I know not everyone agrees with me, but I love having a communication system on my helmet – I like listening to music and it’s nice to have the option to talk with Vy when she’s on the back. The two main players in the industry are Sena and Cardo, and the latter says they’ve made the next leap in technology with “The World’s First Natural Voice-Command Operated Motorcycle Communications System“.
My experience with helmet communications started with a Chatterbox X2 over a decade ago, and it was terrible. I didn’t even mind the size – that’s what the technology was 10+ years ago. But man, it was such a pain in the ass to use. I think I used it for a couple of weeks and then gave up and went back to using iPhone headphones. I swore off headsets until a friend recommended a Sena unit to me and that’s what I’ve used since.
The difference 10 years makes – remember that the top device only did audio, whereas the unit below does audio AND video.
While I personally have been using Sena headsets, it’s not because I’m unhappy with Cardo’s lineup. I just haven’t had a chance to try them out. So I’ll see if I can get a couple of units to test and I’ll let you know how it goes. Until then, if you’re the kind of person that enjoys poring through press releases, here’s what Cardo has to say about their new product:
Cardo Systems Announces Availability of PACKTALK BOLD – The World’s First Natural Voice-Command Operated Motorcycle Communications System
Advanced Voice-Command System Combined with Dynamic Mesh Communication™ Technology Takes Motorcycle Communication to A Higher Level
The PACKTALK Bold
Plano, Texas – Cardo Systems, the global market leader in wireless communication systems for motorcyclists, today announced availability of the next generation of its ground-breaking PACKTALK system at specialty retailers and cardosystems.com. The world’s first natural voice-command-operated motorcycle communications system, PACKTALK BOLD utilizes Cardo’s proprietary Dynamic Mesh Communication™ technology to create the industry’s most-sophisticated and dynamic motorcycle communications system.
Introduced in Milan last November at EICMA, PACKTALK BOLD represents a new standard in ease-of-use and seamlessly integrates with Apple’s Siri™ and “OK Google”™ voice-command platforms. With natural voice-command, riders can simply say, “Hey Cardo” to the system spontaneously and the always-on system reacts instantaneously. It no longer requires a specific activation action such as push-to-talk. Instead, the system allows riders to keep their hands on the bars at all times and is a significant advancement over current systems that required sometimes tedious and ineffective activation commands. With PACKTALK BOLD, Cardo leapfrogs the limited-natured discourse about the ideal button control, and instead adds a new dimension of always-on, natural voice commands.
“PACKTALK BOLD is the world’s most powerful, yet easy to use, motorcycle communication system, and we’re thrilled to bring it to North American riders,” said Dr. Abraham Glezerman – Cardo’s founder and CEO. “With PACKTALK BOLD we’re taking rider safety to the next level: Instead of fidgeting with buttons or wheels, riders can now voice-control their unit on the go in a natural way and without ever having to take their hands off the bars.”
PACKTALK utilizes Cardo Connect™, Cardo’s new minimalistic and intuitive mobile app for setting and controlling the company’s entire FREECOM and PACKTALK line of devices on the road. Using natural language commands and the all-new Cardo Assistant App, riders can use PACKTALK BOLD without having to touch any button or remove a hand from the handlebar.
PACKTALK BOLD takes flight via Cardo’s state-of-art Dynamic Mesh Technology, allowing up to 15 riders to wirelessly communicate with each other with the same ease of connecting just two. Unlike Bluetooth communications, Dynamic Mesh Communication-powered devices are interconnected, thus allowing a group of riders to seamlessly join, leave or change positions at a distance of up to five miles without causing a breakdown in communications, while the self-adjusting network automatically works to keep the riding group connected. And with class-leading wind-noise suppression, a rider’s voice always comes through crisp and clear.
“PACKTALK BOLD merges pioneering Dynamic Mesh technology with smoothly activated natural voice commands, to deliver a superior riding experience that simply can’t be understated,” said Dr. Glezerman.
The system uses a single-unit design simply clipped to a helmet and featuring a slick roller controller for easy volume adjustment. Its rider-to-rider range is up to one mile or up to five miles when used in a group mesh arrangement.
Cardo also announces availability of PACKTALK SLIM, an integral communicator packing the same performance inside a 0.25” super sleek and thin shell. PACKTALK SLIM is recommended by HJC. It also fit a host of other premium helmets from manufacturers such as Shoei, Arai, Bell and others.
PACKTALK SLIM
PACKTALK BOLD and PACKTALK SLIM use Bluetooth 4.1 to easily connect with mobile devices like phones and GPS units, as well as universal connectivity to any Bluetooth communicators. It also features automatic volume control, smart intercom/music mixing, rider-to-passenger audio sharing, FM radio, and up to 13 hours of talk time.
Both PACKTALKs retail at an MSRP of $329.95 for single units and $579.95 for a DUO set.
The new PACKTALK BOLD and SLIM systems join Cardo’s FREECOM and Q-solo lines of Bluetooth communicators. All Cardo units are IP67-certified as fully waterproof, not simply water-resistant like lesser communicators, and all feature a two-year warranty and a U.S.-based customer-support system.
Another example of the PACKTALK SLIM.
You can find more information about Cardo Systems at www.cardosystems.com. Also visit us and join the conversation on Facebook, Twitter and Instagram.
About Cardo
Cardo Systems specializes in the design, development, manufacturing and sale of state-of-the-art communication and entertainment systems for motorcycle helmets. Since inception in 2004, Cardo has pioneered the vast majority of innovations for Bluetooth motorcycle communication systems. The company’s products, now available in over 85 countries, are the world’s leading communication devices for the motorcycle industry.