and drivers" for the iPaq 3715 on the www.hp.com site



Step 2: Download HP iPAQ Bluetooth Stereo Headphones Driver Update

http://h18000.www1.hp.com/support/files/handheldiPAQ/us/download/22475.html
or
Search for "HP Bluetooth Headphone" in case they change the URL



Once completed, and your iPaq is reset (using reset button underneath the iPaq), you should now see the "High Quality Audio Setup" choice in the "Bluetooth Connection Wizard".

From that point on, things should be fairly simple, but tedious. When your iPaq auto powers off, the Bluetooth connection is severed, and there is no auto-connect with the headphones with iPaq, as it does with Bluetooth enabled cell / mobile phones. At least once per day, I must perform at least one of the following actions:

1) I must re-connect the Sonorix to the iPaq by playing with the "connect" and "disconnect" feature in the "Bluetooth My Shortcuts" menu of the iPaq
2) Play with the power on / off of the Sonorix
3) Sometimes even going as far as having to remove and put pack the battery of the Sonorix OBH-0110
4) or sometimes even going as far as "resetting" my iPaq.

Sometimes I have to do a combination of all 4 actions.

Unfortunately, these are the small burdens that I have to do in order to use Bluetooth Headphones, but it's worth it in order to enjoy my iPaq as an iPod / Mp3 player replacement.