The days of seeking out a quiet location to make a call on your mobile may be over thanks to the Plantronics Discovery 665 Bluetooth Headset. This new headset is a significant improvement in headset design thanks to something called AudioIQ.

AudioIQ is a technology that claims to reduce background noise up to 50 percent. For incoming calls, AudioIQ adapts to background noise levels and improves the receive quality, clarity, and volume level. For outgoing calls, AudioIQ reduces background noise for listeners up to 7-8 decibels, or by approximately 50 percent.

This Discovery 665 also features DSP (digital signal processing) sound technology to automatically optimize audio levels on both sides the call. This feature will significantly increase clarity for mobile phone callers, as well as for the listener on the other end of conversations.

The Plantronics Discovery 665 Bluetooth Headset will …

Quiksilver, a leader in outdoor sporting apparel and Plantronics of Bluetooth technology fame have announced a partnership that aims to outfit outdoor enthusiasts with Bluetooth-enabled sports gear. The new line of products is designed to give outdoor enthusiasts a seamless experience to go from one environment to the next while staying continuously connected to their mobile devices.

The new line of apparel and accessories will integrate Quiksilver’s outdoor sports lineup with Bluetooth equipped mobile phones, iPods and MP3 players. Plantronics’ technology will be embedded within the Quiksilver apparel and accessories and allow stereo sound to stream wirelessly from compatible products so that users can play and control music as well as answer incoming calls.

The clothing will be designed for both men and women and will be found under the Quiksilver and Roxy brands. The inaugural collection of apparel and accessories …

This little iPod accessory is a microphone and speaker attachment for the iPod Nano that allows direct stereo recording into WAV file format.

The microphone speaker combo attaches directly onto the bottom docking port of the Nano extending it’s height a little, and the microphone is actually flexible to change the angle while recording. The recordings can be saved in a high or low quality mode and an 8GB Nano can hold 51 hours of recording in the low quality setting.

The design on this looks pretty nice as it extends the original size and shape of the iPod Nano, but we’re not sure just how much juice this device will use up while recording and playing back with the speaker since it’s drawn from the iPod itself. In the full scheme gadgets that interface with the iPod this appears to be one of …

Our friends over at Proporta have released a new case for the Treo 700. The Lateral Case was based on the design of Proporta’s popular Alu-Leather case and includes all of the benefits of that case including the screen saver system, optional belt clip, and magnetic closure system.

Proporta went back to the drawing boards after listening customer reviews to improve on the side protection offered by the case. The Lateral Case improves upon prior designs by fully protecting the sides of the device with strong aluminum. Other improvements include side clasps that make the device more secure.

The flip-type leather enclosure on the Lateral Case has a slim-line aluminum insert which protects the screen, as well as makes the keyboard, speaker, and camera ports and controls more accessible while housed in the open case.

The …

The iProjector video projector for the Apple iPod is a video projector from Ion Audio with a native 800×600 resolution and has a built-in dock for the iPod, among additional input ports.

The key feature of the iProjector is the docking station which supports the iPod Video, iPod Photo and the iPod Nano to interface video, still pictures and music to the projector as well as charging the iPod battery. The iPod projector also has video inputs for Composite, S-Video, Component and VGA. There is also an audio out jack for the sounds from the iPod.

The 800×600 native resolution display supports 24-bit color and has a brightness of 800 ANSI Lumens projecting to sizes from 30″ up to 90″.

A majority of accessories designed for use with the iPod are not really meeting any needs, but this accessory appears to be an exception. …

I’m beginning to accept the fact that it isn’t going to end anytime soon, and have just succumb to the explosion of iPod accessories.

This rendition happens to be called the “Beat Buckle” (thank you for not calling it the iBuckle) and is an actual belt buckle that is made from durable clear plastic designed to hold the Apple iPod Nano or iPod Video. A actual belt does not come with the Beat Buckle, nor does an iPod but the case will work with any belt that supports a removable buckle. If you don’t have one Beat Buckle can also sell you a belt along with the case if needed.

The Beat Buckle case has ports for headphones and the iPod functionality is completely accessible when inside and sells for just under $30 USD.

Oh, and if you’re …

Proporta, a designer of cases, cables, screen protectors, and other accessories for smartphones and MP3 Players has released a new line of cases to protect your Treo 680 against damage and data loss.

The Proporta Silicone Case is a minimalist case that manages to leave all the buttons, ports, and other controls easily accessible. The case is made from impact absorbent silicone and will protect the 680 against drops, scratches, and any other damage caused by even the biggest klutzes.

For the leather set, there is the trademark Alu-Leather Case with a built-in ‘Screen Saver’ system made out of aircraft grade aluminum.

Finally, rounding out the line of cases is the Proporta Aluminum Case. The Aluminum Case is made from the same aircraft grade aluminum used in the Alu-Leather Case. Precision molded to fit the exact specifications of …

Creative has recently introduced its new Creative Xdock Wireless which works as a docking and charging station for the Apple iPod and plays high quality music in Xtreme Fidelity. This device has actually been certified by the Made for iPod program through Apple.

The Xdock plays the iPod music through X-Fi Wireless Receivers anywhere home (external speaker receivers are sold separately) and up to 100 feet away. The Creative Xdock Wireless can also connect directly to stereo system speakers or to a home entertainment system to listen to music, watch movies or view photos. The Xdock also has a wireless remote which can be used to operate the iPod when docked.

When playing music through the X-Fi Receivers, the Create Xdock can be set in different modes to control different speaker combination. A broadcast mode can be used to send the signal and turn …

Belkin released a Laptop Cooling Stand at Macworld this week, designed to help keep laptops cooler when in use, and possibly in response to recent problems with overheating batteries in some laptops.

The Belkin laptop stand has a curved design to allow additional airflow below the machine and also has a built-in fan that pushes air up, according to TechDigest. Due to this, we are not sure if the purpose of the stand is to cool the laptop or your lap, but either way the increased airflow would bring fresh cool air up to the machine and keep the hot air away from your legs.

The fan runs off of the USB port on your notebook so it doesn’t require an electrical outlet and will no doubt suck it’s share of juice from your battery. The Laptop cooling stand is expected to go for around …

This 4-port USB hub is split into 5 different sections that each rotate independently 180 degrees to help avoid tangled up cords, and allows multiple items to be plugged in that may otherwise cover up adjacent ports.

The USB Twister Hub supports USB 1.1 and 2.0, and has an optional AC adapter (extra $4) to increase power output to high power consumption USB devices such as printers. Transfers speeds are up to 480Mbs.

The Twister Hub is cased in aluminum, weighs 46 grams and is 106mm long. The hub is available from Brando for $22 USD.

A common problem with digital music is that it sits on your PC. Sure you can listen to it with headphones or transfer it to DAP, but what if you want to play it on that kick-butt stereo system that you have?

Well, your in luck. There are a number of ways you can get your digital music to come through your stereo, but the Siren Screamer may be one of the easier and more convenient ones. Connect on component to your stereo, and the other to the USB port of your PC. The music is transmitted wirelessly from your PC to your stereo, and you can control it with a handy remote, to boot.

The remote has an LCD display and can run Windows Media Player and iTunes to control the playback, all without wires. The receiving unit connected to the stereo uses has …

There are continuously fewer popular gadgets that don’t have some type of accessory related to Hello Kitty, and this Hello Kitty Clock Radio / Docking Station for the Apple iPod comes as no surprise.

This clock radio has some of the normal functionality you would expect, with an alarm that will play the radio or your iPod, and a 5 minute snooze button. Also, of course it bears the familiar pink colors and design of Hello Kitty products.

There are a couple things that could make this particular clock radio a little more worth looking into for some, though. It does dock, charge and play your iPod Mini or nano through the stereo speakers, but it also has a video out jack. This allows iPods that have video or pictures to display them on a TV set, which was something a little …

The MonsterPod camera tripod sticks and grips to just about anything and allows you to hold your digital camera motionless, vertically, horizontally or upside down. The MonsterPod allows you to mold the tripod to nearly any surface with a light amount of pressure and the viscoelastic base adheres until you peel it off.

The MonsterPod uses a “viscoelastic morphing polymer” to stick to metal, wood, plastic, steel, brick, glass, tile, marble, cement, enamel, sheet rock, rocks, trees, and over 1,000 other surfaces and objects. The viscoelastic base is good for over 3,000 sticks in a testing environment.

The MonsterPod is 4.5 inches wide and 1.75 inches tall and weighs only 6 ounces, making for a compact, lightweight traveler’s tripod. The Tripod holds up to a 10 ounce compact digital camera or less for up to 10 minutes depending on the angle and surface.

MonsterPod Viscoelastic Camera …

No, I don’t think it’s going to end anytime soon. This year the iPod has such success over the holidays that reports have shown the iTunes web site had experienced problems keeping up.

Adding to the frenzy is the I-CY, a penguin looking toy that reacts to music seemingly similar to the iDog, I-CAT and I-FISH.

The I-CY waddles around, flaps its flippers, makes noise and flashes lights based on it’s “mood” and the music that is plugged into it and how much positive (or negative) attention you give to it.

If your collecting, you can add this to your other musically interactive digital animal toys.

Catalog Page [Hasbro]

The number of items leeching onto the iPod fanfare just never seem to end. Here is the Tunes iLamp.

The catalog page for the iLamp states clearly that it will work with any device that has a headphone jack, but of course it’s pictured with an iPod that fits nicely in it’s dock. Additionally, it is not just a lamp but an “iLamp”, and not just an iLamp, but a “Tunes iLamp” and is white in color, no doubt bringing in subconscious thoughts to the masses of somehow associating this product with iTunes and the iPod.

Nevertheless, this lamp does have a jack that will play music out of the two detachable speakers through any headphone port. It also provides ample light through 20 LED bulbs and for a mere $100 bones can be yours.

Catalog Page [Improvements]