Did you know that machines can actually “connect” with one another? They do, via an amazing technology called “Bluetooth.” This is a wireless technology that enables wireless connections between a huge variety of devices. Without going into a lot of tech speak, Bluetooth technology, incorporated into everything from phones to medical devices, lets you talk on your cell phone, send information, listen to music and do a lot of other activities, all without a wired connection. When two Bluetooth enabled devices connect to each other, this is called “pairing.” The structure and the global acceptance of Bluetooth technology means any Bluetooth enabled device, almost everywhere in the world, can connect to other Bluetooth enabled devices located in proximity to one another.
Bluetooth has been around for a while, and one of it’s most popular uses is with mobile phones. I remember my first Bluetooth device was complicated, and bulky. The manual was so large it took me nearly an hour to read it and figure out what to do with it. But some of today’s Bluetooth devices are nothing short of miraculous. A newbie called the ELITE SILVER by Motorola, caught my eye during NY Fashion Week, both for it’s beauty, and ease of use.
Amusingly, the Motorola Elite Silver is not silver, it’s a sleek (38mm x 47mm x 14.5 mm) , behind-the-ear, black earpiece with a sliver of silver metal that secures the earpiece to the body. Unlike older Bluetooth devices, this one is almost imperceptible on your ear. The device is attractive but it’s perfect for people who don’t want to detract from their hair or clothing. It’s truly a fashion accessory that shows you are a person with style who appreciates beautiful design in all things.
An electronic device worthy of your consideration (especially if you already have a functional device) needs to do more than just look pretty. The Motorola Elite Silver has a number of features that make the device not just fashion-forward, but forward-looking in performance. The first thing you can’t help but notice is that the carrying case, sleek black and rounded at the edges like a river stone, fits right into the palm of your hand. It feels elegant, expensive, a pleasure to view and carry. But it’s a portable carrying case that actually holds a charge so you can charge your headset on the go and get up to 15 hours of total talk time. Motorola claims talk time is up to five hours for the headset alone, up to 15 hours when re-charged in the case. The standby time is 35 days with the case. I kept mine in the case from Friday afternoon to Monday morning and it was still functional.
When you plug it in for more charging time, the footprint of the charging case is tiny, saving space on your desk. The case has a light to tell you when the charge is almost used up, and there’s a tiny one on the headset as well. My envious friends oogled the case and made a big deal about how elegant it was. The photo here doesn’t really do it justice.
But the tiny, slim, comfortable headset that weight less than a mere once, is a modern marvel, too. Charge it in the case via a traditional electrical cord, and once your headset is charged in a few hours, it’s ready to use. To
turn it on there’s a “rotate and go” technology that lets you simply swivel the earpiece to fit into your ear cavity (there are additional earpiece covers to fit your particular needs) and the tiny light on the body turns blue (for Bluetooth on). The learning curve is lightening fast. Turn the earpiece on it’s metal swivel and place it in your ear and you hear a voice tell you how and what to do to pair it with your mobile phone. With phones that have NFC (Near Field Communication) technology all you have to to is tap the Elite Silver headset against a phone to connect (pair) it to the device. On my Blackberry, I had to enter a code as I would with any other Bluetooth, but it took seconds. Voice prompts also provide you updates on your headset status and voice controls allow you to initiate a call. To turn the device off you simply press the button on the front of earpiece, or swivel the earpiece back to storage position off your ear.
Once the phone is paired and on, you can walk and talk, literally, anywhere you can get a cell phone connection. Since the headset is equipped with A2DP technology, you can also listen to streaming music, video, games and navigation through your headset. I tested the sound quality with another Motorola Elite Silver user with two popular mobile phones. The headset uses something called “HD Audio Plus with true wideband audio and CrystalTalk dual-mic technology” that Motorola claims gives the user rich, clear audio and that blocks out distracting noise. My test conversations were satisfactory, but with both parties using the Motorola Elite Silver and walking around, sound quality was varied. At some points in the conversation as we moved around in our various offices, the sound was perfect, but a few times the sound was a bit distant. It was perfectly acceptable, but when it was perfect, it sounded like my colleague was right in the room with me!
Motorola says you can stay connected to your phone up to 300 feet away, which means you can actually leave your phone in one room (maybe as it is charging) and still talk to someone on your Elite Silver when you’re somewhere else. Again, the sound quality may vary depending upon your phone and the location, but you will be more than intelligble. If you have an Android phone you can download the free My MotoSpeak™ app and start a text, hear an incoming text and reply–all with your headset without every touching your phone. My particular phone doesn’t allow me this capability and I was dying to try this feature, but it sounds pretty amazing! Other than varying sound quality, I haven’t a single issue with this amazing device.
Little things mean a lot both for your sense of style, and sense of well being. This Motorola Elite Silver is like a piece of modern art, but those with real style don’t shout it. When I wear this Motorola Elite Silver Bluetooth device I feel like I’m keeping a sexy secret. No one gets to see it unless I want them to. If you wear your hair down as I mostly do, or if you wear a hat, no one can see you’re sporting a Bluetooth. On the street, since there’s no one obviously conversing with you, it might look like you’re mumbling to yourself, but that’s kind of fun, too. And, I also appreciate that fact that more than being just a pretty face that’s fun to wear, the Elite Silver has a lot of benefits for the busy person. This multi-tasking device does a lot for actually, just a little: Srp. $129.99. Visit the Motorola Web Site to learn more, and to purchase. It would make an awesome Mother’s Day gift, or perhaps for a new graduate (June is almost here).
Safety first: Bluetooth is a modern miracle, but texting or talking when doing something else can distract you. If you’re wearing a Bluetooth device, please focus on what else you’re doing, especially when driving, operating appliances or other machinery, or even walking across the street!!!
