The Gadgets Page

The iPhone works seamlessly with the Mercedes Benz stock iPod adapter, as well as with the integrated Bluetooth MHI (Multi-Handset Interface) transceiver. In fact, the iPhone actually works better than the Motorola devices that the system was originally designed for, because if you have both the Bluetooth interface and the integrated iPod connector, you can charge your iPhone while it’s in your car without a cigarette lighter adapter. With the Motorola phones, the Bluetooth MHI adapter replaces the wired MHI cradle and prevents you from charging your phone when you have it installed.

Best of all, both the Bluetooth transceiver and the iPod integration can be retrofitted in any Mercedes Benz made after 2004 by the dealer, so if you’ve got a Mercedes and an iPhone, you’re only about $1000 away from combining the two.

The following features have been verified to work with the 2005 model year and later iPod adapter and Bluetooth interface:

• All iPod features, including in-dash song display and steering wheel button control
• Handsfree (headset profile) works through the built-in mike and speakers
• Answer/Hangup steering wheel and COMMAND buttons
• Address book upload for name selection in the navigation or stereo display
• In-dash address book name display and dial

All the features work simultaneously and the iPod will stop playing to make or answer calls. When you connect the iPhone to the iPod adapter, the iPhone will display a dialog asking if you want to enable airplane mode (i.e., shut off wifi, EDGE radio, and bluetooth) to prevent interference. It’s safe to answer “no” or just ignore it if you forget. If you answer yes, the cell phone features will be disabled.

This bracelet looking bangle could be the watch of my dreams.

Unfortunately, Seiko has nothing on their website about it. I only have a simple press release from Seiko to find out anything:

• Press Release|BASELWORLD 2007 SEIKO WATCH CORPORATION

According to the press release:

If the wearer is at work, it can be set to its ‘efficiency’ mode; the display is informative and easy to read. If, however, the watch is set to its ‘mystery’ mode, the panel expresses the time in a more imaginative, evocative style. Just pick the style to reflect your mood!

That’s all well and good as long as I can pick a style that shows the time, date AND day all at once. If not, then it’s just a bracelet. Additionally, if there is no illumination to see the time at night, then it’s just a pretty piece of jewelry. Sadly, it looks like Seiko is ignoring my need to see its watch in the dark:

The display is readable under very low light conditions, so no backlighting is required.

Very low light conditions and total darkness are two very different things. I want a watch that can get me out of the World Trade Center when the lights go out like the IndiGlo watch did.

Sorry, Seiko. You’re really close, but it looks like you’ll create a watch that’s just a piece of jewelry. I need more.

Via: Popgadget Personal Technology for Women: Seiko Electronic Ink Watch