Allow me to introduce you to the fanciest Bluetooth headset currently available, the Jawbone from Aliph. I’ve been hearing about the device for some months, but it wasn’t until CES that I actually encountered one. So is it everything it’s been cracked up to be?
In short, yes. The Jawbone is the best Bluetooth headset on the market. Combining advanced noise-cancellation technology, attractive aesthetic, a variety of fit options and an affordable price point, the Jawbone is the most versatile competitor amongst the crowded pool of Bluetooth headsets
Fitting the headset to your ear is a simple task. The package includes four ear pieces—a large and small for right and left—and assorted earbuds. It only took me a few minutes to find a combination to fit my giant ears comfortably. Bonus points goto Aliph for including a fit set.
Using noise shield technology, the Jawbone is capable of canceling out, or significantly reducing ambient noises. It enables you to converse in environments that might not typically be hospitable to conversation. Combining innovative acoustics and audio processing, the technology permits for you to hear the person you’re speaking to and for the person you’re speaking to to hear you.
Its proprietary voice activity sensor accurately identifies when you’re speaking to modulate your voice against background sounds. I had a lot of success with this, trying it in a variety of environments. The best example of the device’s communication prowess is in crowds. I typically have a lot of trouble discerning phone calls when I’m in crowded places. With its dynamic volume and frequency adjustments, Jawbone virtually eliminated that problem for me and allowed me to converse freely wherever I was at. The system achieves this by monitoring and adjusting to interfering background noises.
It also allows the person on the other end to better hear you. Using multi-directional microphones, the device processes your speech and removes background interference from your outgoing speech signal.
There are problems, however. With its gridded face and three stylish colors, Jawbone is an aesthetically pleasing device. The problem is that it’s sort of clunky.
I don’t use Bluetooth headsets on a regular basis because I find having something hanging from the side of my head awkward and restrictive. Given the somewhat larger mass of this particular headset, I found it a bit more awkward than most. This is completely a personal issue though and I can’t hold it against the device too much. I know that it won’t be a problem for plenty of people, particularly those who are used to using Bluetooth headsets.
All-in-all though, I think Jawbone is an impressive device worthy of merit. At $119 it is priced well within range of its competitors. Considering the advanced nature of the unit and its impressive noise-cancellation features, I believe its expanded girth can be overlooked in favor of its definite utility. If you’re in the market for a Bluetooth headset, I suggest you look no further than Jawbone.
Oh yeah this earset rocks :)
I made a review of it (in french sorry) : http://blog.gonzaguedambricourt.com/2007/02/05/test-jawbone-bluetooth-earset/
The thing is that it costed me a lot more than it costed you ;)
(shipping + customs)
I actually like that it’s a little bigger then the competition. At least it’ll be easier to spot one of these on someone who seems to be talking to themselves.
I picked one of these up recently, after my favorite BT headset of all time (my Plantronic Voyager V-510) suddenly up & died. After a quick run down to my local Cingular house-of-pain, they told me their stock of V-510’s were out, and they recommended this if I was in need of an immediate replacement (which I was). After all, I’d have 30 days to take it back, right?
Well, the fit isn’t as good as the Plantronics — for my ear shape, I doubt anything else would be — but the noise-reduction tech is nothing short of phenomenal. Every one of the BT headsets I’ve owned (5, not incl. the Plantronics) was discarded due to a bad fit. Even though the Jawbone doesn’t fit as well (no combination of the earpieces seemed to work just right for me), they’ll have to pry it from my cold, dead hands.
My test lab? My convertible. I have driven at full speed down Pacific Coast Highway with the top down, and the person on the other end of the line couldn’t tell. The clincher was when I pulled up next to a loud, lumbering truck at a stoplight, and still – the call was clean and clear to both the caller and me. Awesome.
The looks are an acquired taste to be sure, but battery life is great. The FINAL clincher is their charging cable — it’s USB!!! Their adapter is a small 110v unit with a standard USB out – and the cable has USB on one end, Jawbone’s proprietary connector on the other. So, now between my Cingular 8525, my Jawbone, and even my iPod, I don’t have to travel with the hellish bag-o-adapters anymore – one USB/Mini-USB cable is all I need to recharge my devices off my MacBook Pro.
A little pricey – yes, but for the clarity of the sound? – I’m happy to pay a bit extra.
Skip Jawbone if you want to use this on XP (or will want to make Skype/SIP/VoIP calls on XP). Even XP SP2 doesn’t support Bluetooth headsets, and Jawbone has elected not to do what most other manufacturers do (license and release the third-party Widcomm driver). So it won’t work on XP; Jawbone support: “We do not have an XP SP2 Widcomm Bluetooth driver available as we do not support PC/MAC compatibility at this time.”
The Jawbone works great on XP – I use it with my Acer Ferrari 4000 for dictation, Skype, etc. The pre-installed Bluetooth driver should be disabled, then go right to Broadcom (who now owns Widcomm) to get the latest Bluetooth driver – install – and pair up: http://www.broadcom.com/products/bluetooth_update.php
Works like a charm!
There is a very annoying audio delay that does not occur with other bluetooth headsets I use with my Palm 750 Treo. It is only a fraction of a second but it causes both parties to constantly step on each other’s conversation.
And the charging cable is propietary on one end. You know what that means if you ever need a replacement or backup. No matter where I have looked, including eBay, it always ends up pushing $20 by the time shh is included.
That said, I still like this headset. It really does reduce backround noice (for the other end of your conversations) and, once I switched to the right ear hook/ear bud combo (four of each came with mine), it has been the most comfortable over the ear mono headset I have ever use.
I’m curious to see if Motorolla’s new noice cancelling headset has the same shortcomings, though.