The law regarding using your mobile phone whilst driving has been in place for more than a year, yet everyday I still see people driving with phones clamped to their heads. And these aren't old cars, but new cars where I'd have expected them to have ticked that option when ordering the car, since they seemed to have ticked every other option…
Parrot have been at the forefront of in-car bluetooth connectivity since it started. I remember having one of their first devices and it was bulletproof, lasting forever and connecting immediately when I got in the car.
So I was really interested when Parrot sent their latest version for me to test. Had the latest and greatest tech been built in? Actually yes, but not that you can immediately tell. Parrot had surprised me and stripped away the user interface to be as simple to use as possible. In doing so, they have created a product that gives an even greater benefit to users.
Simply put, it's simple as to use. With just three buttons and an on / off switch, it's designed for any person to be able to use. It's the Apple ethos: make it so simple that even I can use it without reading the manual! With voice recognition (that actually works!) built in, you can start by using the manual buttons and quickly transition to full voice control when you gain confidence.
Connecting the phone to the bluetooth is simple and then you attach the unit to your sunvisor and away you go. I had battery life of over two weeks and with an audible connection when I get in the car, I know it's always working. The microphone and speaker work well, with the caller knowing I am driving, but the conversation isn't hampered by this.
Often the barrier to mass uptake of technology is its complexity and, with the Glam, Parrot have made a device where it doesn't matter if you're 16 or 96, you CAN use this without issue.
The Glam is pitched at women, with its packaging very much showing this. The only difference to the standard Parrot bluetooth is its red shell, which of course makes it a female-only product?
That aside, I can't really fault the Glam, it doesn't have a caller ID screen, but that usually adds complexity and cost. I like its simplicity and that it just works. The voice recognition doesn't require training, it again just works!
Pros:
- Works first time, every time
- Simple to set up and use
- Voice control adds so much usability to this device
- Long battery life
Cons:
- No screen
Summary:
We all know driving with a phone clamped to your ear does cause a distraction, yet people still persist.
It's one habit I'd like to see eradicated from New Zealand roads. We already have enough idiots on the road, why people choose to consciously join that group, I'll never understand.
So if you, a family member or a friend has a phone and drives, do everyone a favour and go get a bluetooth unit. And if you want to know that it's going to work first time, every time, then make sure it's a Parrot.
4.5 / 5
