The latest Bluetooth portfolio from Samsung appears to have all the newest features wrapped into one. The Samsung HM3700, HS3000 and HM1700 Bluetooth headsets have been announced and will be up for sale through T-Mobile.

The HM3700 lets users place voice commands to make or receive calls and allows them to receive text-to-speech voice notifications of incoming calls, messages and e-mails with the help of the Samsung Freesync application for Android. The app also allows multiple language support, to control headset and LED settings and pairing assistance. The Bluetooth 2.1+EDR headset has a talktime of 6 hours and playtime of 5 hours.  The HM3700 ($59.99) dual Bluetooth headset is designed for consumers looking for a conventional noise-canceling Bluetooth headset with the ability to stream stereo audio. While it can be worn as a mono-style headset for placing and receiving calls, it can also transform into a stereo Bluetooth headset when connected to the included ear buds.

 

 

The second model, the HS3000 ($69.99), is a clip-on stereo headset with ear buds, active pairing, multi-connection technology, Sound Alive stereo enhancement technology, single-mic noise cancellation and echo cancellation. It uses APT-X technology, an optional lossless codec that can be used in the Bluetooth Stereo profile and results in low latency. The clip-on HS3000 headset equipped with multi-connection technology allows listening to music from various sources. It uses an optional lossless codec, APT-X technology which can be employed in Bluetooth Stereo Profile for low latency and distortion. The issue of lip-sync when connected to APT-X enabled devices is also said to be taken care of. Users can enjoy a talktime of up to 7 hours and a playtime of about 6 hours with this Bluetooth 3.0 enabled headset.  The HS3000 has up to seven hours of talktime, 170 hours of standby time and six hours of play time. It comes in black/gray.

 

The last new headset, the HM1700 ($39.99), is billed as an affordable and stylish headset. Features include single-mic noise canceling, wind-noise reduction and voice-prompt capabilities. It has nine hours of talktime, 350 hours of standby and up to eight hours play time. It comes in gray and magenta. The sleek and affordable HM1700 headset transmits audio without distortion in wind speeds of up to 6mph. In a metal design flashing grey and magenta color options, the device claims stereo-quality audio through Mono support. A talktime and playtime of 9 hours and 8 hours, respectively are offered with this headset.

 

All headsets are incorporated with other features like Advanced Multipoint Technology, active pairing, voice prompts and dual-mic noise and echo cancellation for clear audio too. They’re capable of stereo music streaming. HM3700 and HS3000 come with ear buds and transform mono-style to stereo with Sound Alive Enhanced Stereo Audio.

The Samsung HM3700 Bluetooth headset carries a price tag of $59.99 (approx. Rs. 2,690) and is available at T-Mobile retail stores along with the Samsung and T-Mobile official websites. The Samsung HS3000 and HM1700 Bluetooth headsets are priced at $69.99 (approx. Rs. 3,135) and $39.99 (approx. Rs. 1,790), respectively and will be available in few weeks.The HM3700 has up to six hours of talktime, 180 hours of standby time and five hours of play time. It comes in gray.

Texting while driving isn't just a problem in the US. Keisha Wall, a 20 year old from the UK, was sentenced by a judge to two and a half years after she struck and killed an elderly woman in her Suzuki Jimmy 4x4. 

Wall was checking a text message while driving when she lost control of her car striking the 63 year-old Christine Lyon pinning her against a wall.  Wall’s passenger, her mother, who ironically is a driving instructor, was present during the collision.

Wall had passed her driving test eight months before the collision, was convicted of causing death by dangerous driving.

The Reading Crown Court found that she had been texting consistently before the accident and had received a text message within one minute of the accident.

The judge ruled that Wall had received the text message and attempted to read it, causing her to lose control of the vehicle, and said that there is no excuse for anyone using a mobile phone behind the wheel.

Wall had ‘deprived a loving family of their mother and grandmother and a husband of his wife of more than 40 years’, said Judge Stephen John, as he sent her to a young offenders’ institute.