Sterling Creations

en.wikipedia.org/wiki/ASCII_art You can also learn here about <http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Emoji> Emoji, which are small picture letters/icons that can be added to messages on the iPhone, Android or Windows SmartPhones. <https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Emoji> en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Emoji This list of over 300 popular SMS (short message service) text messaging abbreviations or text messaging shortcuts is by no means a complete list. But is a good one to get started with understanding how friends or children are communicating on mobile devices. Here is a link to " The Largest List of Chat Acronyms and Text Message Shorthand (IM, SMS) found of the Web – kept current and up-to-date by NetLingo The Internet Dictionary: Online Dictionary of Computer and Internet Terms, Acronyms, Text Messaging, Smileys ;-" <http://www.netlingo.com/acronyms.php> www.netlingo.com/acronyms.php This abbreviated list will start immediately below. 143 or 459 – I Love You 2MORO – Tomorrow 2NITE – Tonight 411 – Information 420 – Marijuana AAF – As A Friend AAK – Asleep At Keyboard OR Alive And Kicking AAMOF – As a matter of fact AAP – Always A Pleasure AAR8 – At Any Rate AAYF – Always Your Friend ABT – About ACC – Anyone Can Come ADAD – Another Day, Another Dollar ADN – Any Day Now AFAIAA – As Far As I Am Aware AFAIC – As Far As I’m Concerned AFAIK – As Far As I Know AIGHT – Alright AKA – Also Known As AM – Morning AML – All My Love ASAP – As Soon As Possible ATM – At The Moment ATYS – Anything You Say AWA – As Well As AWC – After Awhile Crocodile B4 – Before B4N – Bye For Now BAU – Business As Usual BBL – Be Back Later BBS – Be Back Soon BC or B/C – Because BCNU – Be Seein’ You BD – Big Deal BEG – Big Evil Grin BF – Boyfriend BFF – Best Friends Forever BFN – Bye For Now BIF – Before I Forget BIL – Brother In Law BLNT – Better Luck Next Time BMG – Be My Guest BR – Best Regards BRB – Be Right Back BTA – But Then Again BTDT – Been There, Done That BTW – By The Way BWDIK – But What Do I Know BYTM – Better You Than Me C-P – Sleepy CD9 – Code 9: Parents Nearby CID – Consider It Done CMIIW – Correct Me If I’m Wrong COS – Change Of Subject CRB – Come Right Back CSL – Can’t Stop Laughing CU – See You CUL or CUL8R – See You Later CUS – See You Soon CUZ – Because CWOT – Complete Waste Of Time CYA – Cover Your A** CYE – Check Your E-mail DEF – Definitely DFO – Done Fell Out DIIK – Darned If I Know DIY – Do It Yourself DKDC – Don’t Know, Don’t Care DQMOT – Don’t Quote Me On This DTRT – Do The Right Thing DUCWIM – Do You See What I Mean? DW – Don’t Worry DWF – Divorced White Female DWM – Divorced White Male DWBH – Don’t Worry, Be Happy :O) DYFI – Did You Find It? E2EG – Ear To Ear Grin EOD – End Of Discussion EOL – End Of Life EOM – End Of Message EOR – End Of Rant ETA – Estimated Time Of Arrival EZ – Easy F2F – Face To Face F2T – Free To Talk? FAQ – Frequently Asked Questions FBM – Fine By Me FBOW – For Better Or Worse FCOL – For Crying Out Loud FIMH – Forever In My Heart FITB – Fill In The Blank FOAF – Friend Of A Friend FOFL – Falling On The Floor Laughing FOMCL – Falling Off My Chair Laughing FROG – forever rely on God FUBAR – Fouled Up Beyond All Recognition FWD – Forward FWIW – For What It’s Worth FYEO – For Your Eyes Only FYI – For Your Information G2CU – Good To See You G2G – Got To Go G2R – Got To Run GAC – Get A Clue GAL – Get A Life GB – Goodbye GBTW – Get Back To Work GBU – God Bless You GF – Girlfriend GGN – Gotta Go Now GI – Good Idea GIWIST – Gee, I Wish I Said That GJ – Good Job GL – Good Luck GM – Good Morning GMTA – Great Minds Think Alike GNT – Good Night GOL – Giggle Out Loud GR8 – Great GTG – Got To Go H8 – Hate H/O – Hold On HAGN – Have A Good Night HAGO – Have A Good One HAK – Hugs And Kisses HAND – Have A Nice Day HBU – How About You? HH – Ha-ha HHIS – Hanging Head In Shame HO – Hold On HOAS – Hold On A Second HTB – Heavens To Betsy (for the older crowd) HTH – Hope This Helps IAC – In Any Case IAE – In Any Event IC – I See ICBW – It Could Be Worse IDC – I Don’t Care IDGI – I Don’t Get It IDK – I Don’t Know IDM – It Doesn’t Matter IDTS – I Don’t Think So IIRC – If I Remember Correctly IK – I Know ILY – I Love You IMHO – In My Humble Opinion IMLTHO – In My Less Than Humble Opinion IMO – In My Opinion IMPOV – In My Point Of View IOW – In Other Words IRL – In Real Life JIC – Just In Case JK or J/K – Just Kidding JLMK – Just Let Me Know JMO – Just My Opinion JP – Just Playing JT or J/T – Just Teasing JTLYK – Just To Let You Know JW – Just Wondering K – Okay KIS – Keep It Simple KIT – Keep In Touch KMP – Keep Me Posted KOTL – Kiss On The Lips KOW – Knock On Wood KWIM – Know What I Mean? L8 – Late L8R – Later L8RG8R – Later, Gator LBAY – Laughing Back At You LBH – Let’s Be Honest LLTA – Lots and Lots of Thunderous Applause LMIRL – Let’s Meet In Real Life LMK – Let Me Know LOL – Laughing Out Loud -or- Lots Of Laughs LOLO – Lots Of Love LMAO – Laughing My A** Off LQTM – Laughing Quietly To Myself LTNS – Long Time No See LYL – Love You Lots LYLAB – Love You Like A Brother LYLAS – Love You Like A Sister MIA – Missing In Action MIRL – Meet In Real Life MMA – Meet Me At MMB – Message Me Back MOO – My Own Opinion MorF – Male or Female MOS – Mom Over Shoulder MSG – Message MTFBWU – May The Force Be With You MYOB – Mind Your Own Business NALOPKT – Not A Lot Of People Know That NBD – No Big Deal NC – No Comment NE – Any NE1 – Anyone NEWB – person who is new to something NFS – Not For Sale NM – Nothing Much NM – Never Mind NMH – Not Much Here NMP – Not My Problem NMU – Not Much, You? NOOB or N00B – inferior person NOYB – None Of Your Business NP – No Problem NRN – No Response Necessary NVM – Never Mind NW – No Way NWO – No Way Out O4U – Only For You OAO – Over And Out O RLY? – Oh, Really? OIC – Oh, I See OMDB – Over My Dead Body OMG – Oh My Gosh -or- Oh My God -or- Oh My Goodness (for the older crowd) OOTO – Out Of The Office OT – Off Topic OTOH – On The Other Hand OTP – On The Phone OTTOMH – Off The Top Of My Head OWTTE – Or Words To That Effect OYO – On Your Own P911 – Parent In Room PAW – Parents Are Watching PCM – Please Call Me PDH – Pretty Darn Happy PIR – Parent In Room PITA – Pain In The A** PLS – Please PLZ – Please PLU – People Like Us PM – Evening POC – Point Of Contact POS – Parent Over Shoulder POV – Point Of View PPL – People PRW – Parents Are Watching PTMM – Please Tell Me More Q – Question QT – Cutie ROFL – Rolling On the Floor Laughing R – Are RL – Real Life RSN – Real Soon Now RUOK? – Are You Okay? S2R – Send To Receive SFETE – Smiling From Ear To Ear SIT – Stay In Touch SITD – Still In The Dark SMH – Shaking My Head SMS – Short Message Service SOH – Sense Of Humor SOMSW – Someone Over My Shoulder Watching SOSDD – Same Old Stuff Different Day SOZ – Sorry SRY – Sorry SSDD – Same S***, Different Day STFU – Shut The F*** Up STR8 – Straight SUP – What’s Up? SYS – See You Soon TAFN – That’s All For Now TBA – To Be Announced TBC – To Be Continued TBH – To Be Honest TC – Take Care TFF – Too Freaking Funny TGIF – Thank Goodness It’s Friday THX – Thanks -or- Thank you TIA – Thanks In Advance TIC – Tongue In Cheek TISNF – That Is So Not Fair TMB – Text Me Back TMI – Too Much Information TOTT – Think On These Things TOY – Thinking Of You TTFN – Ta-Ta For Now TTYL – Talk To You Later TY – Thank You U – You U2 – You Too UR – You Are -or- You’re VBG – Very Big Grin W8 – Wait W/ – With W/E – Whatever W/O – Without WB – Welcome Back WBS – Write back soon WFM – Works For Me WOLO – We Only Live Once WTF – What The F*** WTG – Way To Go WTH – What The Heck? WU – What’s Up? WYGOWM – Will You Go Out With Me? WYSIWYG – What You See Is What You Get WYRN – What’s Your Real Name? XOXO – Hugs and Kisses Y – Why YOLO – You Only Live Once YRG – You Are Good YT? – You There? YW – You Are Welcome ZZZ – Tired or bored (Last updated on April 5 2016) ]]>

&utm_medium=email&utm_campaign=Feed%3A+GizmosTechTips+%28Gizmo%27s+Tech+Tips%29 Note from Dan: In order to carry out some of the testing of a link discussed in this article, one must visit the link above to have the actual link highlighted. Malware writers and phishers often disguise links. The text that is displayed on a web page can say anything. To check that a link is really related to what you see on a web page, hover the mouse pointer over the link. The actual hypertext for the link will be displayed in the lower left corner of the screen on major web browsers. Try it on this link: FreePrograms-from-BillGates.com If using screenreading software , visit the link above and locate the same link. Then press the application key followed by the letter r for examining the properties of this link. Read the hyperlink very carefully Once you see what the hyperlink is, you need to decide if it is safe. If it is a well-known web site that you recognize, then you can proceed. However, the hyperlink must be read carefully. Malware writers and spammers often use web addresses that contain the names of well-known sites or software. For example, they might try to fool you with something like www.microsoft-com.bigspammer.com/windows-xp-antivirus.html. There are also a number of ways to obfuscate, (to make obscure or unclear), a web address so that the real address is hidden. This link http://www.contentverification.com/obfuscation-attacks/ has a discussion of ways that web addresses can be obscured or made misleading. Check the target page of a hyperlink There are various ways to check the target of a link. One way is to copy the link to the clipboard and then paste it into some test feature. To copy a link, right-click it (not left-click) to open a context menu, then select “Copy link address” (in Chrome), “Copy Link Location” (in Firefox), or “Copy shortcut” (in Internet Explorer). This copies the URL to the clipboard so that you can paste it into any search field for testing. This article ” How to Tell If A Website Is Dangerous” http://www.techsupportalert.com/content/how-tell-if-website-dangerous.htm at Gizmo’s discusses a number of security sites where a link can be tested. Sometimes the URL may be in one of the shortened formats from services like bit.ly, goo.gl, or tinyurl.com. This article ” Find Out Where Shortened URLs Lead To Without Clicking” Found at http://www.techsupportalert.com/content/find-out-where-shortened-urls-lead-without-clicking.htm gives sites that will reveal the actual URL behind a shortened link. There is also a website to enter and unshorten short URLs at http://www.unshorten.it/ Browser add-ons and link scanners Of course, there are also any number of browser add-ons that can help you check out an URL so another approach is to skip copying the URL and instead rely on a browser feature or add-on to warn about potential bad web pages before you actually go there. This article ” Best Free Internet Safety Check” Submitted by Midnight Cowboy Found at the link below: http://www.techsupportalert.com/content/best-internet-safety-check.htm lists a number of browser plug-ins and extensions that will provide safety checks for URLs. One favorite at Gizmo’s is Web of Trust (WOT). https://www.mywot.com/ And there you have it – how to avoid those phishing and malware links.]]>

www.eia.gov/electricity/monthly/epm_table_grapher.cfm?t=epmt_5_6_a the average cost of electricity in the US is 12.98 cents per kWh. This means that those 2.628 kWh of electricity will cost about 34.1 cents over an entire year. Even using the most expensive electricity rates in the US – 30.04 cents per kWh in Hawaii – that’s only about 79 cents per year. The real cost is actually lower, as you’ll be charging your devices with these chargers sometimes, so they won’t always be drawing vampire power. You’ll probably unplug them to take them with you sometimes, too. But let’s use the highest number – 79 cents per year. Divide that by the six different chargers here – being charitable and ignoring the power strip – and you get 13 cents per year for each charger in Hawaii. That’s about five and a half cents on the average US electrical bill. Silver nickel isolated on a silver background This Isn’t Meant to Be Precise, But It Answers the Question This isn’t meant to be a completely scientific or precise test, of course. Some of the chargers likely use more power than others, so the real cost to leave your smartphone charger plugged in for an entire year is probably below 13 cents. Either way, this shows us that the amount of vampire power consumed by your chargers is extremely small. It isn’t worth worrying about. Just leave your chargers plugged in for convenience; don’t unplug them. Yes, it’s true that you could save a tiny amount of electricity by unplugging your chargers, but you could save a much larger amount of electricity by looking to heating, cooling, lighting, laundry, <http://www.howtogeek.com/230514/how-to-make-your-pc-use-less-power/> your computer and other more significant power drains. Don’t sweat the chargers. _____ These are all relatively modern chargers, of course – the oldest one here is from 2012 or so. Much older chargers might actually use a noticeable amount of vampire power. For example, if you still have a cell phone or other portable electronics device from the 90’s, its charger might continually use a noticeable amount of power if you leave it plugged in – but even that amount of vampire power probably won’t make a noticeable dent in your electricity bill. ]]>

http://plug-in.bestbuy.ca/t5/Visit-the-Plug-in-Blog/What-is-the-difference-b etween-Bluetooth-and-WiFi/ba-p/17446 *What Are the Technical Differences Between Bluetooth and Wi-Fi? | Re/code Too Embarrassed to Ask: Wi-Fi v. Bluetooth A few weeks ago, a very smart friend asked me how she might play music from her iPhone through an external speaker to entertain about 40 people at an event, without using any cables. I suggested a Bluetooth speaker, and showed her how it worked. But she still wondered if this was a reliable solution, because she didn’t know if the location of the event had a Wi-Fi network. As I tried to explain that Wi-Fi was irrelevant in this case, it occurred to me that a lot of people may be too embarrassed to ask what the difference is between the two widely used forms of wireless data transmission. So here goes. Both Wi-Fi and Bluetooth are found in almost every laptop, tablet and smartphone. But they’re very different, and generally used for different things. They can be on and active at the same time, doing these different things, or you can use each one separately. Wi-Fi, which originally meant “wireless fidelity,” is primarily about connecting one or many devices to the Internet, or creating a local wireless network that can link multiple devices. It depends on a central base station (or multiple stations) that sends out a network signal strong enough and wide enough to cover, say, an office or home, a coffee shop or even an airport. By far the most typical Wi-Fi scenario for consumers is the wireless router installed by an Internet provider in a home. It sends out what might be thought of as invisible Internet “rays” around the house that can be tapped into by any laptops, smartphones or tablets within their range to get online. Here’s what you need to know: Bluetooth is a short-range wireless solution for pairing one device with another; Wi-Fi has greater range and works with multiple devices. Bluetooth is much shorter-range, usually around 30 feet in my experience. It rarely involves getting onto the Internet, and doesn’t depend on any central device like a router. It is almost always used to connect two devices together in some useful way. One example is that wireless speaker and smartphone my friend wanted to use. The phone and speaker talk directly to each other over Bluetooth, which beams the music from the phone to the speaker without the need for any third device or wide network. That’s why it doesn’t matter whether there’s Wi-Fi in the room. Other common examples of Bluetooth scenarios are wireless headsets for making phone calls, or wireless keyboards and mice for computers and tablets. If you’ve purchased a brand-new car in the past few years, you likely had the option of getting Bluetooth installed in your vehicle. Because Bluetooth is a direct device-to-device technology and used for so many different things, it typically requires that you first “pair” the two devices being linked. This usually involves typing a number generated by one into the other. Wi-Fi has no such pairing requirement, though you’ll need a password to access a private Wi-Fi network. Sometimes the two wireless systems can be used in ways that appear more typical of the other. For instance, if your laptop lacks an Internet connection but your smartphone has one, you can “tether” the two together to get the laptop online. And on some phones, a Bluetooth connection is one of several ways to perform that tethering. In this case, Bluetooth plays a rare role in Internet connectivity. Wi-Fi can also act like Bluetooth, connecting two devices directly over a short range. A version called Wi-Fi Direct does this. It can transfer photos and files between nearby devices, just like Bluetooth. —from Re/code http://recode.net/2015/03/20/too-embarrassed-to-ask-wi-fi-v-bluetooth/ *Bluetooth Radiation – just how dangerous is it? www.electricsense.com Posted first on August 24 2010 and updated March 2015. Burrell Bluetooth is the name of a wireless technology that uses pulsed radio frequency signals. Anybody that has been following my website will have just felt their ears prick up as I said the word “pulsed”. Not good. Here is what Dr. Andrew Goldsworthy has to say about pulsed radiation: “Pulses carried by microwaves are particularly dangerous. This is because their very short wavelength allows the transmission of pulses with extremely rapid rise and fall times, and it is the rate of change of the fields (rather than their total energy) that does most of the biological damage” Source. http://www.electricsense.com/1010/bluetooth-what-you-will-learn-nowhere-else -%E2%80%93-is-it-really-dangerous/ Because when we talk about pulsed radio frequency signals we are of course talking about radiation, or in this case Bluetooth radiation. Read on.. Bluetooth is now used extensively in today’s world, in cell phone headsets, computer accessories such as keyboards, printers, personal digital assistants (PDAs), personal media players, GPS, gaming equipement, and also various medical health and wellness devices. This Bluetooth technology is used for more and more personal and commercial applications. The Bluetooth Special Interest Group now lists over 6000 products that utilize Bluetooth technology. All the more reason that we should be really clear as to what the potential dangers are with Bluetooth radiation. Is All Bluetooth The Same? No. Bluetooth transmits at frequency levels in the 2.4 GHz band. bluetooth radiation There are three power classes and it’s these power classes which are your best indicator as to what level of Bluetooth radiation you’re exposing yourself to : Class 1 transmitters – are the most powerful, have a range of 100 meters and peak transmission power of 100 mW (milliwatt) Class 2 transmitters – are usually found in mobile devices and they have a range of 10 meters and operate at 2.5 mW peak transmission power Class 3 transmitters – these are the weakest and operate in a range of less than 10 meters and have a peak transmission power of 1 mW So the first thing to do is to check what class of transmitter your Bluetooth headphone is. You should find this information in the manufacturers specification. I say ‘should’ because it seems some manufacturers deem in unnecessary to share this information. That’s why I’ve done some research on this and listed at the bottom of the page a selection of the ‘lower EMF’ Bluetooth devices that are on the market. What about Bluetooth radiation? The radiation from your Bluetooth earpiece will zap you just the same because Class 1 Bluetooth headsets can expose you to the similar radiation levels to your cell phone if they’re operated in close proximity to the body. What Does Bluetooth Version Mean? Don’t confuse Bluetooth version and Bluetooth Class. When looking at Bluetooth devices you’ll often see terms like “Bluetooth V2.1 compliant” or “Bluetooth version 3.0”. This tells you the Bluetooth software the device uses but Bluetooth version has nothing to do with Bluetooth class. Bluetooth versions are all about offering enhanced data speeds. These data speeds are improving all the time as the technology evolves. Bluetooth version 1.0, the earliest Bluetooth version, offers a data transmission rate of 721 kbit/s. Version 3.0 HS offers a transmission rate of 24 Mbit/s. There’s no correlation between Bluetooth version and Class. Is a Bluetooth version with a lower transmission rate safer? It’s possible but we don’t know. There are no studies on this so we’re pretty much in the dark. What Does Science Say About Bluetooth Radiation? The science on this issue can seem confusing. The problem is there is a huge amount of funding bias and outright manipulation of the science in order to publish studies which show favorable results. The cellphone industry is ready to spend a considerable amount of money to protect its interests. Various studies support (American Cancer Society 2008, Martinez & Burdalow 2009) the view that Bluetooth headsets when used in conjunction with cellphones decrease the overall levels of SAR exposure to the head. Whereas other studies show a diversity of hazards from these exposures. One study found that , “men who keep cell phones in a trouser pocket in the talk mode while using a Bluetooth device may experience decreased fertility”. High-frequency electromagnetic fields can lead to a significant increase in blood pressure and affect biological processes in the body just the same as cell phones. Just two hours of exposure to high-frequency EMFs from a cell phone or Bluetooth headset, can cause irreparable DNA damage. This study is entitled: “Cell Phone Use Could Damage Semen – Renal and Urology News” View the complete study here: http://www.renalandurologynews.com/reproductive-medicine/cell-phone-use-coul d-damage-semen/article/157370/ Does Bluetooth drastically cut down on radiation as compared to having the cell phone near my ear? Yes, Bluetooth does drastically cut down radiation exposure compared to having the cell phone next to your ear, if you could be sure that you were only exposing yourself to Bluetooth radiation. The problem is that when you use a Bluetooth headset that the transmission strength from the cell phone itself is not decreased. If for instance you are putting the phone in your pocket or clipping it to your belt then you are at the same time exposing your internal organs to radiation. The Swiss Federal Office of public health recommends that cell phones should not be carried in a front trouser pocket when making calls and that it may be safest to hold the phone away from the body to reduce radiation. Studies (Whittow 2008) have also found that metallic objects situated near your waistline, such as coins, a belt buckle, rings, keys etc increased the Specific Absorption Rate (SAR) in the body at different frequencies. Specific Absorption Rate (SAR) is the rate at which your body absorbs cell phone radiation. Read more at this link: “Can We Rely on SAR to Protect Us From Cell Phone Radiation? www.electricsense.com Bluetooth devices do not require measuring and reporting of the SAR (Specific Absorbtion Rates) values. So we’re kept completely in the dark as to possible radiation absorption levels. Does the radiation transmit up the headphone cable that’s physically plugged into the phone? Yes, it can. The headphone can act as a sort of antenna for your cell phone giving the radiation a fast route into your brain. The science is sketchy on this but in my view, having tried wired headphones, they are not the solution to reducing your radiation exposure. This is now widely accepted and yet wired headphones continue to be sold by the boatload to the population at large. To overcome the antenna effect of wired headphones use an airtube hands-free kit. http://www.electricsense.com/4859/cell-phone-radiation-protection-do-air-tub e-headsets-work/ Do you have a chart or is there an article you can direct me to that contrasts/compares methods of getting the most sound to your ears with the least amount of radiation? I don’t know of any comparative resource on this topic but to answer your question, “what’s the best way to reduce radiation when listening to streaming audio on a cell phone?”. Remember: distance is your friend. In other words, avoid holding your cell phone next to your ear at all costs. If you do need to hold a cell phone next to your ear a Pong case can reduce your exposure. Read more here: http://www.electricsense.com/4843/cell-phone-radiation-protection-do-pong-ca ses-work/ Do cell chips offer protection from cell phone radiation? I’ve tried cell phone chips, diodes and neutralizers from many different suppliers. None of the devices I’ve tried worked. In some cases using these devices can be more dangerous than not using them. Low EMF Bluetooth Headsets Despite reading all of the above if you’re still committed to using a Bluetooth headset where does this leave you? To determine how dangerous a Bluetooth device is, the best information we have to go on is the power classification, or the Class. The worst offenders are Class 1 headsets. There are quite a few of these on the market, for instance the Callpod Dragon is a Class 1 Bluetooth headset and therefore to be avoided if radiation exposures are your main concern. In an ideal world you’d use a Class 3 headset, which are the lowest powered headsets and therefore the safest. Unfortunately because most people’s top priority is having a good strong signal Class 3 headsets are a relic of the past. That leaves us with the Class 2s. The problem is the power classification of a headset takes some rooting out. The manufacturers are very ‘low profile’ about sharing this information. I’ve tried contacting a few of them – most of them don’t reply and the one’s that do often don’t know what I’m talking about. Nevertheless I’ve rooted some out. What Class of Earpiece should you buy to minimize your exposure to Bluetooth radiation? If you are decided about using a Bluetooth earpiece then a Class 3 transmitter will expose yourself to the lowest levels of Bluetooth radiation. Unfortunately I did research Class 3 Bluetooth headsets, I could find no information about Class 3 Bluetooth earpieces. So we are left with making a choice between Class 1 and Class 2 earpieces. Obviously your preference, if you are wanting to minimize your exposure to Bluetooth radiation is to buy a class 2 Bluetooth earpiece. 5 Best Selling Class 2 Bluetooth Earpieces The headsets listed below are all Class 2 Bluetooth devices: Jawbone Era http://www.amazon.com/gp/product/B004K1EDG2/ref=as_li_tl?ie=UTF8&camp=1789&c reative=9325&creativeASIN=B004K1EDG2&linkCode=as2&tag=electricsense-20&linkI d=KHRJ5OQH6ZWYPPGE Plantronics Voyager PRO Bluetooth Headset http://www.amazon.com/gp/product/B0027FFZEW/ref=as_li_tf_tl?ie=UTF8&tag=elec tricsense-20&linkCode=as2&camp=1789&creative=9325&creativeASIN=B0027FFZEW Plantronics M55 http://www.amazon.com/gp/product/B00815AB00/ref=as_li_tl?ie=UTF8&camp=1789&c reative=9325&creativeASIN=B00815AB00&linkCode=as2&tag=electricsense-20&linkI d=ZXESJBVEGVIMHSM4 Plantronics Backbeat http://www.amazon.com/gp/product/B00KJLMBQQ/ref=as_li_tl?ie=UTF8&camp=1789&c reative=9325&creativeASIN=B00KJLMBQQ&linkCode=as2&tag=electricsense-20&linkI d=5R7OLBH2EUKKUAML Motorola S305 Bluetooth Stereo Headset http://www.amazon.com/gp/product/B002BH3I9U/ref=as_li_ss_tl?ie=UTF8&tag=elec tricsense-20&linkCode=as2&camp=217145&creative=399373&creativeASIN=B002BH3I9 U The Bluetooth headsets listed below are all class 1 transmitters (the most powerful): Callpod DragonV2 Bluetooth Headset (Black) Plantronics CS-55 Dect 6.0 Digital Wireless Office Headset Callpod Dragon Bluetooth Headset Are there any studies on Bluetooth Radiation Dangers? As on the cell phone issue the cell phone industry have done a very good job of making the science look inconclusive and confusing. Added to which there have been few studies done specifically on the issue of Bluetooth radiation. Are Bluetooth Headsets Really Dangerous? Yes, Bluetooth radiation dangers are real. I don’t use a Bluetooth headset, or a cell phone for that matter. But I do occasionally come into contact with Bluetooth and so can attest to the adverse health effects of Bluetooth radiation. I have a friend who has a car with Bluetooth installed. A few years ago when I was experiencing fairly extreme electrical sensitivity symptoms, when I sat in his car with Bluetooth enabled, it would set off exactly the same symptoms in me as when I used a cell phone. Bluetooth is particularly dangerous in so far as earpieces and headphones go because of the proximity to the head of these devices. Is Bluetooth Radiation More Dangerous Than Cell Phone Radiation? Yes, I believe it can be. Let me explain. If you are using a Class 1 Bluetooth earpiece the dangers are very real: 1. Class 1 devices are 40 times more powerful than Class 2 devices. 100 mW (milliwatt) as opposed to 2.5 mW (milliwatt). 2. When you use a Bluetooth earpiece device you’re exposing yourself to an additional source of radiation. Your cell phone acts as a relay by emitting radiation between the cell phone tower and your correspondent. When you add Bluetooth into the equation your cell phone also emits another form of radiation, Bluetooth radiation, between your cell phone and your Bluetooth earpiece. Your radiation exposure with a Bluetooth headset is the sum of cell phone radiation plus Bluetooth radiation. So Bluetooth radiation in itself may be less dangerous than cell phone radiation but when you use a Bluetooth earpiece you are always exposing yourself to radiation from both devices. Are There Any Alternatives To Using A Bluetooth Headset? Besides just using a regular wired headset, yes, there are alternatives to using a Bluetooth headset: 1. Use an airtube headset. This can be either a basic airtube headset or a more sophisticated version with earbuds made in wood. These headsets work much like a wired headset except there are no metal wires to conduct the radiation. Obviously you don’t get the freedom of movement that you get with a wireless connection, and the sound quality may not be optimum but if you’re worried about your radiation exposures this is a good solution. 2. Connect a retro handset to your telephone. The length of the cord means you are still in close proximity to your cell phone so you will still be absorbing some radiation. The manufacturers of the Echo Logico retro handset, claim that using their handset “reduces absorbed mobile phone radiation by over 99%”. Conclusion I recommend steering clear of these devices, but if you still want to continue using a Bluetooth earpiece make sure you buy a Class 2 Bluetooth device (in the absence of Class 3 devices).]]>