The smooth little black pebble above from XtremeMac is a new combo charging/bluetooth-streaming option called the InCharge Home BT ($80). Pretty simple concept: Plug it into a wall outlet, then hook it up via the 3.5 mm jack to any speaker system and bango, you’ve given the system Bluetooth streaming capability, which means you can stream music to your speakers from any iDevice or Mac; then use the USB port to charge stuff (comes with a USB t0 30-pin connector and a 3.5 mm jack cable). There’s also an auto version called, naturally, the InCharge Auto BT ($80) that XtremeMac says allows hands-free calling, so we’re assuming it’s equipped with a microphone.
When he was eight, Eli Milchman came home from frolicking in the Veld one day and was given an Atari 400. Since then, his fascination with technology has made him an intrepid early adopter of whatever charming new contraption crosses his path. He calls San Francisco home, where he works as a journalist and photographer. Eli has contributed to the pages of Wired.com and BIKE Magazine, among others. Hang with him on Twitter.
29 responses to “New Bluetooth Gadget Turns Any Speakers Into Bluetooth Speakers”
What would be the reason to buy this over an Airport Express for about the same price…?
Apple’s Airport Express streams music over wifi, not Bluetooth, and requires the speaker system to be fairly close to your modem/ethernet cable (because the AE needs to be physically connected to both the modem and the speaker system).
Their website says “Coming Soon.”
Any idea when it will be available for pruchase?
Belkin Bluetooth Music Receiver is only about $40
Not only that, but the Belkin one has been on the market for months now…actually, closer to a year…
Give it a few days — press release said it was available now, possible they haven’t updated their website yet.
I dont think this is true. The airport express connects to your wireless network with no cable and then pushes out music to speakers that are hooked up via a 3.5 mm heaphone jack. So yes your speakers or system need to be close or you need to get a extension cable for your rca cables or headphone jack to speakers
Why does this beat the one below, which has been on the market for well over a year?
http://www.amazon.com/BlackBer…
Of course, you’re correct; in my scenario, I’m imagining using the Airport Express also as a router — which needn’t be the case. One can use the AE simply to stream music over wifi.
It doesn’t necessarily beat either the Belkin or Blackberry versions. It’s simply new, which made it news. Hence the post.
Jabra Clipper and Jabra BT3030 have been around for a few years and do this. They can even connect multiple devices at once.
Jabra Clipper and Jabra BT3030 have been around for a few years and do this. They can even connect multiple devices at once.
$80 for connection to speakers from your iThing.
Or $99 for an AppleTV that does all that and more more more. http://tiny.cc/appletv99
Sure, the AppleTV is designed to be attached to a TV, but that isn’t required. And in any case, I bet most users would be trying to stream to the speakers associated with their best stereo, which would be attached to their TV in most cases.
But it’s a belkin, so likely to be DOA from the package. Or die a week later.
how do yiu connect your speakers to this ?? what good quality speakers have a 3.5 jack?