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The Orb – Ultimate Geek Ring?

Feb 09

PhilTechnology bluetooth, gadgets, geek, mobile, phone, ring, wedding No Comments

This post looks at the new Orb Bluetooth headset which converts from a ring, worn on the finger, to a Bluetooth earpiece and back again; and why I want one!

I think I may have mentioned before that I consider myself a Geek and I am really not afraid to admit it. However, if I were a soon-to-be-married Geek, this is the ring I would be asking for (it is too late for our 10 year Anniversary, what’s the next one I can ask for a ring as a present?).

It has been developed by a company called Hybra Advance Technology and it all sounds a bit futuristic and fanciful, but it might just be real because it won the 2010 Best of Innovations Award at CES last month with a promised launch date of ‘Spring 2010′ for the OLED version and later in the year for the very nice looking full colour FOLED (Flexible Organic Light Emitting Diode – in case you were wondering) version.

I recently lost a bluetooth headset, and replaced it with something even smaller and even easier to lose, but if I had a bluetooth headset that could be worn as a ring, there’s a chance I may not lose it.  Although, at the moment my wedding ring gets in the way, or gets badly scratched, somehow, when I wear it.  So I would be worried about a high tech, display carrying, ring that I wore on my hand day in, day out.

The price isn’t too bad at $129 for the OLED and $175 for the deluxe version, although with the UK Tax, I am not sure what this will equate to in Sterling.  If it turns out not to be vapourware, I am quite keen to hear the performance of this headset with the iPhone, especially in the place most bluetooth headsets fail miserably, in the car on a motorway at 70mph!

Just a word of warning though.  Our local constabulary are exercising a ‘No Excuses’ policy on bad driving at the moment.  If you leave this thing on your hand and get a call whilst driving, handsfree or not, imagine how difficult it will be to get this headset off your finger, twisted round into ‘headset mode’ and in your ear before the caller hangs up and keep the car on the correct side of the road, if on the road at all!  I think you would have to remember to lodge this headset on your ear before setting off in the car, or on your bike, etc.

Anyway, if my better half is reading this (which I seriously doubt), she might take the hint, the nice one should be out in time for our Anniversary in September.

Just saying…

Key details on the ORB: (From the Press Release – link at the bottom of this post)

• Harnesses bone conducting technology from NXT Sound to deliver high quality sound without the discomfort of placing a device inside the ear.
• Delivers Class 2 Bluetooth (~30-ft range) in multiple ring sizes.
• Offers vibratory alerts of incoming calls and messages.
• The base model features an E Ink display that shows caller ID, text messages and calendar reminders.
• The deluxe edition features a FOLED (Flexible Organic Light Emitting Diode) screen for full-color display of caller ID, text messages and calendar reminders.

The Orb – Press Release (PDF File)