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View Full Version : WM 5 AKU 2 Has A2DP - IMHO Awesome


Jon Westfall
12-07-2005, 08:00 PM
<div class='os_post_top_link'><a href='http://www.theunwired.net/?itemid=2779#article' target='_blank'>http://www.theunwired.net/?itemid=2779#article</a><br /><br /></div><i>"Last week I wrote the first time about the next coming Windows Mobile 5.0 AKU 2 and it's new Bluetooth features and the announced support for the Bluetooth A2DP Profile and today I had the chance to test it the first time! What means A2DP for you? Basically it provides you Bluetooth stereo support for headsets which means you can listen your favorite music without any disturbing wires. That's cool and handy and in the future - I'm sure - we will see more and more car stereo devices which supports it as an input method as well which means as soon as you enter your car, your device will connects with your car stereo and you can continue listening your music on your car stereo!"</i><br /><br /><img src="http://www.smartphonethoughts.com/images/Kris-Dec05-A2DPBTStereo.jpg" /><br /><br />As Kris pointed out in his write-up over at Smartphone Thoughts, we've gotta get rid of all these abbreviations - but nonetheless, a lot of people have been waiting for the A2DP profile for the Microsoft Bluetooth Stack. What does this mean for us fortunate enough to have Bluetooth headphones - it means that we can (somewhat) ditch the MP3 player and enjoy tunes off our PPCs using those headphones. While I, like most, have a dedicated MP3 player, it is one more device to carry - and on days when space is an issue, this profile would free up one more pocket in the bag (or jacket) for other uses. Of course that could be a bad thing... the size that my MP3 player takes up is roughly the same as 2 candy bars that I don't need to be eating :wink:

Menneisyys
12-07-2005, 08:06 PM
Now, I wish MS implemented BT PAN too. It'd be by far the most important improvement.

BTW, here's my blog entry on the new BT stuff: http://www.pocketpcmag.com/blogs/index.php?blog=3&amp;p=359&amp;more=1

Jason Lee
12-07-2005, 08:20 PM
now the question is, how long is it going to take for this to be on the devices that users currently have (k-jam, etc.) and when will new devices start shipping with it?

alabij
12-07-2005, 08:30 PM
I'm not too enthusiastic about a2dp bluetooth. Bluetooth is easily interfered with. While on the bus everytime a car revved my thing crackled. While on the train my PPC had to be on the same side as the headsets used(cause I've used a couple ie logitech, HP, Bluetake).

It's really not there yet. We need something better than bluetooth.

adamz
12-07-2005, 09:22 PM
I'm not too enthusiastic about a2dp bluetooth. Bluetooth is easily interfered with. While on the bus everytime a car revved my thing crackled. While on the train my PPC had to be on the same side as the headsets used(cause I've used a couple ie logitech, HP, Bluetake).

It's really not there yet. We need something better than bluetooth.

Maybe Bluetooth 2.0 will be better.

And where is my A2DP Bluetooth car FM Transmitter??!

UCCOFFEE
12-08-2005, 01:00 AM
For car kit solution, the only true Stereo (A2DP) solution which is available at dec/2005 is to get a bluetooth handsfree/headset/adaptor that's got a 3.5mm output, and use it to output to the car stereo.
I do not think the sound quality will be that good since it's only using the 3.5mm output.

for example this product:
http://www.globalsat.com.tw/english/products_detail.php?main_id=20&amp;p_id=148

any other one?

Sven Johannsen
12-08-2005, 05:04 AM
And where is my A2DP Bluetooth car FM Transmitter??!

What are you wanting here? Assumming you don't really mean FM as in frequency modulation, a way to impress intelligence on a radio carrier. Are you wanting the car radio to transmit...to a headset...which in most states would be illegal to wear. Or are you hoping for a car radio that can receive A2DP from a media player that can transmit.

adamz
12-08-2005, 06:37 AM
And where is my A2DP Bluetooth car FM Transmitter??!

What are you wanting here? Assumming you don't really mean FM as in frequency modulation, a way to impress intelligence on a radio carrier. Are you wanting the car radio to transmit...to a headset...which in most states would be illegal to wear. Or are you hoping for a car radio that can receive A2DP from a media player that can transmit.

You know how iPods have little things you can plug into the top that broadcast the audio over a specific FM radio station (short range) so that the car stereo can play the music? I want one of those, but I don't want to plug it into anything. I want it to get it's audio through an A2DP device. That way, I just have to put this little A2DP Bluetooth FM Transmitter in my car or anyone elses car, tune the radio to the right station and listen to music/movies from my Pocket PC.

An A2DP Bluetooth Cassette adapter might be okay too, except many people don't have car stereos with cassette players anymore.

weatheryoko
12-08-2005, 06:40 PM
I have the i-Tech Clip S35 http://www.itechdynamic.com/newweb/Product%20image/hires/Clip%20S35.JPG paired with the i-Tech BlueCon35http://www.itechdynamic.com/newweb/Product%20image/hires/BlueCON35.JPG to listen to my stereo music/cds and watch movies. I can use whatever headphones I want and it has a range of at least 30 feet. I've never had a "drop sync" or any static to speak of. Works wonderfully. The only draw back is there is about a 0.1 second lag when watching TV and listening to the audio. At first it's noticable, but then after about 2 minutes, I no longer notice it. I'm looking forward to the MS release of a A2DP profile. I can shove my phone/PDA in my bag and still listen to music. I love the idea.

Anyway my $.02 worth.

Sven Johannsen
12-08-2005, 09:42 PM
You know how iPods have little things you can plug into the top that broadcast the audio over a specific FM radio station (short range) so that the car stereo can play the music? I want one of those, but I don't want to plug it into anything. I want it to get it's audio through an A2DP device. That way, I just have to put this little A2DP Bluetooth FM Transmitter in my car or anyone elses car, tune the radio to the right station and listen to music/movies from my Pocket PC.

So you want a little box that recieves audio from your A2DP equipped media player (PPC or otherwise) over BT and rebroadcasts it over FM to your car stereo. You know you could just get the FM transmitter thingy and plug it into the PPC headset jack. It would be one less interference prone wireless connection to deal with.

Sven Johannsen
12-08-2005, 09:48 PM
II'm looking forward to the MS release of a A2DP profile. I can shove my phone/PDA in my bag and still listen to music. I love the idea.
Couldn't you do that now with the BlueCon35 plugged into the PPC?

adamz
12-08-2005, 09:59 PM
You know how iPods have little things you can plug into the top that broadcast the audio over a specific FM radio station (short range) so that the car stereo can play the music? I want one of those, but I don't want to plug it into anything. I want it to get it's audio through an A2DP device. That way, I just have to put this little A2DP Bluetooth FM Transmitter in my car or anyone elses car, tune the radio to the right station and listen to music/movies from my Pocket PC.

So you want a little box that recieves audio from your A2DP equipped media player (PPC or otherwise) over BT and rebroadcasts it over FM to your car stereo. You know you could just get the FM transmitter thingy and plug it into the PPC headset jack. It would be one less interference prone wireless connection to deal with.

And have that banging around in my pocket? No thanks! I want the music to start playing when I get in the car... No plugging stuff in.

Those iPod FM transmitters are really illegal in some states?

gibson042
12-08-2005, 10:22 PM
Those iPod FM transmitters are really illegal in some states?
The portable audio FM transmitters aren't illegal; Sven thought you wanted the car's radio to transmit to a headset. The former are allowed because of their low power output; the latter would be illegal because of its high power output.

Anyway, I agree with Sven's other point: there is virtually no demand for a device that recieves Bluetooth audio and rebroadcasts it over FM. I suspect that the vast majority of people with any interest in such a product would go instead for a wired FM transmitter that plugs directly into the audio source, because those would not require batteries and would certainly be cheaper. In my opinion, you are very unlikely to find a Bluetooth FM transmitter.

adamz
12-08-2005, 10:51 PM
Those iPod FM transmitters are really illegal in some states?
The portable audio FM transmitters aren't illegal; Sven thought you wanted the car's radio to transmit to a headset. The former are allowed because of their low power output; the latter would be illegal because of its high power output.

Anyway, I agree with Sven's other point: there is virtually no demand for a device that recieves Bluetooth audio and rebroadcasts it over FM. I suspect that the vast majority of people with any interest in such a product would go instead for a wired FM transmitter that plugs directly into the audio source, because those would not require batteries and would certainly be cheaper. In my opinion, you are very unlikely to find a Bluetooth FM transmitter.

FM Transmitters (http://www.ambientweather.com/dbsf150c.html) that plug into the audio source still require batteries.

Also looks like other people want a Bluetooth FM Transmitter...
http://www.halfbakery.com/idea/Bluetooth_20FM_20Transmitter?op=aye

If you have a Pocket PC Phone with a built in FM transmitter, then fine (except they don't exist)... but plugging something else into the PDA when I'm in the car is such a pain. I use a cassette adapter right now. I'd much rather just go near the car, press play.. get in and drive away.

Sven Johannsen
12-08-2005, 11:19 PM
Then what you want is a car radio that recieves A2DP. That should concievably be like my current cell phone and car setup. I get in the car, they link up and I have full use of the handsfree capability without ever touching the phone. For the radio I would expect you would at least have to push a BT receive button, because it is not a given that you don't want to just listen to the radio or CD.

This I think is potentially something that may be produced. (enough caveats in that sentance?)

P.S. the illegality thing was wearing headphones while driving. Many places you can, and they want you to, have one ear covered/plugged, but not two.

gibson042
12-08-2005, 11:26 PM
FM Transmitters (http://www.ambientweather.com/dbsf150c.html) that plug into the audio source still require batteries.
You're right, of course. I was thinking of the iTrip (which gets power from the iPod it's attached to) and confused it with the generic FM transmitters.

Also looks like other people want a Bluetooth FM Transmitter...
http://www.halfbakery.com/idea/Bluetooth_20FM_20Transmitter?op=aye

If you have a Pocket PC Phone with a built in FM transmitter, then fine (except they don't exist)... but plugging something else into the PDA when I'm in the car is such a pain. I use a cassette adapter right now. I'd much rather just go near the car, press play.. get in and drive away.
I understand why you want the product; I'm just saying that there probably isn't much of a market for it. Even the idea you cited doesn't seem to be very popular. The issue is the double wirelessness. A wired FM transmitter generally makes sense for people who want an FM transmitter with them. A direct connection (line-in or cassette adapter, or maybe someday Bluetooth) generally makes sense for people who want to listen to music they supply on a specific system (in this case your car).

In both cases, you've got an audio source and an audio receiver. But the adapter tends to stay with one or the other, so why not have that semi-permanent connection be a more reliable and power-efficient wired one? Thus, we should see mainly wired FM/Bluetooth transmitters (check) and A2DP cassete/phono/line-in adapters (AFAIK, still waiting).

Best, of luck to you, though; I hope someone does produce a Bluetooth FM Transmitter. One last thing: you mentioned things banging around in your pocket... how do you control the music without taking out and interacting with your Pocket PC?