Wireless iPod

Here it is. The next thing I had to do with my new Sony Ericsson stereo bluetooth headset was to make it work with my iPod. This is an obvious direction. The whole idea is to get rid of the cables and have just one universal headset that works with a phone, a notebook (including VoIP calls) and a music player. And of course switch automatically between the devices, especially to pause the music when the phone rings and resume playback once the conversation is done.

Up to this day there has not been a product able to do this, although the scenario seems to be so natural and expected... One day (must have been some two years ago) I even proposed the iPod itself could behave as a bluetooth phone headset, pausing the music and taking calls as needed. But nobody listened...

So now what is pictured here is how the upcoming next generation (delayed) iPod will look like. A headset, a phone and an iPod. Working together seamlessly. Too impatient to wait? Then follow my formula. First you have to agree the Walkman brand does not offend Apple, and buy yourself the wonderful Sony Ericsson HBH DS970. Then pair it with your phone, so you can make the calls. Then go to www.griffintechnology.com and look for a BlueTrip. Griffin has always been the leader in iPod accessories, so if you need something special for your player, they probably have it. BlueTrip is a wireless music set, a transmitter and a receiver. For my purpose (to stream music to the DS970) I needed just the transmitter, so the receiver will probably go for sale on eBay (or may be the Griffin guys will rethink their strategy and start offering the transmitters alone?). Anyway the BlueTrip system works over the A2DP (Advanced Audio Distribution Profile), a Bluetooth way to transmit stereo signals. What can be experienced here is the power of standards. You take the Sony A2DP headset, plug the Griffin A2DP BlueTrip into an iPod and everything works (actually I was not that sure it would, until I tried). The music goes over the air in full stereo to your ears while the phonecalls will interrupt your Nirvana (pun intended!) and everything returns to normal after the call is released.

A2DP will be big. trust me. It will make its way into a galaxy of audio devices. After headphones and iPod, the next step is car audio. Pioneer already has one. And Sony is not behind. And if you don't plan to change your head unit, there is always an A2DP cassette adapter to try :)

Simple? Yes! Intuitive? Definitely! Hey, Mr Jobs, don't let Sony overtake you, show us the real wireless iPod soon!