By the third quarter of 2007, the Bluetooth Special Interest Group (SIG) will have updated its roadmap to compatibility with UWB technology to by concentrating on media-access control (MAC) layers, improved security features, higher data rates, and improved quality of service. The newest cores will be designed with making interoperability with UWB a major component. The SIG is expecting data rates for Bluetooth to rise from 3 Mbit/s to 480 Mbit/s as a result of this collaoration, but there are concerns regarding the interoperability with the two technologies as well as the lack of a UWB standard that could put a crimp on the SIG's overall plan.

As we get set to gather with our friends and families today, let us give thanks for what we have and remember those who have sacrificed so greatly for us. We thank you so much for your continued reading of this blog and we look forward to a wonderful holiday season.

HAPPY THANKSGIVING!

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Billed as "the world's first Bluetooth wireless trackball," The Ball from the Chang Yi Company is designed to work on any Bluetooth-enabled Mac or Win XP system and includes rechargeable 750mAh Nickel Metal Hydride AAA batteries, all for $70.

Our fellow Weblogs Inc. blogger Ted Wallingford is putting out a call for folks who are interested in contributing to our blog on all things VoIP, voipfan.com. If you think you've got what it takes to join this great organization, click here for more details.

It seems that cellphone designers may have to design in up to 10 radios for the latest in next-generation handsets. The list includes:

• Wireless LAN

• Ultra Wideband (UWB)

• Bluetooth

• Cellular

• ZigBee

• GPS

• DVH-H (or some other television variant)

• Near-field communications

• FM

• WiMax

As my friend Rich Nass points out, EEs will be suffering from sleepless nights due to the integration issues they're going to have to solve. To paraphrase an old Beatles song:

You say you want convergence
Well you know
We'd all like to see the design plans

The Weblogs, Inc. network features over 100 independent, unfiltered bloggers producing over 1,000 blog posts a week across over 75 industry-leading blogs. Each week we ask our bloggers to choose their top posts, which we bring to you in one easy-to-read weekly post. You'll find links to the hottest posts from the past week after the jump including an Engadget Meetup on the west coast, a way to get a free plasma screen in politics, and even a full day in Prague. Enjoy!

One of the big players in Bluetooth, Cambridge Silicon Radio (CSR), says it will be combining it's Bluetooth technology with over wireless technologies, most notably UWB, over the next 12 to 18 months. Their goal is to embed the two technologies in a number of products that will hit the market sometime in 2007. In addition, CSR is focusing in on WiFi and thinking about playing a role in the development of a handset capable of making calls on either cellular or local area networks depending on which is available at a certain time.

If you are single, and have a mobile phone, the love of your life could be just a Bluetooth connection away. SmallPlanet has been testing their Bluetooth-enabled CrowdSurfer software for mobile phones and it appears to be gaining momentum.  The website works a lot like other online dating services but the CrowdSurfer software includes a Bluetooth scanning engine to find other users in the same room, restaurant, club, etc. The proximity-to-another-user software is supposed to work up to 100 feet and runs on various Nokia, BenQ, and Panasonic phones that have Bluetooth turned on. According to this ABC News video, you can also surf members profiles using their mobile-friendly web site.
(Thanks, Ken)

As I gaze at my calendar, the holiday shopping season is upon us. Of course, I have to take care of my wife and daughter first, but I certainly deserve to buy myself some nice gifts. I think I've worked hard enough to earn them! :))))

Anyway, the two things that are at the top of my list are a new laptop and a Bluetooth headset. So I am now asking you folks out there to help me pick out what I should buy. I have my own thoughts, but before I take the plunge, I would like your input. Here are some things you'll need to know before you comment:

1) For the laptop, the most important thing I want is WiFi and Bluetooth functionality. I'm setting a price point at $2,000, but I will go over (slightly) if I can justify it.
2) For the headset, I'm looking at a price point of $200.

OK folks, there you have it. I would appreciate any thoughts you may have and, who knows, maybe you'll be helping your fellow readers on their own holiday shopping questions!

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The ski slopes will be filled with high-tech snowboarders this winter with the introduction of Bluetooth-enabled winter wear. Burton Snowboards and Motorola have come out with a series of Burton Audex Snowboard Jackets with wireless connectivity that will give users hands-free access to their cellphone or other wireless device, such as an MP3 player. According to both companies, users can access their mobile phone through Motorola's Bluetooth wireless link, while a hidden wired iPod connection links the MP3 player and detachable hood stereo speakers.

Skiers will have to keep an eye out for snowboarders who'll be jabbering away on their cellphones while flying down the slopes. This ought to be an interesting winter.

The Weblogs, Inc. network features over 100 independent, unfiltered bloggers producing over 1,000 blog posts a week across over 75 industry-leading blogs. Each week we ask our bloggers to choose their top posts, which we bring to you in one easy-to-read weekly post. You'll find links to the hottest posts from the past week after the jump including Birthday POEtry, a request for someone to act like the champion they are, and five favorite treehouses of horror. Enjoy!

Although the holiday shopping season is just around the corner, gadget-buying is always in season. With that in mind, here are four Bluetooth headsets that may be of interest. (Click on "Read" below to get capsule reviews on each.)

• Plantronics Discovery 640 Bluetooth Headset

• Jabra FreeSpeak BT250

• Tekkeon EzTalker Mini

• Nextlink Bluespoon AX Bluetooth Headset

All the talk has been about hotspots and citywide wireless networks, but it won't be long before the wireless HOME network will be just as ubiquitous as the other two. Of course, compatibility between computers, televisions, DVD players, music systems and so on still have to be worked out, as well as educating consumers on how to put it all together. But the market for home networking products and services continues to grow, so the unplugged home will soon be a reality.