Update On My Android Bluetooth Issues

So in my previous post I detailed some issues I was having with my Nexus One (running Froyo, Android 2.2) and bluetooth. I tried the Nexus One on several different bluetooth audio devices and got the same crappy results. I also tried a Motorola Droid running Android 2.1 on those same devices and got the same results. Both phones work great via bluetooth with their respective desktop and car-mounted docks. But other bluetooth audio devices end up with stuttering sound until I turn bluetooth off and on several times… and in a couple of cases, had to reboot the phone and *then* toggle bluetooth off and on. Very disappointing.

I tried my iPhone 3GS running iOS 4 on all of those same bluetooth audio devices and they all worked without a hitch except once there was a tiny amount of stuttering on the Motorola EQ7 that quickly cleared up on its own.

And in this previous article I talked about using Google Listen for podcast listening. But the bluetooth problems were a problem because I do a lot of my listening in the car and I was using that Mot EQ7 in the car because my 2003 Honda Pilot has no method of hooking audio into the built-in sound system except the tape deck or using an FM transmitter. The FM band is too crowded around here to make that work and my tape deck no longer works. I think I wore it out over the last seven years… listening to podcasts. Heh.

So what did I do? Well, the EQ7 wasn’t able to get loud enough while driving without distorting and buzzing, anyway. So I found the Logitech S125i portable speakers. They fit nicely in this spot in the center console and are loud enough with no buzzing. I’m using an inverter to power them via the vehicle. And they’re not bluetooth so I’m using a wire for audio.

I’ve also switched back to the iPhone for podcast listening. I’m so fickle. I found an app that download the podcasts directly from the ‘net over WiFi or 3G. No Mac or PC needed. However, it crashes a lot when downloading and has several other bugs. It doesn’t seem to lose data, though… but it does sometimes reset playing a given podcast from the beginning under certain conditions. But the iPhone has more storage for these downloads than the Nexus One so its what I’m using. Neither of them are perfect. Neither of them sync track positions via the cloud.

I’m working on doing something about that.