14 DAY TRIAL // The Bluetooth Special Interest Group (SIG) announced the winners of its second annual Best of CES Contest, an event held during the International Consumer Electronics Show (CES) in Las Vegas.
Thirty-three member companies of the Bluetooth SIG submitted Bluetooth enabled products in the categories of mobile phone, headset, audio, printing and imaging and Human Interface Device (HID). The Bluetooth SIG tested each product and judged them on a variety of criteria, including ease-of-use, look and feel and overall usability of the product as expected by the average consumer.
Bonus points were given to products complying with Experience Icon requirements. The Experience Icons make it simple for people to understand what a Bluetooth enabled device can do and how it will work with other devices for file transfers, printing, listening to stereo audio and more. Manufacturers are encouraged to use the icons on packaging of certified Bluetooth enabled products.
The winners of the Bluetooth SIG Best of CES contest are (finalists are indicated in parentheses):
- Overall - Motorola O ROKR - Mobile Phone - Samsung Blackjack [finalist: Samsung SPH-m10]
- Headset - Plantronics Discovery 665 [finalist: Motorola Portable Bluetooth Hands-Free Speaker T305]
- Audio - Logitech FreePulse Wireless Headphones [finalist: Motorola O ROKR]
- Printing and Imaging - HP Photosmart A618 [finalist: Kodak EasyShare Photo Printer 350]
- Human Interface Device (HID) - Newton Peripherals MoGo Mouse X54 [finalist: Logitech diNovo Edge]
- Honorable Mention - Parrot MK6000, Peiker Bluetouch Music, Jabra A125s
Finalists in each Bluetooth SIG Best of CES category were displayed at Pepcom's Digital Experience! press event on the eve of CES, as well as in the Bluetooth SIG pod at the Sands Exhibition Center. Press and analysts who attended were able to cast the final vote for the winner of each category. The winners were announced at the Bluetooth SIG member party at Tao in the Venetian resort on Tuesday evening.