$130 • www.etymotic.com
Etymotic, which makes high-end stereo earbuds, has broken from tradition in designing its new Bluetooth headset, the EtyBlu2. While other manufacturers strive to make headsets smaller and less obtrusive, Etymotic has opted for function, including a boom mic that wraps around the face, ending in a foam windscreen.
The result is both desirable and not. You won't have to yell to be heard, and the sound quality is clear, although people can still tell you're on a mobile phone. But it may be hard to get the earpiece to fit comfortably because it is on a lengthy stem that may put the body of the unit far from your face. It also may be hard to get the earpiece to stay put. A custom earbud tip, which costs about $100, could help.
If your ears fit the off-the-rack model, the EtyBlu2 costs $130 from online retailers like Amazon, B&H and J&R.
APPS THAT WATCH FOR SUNBURN
$1-$2 • www.apple.com
If you're worried about sunburn, iPhone apps can keep you from frying with advice and reminders.
Sun Alert Lite (free, or 99 cents for a full-featured version), the easiest of the three to use, has dials with icons to show skin type, your sunscreen's SPF (sun protection factor) and weather conditions. The skin-type dial is easy to understand, but the weather dial may require some thought. For instance, at a city pool, where the chairs are on a grass lawn, do you choose "sunny urban" or "park open field?" When the dials are set, the app tells you how much time to stay outside. An alarm beeps when time is up.
The difference between the free and full-featured versions is hard to discern from the iTunes store descriptions.
Sunscreen ($1.99) has three dials marked for UVI (ultraviolet index), SPF and Skin, showing numbers without explanation. Unless you know whether your skin type is I, II or IV, you'll need to go to the "info" screen. To get your UVI, you go to the map tab, touch the search box, then the button that will appear on the upper left. The phone will find your location and set the UVI for you. But it's more steps than need be. Once you set up the app, a timer will beep when it's time to go indoors.
Sunblock ($1.99) automatically sets your UVI, according to your location, but you have to go into settings to find skin type and to switch on "snow," "grass/concrete" or "beach/ocean." There's an altimeter, a nice feature that accounts for the higher exposure in the mountains. The app tells you how long you can stay in the sun, but there is no timer.
