Gadgets...

Now here's an idea whose time has come: a solar-powered Bluetooth headset.

Iqua Ltd. bills its new BHS-603 SUN as the world's first solar-powered Bluetooth headset. It's a perfect pairing of innovative technologies. Bluetooth wireless devices don't need much power, and a headset is just the right size for a solar-power collector. And since the people who wear Bluetooth headsets don't tend to do so in the dark, this is the perfect type of device to take advantage of the light around us.

Fully charged, the BHS-603 boasts up to 12 hours of talk time, and unlimited standby time in daylight. (Several regular Bluetooth headsets I looked up only hold enough power for 6 hours of talk time, so this is already an edge up for this device.)

The Iqua also includes almost the full range of features you'd expect from a Bluetooth headset. It doesn't appear to have a noise-cancelling microphone, though, which could be a downer for people who spend a lot of time in crowded coffee houses.

At just $99.99, the BHS-603 SUN is comparably priced compared to other high-end Bluetooth headsets. And it looks good enough that it just might get the people who see it talking -- even if they end up talking face-to-face.