Review: Jabra BT160

TreoCentral's Annie Latham reviews the Jabra BT160 bluetooth headset

(First posted at TreoCentral on June 5th, 2006)

I've been a happily corded headset user for years. Sure, I knew there were dozens of Bluetooth headsets that worked with my Treo 650, simply I really didn't want to await similar I walked off a Star Expedition set. And so I saw the announcement for Jabra'south BT160 Bluetooth headset, which touted its 33 interchangeable faceplates. A pattern for every mood or style, and yous can create your ain designs online. A customizable headset? What a concept! And then I decided to take the Bluetooth plunge.

The Blinking Envelope & Its Contents

I'm not sure how this was done, but it was already on and blinking when I received it. I'm sure UPS was thrilled to handle a bundle that was glowing intermittently—similar a lighthouse.

When I popped open the blister pack (which opened easily) to extract the headset, I was confronted with the equivalent of "Danger! Danger Volition Robinson!" on a slice of folded paper-thin that makes up the "Read me first" part of the packaging.

Information technology tells you to fully charge information technology for up to two hours before switching it on and trying to pair it. So I had to cool my jets for a while, even though I was pretty convinced, based on the blinking low-cal, that we were charged.

That gave me fourth dimension to check out the faceplates. They come in a Ziploc-style baggie that's roughly 3.5 inches wide and 6 inches alpine. There are four sheets with eight faceplates per sheet. They looked to me a lot like Colorform until I touched them.

These things are about the thickness of a mailing characterization sticker—but NOT pasty. One of my first challenges was just trying to extract my chosen faceplate (named "Mosaic") off the page without trigger-happy it and making it await like some of the cereal box tops I've destroyed. Dontcha just hate it when that happens?

The faceplates' laminated surface serves a dual purpose. It makes them all shiny-looking and information technology keeps them from scrunching or tearing. After some careful maneuvering, I managed to free 1. And so I connected to look.

Time's up!

When the requisite, agonizing two hours were up, I removed the BT160 from the charger and played effectually with information technology. Press and hold the answer/end button turns it on. Since I already thought it was on, I pressed and held it several times merely to make sure I had the hang of it. That push button felt kind of cheap, simply I since I never used one of these earlier, I had nothing to compare information technology to. It definitely didn't feel as solid as the buttons on my Treo 650 and other jail cell phones I've used. Oh well.

It Paired Up Chop-chop

The nicest thing I liked was how quickly I got information technology "talking" to my Treo. All I had to exercise was go to the Treo menu and tap on the Bluetooth symbol. I selected "On" and made sure my device name appeared and in "discoverable" manner. Then I selected "setup devices" which opens a 2d page.

I tapped "Easily-free setup" and so followed the instructions to get the BT160 talking to the 650. Information technology was really unproblematic and I was off and running in no time.

So I set it on my ear (information technology hangs gently on peak of my ear with the hearing piece resting gently in my ear canal). It's very similar to the Jabra BT350 [ Review | Buy ].

I used my landline to phone call my Treo 650. It rang once on my handset and when I pressed the reply button on the BT160, it picked up inside seconds. No problem.

For dialing out, I had to dial from my Treo and then the headset was automatically "in play." To test it, I decided to dial my managing editor.

He said he could hear me fine. I felt I couldn't hear him well so I pumped up the book and information technology seemed okay. Maybe I just needed to get used to information technology.

For the big test, I left my Treo in the office and kept talking equally I walked towards my kitchen. I got mayhap nigh ten–12 anxiety away before the signal broke upwardly and faded. The Jabra folks claim x meters or almost 33 feet. Hmm...

I was so excited most my commencement Bluetooth feel, I forgot the most important thing: How did it look on my little ear?

Bluetooth Stylin'

Yikes! From a head-on shot in the mirror, I looked exactly like i of those Star Trek characters. That wouldn't exercise. But when I turned my head, I had to smile. That faceplate did its job to really "soften" that techie ("Trekkie") look.

Information technology DID embrace my whole ear. Then I figured something that huge needed some style. Fourth dimension to "colorform" my headset.

In that location'south a little notch in one side of the articulate plastic faceplate cover that I figured was the entry point for trying to remove it to get to the faceplate below. However, using my fingers, I couldn't practise it. So I grabbed my trusty tweezers and popped it off hands.

I took the Mosaic faceplate that I carefully removed from the sheet and popped it into place (afterward removing the centre cutout for the on/off button), and and so set the plastic cover dorsum on with a snap. Voila! Presto, change-o and there I was, super styling.

I pondered using a solid wait (mayhap something in "Majestic Bluish" or "Passion Flower" purple), and picked up my tweezers to start the process. But something in the back of my heed told me to terminate and try information technology by hand. Certain plenty, after the first-time removal of the plastic comprehend, subsequent removals were easily done past paw (nice!). The thing I didn't get to practice is run into what the tolerance point was for taking that cover on and off earlier breaking it (Non plenty time to practice it before filing this review). So whether you lot tin remove and supercede this faceplate cover hundreds of times, I couldn't tell you.

Simply here'southward what I remember is the "cheesy thing." You have to store your "used" faceplates (once they're off their sheet) loosely inside the Ziploc baggie unless you lot come up with a better idea. I guess some protection is amend than goose egg. At least they are re-usable. However, you tin can store three faceplates max ON the headset itself, under its plastic cover. With three stored (i visible), the embrace snaps in but isn't quite flush. At two you are flush.

Customizable Colorforms

So what do y'all do when 33 faceplate options aren't enough? What you practise is become here to make more than.

Okay. This is crazy. Jabra has this elementary mode of making custom faceplates and save them to an online gallery (there were over 65 pages of custom designs when I added mine!).

Footstep ane; choose a motion picture from options similar abstract, beast, candy, fabric, nature, "stuff" and iv pages of Globe Loving cup versions.

To select one, just elevate it onto the blank BT160 on the page (See, it's really similar using online Colorforms!).

To add colour, but click and drag the "swatch" you desire to the BT160. The cool affair is yous tin can choose between solid colors or gradients.

The terminal bit of customization is adding text. I figured I'd practise something sort of subliminal. You tin utilize either black or white text, plus you can adjust the size of it.

So I saved my piece of art.

At that place's a "view my gallery" choice on the site where I could skip the 65 pages to see my own faceplate.

I'm kind of curious to see if my "Not A Trekkie" blueprint volition brand it into the universal gallery.

Anyway, that was like shooting fish in a barrel and fun.

I decided to try printing it. Here'south what they recommended: "The best results are accomplished by printing this folio using glossy paper.

Cut out the cover using a Stanley-knife or similar paper knife, and don't forget to cut out the hole in the middle of the cover.

To insert your new design in your Jabra BT160 follow the instructions in the manual or on the printout."

Then basically, you've moved from Colorforms to paper dolls. Still, it's a cool concept and if I had access to a color printer, I'd surely attempt it out (though I know that I'm not exactly skilled with an X-Acto knife).

Conclusion

In my stance the BT160 is what it is… a unique, very fun and fashionable way to move upwards to a Bluetooth headset without looking like a Borg. If the 33 included faceplates don't practice it for yous, become wild and make your own. The customization possibilities are literally unlimited every bit long as you've got a good supply of glossy printer paper and a precipitous X-Acto blade handy. The BT160 didn't alive upwards to Jabra's distance-from-phone sound range claim, merely for its modest price, information technology'due south a great value.

(Outset posted at TreoCentral on June fifth, 2006)

Source: https://www.windowscentral.com/review-jabra-bt160

Posted by: collinscapon1936.blogspot.com

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