The Aliph Jawbone2 Reviewed

When the very first version of the Jawbone was released, it was widely regarded as one of the best Bluetooth headsets that a user could buy for the money, the proverbial Cadillac of Bluetooth Headsets. And like a Cadillac, it was one of the more expensive solutions, averaging between $85 to $120 when most other BT Headsets were priced between $30 and $60. And although it lacked a lot of the new Jawbone2’s functionality, it was still considered the top dog of the industry at the time.

Aliph has since updated the design and functionality of the headset, calling the new version appropriately enough “the New Jawbone” or “the Jawbone2”, the name I’ll use in this Product Review. When it first came out back in May of 2008, it was one of the single most expensive accessories that you could buy for your phone, with an MSRP (Manufacturer’s Suggested Retail Price) of $129. But you certainly got a lot of bang for your buck with this device: the inclusion of the new NoiseAssassin Technology and the new smaller footprint (earprint?) makes this version a must-have item for the Ultra Mobile among us, even a whole year later.

Thankfully, the price of the Jawbone2 has also been substantially reduced in the last few months, coming down from the original MSRP of $129 to around $59. This to be mostly a reaction to the release of other “bone” technologies being offered by other competing technology vendors, but Aliph is also making room in their line for the release of their next BT Headset: the Jawbone Prime, which was released back in May of 2009.

Additionally, since most states have enacted some version of a “Hands-Free” law, owning a BT headset is actually becoming less of a want and more of a necessity, especially for those who accept cellphone calls while driving. This, coupled with the afore-mentioned discounted pricing now available, makes this is the perfect time to buy into this model and brand, with it’s uber-cool features.

Out of the three weeks that I wore this headset, it was mostly good times, but there were some frustrations that came packaged with the Headset. Most notable was the ongoing battle to keep the headset in my ear, which proved to be exceedingly frustrating. A distant second was the lack of a dedicated volume toggle switch, but this was minimized by overall good “automatic” balancing of the volume in general by Jawbone2 itself.
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Taking a Look at BlueAnt’s Z9i Bluetooth Headset

From wired to wireless, I’ve used a number of different headsets over the years. The wired headsets are loaded with nothing but problems, the cord gets tangled up, or there is a break in the cable causing the sound to short out. So it’s no surprise to see Bluetooth headsets become so successful, as they don’t have that nasty cable problem. They also have more power and smarts than your typical headset. In recent years we’ve seen noise reduction become a big factor on Bluetooth headsets. And noise reduction is one place this BlueAnt has focused on with regards to their Z9i headset.

I was very impressed with the packaging when I unboxed my BlueAnt. It’s clean and clearly shows you the complete product without having to open the box. You can clearly see that this headset is an in-ear with a hoop to that goes over your ear to hold it in place. Some pictures that I’ve seen online had removed the hoop, so it wasn’t clear how the headset would work.

Opening the package proved a little more difficult than I had expected. You actually open the product from the bottom, but the metal cap was taped and glued in place. If it wasn’t for the sticker telling you to open it from the bottom, I would have thought that I was going to break it. [ ..Read More.. ]

Searching for the Best Bluetooth Headset

I’ve been using the original Jawbone headset for a while now. For the most part, it’s been a really good headset. It can be a little awkward to put on at times and I find the in-ear volume could be a little louder. I’ve be thinking of replacing it for a couple weeks, but I really like the audio quality that the Jawbone has. There’s never a problem with the person I’m calling not being able to hear me clearly. Because of this, I’ve been holding back on buying something else. Unfortunately, I managed to bust the arm off it today. So I guess I need to start thinking of replacing it now.

I recently came across a review over at My Today Screen that compares the new Jawbone with the BlueAnt Z9i headset. Both of these headsets are top notch in my opinoun. So it was interesting to see that the BlueAnt actually outperformed the Jawbone in some of the tests, like audio quality, battery life, and even noise cancellation. I tend to rank those 3 elements as key for a headset. Given that the BlueAnt managed to beat the Jawbone, then I have to think that BlueAnt is a pretty awesome headset. Has anyone used one and have any comments – good or bad, about the headset? For that matter, any suggestions or comments on any Bluetooth headset?

Style and Grace in One Package – Apple’s Super Slim Wireless Keyboard

I’ve tested out a number of wireless keyboards in the past, but never really found one that I liked or worked well enough for me to continue to use it every day. I had a chance to play with Apple’s ultra slim Bluetooth keyboard recently, and I have to say that I was pretty impressed. To start with, this thing is super thin and light weight. It’s truly an impressive keyboard when you hold it in your hand. Apple did a great job on the design – no real surprise there. Two AA batteries are inserted in the tube at the top of the keyboard to power it. Even the screw to open and close the battery compartment is well thought out. It’s a deep thread and only requires a short half turn to open or close. So you’re not twisting the screw forever just to swap batteries. The overall feel when typing is quite nice. The keys are easy to press and spaced at a normal space, or at what feels like a normal spacing to me.

To install this keyboard, Apple’s instructions tell you to install the software on your computer and then follow the prompts on your screen. Which works really well if you are installing this on your computer. I however was not. Like a true mobile geek, I wanted to pair it with my Smartphone before doing anything else. That’s natural, right? So, I fired up the keyboard and the little green light started to flash which means that the keyboard is in discovery mode. I searched for new devices from my Smartphone and instantly made the connection. Unfortunately, that’s where the fun ended. Apple’s manual doesn’t tell you the pairing code. If I had walked through the desktop install I might have known a little more about how this works, but in all reality, Apple should have put the steps into their manual so people wouldn’t have to guess at how it works. Not everyone is buying the keyboard to use with a desktop. After trying the standard pairing codes to no success, I did some searching around the internet and figured out that there is no default value set. You need to enter the code on the device and then on the keyboard in order to pair it. So once it’s entered on your mobile device, hit next or done on the device and turn to the keyboard and enter the same code followed by pressing the enter key. Presto – You’ve now paired the units, enjoy! Using this process, I was able to pair the keyboard with 2 different Windows Mobile devices and a BlackBerry unit too.

I think the keyboard is big on style, small on size and great on functionality. My only real complaints are the lack of documentation and the price. While it’s not super expensive, it’s more than I would be willing to pay for a wireless keyboard. Perhaps in 4 or 5 months the price will drop down to a more reasonable range. I only say this because I don’t need a wireless keyboard to do my daily work. If you’re in need of wireless keyboard action, this is a great choice. Check one out and see for yourself.

Unfortunately, the keyboards weren’t in the office for very long before they left to see action at a conference. Once they return in a couple weeks I will snap some pictures of the units along side some mobile devices and even a standard desktop keyboard. Tune back here in a couple weeks and I should have the pictures for you.