My birthday was a few months ago, and my lovely wife, knowing I am a bit of an Apple fanboy, decided to get me the Apple Bluetooth Earpiece for the shiny firstgen IPhone she had gotten for me last Christmas. I was grateful, but am not a big fan of bluetooth earpieces and after reading the negative reviews decided that I would return it to the Apple Store and exchange it. Nice Husband huh.
I wasn’t quite sure what to get, so I went to the online apple store and look for things that cost about the same as the bluetooth headset, and I came accoss the Contour SSC Car Kit; and decided I would get it.
In all its glory
On paper it seemed interesting. Lets just say I was pleasantly suprised.
What this is is basically a flat panel speakerphone. It fits neatly on my visor, took 5 seconds to pair to my Iphone and just works. The sound quality is great, people sound clear and even when driving around with my window down no one has problems hearing me. I have had this thing since mid-May, and granted I don’t speak on the phone a lot (maybe a few minutes every day) I have yet to have to recharge it, I just take for granted that when I flip down the mic boom its just going to work.
Its simple to use, you flip down the mic boom and the device will connect to the paired phone. There are 2 buttons, a toggle switch for the volume and a pick-up/hang-up button. The device uses beeps and a female voice to let you know things such as “Handset Connected” and the like. In fact the device pairs so quickly I leave it in power off mode and when I get a call I turn it on and it picks up right away.
So yeah, not a real technical review, but in you were looking to spend about $100 or if your state now mandates hands-free devices for phones in vehicles this thing gets my vote.
UPDATE:
It is now November 17, and I still yet to have to charge this thing. I really must say it was a good investment!!!
I bought one of these too, after reading the reviews, and sure, it is clear and appears to pair easily.
However, I hate the totally inconvenient pick up/hang up press key. The unit is not fixed securely enough to be able to just press it, and the unit is too wide to conveniently span it with your hand to provide some security. Anyway, it is shielded by the microphone arm so it’s not easy to reach. For ergonomic design; Zero!
I’m also having heaps of trouble holding call, which just drop out after a few minutes or seconds – they’re still on the phone, just not on the Contour, and when this happens (75% of the time) the iPhone doesn’t recognise the pairing.
I’d throw it away if it hadn’t cost me so much!
See, I don’t even use the pick up key, when my iPhone rings I just flip down the mic on the contour, as long as I flip it by the second it pairs quickly and the call gets answered by the speakerphone. I cannot say I have had any drops.