Motorola is trying their best to make a niche for themselves in the mobile entertainment arena with the ROKR (rocker get it?) line of cellphones & accessories.

Sprint / Motorola sent me Motorola’s latest, the MOTOROKR S9. Although I admit fascination for anything Bluetooth, the MOTOROKR S9’s behind the head wireless design was a bit of a turn-off. Regardless, I put the headphones to work with a Samsung Upstage, Apple iPhone, and Mac OS X.

Supports A2DP? Well that is just swell

The MOTOROKR S9’s performed as expected with the Samsung Upstage. Not surprising considering the handset supports the Stereo Bluetooth Profile A2DP. Sadly, audio quality was flat and distant. This would have be "acceptable" had the headphones been of the standard Bluetooth wireless hands-free headset variant, but they weren’t. They are supposed to play two roles: 1) Bluetooth stereo headphones and 2) wireless hands-free headset.

Audio quality aside, controlling phone calls or audio playback is done with controls conveniently placed on the headphones above both ears. Phone controls – answer / end & volume – above the left ear, audio controls – play / pause & skip-forward / back – above the right ear. Answering / ending a call, or playing / pausing audio is done so by buttons with a resounding click. Increasing / decreasing volume, or skipping forward / back is much subtler with touch sensitive controls.

Functional handsfree headset for non-A2DP supported devices

Excited with the prospect of being able to enjoy wire-free stereo sound with my iPhone (as I did with the Samsung Upstage), I was sadly disappointed and reminded of the fact that Apple neglected to support the A2DP Bluetooth profile. Why Apple why? Was it to conserve battery life? Is it a "feature" for a future iPhone release?

A2DP stereo Bluetooth sound or not, the MOTOROKR S9’s functioned like any other basic Bluetooth headset. Strangely, the S9’s – when paired as a standard handsfree headset – only output sound through one ear bud. Whether or not this is normal for Bluetooth headphones during normal voice calls is beyond me (drop your comments below of your A2DP stereo headphones output sound through both ear buds during a voice call).

During voice calls, audio quality for anyone on the opposite end of the call reported somewhat muffled sound and complained of excessive background noise. Not at all surprising considering the microphone is integrated into the left ear bud.

Similar feedback was reported while using the S9’s for VOIP calling via iChat audio / video & Skype. For anyone interested in getting the Stereo Bluetooth profile A2DP to work with Mac OS X Tiger, check out this helpful article by David C.

Likes

• USB charger – charge the headphones from your computers USB port(s).
• Fairly lightweight and unobtrusive if your head fits.
• Convenient phone and stereo function (controls) separation – communication on the left-side, stereo on the right-side.
• Increase / decrease volume & fast foward / skip controls are nearly touch sensitive.

Dis-likes

• Uncomfortable. I found the MOTOROKR S9’s too narrow, larger heads will definitely feel the squeeze. On top of the firm plastic frame, the included earbuds are also uncomfortable and difficult to position for thorough sound output.
• Unattractive. This probably goes for any wireless behind-the-head headphones. My co-worker asked if I was from the future immediately after putting them on.
• Terrible pairing / setup process. As cool and "convenient" as it may seem to be to limit functions to a single button, it doesn’t hurt to have a single pin-hole button dedicated to pairing.

On a related note, Apple iPhone users should check out Ultimate Buds. The third-party service mates the popular Etymotic ER6i earphones with Apple’s own. Ultimate Buds sells the conversion outright, or conducts the operation on your own Etymotic & Apple earphones [that you supply]. Look for feedback regarding the conversion when my "Ultimate Buds" arrive.

Want these MOTOROKR S9’s?

Want to score a free MOTOROKR S9? Use the comments below to convince me why you need the wireless A2DP Stereo Profile Bluetooth headphones. One lucky reader will receive the MOTOROKR S9 headphones free of charge – I’ll cover shipping via UPS anywhere in the continental US. International readers, we’ll have to work something out.

Earlier this week I took delivery of Logitech’s ultra sexy diNovo Edge keyboard. Unfortunately, the keyboard ships assuming its customers are of the Windows variant with zero support for OS X or Linux users. Surprising? Not at all. I’ll outline the installation process, the Pro’s and Con’s of using the Logitech diNovo Edge keyboard with Mac OS X, and a short video walk-through. You decide if the the “advantages” outweigh the minor “inconveniences” or missing functionality.

Installed – Does style outweigh missing support?

There is no question that the Logitech diNovo Edge has a unique style unmatched by any other keyboard. The diNovo Edge would compliment any desktop or home entertainment setup thanks to its glossy black finish, brushed aluminum palm rests, touch sensitive volume control, integrated mini-trackpad, and super thin profile (aptly named diNovo “Edge”) [Visit the official Logitech product page]. With no official OS X support from Logitech, is the diNovo Edge worth the $200 premium?

Shipped, Logitech includes the following items: diNovo Edge keyboard, USB Bluetooth adapter, charging unit, soft buffing cloth, warranty info, instructions, and CD-ROM (Windows drivers). In order to enjoy the keyboard with Mac OS X, the only items required are the the actual diNovo Edge and charging unit. The rest can be placed back into the box and kicked under the bed.

• Assuming that the keyboard has had ample time to charge, remove the diNovo Edge from the charging unit and move the power switch to the ‘on’ position. The power icon at the top right corner will have an orange indicator.
• Flip the keyboard over and press the ‘connect’ button. The Bluetooth indicator on the front will blink in green.
• Ensure that Bluetooth is enabled in Mac OS X and open System Preferences > Bluetooth > Set Up New Device. Continue through the setup prompts selecting ‘Keyboard’ as the device type.
• The setup utility will search and recognize the keyboard as “Logitech diNovo Edge”.
• Keyboard Setup Assistant will notify you that “The keyboard cannot be identified and will not be usable until it is identified.” Pause. Thank Logitech for making this a Windows keyboard. Press ‘Continue’ and follow each step to setup the keyboard as ANSI, ISO, or JIS. Select ‘ANSI’.
• Once the Setup Assistant receives your settings, the keyboard has completed the pairing process and will pair on restarts.
• Due to the fact that this is a Windows keyboard, the Windows key will represent the CMD / Apple key. This means that your Option & CMD keys will be swapped. A minor annoyance considering the fact that I have Quicksilver configured to use CMD+Spacebar. Swap these keys, as well as configure a few other Windows defaults, using the open-source DoubleCommand System Preference utility.

Once pairing is complete, your keyboard will function as any other Apple keyboard with the only difference being that the Windows key represents the CMD / Apple key. Although the extra buttons along the left side will fail to function properly, the illuminated trackpad, volume control, and sleep button work. Check the Pro’s & Con’s list for additional feedback.

Note that I am unable to confirm if the following installation tips will result in similar performance under Mac OS X 10.3. All tests were conducted with Mac OS X 10.4. I imagine / hope that additional [official or third-party] support will arrive by the time 10.5 lands.

Pro’s & Con’s of the diNovo Edge with Mac OS X

What’s not so good when using the diNovo Edge with Mac OS X?

• No official Mac OS X driver support from Logitech means limited functionality (see update below for a workaround)
• Lack of numeric keypad.
• Large charging unit (why not offer the option to plug the cable straight into the keyboard?).
• Placing or removing the keyboard into the charger does not automatically turn the unit off or on.
• No official driver support. Did I say that already? Hopefully 3rd party vendors step-up.
• Windows key. Why do keyboard manufacturers assume users want that button?
• Price. The suggested $200 retail price is on the steep side. Amazon offers $30-off.
• What happens when dirt gets between the keys?

What’s good about using the diNovo Edge with Mac OS X?

• Firm, yet not too firm typing feedback.
• Wireless Bluetooth connectivity. Un-clutter your desktop workspace by going wireless.
• On-touch Bluetooth pairing button.
• Razor thin profile. You can finally say “My keyboard is thinner than a cellphone”. My BlackBerry is jealous.
• Great battery life. No surprise as the MX Revolution offers similar wireless usage performance.
• Mac OS X supports the integrated trackpad – tweak settings using System Preferences.
• Mac OS X supports the illuminated volume control.
• Extremely light and quality workmanship / materials. No twisting or bending.

Weighed the Pro’s & Con’s? With 3rd party developers picking up the slack with other Logitech devices like the MX Revolution (SteerMouse), additional support for the diNovo Edge may be just around the corner.

Images do not do this keyboard justice

A short unedited video walk-through of the Logitech diNovo Edge. Excuse the shaky footage – recorded using a Sony DSC-T10. I acknowledge the error concerning the F12 being the ‘Expose’ key, I meant ‘Dashboard’.

So what are your new impressions of the Logitech diNovo Edge? I’m definitely digging the style, profile, and build quality. No qualms as of yet after a few days of regular use. After swapping the CMD & Option key using DoubleCommand, there is little to complain about. By the way, check out Indigo Clothing. I’m thinking there may be some 531 t-shirts somewhere down the road. [Digg this]

Mapping diNovo Edge buttons with ControllerMate

I realized that much of the functionality of the media keys and extra buttons can be restored by mapping funtions using a shareware utility known as ControllerMate. The diNovo Edge media keys are now configured with the following settings:

• Sidebar zoom: + zooms screen in, – zooms screen out, % resets screen
• Search – Opens Spotlight
• Mail – Opens Gmail
• Home – Opens User directory
• Media Controls – Basic Play, Stop, Forward, and Back functionality of iTunes / DVD Player / VLC

Note that configuring each button required a bit of trial and error. Ultimately, diNovo users can restore full fuctionality without Logitech’s help. Let me know if a video tutorial is in order or wanted and I’ll work on getting a screencast thrown together. Apologies for the low volumes during the recording. I am by no means a video buff and used the iSight mic.

Luckily, I was able to get my hands on minuscule Jabra JX10 [Official] thanks to a good friend and I must admit, the Bluetooth 1.2 supported headset is very much as functional & comfortable as it is aesthetically appealing. Fox’s 24 fans will recognize this headset as it makes its appearance on the ears of Corporate America, while design minded individuals will recognize this as a Jacob Jensen Design.

Touted as the smallest Bluetooth headset ever made, I have yet to find a worthy adversary with similar functionality within the same footprint. The JX10 is the most comfortable headset I have ever worn. Weighing in at a paltry 10 grams with a mini form factor length of 4 centimeters, you’ll soon find yourself forgetting – as I have on numerous occasion – that the headset is indeed floating delicately on your ear.

While 5ThirtyOne’s general content focus may not be on product reviews, I felt the need to highlight the JX10 because of its minimalistic design, simplistic functionality, and overall form factor. Check a few shots of the JX10 on my personal Flickr account.

Micro form factor packed with features

• Up to 6 hours talk time
• Up to 200 hours standby time
• Less than 10 grams
• Bluetooth 1.2 support
• Automatic ambient noise level balancing
• Digital Signal Processing (DSP)

Bluetooth pairing done right

As most Bluetooth headset users know, pairing devices requires an archaic method of counting flashing LEDs or alternating red & blue bursts. My favorite was Logitech’s “[...] hold down the start / end call button for 5 seconds. After three short bursts and a solid blue LED, activate discovery mode on your mobile handset” technique. Unnecessary complications, especially if you find yourself pairing your headset with multiple devices on a regular basis.

The majority of headsets “integrate” multiple functions into a single keystroke depending on the amount of time the button is held down. Counting one-one-thousand, two-one-thousand, etc… Not the most efficient method in my book.

The JX10’s method for pairing? A single button on the backside of the device whose single function is device pairing. No LED bursts or systematic mental counting.

Minimalistic design

Although Jabra could learn a thing or two from Apple about minimal packaging while presenting products in a stylish manner, the Jabra JX10 ships within a smooth matte black box with reflective silver text and information applicable for international usage.

Housed within the box, users will find the following items:

• Jabra JX10 headset
• Designer cradle with connections for a wall charger or USB charger
• Soft travel pouch
• Manual and quick reference guide
• Wall charger (locality dependent)
• USB cable

As with any great design, the details are what sets this particular headset package apart from the rest. In addition to being one of the lightest & smallest headsets on the market, the JX10 utilizes a configuration of four strategically placed buttons: pairing, start / end call, volume up, and volume down. The device is so light that the included flexible over-ear support seems almost unnecessary for casual usage around the house or office.

Similar to most headsets, the JX10 can be charged directly from a wall power adapter. Conveniently, the JX10 also includes a matching desktop cradle with polished details (matching my Lacie FA Porsche external) which draws its power from the wall charger or the included USB cable (via PC or USB hub).

Overall impressions

After the initial recommended charge, paring the device was a seamless process. Using the single pairing button, I was able to successfully pair the device within 5 minutes with multiple devices including a Samsung A920, Treo 650,iBook G4 (OSX 10.4), and a Windows XP powered IBM X40 + AnyCom USB Bluetooth adapter.

Based off of a self recorded message, outbound voice clarity is exceptional. Unfortunately, the microphone lacks any sort of mask which creates a noticeable yet subtle amount of background noise when used outdoors on a mildly windy day. Fortunately, I have yet to hear any complaints of distortion during conversations both via wireless phone or Skype.

The Jabra JX10 has come along way since its Star Trek like Jabra BT250 brethren. If you’re in the market to replace that contruction boon mic’d headset with something a little more stylish and functional, the Jabra JX10 may be the answer.