bluetooth

Patch Tuesday has arrived. As expected, Microsoft released a relatively small number of patches for July, but that is no reason for IT admins to let their guard down--especially when one of the patches is a Critical update for Windows 7 and Windows Vista.

New WLAN protocol Wi-Fi Direct can link your phone to a headset, keyboard, disk drive or network, simpler, more securely and more easily than Bluetooth.

"Head First Python" provides a pretty comprehensive tour through the Python language with a lighthearted approach that includes lots of graphics, lots of asides and annotations to the text, lots of answers to "dumb questions" (questions that might be naively asked), and lots of exercises intended to give your brain a bigger picture of the subject matter.

You can transfer information and files between BlackBerry smartphones in countless ways, but one of the quickest and easiest methods is via Bluetooth.

The core specifications for Bluetooth v4.0, a technology declared one of the "10 Mobile Technologies to Watch in 2010 and 2011" by Gartner based on its perceived potential to evolve and impact short-term mobile strategies and policies, have been finalized by the Bluetooth Special Interest Group (SIG). The next-generation Bluetooth wireless protocol promises lower power consumption and faster transmission speeds than existing Bluetooth.

Maybe you've seen Bluetooth Johnson, the bathroom texter or Han Solo, the holster master, in action. Hopefully you're not one of them.

Reader Nick Bradsworth misses an option he once found in Mac OS X 10.5 Leopard. He writes:

Each year, more and more new cars include built-in connection options for iPods, iPhones, and Bluetooth devices. But if you’re not yet in the market for a new car, you can still get such connectivity via an aftermarket upgrade. Sony’s MEX-BT5700U, a member of the company’s Xplod line of automobile head units, is a solid option that lets you connect both iPods and iPhones.

In the increasingly connected world of the enterprise, mobility is fast becoming the key driver in ensuring the business process goes through its course uninterrupted.

The WiFi Alliance announced a new wireless networking specification which will enable devices to establish simple peer-to-peer wireless connections without the need for a wireless router or hotspot. WiFi Direct has a wide array of potential uses, many of which encroach on Bluetooth territory and threaten to make the competing wireless protocol obsolete.

A few weeks ago I praised the Plantronics Voyager Pro high-end Bluetooth headset for its noise-reduction features and extremely comfortable fit (you really can wear it all day). Two other headset vendors wanted my opinion to see how they compare with the Voyager Pro, so let's check out these other contestants: