The Bluetooth Special Interest Group (SIG), has released a Bluetooth Icon Program to help “guide consumer purchases of Bluetooth enabled devices”.
Here’s how it goes:
Print � The print icon lets you know that printing can be simpler by allowing you to wirelessly print directly from your computer, mobile phone, PDA or any other device displaying the print icon.
Input � The input icon shows that you can control as well as input data wirelessly to a device. This makes for fewer cables on your desk and improved control over portable devices without using the tiny, built-in keyboards.
Headset � The headset icon lets you know that you have the ability to talk on your phone �hands-free.� Getting rid of annoying cables means being able to move around freely while using your cell phone.
Transfer � The transfer icon tells you that the device can wirelessly send and receive data, text, pictures, music or other files with other devices.
Music � The music icon means these products allow you to listen to Hi-Fi stereo music wirelessly. You are able to send music from your mobile phone, computer or other device bearing this symbol and listen using compatible speakers, headphones, home stereos and many other devices.
The press release goes on:
The Experience Icon Program shows how Bluetooth connectivity encompasses a growing number of applications including printing, inputting data, using a wireless headset, transferring files and listening to music. There are plans to release other icons later this year, such as an icon for dial-up networking (DUN) and the automotive hands-free use case, and others will be developed as the Bluetooth technology experience expands to additional popular applications.
The Bluetooth SIG encourages all manufacturers of Bluetooth devices to immediately begin using the Experience Icons on product packaging. Additionally, the Bluetooth SIG will focus its marketing efforts on one icon per month, driving home the definition of each icon one at a time, along with efforts to raise awareness of the entire program. Bluetooth SIG members can find more information on Experience Icon program marketing efforts and the requirements of icon usage at www.Bluetooth.org/iconprogram/.
Truth is I’ve never really believed in Bluetooth, and I’m sure I’ve mentioned that both on this blog and in an article for any of the publications I write for.
Primarily because, from the first time I read its specs, it seemed “rushed”. It didn’t specialize in any particular type of communication spec, neither machine to machine or machine to human. It didn’t rise out of a particular need, like say, LAN/WAN (networked cabling) or IR (short-range, line of sight, low data wireless transfer), or WIFI (medium range, tcp-ip based).
I know I’m not being very precise here (which is why this’ll remain in my blog until more thought is put into it), but it just feels “hilaw“, like it was designed by marketing people to add yet another cool sounding feature to gadgets. The fact it was debunked once as an unsecure medium added to my opinion. And now the guide above adds “confusing” to that as well.
Technorati Tags: bluetooth, bluetooth special interest group, bluetooth icon
powered by performancing firefox