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GN Netcom's GN 9350 DECT 6.0 headset (now called the Jabra GN 9350) is one of the most versatile headsets I have ever reviewed. When GN Netcom told me they had a new headset that did both PC audio and Phone audio, while leveraging the range and interference-free characteristics of the DECT 6.0 standard, I just had to review this headset. (Note: DECT 6.0 operates at 1.9Ghz so it is less apt to have interference from WiFi 2.4Ghz signals) With the GN 9350 you can get your "Skype" on, your iTunes on, and your phone on, all using one wireless headset. Sweet!

Update: Jabra now has the Jabra GN 9350e, the successor to the popular Jabra GN 9350. Read on for more!

Comparatively speaking, the GN 9350 is similar in functionality to the Plantronics Voyager 510 Bluetooth headset, which I reviewed here. Both support VoIP, both can use any PC audio application, both use USB, and both are wireless. However, the similarities stop there, since the Voyager 510 uses Bluetooth and the GN 9350 uses DECT 6.0 for wireless connectivity. The advantage of the Bluetooth wireless spec is that you can use the same headset both on your PC (using the Bluetooth USB dongle) and your Bluetooth-enabled mobile phone. The GN 9350 wasn't designed for mobile phones, but rather for traditional enterprise desktop phones, which the Voyager 510 cannot connect to. Thus, these products target a slightly different target audience. Although, I should mention that Plantronics has a higher-end model of the Voyager 510 called the Voyager 510S, which supports mobile phones, desktop phones, and PC audio (VoIP) using Bluetooth.

Here's a picture of the higher-end Plantronics Voyager 510s:


One advantage of the DECT 6.0 spec over using Bluetooth is range. When I tested the Bluetooth-enabled Plantronics Voyager 510, the audio started to get choppy just 15 feet away. On the other hand the DECT-enabled GN 9350 worked flawlessly with no choppiness even 250 feet away. GN Netcom claims 300 feet of range for the Jabra GN 9350 headset.

Installation
Installing the GN 9350 was a breeze. You simply connect the phone wire to one of its ports, the handset cord to the other RJ11 port. I will say that connecting the phone connectors was a bit tricky because the ports are recessed about 1/2 inch in with a lip that hangs over and a tiny opening, making it difficult to get your fingers inside to clip the phone clips. I basically had to hold the wires from the outside and gingerly aim the RJ11 clips into the female ports - I felt like I was defusing a bomb like the injured "Cappy" in the scene from Executive Decision. It was then that I realized that the cover on top is actually removable making it easy to make the connections. Silly me. Under the cover I was surprised to discover an LCD display and a 4-way thumbpad allowing you to customize various features, including volume, bass/treble/normal, hookswitch selection, range/power selection, and finally protection level, which protects against sudden spikes in volume. There is also a switch for choosing which type of phone system you have. In any event, after hooking up the phone wires and playing with the LCD settings, I then hooked up the AC adaptor and the USB connector and was good to go.



Base Unit Features
On the front of the base unit are 2 buttons for switching from PC to phone and 7 LEDs. One LED indicates when the headset is charging on its base (flashing) or when the headset is in use (solid). Another LED, red in color indicates when you have the headset muted. Another LED indicates USB connectivity, another for power, and 2 blue LEDs indicate whether you are in PC or Phone mode.

Headset Features
The headset is very flexible in it's wearing styles. You can wear it headband wearing style, neckband wearing style (wraps behind your head), as well as "over the ear" wearing style. features automatic volume adjustment that sets the volume on all calls (phone or VoIP) unless you set the auto-volume protection to level 0. The headset also features noise reduction which can remove background noise from your environment.

The headset features a noise-cancelling boom mic, a charging port, and a three-way switch on the end that performs volume up/down, as well as mute when you press it in. On the outside of the headset is a blue LED that blinks when in use and is off when not in use.

In addition, your headset can also be used with DECT cordless phones, which are GAP (Generic Access Profile) compatible. You simply have to pair the headset with the cordless phone's base station by pressing the headset's talk and mute buttons simultaneously for 5 seconds after entering the cordless telephone's GAP mode. Relatedly, the headset supports a multi-unit conferencing capability. Simply start a call, then place a 2nd headset on the base unit for 2 seconds. Then remove the headset and this headset will be conferenced into the call. You can repeat for any additional 2 headsets for a total of 4 headsets in the call.

Here's an interesting feature - emergency dialing via VoIP. The base unit supports "speed dialing" emergency services using your VoIP application (softphone) simply by pressing the PC mode button and the Phone mode button simultaneously for 5 seconds. This is useful for when your workstation is locked and you're trying to shave off some seconds. Of course, I can type my password in less than 5 seconds as I'm sure most people can, but perhaps the emergency is that you injured your hand - which would make it a little difficult to do the three-fingered-salute (Ctrl-Alt-Del) to log on.

Testing
The voice quality was excellent and I was very impressed with the ~250ft range before the audio started to cut out. Overall, I was pleased with the sound quality, range, and the ability to switch from streaming music (PC) to an incoming call (Phone). If your phone is supported, you'll even hear a beep in the headset letting you know of an incoming call. If you have the optional handset lifter, it can even lift the handset so you can take the call without being at your desk. The 9350 also supports EHS (electronic hookswitch) to automatically answer a call, which does not require the handset lifter. Only certain phones support EHS. You can go to www.gnnetcom.co.uk/UK/EN/EHS-setup.htm to see if your phone is listed.

Unfortunately, when you set the base unit to default to the “phone”, it appears that you can't toggle from music to phone and then back to music using the headset button. You can only go from music to phone. So for example, say you are away from your desk, listening to streaming radio, and then an incoming call comes in. You click the headset’s button to switch to the phone connection, which uses the remote handset lifter to answer the call. You talk for a bit, you end the call and then wish to return back to the PC’s streaming audio. You can't do this remotely. You have to press the button on the base unit in order to switch back to the PC audio. 

Similarly, when you set base unit to default to “PC” audio, on an incoming call, you cannot switch to the “Phone” using just the headset. You have to be physically at the base station and press the phone button.

Not a big deal, since in most cases you will be near your PC & phone (and therefore the base unit). Nevertheless, wireless headsets do add some nice office mobility, so it would be nice if you could hold the headset button for say 3 seconds and it would toggle to the opposite (PC or phone) connection. Perhaps this is a simple firmware or software upgrade of the 9350. I'll contact my sources at GN Netcom and see if its possible.

I found it a bit of a pain to put the 9350 headset back on the base unit to charge it. If you are slightly off, the charging prong hits the plastic on the headset and won't insert all the way down. I had to wiggle the headset a bit to get it to dock. However, with a little practice, I was able to get it docked on the first try about 90% of the time.

Beeping and blinking... Beeping and blinking (William Shatner - Airplane!)
When simply using the headset to listen to PC audio (music) I found that the mic picks up sounds and plays it back over the earpiece. For example, if listening to music, with the mic unmuted and you hit the mic boom with your hand, it picks up the sound and plays it over the ear piece. Or if I simply turn my head and the mic hits my cheek, it will pick this sound up. I was able to mute the mic, but then it beeps every 10 seconds which is annoying.

Beeping is a great reminder when using the phone feature – so you don’t accidentally forget you are muted, but when in PC mode, unless using a VoIP software all the time (requires the mic is unmuted), I prefer that the microphone be muted with no beeping.

Pros:

• Better range than Bluetooth headsets (300 feet).
• Battery life is 9hrs PSTN talk time and 6hrs VoIP talk time.
• Connects to both desktop phone and PC (USB)
• Uses DECT 6.0 spec and DSP for excellent sound quality.
• Integrates with DECT 6.0 cordlesss phones.
• 3 wearing styles.
• Multi-unit conferencing capability.

Cons

• Slightly heavier than the Plantronics BT headset.
• Can't toggle from PC/music mode to phone and then back to PC/music. Can only go once from PC to phone. Or when in PC default mode, and currently on a call, you can only switch once to PC and cannot return back to the phone mode.
• Bit of a pain to dock the headset into the base unit.
• Can't disable the “beep” when muted feature is on

Conclusion
Even with the beeping issue and the toggling issue, overall, I was very pleased with GN Netcom's GN 9350. It is now my office headset of choice due to it's excellent range and very good feature-set. This multi-purpose headset is great for the office since you can be working, listing to streaming music (without distracting fellow employees) and then switch instantly to phone mode on an incoming call. Having all these features, range, and sound quality will set you back $349 MSRP. However, I checked Amazon and I see the GN 9350 listed on Amazon for under $279.

Important Update!
The Jabra GN9350 is now discontinued. A newer updated version called the Jabra GN9350e DECT 6.0 Wireless Dual-Functional Office/VoIP Headset System with DSP Technology (Model# GN9350E) is the successor to the Jabra GN9350. Another GN9350e model comes bundled with a handset lifter(GN1000 RHL), which you can view here: Jabra GN9350e Dual-Connection Wireless Headset for Desk and IP Telephony with Handset Lifter (9326-617-205).

Personally, I like the Jabra GN9350e because it is the first wireless headset that supports wideband telephony. When used with VoIP telephony applications such as Skype, the Jabra GN 9350e sports an amazing 6.8 kHz range which is twice that of conventional telephony. It also has a phenomenal range of up to 350 ft, and up to 9hr of talk time - plenty for the entire work day. It has Digital Signal Processing (DSP) technology which "removes sound impurities from the incoming audio, enriches sound quality and maintains a safe consistent volume level." The GN 9350e's has a sleek boom arm with an enhanced noise-canceling microphone. Three wearing styles are available. It has a better range and batter life than the 9350, so that reason alone makes it a better headset.

So to sum up your headset purchasing options:
Jabra GN9350 headset no handset lifter - discontinued, but about $20 cheaper if you can find one. Has less features than the new GN9350e though ~$242
Jabra GN9350e headset no handset lifter - latest and greatest minus the handset lifter - ~$279
Jabra GN9350e headset with handset lifter. - latest and greatest with handset lifter - ~$297 - so for just $18 more, you can get the handset lifter. That's my recommedation.

What's going on here!

Now we have Apple recalling more than 1 million of its notebook batteries (try 1.8 million), accorded to an Associated Press story via CNN.

Seems the batteries were made by Sony; sound familiar?

With all of the noise about Dell's exploding batteries and increasing in-flight security precautions, isn't it about time that battery manufacturers got their act together to make better batteries?

Well, it doesn't take along ...

According to the always interesting AppleInsider, leading notebook makers Apple, Dell, and Lenovo will be holding a summit meeting next month to begin development of standards for the manufacture of lithium ion batteries for portable and handheld electronics.

You see, these companies are part of the OEM Critical Components Committee of the IPC-Association Connecting Electronics Industries -- an organization of 2,400 companies which represent all facets of the electronic interconnection industry, including design, printed circuit board manufacturing and electronics assembly.

Apparently the Committee had identified lithium ion batteries as the next product for standardization, but is going to accelerate its activities because of all of the recent (bad) news.

Not too many gadgets hit the age of 50, especially in the world of computers, but the hard drive is still going strong at 50 years of age!

(I never would have guessed!)

(An age that many may feel depressed about while looking longily at retirement, which looms not that far on the horizon).

Now, analysts are predicting that more drives will be sold over the next five years than in all the previous years combined.

The hard drive has become ubiquitous, being used in everything from iPods to TiVos to cars (that sounds funny)-- and still in computers, for that matter.

Nice brief from CEA Smartbriefs, which points to the always reliable The Mercury News, which has the whole great story.

And yes, that big bad thing to the left is the first hard drive, with 50 spinning, 24-inch-wide disks covered with red paint.

(Like the red paint touch -- wonder why they picked that color?  After all, it was an IBM product that came out of the lab in Silicon Valley -- San Jose, to be exact).

According to recent reports, our desire for storage continues to grow by leaps and bounds -- good thing we are storing 0's and 1's (digital data), not physical goods or we would all have to live in castles! (or at least very big houses).

(Look at that big analog storge pile!)

Hard drive manufacturers such as Seagate Technology, Western Digital and Hitachi Global Storage Technologies as well as flash memory providers, such as Samsung, are beefing up the technical capabilities of their products to meet consumers' growing storage needs.

Incredibly, flash memory capacity is doubling about every nine months, according to anaylst firm IDC (as captured by and the Associated Press), which forecasts that hard drive shipments will reach $41.5 billion in 2010.

While it may seem funny -- exploding laptops, burning laptop batteries -- make no joke about it, this is serious business.

Dell's announcement to recall 4.1 million notebook batteries (made by Sony) is scary stuff if you have seen the destruction a burning notebook battery can cause or have read about the numerous instances of fires at factories, on plane, in cars, etc., apparently caused by these batteries.

Follow the sage advice and remove the battery and run the laptop on AC power until a replacement battery is received.

The Dell website at www.dell.com has detailed information or you can click here to read the recall notice.

Don't wait!

 

With all of the excitement around Apple and little (or at least not so much) around Microsoft computer products and gadgets, many may be thinking of switching from a PC to a Mac.

(Not too many going the other way ...)

Well, if that's the case, check out the fine article in yesterday's New York Times' "Circuits" section.

Anybody what to counter any of those observations?

 

As the demand for energy conservation continues to grow, corporations are tailoring their products to better meet consumers' needs.

Intel underscored this trend when it unveiled 10 new Intel Core 2 Duo and Core Extreme processors earlier this week. The new processors are designed to conserve energy by more than 40 percent while simultaneously running numerous applications at faster speeds.

(Faster, better, cheaper anyone?)

Intel officials say these new processors enhance high-definition video playback, protect a PC and its assets during e-commerce transactions and offer a longer battery life.

In related news, Intel and Micron Technology jointly announced that they are working together to develop a new, more powerful flash memory chip designed to offer greater capacity for mobile devices and other consumer electronics. (This according to Newsfactor.)

The new chip technology offers 4Gb of memory, whereas the current generation of flash memory, like that which used in MP3 players, typically reaches only 1Gb.

Engineered through IM Flash Technology, a joint venture of both companies, the smaller-sized flash chips could provide more memory for storing more songs on portable music devices or more pictures in a camera phone.

To get the full picture, visit www.newsfactor.com

 

Earlier this week, Dell officially opened its first U.S. retail store (can you believe it!) in its home state of Texas -- Dallas to be precise.

(No, that's not the new store in the photo; it's the corporate headquaters in Round Rock, Texas.)

Word is the new store carries Dell's high-definition TVs, desktops, notebook PCs, printers and other devices like digital cameras and MP3 players.  (So this looks more like a "digital CE lifestyle" play ...)

Del currently has 170 kiosks throughout the country and is planning to open an additional U.S. store in West Nyack, NY, later this year.

(You have to wonder why West Nyack?  It's not exactly a close suburb of NYC; would think you'd at least go for one of the many malls in New Jersey ...)

Haven't they learned from all of the other electronics companies that have gone this route? Then again, with their direct sales model, what CE retailer is going to want to stock Dell products?

It's funny how your never have enough storage on your computer.  (It's like always wanting one more room in a house -- or at least one more closet.)

Now storage has become increasingly important for holding all of our new digital media files (music, photos, videos) as well as all of the other stuff on our computers.

It's also become increasingly important to back up all of our precious digital data -- and we all back up regularly, don't we?

(We don't?)

The easiest way to add storage is to add an external drive (much easier than opening up the "box" to poke around inside with slots, cables, static electricity, etc.). WIth that in mind, the NewerTech miniStack v2 features up to 500 gigabytes (GB) of high-speed bootable storage; integrated, powered FireWire and USB 2.0 hubs; intelligent thermal monitoring; and auto power convenience with manual engagement option.

The award-winning box works with any Mac, PC, or Linux computer with an available FireWire or USB port. (Probably best with the Mac Mini -- exact footprint, design engineering and color.)

Features include:

• USB port and FireWire port located on the left side for more convenient connections
• USB 2.0 High-Speed 3-Port Hub
• FireWire 1394A 3-Port Repeater/Hub
• Switch for Firewire or USB hard disk mode
• Smart interactive cooling system with thermal probe automatically regulating fan speed
• Massive passive heat sink to radiate heat away from hard drive
• Smart power switch (powers up and down in tandem with Mac Mini
• Special micro security slot designed to allow it to be anchored to a desk

Pre-configured solutions also include EMC Retrospect Backup and Intech HD Speedtools.

New pricing for the NewerTech miniStack V2 250 GB unit is $189. The miniStack V2 also is available without a hard drive in a 0GB "Add Your Own Hard Drive" enclosure kit for $79.95.

www.NewerTech.com