14 DAY TRIAL // Hearing solutions manufacturer Oticon, Inc. has released an upgraded Streamer Pro that enables users of Oticon wireless hearing instruments to connect to iPhone via a free app downloadable from iTunes.
The Streamer Pro is small and acts as a sidekick that facilitates Bluetooth connectivity with other Oticon devices (hearing aids). The upgraded version makes use of the ConnectLine app which offers compatibility with all wireless hearing aids designed by Oticon since 2007 to this day.
The app combines remote control features for hearing instruments with an intuitive interface to the ConnectLine system.
“The launch of the Streamer Pro will immediately benefit more than two million hearing device users who will experience a new level of convenience and discreetness,” says Oticon President Peer Lauritsen. “Our simple, intuitive functionality gives Oticon hearing instrument wearers the ability to connect to iPhone via Streamer Pro without compromising sound quality.”
Paired with the new app, the Streamer Pro offers the ability to switch to a bevy of input sources, with options to adjust the volume individually for each source.
A user can seamlessly move from music to FaceTime calls and connect to the entire integrated ConnectLine system, which streams audio from things like the TV set, landline, personal microphones, etc.
The app clearly displays the current program used and offers customization options to dub programs in accordance with their activities. Examples include: restaurant, office, sports, last number dialed, reject call, and voice dial.
“The new connectivity solution is designed to ensure that users can take full advantage of the advanced audiological features available with Oticon hearing instruments including true binaural signal processing for enhanced sound quality,” adds Lauritsen. “Streamer Pro’s low power consumption allows people to enjoy simple, easy connections to a range of communication devices throughout the day.”
Anyone can download Oticon ConnectLine for free from the iTunes App Store with an iOS 7 device, such as iPhone 4, iPhone 4S, iPhone 5, iPhone 5s, iPhone 5c, iPad second generation, iPad third generation, iPad fourth generation, iPad Air, iPad mini, iPad mini with Retina display, or iPod touch fifth generation. Supported languages include English, French, German, Japanese, Spanish.
The screenshots up on the App Store reveal that Oticon A/S is quite fond of the minimalistic graphics in iOS 7 and replicated Apple’s design line across its own app. While the app is certainly neat, a person with vision problems (in addition to hearing impediments) could have a hard time using Oticon ConnectLine, as the graphics are a tad too subtle.