Bluetooth headset pairs with two phones
— -- This weekly roundup takes a look at the practical and sometimes quirky aspects of tech products.
Pick up and talk
A phone rings. Is it your work cell or your home cell? With Nokia's J Headset, it doesn't matter. The Bluetooth headset can be paired with two different phones at the same time. When a call comes in, there's no need to scramble for the right phone. Simply remove the headset from its clip and start talking. Made from stainless steel and shaped like the letter "J", the headset has automatic volume controls that adjust the volume up or down, depending on the surrounding noise levels. The headset can deliver up to five hours of continuous talk time. It costs about $100.
Dual-purpose camera gets serious
Serious photographers often scoff at do-it-all cameras that promise to capture both photos and video. Too often, something has to give. JVC is working to change that perception with the debut of the GC-PX10 hybrid camera. Aimed at consumers who want professional looking results, the camera can capture 12-megapixel snapshots and full high-definition video . Its video can be slowed down to 300 frames per second, allowing sports enthusiasts to analyze minuscule movements. And it can do so for two hours straight, allowing you to analyze entire games in slow motion. Or, if it's an action snapshot you want, the camera can capture 60 shots per second. Need both video and snapshots at the same time? The camera can take 8.3 megapixel stills while recording full high-def video. Priced at about $900, the camera includes an image stabilizer, a 10x optical zoom, 32GB of internal memory, a tilt-able 3-inch touch screen monitor, an SDXC/SDHC card slot and settings for both manual and automatic controls.
'Mini-T' boosts sound
Say good riddance to the tinny sounds coming from your computer. Orb Audio has launched the Mini-T, a mini amplifier that teams up with two speakers to improve the sound coming from computers, TVs, iPods and other mobile devices. The Mini-T, which has a mini headphone input, costs about $88. Want to try Orb Audio's speakers, too? A pair of compact Orb speakers and a Mini-T amp, costs about $300.
Don't swat these bags
If you want to feel eco-friendly while you tote your tablet from place to place, consider a shoulder bag made from recycled mosquito netting and industrial tarp. The shoulder bags come from a partnership with "five ACCESSORIES," a socially conscious enterprise that works to set up fair trade in five countries, including Cambodia. Made in Cambodia, the 9-inch by 11-inch bag sports a suede-like exterior and. includes a 64-inch adjustable shoulder strap, inside and outside pockets and an outside metal clasp. Available in black, blue, copper, deep purple, green and yellow, the bag costs about $50. Other eco-friendly bags in different sizes also are available.
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