12 months on and it looks as though Apple are finally about to roll out full support for Stereo Bluetooth in their next iOS software update, as developers are reporting that version 4.1 includes support for both the A2DP and AVRCP Bluetooth Profiles.

AVRCP Explained

AVRCP stands for Audio/Video Remote Control Profile and as the name suggests, it allows you to use controls built into your bluetooth headset, bluetooth speakers or bluetooth car kit to control music playback from your iPhone or iPod touch. The iPhone has a very limited version of this built in already, but it only allows you to play/pause your music and increase the volume. By adding full support for AVRCP it means that you will be also be able to skip tracks without touching your phone. You can find out more about Bluetooth Profiles on our ‘What is Bluetooth Page’

iPhone 4 Stereo Bluetooth Headsets

There is an upside to Apple arriving late to the party though, and that is that there are already loads of stereo Bluetooth Headsets and Bluetooth Headphones that will work with the iPhone. I compiled a list of my favourites last year, but as this update changes how well they work with Apple devices I thought I’d take another look at what was available. These have been tested using the 4.1 beta software on iPhone 4 so the results maybe slightly different when Apple release the final version or on older models of iPhone.

A few points that are worth mentioning here are that in most cases the headsets will not only control music playback from both the standard iPod app, but also any third party music apps that stream music from the internet. I used Last.FM to test the headsets and was able to play/pause and track skip and increase volume both when the app was in use and when it was running in the background. The only exception to this was the Sony Ericsson IS800 – you’ll find out why later in this post.

Also, if you have the iPhone 3GS, latest iPod touch or iPhone 4, these headsets will activate voice commands, allowing you to make calls, change song, switch playlist find out the time etc, all without having to touch your device.

Nokia BH-505 Stereo Bluetooth Headset

The BH-505 is one of the latest Stereo Bluetooth Headsets to arrive at Mobile Fun and is one that I reviewed a couple of weeks ago. The BH-505 is a really slim, smart looking headband style headset. Setting the headset up is simple and it’s comfortable to wear. One earpiece has phone controls on it and the other has music controls.

For the basic answer/end, play/pause it’s just a case of tapping the large silver button, but volume control and track skip is a little fiddly as you have to slide a switch up or down. It’s easy enough once you’ve got the hang of it, but if you’ve got big fingers you might struggle a little.  Audio quality is excellent and battery life is good too.


Sony Ericsson MW600 Stereo Bluetooth Headset

The MW600 is incredibly popular at the moment and with good reason. It’s an excellent compact headset that allows you to use any standard 3.5mm headphones with it. What makes this one special is that it also has a built in FM Radio – a feature that many people have been calling out for on the iPhone.

The Bluetooth unit is not much bigger than a standard AA battery and is designed to be clipped on to your clothing. The controls are straight forward and easy to use, with 3 dedicated music keys as well as a separate key for calls and to activate voice dialling.

The volume controls on the MW600 take a little getting used to as they’re touch sensitive. To adjust the volume level you just slide your finger up or down the side of it. It has a screen which shows caller ID, but track information wasn’t displayed with either iPhone or iPod touch.


Jabra Halo Bluetooth Headphones

I loved the Jabra Halo when it came out, and still do – especially now that it works fully with the iPhone. They’re probably the most normal looking headphones out of all of the ones on offer and I think they’re the smartest looking too. Unlike the rest of the headsets on this list, the Jabra Halo has only one button. Everything else uses touch sensitive controls on the right earpiece.

The one button answers and ends calls and plays/pauses your music. Track Skip and volume share the same controls. Slide your finger up to increase the volume, down to decrease it. A quick double tap at either end of the volume bar will skip or rewind track.

You get quite a few accessories in the box, including a USB to 3.5mm cable that you can use to connect the Halo to devices that don’t have bluetooth.


Jabra BT3030 Stereo Bluetooth Headset

Jabra have always made great headsets and the BT3030 is one of their most successful. It’s a ‘dog tag’ style headset that can be worn around your neck or clipped to your clothes. It has a standard 3.5mm jack so that you can use any headphones with it and a clear, backlit keypad.

Of all the headsets listed here, this is the easiest to use as the controls are clear and well spaced.

Battery life is pretty good too with over 7 hours of music playback from a single charge.


Altec Lansing BackBeat 903 Bluetooth Headset

The BackBeat Headset is another popular one, despite it’s more unusual looks. It combines the over the ear style of a mono headset with a headband to provide a very secure fit, making it perfect for those who want to listen to their music while they’re working out, running or cycling.

The controls are a little on the fiddly side and it will take some getting used to – especially the track skip controls, but once you’ve got the hang of it you’ll be flying through your songs.

Because of their unique over/in the ear design, these may not be the most comfortable solution if you wear glasses.

Sony Ericsson HBH-IS800 Stereo Bluetooth Headset

This was my top rated headset last year, mainly because of its size. The fact that it didn’t have any track control buttons also won me over as I felt as though I wouldn’t be paying for features I couldn’t use with it. Having said that, the lack of controls now works against it as it means that you have to use the phone to change song and adjust the volume, or rely on voice control.

It’s still the smallest headset available. It has no bulky bluetooth receiver and is just two earpieces connected by a short cable and despite its tiny size the sound quality is excellent.

iPhone 4 Car Kits

It’s not just Stereo Headsets that will benefit from the addition of AVRCP support, Car Kits also make use of this technology. Here’s a quick look at two of the best in car solutions for the iPhone.

Parrot MKi Car Kits

The Parrot MKi range of car kits are the best way to fully integrate your iPhone or iPod touch into your car. They have 3 ways to connect your iPhone to them, dock connector, 3.5mm or Bluetooth.

Up until now, the Dock connector has always been the best option as it gives you full control of your music, using a small wireless remote. With the introduction of AVRCP support you’ll no longer need to plug your phone in – unless of course you need to charge it.

For a completely integrated solution you’ll need the Parrot Unika. This is an additional control box that allows you to connect the Mki Car Kits to the stereo controls on your steering wheel, completely eliminating the need to use the remote control.


Jabra Cruiser FM Car Kit

The Jabra Cruiser is so much more than just a speakerphone. It connects to your iPhone using bluetooth and transmits audio from it to your car stereo using its built in FM transmitter.

The Cruiser has play/pause and track skip controls built in so that you can change track without having to touch the phone. You can choose whether to play your music back through the built in loud speaker or through your car stereo.

Set up is extremely simple, just pair your phone to the kit and then tune your car stereo in to the frequency that the Cruiser calls out and you’re good to go.

Bluetooth Speakers

Last but not least, Bluetooth Speakers will also become much more useful when the iPhone supports AVRCP. You’ll be able to start playing your music directly on the speakers and then use the controls mounted on the top of the speaker to skip tracks and increase the volume.

Bluetooth speakers have a number of advantages over iPhone Speaker Docks, but the main one is that Bluetooth Speakers can be used with any Bluetooth device, including phones, laptops, PC’s MP3 Players, where as iPhone Speaker Docks will normally only work with Apple devices.


Those are just a selection of iPhone 4 Accessories that will work better with the iPhone when iOS 4.1 is released. There are loads more over on the main site so if you’ve not seen anything here that takes your fancy, you should find something on the main site. If not, or you’ve seen some headphones, speakers or car kits that you think deserve a mention, let us know using the comments section below.

As I’m sure you’re aware, Apple have just announced the iPhone 4 and along with it iOS 4.0 – the latest major update to the operating system on iPhone, iPod touch and iPad. There are a number of great new features, but one of the features that I was really hoping to see was full support for Stereo Bluetooth Headsets and music control using AVRCP.

In simple terms, this means that you would have been able to listen to your music from your iPhone through a pair of Bluetooth Headphones and control your music playback, (play, pause, forward, rewind and volume) using the controls on the headset, but Apple for some reason have yet again decided to leave this feature out of iOS4 so you’ll need to continue to skip tracks using the iPod app on your iPhone.

There is a work around of course and that is to jailbreak your phone, but that’s not something that a lot of people want to do and I can’t say as I blame them.

Although iOS4 doesn’t fully support Stereo Bluetooth, it does still support the basics, so you can enjoy your music in stereo and play/pause your music, you just can’t skip backwards/forwards. There are plenty of Stereo Bluetooth Headsets that will work with the iPhone and last June I compiled a list of my favourite Bluetooth Headphones, but as headsets have changed and the phone now supports more features, I thought it was well worth revisiting the list and updating it with some of the best new Bluetooth Headphones for iPhone.

Background Apps

Another new feature in iOS 4 is that you can now leave audio apps running in the background. This is great news for anyone who regularly uses streaming services such as spotify or Last.fm as it means you can now continue listening even if you’re browsing the web or emailing.

We’re using the latest version of the iOS4 beta software to test these headsets, but until developers update their apps to support multitasking, we aren’t going to be able to confirm that the headsets listed below will work with apps running in the background, but look out for a separate post once iOS 4 is officially released on the 21st June.

iPhone 4 Bluetooth Headphones

Right, on to the headsets!  With so many to choose from, it can get a bit overwhelming, so I’ve been through our current range of Bluetooth Headphones and compiled a list of my top 5 Bluetooth Headphones for the all new iPhone 4.

The headsets below were all tested with iPhone but should work just as well with the iPod touch.  If you have an iPod touch 2G (or newer), then you will be able to play / pause your music and, in some cases, adjust the volume but you won’t be able to use these headsets with any of your VOIP apps (such as Skype) on your iPod. Bluetooth won’t work on the first generation iPod touch as it doesn’t have bluetooth built in.

1. Sony Ericsson MW600 Stereo Bluetooth Headset

These are the most popular Bluetooth Headphones we’ve ever sold! Not only do they allow you to listen to music from your iPhone without a wired connection, they have a built in FM radio – something the iPhone has long been criticised for not having.

Another unique feature is that they have their own volume control – this means that you can adjust the volume on the headset or on the phone. As with most headphones on this list, they have the ability to skip tracks, but as the iPhone doesn’t support it, the feature is a little wasted for now. It’s multipoint too, so you can use it with your PC or Playstation 3 at the same time.For more details, take a look at my Sony Ericsson MW600 Review.

Sony Ericsson MW600 Stereo Headset with Radio

2. Jabra BT3030 Stereo Bluetooth Headset

The Jabra BT3030 works well with both the iPod touch and all versions of the iPhone.  The BT3030 is another multipoint headset – Multipoint allows you to connect to two devices at once, so you can connect it to your mobile phone and your iPod touch to listen to your music, and when a call comes in, it will pause the music and answer the call from your mobile.

The BT3030 hangs around your neck on a chain or can clip to your belt or pocket, and can be used with any 3.5mm headphones. Volume control on the BT3030 is not a problem, press the ‘+’ or ‘-’ keys to adjust the volume. It has several controls on the main unit, including play, pause and track skip – again, all work fine except track skip.

Jabra BT3030 Stereo Bluetooth Headset

3. Jabra Halo Bluetooth Headphones

The Jabra Halo Stereo Bluetooth Headphones are great. They’re the most normal looking ‘over the head’ headphones that I’ve come across and work well with the iPhone. It has incredibly simple controls – a touch sensitive slider on the right ear lets you adjust the volume by sliding your finger up or down, where as a double tap would skip the track if iPhone supoprted it. One multi use button lets you play/pause your music as well as answer/end calls and activate voice dialling (iPhone 3GS and iPhone 4 only).

When they’re not in use, the headphones fold away so as not to take up too much space and to reduce the chance of them getting damaged. For more info take a look at my Jabra Halo hands on review.

Jabra Halo Bluetooth Headphones

4. Sony Ericsson IS-800 Stereo Bluetooth Headset

These are without doubt my favourite Bluetooth Headphones, but there are others that work better with iPhone and that’s why these have dropped from the top spot last year to fourth place this year. The IS-800 is incredibly small – it’s basically two earpieces joined by a wire! Although there are wires involved, the IS-800 is one of a few headsets that don’t feature a fairly bulky control unit. Instead the IS800 has a small, simple in-line control that allows you to answer and end calls.

Battery life is impressive at upto 270 hours – especially considering how small this headset is. The IS-800 doesn’t support AVCRP, which is fine as neither does the iPhone! The headset doesn’t have any volume controls, so all adjustment needs to be made on your iPhone.

Sony Ericsson IS-800 Stereo Headset

5. Samsung SBH-650 Stereo Bluetooth Headset

Samsung don’t do many accessories for phones, but the few that they do make are really good. The Samsung SBH-650 has been a hit with Mobile Fun customers since it launched. It is easy to set up and works really well with iPhone. It’s very similar in terms of spec to the Jabra BT3030 but it looks a smarter. Like the MW600 and the BT3030, you can use your own 3.5mm headphones if you don’t like or lose the ones that come with the headset. It’s also multipoint, so using it with 2 devices at the same time isn’t a problem.

Controls are propably laid out the opposite way round to what you’d expect, with the volume controls on the front and track skip/play/pause on the sides. If you want to know more about the SBH-650, take a look at my Samsung SBH-650 Stereo Bluetooth Headset Review.

Samsung SBB-650

There are more Stereo Bluetooth Headsets for the iPhone and iPod touch over on the main site, so if you’ve not seen one here that does what you want, take a look at all our Stereo Bluetooth Headsets.

If you’ve got any questions or queries about Stereo Bluetooth on the iPhone leave us a comment and we’ll get back to you.

Thereare a couple of  points that you’ll need to remember though, the iPhone and iPod Touch support the A2DP profile only. If you have an iPhone this means you can answer & end calls,  play / pause your music, but not control it fully.  If you have an iPod Touch 2G then you will be able to play / pause your music and adjust the volume, but you won’t be able to use these headsets with any of your VOIP apps (such as Skype) on your iPod.

In order for you to be able to control your music fully, the iPhone or iPod Touch would need to support the AVRCP profile – hopefully we’ll see this in a future software update from Apple.  Stereo Bluetooth is not available on the first generation iPhone or iPod Touch.

UPDATE: It appears that volume control when using a Bluetooth Headset is a bit of a mystery – it works on some headsets, but not on others.  We’ve tested the headsets shown here and listed whether or not the volume levels can be adjusted.

UPDATE: April 9th 2010 iPhone OS 4.0 was previewed yesterday by Apple and early development previews show that Apple have now included support for volume adjustment, but music controls still don’t work as the AVRCP profile still seems to be excluded. It’s a step in the right direction, but still not ideal. Hopefully this will change between now and the official release of iPhone OS 4.0 in June. Look out for an updated post nearer the time.

Right, on to the headsets!  With so many to choose from, it can get a bit overwhelming, so I’ve been through our current range of Bluetooth Headphones and compiled a list of my top 5 Bluetooth Headphones for the iPhone 3G, iPhone 3G S and iPod Touch 2G.

Sony Ericsson HBH-IS800 Stereo Bluetooth Headphones

Sony Ericsson IS-800 Stereo Bluetooth Headset
These are without doubt my favourite Bluetooth Headphones, hence they’re at number 1 in my list. It’s incredibly small, and although it still has a wire, the IS-800 is pretty much the only headset that doesn’t feature a fairly bulky control unit. Instead this has a small, simple in-line control that allows you to answer and end calls. Battery life is impressive at upto 270 hours – especially considering how small this headset is. The IS-800 doesn’t support AVCRP, which in this case is a good thing as it means you’re not going to be paying for features that you can’t use. Volume levels are currently fixed when using this headset, but hopefully a fix from Apple is on the way.

Sony Ericsson HBH-DS200 Stereo Bluetooth Headset

Sony Ericsson DS200 Stereo Bluetooth Headset
The DS-200 is designed to hang around your neck in a similar way to the Jabra BT3030. It comes with ‘in ear’ style headphones that can be replaced with any standard headphones with a 3.5mm jack plug. Battery life is great with upto 300 hours stand by and 6 hours of music play back, and an LCD Display will let you know when you’re running low. This headset allows you to control the volume levels by pressing and holding the play button.

Jabra BT3030 Stereo Bluetooth Headset

Jabra BT3030 Stereo Bluetooth Headset
The Jabra BT3030 is probably more suited to the iPod Touch than the iPhone.  The reason I say that is because the BT3030 is a Multipoint Headset – this allows you to connect to two devices at once, so you can connect it to your mobile phone and your iPod Touch to listen to your music, and when a call comes in, it will pause the music and answer the call from your mobile.  It hangs around your neck on a chain or can clip to your belt or pocket, and can be used with any 3.5mm headphones.  Volume control on the BT3030 is not a problem, press the ‘+’ or ‘-’ keys to adjust the volume.

Nokia BH-604 Stereo Bluetooth Headphones

Nokia BH-604 Stereo Bluetooth Headset

These are probably the most normal looking headphones of the bunch. They’re solid, comfortable and well built and have the best battery life out of all the headphones listed here with up to 19 hours of music playback, 18 hours of talk time and 2 weeks standby. Sound quality is excellent and set up is incredibly easy. Volume is controlled using a slider on the base of one of the ear cans and worked as you’d expect.

Nokia BH-501 Stereo Bluetooth Headphones

Nokia BH-501 Stereo Bluetooth Headset
The baby brother to the BH-604. A smaller more compact design that goes around your head rather than over it, and folds away neatly when not in use. The controls for music and calls are mounted on the outside of the earpiece and are easy to use. One of the more comfortable headsets thanks to the large, padded earphones. We weren’t able to test the volume control on the BH-501, but as all Nokia Headsets work in the same way, we would expect the volume controls to work perfectly fine on this headset.

This isn’t the full range of Stereo Bluetooth Headsets for the iPhone and iPod Touch, so if you’ve not seen one here that does what you want, take a look at all our Stereo Bluetooth Headsets.

If you’ve got any questions or queries about Stereo Bluetooth on the iPhone get in touch with us using the comments form below!

Jabra have always made great Bluetooth headsets, but until recently their only Stereo Bluetooth Headset was the Jabra BT3030 – a great handsfree/headphone solution that hangs around your neck and allows you to connect any standard 3.5mm headphones to it. The ‘Dogtag’ style control unit gives you full control over your music playback and volume, but it’s unique styling might not appeal to everyone.

Earlier this month, Jabra released the Halo – a pair of stylish compact bluetooth headphones that are completely free of wires and have dual microphones to reduce background noise during calls. The Jabra Halo supports streaming music in stereo, playback controls (A2DP & AVRCP) and volume control. All sounds great on paper, so I decided to get a pair out and try them.

Jabra Halo

In the Box
Jabra are quite generous with the accessories included with the Halo.  As well as a European mains charger, the Halo comes with a Micro USB charging cable that allows you to charge the headset using your PC or laptop. Also included is a 3.5mm headphone to Micro USB lead – this plugs into the Halo and enables the headphones to be used with any non-bluetooth audio device such as iPods, MP3 players, Portable Video Players – anything with a 3.5mm headphone socket. There is also a black carry pouch included, although I can’t see anyone actually using it for more than a week as it makes the headset quite bulky. The only things that aren’t included are a UK adapter and a car charger, but you can use the USB cable with a USB car charger adapter or USB mains charger adapter to charge it when you’re away from your PC.

Jabra Halo Box Contents

Pairing & Set Up
As with almost every Jabra headset I’ve ever used, pairing the headset to my phone was incredibly simple. The Halo automatically turns on when you unfold it and goes straight into pairing mode. All you need to do then is search for nearby devices, select the Halo and enter the PIN code 0000 and that’s all there is to it. (Some handsets will ask you to authorise the device to make connections automatically). Pairing to a second device is just as simple, just turn the headset on and then press and hold the answer key for a few seconds to put it into pairing mode, after that’s done, the rest of the process is exactly the same – easy.

Sound Quality
The sound quality on the Halo is fantastic. I passed the headset around a few of the guys that work here, and everyone was impressed by it. Music is crisp and clear and much better than I currently get with my standard wired headphones and my Motorola S9 Stereo Bluetooth Headset.

Audio during calls is very clear too, the dual microphone definitely makes a difference, separating back ground noise from your spoken voice so that the caller hears you clearly. We made several test calls in the office and outside on the main road and were heard loudly and clearly by the guys back in the office.

Design
The Jabra Halo is a very sleek and stylish Stereo headset. The headband is made from a soft touch plastic with a soft velvet like lining. The earpieces are lightly padded and have the same velvet like cover. Unlike headsets from Nokia that have a padded ring that forms a seal around your ear to block out background noise, the Halo is completely flat and sits flush against your ears. For me, the earpieces don’t quite sit as firmly on my ears as I’d like, but the sprung headband keeps them securely in place.  You could easily wear the Jabra Halo around town without worrying about people pointing or staring. It sits nicely on your head and is angled for a comfortable fit, as long as you remember to put it on with the controls on the right you should find it extremely comfortable to wear.  When the headset is not in use you can fold the the sides in to make it smaller and more portable. Unfolding the headset will automatically turn it on, folding it will turn it off.

Jabra Halo Can be folded away when not in use

Call Handling
The Jabra Halo can be used to answer and end calls without having to touch your phone. A quick press will answer a call, a second press will end the call. A double tap will redial the last dialled number. If you have 2 phones connected it will redial the last call made on the last phone used. If you’re listening to music when a call comes in, the music fades out and carries on once your call has ended.

Music Control
Some headsets can be quite fiddly to use with just too many buttons. My S9′s have 6 buttons and I’m always pressing track skip instead of volume. Thankfully though, the Halo is nothing like this. as you can see from the image below, the controls are almost none existent. Volume is changed using the touch sensitive control panel – slide your finger up to increase, down to decrease. It can be a little hit and miss sometimes, so you may find that you stand there stroking it a few times in order for the volume to change – having said that, I think that this is more of a problem with the iPhone as it doesn’t handle Bluetooth all that well, especially volume control. When we tried the Halo with the BlackBerry Curve 8900 the Halo was much more responsive.

Jabra Halo Touch Control

Changing track is straight forward and utilises the same touch controls that you use to adjust the volume. Instead of sliding your finger up or down, you double tap the + to skip forward, double tap – to skip back. If you continue to tap it it will skip several tracks forward. Pressing the answer key will play/pause your music.

Battery Life
The battery life in Bluetooth devices has improved significantly over recent months. The Jabra Halo offers upto 8 hours talk time and up to 13 hours standby time. When I used them with my iPhone, the phone died before the headphones did, so I can’t guarantee that you’ll get a full 8 hours, but Jabra aren’t normally too far off when they quote battery life.

Why Choose the Jabra Halo?
The Jabra Halo is a MultiPoint Bluetooth Headset that can connect to two phones or a phone and a Bluetooth enabled. music player at the same time. This makes it ideal if you want to listen to your music from your PC, 2nd generation iPod touch or games console, but don’t want to miss any calls on your mobile. The fact that you can also use these headphones with non bluetooth devices makes them more useful than most stereo bluetooth headsets and means that you can still use your headphones with your phone if your battery is running low and don’t want to drain the remaining power by connecting using Bluetooth.

Jabra Halo with iPhone

While the Jabra Halo isn’t the cheapest Stereo Bluetooth Headset available, It’s well worth the money. No other Bluetooth Stereo Headset looks as good, has as many features or is as easy to use. Until now my favourite headset has been the Sony Ericsson IS-800. While the IS-800′s are still great (mainly due to their size) they don’t come anywhere close to the Halo when it comes down to features and usability.

Stereo Bluetooth Headsets and Bluetooth Headphones allow you to listen to your music over a bluetooth connection and generally have a range of around 10 metres.  This means that you can put your phone down and wander freely around your house with out having to take your phone with you – great if your phone is on charge but you want to listen to your music without having to sit on the floor next to a plug socket!

The big names in Stereo Bluetooth headsets tend to be Sony Ericsson, Nokia and Jabra as these all tend to have a large range of headsets available. Other manufacturers such as Samsung also make stereo headsets but tend to concentrate on just a couple of models, and I’m going to review one of them here – the Samsung SBH-650 Stereo Bluetooth Headset.

Samsung SBH-650 with iPhone 3G

I’ve used most Stereo Bluetooth headsets that are on the market, and recently compiled a list of my Top 5 Stereo headsets for the iPhone and iPod Touch. At the time of writing the post though we didn’t have the Samsung SBH-650 in stock which meant it wasn’t included.  When they arrived I  had a play with one and was pleasantly  surprised at how good this headset it.  I normally dismiss Samsung Bluetooth headsets and opt for Jabra or Motorola, but this is certainly one I’d consider when it’s time to replace my Motorola S9′s.

Design

The design of the Samsung SBH-650 is similar to that of the Jabra BT3030.  It’s a small control unit that you plug your 3.5mm wired headphones into. Now, you might be thinking that the whole point of bluetooth is that there are no wires – well, yes and no.  Bluetooth eliminates the need to have a wire going from the phone to your headset, you’ll normally find that headphones with wires do have a slightly better sound quality, and if you damage or lose your headphones it means that you can just replace the headphones not the whole unit.

The main unit is small and compact at 57 mm x 27mm x 8mm (excluding clip) and weighs 18g. Unlike the Jabra BT3030 that has all the controls on the front of the control pad, the controls on the SBH-650 are on the sides and front of the main unit.  On the left side is the play/pause button and the charging port. Depending on the phone that you’re using, the play button will launch your music player and start playback.  I tested this out on two phones, a Nokia N82 and the iPhone 3G.  The N82 worked brilliantly and the music player started almost as soon as the button was pressed.  On the iPhone, the play/pause function does work, but you need to be in the iPod app in order for it to work. This is down to bluetooth limitations on the iPhone, not the headset.

Samsung SBH-650 Controls

On the opposite side you have the track skip buttons, the power switch and the 3.5mm headphone socket. Turning the headset on is just a case of sliding the switch up towards the head phone socket. The size and shape of this button makes it difficult to turn off accidentally so you don’t need to worry about cutting people off mid-call. The track skip buttons were the one thing with this headset that I struggled with a little at first.  Most headsets I’ve used have track skip on the front and volume keys on the side, the SBH-650 is the other way round, so I did find for the first hour or so I was changing tracks instead of adjusting the volume.   A long press of the track skip buttons will fast forward/rewind a song where as a quick press will skip to the  next/previous track.

The front of the SBH-650 has the volume keys and the talk button. The talk button is used to answer/end calls and to activate voice dialling if supported by your phone.  Volume keys are straight forward and when you hit the upper limit the headset will bee p to let you know you’re already at maximum volume.

Headphones

Normally the headphones that you get included with an item are pretty awful, but I was impressed by the earbuds that came in with the SBH-650.  They’re extremely comfortable and are a sturdy fit. Even after jumping around for 5 minutes I still couldn’t get them to fall out. They block out a lot of the ambient noise too, so if someone is trying to talk to you when you’re listening to your music, you probably won’t hear them, so for that reason I’d say only ever use one earphone if you plan on using this in the car.  The headphones in the box are normal 3.5mm headphones and the microphone is built in to the control unit, so if you don’t get on with them or want to use your existing 3.5mm headphones, you can.

Audio quality was fantastic and you wouldn’t know that weren’t using conventional headphones.  The 10m range was just enough for me to wander around most of my house, although the audio did tend to break up and skip a bit when I got close to the 10m limit – this would be the case with any Bluetooth headset though. Call quality was near perfect, and the caller had no problem hearing me, even when the SBH-650 was hanging round my neck on the lanyard.

Connecting the headphones

Multiconnect

Not to be confused with Multipoint, Multiconnect allows you to pair the headset to a mobile phone and a music player at the same time, which probably doesn’t sound all that exciting, but what it means is that you can pair this headset to your phone and your PC, play music from iTunes and have it stream over bluetooth to the SBH-650.  If your phone rings, you won’t have to dash around trying to find the pause button in iTunes or turn the speakers off, the SBH-650 will pause the music for you, play a ringtone instead and allow you to answer the call using the talk button on the control unit. You can add Bluetooth to your PC if it’s not already enabled by using a USB Bluetooth adapter.

For me, this was one of the best features. I’m often listening to music off my computer, and have to pause the music and take off my headphones when ever I needed to go to another room, but with the SBH-650 I could move around the house freely without interupting the music.  It’s not just phones and computers that will work though, if you have a 2nd generation iPod Touch running iPhone OS 3.0, you’ll be able to stream your music using Bluetooth to the SBH-650 too.

Wearing the Samsung SBH-650

Carry Options

There are three ways you can wear the SBH-650, either on a lanyard around your neck  clipped to your clothing or just in your pocket.  Of the 3, I think using the lanyard is your best bet. Although the spring clip is quite strong, it doesn’t take much for it to come off your clothes, and the last thing you’re going to want to do is loose it.  The cable on the headphones is only about 50cm long, so if you are planning on putting it in your pocket, it will need to be a shirt or inside jacket pocket.  If it’s hanging round your neck, you’re less likely to lose it and its easy to access to answer calls/change track.

Charging & Battery

The SBH-650 uses it’s own mains charger, so you won’t be able to use the same charger as your phone, but you can get an SBH-650 Car Charger to keep it charged while you’re in the car.  I found that charging the headset fully took about 2 hours, and once charged I got over 8 hours of music playback from it before the battery died.  Standby time is quoted as 170 hours and talk time is 8.5 hours.

Charging the Samsung SBH-650

Overall I’d say that the SBH-650 is a great Stereo Bluetooth Headset.  If I was to rate it, I’d say 9/10,  It does everything that you’d need it to do very well, but for me the positioning of the track skip & volume keys should be the other way round. It’s only a small niggle and once you’re used to using it I can’t see it being a problem.

For the price, you’ll struggle to beat it. Audio quality is excellent, Batttery life is great and it looks stylish too. If you wanted to compare this headset to others, then the closest in terms of spec and price are the Jabra BT3030, Sony Ericsson DS 200 and the Plantronics Pulsar 260.

If it’s not quite what you’re after, why not take a look at the rest of our Stereo Bluetooth Headsets.

Xtand for iPhone 3GS & iPhone 3G

1. Xtand for iPhone 3G & iPhone 3GS

One of the best new features I’ve found with iPhone OS 3.0 on both the iPhone 3G and the 3GS is the ability to type in landscape mode, and this stand makes it even easier as it holds your iPhone at the perfect angle for landscape typing.  With the Xtand you can keep your phone in clear view on your desk, and can rotate it to use the phone in both portrait and landscape mode.  The Xtand is ideal for watching movies, browsing the internet or flicking through your music using coverflow.  The Xtand is styled to match Apple iMacs and the new Unibody MacBook Pro.

Having spent a lot of money on the iPhone 3GS, the last thing you’re going to want to do to it is damage it or scratch it, so a case is a worthwhile investment.

Protective Cases for the iPhone 3G and iPhone 3GS

2. InvisibleSHIELD Full Body Protector for iPhone 3GS

Technically this isn’t really a case, but it gives the same amount of protection against knocks and scrapes without adding any extra bulk to your phone.  InvisibleSHIELDs are a tough, thin plastic film that covers all of your iPhone 3GS.  It has a non slip feel which reduces the chance of it slipping out of your hand.  It also has an anti reflective coating that eliminates reflections and reduces fingerprints.

3. Piel Frama Case for iPhone 3G & iPhone 3GS

By far this is our most popular Leather Case for the iPhone 3G and iPhone 3GS.  It is hand made from premium leather and designed specifically for your phone.  As well as protecting your phone, the Piel Frama cases have storage space for Bank/Credit cards and cut outs that allow you to use your headphones and charger while your iPhone is in the case.

4. OtterBox Defender for iPhone 3GS

One of the new features of the iPhone 3GS was a built in Compass, great if you enjoy outdoors activities such as camping, hiking etc.  If you do enjoy these kinds of activities and want to take your iPhone with you, then you’ll need a case that will keep your phone protected in some pretty harsh environments, and that’s exactly what the OtterBox cases do.  They are a triple layered case that will withstand serious knocks.  They consist of a Clear membrane to protect your screen, a High Impact polycarbonate shell that wraps around the iPhone and surrounding this is a strong silicone skin that absorbs bumps and shocks.

Stereo Headsets and Charging Cases for iPhone 3GS

5. Jabra BT3030 Stereo Bluetooth Headset

Another new feature was the introduction of Stereo Bluetooth.  This allows you to listen to your music on headphones, but with out the hassle of a wire going from your headphones to your iPhone. The BT3030 will work for both calls and music and allows you to use any 3.5mm headphones.  While full music control isn’t supported by the iPhone, the BT 3030 will let you play/pause your music, answer/end calls and adjust the volume.    If the Jabra BT3030 isn’t quite what you’re looking for, take a look at our Top 5 Stereo Bluetooth Headsets for the iPhone,

6. iPhone 3GS Charging Leather Case

Apple have improved the battery life on the iPhone 3GS, but realistically you’re still only going to get about a day out of a full charge.  This Leather case has a built in battery that will charge your iPhone and increase talktime, standby time and music playback time.  It has its own on/off switch, so you can turn it on only when your iPhone needs recharging.  Unlike some products, this case doesn’t add excessive bulk or weight to your iPhone.

7. Apple iPhone 3GS Sync & Charge Cable

You got one in the box with the phone, but if you’re anything like me, this will spend its life plugged into the wall or your home PC.  Getting yourself a second cable will allow you to carry one with you or leave one at work so that you can charge your iPhone from your PC or Laptop.

iPhone 3GS Car Accessories

8. Apple iPhone 3GS Car Charger

It’s simple and effective and will make sure you get to your destination with a fully charged battery.

9. Jabra SP700 Bluetooth Car Kit

The Jabra SP700 does a lot more than you’d think.  As well as being a Bluetooth Car Kit for handsfree calling in the car, the SP700 can stream music from your iPhone using Bluetooth and using its built in FM transmitter can then play your music through your car stereo speakers.  When a call comes in, music playback will be paused automatically and the callers voice will also come through the stereo speakers.  Most handsfree kits tend to suffer when you travel on motorways or go above 50mph, but as the call audio is routed through your stereo speakers, you can adjust the volume on your stereo to make sure that you can hear the caller.  It’s portable too, so you can easily transfer it between vehicles. Battery life is fantastic with upto 14 hours talktime and over 250 hours stand by time.

10. Parrot MKi9000 Stereo Bluetooth Car Kit for iPhone 3GS

Parrot have always made fantastic car kits and the Mki range are no exception.  There are three options available, the MKi9000, Mki9100 and the Mki9200.  The main differences between them being the display screen that comes with them.  I’ve chosen the MKi9000 as the best one for the iPhone 3GS because you don’t need an external screen.  You can play music from your phone through the MKi9000 either by connecting the Dock Connector (which will also charge your phone) or you can stream it using Bluetooth.  The Mki9000 will synchronise with your phone book, and supports voice dialing – even on the iPhone 3G.  There is also a small remote that you can attach to your dash or steering wheel to control your music  (Play/Pause and Volume only when streaming using Bluetooth).

If you’ve not seen the accessory here that’s right for you, why not take a look at our full range of Apple iPhone 3GS Accessories.

The update is free foriPhone 3G users, and there is a small charge of £5.99 for iPod Touch users.

To update your device, you need launch iTunes and connect your iPhone or iPod Touch.  Once it is recognised by iTunes, you need to select it from the list of devices and click on the summary tab.  Here you will see the option to ‘Check for Update’.

iTunes will connect to Apple’s servers, and after a few seconds you should see this message:

To start the update, click on ‘Download and Install’ and you will then be shown a screen that shows you more information about what is included in the software update.

When you click on Next, the download will start.  It’s around 230MB so might take a while to download, so go make yourself a drink while you wait for it to finish.  Once the download is complete, it will back up your existing device and begin the update process.

Depending on your download speed, the update process will take around 20-30 minutes to complete.