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From November 1, it will be illegal to talk on a cellphone while driving. Gadget guy Ben Gracewood checks out hands-free phone options.
Navman MY500XT GPS
Price: $700 RRP
Like most high-end in-car GPS devices, the Navman MY500XT has
built-in Bluetooth hands-free calling. Unfortunately, while Navman
have picked up their game in terms of the GPS device's usability,
the hands-free option is poor. Sound is very faint, and callers on
the other end could barely hear me. Sad, because in all other
aspects the Navman is brilliant. It even has real-time traffic for
most major NZ cities.
More info
Rating: 4/5 for GPS, but 1/5 for hands-free
LG HFB-500 Solar Bluetooth Handsfree
Price: $199
The LG HFB-500 is about the size of a pack of cards, and solar
powered. Stick it somewhere inconspicuous, like the top-corner of
your windscreen, and it will quietly charge itself all day long.
The device has one big button to receive calls, and that's the
extent of the user interface. It pairs perfectly with your phone,
and the call quality is clear. The downside of a simple hands-free
device like this is that you need to pick up your phone to make a
call. Some phones have voice dialling that can be used, but in most
cases you'll need to handle your phone.
More
info
Rating: 4/5
Bury CV9040 Bluetooth Car Kit
Price: $430
Until I started reviewing hands-free options, I didn't know the
difference between a hands-free kit, and a car kit. Now I do. The
Bury CV9040 is much more than just hands-free calling. It's fully
voice controlled, will download your contact list from your phone,
and will even read out text messages to you. The audio processing
is designed to be used in a car, so is very loud and clear. The
device comes with an external microphone for extra clarity if
required, and you can get hold of additional mounting bases and
chargers if you want to move from car to car. This is the best of
the bunch, hands-down. You pay a premium for it over a basic
hands-free device, but if you want something that will last a
while, this is the way to go.
More
info
Rating: 5/5
Plantronics Discovery 925
Price: $260
You can always just get a Bluetooth headset. They range in price
from $50 up to $300, and you generally get what you pay for. The
upside is you can use them whether you are in the car or not, but
the downside is they look more than a little bit dorky. The
Discovery 925 is the top of the Plantronics range, with a price tag
to match. It's tiny, sexy, and comes with a faux leather case that
doubles as a recharger, doubling your talk time. It also comes in a
lovely pink, as well as brown and black.
More info
Rating: 3/5
