Yo dude,

I’m sitting with a colleague who’s asked me the question above. Her iphone says it’s not compatible with the bluetooth in a 2010 Renault Clio. I thought BT worked with everything these days (I thought that was its axiomic remit) yet in her car it says ‘iPhone will not work with this accessory’ (or something to that effect). Why is this?

Not sure whether you know the answer, whether it’s obvious or whether it’s a question for the MIR masses…

Cheers

Ed

Well I’m not surprised Ed, Apple’s viewpoint on standards is flexible at best. Has anyone else had this kind of issue? I bet a Nokia would work with it…

I’ve been playing with LoKast for a few days and it’s raised some rather exciting possibilities. The application turns your iPhone into a two-way media server, enabling you to rapidly share any of your media (photos, video, contacts, music) to anyone else using the app on the same WiFi or Bluetooth connection.

My first reaction was ‘well, there’s just me at home, so…’ — but that’s to miss the point with LoKast. For any young’n'hip things regularly hitting music venues or gigs, LoKast could be hugely valuable. Provided you’re both running the app (and that’s the main issue) you can swiftly discover random people in your vicinity and start browsing the media they’ve elected to make public.

It’s an absolute breeze to use. Fire it up, give yourself a name, choose a profile photo and start tapping media you’d like to share. It’s stupidly fast — of course — because you’re not using the internet, you’re using the local connection.

‘Local-casting’ will typically work when you’re within 300ft of other LoKast users — provided there’s WiFi (or if there’s not, Bluetooth is a useful fall back).

Think about using it at a sports stadium, for example. That could be a rather interesting experience. One imagines you might be able to find some fantastic photos, videos and audio related to your team. But LoKast could be phenomenally useful around the music scene for anyone who’d like to receive (or distribute!) all kinds of band or artist related media.

Flip up the app, browse the users and you’re immediately browsing their public content. Click the ‘add’ button on anything and it’s yours (apart from DRM protected music — DRM music offers you a 30-second clip and the option to buy the track on iTunes — fair enough).

I love it’s simplicity. It’s essentially just a nice skin on top of a web server — but the simplicity is what is beginning to swiftly engage users. I hear it’s getting a riotous reception at the mediafest that is SXSX. I can well imagine why. I’m particularly keen on how the app ushers in an era of disposable media — the transitory experience of sharing media, never to be repeated again. Forget becoming friends or ‘adding people’, this is all about the media.

I’m not entirely sure where LoKast could go. I certainly think that if some of the cool’n'hip iPhone users pick it up around the music/gigs/events space, it’ll break out quickly from SXSX.

I think music is the way ahead though. Indeed, I understand that artists such as The Boxer Rebellion, The Ruse, Bazaar Royale, BlackMahal and Katia have all signed up to use LoKast at their events this month. I can imagine a lot of users all flipping up LoKast on their iPhone at the instruction of the band they’re watching. Very interesting indeed.

Speaking of SXSX, Mark Cuban’s Magnolia Pictures are reportedly planning on using LoKast to promote their new movies at one of the upcoming SXSX events. Again, that’s another area that makes a heck of a lot of sense.

I’ve made a quick video walk-through of LoKast so you can see some of the basic features in action:

You can, of course, find LoKast in the iTunes App Store (iTunes link — free). Enjoy…

I am firmly convinced: Walking around in public on a Bluetooth headset makes you look like a total douchebag.

Never a truer statement was Twittered, Matt. Here, here.

Ionut is looking to monetise the mobile application he developed. It’s called SmartCam and it turns a mobile phone with wifi/bluetooth and camera into a wireless PC webcam.

The project is open source and available here: http://sourceforge.net/projects/smartcam.

Here’s a screenshot:

Although there’s a GPL license available for SmartCam, Ionut is keen to hear from operators, handset manufacturers or any one else interested in doing business with him.

SmartCam is available for Symbian and J2ME/Java — along with Linux and Windows clients.

If this triggers a thought in your mind and you’d like to talk with Ionut, drop me a note — ewan@mobileindustryreview.com — and I’ll connect you.

Bluetooth is useful for many things, but the latest idea could be one of the coolest for some time. A keyfob sized gadget that backs up all your phone data and alerts you if the phone gets too far away.
The i-migo is a clever gadget that isn’t quite ready for sale yet, but should appear in 2009 when discussions take place between various handset manufacturers and network operators.

The idea is simple; the keyfob pairs with the phone and extracts content (contacts, messages, pictures etc) over Bluetooth whenever in range. Like the Sony Ericsson range of Bluetooth watches which have a ‘proximity detector’ feature, the i-migo will also warn you when the phone moves out of range (in other words, it loses the Bluetooth connection). This warning means you are no longer close to your phone. Perhaps you’ve left it on a desk or someone else has walked off with it?
The main purpose of the i-migo is to prevent you losing your phone (by vibrating and flashing if the phone goes out of range). However, if you do lose your phone, all is not lost. Firstly, with the appropriate support from the handset, it will be possible to have the phone completely locked out – just like a car with keyless operation. That gives peace of mind that nobody else is going to be able to do much with your phone. After that, when you get a new phone, the data you would have otherwise lost can be restored by simply pairing the i-migo once more.

The i-migo sounds like an awesome gadget and I think it will be really useful for those of us who have a tendency for losing things (not naming any names ) The best bit is the ability is to completely lock down your phone, especially when your phone has some much valuable data about you.

Keep an eye on www.i-migo.com for more information!

An application has appeared on the website of dailymobile that looks ever so suspiciously like the idea this hack had for utilising Bluetooth on handsets for the purposes of a Walkie-talkie.

The idea was aired to a few likeminded individuals following on from the Bluetooth Special Interest Group 10th anniversary this year. With even a communiqué passed along to the actual Bluetooth SIG outlining an idea, and who best to contact to progress it further.

The idea first thought up by yours truly, came about from the need of being able to speak to someone over a short distance. All without breaking into the allotted minutes a contract has per month, or running up a bill if a pre-pay contract was in play.

The other useful idea would be to reuse old mobile phones laying around the home, for quick and fast entertainment value for children. Every child likes to play soldiers, with the standard issue military equipment being that of a walkie-talkie.

There was even a thought it could even be useful in the recycling of handsets for emerging markets. With a view to provide mass cheap communications on a large scale, with higher end Class 1 Bluetooth devices.

There’s bound to be a mass of opportunities lying out there yet to be perceived for its uses and functions, far more than already thought of.

This just goes to show great minds think alike, or someone has run off with a great idea and will make a fortune over it. Here’s hoping it’s more of the former, than the latter.

There’s no bitterness that it’s now out there before development could be progressed on this project, with the simple wish that it will be used for the greater good.

Features in this version are along the lines of the ability to make half-duplex calls, by pressing the “Green” key on the application to send a voice message. It looks like many handsets can have this installed, so an army could be raised.

Think towards to the day when Skynet finally takes over and there will be no cell towers; this could be a darn little useful application for your mobile.

See more on the forum posting here for Symbian series 60 handsets.

He writes:

Do you know if Bluetooth Marketing is still actively being used or has a been forgotten. Do you know any good Bluetooth Marketing companies that lease kit or software?

You’d have been forgiven for thinking so, wouldn’t you? I’ve not read a lot — nor have I seen much about the field of bluetooth marketing recently.

I decided to delve into my mail account and see what I could find with the keywords ‘bluetooth’ and ‘marketing’:

- ROK Promoter & Geniem — www.rokpromoter.com offer Bluetooth marketing services online

- Pontomobi (a Brazil based marketing agency) are regular Bluetooth marketing users on behalf of their clients — such as Fiat, Motorola (here’s a Youtube on the Moto campaign they did recently)

- Hypertag helped o2 ‘achieve exceptional results’ via their retail channel using Bluetooth or ‘proximity marketing’. Here’s a bit more about them:

Hypertag created the Proximity Marketing industry (commonly referred to as Bluetooth Marketing) in 2001. Hypertag is the most experienced provider in the industry, and since it pioneered using technologies like Bluetooth as a wireless marketing channel, has gone on to run over 320 successful campaigns in over 34 countries. Hypertag brings the benefits of digital to out-of-home and experiential marketing. It works with the top brands to achieve real measurable results again and again. Hypertag is the Proximity Marketing solution that the top tier advertisers choose, and Hypertag’s clients include Coca-Cola, Nike, Unilever, HSBC, BP, O2 and CNN.

- Blip Systems offer Bluetooth mobile marketing services (I remember they’d wired up Copenhagen Airport with some Bluetooth modules. Not necessarily to do marketing in this case but to measure dwell time and help with queue management (by identifying and tracking the unique Bluetooth signatures of individual handsets as they flow throughout the airport).

- Bluepod Media delivered 350,000 bluetooth video trailer downloads in one month for Warner Brothers back in March this year.

If you’re into bluetooth marketing, drop me a note or place a comment here?

Back on the Great Wall I gave the BT8030 headphones / speaker combination the thumbs down and the BR2050 mini-headset the thumbs up, but what a difference a more extended test makes…  I’ve already updated my view of the BT8030s to a qualified ‘not half bad’ (for travel) in my review, but unfortunately the BT2050s (pictured above) have spent the last week going down in my estimations.

First the good stuff… this headset is small, well put together, has a good battery life, a simple and comfortable ear clip plus USB charging.  It’s also available for £20 which, lets face it, is practically free.

The problem is, and it’s clear to see in the picture above, is the proximity of the volume increase and decrease keys which are within a few millimetres of each other.  In the quiet of our Beijing apartment I set the volume and forgot this, but out and about in the centre of London adjustments whilst in use are impossible and this, at worst, makes the unit unusable as callers are too quiet to hear or uncomfortably loud.

If this flaw doesn’t bother you then the headset otherwise has much to commend it – give it a try.  Personally, I’d look for one of the many alternatives at this price (Amazon has a ton, well 15 or so) with volume buttons that work.

[The BT2050 is on the left]

As shown in my clip from the Great Wall, included in Mobile Industry Review Show 27, I took the unusual combination-product  – the Jabra BT8030 Bluetooth headphones, headset and speakers – with me to Beijing.  Deployed normally as a chunky pair of headphones which connect to mobile handsets or computers to perform standard duties in making calls and listening to music two buttons on the top of the device unfold it to an almost flat bar and amplify the volume to allow use as battery-powered bluetooth speakers.

As you can tell from the shape, this unit is most at home as headphones – with a long battery life and impressive sound quality they are a tight fit and too warm and heavy to wear for extended periods for my taste, although for someone preferring larger on-ear headphones these may be a good choice.  Any phone supporting the bluetooth A2DP profile can use them to listen to music wirelessly and in my experience the phone’s battery will be exhausted before the headset’s is.  As a bluetooth headset for calls the unit is unspectacular – working well with the usual array of call answering and volume buttons found on most devices, although microphone performance is weak with the microphone positioning is so far from the wearer’s mouth.

As speakers the stereo performance and bluetooth reception range both impress – at the opposite side of our appartment the music sounded clear with good left / right separation from substantial spacing between two channels.  Unfortunately the quality of the audio produced is weak – strong bass often overwhelms the sound and tinny top-end, with the majority of the sound muddy in the mid-range.  In normal use this is fine for casual listening of dance and pop music, but anything acoustic or more sonically challenging isn’t done justice.

Typically retailing in the UK at £70 this unit has reduced significantly in price since their launch.  With an excellent travel case and long battery life it may make a good travelling solution for those that can accept the size and weight when used as headphones – others may prefer to opt for separate units.  Without the regular need for mobile speakers I will opt for a pendant-style option I can use my regular headphones with when wanting wireless audio.

Use it on your visor or keep it on your dashboard, it’s a great device for the big/small family car.

Here’s what the sent in:

With the longest talk and standby time on the market, the Bluetoothâ„¢ Car Speakerphone makes staying in touch with friends, colleagues and family on the move even easier.  With superior audio quality and stylish design, this latest car accessory gives you a premium handsfree experience at an affordable price. 
  
London, UK Ã¢â‚¬â€œ September 16, 2008 Ã¢â‚¬â€œ Unveiled today, the Bluetoothâ„¢ Car Speakerphone HCB-108 has a sleek Nordic design and lets you talk conveniently when you are on the move – attach easily to a car visor with no wires, no fuss and no hassle. The speakerphone offers market-leading talk time and can be easily switched between vehicles, if you’re used to jumping between a company and family car, or simply use it in the office as a conference speakerphone. Just unclip the speakerphone, swap it over and off you go.

“The new Bluetoothâ„¢ Car Speakerphone HCB-108 is ideal for those who need to keep in touch on the move, and we are thrilled to be able to offer consumers a product with such unrivalled talk time.” said Jacob Sten, Head of the accessories division at Sony Ericsson. “The new Bluetoothâ„¢ Speakerphone HCB-108 is our most affordable car speakerphone in the range, but without compromising on the premium feel and stylish design that you can expect from Sony Ericsson.”

With the impressive 25 hours talk time and a standby time of up to one month, theBluetoothâ„¢ Car Speakerphone HCB-108 lets you enjoy crystal clear conversations and superior true duplex audio quality with echo reduction, noise cancellation and Digital Signal Processing (DSP) for longer than ever.

The Bluetoothâ„¢ Car Speakerphone HCB-108 will be available in selected markets from early Q4 in the colours Black and Silver. It will be showcased at the Paris Car Show, in conjunction with Saab, from October 4, 2008.

Read more about other car accessories at www.sonyericsson.com/car

The Bluetoothâ„¢ Car Speakerphone HCB-108 at a glance

Accessories
In-Box:

• Bluetoothâ„¢ car speakerphone HCB-108
• Visor clip
• Cigarette lighter adapter CLA-61
• User guide/Bluetoothâ„¢ warranty leaflet

Facts and Figures 1)2)

• Size: 119 x 61 x 14 mm
• Digital Signal Processing DSP
• Noise cancellation
• Echo reduction
• Bluetoothâ„¢ 2,0

• Weight: 93 grams (inc clip)

• Colours:
• Black
• Silver

• Talk time: Up to 25 hrs
• Standby time GSM/GPRS:
• Up to 700 hrs

Availability and versions

Available in selected markets from early Q4 2008.

Posted by email from mir’s posterous

Gone are the days when people are struggling to think of applications for it. In fact, if there’s not a CSR bluetooth chip in your phone then it will probably be rather reminiscent of a brick in size, weight and look.

But this may be no more.

He’s driving it around Scotland for an upcoming Orange Life feature. Good man! Visit Edinburgh!

The astonishing thing he told me just now is that the Porsche in-car phone system doesn’t do Bluetooth! Instead, if you’ve got the default in-car phone system, you have to put in your sim card to use it.

Fine, if you’re doing a 12 hour journey. But not if you’re getting in and out of your car every day. Who can be bothered taking out their sim card every time they get in their car?

It’s also a rather useless solution if, like me, you store your contacts on your phone memory and not your sim.

How do you manage your in-car phone calling? What’s the best system in your experience — and how much do you have to pay for a car to get it as standard?