Being a proud owner of a smart phone for the past 4 months has been fabulous. I’m connected to the internet wherever I go which is great for my social media job, plus I have phone capabilities as well as texting. This is huge for me, but with this new technology the temptation to take a call, or send a text while you are driving is there. I will admit I have done taboo things while driving and I’m so aware how unsafe this is!
Enter the Parrot Minikit Smart, technology for your phone with the ability to have your hands-free but still have the availability to make and take a call safely! If you have a navigation system app (free or paid) they work with the Parrot to get you to your destination without fumbling with your phone or maps while driving! Even better, the Parrot can charge your phone while nestled in the holder, so you can multi-task safely and effectively. Here are some of the specifications:
Interface
Portrait or landscape mode
Green button: for answering calls, calling someone in the phonebook, launching speech synthesis, confirmation and supporting double calls …
Red button: for hanging up, switching the kit on and off, exiting menus and cancelling
Rotary button: for accessing menus, adjusting the volume and sending DTMF signals
Phone Features
Dialing / accepting / rejecting calls, last number call-back, call waiting, DTMF
Activating the Smartphone’s voice commands (if they exist)
Multi-user voice recognition
Text-To-Speech (speech synthesis): confirming calls, stating the caller’s name
General
Number of contacts: 2,000 per Smartphone
Language: one language per version
Pairing: up to 10 Smartphones
Automatic connection by pairing order
Phonebook synchronization: Sync (IRMS), NokiaSync, SyncML
Connectivity/Battery
USB port: recharging the Smartphone, updating the product
Mini USB socket: recharging the MINIKIT Smart via a 12V cigarette lighter socket
Battery: Lithium-ion, charged in max. of 2 hours
Battery life: up to 10 hours talk time and more than 1 week on standby
Low battery indication: beep emitted every minute, 15 minutes until the device is completely out of power
Our Take:
The Parrot MINIKIT Smart is my first foray into the hands-free mobile world. The Bluetooth setup was simple and straight forward, I had my phone connected within minutes of opening the box. The suction cup mounting arm stuck right on the windshield surprisingly well. Just about a half-hour of time to get it functioning for you to use with just one touch of a button and a “call Jen” or “Call Grandma” and you have a hands-free speaker phone at your fingertips.There is some standard frustration matching voice and understanding with the Parrot, we accepted and moved forward.
My iPhone and its protective case slipped right into the convinent bracket and within 2 clicks my maps app was up and running showing my position as I drove. The app I use for maps didn’t rotate to the landscape view that I had originally intended to use but I was able to detach the entire assembly and remount it in the portrait orientation without any tools in less than a minute.
The included battery charger plugs right into the 12V port in the car and I’ve been going more than a week between charges. Since setting this up I’ve added my husband’s phone (which isn’t a “smart phone” but has bluetooth enabling) and we’ve had no problems using either. There is a microphone that pulls out and can be clipped on the visor for a closer conversation, I find when my husband uses this while driving I hear much more noise, so I prefer it staying on the unit on the dash board.
You can purchase the Parrot Minikit Smart for $129, http://www.parrotshopping.com/us/p_parrot_item.aspx?i=205682
Product was sent for honest review.
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