 "Gadgets on the go: Two for the road")
SPEAK EASY
JABRA TOUR
Bluetooth in-car speakerphone
Price: Rs 6,499/-
Driving in rush-hour traffic requires one's full concentration. But what if your boss calls about an urgent clarification in your company's annual report?
This is where hands-free devices step in. While such devices are a dime a dozen, speakers score over earphones for one big reason - you don't need to wear them. The Tour is one such device from Jabra, a well-known brand for Bluetooth devices.
Using the device is very simple. Switch it on and voice commands guide you on pairing the device with your phone. You just need to clip the device to the sun visor of your car, after you've charged the device, and you're good to go. Audio was loud and we could have satisfactory conversations even with the windows of the car rolled down. Noise-cancelling technology was good enough to ensure the other party heard us.
The Tour can be the perfect companion if you have an iPhone. With the touch of a button (you have to keep the button depressed for about 2-3 seconds), one can activate Siri. And with Siri on, one can access a whole lot of features. Even on Android phones, one could activate and use search with the voice command button.
The speakerphone can also be used to listen to music, though that won't be in stereo and can also relay voice instructions from GPS device. It also works well as a speakerphone on the desk, albeit an expensive one at Rs 6,499.
A single charge got us through a day with moderate phone usage, heavy GPS voice usage and music playback. And, it still had charge left for those voice calls. This could be attributed to the fact that a motion sensor turns the device off when you exit the car and turns itself on again when you get into the car. The device comes bundled with an USB charger and a car cigarette lighter charger, but no wall charger.
The black device looks smart and won't feel out of place in your high-end car. But find out if local traffic rules allow you the use of such a device before you buy one.
SHOWING THE WAY
MAPMYINDIA LX340 NAVIGATOR
Portable in-car GPS and entertainment device
Price: Rs 8,990/-
A few days ago, a friend and myself decided to visit an old friend of ours, who was on a visit to the Capital, after work. Since both of us work for a newspaper, it was nearly midnight by the time we wrapped up.
Our friend from Kolkata was putting up at the other end of the city, a place we aren't too familiar with. Thankfully, I had with me a GPS device I was reviewing then, the MapmyIndia Lx340 Navigator. The device not only helped us reach the destination via voice instructions and routes, but more importantly got us back after we took a wrong turn (ignoring the device's directions) by re-mapping the route.
My friend, who was driving, was pretty impressed. I then showed him that the device could double up as a multimedia device by playing some videos (while we had stopped at a dhaba) and songs off an SD card (the device has 2GB memory on board and can accept SD cards up to 8GB). The device can also display photos.
The device can be charged via USB or a car cigarette lighter adapter, but the touchscreen experience can be improved on. And users get a lifetime's supply of maps free, the company claims. The device retails for Rs 8,990.
My friend, who was patiently watching me extoll the virtues of the device all this while, suddenly started abusing me. "Couldn't you have told me about this device before I splurged on that high-end car stereo?" he asked. I had no answer.
PS: If you're a BlackBerry Z10 user, you can download the free MapmyIndia app on your phone. It sports an identical interface and works just as well, even when you have no signal.
JABRA TOUR
Bluetooth in-car speakerphone
Price: Rs 6,499/-
Driving in rush-hour traffic requires one's full concentration. But what if your boss calls about an urgent clarification in your company's annual report?
This is where hands-free devices step in. While such devices are a dime a dozen, speakers score over earphones for one big reason - you don't need to wear them. The Tour is one such device from Jabra, a well-known brand for Bluetooth devices.
Using the device is very simple. Switch it on and voice commands guide you on pairing the device with your phone. You just need to clip the device to the sun visor of your car, after you've charged the device, and you're good to go. Audio was loud and we could have satisfactory conversations even with the windows of the car rolled down. Noise-cancelling technology was good enough to ensure the other party heard us.
The Tour can be the perfect companion if you have an iPhone. With the touch of a button (you have to keep the button depressed for about 2-3 seconds), one can activate Siri. And with Siri on, one can access a whole lot of features. Even on Android phones, one could activate and use search with the voice command button.
The speakerphone can also be used to listen to music, though that won't be in stereo and can also relay voice instructions from GPS device. It also works well as a speakerphone on the desk, albeit an expensive one at Rs 6,499.
A single charge got us through a day with moderate phone usage, heavy GPS voice usage and music playback. And, it still had charge left for those voice calls. This could be attributed to the fact that a motion sensor turns the device off when you exit the car and turns itself on again when you get into the car. The device comes bundled with an USB charger and a car cigarette lighter charger, but no wall charger.
The black device looks smart and won't feel out of place in your high-end car. But find out if local traffic rules allow you the use of such a device before you buy one.
SHOWING THE WAY
MAPMYINDIA LX340 NAVIGATOR
Portable in-car GPS and entertainment device
Price: Rs 8,990/-
A few days ago, a friend and myself decided to visit an old friend of ours, who was on a visit to the Capital, after work. Since both of us work for a newspaper, it was nearly midnight by the time we wrapped up.
Our friend from Kolkata was putting up at the other end of the city, a place we aren't too familiar with. Thankfully, I had with me a GPS device I was reviewing then, the MapmyIndia Lx340 Navigator. The device not only helped us reach the destination via voice instructions and routes, but more importantly got us back after we took a wrong turn (ignoring the device's directions) by re-mapping the route.
My friend, who was driving, was pretty impressed. I then showed him that the device could double up as a multimedia device by playing some videos (while we had stopped at a dhaba) and songs off an SD card (the device has 2GB memory on board and can accept SD cards up to 8GB). The device can also display photos.
The device can be charged via USB or a car cigarette lighter adapter, but the touchscreen experience can be improved on. And users get a lifetime's supply of maps free, the company claims. The device retails for Rs 8,990.
My friend, who was patiently watching me extoll the virtues of the device all this while, suddenly started abusing me. "Couldn't you have told me about this device before I splurged on that high-end car stereo?" he asked. I had no answer.
PS: If you're a BlackBerry Z10 user, you can download the free MapmyIndia app on your phone. It sports an identical interface and works just as well, even when you have no signal.