Bluetooth-happy Parrot squawks into CES touting new Bluetooth speakers, increased Apple functionality and hands-free everywhere.
Parrot has announced a plethora of new releases in time for the 2008 CES in Las Vegas, highlighted by their new wireless stereo speakers for cell phones, mp3-players and laptops, the Parrot DS1120. Also announced were an NFC-equipped wireless photo frame, the Parrot DS3120 hands-free speaker dock, an iPod-friendly car stereo system and a trio of iPhone-compatible hands-free kits.
The Parrot DS1120 uses stereo Bluetooth (A2DP) to stream music wirelessly from audio devices, outputting 30W RMS. The device hides a bass system in the speaker stands, and uses a touch-sensitive three-button user interface located at the top of the speaker face. For devices not equipped with stereo Bluetooth, the DS1120 includes a Bluetooth USB dongle and a line-in RCA jack.
The Parrot DS1120 will be available in Europe and the U.S. in the second quarter of 2008 with a suggested MSRP of $280.
Parrot's new DS3120 is a home stereo with hands-free calling, and allows users to play music from mobile phones, music players, PCs and laptops wirelessly via stereo Bluetooth or a USB connection. The 3.3 lb. device has a 1.8-inch color screen, and packs in an SD card slot, line-in and built-in FM/RDS radio. When unplugged from the outlet, the battery source provides up to 10 hours of playback.
When paired with a mobile phone, the unit allows users to search through contacts on its display and channel voice calls through its 20W speakers. Track and album details are displayed when playing music, as is phonebook information when making or taking a call. When receiving incoming calls with caller ID, music is automatically muted and phonebook images stored on the user’s mobile phone are displayed onscreen.
The Parrot DS3120 will be available in Europe and the U.S. in the second quarter of 2008 and will retail at $250.
Parrot is also working with Near Field Communications, developing a wireless Bluetooth digital photo frame with NFC technology to easily pair it with Bluetooth devices. The extremely short-range (4 inches) wireless communication technology simplifies the Bluetooth pairing process, allowing devices to automatically recognize and pair with each other when they are in close proximity. It operates in the 13.56 MHz band and can transfer data at up to 424 Kbits/second. Parrot claims that the short transmission range makes NFC-enabled transactions "inherently secure."
Demonstrations of NFC-enabled Parrot products will be on display at CES, but Parrot currently has no commercial offering with NFC; current models are prototypes and were created exclusively for test purposes.
Parrot products are also now more compatible with Apple products, beginning with the advent of stereo Bluetooth support in Mac OS X Leopard, which allows Mac users to wirelessly stream music via iTunes to all of Parrot's wireless speakers. Parrot’s wireless digital photo frames are also compatible with iPhoto, allowing users to wirelessly send all their favorite photo albums directly onto any wireless Parrot digital photo frame.
Parrot's CK and MK installed car-kits and the Parrot MINIKIT portable speakerphone are all compatible with Apple's iPhone, and supporting the automatic synchronization of their contacts. However, the kits cannot stream music wirelessly from the iPhone without an optional adapter, as the iPhone has no stereo Bluetooth support.
The iPhone is compatible with the new Parrot RK8200 Car Stereo, which incorporates an iPod-specific connector so users can play their favorite tracks on their iPods as well as control hands-free calling with their iPhone or other mobile phone. Using voice recognition, the device requires no button pushes or screen touches.
The RK8200 Car Stereo will be available in the second quarter of 2008.
Philip Berne, Matthew Ruiz, Edward Distel and Sindre Lia contribute to the CES 2008 coverage.
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