BlueTake Bluetooth Audio Station Review

By Ian Bell Published January 1, 2005

Quote from the review at The Tech Lounge:

“Wireless. This word is usually followed by numbers such as 802.11 b, 802.11g, etc. But did you know there is another form of wireless called Bluetooth? Bluetooth has been with us since 1998, but now we are seeing more and more products with the technology built in. Many of today’s PDAs support the Bluetooth standard as do many cell phones. But what is Bluetooth and why should you care?

Recommended Videos

Unlike its 802.11 brethren, Bluetooth technology is a shorter range wireless technology that allows different devices to talk to one another. For example, a wireless mouse or keyboard can use Bluetooth to send data to your computer. A PDA can hotsync with a computer through Bluetooth. As I mentioned previously, many modern cell phones support Bluetooth â€“ which makes it possible to use wireless headsets. Bluetooth can also be used to transmit audio for cordless headphones and other media accessories. So basically Bluetooth is an all-encompassing wireless standard that allows differing pieces of equipment to interoperate seamlessly. It operates in the 2.4 GHz band which is also the same band as cordless phones, 802.11 products and many others. To avoid the obvious interference issues, Bluetooth modulates the signal in such a way as to avoid other devices. Also, unlike 802.11, Bluetooth “pairs” devices such that they only talk with each other. Of course this is all in theory, testing will be the true test.

For our first delve into the wireless technology of Bluetooth, we have several products from Bluetake. They have sent me the BT007X Bluetooth USB adapter, the BT420 EX i-phono Bluetooth Hi-Fi Sports Headphone Kit, and finally the BT460 EX Hi-Phono Bluetooth Hi-Fi Audio Station Kit. Each of these products stands on its own, but what I really intend to find out is how well these products work with each other. That will be the true test.”

Read the full review

Publisher

I work with the best people in the world and get paid to play with gadgets. What's not to like?

Topics

Entertainment

Sebastian Stan lays out Bucky’s future after Thunderbolts

Sebastian Stan in Thunderbolts.

There are some spoilers ahead for the ending of Marvel's Thunderbolts. Stop reading now if you don't want to be spoiled.

Earlier this year, Captain America: Brave New World briefly introduced a new direction for James "Bucky" Barnes, a character Sebastian Stan has been playing since 2011 in Captain America: The First Avenger. In Brave New World, the former Winter Soldier apparently retired from being a reformed hero and went into politics by running for Congress. Thunderbolts reveals that Bucky won his election to the House of Representatives. But his stay in Congress was short.

Cars

Jeep Compass EV breaks cover—but will it come to the U.S.?

jeep compass ev us newjeepcompassfirsteditionhawaii 4

Jeep just pulled the wraps off the all-new Compass EV, and while it’s an exciting leap into the electric future, there's a catch—it might not make it to the U.S. anytime soon.
This is a brand new electric version of the Jeep Compass, and being built on Stellantis' STLA platform—the same architecture underpinning models like the Peugeot E-3008 and E-5008—it looks much slicker and packs a lot more inside than previous versions of the Compass.
Let’s start with what’s cool: the new Compass EV is packing up to 404 miles of range on a single charge, a 74 kWh battery, and fast-charging that gets you from 20% to 80% in about 30 minutes. Not bad for a compact SUV with Jeep's badge on the nose.
There are two versions: a front-wheel-drive model with 213 horsepower and a beefier all-wheel-drive version with 375 horsepower. That AWD setup isn’t just for looks—it can handle 20% inclines even without front traction, and comes with extra ground clearance and better off-road angles. In short, it’s still a Jeep.
The design's been refreshed too, and inside you’ll find the kind of tech and comfort you’d expect in a modern EV—sleek, smart, and ready for both city streets and dirt trails.
But here’s the thing: even though production starts soon in Italy, Jeep hasn’t said whether the Compass EV is coming to America. And the signs aren’t promising.
Plans to build it in Canada were recently put on hold, with production now delayed until at least early 2026. Some of that might have to do with possible U.S. tariffs on Canadian and Mexican vehicles—adding a layer of uncertainty to the whole rollout.
According to Kelley Blue Book, a Stellantis spokesperson confirmed that the company has “temporarily paused work on the next-generation Jeep Compass, including activities at” the Canadian plant that was originally meant to build the model. They added that Stellantis is “reassessing its product strategy in North America” to better match customer needs and demand for different powertrain options.
So while Europe and other markets are gearing up to get the Compass EV soon, American drivers might be left waiting—or miss out entirely.
That’s a shame, because on paper, this electric Jeep hits a lot of sweet spots. Let’s just hope it finds a way over here.

Entertainment

Charlie Cox singles out his least favorite Daredevil: Born Again episode

Charlie Cox in Daredevil: Born Again.

Daredevil: Born Again season 1 was largely reconceived after the 2023 actor and writer strikes. Dario Scardapane -- a veteran of The Punisher series on Netflix -- was brought in to be the new showrunner and he made a lot of changes to the series that were well-received. However, there's one episode that Scardapane didn't really change at all, and it happens to be the least favorite episode of Daredevil: Born Again's leading man, Charlie Cox.

During an appearance on The Playlist, Cox noted that he wasn't very fond of the season's fifth episode, "With Interest," which was a largely standalone episode that featured his character, Matt Murdock, in a bank during a hostage crisis.

	
		OSZAR »