Essential Tech Must Have Gadgets
with so much technological crap to wade through, we help you separate the wheat from the chaff
2007-08-03
By Wil O'Neal

Every week manufacturers release some fancy new cell phone or revolutionary MP3 player that, at least according them, you just have to have. Well, it's all bullsh*t. Here’s a quick list of four products that we think any hardcore technophile can get excited about.

Apple iPhone
$600 (8GB)
$500 (4GB)
www.apple.com

Easily one of the sexiest devices to come out -- ever -- Apple’s iPhone is certainly living up to its many promises. Available in two flavors: 4GB and 8GB, anyone with a massive iTunes library will love this baby. But more than just an MP3 player, the iPhone (available excluseively through ATT) is an awesome cell phone that also doubles as a full-fledged Internet device. While plenty of cell phones play music, the iPhone’s full-fledged Web browser and Google maps integration alone is almost worth the price of admission. The ads don’t seem to lie, finding a restaurant or nightclub is a cinch, and getting directions and contact info is really only one button away. It’s been weeks since its release and we expected many of its flaws to rise to the surface (that’s typical for first versions of new products) but that hasn’t happened. Instead third-party software and tricks on how to make your iPhone even sexier are springing up like mushrooms.

Motorola S805 Bluetooth DJ Headphones
$130
www.motorola.com

Sticking with the multimedia cell phone theme, nothing makes a mobile into a full-on MP3 player like a great set of headphones. While the iPhone doesn’t have support for the Bluetooth stereo profile (also known as A2DP, this technology lets you listen to stereo content through a Bluetooth headset) plenty of popular models like the LG Chocolate, T-Mobile Dash, and Nokia N Series do. Pack your cell phone’s memory card full of music or Audible files, pair it with the Motorola S805 and you’re rocking out wirelessly. But more than just headphones, the Motorola S805s are like every other Bluetooth headset. If you get a call, just hit the button on the left earpiece and you’re chatting away. During our testing, callers could scarcely tell that we were using a headset: now that’s impressive. If that’s not enough, you can control the volume and skip through tracks by simply twisting the rockers on the left and right earpieces. Before you jump on the bandwagon however, be sure to visit Motorola’s web site to make sure that your cell phone has stereo Bluetooth.

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Wil O'Neal covers technology for G4TV's "Attack of the Show,"  and ebonyjet.com. Also, be sure to check out his blog "Designed to expire...  http://woneal.blogspot.com