If Sony Ericsson was the name for an embarrassing fungal wart then you'd be reaching for a bucket right about now. However, given that SE makes consumer electronics you're actually looking at their new MBS-100 Bluetooth speaker. The crater-pocked sphere features A2DP stereo audio and a rechargeable 5-hour battery for delicious portability. Unfortunately, SE tells us that it "looks as good as it sounds" which doesn't make us too hopeful on the acoustic front. They've also released a 25-hour, HCB-105 Bluetooth car Speakerphone kit. Sure, it looks a bit staid but at least it won't scare the children. No prices given, but the MBS-100 will drop in Q4 while the HCB-105 arrives in Q1.

We love anything that comes a-packin' no muss, no fuss technology -- even more so when you can install it in a few seconds and don't need a toolkit to get the job done. Parrot's newest Bluetooth carkit, the PMK5800 consists of a single part which plugs directly into your car's 12V accessory socket or cigarette lighter. Using a built in FM transmitter (a la iTrip), the set will stream tunes via A2DP from your handset or your voice calls to your car's stereo deck to give you that auto-filling sound you love. When the phone rings, just hitting the FM preset you configure for the PMK5800 will automatically answer it and mute your music. While not an embedded kit, it packs all the goodies you would expect like DSP, echo and noise cancellation, full duplex sound, and voice recognition all in something that can go from car to car without effort. Look for these to land sometime this summer for about $120.

[Via PR Newswire]

Our favorite Bluetooth gurus are readying yet another in-car handsfree kit, but unlike the run-of-the-mill offerings already crowding store shelves, the Parrot MK6100 adds a bit of musical delight as well. Aside from giving users the opportunity to hear conversations through their stereo system, this two-piece system boasts a built-in microphone in the horizontal display (which just so happens to be a svelte OLED), and also plays on the emotions of audio lovers everywhere. The A2DP-enabled kit features a separate wireless remote that can be used to cycle through the tracks on your handset, play and pause the tunes, and easily fit into your glovebox when you exit the vehicle. Additionally, users will be graced with DPS, automatic phonebook synchronization, text-to-speech capabilities, and voice dialing, and while we're not quite sure of the pricing deets just yet, you can probably expect to find out for yourself in Q2 of this year.

While there's certainly no shortage of handsfree liaisons made for your whip, we're not going to complain with a bit more competition, and BlueTraks is trying to make a name for itself by hitting us up with the nicely-spec'd BT-211 series. The 5.45- x 2.9- x 2-inch design most definitely avoids any hints of a curve, but the 4.3-inch WQVGA touchscreen display, miniSD card slot, and iPod connectivity help to alleviate the questionable styling. Aside from touting Bluetooth, voice recognition, and a front-mounted USB 2.0 port, this nifty conglomerate also boasts a few inputs / outputs (pictured after the jump) not typically found on a run-of-the-mill handsfree kit. On the unit's rear you'll find ports for your iPod (along with a tailored control interface), any other DAP, a hardwired hookup to your factory amplifiers / speakers, audio in, and in a forthcoming rendition, satellite radio and even a navigation interface for those thinking about installing this in their dash. Sadly, we've no hard dates regarding availability, nor any indication of a price range, but we definitely dig where this handsfree car kit is going.

[Via NaviGadget]

There's really no point in launching a major new portable audio device without a ton of accessories, so Microsoft's got you Zuneheads covered with a trio of packs to maximize your listening experience at home, in the car, or when you're getting your travel on. The Zune Home A/V Pack is centered around a dock (obviously), which you connect to your home theater gear through the bundled AV cable, and control with the included wireless remote; this pack also includes a sync cable and AC adapter. When you're rocking the Zune in your ride, the Car Pack will deliver power from your DC socket and transmit songs with the obligatory FM transmitter. Finally, for jamming to tunes while holed up in a sleazy motel, you can enhance the experience somewhat with the Zune Travel Pack, which includes premium earbuds (hopefully magnetic -- fingers crossed), a so-called dual connect remote, snazzy gear bag, and the same sync cable and AC adapter found in the home kit. Also noteworthy are the number of third-party manufacturers on-board to help you pimp out your Zune, including Altec Lansing, DLO, Griffin, Klipsch, Logitech, Harman Kardan, and several more -- basically the same folks who have been accessorizing your iPod for all these years. Okay, enough with the peripherals -- go read about the hardware and software, 'cause like, that's what's actually influencing your purchasing decision, no?

We've always been a bit skeptical of portable DAPs like the Sirius S50 and Samsung neXus that promise to let you listen to sat radio content on-the-go, because since neither device includes a built-in satellite receiver, you're stuck with the programming you've recorded while the player was docked at home. PC Mag seems to agree that this class of gadgets offers rather limited functionality, and their review of the neXus isn't very promising for potential customers: unless you buy the $70 car kit for listening to live feeds in your ride, you're basically spending either $219 or $269, respectively, for either a 512MB or 1GB MP3 player that delivers neither great sound quality nor an acceptable battery life. What's more, you have to make sure that you keep the unit docked for at least eight hours a month so that XM can properly authenticate your subscription to keep your recorded tunes from disappearing. Ultimately, unless you're a on a tight budget and absolutely need some XM swag in your pocket at all times, PC Mag suggests -- and we tend to agree -- that you're better off shelling out a few more bucks for the Pioneer Inno or Samsung Helix, which both allow you to pick up and record live feeds right out of the box, no dock necessary.