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March 23, 2009 8:04 AM PDT

Apple discontinues its iPhone Bluetooth headset

by David Carnoy
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(Credit: Apple)

Another day, another tidbit of news about a minor Apple product that most people don't care about.

In this case, it's the company's $100 iPhone Bluetooth headset; a MacRumors forum commenter noticed that Apple's Web site had a "discontinued" notice on the product.

When the headset came out in late 2007, we gave it a fairly positive review (it got 3.5 stars). However, readers weren't as keen on it, rating it at 2.5 stars. Buyers seemed to like the design and build quality but weren't as impressed with performance (sound quality, battery life).

Does this mean that Apple is out of the Bluetooth accessory game? Probably not, because the accessory game is such a good game to be in (as far as margins go). But the big question is whether Apple is getting ready to launch stereo Bluetooth headphones, now that the iPhone and iPod Touch will offer stereo Bluetooth support.

Good stereo Bluetooth headphones are hard to come by, so we'd like to see what Apple can deliver. Anybody else interested? Or are all Apple accessories (with the Apple name on them) overpriced for what you get?

(Source: Gizmodo via MacRumors)

Hunkered down in New York City, Executive Editor David Carnoy covers the gamut of gadgets and writes his Fully Equipped column, which carries the tag line "The electronics you lust for." He's also the author of "Knife Music," a novel. E-mail David. Follow David on Twitter.
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by ComposMentis March 23, 2009 8:59 AM PDT
I want to see Apple design some small bluetooth earbuds. I don't know how far along bluetooth tech is, but I want to break free from the wires and I don't want to put some cans on my ears.
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by kingrah1 March 23, 2009 9:04 AM PDT
stereo bluetooth headphones are EXPENSIVE! I love sound quality but I dont want to pay $50+ on them.
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by EltonJohnWayneBrady March 23, 2009 12:22 PM PDT
$50 is not a lot for headphones, how often do you buy them...make it worth it.
by U. Tripps March 23, 2009 9:10 AM PDT
If the sound quality is the same as that of the white earbuds, then even in an eventual stereo incarnation, this product is far overpriced.
Reply to this comment
by TaySharpe March 23, 2009 9:27 AM PDT
I want to see sterio bluetooth headphones that sound great, aren't big and bulky, and can stay on while I run. I hate the cord as I'm running, and the earbuds always fall off.

I doubt bluetooth earbuds are going to come around any time soon. Their too hard to build that small with any kind of good quality, and you'd lose them right away!
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by js818 March 23, 2009 9:29 AM PDT
blue tooth headphones will drain the batter of the iphone even faster. Why not use wired headphones unless you don't care about charging your phone several times a day.
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by arbearce March 23, 2009 9:32 AM PDT
Too much time is spent on "reporting" about crappy apple products. Would we hear about Motorola discontinuing a Bluetooth headset? I doubt it since it isn't all that exciting yet we hear about lame Apple things all the time..
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by iPhoneUser March 23, 2009 9:51 AM PDT
The difference is the marketing machine that is Apple. Just look at the iPhone 3.0 OS update last week - what other firmware update has been followed so closely? And Apple being the marketing geniuses they are, hid lines of code in the bowels of the 3.0 OS beta rollout that point to future products that have not even been mentioned before. So, they were able to generate additional buzz for a measly firmware update and it cost them nothing to get the additional buzz.

Ask yourself this question - who besides Apple is driving the technology in this market? Since the iPhone, nearly every single smartphone RIM or Google/Android have made, or even the much-anticipated-yet-sure-to-disappoint Palm Pre bear a striking resemblance to the iPhone in some form.

Plus, what Apple says, Apple delivers. Just look at Dell's smartphone status (cancelled due to lack of interest) and you'll see why people like reading about anything Apple. Hearing about what Motorolla is discontinuing to try to offset sliding profit margins is hardly news, this has been going on for a few years now.

My advice to you is to discontinue your internet service as the buzz surrounding the next gen iPhone gets into full swing sometime next month.
by biggstuu March 23, 2009 10:10 AM PDT
funny, Apple's lameness seems to always make their non-lame competitors copy what Apple's doing. Damn Apple and their lame way to bring usb to pc's, pushing the All in one config, bringing x64 computing to masses in consumer level apps, making an OS that just works and a ultra lame small factor phone that every other company has in their cross hairs launching "lame phone killer" campaigns. Apple is soooooo lame.
by iPhoneUser March 23, 2009 11:32 AM PDT
Hehe...indeed. Imitation is the highest form of flattery in my book.

Just look at the Palm Pre - a more correct name would be Palm Post, as in "look what we can do Post-iPhone".
by csoccer1 March 23, 2009 7:59 PM PDT
moto sucks. everyone knows that. but your a minority here, most people think most of apple's products are pretty good. and marketing, apple basically controls what we see on tech blog sites. they just invite a few bloggers to a press event, give them a hands on, and give them a free macbook. bloggers are sold. but who wouldn't be?!
by kingrah1 March 23, 2009 9:45 AM PDT
I bet they are ditching it because its bigger than the iPod shuffle!
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by heavydevelopment March 23, 2009 10:19 AM PDT
As a former owner of said bluetooth device. If the headphones are anything like the earpiece--they will suck ass. The earpiece was one of the worst products I've ever used. You litteraly could not hold the phone in you hand and keep a connection. Apple should stay far, far away from bluetooth on the iphone (this was written with an Apple bluetooth keyboard--so they do some stuff well).
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by EltonJohnWayneBrady March 23, 2009 12:25 PM PDT
Ill admit the BT is shoddy but you are making it out worse than actual signal strength is. Are you on iPhone 1st or 2nd gen?
by jabberwolf March 23, 2009 10:20 AM PDT
Oh this is grand~~~!!!

Now all the apple fans are saying 'oh we didnt need bluetooth anyway.. it really isnt useful, etc...'
Typical and comical!
Thank you guys for always giving the rest of the IT community a good laugh!

Now back to other devices that work, and other phones that actually support stereo bluetooth!
Reply to this comment
by iPhoneUser March 23, 2009 11:38 AM PDT
I read through ever post and did not see one person saying they didn't need bluetooth or that it isn't really useful. But never miss a chance to lump every single person who may like something Apple in to one big fanboi cluster huh?

Yeah, Apple and their crappy devices...iPhones not working, iPods not working, Shuffles with no buttons...

Wait, the IT community has a sense of humor? The jury is still out on this... ;)
by sciontcya March 23, 2009 11:54 AM PDT
NO, it's our little piece of the IT pie that laughs at the likes of YOU!
Trust me...
I love BT, but never tried Apple's.
Maybe it's time for them to make a better BT headset?
Earbuds?
At least Apple know when to QUIT!
Unlike the makers of the ZUNE!
And you laugh at US?
ROFL
by EltonJohnWayneBrady March 23, 2009 12:30 PM PDT
Who said they didn't want BT? I am all for any improvements on ANY product. *** man?
by givemeglenn March 23, 2009 10:57 AM PDT
I've had the Apple Blue-tooth since I've had my iPhone 3G...never had a problem with it. I've been able to have conversations while using the iPhone to look up other contacts, read the Internet, e-mails, etc. with no problems.

I'm not sure what all of the other complaints are all about. Obviously I'm now more concerned about replacement or repairs.
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by EltonJohnWayneBrady March 23, 2009 12:29 PM PDT
The only problem i have had with the BT headset is lack of range. It will drop a call if you are more than 12 feet from your phone. Not horrible but then again not great!
by Vegaman_Dan March 23, 2009 11:38 AM PDT
Somehow this seems a bit... coincidental considering Apple had previously denied that the Apple Touch had Bluetooth capability, but only then after the unit had been disassembled and a Bluetooth chipset found on the device that they acknowledged that there might be such a device on the unit, but nothing official.

And then they publically say it will be available after you pay for the OS upgrade:

http://news.cnet.com/8301-17938_105-10198524-1.html

I expect since the Touch is not meant to be a phone, that it will have a stereo headset and removing the mono earpiece from the offerings would tend to back this up.

Some day Apple will simply just tell it like it is without playing all these games. It's getting old, Apple. You're not helping your fans any with this sort of treatment.
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by csoccer1 March 23, 2009 8:02 PM PDT
apple denied bluetooth on the first gen ipod touch. they actually stayed silent on the ipod touches bluetooth untill the 3.0 preview. even when explaining the Nike+, they never mentioned bluetooth.
by sciontcya March 23, 2009 12:08 PM PDT
Vegetable_Dan - the Keith Olbermann of CNET discussions...
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by EltonJohnWayneBrady March 23, 2009 12:27 PM PDT
LOL
by iBuzz March 23, 2009 12:41 PM PDT
I'm glad to see this go. Perhaps they're coming out with a redesigned version that actually works.

This is the first Apple product that I was completely disgusted with. Although the design looks cool, for me, this headset simply didn't work well. It was always disconnecting from my phone. And, while I bought this so that I could talk on the phone while driving, I found that it was forcing me to take my eyes off the road to look at the phone to see if the thing was making a connection or was still connected. It was terrible.

Also, the audio frequently had static. There was no volume control. And whenever I talked on it, people would ask where I was because the sound quality from the microphone was so bad. Battery life was terrible as well. With normal use, I found I had to recharge it on a daily basis.

I think I paid $100 for it and felt that I was completely ripped off. This product certainly didn't live up to the Apple brand that appeared on it.
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by csoccer1 March 23, 2009 8:03 PM PDT
i like the jawbone 2 much better. idk, this just seemed toooo simple for me.
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by seven7dust March 24, 2009 12:26 PM PDT
see even Apple make mistakes !
but unlike others they admit them and move on { eg-:Vista }
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