I got given one of these little things from my mum as a gift. When purchasing her new mobile phone, she managed to talk her way into receiving a free Bluetooth headset even though she already had one! As the slowest person in our family to catch on to technology, and her only sibling who did not already use bluetooth, she said I could have it!...sometimes there are advantages to being slow!...
Since then, I find I cannot live without it when pootaling around in my clapped out car to work or on the long venture home. In the past I used a standard handsfree kit, supplied with my phone, however I found this fiddly and irritating with all the wires dangling around, and more often than not I ended up just switching the phone off.
This stylish, compact wireless headset is quick and easy to setup, with a sensitive microphone and speaker for clear conversations even when driving. The battery life beats almost any on the market within its price range oh, and you get the added bonus of looking like a secret agent!
¨¨¨¨¨¨¨¨¨¨"°Ί Summary of Features Ί°"¨¨¨¨¨¨¨¨¨¨ Compatible with Bluetooth-enabled mobile phones that support headset and hands-free profiles Ergonomic earhook with improved back housing design to form fit to your ear Enhanced audio performance Up to 8 hours of talk time and 130 hours of standby time Multi-function button to control 3-way calling, call start and end, hold, mute. Removable earhook to allow the headset to be worn on either ear Advanced volume controls include orientation technology to assure that volume controls will always be upright Blue LED light to notify when the headset is in use, or turn off this feature if you choose Bluetooth 1.2 provides quicker pairing, better audio with less dropped calls and reduced interference from other devices
(Taken from the Motorola website, see links.) The Motorola H500 has been available in the UK since 2005.
¨¨¨¨¨¨¨¨¨¨"°Ί The Package Ί°"¨¨¨¨¨¨¨¨¨¨ There are a couple of options when buying this product. The standard kit consists of the following: Headset Charger User's Guide You can also get a special Internet Calling Kit package, containing the H500 and a PC850 adapter (too allow use with Skype Internet calling), as well as a RAZR Fashion Bundle, which contains the H500, a carrying case for RAZR and display cleaner (Note: everything in pink!) :o|
I should also mention here the instruction/operation manual. The manual is well lain out and easy to understand, explaining clearly each of the buttons and their operations, charging and computer setup.
¨¨¨¨¨¨¨¨¨¨"°Ί The Design Ί°"¨¨¨¨¨¨¨¨¨¨ ~~~Weighing in at 17g - The Headset!~~~ When I first took the headset out of the box, I thought "wow"! The H500 felt surprisingly solid, yet smooth on the touch, with no real angles to speak of. Personally I think the aesthetics of this headset are fantastic, someone at Motorola must have been paid well to do this! The exterior is extremely stylish and a smart use of smooth curves ensures the design clearly out strips all other similar models. The ear hook is slim and almost unnoticeable, bending beautifully with the curves of the earpiece itself.
If you are the kind of person who is passionate at looking perfect (like me, of course!) or annoyed with everyone having the same gadget, then the H500 could suit you well. Not only do you get the "secret agent" image, but there are also 13 trims available to choose from! You could have a different one for each day of the week for almost two weeks, or if you have a massive family, then you will never get confused as to whose is whose! This is certainly a clever marketing strategy, increasing the possible audience of the H500 to almost everyone and I like it! You may of guessed, I like mine with the matt black finish you can never go wrong with that sleek, stylish and it matches my Samsung!
The ear hook is reversible and manufactured from a high-grade plastic, which means you don't get that toy feeling when holding the H500. The rear and bottom parts are made of soft rubber pad, which rest comfortably on your ear, facilitating the possibility of prolonged use. So far I have had no major problems with comfort, however as I tend to remove the headset when not in use, I can't truly comment on this.
The speaker is also made up of the same soft rubber padding, which is positioned perfectly inline with your ear, making the headset feel cosy and secure when in use. Overall, both the build and finish of the H500 are top class With an intelligent use of materials and no unwanted gaps present, the headset is exceedingly comfortable to use. The only fault I can find with the design is the use of a shiny metallic finish for the front panel housing, which is a definite fingerprint magnet. But, you can wipe it off so the solution, if you're worried is to look after your stuff or avoid touching that part, which is almost impossible with the main button there!
~~~Charger~~~ The H500 charger has a mini USB connector, which makes it possible to charge it via a PC with a mini USB-USB cable plugged in. It takes around 1 hour to charge the headset from empty to full using standard charger and nearly 2 hours to do the same using the USB cable connected to a PC.
¨¨¨¨¨¨¨¨¨¨"°Ί Performance Ί°"¨¨¨¨¨¨¨¨¨¨ For me the H500 has performed well with most day-to-day activities, but this could be subject to ear size etc. What I mean by that is, it may not work as well for someone with a small or particularly large ear as there is no adjustment, however after passing it around my family I found no one had any real problems. When I first put the headset on, I tested its security. Shaking my head around I found the headset felt slightly loose, which was a little worrying, however it did not fall off. I have had no such problems when using it in the car either, even when bumping over sleeping policemen.
There are three buttons on the H500 casing, which are used for all operations. The main button is located on the front panel, with two volume buttons situated on either side. I find the buttons are well designed, with a noticeable feel when pressure is applied, although at times the volume buttons can be awkward. One of the best features of the H500 is the button operations. Motorola have utilised a clear and easy to use set of operation instructions, combined with simple feedback sounds and lights to aid the user with operation of the headset, whilst maximising the features available.
~~~Main button~~~ This button is a multi-functional key for activating calls, switching pairing mode on, dialling last used number, holding call and switching calls.
When the headset is switched off: Holding the main button until a steady light appears activates the pairing mode. Holding the main button until you hear a tone, switches the headset on.
When the headset is switched on: Holding the main button until you hear a tone, switches the headset off
When the headset is on standby: Holding the main button until the first beep, activates voice dial. Holding the main button until a second beep, activates re-dial
When the headset has an incoming call: Holding the main button until the first beep, answers the call Holding the main button until the second beep, rejects the call
When in a call: Holding the main button until the first beep, ends the call Holding the main button until the second beep, holds the call
When there is a call waiting: Holding the main button until the first beep, ends the first call and answers the second Holding the main button until the second beep, holds the first call and answers the second.
When in the second call: Holding the main button until the first beep, ends the call Holding the main button until the second beep, switches calls
Although this all sounds a little confusing, I found that even with my small brain I was able to pick up on it very quickly! Its surprising how much you can do with one button.
~~~Volume Buttons~~~ The volume controls, situated on the sides of the headset. With a clever use of simple technology (a ball seal inside the headset) the upper key will always increase volume and the lower decrease, which ever ear you have the headset on. As well as adjusting the volume of a call, these buttons are also used for the following.
When in a call: Holding both volume buttons, mutes/un-mutes a call (very handy little feature!!)
When in the second call: Holding both volume buttons, activates a 3-way call
Once again, a very clever use of button operations, whilst keeping it simple! As I have said, the button operations are fantastic and the design is almost spot on. The only let down with the buttons is the fact that they are possibly too smooth. As they blend into the curved design, they are sometimes hard to find and could do with a slightly more defined touch indication.
~~~The Speaker~~~ I have not tried any other Bluetooth headsets, so I am afraid I cannot give a quality comparison, however I have found the H500 to have a good range of volume, making it easy to hear in noisy environments (including my clapped out Renault Clio!). When I have had problems hearing people on calls, I have always been able to increase the volume until it is comfortable and have never felt the obligation to reach the maximum limit.
I am also pleased with the backup tone feature available, which you hear when you have an incoming call to your mobile. As I sometimes have my phone on silent mode, this backup tone has alerted me several times before I was aware of the phone call itself.
~~~The Microphone~~~ I find the "multi-directional" microphone clearly picks up my voice, however some say it is better for deeper voices and does not register the higher tones so well. All I can say on this is that the receivers of my calls have been able to hear me and have not mentioned anything.
A downfall to the multi-directional microphone is that it is possibly too good. I have been told there is sometimes quite a lot of background noise present when using the headset, which is something that needs to be improved. Although, you could say this is to be expected, as there is no sound reduction software present within the headset. If you always drive with your windows open or work in a busy street, then this may not be the headset for you as there are superior noise reducing headsets available the thing is, you will have to pay the price.
I have also found that when I am outside the recommended range of 10 meters, my mum has said it is almost impossible to hear what I am saying, even though I have had no problems hearing her. This is annoying when working in my room or in the kitchen, however it is easily avoidable by keeping the phone close by. Sometimes my mum has told me to speak up, but I think that is more to do with me mumbling!...plus she is getting old, bless her! (Sorry mum!)
~~~Connection~~~ The H500 is very easy to pair up with a phone via auto-pairing, which worked very well. I have found all the key operations function as they should, with no problems switching between calls or dialling last number. I should also mention that the H500 can keep up to 8 paired devices in memory, just in case you share in around! I have not attempted to pair up my headset with the PC, as I do not use Skype, however if it is similar to pairing with a phone, then it should be simple. It is also very straightforward to connect the headset to the mini-USB charger and I have found no problems with faulty charging.
~~~Battery life~~~ The H500 is powered by a small Li-Ion battery, boasting a battery life of up to 200 hours standby time (approx 8 days) and nearly 8 hours of talk time, which is above average for a headset in its price range. I have found the headset to be easily operational for three to four days when used for about 1 hour of calls per day).
¨¨¨¨¨¨¨¨¨¨"°Ί Price and availability Ί°"¨¨¨¨¨¨¨¨¨¨ The Motorola H500 is widely available. You may find a variety in price range, however you must remember that there are several different kits available. The standard kit is currently on sale for around £20, with the pink special edition available from £50.
¨¨¨¨¨¨¨¨¨¨"°Ί Conclusion Ί°"¨¨¨¨¨¨¨¨¨¨ Overall, I am very happy with this gift. The Motorola H500 is a very stylish, well designed Bluetooth-headset, which I feel is a really good buy if you have a lower budget in mind. It is well suited for driving and office work, although may struggle in loud environments. The huge variety in colours and simple curvature of the design make it appealing to both genders and although the H500 is aimed toward a fashion accessory market, its performance is top-notch in battery life, comfort and ease of use. If you are looking for more austere design, improved noise reduction and amplified sound quality, then you may wish to look else where.
Lastly, I have to say thank you to my Mum for giving me such a hands free gift!
¨¨¨¨¨¨¨¨¨¨"°Ί Pros Ί°"¨¨¨¨¨¨¨¨¨¨ Price Ease of operation Battery life
¨¨¨¨¨¨¨¨¨¨"°Ί Specifications Ί°"¨¨¨¨¨¨¨¨¨¨ Bluetooth profile - Bluetooth v.1.2 Class 2 Pairing - up to 8 paired devices in memory Weight - 17 g. Lifetime - 8 hours of talk time, 200 hours of standby time.
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