Gear4 Blueye

GEAR4's BluEye is a three-in-one accessory for your iPod, offering Bluetooth mobile phone connectivity on a standard pair of headphones, FM radio and a remote control. The BluEye is ideal for users who may miss important phone calls while listening to their iPod.

The BluEye acts much like a regular Bluetooth headset, allowing you to make and receive calls on your iPod using a standard set of headphones. The unit is in two parts; a control unit that users can clip to a shirt or bag and a cable that connects to your iPod. The top of the control unit has a standard 3.5mm headphone jack to connect your own headphones.

Pairing the BluEye with your mobile phone is a simple matter of pressing and holding the play/pause and Bluetooth button together and then entering the Bluetooth code (default is 0000). Once paired, you can accept calls using the play/pause button and reject them by pressing the previous or next keys on the control unit. The controls also act as a remote for your iPod, allowing users to skip tracks, adjust volume levels and pause music.

When an incoming call is received the iPod will display the phone number on the screen, although it doesn't support contact names. The BluEye also pauses any current music and plays the ring tone of your handset to notify you of the call. Our only complaint is that music is often paused even when users just browse their phone. If your mobile supports voice dialling, users can press the Bluetooth button on the BluEye and say a voice command to make a call. When paired with a phone, holding the Bluetooth button will also display the previous nine calls on your iPod screen.

The BluEye also has an FM radio, which is accessed by pressing the MP3/FM button on the left side of the control unit. The frequency is displayed on the iPod screen and the previous/next buttons are used to select the desired station. Storing a preset frequency is a simple matter of pressing and holding the MP3/FM button; up to 15 frequencies can be saved. Overall, sound quality is notable for a Bluetooth device, with music generally crisp and clear. Plugging headphones directly into your iPod does produce slightly better sound, but the difference is barely noticeable.

Importantly, measuring just 37mm x 25mm x 6mm the BluEye doesn't add much bulk to your iPod. It is compatible with the iPod mini, iPod Photo, iPod (Video), iPod (Updated 5th Generation) as well as the iPod nano and iPod nano (2nd Generation). The control unit can be clipped to your shirt to ensure the microphone is close to your mouth. A downside is the number of cables dangling, especially the long cable running from the control unit to the iPod. Combined with the headphone cable, tangling is an annoyance.