Ringer -- Engadget Mobile

ringer posts

BlueQ's unsightly Vibrating Bluetooth Wristband

by Darren Murph posted May 18th 2007 @ 12:01PM

There's no shortage of vibrating alerts available for your cellphone these days, and while the MBW-100 watch will kindly inform you of whose calling while still looking relatively stylish on your arm, BlueQ's simplified attention getter certainly lacks any hint of fashion. BQ Wireless has unveiled a stripped down wristband that simply sports an internal Bluetooth module, on / off button, and a Transfer button in case your cellphone won't automatically take over the cal from the device. Put simply, this wrist adornment shakes your arm when someone's trying to ring you up, and while this may be somewhat less noticeable than a blaring ringtone in the middle of a crucial interview, it's bound to be exponentially more embarrassing when someone informs you that your articulatio radiocarpea is buzzing uncontrollably. Nevertheless, it's slated to hit retailers in July for $39.95 if you're still interested.

[Via Slashphone]

BlackBerry Pearl won't ring in your pocket

by Chris Ziegler posted Sep 17th 2006 @ 12:53PM

Anyone who's had the good fortune of seeing a Pearl in the flesh knows that it's one extraordinarily good looking phone, particularly by BlackBerry standards. Unfortunately, where we come from, phones that don't ring are called "paperweights" -- which is exactly what the Pearl becomes when the trackball gets nudged. You know, like if it's in your pocket, or your purse, or pretty much anywhere besides a stationary counter top. As it turns out, when the phone rings, the handset immediately silences the ringer with even the slightest movement of the trackball, regardless of whether keylock is enabled. While we do appreciate the Pearl taking the initiative for us and ignoring phone calls so we don't have to, there is an occasional situation where we like to make the decision ourselves, and until RIM issues a fix users simply don't have that option. Strangely, two Engadget editors patiently attempted to explain the issue to a RIM representative this week at CTIA for several minutes without success; we think the first step to RIM issuing a fix would be for the company to understand the problem, so we could be in for a bit of a wait. Maybe the words we were using were too big?

Motorola patents cellphone shock BUZR

by Marc Perton posted Apr 21st 2006 @ 11:47AM

If you need to turn that ringer off in a movie theater or meeting, but find that the ol' vibrate mode just isn't doing it for you anymore (or if you need a surefire way to wake yourself up in the AM), Moto has the answer: shock mode. The company has filed for a patent on what it calls "a system that allows a cell phone to set off electrodes on a stimulator pad, alerting users of incoming calls." Moto also notes that the system can be used for "therapeutic stimulation," and that customized patterns -- think of them as the shock equivalent of ringtones -- can be downloaded to enhance the experience. We assume it'll only be a matter of time before someone figures out how to use this as a weapon (or at least a 21st century alternative to the joy buzzer) as well. And if you thought you had trouble getting through security with your camera phone, just give it a try with one of these babies.

[Via Mobiledia]