Looking to go hands-free while outdoors? Bluetooth headset maker BlueAnt has just introduced the T1, a rugged Bluetooh piece with a body designed to take a hit and audio tech that promises (at least on paper) to deliver clear audio while outdoors with wind noise reduction.
The T1 is comparatively tough, although it’s does have its limits. The shell, coupled with removable silicon covers, is built to handle “minor bumps and accidental impact” plus “everyday dust and moisture,” which probably means that you can probably wear this while bungee-jumping and trekking, but not wind-surfing or wading through a swampy marshland.
Now, we’re not sure why you’d wear a hands-free kit while you jump off a bridge, but if you chose to, this is probably a good choice for hands-free talking. The T1 featues BlueAnt’s Wind Armour Technology, which is a really simple term for “this wireless kit will deliver clear phone-talking audio in wind speeds of up to 22mph.”
Rated for around 6 hours of talk time, the kit also supports a feature called “caller name announce” that’ll let you know who’s calling without you having to pull out the phone to check the screen. The feature also allows you to either reject or answer the call without having to pull out the phone (again, handy when you’re jumping off a bridge) by simply saying “answer” or “ignore.”
The T1 headset is due out in May for $80.
BlueAnt also announced a new Q1 Android app that ties the headsets to Android phones with another handy “you-don’t-have-to-pull-your-phone-out-of-your-pocket-anymore” function: it’ll read your text messages aloud, straight into your BlueAnt Q1 headset. It’ll be available through the Android Market soon, but it’s listed to only work with the Q1 headset right now. No word on additional device support, but if you happen to have a BlueAnt Q1 headset and a smartphone running Android 2.0, well, you’re in luck.
Source: Electronista
Tags: Android, BlueAnt, Bluetooth, Bluetooth headsets, Mobile Phones, Rugged, Smartphones
