Cordless headsets

Earlier this week our friend (and former Skype blogger) Jaanus Kase noticed an issue that's affecting some users of the FREETALK Wireless Headset--it appears that the headset's microphone doesn't work properly in Mac OS X 10.5 Leopard. Commenters on my original review have noticed poor performance on Mac, and Jaanus noted in his post that the mic does work properly when he's running Windows through Parallels on his Mac.

I've been asking around and I'm still not exactly sure what the issue is, but Skype Support has informed me that they're aware of the problem and are working with ISS (the company that makes the headset) and Apple on resolving it. They haven't been able to reproduce the error on Mac OS X 10.4 Tiger (which was the OS used for Mac Skype Certification).

If you have a FREETALK Wireless Headset and are experiencing poor performance on Mac OS X 10.5 Leopard, you have two options. You can either wait for an updated driver that will resolve the issue, or you can return it for a refund / replacement.

If you've purchased the headset from the Skype Store in the past 30 days and wish to return it, you can return it through the Skype Store's normal return policy (here's the EU Store's policy).

If you've had the headset for longer than 30 days, are running Mac OS X 10.5 Leopard and don't want to wait for the updated driver, you can speak with Skype Support. They'll give you the option of getting a refund or a replacement unit (if you think your problem might be due to a hardware fault).

Ahh, wireless headsets. For the longest time they've been great in theory but sometimes are difficult to use in practice. Bluetooth headsets are small and can work with your mobile along with your computer (if both have bluetooth), but pairing a headset with a computer and having it always ready to use can be difficult to set up. And only having one ear for audio doesn't exactly make for great sound quality when listening to music.

But now FREETALK has come along with a new solution: its new Stereo Wireless Headset takes a great pair of stereo headphones and adds an easy-to-use microphone and a simple USB interface for charging and wireless connectivity. The result is a great way to use Skype (and really anything involved with audio on your computer) without any tangled cables. I've had the chance to try out a FREETALK Stereo Wireless Headset for the past few days and I've got to say, it's quite a liberating experience indeed. Read on for my full review.

Continue reading "Skypegear Roadtest: FREETALK Stereo Wireless Headset" »