Mom does have the big luxury car, but I could hear sirens, even if she was too busy on the phone to hear them.

The problem: mom is DEAF IN ONE EAR!

How will you hear sirens? I asked. No problem, she assured me, she can hear them through the headset.

Until the first time I was riding with her while she yakked on the phone... and couldn't hear oncoming sirens.

Mom and I don't go anywhere together anymore...

here's one to add to your list.

I find people who talk on these headsets in PUBLIC, while not only looking funny and like they belong locked up in the looney bin, but annoying when people are minding their own business, uninterested in their phone call about their dog or their grandma, or their shoes. or their low rise jeans, or their pre-damaged denim.

We like to refer to the BT headsets as "Urban Fashion Accessories".

But C'mon am I wrong? Look at that first picture

I see nothing wrong with using BT headsets at the appropriate times and places. Work is a completely acceptable place because its not really a public place.

I doubt the adapter is current limited. If that were the case, the voltage would have to swing wildly to deal with any possible current changes, and some sort of load resistor (for 5V, it would be ~28 ohm, 1 watt, HUGE for a device this size) would need to be switched in once the battery is charged to keep the current flowing at a reasonable voltage. It *is* possible to build a current limited supply, but the only cases I've seen that used is to charge car batteries and on bench test supplies so a shorted device doesn't blow up. :-) Of course, the internal circuitry likely uses current limiting, but the external supply? Not likely.

If the supply were marked "constant current" or something like that, sure. But if it has any voltage output marking other than DC and a maximum AND minimum output voltage (since the output voltage might have limits, but for a constant current supply you can never guarantee what it is), it's going to be voltage regulated.

I especially hate it when you're in the store or something and someone walks behind me and starts talking at the top of their lungs, scaring the piss out of me... until I see the f-ing DOUCHEBAG is on their BT headset. Makes me wanna punch them in the face. Seriously.

@SkokieGuy: Well, currently, I'm not sure they use Lithium Ion batteries for cars... once they start, though, expect it unless they go with the proven techs. These companies get in to trouble because they're always willing to go with new untested designs to try and get better battery life than their competitor.

Yes, the connector does fit and it does work (albeit briefly). You were definitely charging at too high a rate.

So I wonder what would happen to one of these things if you were to drop it into water normally.. having a lithium battery and all...

I have a name for people who wear their Bluetooth in inappropriate situations: BlueTool.
I also have invented a new drinking game "Find the BlueTool." Whoever is last in our group to spot a BlueTool in a bar has to buy the next round.

Careful fellow consumers, these devices can produce brain and ear tumors. Take it from someone who's worked within the MRI department. I almost never use these types of devices, for that reason.

At least this "douche" has a job, I will put up with wearing a BT when necessary.

And to all those who find wearing a headset 'douchey', please submit photos of yourself so we can evaluate your public appearance and comment appropriately.

I find giant earings and status purses douchey.
I find men with conspicuously expensive shoes douchey.
I find expensive pre-damaged denim douchey.
I find public texting douchey.
I find low-rise jeans on either gender douchey.

I could go on and on, but to criticize others, is oh, I don't know, maybe a bit douchey?

So should the manufacturer Aliph not stand behind their product because actually using it in its intended manner can be perceived (by some) as douchey?

I just wonder since laptops, cellphone and now headsets seem to catch fire - exactly how long will it be before we have instances of hybrid cars (or future all-electrics cars like the Tesla) self-combust?

Seconded.

Whenever you see a guy wearing one, you never see him near any goodlookin broads, I think there's a reason for that

You must be one of those people who drives with cellphone attached to your ear and a cigarette in the other hand then.

These devices do a have a time and a place for usage. I use mine when I am carrying a lot of things after shopping or I am working.

I work in IT so in order for me to do some tasks I need both hand free. I wish my work would go to some sort of bluetooth solution for the phones, then I could stop getting a crick in my neck each time a customer calls and I have to make a change.

Obviously no space between the first bracket and "img." The tricky part is leave out the last > that you think should be there at the end. It's bizarre but it works. "Preview Comment" is your friend.

@pb5000: Ha. It wouldn't be the first time an idiot was seen in a church!

Living in California, I don't have much of a option anymore since it's the law while driving, so just about everyone has one.

Inattention.

That's why they restrict the amount of people that are in the car for teenage drivers. Cell phones have voice mail. Let it take a message.

That said, Bluetooth sets remind me of "Farenheit 451," where the protagonist's wife and everyone else walked around with the little shell thing in their ears and paid no attention to the people around them. People were afraid Big Brother would come true, but the "Farenheit 451" thing DEFINITELY did!

@Mikestan: OK, I wear my BT headset a lot. I guess that makes me an insta-douche from the moment I step out of my house. I guess its the fact that I might - just might - get a call while I'm doing something that would require the use of both hands. I also attribute it to the fact I have a really oily face and I like to avoid getting the screen on my phone dirty.

@theblackdog: She was waiting on her call from Jesus. Duh.

For those wondering, the maximum heat you can generate with 2.5 watts (ie: The above) is equivalent to the heat output by a flashlight lightbulb. Place anything on there and see if it will melt. Even M&Ms. :-)

No fashion accessory says "I'm an ass bubble" quite as well as a bluetooth earpiece.

@pb5000: Perhaps she has a direct line and bypasses the preacher? :)

@myself clearly I have no idea how to post an image in these comments. It's not just the HTML image tag? :(

@shorty63136: USB has a maximum output of 5.25V at 500mA.

If it went over those specifications, windows starts warning you -in no uncertain terms- about power surges.

If your device fries on USB power and you're not recieving this message, it's almost certainly the device's fault, not the computer's.

Don't care about other's opinion in that regard AT ALL.

HA HA HA HAAAAA!!!!!

@WiglyWorm: well, except for perhaps an oil burner...

I've had that happen to a Bluetooth headset before (Motorola H570, I believe it was) but I was able to get them to replace it. It was a iBook G3 that I later found was one that had a logic board issue.

Hope they'll replace it. Crazy photos though - melty plastic...

@MrFalcon: The first weekend I got mine, I tested it out by using it in the concourse at a baseball game. The person I was talking to didn't realize I was using a headset.

@Mikestan: I use one for handsfree while driving. Other than that, yeah, bluetooth is generally worn by douches in fairly douchey situations.

That being said... whatever product you buy, you expect it not to light on fire on you.

@Mikestan: I hope not. He'd have to have a very sad life indeed if an expensive headset melting is the best thing to ever happen to him. It shouldn't even qualify as a good thing.

I only wear mine while driving. I have occasionally worn it around the house while cleaning up, but I'm not usually on the phone while performing other tasks.

Makes me wonder... if you have to ship it back to them, are they going to notice that it has obviously been wet and blame the fire on the fact that it was wet, thereby voiding your warranty? Or will they do the right thing and replace it?

I've even seen people wearing them around out at bars and lounges. You could never lose them in the crowd though because of that blinking light.

This may be the single best thing that has ever happened to Marc