I’m constantly on the search for the perfect Bluetooth headset and headphones. While the $99 Freedom model from Jaybird isn’t flawless, it’s one of the closest that I’ve seen. It’s a stereo headset, so you can use it for music listening, but it’s lightweight and stable enough that you can use it when you’re working out as well.
Unpacking the Freedom, you’ll notice that it comes with a lot of accessories. I do mean a lot. There’s a bag with 3 pairs of different-sized ear tips, then another with different ear loops and yet another with stabilizer inserts. You’ll find a USB cord for charging (more on that in a moment) and a clamshell, hard carrying case.
My first impressions of the Freedom, I have to say, were pretty terrible. Given that they are headphones I hooked them up through my MacBook Pro’s Bluetooth. The sound was…in a word…horrible. But switching them over to my iPhone, I found a completely different story. Perhaps it’s due to the older generation of Bluetooth in my aging Mac, but after testing across a few other devices I was never able to reproduce the horrible audio quality so I’ll chalk that up to an issue unrelated to the headset itself.
I found a set of tips that fit my ears comfortably, and tried working with the stabilizer inserts too. However, I found that I didn’t really need the inserts. Even through rigorous movement, the Freedoms stayed in place very well. If you’re running or working out, I could see the need for the inserts, so it’s good that they’re available. But for the rest of us? You’ll be fine without them.
The buttons are simple, with a typical answer/end being the large one on the right ear, then a set of volume controls. Other than that? There’s not much to note about how the system works. It’s a Bluetooth headset, and it operates as you’d expect.
Because they’re a self-contained system, the Freedoms are going to be slightly heavier than your average set of ear buds. Fortunately the company has made weight cuts in all the right places, leaving a device that is comfortable for long-term use, while still producing above-average sound.
So let’s talk about that sound. It’s not audiophile-quality, but it’s still good. And let’s face it – if you’re looking for audiophile, you’re not going to be using wireless devices anyway. Outgoing sound from the microphone is a bit more muted than I’d like, but that’s to be expected when you’re using any headset that lacks any sort of microphone boom and instead sits in your ear.
Finally, I have to talk about my gripes. They’re minor, but notable. The first thing is that the included hard case is lovely, but too large for most people to want to carry around. I think that a soft case, while being less protective, would be more pocket-friendly. The other concern that I have is in the company’s use of a smaller-than-micro, 8-pin USB connection . With so many cables around, do we really need another one?
All said, the Freedom Bluetooth headset from Jaybird is still a winner. Its mix of light weight, stability and relatively solid sound quality add up to a product that’s well worth the $99 asking price. If you’re in the market for a solid, stereo Bluetooth headset, you owe it to yourself to give the Freedom a second look.
➤ Freedom, from Jaybird
Ubuntu jumps into the fray with new ‘TV for human beings’ project
CES is the land of gadgets and everyone seems to be getting into the act. Today, Ubuntu unveiled something it’s referring to as “TV for human beings’. The operating system will be free, but TV manufacturers will have to pay Canonical, the team behind the Linux-based operating system, a licensing fee to integrate it.
The too-geeky-for-mom operating system for your TV sports the following features:
The major selling point for Ubuntu’s foray into television? Simplicity. Here’s what the company has to say about the television operating system:
Here are some screenshots of the interface that probably won’t make it to mainstream users for quite some time, if at all:
It’s quite gorgeous and supports touch and gestures for its controls. The screenshots don’t do this thing enough justice though, watch the below video which will get you even more amped about the possibilities:
The success of Ubuntu’s TV project hinges on adoption from hardware manufacturers, and it has set up a page to woo potential partners. On the page it offers marketing-speak like:
Let’s hope it’s that easy for TV makers to start taking a look at Ubuntu TV. If anything, this might be a glimpse into the future of television which is rumored to be Apple’s next trick .
➤ Ubuntu TV
Catch up with all of our CES coverage here .
Wikimedia enables ebook export feature on Wikipedia for your offline reading pleasure
Wikimedia today announced that it has enabled a new EPUB export feature on Wikipedia , but only on the English version of the site. You can use the new feature to collate your personal collection of Wikipedia articles and generate a free ebook, which can then in turn be read on your mobile device(s).
So, how do you create your own personal ebook? Start by clicking the “Create a book” link located in Wikipedia’s left sidebar under the “print/export” section. From there you can compile articles (or complete categories) into a personal collection, and then export them. Supported formats include PDF, EPUB, and OpenOffice. You can watch a video of the feature in action here .
The EPUB export feature was developed by brainbot technologies , the same company that created PediaPress , which lets you order a printed version of your custom book. Wikimedia says PediaPress is “the official print-on-demand partner of Wikipedia.”
If you’ve come this far and are still wondering why the hell you would want to read Wikipedia as an ebook, or a printed book, don’t worry, it’s a great question. The best explanation is very simple: offline reading. While most mobile devices nowadays are always connected to the Internet, there are cases when that’s just not possible.
“EPUB files can be used very easily in an offline environment,” Tomasz Finc, Director of Mobile at the Wikimedia Foundation, said in a statement. “They can be opened and distributed just like normal files. Plus, there are readers for almost every platform.”
Personally, I would love to be able to access Wikipedia while on the subway, and this new addition is a decent way to do that, assuming I know what I want to read in advance. In countries where Internet access is still very rare, not to mention mobile devices are the only devices, this won’t be seen just as a feature of Wikipedia. It will be Wikipedia.
Image credit: Christoph Kepper of brainbot technologies