The other week I happened across an analyst presentation by Michael Cote of Redmonk. Michael’s a really nice guy and knows his stuff – always a good combination. Anyhoo – he’d tipped up at Porter Novelli, a PR/AR company, to present about how his firm does their thing. In true open source fashion, Michael put his presentation on Slideshare. In posting about the experience, he mentioned that as a thank you, the PR company had given him some BlueAnt goodies.
When I visited the Mobile World Congress, BlueAnt gave me one of their Bluetooth headsets to try. I already had a Jawbone but what the heck. A freebie is a freebie, right? In an idle comment to Michael’s post, I mentioned the fact, saying I think the BlueAnt stuff is cool but the over ear hook thingy is not as good as the Jawbone.
Quick as a flash, the same PR company contact me asking if I would like to try the latest kit. Are they crazy? I’m in Spain, they’re in the US. I already have a BlueAnt headset. Late Monday and FedEx call up to check we’ll be in for a delivery Tuesday morning. Tuesday morning arrives along with the FedEx guy delivering not one but TWO BlueAnt products. (see pic above)
The Z9 Bluetooth headset has improved and now carries an ‘i’ moniker aka Z9i. The over ear hook thingy is much more substantial and more comfortable. In use, you hardly know the device is there until it chirps. That is something I like in technology – unobtrusive but there when you need it. Sound quality is superb which is what really counts.
For the tech junkies out there, the Z9i has 12 basic and 8 advanced features including conferencing. Getting used to all the ‘click’ combinations takes some doing but for most people it’s about answering, making and ending calls, all of which are drop dead simple – single click on all occasions. As far as I can tell, the Bluetooth range is around 10 meters and that includes thick heavy walls so if you’re around the office and not going far then you should never miss a call.
The surprise extra was the SuperTooth 3 Bluetooth handsfree kit for car use. This smart little brick clips to the sunvisor using a magnetized hook and acts as a hands free, voice driven device that should keep you in the right side of the law when driving. It works a treat and as it includes a noise reduction system, callers don’t have to yell at you to be heard and you don’t have to yell back.
The only bleat I have is that the power charger for the SuperTooth doesn’t have the same connectors as the Z9. That means I have to charge it from the car’s cigarette lighter. I’d prefer the option of charging via the USB port on my Mac – which I can do with the Z9.
What else? Aaah yes. Community, however you define it, works. Much as I am well known for hating PR, Porter Novelli didn’t come at me with a ‘would you like this to review’ (hint, hint) request but merely asked if I might be interested in seeing the latest products. They did what they said and the products do what they say on the tin. What more can anyone ask?
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