6 Bluetooth Wireless Gadgets for Better Living

Bluetooth wireless technology has been around since 1994, but I never realized what a positive impact it’s made on my own life until I paused recently, realizing that I now use no less than six Bluetooth devices on a daily basis. Not only are they indispensable, but they have simplified my life and given me great flexibility. And much coveted geek cred.

Most people use Bluetooth wireless headsets for hands free operation of their mobile phones. And some have Bluetooth keyboards and mice. All are common applications. But if that’s all you use Bluetooth for, you might want to take a closer look at my list.

Here are my favorite Bluetooth gadgets, listed in order of acquisition.

#1 & #2 – Logitech Mouse and Apple Wireless Keyboard

I bought these at the local Apple Store to use with my Mac Mini at home. No cables, and no clutter. The Apple Wireless Keyboard (affiliate link) is very compact, and when I hook up the Mac Mini to my 47″ Vizio LCD TV, I can simply bring the keyboard and mouse over to the coffee table and control everything from there. The Apple keyboard looks amazing, and is really easy and comfortable to type on (your mileage may vary; it’s a personal thing). I really like the form factor. Compact, good looking, space-saving. And I’ve even used it with my Windows 7 laptop, just for kicks. Works fine.

The Logitech VX Nano Cordless Laser Mouse (affiliate link) was, for me, a much better choice than the funky Apple mouse. Coming to the Mac as a former Windows guy, I like the left/right buttons and the scroll wheel. Plus I read reviews that the little roller ball that Apple was using at the time in lieu of a scroll wheel tended to gum up quickly. This mouse has worked perfectly.

I’ve been using both the Apple Wireless Keyboard and the Logitech Bluetooth Mouse for over two years and love them!

#3 – Jawbone JAMBOX

The Jawbone JAMBOX (affiliate link) is a sweet little brick-sized speaker that first catches your eye, then impresses the hell out of everyone who hears it. It’s essentially a rechargeable external speaker that can double as a speaker-phone. It is sturdy and looks and sounds great. Friends who had one of those Bose table-top speakers said it sounded as good as that, although I suspect if you put them side-by-side, the Bose would win out. But for the price and the portability, you can beat this.

Check out this video  for a “day-in-the-life” of a Jambox, and you’ll understand why I love this gadget.

#4 – Pioneer AS-BT100 Bluetooth Adapter

The Pioneer AS-BT100 Bluetooth Adapter (affiliate link) is a very specific device that is designed to work with certain models of Pioneer A/V receivers. Of course, most receivers today come with front-facing jacks that allow you to plug in peripheral devices such as an iPod or iPhone.  But being able to accomplish the same thing without cords or cables? Perfection!  I have paired three devices with my receiver: my Mac Mini, my iPhone 4 and my iPad. It works beautifully with rich sound. It’s a joy to sit on the couch with my iPad and browse through music or setup a new channel on Pandora. Highly recommended.

#5 – Motorola S9-HD Bluetooth Stereo Headset

I love to listen to music when I workout. I could be lifting weights, on a machine or running down the beach trail — the music gives me energy. The problem I always had was my damned earbuds. They’d be constantly falling out (not a problem when I’m sitting relatively still, but never fails to happen when I’m running). And the cord was constantly getting snagged on something; my watchband or a branch. Very annoying.

The Motorola S9-HD Bluetooth Stereo Headset (affiliate link) is rechargeable and stereo with a design that hooks over your ears. The sensation is a little bit like wearing glasses. It sounds great, doesn’t fall off and even includes a mic for handling phone calls. Problem solved.

#6 GOgroove FlexSMART X2 Bluetooth FM Transmitter

My 2005 Nissan Xterra has a great Rockford Fosgate stereo system, but it doesn’t have a auxiliary input or iPod/iPhone support. Ugh. Yeah, the 6-disc changer will play MP3s, but that’s too much like work — compiling playlists and burning CDs.

The GOgroove FlexSMART X2 Bluetooth FM Transmitter (affiliate link) plugs into a power port with a gooseneck to the nicely designed controls and display. The rest is purely cord-free bliss. I pair my iPhone via Bluetooth, and the FlexSmart plays my music on an unused FM frequency through my car stereo. Now I’ve got all my music (at least, all that I carry on my iPhone) and I can crank it right through the car stereo.

And when I get a call, my music is paused and the audio quality both ways is great!

So there you have it — six, great little gadgets that I now use every day. I know there are plenty more. What Bluetooth wireless gadgets are on your list?