Aliph Jawbone Bluetooth Headset (Grey) [Bulk/Generic Packaging]

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Product features

• Advanced, military-grade noise-canceling system continuously adapts adapts to your environment
• Award-winning modern industrial design by Yves Behar
• Can be worn on either ear; includes four earloops and five earbuds for custom fit
• Charges via proprietary USB cable
• Jawbone's ergonomic design enhances the acoustic performance and keeps the device lightweight, stable and comfortable

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Product description

These days, it seems that wireless Bluetooth headsets are a dime a dozen, but Aliph's Jawbone stands apart from the pack not only due to its unique looks but also thanks to some seriously amazing noise canceling technology. Originally developed for DARPA (The Defense Advanced Research Projects Agency) to create a communication headset that would pick up voice in hostile environments, the Jawbone offers some of the best clarity from a Bluetooth headset we've experienced. This version comes in gray, but it's also available in red and black.

Sophisticated modern industrial style meets the next step in audio technology with the Jawbone Bluetooth headset.

It can be worn on either ear, and you can customize your fit by choosing from one of the included earloops and earbuds.

The first thing you notice about this headset is its rather chunky size and cheese grater-like texturing on the exterior. Designed by Yves Behar, an award-winning industrial designer who also contributed to the design of the OLPC (One Laptop Per Child, aka the $100 Laptop), the Jawbone certainly has that iconic modern look that will be copied for years to come. It's also a bit large on the face (due to the embedded technology and speech sensor), which reminded us of Lando Calrissian's assistant, Lobot. But then there's no easy way to disguise a Bluetooth headset, and it's probably an advantage as passersby won't think you're just muttering crazily to yourself.

The Jawbone can be worn on either ear, and it comes with four earloops of varying sizes to fit your lobe. Made of solid metal with a rubber cover, they're fairly comfortable around the ear. The trick, however, is getting it on over the ear, and this is the Jawbone's biggest disappointment. Because it's so stiff, you literally have to use both hands to try to slip it on over your ear. And since we don't wear our headset constantly, we missed a few calls while performing this dance. Also, the metal frame does bend (as we found after carrying it in our pocket), which can be viewed as an annoyance or as a feature--enabling you to form-fit the frame to your ear. It also comes with five ear pads of varying shapes and sizes, and we tried one of the teardrop shaped pads to secure the Jawbone inside our ear sans metal frame--it was comfortable and worked for awhile, but isn't a solution if you're moving around a lot.

As with Steve Jobs, Behar is not a fan of protruding buttons. Thus, the Jawbone's two controls are hidden within the headset, requiring you to press either the front or back of the unit to answer calls, adjust volume, or turn on/off the noise cancellation function. While we've read some reviews that complained about these hidden controls, we had no problem in accessing them and appreciated their tactile response. The Jawbone also comes with a custom-fit recharging cable that can either plug into a PC's USB port or into the included wall jack. We enjoyed the flexibility of the USB charging, but wished the cable could have been a more standard USB mini-jack (for those times when you forget to bring the cable along).

But the true test of the Jawbone is how its "noise shield" performed. First, a little about this technology. The Jawbone has a small piece of rubbery plastic that protrudes from the bulbous microphone and sits flush against your face, and this sensor tells the Jawbone whether or not you're speaking and can remove background noise from your ongoing speech signal. It can also dynamically adjust the volume of the incoming audio from your call.

We tried the Jawbone in a number of different situations, and for the most part it worked flawlessly. Sitting at our desk with the stereo volume cranked up while playing The Chemical Brothers, our call partner was none the wiser. She didn't hear any of the music coming through, and our voice came through strong on her end. While standing on a street corner, the undulations of traffic noise never made it through to our caller, while we noticed an uptick in volume with an increase in traffic noise.

However, the Jawbone wasn't perfect, as it doesn't do a great job in windy situations. Still, for the good majority of situations you'll find yourself in--from busy airports to talk-heavy coffeehouses to traffic-laden city streets--the Jawbone should perform very well, masking the surroundings to improve fidelity for you call partner as well adapting your ear volume to the surrounding environment. We just wish the ear frame was a bit more flexible.

Pros:

• Amazing background noise masking capabilities--even when faced with loud, thumping music
• Outstanding adaptive volume as the environment around you changes
• Options for customizing the fit

Cons:

• Metal earloop frames are hard to quickly put on
• Non-standard USB connection is a bummer if you forget the cable at home

User reviews

  Disappointed Hubby, 2008-07-22
After researching these devices thoroughly, I settled on this one. I purchased it for my wife who does a lot driving and talking on the phone. She hated it, claiming it didn't fit her ear. I ended up using and thought it fit perfectly. Unfortunately, the back-piece that plugs into the charger was loose. I was able to deal with it, but after a while, it just broke. I had it for five months. I ended up with a less-fancy motorola at half the price that is more straightforward, goes on the ear easier and others claim they can hear me better. Go figure. Great idea poorly executed.

  Great product..., 2008-07-20
Aliph Jawbone Bluetooth Headset (Grey) [Bulk/Generic Packaging]

I have been putting off anything bluetooth, as I think people wearing them look stupid and like a pimp or crack dealer or someone trying to look important. That aside, recent studies showing definite link between certain brain tumors and cellphone use, pushed me to get a headset. After reviewing several products and recommendations on the internet, I chose the JawBone. I am not a big fan of the looks, but it works very well, and outside of getting use to looking like a goof-ball with it on, it really is a great product. I really think anyone driving and needing to use a cellphone should use some sort of bluetooth device, and this product with it noise-reduction circuit, one of the, if not the best choice for those who drive and talk on their cell a lot.

Overall, and despite it's looks, it is worth the money, and an excellent product.

  Jawbone headset, 2008-07-19
Tried several "hands free" devices. The Jawbone is clearly the best. It actually stays in my ear. It's easy to manipulate in both receiving calls and ending calls. Resists unintended actions.

  What A Waste, 2008-07-11
This is without a doubt the worst product I have purchased on Amazon. After reading the reviews AND going to the Apple store who said "this was the best" I have found it to be the worst. Other than getting it to pair with my iPhone it has never worked no matter what I try. There is a YouTube video that is quite clear about setting it up. However, what he shows in the setting up process my iPhone has never, EVER prompted me for. Not much response from Ailph. So, I have a $100 piece of plastic. Stay away. There must be other products that actually work. Here in CA we are not allowed to talk while driving holding a phone. So back to the drawing board.

  Jawbone Bluetooth Headset, 2008-07-06
Very happy with the Jawbone. The noise assassin works perfectly. Great for someone who works around loud backround noise. Comfortable on ear. Highly recommend.

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