Call goes out to inventors
The maker of the Skip Dr. repair device for CDs is challenging others to come up with new consumer-electronic product ideas.
Arlington Heights, Ill.-based Digital Innovations is sponsoring its first annual awards for design, originality and creativity. Cash and prizes totaling $25,000 will be awarded to four inventors. The first-place winner, will receive $10,000 to help further his or her idea, a chance for an exclusive licensing agreement and a trip to the Consumer Electronics Show in Las Vegas. Three finalists will receive $3,500. All will receive mentoring from Digital Innovation.
Inventors are urged to send in their ideas for new audio, video, computer, or gaming accessories and peripherals before the Nov. 8 deadline.
“We wanted to honor other people that think like us and honor another generation of inventors,” said Mary Foster, director of marketing communications for Digital Innovations.
Winners will be announced at the Consumer Electronics Show on Jan. 5. More information is available at www.digitalinnovations.com/awards.
– Kimberly S. Johnson, The Denver Post
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Jabra downsizes wireless headsets
Wireless headsets for talking on mobile phones will soon be as small as a cotton swab – and just as easy to hide in your ear. For the foreseeable future, they’ll still be tacky and fashionably questionable, but at least headsets are getting smaller and more comfortable to wear.
The newest – and smallest – headset from Jabra, maker of mobile phone accessories, has a compact device that barely extends beyond the user’s ear. The BT350, available for $79 through mobile-phone carriers, electronics stores and at www.jabra.com, uses Bluetooth wireless technology to communicate with Bluetooth-enabled phones. For those that do not have Bluetooth, the company sells an adapter. The nice thing about Bluetooth headsets is that you don’t need to be next to your phone to have a conversation. As long as you are within about 30 feet, the connection works. Hence, the phone can be in a car’s back seat or on the kitchen table while you are making dinner.
– By Eric Benderoff, Chicago Tribune
