Comments on: Playing devil’s advocate on Bluetooth

By: Danni

Danni — Wed, 20 Feb 2008 09:44:56 +0000

I read somewhere in Europe that Spain was planning to ban GPS navigation systems in cars as these darn things tend to cause accidents (in that country, no idea of the stats or research done) as the drivers apparently were focusing too much attention on what the nav was saying as opposed to concentrating on the process of actually driving the vehicle safely. I think this is equally true to handheld or handsfree devices. The rationale is not so much whether it is handsfree or not, but rather that the driver’s attention is diverted to non-core things which has nothing to do with driving safely.

By: joemama

joemama — Tue, 19 Feb 2008 13:46:43 +0000

Charles – how do you know this about GM putting bluetooth standard on 09 models?

By: Edags

Edags — Mon, 18 Feb 2008 23:12:22 +0000

Eduard (Edusaab),

I agree that Bluetooth is not as universal (fully interoperable) as it should be. However, it is my understanding that those issues are diminishing as the technology evolves. Of course even at its worse Bluetooth had a ton more interoperability than physical phone docks.

I have also heard systems where either the background noise was too high or the speaker’s voice volume was too low. I guess part of that has to do with the quality of the microphone as well as how advanced the digital signal processing is. So not only does the system need to usable by most (if not all) newer phones, but it needs to produce strong outgoing audio quality.

I use my phone to stream radio stations into my car stereo. I need to do this with a cord. It would be nice if could do this via Bluetooth as I wouldn’t have the cord hanging across the car. Of course many people play music from MP3 players. In either case having being able to make that connection via Bluetooth would be a nice secondary application.

Regards

By: Robin M

Robin M — Mon, 18 Feb 2008 23:00:17 +0000

I love the blue tooth that I put into my 9-5. It has mine, Kerry’s and Phill’s phones all programmed into it. The phones these days, well ours anyway, keep enough charge to last 3 or 4 days even with the blue tooth turned on. and the chances of leaving the phone hooked up and on display when you leave the car are gone. If I get a new phone, I dont need to get a new cradle which I used too in the past.

By: Jeff

Jeff — Mon, 18 Feb 2008 22:53:33 +0000

I’d like to point out that a lot of the danger that driving while talking on the phone creates comes from talking and not from actually holding the phone to your head. Dialing while driving, on the other hand, is just as bad as the actual talking. My point is, whether you’re holding the phone or using Bluetooth, you’re still thinking about something other than driving the car, which is dangerous. So don’t talk while driving and Bluetooth integration becomes a non-issue.

Also, Swade, about the tape adaptor: I had one of those in my 900 for the longest time. Then I got a new head unit with iPod integration. Now I don’t have to pause my iPod when I want to stop the music, it charges my iPod and plays the music with the same wire, I can control the iPod from the head, and I get song info without looking at the iPod. It’s much safer and more convenient. Recently, I’ve had to go back to the tape adaptor because I haven’t gotten a chance to put my Alpine head in my Thunderbird, and let me tell you, once you have iPod integration, that tape adaptor just makes you angry. I’m not saying you’re nuts for using the adaptor, I’m just saying make sure you don’t ever get a chance to use something newer, because it will make you hate that adaptor.

By: swade

swade — Mon, 18 Feb 2008 22:50:59 +0000

I’m not sure I am, Richo….

Just here in comments we’ve got battery use issues when Bluetooth is activated and we’ve got someone using a cable to charge the phone.

The cradle overcomes the first one and is a neater solution than the second one.

It’s handy I’m sure, but is it any more handy than the cradle?

By: Richo

Richo — Mon, 18 Feb 2008 22:11:17 +0000

Swade, you really are WAY behind aren’t you.

Look, get 2 cans and a piece of string ok… then…..

By: Ken H

Ken H — Mon, 18 Feb 2008 20:25:57 +0000

I’d say throw away the mobile phone. It’s the curse of the millennium.
Why the heck do I need to call about the garage door? Because the mobile phone took away the need for my brain to remember to close the darned door.
Why am I late for the meeting? Most of the times because mobile phone made me sloppy with appointments, it’s just so easy to call and say I’m late.

Folks, we are becoming brain dead zombies because of the mobile phone.

By: Eduard(Edusaab)

Eduard(Edusaab) — Mon, 18 Feb 2008 20:14:11 +0000

Edags……..the Idea is that the Bluetooth is universal, but isn’t as true as should be. As I explained the integrated kit for the MY2007-08 Saab 9-3 it has a lot of problems of connectivity with multiple phones.

regards

By: Edags

Edags — Mon, 18 Feb 2008 18:35:26 +0000

Integrated Bluetooth advantages:
-Safety (eyes up and hands on the wheel)
-Universal connectivity (works with any phone not just one single ancient phone that goes into the physical dock). Works with your iPhone, your wifes Treo, your kids phone etc.
-Simplicity – your phone hooks up automatically as long as it is with you
-Charging with car charger (yes you need to acquire a charger but you can plug it in when you get in and get out with your phone fully charged even if you’ve been talking the entire time)
-No Bluetooth headset to lose, run out of power or mess with while driving
-Stereo muting – you won’t miss calls because you could not hear the call or your phone was set to vibrate
-Radiation reduction – no phone on your face, no tethered line into your ear (as with corded earbuds), no Bluetooth transceiver in your ear
-Resale value – the market will increasingly demand this feature. Even if you don’t use your phone in the car you will want it to be there when you go to sell it. (Saab would be fools to launch the 9-1 and 9-4 without it – as well as without HD Radio)