News
Jabra debuts wireless iPod transceiver, plans speakers (updated)
By Jeremy Horwitz
Editor-in-Chief, iLounge
Published: Saturday, March 18, 2006
News Category: iPod Accessories
Updated: Prominent wireless headset maker Jabra has unveiled a new Bluetooth wireless transceiver for the iPod, capable of transmitting data (including iPod music) back and forth with devices such as wireless headphones. Named the Jabra A125s Bluetooth Adaptor for iPod (shown, left, and now in a Flash animation on the company’s web site), the device promises 10 hours of music playback time, but does not include a headset or other receiving device. Please note that this is a Jabra-developed and -sold accessory, not an Apple one.
The report also notes that Jabra reached an earlier agreement with Klipsch, maker of numerous premium speaker products, to develop Bluetooth wireless speakers. Such speakers could offer up to 33 feet (10 meters) of distance from the transmitter and support home theater-quality sound.
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1
Nice! Maybe someday wires will be the thing of the past…Do you remember those wires??? In 2010
Posted by Oliver on March 18, 2006 at 1:46 AM (PDT)
2
Uh, so what this story means is that Jabra have obtained a Made-for-iPod licence for an iPod accessory?
Not news.
Posted by Jim Stewart on March 18, 2006 at 3:59 AM (PDT)
3
Don’t the new portal player chips have bluetooth already?
Posted by sshafer on March 18, 2006 at 5:16 AM (PDT)
4
It looks like (for now) rather than releasing a bluetooth ipod they will just be releasing an addon.
The big difference is that this could sync your iPod over bluetooth and send music to headphones.
Someone joked “Maby next they will remove the headphone port to save space!” Thats looking like its gonna happen eventualy
Posted by Peachey on March 18, 2006 at 5:32 AM (PDT)
5
If them cords were a thing of the past, having money proably would be too! I think this is a great idea and maybe even a winning on, but as with all iPod accessorys, the price can’t be too crazy!
Posted by LawnBoy on March 18, 2006 at 5:59 AM (PDT)
6
Have we all forgotten how slow Bluetooth is?
Posted by John on March 18, 2006 at 7:08 AM (PDT)
7
Remember, they have should have the ability, if they don’t already, of charging over wireless usb, so that would be where no wires would come in.
I don’t know if they’d ever get rid of the headphone port completely, because of audiophiles.
Also, even though bluetooth is slow, it does really well with audio,
Posted by Wayne on March 18, 2006 at 10:26 AM (PDT)
8
If they eliminate the headphone port, millions of people will simply move on to a player that has one. We’ll have no choice. I’m not worrying about recharging my damn headphones too, not to mention that I’m not giving up my Shure E5C’s.
Posted by stark23x on March 18, 2006 at 11:02 AM (PDT)
9
Its a transceiver, not just a receiver. There could be 3 way communication between an iPod, cell phone and the headset. Perhaps the iPod will act as a remote for the phone? Why make an iPhone when thru bluetooth one could control the phone from an iPod?
Posted by Somebody on March 18, 2006 at 1:02 PM (PDT)
10
er this is already in existance in the form
at wi-gear
i’ll let you know how they sound.
Posted by coyote on March 18, 2006 at 2:51 PM (PDT)
11
For clarity - this is not an Apple-branded accessory, it’s a Jabra accessory; the original story noted that _Jabra_ was planning to sell it. Other than computer CPUs, Apple typically does not announce component suppliers for any of its self-branded products. Because of the confusion here, the story above is going to be edited to remove ambiguity on that point.
That said, we do expect Apple-branded wireless iPod features this year, and have heard rumblings about who is supplying them and how they will be implemented.
Posted by Jeremy Horwitz in East Amherst, NY, USA on March 18, 2006 at 4:22 PM (PDT)
12
I don’t think I would ever use one of these bluetooth dock connectors until they find a way to make it more compact… I don’t like huge things protruding from my iPod. But I would be all over an iPod with built in bluetooth.
Posted by jeremytheindian on March 18, 2006 at 4:28 PM (PDT)
13
JH,
I’m glad you translated all that for us…it’s pretty much a haze now, but I must’ve been absent on Learn Mandarin Day back in school.
Posted by flatline response on March 19, 2006 at 5:49 AM (PDT)
14
Did anyone notice the Garagebanded song to the flash animation at Jabra’s website?
Posted by JP Dane-Castro on March 19, 2006 at 11:26 AM (PDT)
15
If they ever make a Bluetooth 2.0+EDR version of this, then it definitely WON’T be slow. Unfortunately, this one is probably 1.2, which means that the audio fidelity also won’t be quite as good as 2.0.
Posted by jdw87 on March 19, 2006 at 6:00 PM (PDT)
16
When are we going to see Bluetooth 2.0 audio devices? What’s taking so long? Is there some technical snafu that no one has been able to work around?
Posted by sjonke in Maryland, US on March 21, 2006 at 7:14 AM (PDT)
17
Ummm, Has anyone actually tried this? It would be nice to actually hear an opinion from someone who has actually USED the thing…what’s the sound quality like? Does it connect with other non-jabra headphone? I’m thinking of buying it but would really like to hear from someone who has used it rather than the peanut gallery!!! Thanks!
Posted by tommer on February 9, 2007 at 5:55 PM (PDT)