SolarVoice 908 – “First" Solar-powered
Bluetooth
Headset with noise reduction
Reviewed by Robert L. Pritchett
Introduction
“i.Tech Dynamic introduced the solar-powered SolarVoice
908, a Bluetooth headset that lets users go green while maintaining their
productivity and listening to their favorite tunes.
“Our new SolarVoice 908 taps into the power of the sun to
charge, making it perfect for consumers who are trying to be environmentally
conscious,” said Stephen Ngan, Deputy Managing Director of i.TechDynamic Ltd.
“SolarVoice stays charged as long as it’s exposed to sunlight, so busy people have
two less things to worry about: keeping their Bluetooth headset charged and
reducing their carbon footprint.”
First Solar Headset to Feature Noise Reduction for
Clear Calls
Sleek and stylish, the eco-friendly SolarVoice 908 is the
first solar-powered Bluetooth headset with background noise reduction for clear
phone calls. The unit employs an advanced suite of digital signal processing
software to reduce background noise and distortion. The noise reduction
technology improves the sound quality of a signal by adaptively removing noise
or hiding it from the listener through lowlatency, low distortion, multi-band
signal processing and psycho-acoustic masking.
A2DP Bluetooth Profile for Streaming Multimedia Audio
SolarVoice features Bluetooth’s Advanced Audio
Distribution Profile, or A2DP, which lets users stream songs from Bluetooth
mobile phones or music devices with A2DP. The headset also lets users hear
audio content from videos they’re watching on A2DP-compatible multimedia
devices and smartphones, such as the iPhone 3GS and the second generation iPod
touch (3.0 software required), or from YouTube and other Web sites (Wi-Fi
connection required).
Innovative Ear Buds Eliminate Deafness and Fatigue
SolarVoice’s innovative ear buds are specifically designed
to allow air to reach the ear canal, which eliminates the feeling of deafness
and fatigue users may experience during extended use of other ear buds.
Designed for superior comfort and fit, SolarVoice’s ear buds come in four sizes
and hold the headset firmly in place, so an ear hook is not necessary. (For
those who prefer to use one, an ear hook comes standard with the headset.)
Many Other User-Friendly Features
A flashing green light indicates when the unit is solar
charging, and an elegant headset cradle designed for desktop and in-car use
perfectly positions SolarVoice to absorb maximum sunlight.
SolarVoice gives users up to five hours of talk time,
infinite standby time while in optimum sunlight and up to 140 hours of standby
time without sunlight.
The unit also has an internal lithium-ion battery, so it
can be charged via A/C power and a computer USB port (travel adapter and cable
included). SolarVoice fully charges in three hours via A/C power or USB
connection.
Headset functions include voice dialing (mobile phone
dependent), last-number redial, call reject, call transfer (from headset to
mobile phone and vice-versa), auto re-link (which re-establishes the Bluetooth
connection when the user returns to within range of a device), call waiting and
call swap.”
Other features and specifications include:
• Bluetooth Version 2.1 + EDR Class 2
• Headset and hands-free Bluetooth profiles
• Multipoint technology, which lets the headset connect
simultaneously to two cell phones
• Charging status indicators
• Volume adjust, call transfer and call reject button
• Range: up to 33 feet
• Dimensions: 54.5
What I Learned
Noise reduction isn’t the same as noise elimination. Driving
at 70 MPH in an old truck, this device apparently picks up highway noise. For
the other person to hear me, I have to cup the earpiece. It works much better
when the vehicle is parked. Even though I turned up the volume on the earpiece
to hear better, the person on the other end said it made no appreciable
difference as far as them being able to hear me, while I was driving on the
highway in a non-quiet truck.
The SolarVoice 908 is not the first solar-powered earpiece,
but apparently it is the first solar-powered earpiece with noise reduction.
Once I read the miniscule instructions on how to pair the
device with the iPhone, the iPhone was able to identify it and when I use the
iPhone, I had a choice of whether or not to use the earphone. Sweet!
I’ve tried various earpieces over the years and the design
of this soft-rubber split-cushion system seems to be well done.
I’m not worried about reducing my carbon footprint. However,
I don’t have to worry about paying for battery replacements anytime soon.
Intriguing items: voice-dialing, last number redial, call
reject, waiting and swap.
Conclusion
This is a
BlueTooth borg-piece I think has traction. As long as there is light, this unit
will get a trickle-charge to keep it in operation – and it works just
fine with the iPhone!
