Rugged Bluetooth: A Review of the BlueAnt T1

By: Bill Armstrong (Contributing Editor)

Staff Note: Sep 18, 2010. This contest is now officially closed. Big congratulations to Alice P. of Toronto, Canada; Michael L. of Nashville, TN & Patrick M. of Naperville, IL for winning the super cool Blueant T1. We would like to thank our friends at Blueant and the wonderful Kari Hernandez of INK for their support! Make sure to stay signed up for our e-newsletter and follow us on Facebook & Twitter to win more incredible prizes.

Staff Note: August 12, 2010. It’s official! the Blueant T1 is now a giveaway! That’s right, only on MRT can you get such awesome prizes. On Tuesday August 31 , in celebration of Bill’s upcoming wedding…We will be giving away 3 Blueant T1 Bluetooth headsets! This one’s a super easy contest for you guys. In less than 3 sentences, simply post a comment below on your honest opinion/view about Bluetooth. Also, don’t forget to rate Bill’s review using the stars on the right-hand side. Best of luck! 

It has happened to most of us at one time or another. You are out shopping or strolling down the street when a total stranger starts talking to you. You start speaking back and the person starts looking at you like a freak. That’s when you realize that they were not speaking to you, but to another person through their tiny little headset! You quickly swallow your embarrassment as you turn and walk away, hoping you never have to see that person again.

I have never been a Bluetooth headset kind of guy. Maybe it was because of how most headsets look. Or maybe it was because my job tends to put me in noisy situations where a headset doesn’t give me the performance I need. So when Jenna told me I was going to be reviewing BlueAnt’s newest headset, the T1 Rugged, I had mixed feelings. But, since playing with brand new gadgets ranks pretty high on my list of favorite things, I was more than happy to try it out.

Let me introduce you to my little friend!

When I first looked at the T1 sitting on its little pedestal inside the package my thought was, “That looks cool!” And it does. The T1 Rugged is exactly the kind of headset you can picture a Navy Seal or some elite super spy wearing on a mission. It has a sleek matte finish and clean lines and offers a look that won’t stand out and draw attention to the fact that you are wearing a headset. This unobtrusive device measure less than 2 inches in length by half an inch wide, and weights around 1/3 of an ounce, allowing me to wear it for long periods of time without much discomfort. And when not in use, it fit easily in my pocket.

For being such a tiny device, the T1 offers a huge list of features, starting with BlueAnt’s newest feature: Wind Armor Technology. Designed for the outdoors, the T1 Rugged was built to deliver clear audio in wind speeds of up to 22mph. This is achieved by combining BlueAnt’s own noise and echo cancelling systems with a brand new patent pending design. The included silicone covers protect the T1 Rugged from dust and damage and help the device to truly live up to its name.

While there are already a few headsets that offer caller ID, the T1 takes it a step farther by introducing Caller Name Announce. Let’s face it, not everyone knows everyone’s number. That’s why we have a contacts list and speed dial. Now, when you receive a call from someone on your contacts list, it will read you the caller’s name. The T1 will store up to 2000 of your contacts. Should the incoming caller not be in your list of contacts, the inbound phone number is announced. Next, knowing that having to actually move your hand to answer a call is for suckers, the T1 lets you answer or ignore the call using voice commands. This is done by announcing “Answer” or “Ignore”. Need to make a call? A quick tap of the T1’s call button will give you access to your phones built in voice commands. This is done by saying, you guessed it, “Voice Commands”. Expecting an important text message? Android users are able to download a free app from BlueAnt that will read you your incoming text messages. The built in A2DP technology will let you stream your music and even turn by turn GPS directions right through the headset. All of these tools combine to make the T1 the most truly “Hands Free” systems available today.

Think Inside The Box

Opening the package you will find your new headset, the usual assortment of paperwork including the warranty information and Quick Start guide. You also get an assortment of ear gels in different sizes, letting you pick the right size for you. A USB 2.0 cable used for both charging and data (you can get firmware updates from blueant.com), an AC adapter, 2 silicon sleeves and a pair of ear hooks. Everything you need to get up and running.

Test Drive

In my evaluation of the BlueAnt T1 I used the headset every day for 7 days. I had no problem in making sure I put this little gadget to the test. In my job as an IT Manager for a fast moving tech company, my days are spent using my hands and talking on the phone. I couldn’t think of a better environment for trying this puppy out!

I will preface this by saying that I went through each of the included ear gels before finding the one I could live with. Maybe it is because I was not a previous headset user, it took about two days to figure out which one was for me. Once charged and ready, I had very little trouble pairing the T1 to my Nexus One. This process was made even easier with the built in voice instructions guiding me through each step. The caller ID was a great feature, as well as the voice commands to answer or ignore. I was able to answer calls while still using both hands while changing out computer parts and performing various other tasks. I also got to test out the Ignore, but then took advantage of the voice commands to call those people back and explain why I ignored their call! The noise cancelling was impressive. While I did not have the opportunity to be out in 20mph winds, I did make and receive calls while in a noisy server room and in my office with music playing and had no problems hearing or being heard. It also worked well while driving. I drive a stick shift, so it was nice being able to keep my hands where they needed to be while on the road. I did find that the T1 works best when pointing at a certain angle towards the jaw, and did find myself having to adjust the position regularly. The T1 boast 6 hours of talk time and 120 hours of standby. While I don’t keep track of the hours I spend talking, I can say that in my 7 day trial I only had to charge the device once, on day 3.

Cheers

The T1 Rugged offers superior noise cancellation. You can stay hands free with voice commands, text to speech, and A2DP streaming.

Jeers

The choice of ear pieces didn’t seem to be the most comfortable. I found one that worked the best, but it seemed like it could have been designed more comfortably.

Reality Grade

The BlueAnt T1 Rugged sells for 79.99. While it is not the cheapest headset around, it is the best value for its quality. Its intelligent design and rugged good looks make it a sound choice for work or play. I think one of the best compliments I could give the T1 is that it made me a believer in Bluetooth headsets, and I even now that the trial period has ended, the T1 Rugged has earned a place as one of my daily tools.

BlueAnt Android Application on YouTube