Did I mention that I am still waiting on my Logitech Bluetooth Headset? Apparently it’s still on backorder, just like it has been for about the last 3 months. One I’ll get it… maybe… or something. I called them and they said it was still on backorder, but that they had the next shipment coming in any day. That was a week ago. No sign yet.

I wonder what the reasonable limit to wait on something like this is? I would guess that 3 months is well past it, but I wonder what it was (for next time).

Still waiting on that Logitech Bluetooth Headset… I sent it back to Logitech and they were supposed to be sending me a replacement, with new firmware, that will work with all my devices. It’s been something like 2 months now and I haven’t received it. I suppose it’s pretty lucky that it’s not urgent that I receive it – since it’s been so darned long.

Well, I got the replacement headset from Amazon… which had exactly the same problem as the first one!

I called Logitech this time, and talked to a guy called David who was really helpful. We went through the process of pairing, connecting etc. Tried turning off anything else bluetooth in the area (i.e. phone and iPAQ); nothing worked. Apparently there is a known issue with their Mobile Phone Suit software that can cause a similar problem, but I wasn’t using that anyway, so that wasn’t the case.

After trying everything we could think of, David checked the product number (on the barcode) and apparently mine was one of the original release ones. They have upgraded the firmware since that model to make multiple-pairings and different profile support better. I’ve sent back the headset (to Logitech in CA this time), at my expense ($12.50!), and they’re apparently going to send me one of the newer models to see if that will work, so fingers crossed.

I’m returning my headset to Amazon for a replacement already! I contacted Logitech support, and basically they said return it because it sounds defective. I suppose that’s a good thing (i.e. that they aren’t messing me around).

This will be my first return to Amazon. I’m very impressed with their service for purchases, so we’ll see how things go with a return 🙂

First slight problem – part of their process is to print out a label that you use on your return package, so that you don’t have to pay postage. On their page where it is generated, it looks great. Of course they forgot that the default setting is to not print background or borders, so it doesn’t look as good when printed. They should have generated the entire thing as an image and done it exactly as they wanted… Oh well.

I had to do it.

I’ve just ordered a Logitech Bluetooth Headset from Amazon.com, which I should be able to use with:

1. My PC (diNovo Bluetooth hub) – Should be great with Skype!
2. My Mobile/Cell Phone – For normal calls, and for listening to the radio/mp3s (radio doesn’t work without a headset for some reason)
3. My iPAQ H5550 – For listening to mp3s mainly, since it doesn’t operate as a phone, although I suppose I could use it for PocketSkype as well

I looked at a Jabra EasySpeak (250), but decided on the Logitech headset (despite it’s size), based largely on all the comments and user reviews around the place saying that the audio quality on the Jabra isn’t that great, and that it is excellent on the Logitech one. I’m not really expecting to use it much for my mobile phone anyway, so being invisible isn’t of great concern to me at this point 🙂

After getting my diNovo and getting it set up, I suddenly had Bluetooth on my desktop PC. So – what to do, I couldn’t very well just leave it there only running my mouse and keyboard, I had to see what else I could cook up. First step was easy: iPAQ.

I got my iPAQ transferring files quite easily, and after some tinkering with simulated COM ports and whatnot, I now have it so that I can do a complete ActiveSynch via Bluetooth, which is pretty cool I reckon. I just turn BT on on my iPAQ, then go to the synch program on it and say “Synch via Bluetooth” and off it goes. I have it and my desktop in a paired, trusted relationship, so they don’t ask for any passphrases or permissions or anything now. I can right-click on files and say “Send to… Bluetooth device” and send a file directly to my iPAQ as well, which is handy if I just want to throw one additional file over there, rather than doing a complete synch.

When it was time to move overseas, I decided it was also time for a new phone (possibly a bad move, but that’s another story about the tyranny of telecommunications companies and their strangle-hold on the market). I decided to get a Nokia 6230 for a couple reasons, mainly photos + video + bluetooth + tri-band. I installed the Nokia PC Suite 5, which includes the Nokia PC Synch and some other bits and pieces, and again, after some fiddling around with simulated COM ports, had it synching up with my PC (Outlook)’s Contacts and Calendar entries. Now I get 2 warnings for things, one on my iPAQ and one on my phone :). The best part though is that it means every contact number I have in my PC, is also available on my phone, which is a great thing to have.

So my Bluetooth Triangle consists of my desktop PC, which includes Bluetooth mainly to drive the keyboard and mouse, but which provides a central connection point for my phone which synchs in contacts and calendar items, as well as the ability to transfer photos and videos (and MP3s, since it has a media player built in), and my iPAQ, which does complete synchronisation with the desktop. I also can use my iPAQ to edit images taken with my phone’s camera by simply ‘toothing them over to it, working away, then ‘toothing them back – easy!

Well, believe it or not, I finally received my Logitech diNovo Media Desktop (keyboard and mouse)!!! I have to say, it’s pretty darned cool – looks totally awesome and works a treat.

On the suggestion of a couple of reviews I’d read around the place, I didn’t bother installing the Logitech Media Desktop, which looked like a bit of a joke, and I skipped using MusicMatch Jukebox because I’d rather use WinAmp, but I suppose I can live with Windows Media Player (so that I can use the Media Pad to control playback etc).

So – the installation you ask? Well, it wasn’t too bad, but I did get a bit frustrated because at the end of the process (I actually did install MusicMatch, but then removed it again), the installation of MusicMatch, which is supposed to be completely integrated… crashed. Nothing nasty like a BSOD, it just sat there for an inordinate amount of time, until I called in the friendly neighbourhood Task Manager and politely asked the installer to leave. On top of that, it doesn’t currently appear to want to uninstall cleanly, so I might actually have to run the install again, just so that I can get it to install properly… so that I can uninstall it. The irony.

Apart from that – it’s a very cool combination, and so far I’m liking it. I think the control of Media Player from both the Media Pad and keyboard (they both have the media wheel thing) is awesome, and the display of current playing details on the Media Pad is a very nice touch. It’s also pretty cool that you can hit a button and turn it into a navigation pad (Windows key, arrows etc) or a stand-alone calculator, but they are just extras given the package you’re getting already.

Now I just have to wonder if there’s anyone out there snooping every letter I type?…