Automobile News

Fans of in-car audio system manufacturing giant Motorola are in for a surprise with the launch of the latest Bluetooth In-Car Speakerphone by the company, the MOTOROKR T505. People will especially feel confused as to what motivated the manufactures to do away with its garish and futuristic designs and instead come out with something as subdued as the T505. The device also appears on the bigger side, but thankfully somehow manages to attach itself to the car’s visor in an unobtrusive manner.

The most endearing aspect of the device is that it is highly compatible with latest mobile phones like say, the Samsung i560 and the iPhone 3G, and pairs with them in a matter of seconds. Once you are done with the connection, you can tune the Motorola T505 into a radio frequency by pressing and holding the dedicated button for a moment or two. A robotic voice will guide you through the various radio stations, and also play a proactive role in the selection of these stations. Motorola has incorporated the intuitive StationFinder technology for the purpose, which is provided with the faculty to single out the best frequency, based on static and reception, each time you ask it to refresh.

The easy set-up of the unit is another adorable side, and takes somewhere around 30 seconds to get going. The high fidelity calls adds to the desirability of this device. The audio at times sounded hollow at both the ends, but otherwise appeared loud and clearly audible.

Tags for this article: bluetooth, headset, in car, speakerphone

The latest in-car audio gadget to have come out from Bluetrek ranks is the Surface Sound Duo in-car speaker and it has been the cause of a growing debate about whether the gadget may end up revolutionising the motoring world, or if it is just a bubble that will eventually burst. The Surface Sound Duo at least seems to have done one thing right, i.e. it has managed to get the maximum attention from the discerning public, which for the record is the prerequisite for the marketing of any product. The gadget, measures a reasonable 9.5 x 18cm, consists of a flat panel speaker and a range of buttons that offers the traditional control options.

You will be surprised to know that the device features no Bluetooth itself; rather it provides you with an extra knob whereon you can connect your existing headset. Ironically, any headset won’t work as the device recognizes only Bluetrek headset and that also which is compatible with the device! The advantage of this peculiar arrangement is that it does away with the need to pair yet another device, but on the down side also limits your choices to those offered by Bluetrek. The kit is also available in a smaller form as the Bluetrek Surface Sound Compact Bluetooth car kit. Another peculiar aspect of the deck is that, the control side of it is relatively heavier than the speaker side, partly because it hosts the battery, which makes the device wobble around disconcertingly as you drive.

The controls, on the other hand, allows you to receive calls, change the volume, mute the call, redial, turn the LEDS on and off, apart from giving you three preset options. Besides, Voice-dialling feature is another notable aspect of the device.

Moreover, the device has easy charging facilities which can be done at the press of a button. The device is incorporated with a 12V charger, which is the USB adapter type, meaning that you can have the convenience and flexibility to charge it from your car or even a PC.