LITTLE ROCK — I said previously that I’m on the lookout for potential gift ideas for Christmas. I’ve had a few people ask me about various products, and the product this week is a request.
This particular reader was looking for a microphonestyle Bluetooth device for his car. While I certainly don’t recommend talking on the phone and driving, I understand that sometimes emergencies arise.
Several states now require the use of a hands-free device to operate a phone while driving, though it’s hotly debated how much these products lessen the distraction. Many hands-free devices sit in the ear - or in my case, fall out of the ear. Talk about distracting.
This device works like a speakerphone, so users don’t have to worry about putting anything in their ears. The device also can utilize handsfree voice dialing on compatible phones. It’s the Scosche Industries’ Motormouth II Stereo Hands-Free Streaming Audio Car Kit.
The Motormouth II looks like a small microphone and uses the auxiliary port found in most modern cars to send sound through the car speakers. The device can’t be used in cars with no auxiliary port, which looks like a headphone jack.
The Motormouth connected very quickly with a variety of cell phones. Pressing the device’s lone button for five seconds will make it discoverable by cell phones. The light around the microphone’s rim blinks red and blue when it’s discoverable and blinks blue when it’s connected.
The sound was surprisingly good on both ends of a phone conversation. My auxiliary port lies in the center console, but the person on the other end of the call could hear me just fine despite the Motormouth being down by my right elbow. I could improve the sound on my end simply by adjusting the volume on my car stereo.
Scosche compensates for center-console ports like mine by providing an extension cord. One end plugs into the console port while the other end mounts on the vehicle dash and holds the Motormouth. Drivers must be careful and not tangle the cord around the gear shift.
The extension comes with two ways to mount it on the dash. The temporary mount includes a double-sided adhesive pad. The permanent mount uses two screws to connect to the dashboard. While some people might not mind drilling holes in their dashboard, I'm staying with the sticky pad.
The Motormouth comes with several accessories, which shows the thought put into this product. I like it when companies think of the consumer and include everything that’s needed rather than using that annoying “sold separately” label. The Motormouth’s package includes a USB cable and a small charger that will fit into a car’s power adapter. It also includes an audio splitter.
The motor mouth lets users stream music via Bluetooth to car stereo speakers. Those who prefer to listen to music directly from a digital device can use the splitter. It’s a double plug that holds the Motormouth on top and a regular auxiliary cable on bottom. When drivers get a phone call, the Motormouth will pause the music, switch to the phone call then switch back to the music once the phone call is complete.
My only issue with the Motormouth II was its lone button. It's nice to have a simplified product with a single button, but in this case the button does so many things that it becomes too distracting.
Operators have to hold the button down for so many seconds to connect via Bluetooth, for a different amount of time to ignore a call and for yet another period to turn the device off or on. I like simplicity, but in this case I wish there were two buttons to make things a little easier.
Personally, I think the best thing is to hold calls until you’re no longer driving, but if a hands-free device is required, the Motormouth is a good one to use. It has good sound quality and all the accessories. So if you’re looking for a hands-free device for Christmas, this one is worth considering.
I’ll be keeping an eye out for a few more stocking stuffers.
Melissa L. Jones can be reached via e-mail at mljones72@me.com.
Where it’s @
Scosche Industries’ Motormouth II requires a phone with A2DP Bluetooth compatibility and a vehicle with a 3.5mm auxiliary port. The product retails for $79.99. More information is available at scosche.com.
Business, Pages 21 on 11/29/2010