I work with three bluetooth devices around my three platforms, the iPhone, iPad and the Mac. They all have specific uses, depending on what I'm doing. The first one I use a lot is the Sony BT-100CX and earbud style unit. I use it mostly on my mountain bike, clipping the dongle (about the size of a USB Flash Drive) to my helmet. The unit works as a headset as well and does fine with incoming/outgoing phone calls and sounds fine on the built in mic. It needs a tad of treble boost in the EQ to suit my tastes. It does work just fine with the iPad and the Mac. I got it for $40 from Amazon. It has its own volume control, but since Apple has not implemented the full EDR 2.1 on any of the platforms yet, I still have to stop to advance over tracks I don't want to hear. It does originate and receive calls as well as respond to voice command to control the iPod functions. I like this over wired solutions as the wire transmits the noise of the wires rubbing on my body as well as wind noise directly to my ears.
My other device I use a lot is the Sennheiser MM400 headset. A pricey but comfortable and very, very nice sounding device. It has incredible range, allowing free roaming of the house. It is fantastic on the phone and even works well with MacSpeech Dictate. It has its own volume control and last quite a while on a charge. It too charges through a USB port or power supply. Unfortunately it needs a special plug on its side, as it has a very small flat connector. I provides me with yet another USB cable unique to a device. Quite an octopus growing out of my charging station, two Apple connectors, a Sennheiser, a couple straight USB B plugs. It also comes with wires, if you do not want to be remote or have run out of power and has the special airline plugs if you would ever want to connect to their system. If you have the money, it is worth the price.
The last bluetooth goodie I use is the BluBridge mini-jack Rx. I use this in the car to couple my phone or pad to the stereo wirelessly. Cool cheap device, recharges on USB as well. You can plug a headset into it if you want to use it that way. It to is the size of a Flash Drive and last about 4 hours on a charge. I got is as well at Amazon for $49.
I am still looking for a replacement small in ear bluetooth device. I really liked my Apple one, and yes I am an army of one on that device. It was tiny and worked flawlessly for me. I still use it, although its battery life is getting short now. I have tried the Jawbone, which should be fitted to an ass. It could be used as a torture device in Iraq, with none of its myriad of adaptors fitting well. It looked like I was being attacked by a large microbot on a cheap Sci-Fi movie. It was a disappointing POS, after being reviewed by so many favorably. I also really didn't like its charging cable suction cup like device. Did I say I didn't like it?
Some day soon, a device that pleases me will come out again. In the meantime, the pack of gizmos I have work well for their chosen niches. I also need one that displays a sign floating above my head that I am on the phone and not suffering a schizophrenic break with reality. That way my employees will not come up and start machine gunning into a report until I do the universal hand gestures I am on the phantom phone.
Not sure on that as of yet.
