Chasing four kids around all day long means I need both my hands as much as possible, which is why a Bluetooth headset has become a staple gadget in my growing arsenal of mom tech helpers. But as I’ve learned, not all Bluetooths are created equal, which is why I was thrilled to discover two that are definitely worth knowing about, depending on how you use your phone.
Sound ID SIX
to be able to leave yours in for hours at a time. After a
super quick sync, you’ll appreciate the handy touch sensor for
everything from volume control to voice mail on a small, discreet headset.
I really like the text to speech feature,
which makes it extra safe for car usage and when you just don’t have a
free hand, and the pass through amplification means you won’t have
trouble hearing what the kids are up to if you do decide to keep it in.
And best of all, the Sound ID SIX has fully customizable sound settings
via an app that’s available for iPhone, Droid, and Blackberry.
Nowfor those of you who might just need something for conference calls or
scheduled chats with friends (I’m not the only one, right?), you’ll want
to check out the etyBLU2 from Etymotic. While you could
certainly leave it in for long periods of time, the boom microphone isn’t very
discreet, though it does really help speech clarity if you’re in the car or office. None of the “What
did you just say?” questions that folks who use bluetooths often get,
especially when they’re in a noisy atmosphere (i.e. in the car with four
kids).
I also like it because my kids can clearly see when I have it on, so they know I’m on
a call–remember when old fashioned rotary phone headsets used to do that job for us?
it doesn’t have a ton of bells and whistles, you’ll really appreciate
how well it does with noise cancellation and noise isolation, and while
the ACCU-fit ear tips to make for a pretty snug in-ear fit, I had to
play with the over ear piece to get it to fit just right. -Kristen
You can purchase the Sound ID SIX at their website. And buy the etyBLU2 at Etymotic, now $30 off!
