Test and Review: Plantronics Voyager Edge - Premium Bluetooth Headset. Plantronics Voyager Edge review and tests. Advanced wireless headset

Plantronics has expanded its line of mobile bluetooth headsets new flagship model Plantronics Voyager Edge. This solution contains all the developments that have been implemented in the products of this company. We’ll see what interesting things have been prepared for us by the manufacturer, who once provided communications for NASA’s lunar program, during extended testing.

The predecessor of this model was Plantronics Voyager Legend; it was from it that the main developments and technological solutions migrated. With the release of Voyager Edge in this line, the manufacturer also focused on lightweight design and stylish appearance.

Availability of Plantronics Voyager Edge

At the time of testing average cost Plantronics Voyager Edge, according to the Yandex.Market service, is 4,490 rubles.

Equipment

The headset comes in a compact package made of thick cardboard with a hinged lid. On the edges of the packaging there is a photograph of the device and brief information on technical specifications. The presence of a hinged lid makes it possible to examine the appearance of the product before purchasing, without the need to open the package.

Together with Plantronics Voyager Edge, the buyer receives: a docking station (charging case), replaceable ear tips, an ear hook, a car cigarette lighter adapter, a microUSB cable, a user manual and a warranty card.

Appearance

Plantronics Voyager Edge is externally very close in spirit to the Plantronics Discovery 975 model. Several body color options are available, from white to strict black.

The design consists of a diamond-shaped body, one of the corners of which turns into a microphone boom.

The main material is high-quality matte plastic, the parts fit perfectly together. No creaking or play of parts is observed. The build quality is high.

The opposite angle from the rod has hidden button call. It is not noticeable upon external examination. It is highly sensitive.

The design includes three microphones, one on each side of the microphone boom, and one on the inside of the headset's main body. Two microphones from this bundle are used for noise reduction. For comparison, some phones only have 2 microphones available, one main and one for noise reduction.

The microphones on the boom are protected by a grille made of red-colored material; as conceived by the engineers, this mesh protects them from the wind.

A number of mechanical keys are provided. The volume rocker and power button are located on the rear-facing sides. There is also a microUSB connector and a small LED indicator.

There is another mechanical button on the microphone boom. It is responsible for receiving an incoming call, pausing/playing music, muting the microphone and activating voice control. It feels like this button is too hard to press; at first, if you try too hard, you can move the headset. It takes some getting used to.

On inside speaker foot installed. For fastening, a silicone ear insert with a stabilizer block is used for reliable fastening. You can also use the included transparent hook. I assume that when long-term use It can be broken, especially since you need to remove it to install the headphones in the docking station. During the tests and active exploitation It remained intact, although it was rarely used, the headset is fixed well even without it.

Dock station

The Plantronics Voyager Edge comes with a docking station; it is also made of soft-touch plastic. The headset is provided with a box with a mating connector.

Along the edges there is a row of LEDs that are responsible for displaying information on the battery charge level of the device and the docking station itself. You can activate the display of information by swiping your finger over one of them.

The docking station is connected using a micro USB cable. In principle, its dimensions allow you to carry it with you or use it in a car. Having this case on hand will provide a noticeable increase in time battery life.

Button control

You can control Plantronics Voyager Edge in several ways, let's start with the traditional one - mechanical keys. The buttons are located within easy reach, and intuitiveness includes a number of solutions, for example, the presence of a protrusion on the volume up button.

I also liked the implementation of the power button; it does not require long presses; a simple and understandable mechanical switch is used.

Voice control

The “trick” of this model is the presence of a multilingual voice control system, Russian is supported. Additionally, it is possible to expand the list of languages ​​using the application.

When you activate the button on the microphone boom, the voice assistant will ask for the required action. By saying “call back”, “cancel”, “check battery level”, the corresponding actions will be taken. When a call comes in - “Answer” or “Reject”. The list of commands can be viewed in the application or simply by saying “What can I say?”

Touch control

This is the first in-ear headset using sensors, it is installed in a silicone insert. The sensor allows you to determine whether the headset is in your ear or not. Simply by putting on the headset, you can accept an incoming call; accordingly, when you remove it, the phone will be switched to lock mode and stop music playback.

Application

To set up Plantronics Voyager Edge, you will need to download the proprietary application. Supported Google systems Android and Apple iOS. In the case of the first, installing the application will add the ability to display an icon of the battery charge level in the information line.

The application allows you to control all parameters of the headset. From activating or disabling functionality to choosing the main language.

Extended instructions in Russian are also offered, it will be useful, everything is explained clearly and intelligibly.

Testing

A big advantage of Plantronics Voyager Edge is the presence of a built-in voice assistant; the system itself warns and comments on commands. In particular, you can find out the charge level by simply pressing the call button.

To connect a smartphone, you need to put the headset into pairing mode; there are no compatibility problems. It uses energy-efficient Bluetooth 4.0 with a set of advanced technologies. Including NFC, if the smartphone supports this technology, you just need to bring the headset to back cover devices. After connecting the device, everything sound notifications will be transferred to the headset. In this case, the sound of the incoming call will be duplicated on the phone. When the headset is in the docking station, all audio will be automatically transferred to the phone.

After connecting the headset and placing it in your ear, all phone sounds are transferred to it. This applies to internal signals, music or video playback, and other sounds with the exception of the call, which is duplicated in the phone and headset.

Incoming calls are duplicated voice assistant, the system pronounces the subscriber's number or name. It is worth considering that currently only Latin is supported. Apparently, this is a problem with the technology itself, not specific model. I previously translated my contact list entirely into Latin due to problems with reading by car systems.

It is possible to connect two phones at once. The headset will receive calls from both phones in turn; you won’t be able to talk on two phones at the same time. The sound quality is high, maximum volume high. The built-in noise reduction system does its job well. Extraneous noise and the interlocutors had no complaints when talking in rooms with loud music.

Assessing the sound of Plantronics Voyager Edge, there is a noticeable emphasis on conversations, well-defined high frequencies, slightly worse mids and very weak lows. You can listen to music if you are unpretentious.

Without recharging, this model works on average 5 hours at active use and about 16 hours with a docking station. In standby mode, you don't have to think about charging for a couple of working days. The docking station also allows you to perform the function of a protective case.

Video review of Plantronics Voyager Edge

Plantronics Voyager Edge Summary

Plantronics Voyager Edge became a worthy continuation of the series; with the release of this model, the Voyager line received the title of flagship. The manufacturer managed to successfully combine functionality, ergonomics and stylish appearance. Light weight and convenient fastening allow you not to pay attention to it, even with prolonged use. The presence of several interaction options is another plus in favor of this model. The only downside is the cost, and even then only conditionally; there are currently no models similar in functionality in Russian retail.

Plantronics Voyager Edge receives a well-deserved award "Gold..

Today our review will focus on a more businesslike communication device than usual. Plantronics has been striving for many years to make convenient means communications for the market of ordinary consumers. We usually review gaming headsets and headphones, but today we're going to change our rule a little because Plantronics® Voyager Edge UC It's worth paying attention to.

Let us remind you that Plantronics is far from new to the market of headsets and any other products related to consumer audio electronics. The year of foundation of this company begins in 1961 and this gives it the right to be a trendsetter and new technologies in the world of communication between people.

Voyager Edge UC is a Bluetooth headset with high performance, and allows you to negotiate anytime and anywhere, wherever you are. But let's look at the technical specifications.

Specifications and features:

• Manufacturer: Plantronics
• Model: Voyager Edge UC
• Black color
• Material: plastic
• Multipoint: yes
• Bluetooth version: 4.0
• Sound type: Mono
• NFC support: Yes
• Range: 10m
• Battery type: Li-Ion
• Talk/standby time: 6/168 hours
• Charging time: 1.5 hours
• USB rechargeable: Yes
• Display: No
• Moisture resistance: Yes
• Replaceable panels: No
• Mounting type: With earhook
• Extras: Charging case, Extra time talk time up to 10 hours
• Weight: 9 g

Packaging and equipment

It is worth noting that the Plantronics Voyager series is an official trademark and this series includes a large number of Bluetooth headset for communication. However, our model is one of the most advanced and youngest.

If we're talking about about a business device, then, as you understand, either this is a premium segment and it has a unique design and appropriate packaging, or the packaging is simple and symbolic, but the insides are distinguished by “smartness and ingenuity.” Assuming the Buyer Already Knows Everything unique advantages desired device, and he does not need to purchase a unique model with image packaging, he needs the device itself. In the case of the Voyager Edge UC headset, we have just such an illustrative example.

The box has a fairly simple, nondescript appearance of cardboard packaging, inside which is everything necessary components to provide full-fledged work Bluetooth headsets.

The kit included:

• Bluetooth headset
• Case with built-in battery
• Mini-USB adapter with Bluetooth support
• Micro-USB cable
• Power adapter
• Replaceable silicone tips
• Documentation warranty card

Simple packaging is replete with different components. It should be noted that Plantronics has always been famous for the fact that, from seemingly unrelated components, we get a fully functional device with amazing capabilities.

The box has a yellowish tint with slight shading and is divided into two parts. At the top there is the headset itself, a mini-USB adapter and a charging case. At the bottom are all the necessary components for charging.

Appearance and features

The headset itself is dark in color and uses non-staining materials that do not leave fingerprints. On the body of the headset there is a micro-USB connector for charging, and on the microphone stem you can see slits. Inside each there is a noticeable red fine mesh; this is a protective mesh for three microphones located in different places.

On the main part of the headset body there are volume control buttons, a power lever, and a call answer button.

On the microphone stem there is a button for activating voice commands. The list of commands is quite impressive and here are a few of them - battery charge, connection status, call back the last caller, answer or end a call, etc. Some of them can be disabled if not necessary.

It’s nice that in a modern headset there is no need to press a button for an incoming call; just say “answer” loudly and you will hear the voice of the called party on the other end of the line. It is very comfortable. It is also convenient to reject a call. To do this, you need to say the voice command again or simply remove the earphone. In this case, the headset will not only cancel the call, but may also turn off music playback.

The charging case deserves additional attention. This is the most large element, which is present in the box and it immediately catches your eye. As you understand, its function is simple - increasing the headset's talk time up to 10 hours. The built-in battery allows you to do this. Also, if necessary, you can find out the battery charge level of the headset and the case itself. External part The case is covered with black ribbed rubber. The lower part allows you to attach (hide) a mini-USB adapter for connecting to a laptop.

Charging is very simple. It is enough to simply “drown” the Bluetooth headset into the niche intended for this purpose, where the contacts are closed and power is supplied to the headset. At this time, you can track the charge level and how quickly charging occurs. If a call suddenly occurs while charging, you can easily disconnect the headset and activate call answering. Everything is very simple, and most importantly, it is as functional as possible.

On the body of the case there is a micro-USB for charging, the same connector is located on the headset. you can use charging adapter, both for the headset and for the case as needed. The case increases the life of your headset by 10 hours of talk time, in total you will have almost 16 hours of uninterrupted conversation. This is very convenient and useful for office workers who spend a lot of time making calls and talking on the phone for many hours.

Listening

Voyager Edge UC was tested in different locations. Since I am a mobile person, it was more convenient for me to use the headset in the car. However, at home, on the street and in the office, the headset performed excellently. The voice is clearly audible in all places without distortion or loss of sensitivity. Wind and external noise could not somehow affect the quality transmitted voice. Even if you were nearby external sources noise, such as music, the noise of passing cars, etc., there was no need to raise your voice so that the interlocutor could hear you.

Conclusion

For mobile and business people, this headset is not only recommended, but simply necessary. If you take into account the wide functionality and capabilities that it has, then it’s a big plus. None of the competing headsets can boast of 16 hours of continuous calls. Convenient features and voice quality with a lot of noise around us still give this headset a huge advantage. In general, the owner will have many, many advantages Plantronics headsets® Voyager Edge UC. Unfortunately, we found only one drawback, this is a considerable price.

Pros:

• Unusual design of the headset and case;
• Battery life approximately 16 hours;
• Voice commands, notifications and sensors;
• Russian language support;
• Excellent speech quality;

• Headset
• Case with built-in battery
• microUSB cable
• Car adapter
• Replaceable attachments
• Documentation

This headset came from outer space, it looks futuristic and can do a lot of unusual things. Put it to your ear and Edge automatically answers the call. Removed - the conversation is over. And this is just the beginning...

Design

In the article about new MWC products, I already briefly talked about Edge, the article aroused interest - I judge this by both the number of views and the number of emails received. Summing up the results of last year, for the umpteenth time I had to note with sadness: nothing truly interesting is happening in the Bluetooth headset segment. Rare glimpses. One of them is Plantronics Voyager Legend, an interesting product for a wide variety of people.

Apparently, the company decided to make something similar in function, but with more image, with an eye not on corporations, but on the mass consumer. Previously, this role was played by the 925 and 975 models, but now they have decided to abandon the digital designation - apparently for better recognition of the devices. Remembering a number is more difficult than a name, this rule always works. The name, of course, was not chosen by chance. Translated from English, Edge means edge, edge, or even advantage. If you look at the device, the name will become clear. I haven't seen such a futuristic product in the category for a long time. It seems that everything is simple. In fact, such a headset belongs in a science fiction film about the near future. It's hard to explain why it seems like this to me, better look at the photographs. Well, or pay attention in the store, Edge will soon be available for sale in Russia.

The front part is made of matte plastic, there is also a white version that uses glossy plastic. The materials are non-staining, fingerprints are invisible.

On the case there is a microUSB connector, on the microphone leg you can see a slot, inside there is a mesh made of red material that protects the microphones from the wind. On the front panel you can see another slot, there is also a microphone (there are three in total).

Another interesting thing worth noting is the protection from water, or rather from rain: “Nano-coating of the P2i headset and a case that protects from moisture.” I don’t know what P2i is, I’ll have to figure it out.

Wearing method

The headset can be worn with or without a headband, as you prefer. I recommend trying different attachments from the kit; the smallest one suited me. The Edge is comfortable to wear, fits perfectly, you just can’t feel the silicone pad - I recommend it. Compared to the Legend with the Edge, a different usage scenario is expected: inserted into the ear when you need to talk, then put back in your pocket or in the included case. Actually, that's exactly what I do.

Control

On the body there are volume control buttons, a power lever, a call answer button (in fact, most of the front panel is what it is). On the microphone stem there is a button to activate voice commands, while they only work in English, the system is understandable. The commands are as follows: find out the battery charge, connection status, call back the last caller, answer or end the call. The last function can be disabled. Works flawlessly when incoming call you just need to say Answer and start talking if the headset is already in your ear. At incoming call Caller ID works, that is, Edge prompts the subscriber's name, but this only works for contacts written in Latin.

The same button helps to mute the microphone and control playback; everything works fine on the iPhone.

Another way to answer a call is through the sensors built into the Edge. When you insert the headset into your ear, you can answer a call, transfer a call from your phone to the headset, or continue playing. When the Edge moves away from your ear, it hangs up the call, stops the music or podcast, and transfers the call to your phone. Everything works fine, the sensors can be turned off if desired, and calibration is also supported; to do this, the headset must be connected to the cable and placed with the speaker facing up on a flat non-metallic surface.

The indicator light is miniature and does not attract attention.

The headset software update is supported, there is also a Russian language for voice commands and notifications, the latter help when using Edge: status, turning on or off a particular function, a hint when to charge the device.

Additional functions

The headset supports NFC, you can use this function to pair, I tried with Sony Xperia T2, everything works. A2DP is supported, you can listen to podcasts, music or audiobooks in one ear. It is possible to disable the HD Voice function (there is such a thing), disable voice commands, A2DP - all this is respectable; in terms of management, Edge is very convenient. Everything described above must be done using proprietary program

Nutrition

A separate story is the complete box with a built-in battery. The ancestor, Plantronics 975, had a leatherette case with small display and the lid, I can’t call it uncomfortable. The Edge has a space-age case, as much as the product itself. A small capsule, the outer part is made of rubber with a pattern, the inside is plastic, there is a loop; if desired, you can thread a carabiner or ring here, wear the case on your jeans or attach it to a bag, whatever you like. There are separate charge indicators for the case and the headset; they light up when you take out the device. By the way, the Edge installs until it clicks and stays firmly inside. To pull it out, you need to press your finger on the speaker with reverse side. Everything is very comfortable and natural. The case has a microUSB connector for charging; interestingly, the headset has the same connector - that is, you can use the case or leave it at home or in the office, as you wish. This versatility is refreshing.

The stated operating time is up to 6 hours of talk time, this is when you use only the Edge, when paired with a case, the time increases to 16 hours. Outstanding performance. In life, such a scenario is quite justified: you have a conversation, put the device in the case, when there is an incoming call, you take out the Edge, it automatically connects (and the call is also answered automatically thanks to the sensors), you talk, and put it back. It is gratifying that Plantronics tried to increase the operating time as much as possible - for many users of such devices, four or five hours is frankly not enough. I’m not talking about teenagers, but about those who sometimes spend hours in the office negotiating.

For fully charged The headset will need about 90 minutes from the microUSB cable. When connected to an iPhone, the Edge's charge indicator appears.

Voice quality

Tested Edge paired with iPhone 5S in different conditions: in the office, in the car, on the street in the city center. The result is almost always the same - you can be heard well in a variety of conditions. The operating range is about five to six meters, I tested it in the office. If you are talking and music is playing nearby, you don’t have to raise your voice; the interlocutors did not complain about background noise. In fact, speaking using the Edge is much more convenient than using the iPhone.

conclusions

In the USA, the headset costs about $130, we will have about the same price, that is, about 4,500 rubles, maybe a little more, maybe a little less. I think if you're thinking about buying something like this, here you go interesting idea– Plantronics has made a huge step forward, we are talking about the Bluetooth market as a whole. There really is something to see and talk about; in fact, Edge is interesting both outside and inside. It’s difficult to list all the advantages here, I’ll try to highlight the main points:

• Very interesting design both headset and case
• Great quality speech transmission
• Operating time (total) about 16 hours
• Voice commands, notifications, sensors - it all works great
• Comfortable to wear
• Russian language supported

And a lot of all sorts of features - NFC, A2DP (which makes it possible to listen to music), the ability to work with two smartphones at once, plus interesting little things. As a minus, I would consider the call answer button to be a bit stiff, but this is not so bad, considering how many ways there are to answer a call.

I've been waiting for this device for a long time, I was glad to introduce you to Edge. Coming soon to stores, if you like accessories, be sure to try it.

Sergey Kuzmin ()

30.06.2016

That means I got a headset... And not just a headset, but a Bluetooth headset... Yes, not just a Bluetooth headset, but... but what can I say, let’s be honest, the headset we’re going to talk about is straight speaking, it’s “screwed up” nowhere else and its analogues are literally on the fingers of one hand of a novice mechanic after working with a circular saw... Here there is, probably, everything that can be in general in such things, and even something that should not be here should, in principle, - a thing that by its presence shows that absolutely everything in this world can be done better... and everything in this world can cost even more... I’ll try to tell you...

The headset is called Plantronics Voyager Edge. The manufacturer is not entirely unknown, but the pop-popular Jabra completely blows all other brands out of the minds of the average person. But Plantronics is a purely American company, never bought by Chinese corporations (well, assembly in China - so everyone has it there... it’s only Chinese developers trying to open a factory somewhere in Spain, to improve their image, or something).

Speaking of Plantronics...

The company has been around for over 50 years, and during this time it has achieved one thing - absolute recognition in the HandsFree field.

Well, to understand, it was Plantronics that organized communications at NASA during the first space flights (or rather, the second ones - I don’t know who organized communications for Comrade Gagarin) and it was through Plantronics equipment that Neil Armstrong spoke.

An indicator of the current situation is the adaptation of switching equipment by industry leaders (HP, Cisco, Siemens, Nortel) specifically for Plantronics headsets.

This is a more than serious company, it turns out, otherwise it’s all Zabra and Jabra...

The headset is sold in excellent packaging - the main box is made of very thick high-quality cardboard with a magnetic clasp, a plastic box... beautiful! There is such a thing lying on the display window, and you already want to buy it. And the unpacking!

This is almost an ideal box for a worthwhile thing. Let’s say, for a gift... after discovering the beauty in the form of the main box and plastic shell (everything is tightly closed - you can’t open it without a knife), access to white thick soft cardboard opens, in which each component has its own separate closing compartment!

I love boxes and beautiful packaging...

Some photos of the packaging

First Look:

Huge plastic wings completely cover the cardboard “bed”:

Even the branded inscription, and it’s not just written, but embossed, looks so stylish.

To make it more convenient for us to remove all these boxes, special flaps were made on both sides. It’s a small thing, but even such a basic thing adds advantages to the overall perception.

No, really, it’s very disappointing when expensive things are delivered in “somehow” packaging, all sorts of people like Amazon explain this as a struggle for environment and the need to use recycled raw materials, I accept this logic somewhere very far away - I’m not buying a thing, I’m buying emotions (otherwise why, in general, spend money on things more expensive than 5,000 rubles). Here everything is in order with emotions - the feeling of complete delight is fully present.

Giving Plantronics its due, I note that for their part they sold far from empty emotions. The package is never inferior to the packaging...

Headset - everything is clear with this, replaceable tips in the ear different sizes(tips of different sizes for ears of different sizes) - this also happens, the charging cable is no rarity, the cradle - well, it also happens, and then it suddenly turns out that this is never a cradle - this is a full-fledged external battery!

And in addition - an adapter for a USB output for the cigarette lighter in a car (a small thing, on Ali it costs 3-4 dollars, but it is included in the kit - this is not so much a necessity as a banal concern for customer satisfaction, we bought the product and don’t think about the components - we immediately use it in any situation).

So far everything seems great...

The headset itself is made of plastic, which is expected. Two types of plastic are used here: matte rough - throughout the body ( grey colour), glossy, dense and slippery on top of the body (white color).

The entire surface is dotted with buttons and switches: on/off, volume controls, answer/end button, voice command button.

About the answer button - it’s not immediately visible - this wide white surface plays its role.

All elements are purely mechanical, the movement is clear, there is absolutely no play in the buttons in the grooves. Here, on the body, I mean, there is a pair of connectors. One of them is designed to connect to the charging dock, and the other is a standard micro-USB (I note that it sits a little clumsily...).

My opinion is that using a standard, generally accepted connector is very, very correct. So, today in every home, in every car, in every office, there is at least one cable and we can almost always recharge the device.

But now I will describe, in my opinion, an absolutely fantastic thing - an ear holder (I have no idea what to call it). So, it clings to the auricle and does not allow the headset to fall out under any conditions (I jumped and shook my head until I got seasick - the headset didn’t even try to fall out), and considering that this very holder is made of very soft and elastic silicone, it is not felt at all and does not cause any discomfort. And, yes, let me remind you, there are three of them in the set...

We continue about materials, but this time the charging box. Everything is different here: the top and bottom are matte white plastic, the loop is fabric (you can use it as a keychain, for some reason), and the entire perimeter is covered with white rubber a couple of millimeters thick. Looks and feels great! And also, this rubber protrudes just a little (much less than a millimeter) from below above the plastic, due to which the box rests confidently on the table and does not slip.

The car charger is the same white glossy plastic, dense, high quality.

That's it, I praised the appearance, now get to work!

Sometimes it’s worth reading advertising brochures - I mean, that’s where I learned about the presence of such a thing in the headset as NFC. Yes, it turned out that to fully pair with my Sony ZL, all I needed was to touch the earphone with my phone. That's all! No device search, no “trust or not trust”, no “visibility timeouts” and other paraphernalia - touch and 5 seconds of time. Conveniently, however, for the first time, by the way, I connected devices via NFC (I worked with tags, with metro tickets too, but this was the first time for two gadgets).

If in your phone NFC no - no problems (well, a little more difficulties), Bluetooth 4.0 is easily detected by any devices - the Lenovo S580 found, identified and connected the device via the Bluetooth channel in about a minute.

So, when installing software on a PC, in addition to fine adjustments, we can also update the firmware. The update takes up to five minutes with firmware download.

And here mobile app, in turn, will provide us with the opportunity to also search for a lost headset. Having received a request, the earphone will begin to squeal at the limit of its capabilities and flash its various diodes (well, if there are diodes, then why not flash them - this is not a phone, where they are not installed in principle).

Control of headset options is also fully present.

There is also a simpler application - Find MyHeadset, created exclusively for searching for a device - there is only one button, but a big one (the rest are more options for the sake of options)...

Both programs have an interesting BackTrack feature - this is just if things are bad, and “I remember very vaguely what happened in the morning” - the program records the GPS position of the headset (data is taken from the phone), and using this data it can be found. In theory. Like the memories in "Bachelor Party" (that movie).

As an addition, a notification with the remaining charge is constantly displayed in the curtain, in the case of Find MyHeadset - percentage and operating time, and in the case of PLT Hub - only talk time.

This is where I would like to end the review, but such a headset, paired with modern telephone We just need another program that will make them friends, just like musketeers. If you have a stable Internet channel, there seem to be no questions - a couple of years ago they invented Dusya, which perfectly understands voice commands and is a full-fledged voice assistant, but what to do in the absence of the Network is the question.

For myself, I found a solution in the form of Cyberon Voice Commander and Voice Speed ​​Dial. In general, the second is like an add-on over the first from the same developer, and without it it does not work, but the difference between them is fundamental.

So, Voice Commander tries to actually recognize the command and do something useful: call someone, launch a navigator, tell the time...

But you understand, recognizing a voice is a rather difficult task, and doing something based on vague user commands is even more difficult (“I wanted to make a thunderstorm, but got a goat,” this is the most harmless example). Therefore, it’s difficult for me to use, and given that it seems to me that the most popular voice command will be something like “Call Tuzik,” it’s quite logical to leave only caller recognition.

This is what the second program is for. Everything here is simple to the point of genius: for each number (or program, but I didn’t appreciate this), we ourselves assign a label (we just need to do this with headsets turned off), and then, when submitting voice command the program checks the tags, repeats it to be sure and calls.

It calls - does not open a contact or phone book, does not ask questions, but simply dials the subscriber.

Something like that...

Opinion

To be honest, I am very impressed by the device - for me, its functionality allows you to actually do without your hands for almost the first time. Everything is very simple and fast - the same NFC, which allows you to avoid the nerves of not finding the device, a cradle that will extend the operating time three times, voice notifications and commands, silicone mount... The thing turned out great, and it's all in wonderful packaging.

The only thing I would like is a better understanding of voice commands, but I don’t quite understand where the limitations of the headset end and the limitations of the phone begin, and Dusya really helps.

There is only one question left - the price. If it weren’t for the site, I probably wouldn’t have gotten acquainted with such a device - the price of the headset exceeds the price of very many phones and, moreover, its price is much higher than the average budget allocated for such devices. But having paid, you can be sure that not a single penny was wasted or overpaid for a brand or “show-off”.

Well, I’m packing the headset - it’s just my father’s birthday, and I’ve been wanting a headset for a long time...!

A working person should always be in touch. Constant calls, negotiations, questions from subordinates and directives from managers force you to keep your phone with you, frantically checking every contact during breaks. To free your hands for other things and not to ruin the contract by missing an important call, put on a Bluetooth headset Plantronics Voyager Edge. Unlike you, she will not run out of energy by the evening - and will understand from the first words everything you ask of her.

Not a simple headset

Until relatively recently, wireless mono headsets were at the peak of fashion, and almost every second passerby used them. Over time, the number of owners has decreased - not only because the target audience In fact narrow, but also because the technology itself was far from perfect. For example, headsets of that time did not work for long, and wireless standard Bluetooth of the first generations drained the smartphone battery too much. Manufacturers have since solved both problems, and Voyager Edge from Plantronics does not suffer from childhood illnesses of his grandparents.

In quality cardboard box On a kind of pedestal lies the headset and its constant, very convenient companion - a wireless charging cradle. In the same box you can find three sets of special, replaceable silicone tips with loop for a comfortable and quick landing. In addition to them, you can also put an earloop on the device, a la “personal bodyguard.” Finally, Micro-USB cable used to recharge the case/headset, and the miniature cigarette lighter adapter allows you to keep the entire kit fully charged in the car 24 hours, 7 days a week.

The headset body, edging and battery block are made of decent quality plastic - without play or crunch when squeezed. The design is modern, deliberately minimalist, discreet and at the same time stylish. If this is important to you, I will please you: it goes well not only with an iPhone, but also with any type of clothing. Due to the absence of glossy “ruffles”, all three color variations Voyager Edge Suitable for both men and women. Of course, we liked the white version, but the black and silver ones are no worse. The choice is yours.

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The back of the headset shows the earpiece under a dense metal mesh. The decision is correct, it provides good protection dynamics inside the case from inevitable contact with earwax. Together with silicone tips, Voyager Edge provides almost complete sound insulation.

Speaking of landing. Let me note from experience of use: the loops on the liners require preliminary fitting. Everyone's ears are different in size and shape, so first you need to find the perfect combination of ear tip and headset position. To do this, we spent a couple of minutes each, after which the process of putting on/taking off took only a couple of seconds.

If you look at Voyager Edge from the side of the large part, it will seem that its body is bent in the style of traditional headsets. Typical example higher, and will help dispel the illusion previous photo. Here I wanted to show some of the buttons. The lever switches the power supply of the device. The farthest large key either mutes the built-in microphone during a call or serves as a track switcher in the built-in player iOS. Listening to tracks through a mono headset is really convenient if you need to simultaneously monitor the situation around you. One ear is there, the other is here. This is especially useful for motorcyclists and athletes.

The headset has its own Micro-USB port for those cases when you need to recharge it separately from the battery cradle. Below it is a volume control lever for the built-in speaker. The black stripe is a hole in the housing in which one of the microphones is located. I note: Voyager Edge has immediately three microphones related in active noise reduction system.

He hears well

The minimalist design belies the truly powerful functionality of this headset. Let's start with the standard Bluetooth 4.0. If you used mono headsets five years ago and abandoned them due to problems with battery life or connection stability, it's time to update your experience. 4th generation BT is excellent at maintaining communication at an effective distance up to 10 meters from a smartphone and at the same time democratic affects battery charge.

Opportunities Voyager Edge keep up. Installed inside the device capacitive sensors, which determine the moment of removing or putting on the headset. Implemented incredibly on this basis convenient function, without which we can no longer imagine similar devices. When putting on the headset, the entire iPhone audio is automatically redirected into her speaker.

I will explain using a specific situation. Imagine: you're talking on your iPhone, but you have to put it down to free up your hands. Throw it in Voyager Edge into your ear – and immediately continue communicating, without pressing buttons or setting anything on your smartphone.

When removing Voyager Edge automatically deactivated, so that the user can immediately continue the conversation on the iPhone using its built-in speakers and microphone. The headset also locks the quick call button - so you can safely throw it in your bag or pocket without fear of accidentally dialing a number. We have repeatedly tested these features with impeccable results: activation and deactivation occur instantly, and the interlocutor, as a rule, does not even notice this moment.

Another great feature is calling the caller's name when there is an incoming call. While driving, you don’t need to be distracted by your phone screen to understand who is trying to call. Completes the picture speech recognition technology, which has recently been working with the Russian language. This requires a firmware update, but the results are worth it. If you don't mind staring at passengers, calls can be controlled using just your voice. For example, to answer an incoming message, just say "Answer". Supported and voice control other headset functions.

The sound quality of the headphone is commendable. Interlocutor you can hear better than through speaker iPhone or EarPods from its kit. And the interlocutor himself hears you in two times clearer than if you spoke through the built-in microphone of the iPhone. Plus, you can get rid of the habit of shouting in noisy conditions. High volume speech transmitted through this headset will not force you to repeat the same thing twice, attracting the attention of others. This has happened to everyone.

Battery life Voyager Edge is six hours - or about five and a half real experience use. The battery case adds another 10 hours. As a result, we get a full day from early morning to late evening, which will pass with the headset, without any recharging from the cigarette lighter or the laptop’s USB port.

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